Top notch: Two hockey, players: ine fs getting ready for. the: biggest : tournament the my : BC\SPORTS BS It’s a deal — The Kitselas: ‘and: meee Kitsumkalum bands:get.. timber.and. cash from. ine e province\NEWS: ALO. | Hair-raisers- es Why a local father. and: me daughter want to. a shave their ~~ $1.00 eLus 76 GST: \ «($1.20 plus 8¢ ‘est. outside of the Rerrace area) “VOL. Ts NO, 42 | Kitimat I . By JEFF NAGEL | KITIMAT’s council ‘made. good on: - months of threats:Jan."16 and filed its” legal challenge:that aims to block power sales by Alcan.” - ‘ The town : believes electricity ‘sales. come «at: the: expense “of aluminum * smelting and local: jobs. ~ particularly. in the future if Alcan- ‘power exports’ go... unchallenged, - ” “Alcan. is: “profiting. ‘unfairly * from the use of the public::water’ resource,” Kitimat mayor Rick: Wozney ‘said after: . leading a delegation of Kitimat municipal: councillors :to’ the. Vancouver Supreme Court registry where the:suit was filed. Alcan now has a perpetual _ licence : .to use, the ‘Neéchako: watershed’ that the - town says: was originally granted. only. "the northwest, Lee a “of $90 million per year in‘power sales,” -Wozney: said, » “is building, NeW - Plans and: industry “ “Alcan is now generating in- excess ‘adding that -. "elsewhere, ot “is. left high and dry.”: “Kitimat's petition asks. the court to: o ’ ME Declare’ that Alcan "cain ‘ only: “use power’ it “generates vat ‘Kemano’* : for. alurninum ‘smelting. or .to. promote. in. the “vicinity” ‘of. Alcan’s industry ° “smelter... on ‘Declare that. thé ‘sale: of “power” “for: use outside Kitimat. or: its vicinity: “contravenes. the province’s original 1949 TERRACE ‘money - “the aluminum. «electricity: sales: that | have daken: Place 2000, “This. was the firsi time in the history — “Industrial Development Act: and’.1950.- “of Alcan operating in: British Columbia. . ° . rights, a Strike. down “any agreements that ". are’ inconsistent with the original ones " that gave bitthto Kitimat. Wi Declare Alcan i isin, violation of i its in'1997 as a result of its power s sales. ° company’s. since the 1990s. curtailed “ - paramount to smelter operation.” At says: Alcan” has made tuindreds: of -millions of* dollars: selling power, particularly: as the electricity market has - become more lucrative: “ , oo ~ revised permanent. water: licence: issued | 2 “They're creating jobs i in Quebec and “the Saguenay region,” he said. Kitimat : " “Smeliing _ aluminum. at’: Kematio” power’ is.” more ; profitable. “Therefore. Alcan’ has élected. to" curtail ~ -~smelter ‘production. atthe. expense: of ; ‘ _employment ‘i ‘in Kitimat for. the sake of -The ‘petition: details electricity: sales : “by. ‘Alcan’ through ’ BC... “Hydro ‘during S the 1990s, but argues the company never “ smelting: to ‘sell Power’ until. power. ‘ sales revenue,” the petition reads, smelier, ‘that year “Alcan. ‘officials - said" Kitimat was, and: remains. ‘profitable, but ‘selling: Tf successful, the case’ would’ quash.- ‘ongoing. - The: document says Alcan shut down half the. smelter. in 2001 in: ‘order to sell ~ Kemano. power. for: export to the U.S": ‘Moré: than 200 jobs w ‘ere reduced: at he. “they were re best’ way to- ~ ereate a. health: business : environment is to work cooperatively to o . create conditions’ that are eanducive, to investment,” it said i ina ‘statement. | “Alcan: is" operating “within its: rights: _ ‘as confirmed. by'Ihe government’ ‘of B.C. “on several occasions,” the company: said, “The: ‘company: ‘will’-vigorously: defend" itself against the district’ s.action® ” . The: company is’ ‘expected t to resporid _— tothe petition with its own-version of ©... ~ events as one.of the next steps leading: up *fo-an eventual hearing: ‘in court. as early - " fis this fall.” a oe ~ Woaney. . ‘said ‘the town “has “béon’ a -“stonewalled”’ with”: “piomises’ by” ‘the’ | - comparty and the. provincial government, : foe come t toa: ra negotiated solution. | Board pledges : toimprove — native literacy - By JENNIFER LANG A. VETERAN. trustee ‘and former school board chair says’ the school district has failed to. _..do its job. when-it.comes:ta. First’ F Nations ‘students te “ » Last _ week ‘Peter .. King - helped initiate. a series © of. _ motions: ‘aimed at significantly ; improving . ~First. — Nations. literacy-in the Coast Mountains: 5 ~ school district. . - 2 “We are. failing desperately ’ in. First. Nations’ education,” the long-time: Kitimat. trustee : “Peter King said, pointing to the: wide. gap between aboriginal and. ‘hon-aboriginal students heré:’ = Overall, ‘Coast. Mountains~ students. lag behind: the provincial - average’ ow. the’ Foundation Skills Assessment, ey the education ‘ministry's - vannual: _smlapshot of reading, Ct writing ‘and math skills. 2 eo _ King-conterids the district's low: scores can. be Blamed ae “on the poor: showing of aboriginal ‘students. * - vo ~. “Ein-socry if Doffend people,” he said, adding hi he has ro 7 been told.to. take sensitivity traifiing... a ‘King has grown ‘increasingly troubled by. 14, years of - . school. board promises to. “improve reading ‘that seem. too J have had little effect. 922 “Tes: all: ‘pointing ‘to First; Nations. iading.” he ‘aid. _ “Somehow: we-are: ‘ailing: The. Kid's. failure: ~ that’ = our, ood J failure." His provocative stafemenis weren ‘t hallénged by: the an - other, trustees. : = - “T do agree, with what Peter. bast to say." Hazelton. trustee “and former. First. Nations. -éducation coordinator ‘Jessica -Mikolayezyk said, “Ir's time to see some results here." °° ” Mikolayezyk said she is aware of First-Nations students’ who successfully complete ‘high school-only “to “learn”... ‘their. -academic. skills . fall . short: of’. college’: admissions a _Tequitements a revelation’ that Comes as.a shock: ; _ : Contd. Page’ A2.. _ ae - Ss ~ Lake. water co warning revived. [ors: STILL not safe to Ak water from Lakelse Lake-[> > “unless j it’s treated first atea Tesidents were warmed last Po | week, . es a Ml ae ie Maiy ‘akestiore’ ‘residences’ rely. on: Lilie Lake te andi its streams. for’ drinking: waters i 0 0+ f i | > The ‘Northern Heaith Authority. issued: a reminder Remem bering a killer avalanche |: ee te tate ioe 7 before drinking, bathing ; and cooking.” The. North Route disaster . and brother-in-law Steve Mintenko ~ who. were” two nartow ‘paps in the dense forest. The: North: * “fuintlon caters val io nn, ig | ! all trapped at the motel when the snow struck, . Route buildings stood directly in the path thatdry, .. i; ratl ems and througi ultraviolet gente: 2 ; i By JEFF NAGEL Diane Pipe, the. Daumonts* other daughter, - rapidly, movi g avalanches would’ be expected tof :‘The NHA blames. the poor: Water quality at Lakelse | a | ONE DAY it.was a. bustling cafe,’ motel oe still ‘lives here and carries a survivor's burden, - také. me. : “T Lake on land us¢’ activities: ‘and ‘sewage disposal’ fo and gas station ‘between Terrace. and. Prince: "wondering. why fate intervened when it did and) © ‘The report. goes ‘on to project large: avalanches _ | systems. on residential: properties. that die’ below" the Rupert. _- chose the victims.that it did. * . would likely“ occur at the North. Route’ site: an “} high water level. : The next it. it. had: been, ‘erased: from: the “nap. foe demolished bya raging torrent of snow. spnided “y keep wondering ‘the reason," id. le average of: once ‘every: 15 ‘yeats, ; > Water. quatity: testing. “has: beén: ‘aking: place. at no “Every time T- drive by'the area T lance up. at:.. “Unfortunately the, hazard: was no re Lakelse Lake -ovér-the: past two. years: ‘as: ‘part, of an Tragedy... struck the” North: Route. Service “- the: mountain and say “You son’ of a bitch, You: 2 when the service centre was built,” the report said. J ongoing study. of the overgrowth of a.noxious weed , Station 30 years ago this week at the-whistlestop " tiever’ have. before and: you. never, ‘have. “again “And later; when. avalanches did’ come, close; the... 45 kilometrés west of Terrace along Hwy 16" °°. ‘since.”*: - warning went unheeded," éalled elodia.canadensis —‘and the regional district's ‘siitce, : | fontcoming liquid waste management plan. =” “The Jan, 22,1974 disaster claiitied seven. lives ave "Dad. would: never: have built there had there: - > At that: time’ the’ threat: wasn't BS. been’ ‘a slide there before.” vt as ‘itis today.’ - Tests have: shown the: lake’ ‘water: ‘continues : ‘to. . . and ranks as the. deadliest avalanche ever to hit the . oy . : 2: Most, past ‘avalanches: had: not. come closer: ‘The disaster led toihe creation of the highways. contain, high levels of harmful bacteria: - ‘Terrace area.: °~ o a . The. first phase of liquid ‘waste, managentent ‘plan: _ It also ripped apart’ Terrace! s Daiitnont family, ~-thaiy 300 metres. to the cafe sit, accordinig'to.a ministry's ‘snow avalanche awareness: program... | for Lakelse Lake ‘and Jackpine Flats will be unveiled. Charlie and Aine. Dalimnont had built the North’: National] Research, Countil report five years later. “Today. signs. warn ‘motorists not to. stop at. the | -at:Friday: night's Kitimat. ‘Stikine. ‘regional, istict Route in-1964 and spent mmuch.6 of their time there .. But it saysitree. growth pattérns and brokén-wood: , : North Route ‘avalatiche s site and 64 other erie : vs iemonsirate avalanches’ had: reached.” avalariche’ areds ACTOSS, B. ce . a “Te a' board meeting in Terrace. ‘running the business.’ -*. au to improve water quality: at the lake, feo : that. agreement that. gave Akan. ‘its .water believes , the. to smelt aluminum and foster industry in power sales... were treated "as. ° disappointed. « “Alcait r | Touch down HERB BURBEE comes in for a landing at Shames Mountain, He was involved i in a. helicopter rascue demonstration for skiers ahd. snowboarders as a part of avalanche awareness days Jan. 10-11. He dangled from: an 85-foot line beneath a nigh-Hiying helicopter a and - was carried’ over the resort as part of the display. For more see page B5. SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN PHOTO vo ; Hospital needs to close doors Jan. 28 WOMEN IN labour and critically ill people who . ~ the’ hospital’s ‘switchboard. need treatment will be sent.elsewhere over:the _ ° “For critically. ill people who need: treatment, early morning hours of Jan. 28 because power will | we will.treat them, ‘stabilize‘them and transfer’. be cut at Mills Memorial Hospital so Aechnicians “them elsewhere,” said : Petrick.:““We won't be -- can replace a piece of crucial equipment.- ~ having any babies born because we can ‘t- predict ; ~ A switch that automatically’ shifts: Milis from ~ the level of care: ‘that’ wilt, be needed, for any at the: hospital... People. who can plan: ahead: are: “normal power. to diesel generator: backup | isn "ty ~ deliveries.” : “Being asked’ to contact their. family physician, - working. properly and needs to:be replaced, said, 8 “-Petrick. said that some. patients alréady admitted he provincial ambulance : Service, “cali be. hospital nursing director Marg I Petrick last week.” ~ to. the hospital prior to the shutdown may need 10. reached d-at. 638: 1102. “Information ° fot: 20 le Portable generators will .be ‘brought. ii ‘for -be transferred,: depending upon their'condition?:-: “PoP ’ wilh’ less: serious, concerns is: available’ from the; people already: admitted but the lack of power’: ‘The. “hospital's emergency. department” ‘will. will limit what iteando for potential ne new arivals, : BC: HealthGuide. NurseLine at, 1-866-215-4700: - offer: limited care but overall, B,C. ‘Ambulance’ . Beopk h feel th i" biewk. jamily she said... ~ Service.” “paramedics - will” transport. -people ¢. People who ‘feel ‘the: nee to, chee on a family : Power will be cut‘at midnight on Jan. 28 aiid member. or: Close. friend’ can call: the ae “elsewhere, including ‘Kitimat, “Sepending upon °: ‘restored at 5 a.m, The. shutdown will also affect ; their. condition: wn. o 7 ‘Gating the closure Period at 635- 3989. “The: switch failed ‘last. fall: “and? ‘we were, ~ without: power for 20. minutes and, we can ‘t have. that happen again,” said-Petrick; ; She said. the: planned: shutdown: eviod was. ‘ chosen because itis traditionally the slowest time ° a $:expected to contain. tecommendati ns oni how . _ The: slide Killed, Chari: os