- cocaine are bigger problems A CRYSTAL: METH. use .is.. Long’ ‘term’ effects: in. rising. in the- northwest, but. clude... visual © Hallucina 4 . tions, violent ‘béhaviour: -vand ersonall healthy ‘prob ; 5. dems, : Its: a real brain bull ss dozer," ‘said ‘LeBlane.- fae _ Another: : “counsellor, : Sandy ‘Watson; “who - ‘alga’- ‘based: in Terrace, “works with: young people, -_ Yet; clhey say: the devas- / says. more and. more-ypung- people are .talking: about.” } i crystal meth than: ever be- ‘f ie fore: "+. ee os “More young Beople. are. |. wie being exposed: to’ it. They: 'L fe Panes she aaa Used 'al- RICHARD. LEBLANC, Doug Sandwell and Trenna Johnson. are among the . ' ~edunsellors: at Northwest Addiction Services, a regional. agency offering a varie-_ h iction “Services: “an agen- . » One: troubling: aspect: of : ‘anywhere else, In fact, staff members dhvolved, in. = meth: ‘use “is.” that: th.” lose: “weight: ve pills’ of: years ‘back: : cddtionsS ‘Services, ae meth: is. meth? | because - of the. = Chemicals used “in: ‘ ufacture, “is dabs.” said. ep ane i xe $-nol un- usual: to do: A. fouriday, run». wd ior: ‘Terrace RCMP officer, . o lab was discovered. March.2on Lazelle Ave., ays “ Staff Sergeant Jas'Basi. o *.. MThe-tips we're. geltitig. are from the Terrace. ra area, the city -and: Thornhill and: Old. -Remo,”. “haday said. ‘They’ te coming. fram.not just drug users, 2080. township.” 4 brought | a lot. of. people together. ‘It’s: reallyy a air.” . arrests, oy -Basi,.. “while shocked at. ‘the: number* of meth - = ‘labs: said” to be * ‘operating: ‘in the» northwest, isn’t... “the drug is. being” uséd ‘in ‘the ‘horth- = west. : i “We? ve been watching: the. ex-. ". pansion of meth: : - Staff Sgt Jas Basi _. Been migrating north, Smithers went ‘through. “, this last year, ‘It’s cheap to make and the. ‘profit. ‘margin is so high.” 2". 7 =< Crystal:meth, which. is “comrionly ‘smoked; is tegarded ( as : ‘highly addictive, and Popular « ‘among younger drug users. “Basi -said ‘the RCMP detachirient. here. has been: training. more. of its: officers to ben ‘inore: : girls regard it as-a way. to- That's. be.’ -. Cauise. its’ properties: ‘are: ~ akin: to” the’ ‘popular diet : But’ Watson. ‘alga. said. ; “young ‘people. regard crys- tak meth as a “dirty” drug an vunderground “Tntead they. ‘prefer: ‘Ri ” tain, a common préseri tion narcotic: givén to'sttid- ‘erits. who. fave attention: * . deficit: disorders: or. other _ afflictions “that. ‘make: “Ube POLICE ARE “racking dwn’; as’. many as’ four . r - = crystal | meth: labs in. the. northwest, Says a sen- ps ‘half:a-block from the RCMP. detachment’ here, : -~but-from, parents. of students and people i in this : | “The” problem of ‘meth’ has. really: J breath ‘of. fresh. “There*l] be more E all that surprised 7 * anipheiamine aver the last ‘several years. It has ‘ : much’ {o paint'a car,’ " said Basi.: : ply or, production of math i in’ the northwest, _ younger: iy ty: of. drug and, ‘alcohol ‘counselling programs and services. hard. for. them to concen- trates thas some of the. same. stimulating - proper: ties: as crystal meih,.0 0 “8 They: think, Ritalin “is ne. better: drug. It's acces-: ‘ible-and: ‘they: can getitat chool,”: said Waigon. ----: = Students’ ‘who. ‘buy: Rita. in. ‘illegally. typically: grind: “r :up “and inhale’ it: An mae it? ‘she: : “The. om kind o crosses its’ man: ; els -and. es they’ Itbe: mtr Grade 3 a Ritalin’ for. re-sale: It:can. $5-a pill. vo MOF. if they have a eg scription, they: ‘may say.” 7 they. lostit So-they can get “it-refilled ‘and: ‘accuimulate °) drog: “use in: young’ ‘people’ = - “nic, racial or ‘income lev: 1s imine: io its® effects “They: recommen: “par: ents. work: hard’ at commu- nicating: with: Aheir: ‘child- ‘Ten,. starting 2 ‘as: early. “a aan te could even’ be: Something - as basic.as ‘if. you: find. some: pills, what ~ dd you ‘do™ with” them i” said. Watson. - oo With « childrén, “itis “about education atca young. age. “It's about” making "|. : good “choices and. ‘appro: Tiate. choices,” She- said, a “Northwest: ‘Addictions :: co Services. does provide’: speakers ‘and inforiiation: © _for schools and community ..- “= groups. Italso has ‘a youth “drama group available, for a , “Performances. a added. Q ‘counsellors. “said “all ‘economic, “eth-.- that’ no: ‘school is’ or 4.* “And their efforts are -being helped by: ‘many - tips that, began ta flow after one’ clandestine . “THis LAZELLE AVE. house. in ‘which crystal. meth manifacturing equipment “was” “found ih.March is: boarded up and can’t b _Proval of an: environmental consultant that. e rented out again until it receives the ap--. | satisfies concerns. of ou Officials. “oo “ aware’ of signs Of: meth’ vise ‘and production. “We'te: ‘Teally. being proactive,” he said... ‘meth.: ‘lot of . ephedrine,. that would. bea ‘sign. Or-if: somebody: goes to.a Jocal- business and. want: ' 20 cans of. acetone: or & ther: and’ ‘says: ‘he wants.; to paint his? car, we, ‘know you ‘don’ t neéd: tha ‘He. Said “it is. too early: ‘to say. if the ‘diseov ery of ihe. Lazelle lab‘ has dampened | ‘the sup: "Officers: are..also ‘visiting. drug stores,: pian” _Macies, industrial ‘outlets’ andthe: like- to alert. “workers. -about what is- used 10” ‘make ‘srystal “Tf somebody. ‘comes: in Y and waits to: buy. alls "Police had: ‘reported an ‘increase. in. minor’ “There’: 's ‘been 1 na: y-real: dip: Property crime is. 1 still pretty. ‘steady,”. said Basi... 7 In, the meantime, a federal lab: in Vancotiy. a ers. processing: ‘chemicals. seized: from the:La-' - » “nelle. lab and from: a Jackpine- Flats location: * » where -four people: were’ arrested: in connection, “} with. the: Lazelle. ke discousty.. The, four “are. die in: ; court in June:, ' oa ~The exact : nature’ of chitges depends upon a : the Fesulis from t the: lab, analysis; ‘said: Basi. , AK letter to the editor Dear Sir: . ; The: Trustees of the Coast” Mountains ‘School District dre to be commended. for their “disposition of ‘Mountain View school and, ‘fur-~ . mulaté-a.policy on: that subject... “UThis allows the board's. eveniual’ ‘Mountai “view. and schools: -of;choice decisions - to: be-in- “tegrated into’ the more: comprehensive: ‘strategic reéonfiguraltion, of: district schools, currently. nder. consideration,. that i is slated for it ‘mentation in’ 2005/2006. : Sos : The trustees reached-- their *tecision ‘after: ‘day week debacle. process: ‘the -oplion: of: doing: nothing: with tablew : ; vet arose ‘lime after time: in: school forums. as . parents raised’ concerns: over the. disruptions that: opening: ‘the ‘unused ‘school: Would “entail for, students | in. mexisling schools in ihe Terrace, og ‘decision. to. effectively defer any? permanent _ ‘ther, to delay.’ any. ‘decision ‘on. schoals- of - choice until: they've. had an: ‘opportunity’ to. ‘fore “hot only: heard but-acted® on the. Patents’ en process designed to satisfy. the. tequirements. of ‘Pe ants cone: ern e ‘the Supreme Court following | last’ years: foi. oe “Interestingly, : going into - ‘the: “consultation “bein, frankly reactive: ~ “cénstantly ‘seraimbling Mountaifiview next Year was: not ‘event on the.’ Kee ping : school closed is wise. “the: dislocations’ accompanying iast years" fours. day: weck imposition —and-in view of the dis- -Tuplions impending: in -2005 “as a-result. of the - District's planned reconfiguration. - many: pare.” _ents:felt that a. one-year’s hiatus would decid- “edly improve: the: ‘educational: -environment for’: their children.” _._« The ‘trustees, .to: their eréelit, not: only. heard © : “but acted ‘on the parents", concern. " ‘Por: ‘much: of this: boatd” s ‘mandate 1 it: h - “The trustees,. to. their credit, to deal: pi¢ee-meal with’ flare-ups. Meanwhile “overall: ‘system: performance, » students’ lileracy ‘scores, has -progressively.de-’: clined, ‘I'm not. convinced. that’.the two. phe “nomena are unrelaté By- dealing’ witli -crises: oti an ad hoe’ basis ~ = the! board has’ ‘tended ‘ta box: itself i in, creating - ae s: many, new problems , as’ it’salves:: The ‘trus- a ce “mission: oF F delivering a- quality education to. their charges isa. complex one and Tequires', t ‘a coherent approach rather than’ the’ lobotom- * ized. flailings : that. have characterized: their. oF a “forts to date. : ‘One more: strictural ‘obstacle. ‘temains. to de-- |. “veloping. sucha’ comprehensive’ strategy: - the. -'sboard must décide by the end of;May ‘whether {0 révert. to’-a five-day: ‘week (witha probable. |: ‘reprise of the: bediam. last:fall's ‘four : for better, Or: Worse =. -.the. status: quo. four: “day AS: “with the’ Mountainview. “decisitn, it 2 would -be. better, from: ‘a strategic’ stand-point 10° gO witli the: status’ ‘quo. for now, Faregising fur-.,: ter distuptiotis: for our students: and allowing ‘1: “the board’ and ‘its administrators: sufficient: ‘time. [¢ for our schools for the 2005/2006 school year. . Through’: ils Mountainview: ‘consultations, the board has’ shown that it'can listen.’ Through: those” onsiiltalions ‘Parents Have for a-changé - ~ been: ‘able ‘to ‘make a constructive contribution ° ‘to education: in our,community,. . oe Hopefully. those: iwin:.trends will continue’. with’ the current ‘calendar-consultations. | 5 ‘John How, |. -Lakelse’ Lake; B. Ce : yo in. the northwest as well... . Dear ‘Sirs - Shelter. ww, petfinder. com,..1 found :this-site to‘ be an -excellent tool. : Dear. Sirs... to'developa cofiprehensive’ and coherent plan - |. _ — long Weekend, The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - AS _ CORRESPONDENCE FOR THE TERRACE STANDARD. The Mail Bag “Money where it’ s needed 7 7 Dear. Sir. I'm. wilting ° to larity ‘the: ‘Northern. Health . a Authority’ 5 position with respectto . $610, 000. in — ‘unexpended” funds * that” ‘the: ‘North West Regional, Hospital: District has provided.’ - “We'd like | people to undetstand ihat. the. ‘money “provided” ‘by. ‘the North “West. Regional - ‘Hospital: 7 District -is- “specifically. for héalth . improvements ' ‘in’ northwest: communities. ‘This .money.: will: hot go “We! tae ‘assigned ‘one of our a closely with -fegional’ hospital’ district officials. to improve communication on ‘projects’ and. “expenditures, 7 Part of the $610,000 approved. by : the North West Regional Hospital. District: has already resulted i in, new equipment ‘purchases | for hospitals.’ inthe: nordhwest..... The. delay: i in that’area. has. been: in. our‘submission of |: ” invoices to the: regional hospital district to. transfer the . ‘funds to us.to- coyer a share of the costs. : We : are. _ working to see that this occtirs faster... - - For much of the clinical. equipment; work, fieeds to. be. completed ‘to. develop | ‘the ‘technical ‘and’ clinical" | . specifications.” This does, take time becausé of the ~~ - need for:involvernent by’ different ‘health professionals _ ~ and. vendors: ‘Some. -examples of ihe equipment now in the’ procurement” process - will ‘address~‘needs . in. - radiology’ departments, operating rooms,’ patient -care” units; extended care units, kitchens, laboratories: and. . boiler rooms ‘for: nearly: all. northwest: facilities: - , “Specific: examples--include: a: newborn ‘ventilator : for Bulkley ‘Valley. District: Hospital; a.hew. cardiac .- “monitor : for Bulkley » ‘Valley “District -Hospital; a) ; laboratory ‘centrifuge. for, the Kitimat. Hospital; kitchen. - : equipment for the Prince’ ‘Rupert Régional. Hospital; als vital signs: monitor ‘for. the Acropolis: ‘Manor in Prince. Rupert; and laboratory: equipment for: health facilities -,on the Quéen Charlotte Islands." 2 - “Our” intention is to: work. closely: with! regional . hospital’ districts acrosé-the north:1o -fund: projects that _ will: improve - ‘pati¢nt care in. the’ -Tegion. A big, ‘-example,in. the. northwest. includes the nearly $3.4 — million: in hospital renovations taking place.ihis year “in Smithers, Terrace, and Prince Rupert that-Northern ~~ ; “Health. and the. North West Regional Hospital D District : “are jointly funding. ": :< These. projects . “show our. ‘shared intention: to " improve LOspitals in northwest communities; 2 2. - Northern. Health: will continue” to. work with the : ~ “North West Regional ‘Hospital: District . ‘in planning: us SePiand - -implementing - -major:: Te projects,-as part ‘of-a memorandum. of, undérstanding ~ reached last year. with all regional ‘hospital. districts . "across the region. ° ‘improvement _ ealth. : In‘closing, Northern: Healthy has informed niembers “ * “of the-North West Regional. ‘Hospital District's: Board. - [that their- funding’ allocated. for: health improvements we ‘in ‘northwest: ‘communities: will “be. Spent: in, the. - northwest. [want to emphasize: that point, to taxpayers: Suzanne Jotinston, Chiet Operating, Officer, a How she found Max T would: liké*1 ' extend. my” gratitude. to those who °- : work. | in the- animal: shelter.’environment.. It takes a special kind, of - person to: ‘deal with: animais, “who an though no fault of their: own;:-have ended. ‘up in.their’."- ~ care, 1’can“only’ imagine. how hard: it:must. be - when - the: deadline. for. adoption ¢ or. destruction comes, . "Twas very happy to-read that our Thornhill ‘Animal 7 : will be” joining’ the -. ‘website | ‘For: those - who © have - carefully ‘considered: the-.pro: and: cons: of. responsible pet. ownership ‘and. have’ decided: ‘it ‘isa: ‘step. they are '- |. going: take, - thie: site. offers: search option. that -allow “P fyou: to: séarch | by: .province or. Stale, either. all ” property’: crime, -perhaps: a-sign people. were |. adoptable. Pets or just’a specific breed. ’ : eM ten That is how.I found: my: latest addition; “After 6 sonic research, ‘I decided’ which breed .I- wanted, Tknew-] "didn't ‘want.a- puppy: “Cute. as they: are, they require + house training - = something 1. neither: have the time ‘or’. : patience. for. So"my : séarch ' began for an. older. dog _ -who * gets ‘along: well: ‘with other dogs’ and ‘small ‘| children.’ That was in‘hine‘of 2003, In October 2003 1 -found Max. White. he was: ina’ shelter: across the 1. country, the completion. of” an ‘application to’ ‘adopt ~ and afew: phone, calls. Iwas able: ito: Pick: Max, up. in. te Prince. George i in mid: Novetnber 2003. . . Whether you. ‘are: ‘looking: for.a ‘specific breed. or. my not; the rewards of helping ¢ a ‘previously unwanted and SOR, “Possibly. maltreated. pet.are immeasurable.” “Pauline Adair, Terrace, B.C, : “Choice’ schools doubted Re: “New. ‘ehidice® ‘School option. surfaces for , ‘Mountainview, - The: Terrace Standard, April. 14," 2004, I believe that the ‘creation of choice. schools. is ~-an extremely slippery. slope - te. tread ‘oni, This choice ~ smacks: of: the’ spectre’ of inulti- tiered: healthcare in’: Canada =f you. can. afford. to ay, you: eet better © ‘tesults, wg nls There" will be: A: conception of a change i in quality. i from one. school. to -anothér, Already. there are ‘examples: ‘of this: ‘difference,: -Famities: involved in- - teligion- based schools: are very. pleased i at the ‘success sition entailed) of to" Stay: With what is now. =|: of their program,” a | shudder to think.'that’if ‘schools “are created ¢ on a face line, what the” ultimate: “consequences. could be, : - We as. Canadians have- ‘spent a lot of energy and smoney, to. bring’ people. together from past inequities. ° Pe Our country shows: what’ is* possible if, we Focus our - efforts a as much, as. s possible ag are ee Gayton’ ‘Nabess, Terrace, B c. “About tthe Mail Bag eng Térrace Standard welcomes letters. ‘Our’ “address is-3210. Clinton’ St., Terrace, B.C: VEG 5R2: You. can ‘fax.us at 250-636-8432 or e-mail [us at newsroom @ terracestandard. com. No “attachments; please: ‘We~ need. your ‘name: address. and phone number ‘for vérification. Our deadline is noon Friday or. noon: Thursday’ te its a pilal planning. to’ work ve Northwest Health Services, Prince: Rupert, F B C. - a