B16 Terrace Review — Wednesday, March 27, 1991 Looking back... four-year-old letter became a major issue during a Terrace city A council meeting a year ago this week. Following the tragic weekend drowning of a six-year-old boy, bench area resident Ben Webber re-introduced into the public record a letter he had written to the city on Jan. 22, 1986. The letter referred to a pond in the Heek Brook ravine that had apparently been formed when Samson’s Poultry Fann decided to fill the ravine. In part, that letter stated: "It is no doubt a health hazard, an excellent breeding area for mosquitos in the spring and could be a danger to children playing in the woods, particularly in the winter if . they fell through the ice.” . Also re-introduced into the public record by Webber a year ago this week, was an April 28, 1986, council resolution that seemed to address his concerns. Council resolution #449 had five main points that outlined how most of the pond would be filled in, how the remaining portion of the pond would be fenced off, and how the natural drainage of the ravine would be restored. Council invited Webber to an April Public Works Committee mecting to discuss the issues involved, but an old and complex problem defied a quick solution, : On Jan. 31, 1988, the province implemented a new policy that would bring off-sales of beer by liquor establishments to a halt at 11 p.m. This _ was the result of some community and police lobbying that said late- hour off-sales were a problem. Now, the province wanted to know if it had worked. ‘ ‘The Kitimat-Stikine Regional District board’s Health Committee was given the job of investigating the matter, but a comment by director ‘Pete Weeber perhaps summed up the board’s thinking. "Hotel keepers are quite happy with this (policy)," he said, "because people used to go home with a case of beer but now they stay until 2:30 a.m and get sloshed... It probably hasn’t done anything for the driving problem." But there were happier, less controversial moments too. After two years of lobbying, planning, consultation and construction... the Loen Ave. Respite Home for Children was officially opened. A group of local residents were investigating the need for a community centre and a poll they conducted indicated 87 percent of the respondents wanted a community centre, 10 percent were undecided (primarily because they were concered about the cost), and only three percent opposed the idea. And then it was 1989 and lessons learned from the Rim sawmill in Hazelton were becoming important to Terrace. Under study at idle Rim mill was the feasibility of using the site as a forestry-based industrial - park. While this was going on, West Fraser Timber management was considering the pros and cons of moving their Terrace sawmill operation to Kitimat. For West Fraser, it would mean moving closer to their source of supply. For Terrace, however, it would mean a mill closure and possibly a duplication of the Hazelton effort for economic recovery. _ But around the region in 1989, it seems highway safety was also a topic of great concern. A Prince Rupert man was killed in a freak accident on Highway 16 West. A sheet of ice attached to the infamous vertical rockface named "Carwash Rock" broke free and fell on the pickup truck he was driving. _ A proposal from highways maintenance firm NorReadco Ltd., that the Bob Quinn highways camp should be closed, met with stiff opposition. From NDP Atlin MLA Larry Guno: "Northern roads are among the most treacherous in B.C. It is foolhardy in the extreme to close this camp and jeopardize. the safety of those who live and drive in the region.” A year ago this week, Terrace bylaw enforcement officer Fern Sweeting reported business was good, In her first five months on the __ job, she said she had handled 98 complaints, most of them involving the ‘ elty’s Nuisance Bylaw. . - On the business front, the regional district told Tay-M Logging they ‘would have to convince the Thornhill Advisory Planning Commission that using 7.3 acres of crown land in Thornhill for an industrial office - and shop was an appropriate thing to do. ~ Looking at more regional issues, the Terrace Review learned a year ago this week that the B.C. Rail line from Prince George to the Sustut would be rebuilt and operated at public expense. Another industrial aceess route, the Iskut River resource road, was expected to open by December 1990, Skeena MLA Dave Parker told the Alaskan State Affairs Committee. And finally, to say the regional district board was critical of Pulpwood Agreement 17 would have been the understatement of the year. After much discussion and abuse of the government’s latest northwest tenure proposal, a motion was passed that asked administration to prepare a gubmission for a PA17 public hearing to be held in Smithers on May 9, "Ge board member, though, summed up the view of the majority of the boatd members! "Those hearings are for awarding the contract... ‘they’te not prepared to hear whether it’s a good or bad idea." -adds after-sch One of the good things to come out of the Youth and Education Conference held in Terrace last fall is a range of tutoring services that have become available at the Ker- mode Friendship Centre. The sessions are held after school, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Monday, ‘Tues- day and Wednesday. Francis Smith, program direc- tor at the centre, says they were able to begin offering the service in January in conjunction with School District 88; the school district supplies the tutor while the Kermode Friendship Centre supplies the space and super- vision. Smith says they've had good response to the program. “We have a small regular group of students who attend all the time, while other students use the tutoring time to do their homework or to study. We en- courage this because if they have a problem with something they can get help from the tutor. And some students come here for a specific problem; sometimes all they need is a bit of coaching.” Although the program is geared primarily for secondary students (open to all students, native and non-native), Smith that all enquiries are welcome. Something they would like to add sometime in the future is tutoring for students with learning disabilities. Smith says they were approached by a = Friendship Centre offers Francis Smith: Sometimes all they need is a little coaching. ooltutoring parent earlier this year, but that the tutor, Dina Yon Hahn, felt she did not have the background to help the student in question. Tutoring covers all subjects, but a report from the school district indicates that social studies and English seem to be the areas of preatest need. They also tutor adults. Smith, who is involved in several other pro- grams, including Big Brothers and the Anti-Poverty Group, says one of their biggest prob- lems is finding transportation for children and adults. A few of the other programs and events at the Kermode Friendship Centre are a pre- employment program (adult up- grading); youth group (includes a babysitting course for those in- terested); and narcotics and alcoholics anonymous meetings. Smith also adds that they are always looking for volunteers, especially for the children’s pro- grams. ; Hf you'd like more informa- tion about the tutoring service or any of the other events at the centre, drop down to 3313 Kalum Street, or phone 635-4906. °@ Trademarks of Bombardice Inc. TERRACE SALES = 4441 Lakelse Ave., Terrace Trying to decide Just $300 down reserves your ’92 Formula a at °91 prices... plus $300 off! Just $300 down reserves ES from your best deal or « your regular or XTC apply it toward Ski-Doo edition 1992 Formula’ SnoGear", including a Mach 1, Formula’ Plus wide variety of clothing or Formula” MX at 1991 and accessories. Don't ptices. When you pick wait. Get a guaranteed | up your new sled before 1991 price, guaranteed September 30th, 1991, delivery in September factor in an additional $300 in Formula cash. Deduct it Hurry! Early Bird Offer Ends April 30th. ~ EQUIPMENT LTD. ph. 635-6384 and guaranteed excitement SKF doo. which 1992 machine to buy? 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