Mill re-opening puts | 200 back on payroll SKEENA SAWMILLS will be back up and running March 4 but there’s no indication when owner West Fraser will send its loggers back to work. The logging operation will remain shut down until West Fraser is certain the government will reduce the cost of logging in thls area, company northwest operations man- ager Bruce MacNicol said last week. The mill will chew up the three-month supply of logs sit- ling in its yard sight now while company officials wait for action from Victoria. “Before we start fogging operations we want to see something more specific on what the government is going to do to reduce our logging costs,’ MacNicol said, ’ He'd like to see operations resume by June, but said that will depead on what progress is made. ' By the time the nearly 200 mill workers go back to work, the shutdown will have lasted 74 days, That’s about two weeks short of a 90-day threshold after which time the forests minister can take action against companies wi- dergoing extended closures, MacNicol says the economics of logging in this area haven’! changed. ‘“‘We’re going to continue to lose sig- nificant amounts of money,’ he said. West Fraser was losing $1 million a month through the local mill prior to the Dec. 23 shutdown. MacNicol said the government isn’t going to retroactive- ly reduce costs of logs already harvested, so the company might as well mill what's already in the yard, ‘We're going to have to eat the loss on those anyway,” he said. Another factor is extending the shutdown further would begin to lead to (he loss of experienced workers, be added. MacNicol denied the suggestion the shutdown was aimed FROM FRONT at bludgeoning concessions out of Victoria. ‘'It had noth- ing to do wilh politics at all,” he said. “We don’t believe in playing political games with our people. It was an eco- nomic shutdown, We were basically in a box.”" , MacNicol said major changes are needed if the forest in- dusiry bere is to avoid more of the same. "If these things aren’t fixed in the long term, the local industry is going to continue being in a lot of trouble,’ he said. ; The announcement of the mill’s restart came last Thurs- day — two days after new financial reports indicated West Fraser Timber recorded the highest profits of any B.C. forest company in 1996. West Fraser's eamings came in at $95.8 million for the year, far higher than the next nearest rival —- MacMillan Bloedel, which earned $51 million. The numbers would have been even higher for West Fraser if it hadn't factored into fourth-quarter results an anticipated $10 million in duty it expects to pay for ex- ceeding its quota. That dropped fourth-quarter earnings to $20.1 million. | . West Fraser shareholders enjoyed an 11.8 per cent return on equity for 1996 — also the highest of any firm in the B.C. forest industry. MacNicol said the company will run money-losing oper- ations like Skeena Sawmills for periods of time, but says there has to be some prospect for improvement on the long term. ““I€ it was a short-term problem or just low markets, yeah we would have kept it running,” he said. ‘'And we have kept it running for the last year and a half despite those conditions. And we will run it for the next three months,’’ Contractors look to FRBC was carried out in December. Justin Rigsby of Almwood: Logging and Clear Creek Contracting said many contractors will run out of money before the March 12 vate date. “We were planning on shutting down very shartly,” said Frank Cutler of K’Shian Construction. “A million dollars is a small figure for what we're owed.” Logging contractor Greg Main, of Main Logging, said assis- lance is needed immediately. ‘We need that money back here now. Not next week or next month.” Mayor Talsira said the city cannot afford to have Repap or any of its contractors go bankrupt, “That would be devastating to this community,” he said. Contractors said a long-term solution to the high costs of log- ging now crippling the industry is also needed. Giesbrecht said there’s no legislation now that requires forest companies to pay their contractors within a certain period of time. He’s suggesting that ought to change. “This is a people's resource that’s supposed to benefit all of the people,” Giesbrecht said, Mayor suggests new party for northerners THE NORTH has been mistreated for too long, and maybe it's time for northerners to form their own political party. That was the suggestion of Terrace mayor Jack Talstra Monday night as frustration with the region’s treatment from Victoria boiled over on several fronts. “There’s something wrong with the way we’ ve operated this province, Talstra said. Maybe we need a northern politi-- cal party. We need something.” In the province’s formulas that govern education, health care, and timber stumpage, unique differences that set this part of the province apart aren’t taken into account, he said, “It's just nonsense what Mills Memorial Hospital has had to go through,” he noted. Council also heard a delegation Monday night protesting planned cuts to second-year courses at Northwest Local man recovering from Telkwa shooting LOCAL RESIDENT John Rowat, 32, has undergone major surgery after a bullet shattered a bone in his arm Feb. 19. The shooting took place in Telkwa and RCMP have charged Harvey Kroetsch of that village with aggravat- ed assault and assault with a weapon. Rowat was shot with a large handgun. He was first taken to hospital in Smithers and then to hospital in Prince Rupert before being flown to Vancouver General Hospital. Kroetsch appeared in provincial court in Smithers last week and was released on $5,000 bail under strict con- ditions. His next court appearance is March 3. The Telkwa man faces five other charges in relation to the incident, Student seeks Tory nod AN 18-year-old university student from Prince Rupert is running for the Progressive Conservative par- ty nomination in Skeena. Kent Glowinski, a first-year political science and French student at McGill University in Montreal, is the first Tory candidate to step forward. A nomination meeting is expected in April, but no date has been set. He campaigned for former Conservative leader Kim Campbell and Skeena candidate Danny Sheridan in 1993, . He wanted to run in last spring’s provincial election while finishing private schooling in Victoria. But he failed in his challenge of age requirements, so he cam- paigned on behalf of a Victoria-area B.C, Reform can- didate instead. But Glowinski says he grew up with native friends in Pritice Rupert and as a result is no fan of Skeena Reform MP Mike Scott’s stance on native issues. “T really think his view is one that is very non-aborigi- nal,” he says. “It's a very Euro-centric view without any ability to lean towards an objective view.” Clarification A FEB, 19 story incorrectly slated Repap was to get money from Forest Renewal B,C. to replant old clearculs. In fact, the multi-million dollar, multi-year agreement covers only spacing, pruning, brushing and weeding projects in areas already planted, Forest Renewal does, however, give out money to replant old, logged-off areas but that's not part of [his par- ‘ticular deal with Repap. , Similar deals are being negotiated with companies who manage multi-million dollar forestry programs. Community College, And Talstra said the latest crisis involving the forest industry underscores the need for region-by-region treatment of com- plex problems, like the stumpage set for pulp logs. “Formulas set province-wide are set by people who live in the _ south, who are elected in the south, but who extract things in : the north,” he said, Ee * **¥ou can't operate a province the size of several countries in “Europe in one uniform manner,” he said. “It’s not right. It's ridiculous,” ; Talstra said northerners may need to find new ways of getting governments to listen. _ “Our MPs don’t seem to get through to them. Our MLAs don’t seem to get through to them. Our mayors don't seem to get through to them.” Va Discover Your Spiritual Gifts a twelve part Seminar that will help people discover their gifts and how to use them in ministry, This Seminar is based on the book, “Your Spiritual Gifts" by Dr. Peter Wagner. Beginning on March 2 Time: Sunday Evenings at 6:30 pm Place: Terrace Pentecostal Assembly 3511 Eby St. - Phone 635-2434 Everyone Welcome PUBLIC COMMENT INVITED ON MANALTA COAL LTD.'S APPLICATION FOR A PROJECT APPROVAL CERTIFICATE FOR THE TELKWA COAL PROJECT Manalta Coal Ltd. has applied to the Environmental Assessment Office for a Project Approval Certificate under the Environmental Assessment Act to develop the Telkwa Coal Project located near Telkwa, in the Bulkley Valley, in northern British Columbia, The project will mine up to one and a half million tonnes of coal annually for a mine fife of 25 years. The construction workforce will peak at 170 to 200 persons over a 12.to 15 month peri- od with an operating workforce at 120 to 140 employees over the 25 years. ; The application may be viewed at the following locations: Telkwa Public Library Burns Lake Public Library Smithers Public Library Houston Public Library Hazelton Public Library Vancouver Public Library (Level 4) OR at the Environmental Assessment Office Registry at Ast Floor, 836 Yates Street, Victoria, British Columbia, VBV 1X4 The Environmental Assessment Office invites comments on the application to ensure that public Issues and con- cerns are identified, considered and addressed, All sub- missions will be available to the public through the Project Registry. Therefore, your name and address will be filed in full on the Registry unless you indicate in your submission that you want your address to be treated in confidence, Comments on the appilcatlan for a Project Approval Certificate for the -Telkwa Coal Project should be forward- ed by May 5, 1997 to: ; Norm Ringstad, Review Committee Chair Environmental Assessment Office -2nd Floor, 836 Yates Street. Victoria, British Columbla V8V 1X4 . Telephone: (250) 356-7479 Fax: (250) 387-2208 $4.99 Session Fee. Paid at time of photography. Not included in advertised offer. Limit one special offer par subject{s}. *Partrait sizes app 19 Full Colour Professional Package offer: Aaneeeeine imate. All ages wel Quality Portraits 1-8x10*, 2-5x7’s*, 16 Wallet Size (2x1*) ' Package offer features our selection (1 pose) on traditional background , minors undar 16 years muil be accompanied by a Sge ; perent, Sotisfaction guaranteed. Additional poriraits availble at reasoncble prices. MONDAY MARCH 3 11-5 TUESDAY MARCH 4 10-5 WEDNESDAY MARCH 5 10-5 CALL FOR APPOINTMENTS 635-5151 FIELD 4717-2 LAKELSE AVE. TERRACE, BC. Environmental Health Issues: Food Alergies I foo wes cought up in endless delays attempting to get home for Christmas. At least one al them was of intarest. All traces of nuts had fo be removed from the airplone. A young child wos so intensely allergic that even the smell would send him into a life threatening anaphylactic shock. It seems to be becoming an all foo common phenomenon. Some experts believe higher rates may he because of increased expo- . sure to chemicals in the environ- ment, Because of immunologic and intestinal immaturity, child- ren ore four times more likely to have allergies to food than adults. Whatever the reason, because of the severity of the consequences, we should all be aware of food allergies. Ordinarily the immune system is a foscinoting and efficient army of kamikazes, lanks, spies, demolitions experts and gener- ols. In a true food allergy, the SHOPPERS DRUG MART Phone: 635-7261 4635 Lakelse Ave body's immune system recogniz- es a reaction-provoking sub- stonce, or allergen, in the food -- usually a protein, os o foreign invader and produces antibodies F n jeclth t. Officer for Sheena: , o> Health Units? lo halt the “invasion”. As the botile roges, symptoms appear throughout the body. The most common sites are the mouth (swelling of the lips), digestive Iroct {stomach cramps; vomiting, + diarrhea}, skin (hives, rashes or eczema), ond the airways (wheezing, or severe breathing problems) The most commer offending foods are cow's milk, auts (espe- tially peonuts), eggs, wheat, fish, shellfish, and soy. Sulphiting agents ond MSG con also couse serious allergy-like symptoms. WHAT CAN YO DO? 1. Thoroughly clean all surfac- es, equipment and utensils immediately ater using ony of the dangerous dishes mentioned ahove. The scoop you used far the peanut butler swirl ice cream cannot be used for the vanilla until thoroughly cleaned. 2. When serving food, you can go a long way in protecting your guests or your customers. Make sure you have complete one accurate ingredient informa- tion. Are those real almonds or are they almond-flavoured pea- nuts? What type of cooking oil -wos used? Don't guess;-this is. nuttin’ to sneeze af. Sorry, Cd Px Note: Shoppers flyers delivered in the Terrace/Kitimat Weekend Advertiser on Saturday have a sale start date of Wednesday. “Turning After spending many years sil- ling on uncomfortable bleachers ot her kids’ sporting octivities, Deborah Jones camo up with on ideo she thought many spectators would cppre- tite the Sit-U-On bleacher/bench wshion, She storted working on the design and had o few friends try them wut, they thought the produd wos great and encouraged her to go inta business, As. Special Education Assistont, Deborah was loid off avery June until the naxt school year, leaving her with- out employment throughout the sum- mar, Deborah had always bean inter- ested in owning her own business and felt now wos tha lime to do it. $a she took her friends advice und starled to explore the world of self-employment. To help her get storted, Deborah lurned 10 the Community Fulures Development Corporation. “Communi- ly Futures was great, They ware vory supportive ond helped ma find tha information | needed to open my business,” says Deborah, tn August, 1996 Deborah epaned GEMMwaore = Manufacturing. “ a pe) . 16/37 eo. GEMMwore Manulacturing’s main pro- duct is the Sit- U-On, Made of long lasting denim, woter- pro! vinyl and high density foam, the Sit- U-On enables Spetlators to watch meny avents in comfort. Other special features include « convenient corrying handle ond o clip fo attach your coffea mug. Thera is even a pocket in the front to hold your pro- qioms, schedules and books. Because its light weight and compact in size, the Si-U-On con be thrown in the back of your vehicle sa you have it with you all the time. Qace Deborah had the design per- fected, she needed to look ot how she wos going lo market the product, She decided thel tha Si-U-On would ba a unique item to be used for fund rals- ing instead of the usual checolates etc. “With my involvement over the yenrs, voluntesring for many asseciations, | reolized the importante for on organi- zolion to rcisa money in order to Community © Futures 1-800-663-6398 ideas into Or portunities” Pain In The Butt Turns Into Successful Business Venture operate,” says Deborah, “E thought this moy be the perfec! product for them.” Deborah Feels there iso fol af room to grow in her business, As the Si-U- On gets more exposure, Deborah expects the orders to come: pouring in, So that she is ready for thot growth, Deborah hos lined up three other seamstrasses, They will work on con- tract out of their own homes, provid- ing them with the same flaxibility that she enjoys now that she is in business for herself, “Opening my own business has been great. Even though I‘m working harder than I've ever worked before, { now hava the flexibility to spend more lime with my family,” says Deborah. Community Futures Development Corporation of the North Cariboo provides faans, counseling, (raining to local small businesses. If you are thinking of storling o business, expanding your existing operation, ot you simply require seme ganeral assistance, talk to us first, Services ara {ree of charge and all consultations are confidential, 204-4630 Larzelle Ave. Terrace Ph: 635-5449 Fax: 635-2698