eee eee wa m eae A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, June 17, 1998 FROM FRONT Justification needed to keep rural ridings Talstra said that while that might appear to give Terrace access ta two MLAs - in the same way that Prince George is part of three constituencies — the reality is that a divided Terrace wouldn't be well represented. There wouldn't be enough Terrace voters to have clout in either Bulkley Valley Stikine or in North Coast, he said, and the result would be that the MLAs would be elected from Smithers and Prince Rupert, not Terrace, And in particular, Talstra discouraged any thought of dividing Terrace and Thornhill into separate ridings, adding that would make future efforts at unifying the local com- Tunity more cifficult, Several speakers raised the spectre of Atlin - a northern - constituency that was eliminated the last time the bounda- ries were redrawn — and urged the commission not todo the same to Skeena, “This has been a huge disservice to the people of the north,” Brady said of the loss of Atlin. “None of thé north- em seats should be eliminated.” Ifthe north is to escape without the loss of a constituency somewhere, however, the commission made it clear that it will need ammunition to defend such a move. “The commission has to define the term “very special cir- cumstances” if it's going to help the northern communi- ties,” said the body's legal counsel, Winton Derby, Many speakers talked about the vast distances and travel time, winter road - conditions ‘and — sporadic telecommunications. Talstra said Victoria’s plan to put a northem commis- sioner’s office in Prince George is recognition that the north needs more representation, not less. But he said that solution creates a bigger bureaucracy, rather than giving the north the elected representation it needs, “Eight MLAs isn’t enough, therefore they’re giving us bureaucrats,” Talstra said. “That’s a step backwards,” The commission has to have its recommendations to the legislature by Dec. 3. A second round of hearings will take place in the new year ta gauge responses to the proposals. Hospital officials predict TERRACE AND Area Community Health Council officials say they can balance the budget of Mills Memorial Hospital by adjusting a provision allowing unionized employees (8) lake paid days off. Right now employees work extra minutes each day, building up a bank of time ta take a day off of their choosing. But that means extra costs in bringing people in to cover people on their day off; says com- munity health council chair Larisa Tarwick: . What will work better, and sive money, is.to have all employees take the same day off, she said, In effect, there will be up ta 10 days a Year when workers will take the same day olf, And hospital adininistrators want to inateh those days with the 24 days doclors won't be in their offices or conducting elective procedures, balanced budget this year “Doing this in conjunction with the doctors’ RAD (Reduced Activity Days) days will make our Operations more efficient and it will save a Significant amount of money.” said Tarwick. She estimated the savings at $80,000, When implemented, Tarwick said the joint days off schedule will resemble any normal ~ weekend day of service at the hospital. "We will still Have jlab and -X- -Tay when needed and their will be people on call,” she said. The anticipated $80,000 savings is being combined with more administrative efficiencies and a budget increase of $102,000 to come up with a balanced! bidget on anticipated income of just under $13.9 million. - ~-. Last year Mills projected a $178,000 deficit but ended up with one of $318,000. Tarwick said the budget has been sent south for approval and that a reply is expected scan. Conservation officer to be replaced THE TERRACE area may have to get through most of this summer with one less conservation officer than usual, But environment ministry officials are promis- ing a vacant position in the Terrace office will be filled. The environment ministry’s Skeena r region is gelting a budget five per cent smaller than ast year's, regional director Jim Yardley said! last week. That led to fears the ministry wouldn't replace a conservation officer post here held by Robert Butcher before he was reassigned this spring to take over industrial investigations here. “The conservation officer position in Terrace is going to be filled,” ministry communications officer Shelley Brown said Tuesday, “We're aiming to have somebody in place by late summer.” In addition to that position, the Terrace office has district conservation officer Adrian Juch and senior conservation officer Martin Melderis in the Terrace office to handle all fish and wild- life: enforcernent, bear comiplaints and other calls for conservation officers across.a large area, / When officers do head into the bush they wan't be able to go as-far or for as long as in past years, That’s because the budgets for boat and vehi- cle ‘fuel, maintenance, equipment and other operational necessities have also been trimmed this year. “It will impact on the amount of service we're ible to provide out there,” confirmed regional manger Wayne Campbell. North Coast Liquidators 44650B Greig Ave. (Behind The Terrace Standard) 635-8883 “Things getting in your way? We buy good used whatever.” Box 22, IMPROVING Terrace, B.C, Major Credit Cards YOUR Accepted ODDS VBG 4A2 Your donation i AGAINST AnneEvans = ‘our donation is anDetroxe | CANADA'S 638-1966 tax deductible FOUNDATION | #41 KILLER Your In Memoriam gift is a lasting tribute. Please send your donation to the address above, along wilh the name and address and the name and address of the next-of- kin, for an acknowledgement card. Fare applies to Tutsday and Wednesday travel only. Fare is one-way, some restrictions apply. AEROPLAN ® EES STOP Press | NEWS Suspect nabbed RCMP CREDIT help from the public in arresting a sus- pected thief June 12, They say a homeowner on the 5000 Block McConnell arrived home just after noon that day to find a person inside the residence, The per- son fled on foot with a chequebook and small amount of money. Several people phoned police, saying a man fitting the description of the person - on ar oats was running through their backyards. A35-year-old Terrace man was then arrested on the 4500 Block Scott within 20 minutes of the break in being reported. Guilty plea entered A FORMER Air B.C. employee has pleaded guilty to stealing money from the company’s office here, Patty Noonan pleaded guilty last week to one count of theft over $5,000. Noonan is to appear in court in Prince Rupert on Aug. § for a sentencing hearing, The thefts took place in a period from Jan, 1, 1995 to Apr. 30, 1997. Investigators believe nearly $50,000 was taken from the company’s offices. Break-ins a a investigated RCMP arrested a !7-year- old youth suspected of theft from vehicles early Sunday morning on the 4400 block of Greig Ave, The boy was found prowl- ing around a parked pickup truck and was taken into custody. Police said they recovered several items of stolen prop- erty and some money, and believe three to four unlocked vehicles on the street were entered. The youth appeared in court Monday on charges of tres- passing at night, possession of stolen property and theft. RCMP thank area residents for reporting a crime in pro- gress and urge all drivers to lock their vehicles and not leave valuable items in clear view inside. Police are still looking far information on another vehi- cle break-in, Numerous toals and a Pioneer CD/cassette car ste- reo worth a total of $2,500 to $3,000 was stolen from a vehicle parked on the 4700 - FINANCING for up to 36 months on all new 1998 Dakota Club Cabs and our best _ selling 1998 Dodge Ram Pickups? 1998 Dodge Dakota Club Cab Sport if attitude is what drives you, then the Dakota has your name onit. 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