n= Byer Kootenays’ coal pollution too high VANCOUVER (CP) — A British Columbia govern- ment report on air pollution gays coal industry operations in southeastern B.C, have exceeded rec- ognized standards. The report is part of a study of air and water - quality in the Kootenays being done by the water investigations branch of the provincial environment min- istry. A summary of the report shows major air polluton sources in the Elkwood- Sparwood-Fernie region were three coal mining operations and a coke plant owned by Fording Coal, Kaiser Resources and Byron Creek Collieries Ltd. itis not known whether the situation has changed since the report’s 1975 and 1976 data was collected because current analyzed data is not available, The report Says suspended particulate matter, fine par- ticles less than 20 Micrometres in size which ean travel far by wind from . these operations, frequently exceeded standards. IMPROVING AIR | A spokesman for Kaiser said Tuesday that the company is spending $1.6 million on new equipment to improve air quality at its operations. A Fording spokesman said new emission control equipment has already been installed at the company's plant. A spokesman for Byron was . unavailable for comment. the government report says the largest and most diverse of these coal operations was Kaiser's property at SparwoodMichel where most of the air quality data was collected for the area. . Discharges from Kaiser's coal preparation plant and coke plant “have exceeded provincial objectives,” the repcrt said, sometimes by a factor of two or more. High readings for dusifall, larger particles, were ab- ‘tained near the operations, but average annual counts within populated areas were within recogpized limits, It said average annual readings for particulate matter at Sparwood were acceptable, but exceeded Standards on certain days. The water. investigations branch has recommended an air quality monitoring network for the area which would analyze tests an- nually, EXCEEDED PERMIT Fording, which operates open pit mines and a coal preparation plant at Fording River had a “coal breaker’’ emission which exceeded permit conditions in 1975. But that emission was im-. proved in 1976 by installation of water sprays. Byron Creek had problems. with escaping coal dust which due to its location in the Miche] Valley could affect certain . property owners in.the area. The report said in 1975 and 1976 there was little change | Public servants s : VICTORIA (CP) — A dis- agreement on job ter- mination arrangements which ted to picket lines being set up around the legislature Tuesday has been resolved, a union spokesman said today. - “Don Burns, of the British Columbia Government Employees’ Union, said the 240 public works employees whose jobs are belng phased out now have until March 31 td- decide between alternate jobs in the pubjic service or averance.DAY: "fF: ity = proviston... ween the union and the Government Employee Relations Bureau (GERB), but was refuted by Finance Minister Evan Wolfe, who sald’ the supernumerary employees must resign and take severance pay before Sept. 30 or lose their right to ih ce . Burns said Wolfe’s directive was directly responsible for the three- hour. job’ action Tuesday, which ended .when GERB agreed to meet. with union representatives to discuss the situation. “Tt was caused strictly by” the minister’s interference," Burns said, “When he promulgated the circular of Aug. 14, he literally pulled the chocks from under the Government Employee Relations Bureau." TOOK OVER : The jobs became redun- dant following creation of the B.C. Buildings Corp., which picket off | took from public works the responsibility for supply and maintanance-of government space requirements, The corporation absorbed all but 600 of the 1,800 public works employees. Of the remainder, 400 opted for early retirement or severance pay, and the re- maining 240 were declared by the government to be supernumerary, a union spokesman said. Under the agreement reached between the union ‘and’ GERB, ,the: government "vais! = promiged'to offer'the' 240 a iginally negotiated’ ‘bets ,new job‘intheirown ‘area or two jobs elsewhere, he said. “If these were turned down, then the employee would have to opt for severance pay,”' the spokesman said. Yukon copter crash . FARO, Yukon (CP) — RCMP said three persons were killed Tuesday when their helicopter crashed near the Pelly River about 45 kilometres northwest of this central Yukon community. Police said the helicopter was owned by Klondike Kenting of Calgary. Ministry of transport officials were attempting to determine the eause of the crash. The victims’ names were withheld. | in industrial activity trom- previous years, bul a two- monthclosure that shut moat of Kaiser’s operations due to a labor dispute in 1976, had a noticeable effect on dustfall data. It also said coal dust blown Stranded prospector and son swam to safety - PITT MEADOWS, 8B.c. (CP) — A Kelowna, B.C. man who was stranded on a sandbar in the middle of a fast-flowing river for several days says he knew he had to iry and swim to safety when the water . subsided momentarily Monday or face a watery death. Don Young, 46, and his son - Bill, 14, were travelling up the Pitt River near this community 50 kilometres east of Vancouver to go prospecting when their four- metre aluminium boat hit a log on Thursday. The collision threw the two into the yiver where they managed to swim to separate, partially sub- merged gravel bars. “T knew I had to go yester- day, because I wouldn't have had the strength if I had waited," Young said Tuesday. ‘ He said that although he knew he would drown if he ‘fell asleep too Jong, he found himself dozing off more and more, and was afraid he Suspended Tel. workers back VANCOUVER: (CP) — Eleven British Columbia Telephone Co. employees returned to work today after being suspended in a dispute over a work assignment ala new central office ta be opened in the Fraser Valley. Don Bremner, secretary- treasurer of the Tele- communication Workers Union, said B.C. Tel suspended eight full-time employees Tuesday morning and sent three temporary workers home for indefinite periods. The dispute was cooled down later in the a when the company agreed to allow the workera. back on aed and to take the disputed issue to third-party ar- bitration for settlement, The employees were sus- pended after refusing to work during testing of equipment for the Langley, B.C, office. : Bremner said the union protested the use of a woman from the clerical division to _ perform duties normally handled by the plant division. The company ‘was then able to have the work performed at the clerical rate rather than the higher journeymen’s rate. Bremner said that the company later removed the clerical employee from the testing job and indicated testing will cease until after the arbitration ruling is delivered. He said the company last week rejected a union proposal to submit the dispute to arbitration. from trucks and rail cars . contributed to air pollution, but said losses are greatly reduced by spraying sur- faces with chemical binders. “Blowing dust,”’ the report said, is not generally con- sidered’ to be a hazard to would soon give up. His son was: sin the same predicament 90 metres away. “You know, you think you would think of food apd that kind of stuff, but all you think of is how to get out, how to get out; no thought of food, drink or anything,” Young said. ” “lve been in some tough situations in my life, but this was the toughest.” ENDURED RAIN The pair endured almost constant rain throughout their ordeal. Bill was Jess fortunate than his father, who was able to light a warming fire m a depression of a tree using a cigarette lighter. He said’ he ate a few _berries he recognized but was afraid he might eat poisonous fruit. Fish swam _ past him but were too fast to catch. Throughout the ordeal, logging trucks passed by on a road about 100 metres B.C. Tel spokesman Keith Matthews called the row ‘a minor internal squabble which should have been settled by the grievance procedure.” Patient drowned in hospital bath VANCOUVER (CP) — A Burnaby, B.C., man with a history of epileptic seizures drowned July 7 after being left alone in a Vancouver - General. ‘Hospital. (VGH> “pAthtins for’ an’ hour, . a coroner's jury heard Tuesday. The inquest told that when staif began searching for Danny Melvin Barnes, 26, they were unable to enter the bathroom for 10 minutes because a, key failed to open the.lock. A security ‘officer had td. force entry using a serewdriver, = = ‘Senior nursing staff testified that it is common practice to either attend or check on bathing patients every five to 10 minutes. ~ Nurse Carolyn Lay, on duty’ the day of the death, Said that because Barnes was about to be discharged and his seizures apparently were under control, she “would not have felt it neces- sary for Barnes to have supervision during his bath. The man’s family physician,: Dr. Peter Heindrick agreed. He said Barnes suffered from severe epilepsy but he could not see ‘Slanted sidewalk solution | According to Director of Public Works, Mr... L. Needham the problem of the slanted sidewalk which runs up Kalum Street to ‘the Bench should finally be solved this week. The works department has driven some forty poles into the side of the hill where the asphalt has crumbled. The newly created walk will now be filled with rock and gravel and covered with asphalt. “We filled this area about two years ago, but this time with the poles driven in, it should stand up much bet- ter,”” Needham said. The area was originally alled back during the early "s. Sidewalk users, particularly mothers pushing baby carriages will be happy to see the improvement to the walk up the hill on Kalum St. Previously residents had toleave the walk and venture onta the road, because of errosion. This could be dangerous as cars come down the winding hill. It is expected work will be completed this week, and the sidewalk will be serviceable once again. . drowning. Barnes was found’ healt since ihe particles involved are usually too large to be deposited in the lungs. “The main deterimental effects are soiling and erosion of surfaces." away. The two said. they feared the raging ‘river would sweep them to. their. deaths if they tried to ford it, ' The rain-swollen river re- ceded by almost a metre. Monday night giving Young a chance to escape. Using a branch to keep his balance, he plunged into the river, half -swimming, half stumbling the 25 metres’ to shore, He scrambled up a 30- metre cliff and flagged down | a passing truck from a THE HERALD, Thursday, August 31, 197, Paga 3 - oF The Kitimat Youth Council has arranged to bring one of the better known bands to Kitimat, Terrace and Smithers early in September. The Downchild Blues Band, a six person group featuring Don Walsh, Jan Vasey and Rick Walsh will be ap- pearing at the Mount Elizabeth Secondary School, Monday, Sept. 4; in Terrace at the R.E.M. Lee Theatre on Wednesday, Sept. 6, and in Smithers on Friday, Sept. 8 at Chandler Park gym. Ticket prices are $5.50 advance and $7.00 at the door. Profits from the concert will be used to support the various charitable projects - sponsored by the youth council. . nearby logging camp. Bob Stevens, a first aid at- tendant at the camp, tied a rope around his waist, plunged into the river, grabbed hold of Bill and was Four members of the pulled back toshore by other Kitimat youth council are workers at the scene. gurrently attending Camp Youngand his son say they EJphinstine in Gibson B.C. will go prospecting again where they are participating next year. - in a Red Cross sponsored, “The enthusiasm hasn't died,” said Young, who has been able to get away from his welding and woodcarving jobs only a few times - to follow his life-long interest. “Youth in the Community” program. Cheryle Lapointe, Dean Kathy Oliver, all of Kitimat paid their own way down to the camp to learn more Bremner said that the usual grievance procedure takes months and the job would have been completed before the dispute was resolved, PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. (CP) — A spokesman for nonteaching employees in the Prince George school district said Wednesday that a return to work would take any reason why Barnes could not take a bath by him- self, : VGH nurses and doctors wsijetuder DepraeRLED . coguimuati, BC. (CP) evidence'acts which prevent “ «~ A teacher suspended after useof their ‘testimony: “Deing._ charged = —with against them at any future possession of marijuana has court hearing. now been. reinstated, Eunice VICTIM DROWNED Parker, beoquitlam school ‘Dr, Rodney Brammall board chairman Eunice who conducted an autopsy, Parker said Tuesday. : F She said that rein- said Barnes died from statement of Dennis Hilton was approved at a special board meeting Monday, however, the board decided that Hilton, suspended in February, would not be given back pay for the suspension period. . Reinstatement came alter a prosecution appeal of a conditional discharge on the possession charge was rejected. Parker said that under the Public Schools Act the board had no choice but toreinstate Huang testified that afterthe Hilton to his teaching body was found, nurses in position .at Centennial the ward said Barnes was School. : suicidal. She cited a case in Delta Neurosurgeon Dr, John ast yearinwhich that school Wada said Barnes was unco- board attempted to fire a operative with taking his. ‘acher given a conditional medicine and that Barnes ‘ischarge on a marijuana had a difficult family possession charge. A British situation. Columbia Supreme Court cot ich judge ruled on an appeal of His seizures, which some- jhe firing that a person who times rendered him uncon- pleads: guilty and gets a scious, could be triggeredby conditional discharge is a stressful situation. deemed not to have been Notes from Barnes’ diary, convicted however, indicated he was ‘ ; Parker said the board has opi forward to leaving the option under the act on whether to allow back pay The same diary also and decided Hilton wouldn't revealed that Barnes be paid because he wasn't recorded July 7 that his drug . intake was to be reduced to two times a day from three, something nodoctor or nurse could explain, *! i. Wada testified that the amount of drugs in Barnes's blood at the time of death was about half what he. would consider a satisfac- s tory level. He said reducing = & the dosage was too risky. P Barnes had epilepsy for 20 years and as a result af violent seizures, was placed in hospital May 11. The inquest continues today. with a while froth about his ‘mouth and a large bruise on his head, although Dr. Brammell said the injury was not insufficient lo have rendered Barnes uncon- scious, : Brammali said he believes Barnes either slipped in the bath, hit his head, and slipped under the water, or that he suffered an epileptic attack before going under. Hospital orderly Paul befataratels, anece se fatetese: Pata, atta ve"e"e"e70"2: mn be 2929) ones « We'r The Canadian Natiqnal = e e Institute for the Bi Up ports an active prevention of = 3 blindnessprogram as wellas = blindness rehabilitation services. Because half of all % blindness canbe preventedil 3 treatment begins early, + distribution of information ; on eye care and organizing vision screening clinics are = = an important part of the % A financial = Here! Boilard, Colleen Doyle and - TERRACE SKOGLUND If you wish your Business Phone about community _ in- valvement for the Kitima Youth Council. . The council, established in 1974, by six young persons, now has an effective par- ticipation of some 50 con- cerned young people in Kitimat. Among the many projects the members work at during the year include a wood cutting spree. Cord waod is place immediately if the school district lifted its lock out. However, school trustees in this central British Columbia city say they Teacher back after marijuana charge teaching. re Hilton couldn't be reached ‘for comment Tuesday. The case arose when RCMP Constable Garth Mooney charged Hilton and another man with possession of marijuana. Mooney then informed school superin- tendent Gordon Paton of the charge and the’ su- perintendent informed the school board, leading to the suspension. RCMP Supt. Bruce Nor- thorp said later that in- forming an employer of a person charged is not RCMP . policy. Kitimat youth active cut, split and piled and sold to local residences, Last year the Youth council donated $3,000 to Kitimat service clubs to be used within the community. Currently there are plans to Interest Terrace youth in forming their own branch of the Youth Council. A get- acquainted meeting will be held shortly; dates will be announced in the Herald. PG trustees won't lift school lockout would be betraying the public if they lifted the lockout against the 380 clerks, custedians and cafeteria personnel that started Aug. 2. Murray Odegaard, . president of Local 658 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, said union members would return without waiting for a new contract to be signed to enswreithe disfict’s schools would ‘open’ on* schedule Tuesday for the area‘s 22,000 students. Trustee Dr. Charlie Boyd told the board Tuesday lif- ting the lockout would put the union in a position to “cause more damage” by having a strike later on. A strike would result in a more expensive settlement later because of public pressure, he said. “If we back down now we will betray the public and the sister union (carpenters and joiners) who have already settled,’ he said. Some say potatoes planted on a rising tide will swall with the tide. 632-3603 VETERINARY OLIVS PLACE . 798-2931 Lis ted PETS BEAUTIFUL. 635-9251 Free - for ONE month courtesy of THE boi ol as Re 5. Bc nf! an of DAILY HERALD Where Westemers win all-ways Western Canada Lottery Foundation ew Business Not listed in our B.C. Tel Directory. AURORA ANIMAL HOSPITAL - 635-2040 DIAL-AN-ORDER HOTSPRINGS - Cre’ teeta tetera! A Se TON Sete Ree KD ire matacaarenmniea*aata'ete ~~ iaeate’ we CENTRE 635-3300 + 798-2221 CNIB’s work, listed for your customers please call