A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 1, 2006_ | - . 4 From front a rs ee er ees Bingo hall fears | losing business ‘She points to the internet, over-the- counter lottery centres at virtually every gas station and convenience store, and the popularity of Keno at local bars and the Skeena Mall. “Gambling is already in our commutiity,” “We're trying to keep the money flowing to the charities, businesses and the city,” Thodt says. 4 she says. The company has spent more than $3 million over ‘the 4 ’ past several years renovated the building and expanding it. It ; now contains a traditional long house design with post 2 and > beam and round log accents. The company’s proposal’ includes adding 75 slot’ ma- _ “chines which BC Lottery Corporation officials say generate roughly $4, 400 each in revenues for host communities. That adds up toa potential $330, 000 going to the City of Terrace "each year. ~ Along with the addition of slots the gaming centre would . * likely become a licensed facility and would be open for. lon-. “ger hours, _ It will employ roughly. 60 part: time ‘and full- time em- ployees, nearly doubling its work force right now. “ Thodt and Becher are ‘aware of a petition opposing the de- velopment, but say they're heartened by the feedback from the people who 1 run the charities who benefit from bingo that they will provide written support to city council to consider. The Bingo Palace and BCLC officials-held a meeting with | associations that benefit from gaming money on Sept. 28. -and provided form letters to representatives to submit to city council. ‘A public hearing i is slated for Monday, Oct. 16 in which ° “written submissions will be considered and will provide an ~~ ~ opportunity for people and groups to make formal presenta- tions. There are 54 organizations in Terrace that benefit from gaming money totalling $1,326,682.68. That money. comes - : from a combination of direct access, bingo association, bin- go affiliation, independent bingo and ticket raffles. Those groups. include all types of organizations from sports associations, services clubs and non-profit. societies . offering community programming and housing. ae ny From front: ~ - Petition numbers begin to grow «' “How many people - are _ accessing these services?” " he says referring. to groups such as the Kermode Friend-. ship Centre which Teceives ‘gaming money. . “Maybe it’s a cycle of poverty — -I don’t know.” Parent’s petition is. lo- cated at the Artful Cup, the : Terrace Public Library, the Salvation Army, .Sidewalk- ers and Misty River Books. He’s approached numer- ous businesses and says he’s found many business owners are in favour of the Bingo Palace’s expansion. “Tt seems like ‘well-to-do people who don’t gamble are really pro-slots,” Parent says. “They think it’s going to bring business into the city to Spend money at their stores.” - Despite his own views on the addition of slot ma- chines, he encourages any- cone who feels strongly on. the issue to make their views known, whether they agree with him or not.. , “Let’s get the discussion . out there,” he says. ° There are 54 community groups in Terrace who re- ceive more than $1,000,000 in bingo and other gaming funding. For many of those groups that funding. is critical tothe operation and existence of the groups. Dave Jephson of Terrace ‘Water Search and Rescue, | which: received $35,000 from gaming revenues in the 2005-06 fiscal year, says he supports the Lucky Dollar Bingo Palace’s application. “It’s important for us be- cause it allows.us to tap into the government gaming pro- gram,” he says. “We are a community _ group that has received. gaming funds since the start of our team in 1990. The community has seen the proceeds of these funds by the success of our organiza- tion in the sense of training, equipment and valuable ser-. vices that we provide.” Jephson’s organization regularly provides. free wa- ter safety coverage to ‘other groups such as swimming . ‘races, the annual duck race, the Kermode bear swim each New Year’s day among other activities. “The community has seen “us grow and we have done that ‘through the support of gaming funds.” 4 7 SEPT-OCT 2006 D Max Min A Temp Temp Y °C 29 13.9 9.9° 30 13.5 . 7.2 1 £118 34 2 12.2 1.2 3°..11.9 . 0.9 4@ 10.5 -1.0 5 n/a n/a “ SEPT-OCT 2005 Total [|] D Max Min Total Precip A Temp Temp Precip mm Y °C mm 6.2 |:}29 11.4 55 6.4 0.81:}30 100 59 89 TeHt 10.7 3.3 0.2 -0.0//2 9.2 1.4 T 00//3 11.6 461° 0.0. TR4 11.4°°1.2 .0.6 n/a '}:| 5 9.5 6.8 7.2° WEEE SES Ah ea hy GOIN ra 8 WINTERIZE YOUR VEHICLE Keep some emergency items" in your car at. all times, including an ice scraper/snow brush, first aid kit, jumper cables, a flashlight and a warm J blanket. If you-have a cell phone, bring it. If you can afford to purchase chains, do so. Le! others . know about your route and your expected arrival 3 time. Always wear your seat bell. A four-wheel 4 drive vehicle has nc more traction on ice than any other type of vehicle. Avoid driving in’ poor weather conditions whenever possible. JOHN BECHER hopes that big hole at the front of his building will soon be covered by a Chances Commu- ‘nity Gaming Centre sign. SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN PHOTO - n Oa ate ac hora heather Q NAGA ECLEUULERES CEE EEUEES "Pledge t to drive safely this month and you could win prizes at zerocrashmonth. com. PONTIAC ‘ ‘DEALERS oF gc " Rénshows Travel Management| ud. _ Right Tires. Right Price. | ne essary. 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