te rad ai NORTHERN WHITE dairy store manager Pia Heer is one of near- ly 30 employees who have lost their jobs at the Telkwa dairy. It Says it was forced to close because of lack of access to major grocery stores in the region. Smithers dairy shuts down Northern White says it was shut out of grocery stores — even in its hometown THE NORTH’s only independent Club and some convenience its stores sold two-thirds of the Lack of access to big grocery The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, January 9, 2002 - A3 dairy has closed its doors, leaving milk drinkers without a tocal brand. Telkwa-based Northern White Dairy, ran by Bulkley Valley Milk Ltd., watched the last bottles roll down its production line Dec. 19. ' Nearly 30 workers have lost ~ jobs and about 15 area dairy farms will lose a local market. ‘Plant manager David Brame blamed the closure on increasing difficulty getting the dairy’s milk onto shelves of major grocery stores, even in the north. It’s really frustrating when you ‘have @ great product and a local market that you know you can supply, but you can’t get it to _ them,..because the stores waon’t > open their doors to. you,” he said. Up until the closure, Northern - White could be bought in Terrace at the Real Canadian Wholesale stores, but not at Terrace’s Safe- way or Overwaitea grocery stores. Local demand caused most groceries in Smithers to stock Northern White. But Brame said Northern White lost access to Real Cana- dian Wholesale Clubs, along with 700,000 litres of milk Northern White produced each month. “What was left was the small accounts we had that were spread out from Prince Rupert to Fort St. John to Williams Lake, whose vo- fumes wouldn’t sustain the dairy,” he said. “The only way this can be reversed is if consu- mers demand to have their stores stocked with locally produced goods.” Super Valu and Extra Foods out- lets when their parent company — Calgary-based Westfair Foods — agreed to exclude Northern White and replace the Bulkley’ Valley-, made milk:with Dairyworld: milk... He said the loss of Westfair’s contract was crippling, because Westfair spokesman Dave Ry- sebol said he doubted Westfair’s actions could have caused the dairy’s failure. ~[edon’t own the dairy,” Ryse- -bol saidr “It seems- unlikely that a couple of stores could make one dairy go under.” stares forced Northern White to ship its product further away, at higher cost. “It’s the trend of global mar- keting,” Brame said. “The only way this can be reversed is if con- sumers demand to have their stores stocked with locally pro- duced goods.” He said the dairy also lost money on a failed attempt to ship raw milk to Alaska’s state-owned dairy, which gets its milk from Seattle. Alaskans liked the milk. But lack of common inspection stan- dards meant it couldn’t be called Grade A in the U.S., and Northern White was shut out again. Valley farms that supplied . Northern White will now have to - ship their product.to-plants.as far as Alberta, the freight - costs shrinking their profit margins. News In Brief Politicos weigh in on SCI THE B.C. Unity Party last week urged the govern- ing Liberals to tethink their methods in selling Skeena Cellulose. It said the government’s rush to conclude a deal with Swiss-based Mercer International and keep talks closed ta other bidders makes no sense. “The government is hell bent on rushing its deci- sion in favour of what appears to be, in many te- spects, an inferior proposal compared to others that have come forward,” said leader Chris Delaney. He said the strategy flies in the face of Liberal claims thal more competition is better on issues from auto insurance to-B.C. Hydro. - “They are unwilling to apply the same logic,” he said. Unity forestry critic Rod Taylor, who is an SCI employee, said the process underway now has the look of “NDP-style insider deal making.” “By acting rashly they may be throwing the baby oul with the bathwater,” Taylor said. “After five years what is another 90 days?” More white stuff up high SNOWPACK LEVELS are slightly ahead of the long-term average. That's the message from Michael Schuster, ~ Alcan spokesman. But he noted it’s too early to tell how the Nechako Reservoir will look in the ‘ spring because inflows lypically slow dawn through the winter months. As of early December, the reservoir sat at 2,790.48 feet above sea level, slightly below the 2,790.68 mark in September. He said the number isn’t great, but it’s still ahead of where it should be. Just a few months ago, however, the snowpack was several months ahead of the long-term aver- age. “It's still ahead, so that’s good news,” he added. Schuster said Alcan anticipates no major diffi- culties in the spring if there are sufficient inflows. Alcan has maintained the long-term solution is dredging Tahtsa Narrows. The proposal is undergoing a review process from the provincial and federal governments. Company representatives recently held public consultation sessions at locations that would be af- fected by the dredging. Karaoke gear stolen POLICE are on the lookout fer thieves who like to sing. On Christmas Eve an Agar St. resident found a karaoke machine and some tools had gone missing from his workshop, RCMP say. The door to the shop had been forced open and the door jamb was broken. A Fender karaoke machine and stand, several - tools including three Makita cordless drills and a Makita circular saw were stolen. Police say they don’t. know when the. offence. | might have taken place -but-say it could have been any time over the past (wo months. You: BE THE E 1upGE Tyler slammed his locker shut. “That detention was endless. And for one lousy spit ball. Hey, ’ there's Jerry. Lets see if he wants to shaol some hoops.” “He's talking to some kid from Northmount Junior High. Lat's sneak up on him,” Cameron said. _ The guys quietly approached. “Whoah,” Tyler whispered. “Shhhh... Listen...” “I'll get it to you tonight for the dance, Jerry,” the Northmount student was saying. “This stuff ls top qualily pot, You'll sea. They'll ba begging far more.” Gameron and Tyler tiptoad back to their lockers. “Maybe we should tell someone,” whispered Camaron, looking around nervously. “Won't do much good,” Tyler responded. “He's not the only drug dealer in this school.” Cameron was-torn, “But I'm worrled about Jerry.” "And squealing on him is gonna help?” The next day, Cameron came to school after a - sleepless night. He went to the principal's office. “l'm no snitch but...” The principal closed the door. ") assure you no one will know,” After Cameron latt, the principal called the police. “Looks like one of our 13-year-olds will be . Salling drugs at the dance tonight," the principal sighed. “He was a prelty good student too. Such - a shame.” _ At the dance, Cameron kept checking the deor. “| wonder if Jarry’s coming...” Tylar scoffed. “Ara you siill hung up about tha drug thing?” -*No vey.” Cameron balked. Jerry walked In. - The principal immediately pounced. “Come with me.” GY CLAINE GEANSTEIN “| haven't done anything!" Jerry panicked, “We can do this quietly or not, Your choice,” the principal said. In his offica, the A.C.M.P officer was waiting. “Do you have drugs, Jerry?” the principal asked. “What?!” “I'm going to search you now,” said the prin- cipal. “Emply your pockets,” “| don’t have tol” “Do what ha says,” the officer sald. There was nothing in his pockets. ‘Take off your socks,” the principal demanded. Ha found the marijuana in litte plastic bag- gies, squashed in Jerry's socks. The principal shook his head sadly as the officer arrested Jerry. Jerry was led out of the school, yelling. “I ‘know my rights! I'm gonna suel” In court, Jerry argued that the search was illagal. “Your Honour, tha school can't just search students whenever they feel like itl They have to gat a warrant. This is an abuse of power." The.prosecutor fought back. “Your Honour, schocls have a right to maintain order and dis- cipline. You can't expect them to get a warrant every time thay need to search a student.” Was the search illegal? Youl Be the Judge. Then look below for the dacision SPONSORED BY Phone: 638-0354 WRIGHT & MARDIROS TRIAL LAWYERS Serving the Pacific Northwest TERENCE WRIGHT 15 years experience DAVID MARDIROS Criminal and Family Law Civil Litigation Aboriginal Law Free Initial Interview for LC.B.C. and Personal Injury Claims 4730 Lazelle Avenue, Terrace, B.C, V8G 1T2 Fax: 635-2919 1) YOU! BE THE JUDGE - DECISION: “The search was legal,” held Judge uke. “School authorities must be --able fo react quickly to situations that threaten the school environment. The principal bad good reason for belleving Jerry had broken school rules. The search for evidence was appropriate and not overly _. brvaslve." T Today's column ts based on a case from Nova Scotia. If Frou have a similar freblem, please consult a Welght & Mardizcs In Terrace, “B,C, We are proud to bring you some of the current lepal issues from: across e country for discussion and debate. To provide comp ling enlertainment, we have fictionalized the names, the characters and the scenarios In the case.. Any resemblance fa real peo 1 E ely coincidental In the interest of clarity and brevity the legal issues in the ease have been greally reduced and se Gale ; Bernstein a lawyer and natlonally syndicated columnist, Copyright 2001 Halka Enterprises, C25-9 Josh Netzel — would like to thank all the sponsors and particpants for making the 1ith Annual Kermodei Bear Swim a huge success! Kleanza Contracting/Tom Brand Acklands - Grainger Aqua Clear Botlers Blue Ridge Ventures CFNR Rado Station CJFW Radio Station Farwest Bus Lines Kinette Club of Terrace Kinsmen Club of Terrace Mix 590 Radio Station Mount Layton Hotsprings ~ Universal Nechako Northcoast Construction NIV Red Carpet Coffee Services River Industries - Superior Linen Supply Terrace Water Rescue Terrace Standard = Dynamics Lid. Valhalla Pure Outfitters . Web North Marketing & Design | PARTICIPANTS & PLEDGES | Jennifer Bartman Jake Bernard Louis Bibaud Bill Buchanan David Burk Troy Butler Philippe Cam . 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