The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 8, 1997 - Ag YOUR COLLEGE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD The James W. Radelet RADELET & COMPANY sanisters & Sotictors Tax Law Trusts * Corporate & Commercial Demand pushes Mail Bag We're nota playground Dear Sir: We own property on the south side of Graham Ave, It seems that many peaple who own or have the use of A.T.V.’s, horses, motor bikes, 4 wheel drives or a ski doo believe they are co-owners. Without our permission or ap- proval, they use the property as their own playground. Any of these modes of transportation can do damage to the fields and crops. I’m appalled at how rude, selfish and thoughtless these people are. They do not even consider asking permission in the first place and secondly when they are told we would like them to stay off con- tinue to go on. ” Anyone who is old enough to ride these vehicles should understand private property and courtesy. Many parents who provide their off spring with a horse or vehicle do not provide supervision or the knowledge of courtesy and proper- I do not drive my car or other transportation on your lawn. I do not picnic there or walk my dog. I expect the same common sense and courtesy from others, We are not alone in facing this lack of respect for our property. It seems that anyone who has a small or large acreage anywhere close to town has the same complaints. G, Ames Terrace, B.C. Time to defend our hospital Dear Sir: . I recently required surgery at Mills Memorial Hospital. Given the current financial prob- lems facing our Regional Hospital, compounded by unfinished reengincering of the nursing station and changing Ministry of Health policies, 1 was prepared to deal with staff who have been demoral- ized and demotivated. I am, however, encouraged by our hospital staff who are putting a brave face on and working hard at providing the best health care under what can only be described as ex- tremely difficult conditions. It is time for the citizens of Ter- race and surrounding areas to speak up and voice their concerns regard- ing their health care and the ability of our hospital to provide this pre- cious commodity in these changing times. Our politicians, myself included, must fight to ensure that our Hospi- tal is recognized and funded based on reality, as a regional hospital, nol as some northern outpost. It is ludicrous that cutbacks to the number of beds can be rationalized based on a funding formula that for all intensive purposes marginalizes our healthcare. As was stated by Ms. Pamela Straker in her previous letter, ‘the bells are sounding loud- i a We must ensure that those indi- viduais who make or influence healthcare decisions, can also hear them. Tim Down Terrace, B.C. 4 In’S CUT AND DRIED. Tobacco Kills. BRITISH COLUMBIA LUNG ASSOCIATION Box 34009, Station D Vancouver, B.C. VGJ 4M2 A Phone: 731-5864 ar |-800-665- LUNG How are we doing? “When we fall short of your expectation, please tell us. When a newspaper story does not seem to ref'ect fairly what was said, let our editors know. When we are uncble to salve » yout complaint, we encaurage you ta submit it to the: B.C. Press Conncit 900 - 1281 W/, Georgia St. Vancouver. B.C, VaE 3J7 -. Tel/Fax: (604) 683-2571 .. The B.C. Press Council was created in 1983 4s an independent review board to protéct the public front press inaccuracy or unfaitness ~ and to promote quality journalism. a7 Iisa. A _ wr bopresscouncl.com/ink if Ph hospital capacity MILLS MEMORIAL. Hospital is run- ning close to capacity, adding more worries to the financially bard-pressed facility. The hospital has 39 beds for normal patient care but recently bas been run- ning in the neighbourhood of 36 patients. And that’s a lot for a facility which has been budgeting to handle only 25 people each night on average, says its administrator, Michael Leisinger. It’s a concern for Leisinger asthe traditional high occupancy months have yet fo come. **The last couple of years February and March have been busy,”’ he said. “The board has approved to run at more than the 25 patient level 20 per cent of the lime during crucial peri- ads,’’ “Right now we are using up some of those days,’’ said Leisinger. Mills has tagged February and March as busy times of the year as that seems to be when flu viruses strike the area. The 39 beds for patient care don’t include the three set aside for in- tensive care or the 10 in the hospital’s psychiatric ward, making for 52 beds in total. The result is a crowded hospital that’s not only pulting a strain on patients but on nurses and workers, said Leisinger, STATISTICS One particularly troublesome area is trying to provide the right balance of male and female patients and those with contagious and non contagious medical conditions within the four- bed hospital rooms. “All this can be a drain on our regu- lar staff as well as on the relief ones we call in,”’ said Leisinger. Officials are also shuffling elective surgery lists so more. people, al least for now, can be handled as day patients only. oe Leisinger said there’s no one reason responsible for the increase in patients. “We just have a lot of genuinely sick people at the moment,” he said. The hospital this fall laid off nurses and re-organized its services in an at- tempt to save $400,000 a year. kkk kok The patient numbers seem to con- found health ministry expectations that Mills has more patients booked in than should be the case. Mills officials have been saying budget restraints mean there should be only 33 beds available for use running at 80 per cent occupancy. , That figure doesn’t count the ones in intensive carc or in the psych unit. But the Terrace Regional Health Care Society board earlier this year said it will continue to make 39 gener- al patient beds available. Retirees tending to stay in the north IT’S OK. ‘You aren’t the only one whose hair is tuming grey. There are more and more people growing oider in the north and the trend is going to accelerate into the next century. Population projections prepared by the provincial government indicate that 13 per cent of the northwest’s population will be 65 or older within the next 25 years. That's a startling jump from the six per cent of the people now who are over the age of 65. It appears to be a reflection of the aging population all over the province and of the growing tendency by retired people to stay in the north and . not move down south. Just under i3 per cent of the provin- cial population i is now 65 or older and that’s expected to grow to just over 17 per cent by the year 2021. Population forecasters say the in- crease in older people in the north will result in a different varicty of businesses and services keyed to this consumer group, Expect a demand for more housing atnienable to elderly people and the re- quirement for specialized medical ser- vices. As of now, there is more access to health care for seniors in the south be- cause that is where the greatest seg- ment of this population group now lives. “Our numbers (of elderly people) are still small but growing and there’ll be an increasing pressure on the sys- tem at all levels,’’ says Michael Leisinger of Mills Memorial Hospital. The best thing caa happen is prepar- ing for the increase in elderly popula-~ tion rather than reacting later on in a crisis situation, he said. One way is to have come about a jong standing proposal for supportive housing, accommodation for people who can live on their own but who might need a minimum level of care. That kind of housing would ease the pressure on acute care beds and ex- tended and continuing care beds, Leisinger added. City of Terrace economic develop- ment officer Ken Veldman predicts new business opportunities to fill the needs of an elderly population. “When people get to this age they have made most of their major pur- chases — those made by people from age 20 to 40,"* said Veldman. ‘'What we'll see is more of a niche market.’ Depending upon income levels, elderly people will be more interested in luxury items, he added. The ‘one advantage of the growing population of elderly people is their steady, relirement income. n “Economically, it’s recession proof. No maiter what happens, that income will still come in,” Veldman said. Onc housing specialty Veldman sees in the next few years is providing low maintenance condominiums or apart- ments which are owned by seniors and not renled. Along wilh the growth of the senior citizen population will be an overall increase in the number of people living in the north, The Kitimat-Stikine regional district population, for example, is expected to grow by 23 per cenl between this year and 2021. That’s a healthy increase but is just under half of the anticipated growth in the province’s population over the saine period, Provincial projections call for the Stikine area to the north to more than double in size by the year 2021. That’s solely based on the recent an- nouncements of a three-fold increase in the Cassiar Timber Supply Area’s annual allowable cut and the work- force that'll be needed as a result. + 635-6511 Phone: 604-689-0878 a 1330 - 1075 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, B.C. VEE 39 Fax: 604-689-1386 , fit you son a wikitiee this summer call iteod ibczes8 ‘ For the Record During the week of December 16, Alcan published in northern newspapers information on its - Management of the Nechako Reservoir in 1996, In compiling this material, two separate graphs oullining 1996 flows in the’ Nechako River were prepared — one showing flows at Vanderhoof and the other showing flows at Isle Pierre. The latter graph and its caption ran correctly in newspapers west of Prince George, the caption describing flows at Isle Pierre appeared incorrectly under the graph showing flows at Vanderhoof. The Vanderhoof graph should have been accompanied by the caplion shown here, (We are also including the Isle Pierre graph so that readers can see the dif- ference.) We apologize for any confusion the misplaced caption may have caused, and hope it did not detract from the usefulness of the information presented. in Prince George and Quesnel. Unfortunately, in newspapers aa Spillway Releases and Flows in Nechako River at Vanderhoof 20000 | 29000 700_ | | xtreme Yanderhoof, 1950-95 ed Vanderhoof, Wregularities (22000 500 _| 1996 duetoice | vanenanpeas Spillway Release, conditions —_ 500 1996 m 100 ~ wT —— ~ # 16008 E as me g —~ Irregularities dua to — BP 4 ee never | 17000 5 $ 300 10900 2 — 1 0 20 | a4 EE oe iL) i | 100 | i co — i 200 gy Phiaeeetatseeenenaneenenenncoseny 2 hat . Dien [fob [mar [Apr [may [gun Tut] Pam | sen [oc] ve | 1996 Recorded Flows are WSC Pratiminary Data. The lower line, representing discharges from Skins Lake Spillway, is the amount of water the upper Nechako River contributed to flows at Vanderhoof in 1996. The total How, indicated by the upper solid black line, reflects additional inflows from the Nautley River and other small _ . ‘tributaries, 300 § 29000 | 3008 TH] | women Isle Pierre, 1950-95 208 —— Isle Pierre, | 22000 600 | 1996 oom aesmer woo Spillway Ieragularities — 500 Release, 1996 conditions [12 om | In river, = 2 Irregularities due to A | 1H00r § é an | ice conditions in river. 4009 = 4 2000 i a a § o aon 200 : wenn ™ H | m0 100. i P i : pred : 08 g Prnstttnstestesesenesssenneesanet Fd ts 4 Re AN A TN 1996 Recorded Flaws are WSC Preliminary Data. The lower line, representing discharges from Skins Lake Spillway, is the amount of water the upper Nechako River contributed to flows at isle Pierre, west of Prince George, in 1996. The total flow, indicated by the upper solid black line, reflects additional inflows from the Nautiey and Stuart river systems, and other tributaries. Medal Sponsors BC TEL Mobility Centre FACE THE WORLD FOUNDATION . 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