Page 2 May 1983 Cassiar Courier Frickson Creek Column PN gnactoe: = : ee hy >= _ by Pat Lewis Beaton Home Sweet Home ..... Just returned from a few weeks “outside” and although we had a good vacation, it al- ways feels warm and wonderful to walk back through our front door. Only two plants died and our cat didn’t scratch the sofa to pieces. Everyone says nothing hap- pened while we were away, but the stories slowly filter out ... Joy Wuschke’s mom is here from England; the Devines made it back north in one piece after their first trip to the big city in nine years; Heinz, Margaret and Daniel Drews were here from Dease Lake while Norman Day and his gang invaded Florida. And, oh yes! A big bash is being planned to celebrate our first quarter of 1983. By the time this goes to press we will have din- ed on lobster tails and smoked beef ( expertly prepared by Doug Skaife and the cookhouse crew) in honour of the 10,000 ounces of gold produced by Erickson from January to March. That's a record for us! Erickson has been getting a bit of publicity lately. George Cross, who writes the George Cross Newsletter for the Vancouver Stock Exchange, recently visited us with his wife Anne. His trip resulted in an in-depth four page story about Erickson in his publication, We’re also expecting a reporter from the Northern Miner to visit us this spring. : Ah, Spring! Mud and puddles; seed catalogues; time to put away the skis and get out the bikes and wagons. We‘re hoping to have an “Erickson Days” this spring. Joe Hebert and Charlie Devine are heading the commit- tee. Some of their ideas include mining events such as a jack leg race and gold panning. We’ve considered having an Erickson Days for a few years now and hope this year we'll succeed in holding it. Everyone will be welcome, of course! Happy Spring! ORR OR OE OE M.L.A. REPORT Al Passarell WE MUST RETURN TO SENSIBLE TAXATION POLICIES Since they took office, the Socreds have doubled your taxes. Eack working person now pays an average of $2,806.34 in B.C, taxes (Ministry of Finance, Budget Speech: 1981-82) compared to $1,401.28 when the NDP was in office (statement of Public Accounts of B.C. 1975- 76). The only time taxes have gone down is just before the 1979 provincial election, when the sales tax was lowered to 4 percent. : Bill Bennett said the reduction was ‘permanent’; (Bill Bennett — Vancouver Sun, April 11, 1978, Page !) The Sales tax is now 6 per cent. They’‘ve increased the gas tax by 42 per cent, and the gasoline tax is indexed to go up automatically from now on. They’ve more than doubled ICBC rates. Doubled medicare fees, with proposed giant increases in the near future, more than tripled hospital and ambul- ance fees. , Slashed the provincial share of education cost, from 48 per cent to 35 per cent, forcing massive increases in property taxes. More than doubled ferry rates. Imposed a fuel tax on farmers and fishermen for the first time. 2 Increased income taxes from 38 per cent to 44 per cent of basic federal tax. And more. And while the Socreds have conducted an all-out as- sault on your wallet, they've allowed resource revenues to decline from 13.4 per cent in 1975 to 9.9 per cent in 1982. It must stop. The NDP acted, through the B.C. petroleum Corpor- ation and other measures, to ensure resource revenues benefitted all British Columbians and that the tax load was shared equally. We must return to sensible taxation policies. © Forest fires are a threat Fire season officially begins April 15 and the Forest Ser- vice is asking the public for help. “While enjoying oGr forests we must be aware of our re- sponsibility to maintain and protect them from the many costs of wild fires,’’ says Al Gorley, Regional Fire Preven- tion Co-ordinator. During the 1982 fire season, he says, there were 275 wild fires in the Prince Rupert Forest Region, the northwest quarter of the province. Of those, 199 were caused by people, and they cost nearly three and a half million dollars to. control while buming 17,000 hectares of forest. Gorley describes a few of those fires: “Early last summer a careless traveller failed to extinguish a camp fire on the bank of the Cottonwood River near Cassiar. Within hours the fire destroyed a summer cabin and ten square kilometers of timber.” “Only a few weeks later, and less than two kilometers away, another campfire became a raging wild fire which destroyed property and timber in two valleys and burned over 100 square kilometers. “Another fire east of Houston is believed to have been started by a careless smoker travelling on a forest road. Nearly 600 men and 40 pieces of heavy equipment were needed to control the blaze, which covered more than 12 square kilometers and cost over one million dollars to control.” The public can be of great help by being more careful, says Gorley. The public can also help by reporting fires, -he says; just call the telephone operator and ask for Zenith 5555. Town Council Welcome to our new dog catcher. Anyone with specific complaints about dogs can pass the information along to any town council member or Town Administ- ration. The Town Council is still contemplating “The Best Improved Premises Award” this summer. If the award is to go ahead - details for registration will be in Junes’ Courier. We still are toying with a few summer projects for around the townsite. In regards the above two items there still has not been much public input. If you have any ideas - make them known to Town Council. We're here to help make your ideas work for the im- provement of our town. Area manager visits town Colin Hoath, area manager for C.B.C., spent a few days in Cassiar recently. While here he spoke to a joint meeting of the Lions and Lioness Clubs, as well as to many residents of the area to find out the concerns of the people regard- ing the C.B.C. and if and how improvements could be made. He advised that this summer the C.B.C. hoped to bury the cable running from the telesat site to the C.B.C. trans- mitter behind the community centre. If this is done it would ensure a more consistent. quality. of. transmission. - RCMP NEWS PAUL ZOLATORIUK plead guilty to a charge of impair- ed driving and was fined $800.00 and his driver’s license was suspended. He also plead guilty to a charge of mis- chief. He has to make restitution, was fined $10.00 and placed on probation for 6 months. GEORGE DENNIS plead guilty on three counts: 1. Causing a disturbance — has to do 30 hours of com- munity work and was put on 9 months probation. 2. Mischief — has to do 20 hours of community work and was put on 9 months probation. 3. Causing a disturbance — received 30 hours of com- munity work and put on 9 months probation.. CHARLIE TIBBETT nlead guilty to hit and run. He re- received a fine of $400.00 PETER WARD plead guilty to a charge of impaired driv- ing. He was fined $500.00 and his drivers license was sus-_ pended. PETER CALLBREATH plead guilty to a charge of im- paired driving. He was fined $250.00, had to do 40 hours of community work and his drivers license was suspended. HARRY KELFORD plead not guilty to two charges of im- paired driving. Trial will be held September 29. ELDON BURNS was charged with impaired driving. Trial will be held June 23. HENRY JOHNNY did not appear on a charge of impair- ed driving. A warrant was issued for his arrest. ROGER BRACE was charged on two counts of false pre- tences. He was remanded in custody to June 23 for a plea. iOHAMOUD DARWICHE pleaded not guilty to a charge of speeding. Trial was set for June 23. IVAN SAVARD was found guilty of assault causing bod- ily harm. He was given a conditional discharge and bound over to keep the peace for six months. : JOHN HILTON plead guilty to two charges of impaired driving. He was fined $550 and $600 respectively and his drivers license was suspended. MICHAEL JOHNNY was found not guilty of a charge of wounding with intent. | MOGENS SORENSON plead guilty to a charge of impair- ed driving. He was fined $500 and his license was suspend- ed, NEWTON DENNIS was charged with Breaking and Entry and Theft. He was given nine months probation and order- ed to cut 10 cords of wood for the victim. He plead not guilty to a charge of assault and trial was set for June 23. BUCKLE UP DUE TO CONCERN BY THE PROVINCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE BRANCH, SEAT BELT LAWS ARE TO BE ENFORCED PLEASE BUCKLE UP PASSARELL gp RE Si rn Bits & Pieces | The Lottery Syndicate in the accounting office was within one number of winning the Provinc- ial Lottery recently. Apparently Marylyn was on her way out for the champagne when she_had to be hauled back in — too bad guys!!!! Just a reminder to motorists — PEDESTRIANS DO HAVE RIGHTS — please drive carefully. It’s no fun having a mud shower on the way to the store. While we’re on the subject of motorists we hear that the Seat Belt Law is gong to be en- forced so PLEASE BUCKLE UP!!!! Good luck to Oliver Leckie who has resigned from Cassiar Resources. Oliver will be working his gold claim this Summer. After that his plans are uncertain. Some people sure are lucky. Dick Chambers lost _ his wallet recently in the Blue River Bridge Area. Three weeks later as Lorne A. was driving by he thought he’d stop and look for it. Lo and Behold it was still there. I suppose you'd already cancell- Commiserations to Owen C. who missed a fine dinner. (Also lots of work of the volunteer variety). Caesar Isidoro and his two sons spent a few days in town recently, visiting Valdemar and family, as weil as renewing old acquaintances. We hear that the CBC is looking for a mole to help them bury a cable this summer. Only hard - working moles need apply. SMILES TO:— The Royal Bank crew for their excellent space capsule “Decor”. They sure do get into the mood of things. The Concert Society for another great event. The Prelude to Spring dinner was a great success. The guys at the cookery surpassed themselves - yet again - and the students did a tremendous job waiting on tables. Events like this make us realise what a fine bunch of young men and women we have in town. John Wong was in Toronto recently visiting an -old flame. Seems the weather was the pits and he didn’t like Toronto (he wasn’t commenting on the old flame!). Congratulations to Guy Hnatiw — the lucky win- ner of the trip for two to Hawaii. The raffle was sponsored by the Community Club after CP Air generously donated the tickets. The ticket was drawn by Colin Hoath on April 18. Congratulations are also in order for Ruth Gowan and Gert Hagemann, who recently tied the nup- tial knot. Rumor has it that Ruth had to pay a fine to the Lionesses ‘cause she didn’t invite them to the wedding. 22 FAREWELL TO:— Paul and Karen Clark who have moved to Calgary. Stella Radford who moved to Terrace recently _with children Trina, Preston and Kevin. Ray hopes to join them in the near future. Doreen and Howard Nicholas and daughter Marcia. Marilyn and Joe Pierson who are moving to Fort McMurray . The warehouse gang keep telling Mar- ilyn that it’s much better here! Bob Gauthier and Dorothy Read, who are relocat- ing in the Stony Plain, Alberta area. WELCOME BACK TO: — Pearl Foster, who has rejoined her husband, Dave, after an extended visit to Victoria. Bonnie Boyd who recently became engaged to Vince Gibson. Vince and Bonnie will be getting married this summer. BORN TO: 3 Nancy and Chris Gleason, a son, Devon Chris- topher, on March 26, 1983, at the Burnaby Gen- eral Hospital. Vickie and Rick Willis, a son Michael David, on March 19, 1983, 8 Ibs. 2 0z. at the Richmond General Hospital. Lena Girardin and Arnold Callbreath, a daughter April, on April 3, 1983, at the Whitehorse Gener- al Hospital. oO ttt tototok THANK YOU > We’d like to thank, on behalf of the Cancer Soc- iety, all the people who supported our Easter Daf- fodil campaign. Look for upcoming programs in ~ Cassiar. Thank you. Anne Connolly, Public Education Ruth Hagemann, Patient Services Pam Krawezyk, Public Relations On Wednesday afternoon, March 30, Joan Jack- son was bid farewell by the hospital staff at an afternoon coffee break party. Joan has been nur- sing at the Cassiar Hospital for 10 months and de-: cided that the warmer climate in New Orleans would be more to her liking. She was wished every success in her new venture and presented with souvenir spoons by Lil. Good luck, Joanl. In March Nirmal enjoyed two weeks off extended vacation, relaxing at home. Glad to see you back, Nirmal. Judy spent the long weekend in Whitehorse curl- ing in the International Bonspiel and came third in the “C” Event. Congratulations, Judy. She re- ported excellent curling and a good time. Irene travelled to Wetaskiwin, Alberta for the Eas- ter weekend to visit her family — or so she tells us, We’re glad she remembered to come back! Dorothy and Al visited Liard Hot Springs for the Easter weekend and although it was windy and cool they reported a good time. Marjorie and Tony are enjoying a week’s holiday entertaining Marjory’s sister and her husband from Scotland. They have spent several days in Whitehorse, showing. them the sights of the Yukon. Thanks to Don Taylor for the lovely bouquets of daffodils left at the hospital for Easter. We all en- joyed them. ; ; Congratulations to the staff members who success— fully passed the Basic and CPR course. Doctors Crawford and de la Mare, Sue O’Mura, Nirmal Kaul and Doreen Nicholas. Also to those recertify- ing successfully — Dr. Sevier, Mary Elhorn, Juan- ita Nuyens, Roberta Hynick and Lil Kamlah. Welcome to our new administrator — director of nursing, Peter Snell, his wife Pauline and 6 year old daughter. They will be taking up residence at 293 Carmacks Street and he will be taking over his new duties on May 1. LIONESS NEWS by Pam Krawezyk. A few more notes on this year’s Skate-a-thon. We rais- ed a total of $2,500.00, which enables us to furnish an- other room in the Easter Seal House. We’d like to thank Cassiarites and the people of Erickson for their tremen- dous support. A special thanks to Mr. Werner Schneeber-> ger, who has made a tape of the Skate-a-thon this year in tthe hopes that it will be shown on the Christmas Timmy's Telethon, so everyone can see how great Cassiarites are. Trophies were awarded as follows: Most Funds collected — Jason Hebert, Erickson Most Laps Skated — Danny Watson, Cassiar Youngest skater — Jeffery Johnston, Cassiar The Lioness T.V, Bingo is in full swing now, and you can check your numbers on W.S.T.V. Channel 8 ona 24 hour basis. Good Luck! zi For any information on the Lioness Club or Lioness activities, please feel free to contact Lioness Edith McDougall — 778—7831 Lioness Ruth Hagemann — 778-7516 Lioness Chris Shepherd — 778-7448 SOSSSoCoooooo OOOO OOOO OO OOOO OOOO OOOO aeons DON’T FORGET 8 THE FLOWER SALE SPONSORED BY THE 2 BLUE VALLEY FIGURE SKATING CLUB AND MOTHER'S DAY BAKE SALE SPONSORED BY THE ARTS & CRAFTS SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1983 — 10:00A.M. PARKING LOT BESIDE POST OFFICE SSNS SNSTENS OSS TONES OS ESTE OLS OOS OKO OO ORONO OOS COLO SO OAe JOAN’S IN THE MONEY Joan Jeffries pulled a fast one and drew Bill’s ticket in the “Dash for Cash’’ draw sponsored by the Lionesses. Porti volunteered to do the dashing and made sure that he was Wearing baggy pants for the occasion. ee ee en state tec *eeeemntte namtinn ieee iomeieitnaats