ee ee ee Four accidents in three hours last week The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - A3 Drive carefully, police sa ICY CONDITIONS are tar- gely to. blame for a flurry of car accidents on area highways Nov. 5. In less than three hours, emergency crews respon- ded to four separate single vehicle accidents — three on Hwy 37 and one on Hwy 16. Now, Terrace police are reminding motorists it’s not too early to winterize vehicles and to take extra caution on the road, “Drive carefully — espe- cially in early mornings when the roads are still icy from the night before,” says Terrace RCMP Con- stable Natasha Stultz. The first call came in at 6:59 a.m. after a 50-year- old Kitimat man’s vehicle hit ice and rolled over near the airport hill on Hwy 37. “It completely flipped over and landed back on its wheels,” Stultz said of the northbound 1995 Ford pick-up. The second accident happened less than an hour later at 7:56 a.m. when a 1994 Dodge pickup rolled over at virtually the same spot on the highway just south of the airport hill. “We had to actually re- move the door,” says Ter- race firefighter Peter Wee- ber. “[The driver] was trap- ped in there — the roof ac- tually caved in in a V shape and he was trapped to one side.” Terrace firefighters used the jaws of life to remove the door, allowing the dri- ver to be freed from the wreckage. The man had minor injuries and was taken to hospital by the B.C. Ambulance Service. The third accident aoc- curred a little closer to Terrace when a 50-year- old male driver from Kiti- mat went off Hwy 37 at 8:22 a.m. The man’s 1985 GMC pick-up crossed the centre line landing up in the ditch on the south side of the highway. And in a fourth icy- TERRACE FIREFIGHTERS work away at freeing trapped people from a vehicle rollover at Little Oli- ver Creek east of Terrace on Hwy16 Nov. 5. icy roads in the area caused four accidents requiring emergency crew response in just three hours. PHOTO COURTESY TERRACE FIRE DEPARTMENT roads related accident, two people were taken to hos- pital by ambulance after a 2001 Dodge Dakota pick- up truck lost control after crossing the bridge over Little Oliver Creek, 41km east of Terrace, The three occupants ing the 39-year-old female driver, were all wearing seat belts when the 8:37 a.m. accident happened, Cnst. Stultz said. They suf- fered minor injuries. The pick-up truck, how- ever, suffered major dam- age adding up to $20,000, Terrace fire fighters took out the jaws of life once more to cut the three door posts and fold the roof down, giving them access to the women trapped in- side, said Terrace deputy fire chief Fred Burrows. It took firefighters the women. Officials say ali the oc- cupants of the vehicles in- volved in these accidents were wearing seatbelts. With winter right around the corner, drivers should put winter tires on their vehicles, added Con- stable Stultz. from New Aiyansh, includ- Stultz said. October rainfall roughly 40 minutes to free way off mark from what usually happens ALL THAT sunshine and blue sky in October translated into way less rain than normal, reports Environment Ca- nada. Only 27 per cent of normal October precipitation fell at the airport, the place where Environment Canada has its instruments, and none of it was snow. ‘That 27 per cent works out to 49.6mm of rain, far off the extreme set in Oct. 1969 when 343.2mm of rain fell. And for those who thought it was a bit. warmer in Oc- tober, it was, but not by a whole lot... .. + “Terrace was the first community far“enough west along the Yellowhead to begin to feel some of the warm air streaming up from the south,” said Environment Ca- Billy stared out the That day never came. he wasn't able to live as a plete. body. She met Sloan. . | Am A Woman...Since My Operation mother lugged in the laundry. “Sweetheart, why aren't you outside with the neighborhood boys. They're play- ing hockey." Billy's eyes filled with tears. His mother rushed wrong?" “Oh mom, they don't want to play with me, And | hate hockey. | hate being a boy.” His mother hugged him. “Don’t worry. You'll feel differently one day.” As Billy got older, it became clear that times,” “I’m doing it, mom. I'm getting a Sex finally found love and now it's gone.” change. | hope you understand.” His mother could barely speak. ‘I guess...you always knew, didn't you?” After years of therapy and several operations, the transformation was com- viving spouse. ‘Billy Jean’ felt right at home in her new window as his A DY CLAIRE BEA NSTEEN over, “What's rying.” The doctor came over with a grim expression. ‘I'm so sorry, He didn't make it.” Billy Jean collapsed onto the floor. “But you said it was routine...” “I'm sorry...these things happen some- man. Billy Jean was inconsolable, “Il had Then, Billy Jean discovered that the doctor was negligent. "He'll pay for this,” Billy Jean vowed. She filed a malpractice sult as the sur- IN THE COURTROOM “Billy Jean has no right to sue us," the nada’s Bill Miller who tracks information for western Canada from his Whitehorse office. “Mind you, nat be much, only 3C above normal for the month.” The maximum temperature for a day in October was 16.3 degrees, less than the extreme which was 21,4 de- grees on an October day in 1993. And the minimum temperature the past month was - 2.9 degrees, off quite a bit from the extreme temperature of -13.5 degrees in 1984. Miller said the precipitation average across the north worked out to 50 per cent above normal. He’s predicting November temperatures will be above normal. News In Brief Clean those chimneys THIS MONTH’S colder weather means fire depart- ments can expect to be busier, says Terrace fire chief Randy Smith. “This is the time of year we can expect chimney fires and this is.also the time of year we encourage people to call a chimney cleaner or to get their own equipment,” said Smith, “Creosote build up is dangerous and people should be aware of that.” Smith also advises that chimneys be checked for nests and blockages from leaves. . WCEB rates climbing WORKERS’ COMPENSATION rates are rising 1.2 per cent in 2003, to $2.06 per $100 of assessable worker payrall. But Workers’ Compensation Board officials point out the average rate back in 1996 was $2.29 and then dropped for four years before rising again in 2001 and 2002. “Rising claims costs and falling financial mar- kets continue to put pressure on employers’ base premium rates,” said WCB chief financial officer Sid Fatledad. Dialysis gets closer CONTRACTORS INTERESTED in bidding on re- novalions at Mills Memorial Hospital so that a six- station dialysis unit can be placed there will be going on an information site tour this Friday. The unit will be going in the old administrative wing, located just to the left after entering the hos- pital via the main door. Bidders have until Dec. 3 to submit their tender documents and they will be opened in public short- ly thereafter. “We believe construction will start shortly there- after, but there are other processes to go through,” Northern Health Authority official Mark Karjaluoto said last week. Although the renovations are being handled by the B.C. Buildings Corporation, the unit will be run by the Northern Health Authority in conjunction with a provincial health authority which provides services such as dialysis. Karjaluoto said the unit should be open by spring. ICBC rate hike imminent INCREASED COSTS from collisions and auto crime has observers speculating about a rate hike from ICBC. “ICBC is doing what it can to reduce its opera- ling costs and continuing to invest in road safety to reduce the number of collisions,” said company president Nick Geer, “but our ability to keep insur- ance rates low is being strongly impacted by rising claims costs and the decline the insurance industry is experiencing in investment income.” Drivers benefited when investment profits buf- fered insurance premium rates but the stock market malaise has cut into investment income returns. ( ( HY i) ; . | by 065 Caledonia Athletics V.ILP. Coupon Book (g000 It’s Back!!! Thank you to the following sponsors for their support. Don Diegos,’ _ The Kiva, Mr. Mikes West Coast Grill, Pizza Hut, Shames Mountain _ Ski Corp., Skeena Valley Golf & Country Club, Skeena Wilderness : Fishing Charters, Subway, Terrace Little Theatre, Video Stop. Proceeds from the Coupon - Book sales go to Athletic teams at Caledonia Secondary School. Only 500 books will . be sold. Books will be sold between November 8, 2002 and January 15, 2003. ZOO 2oOT Billy Jean was hesilant. “Before we get closer. | have to tell you something.” Billy Jean explained everything. Sloan looked at her lovingly. “You're not only beautiful, you're brave too.” They were married In an elegant cere- mony, with Billy's mather looking on proudly, Their ralationship was wonderful. Then, Sloan went in for some minor surgery. Billy Jean paced the hospital corridors. “I'm sure he'll be fine, but | can't help war- doctor exclaimed. “She is not a ‘surviving spouse’, Sha was born a man, and she will always legally be a man. Aman can- not legally marry anather man.” Billy Jean's tears flowed, “I! have done everything | could to become a. woman — counseling, hormone treat- ments, surgery. | may have been born a man, but now I'm a woman... and a widow because of their malpractice!” Was Billy Jean’s marriage legal? You! Be The Judge. Then look below for the decision: SPONSORED BY Phone: 638-0354 TERENCE WRIGHT LAW OFFICES TRIAL LAWYER SINCE 1985 Serving the Pactfic Northwest TERENCE WRIGHT | Criminal and Family Law and Civil Litigation Free Initial Interview for I.C.B.C. and Personal Injury Claims 201-3219 Eby Street, Terrace, B.C. V8G 4R3 Fax: 635-2919 YOU! BE THE JUDGE - DECISION: “Sorry, Billy Jean, your marriage was invalld,” held Judge Terry. “As a matter of law, you are a man - you still have male chromosomes, and blotogy dees not ile, You cannot be legally married to another man, and you cannot sue the hospHal as that man’s spouse.” “Today's column is based! an a case from the stata of Texas. If you have a siellar robtem, please contact TERENCI WRIGHT or another lawyer in your province. We are proud to bring you some ¢f the curtent legal {sates from actors the couniry for discussion and debate. Ta provide compelling entertaln- the characters ancl the scenarios {n the cases. Any resemblance ta real people is pu of clarity and brevity, the legal issues in the case have beer grently reduced and simplified. Claire Bernstein is & lawyer und nattorally syndicated col- ment we have Netionalized the names, uminlst. Copyright 2002 Hakka Enterprises. (ALI-11) 031-4 y colncklental, In the Interest Coupon Books can be ordered through the school at 635 6531 or 638 0847. Cost of Coupon Book $30.00 Over $600 Thank you for taking part in this | fundraiser. SHAMES MOUNTAIN Skiing at its Peak ERY Lp Total Coupon Book Value — The Kiva bier ’ Skeena Wilderness Fishing Charters ‘@ | ty