On the move The Frank home is headed for a downtown spot where it will have a new purpose/NEWS A10 When tn ROM Alaskan rout. Library's new CD- ROM capability - vastly expands information search/COMMUNITY B1 ‘Kermodes boys basketball team unleashed a blizzard attack for | two wins/SPORTS BE WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 1993 Big deficit could ground Sant GOVERNMENTS ‘AREN’T the only victims of budget deficits. Word has now ieaked out from the North Pole that Santa Claus may have to cut back to balance his books. ; The shocking news ds conlained in a confidential memo wrilten for the North Pole Corporation, a wholly owned entity of Santa Claus. It's been followed up by an ex- clusive interview with Santa in his business office. “The bad news is right here,’ said Santa pointing to the spread sheet illuminated on his computer screen. ‘Demand is sky rocketing but we're jusi having trouble keeping our income at a level sufficient to meet expenses, Mrs. Claus and I are doing our best but it’s getting very difficult. ar Chief among Santa’s problem is increasing insurance costs for his sleigh. — The Insurance Corporation of North Pole Regions last week an- nounced it was increasing rates for business use. “I thought about just insuring the sleigh for pleasure use, but if there ever was an accident — boy, would I be in travble,’’ Santa commented, And, Santa will have pay more unemployment insurance premiums for his reindeers and elves. . “T just don’t know — Rudolph, Prancer and the rest have been with us for years. But their vet bills are also climbing each year. So is the cost of food,’’ Santa la- mented, Jt all adds up to something Santa doesn’t want-to talk about — selling his sleigh. The confidential memo indi- cates Santa may be forced to take regular commercial airline flights _ fo deliver his presents Christmas Eve. That in’ itself gives Santa a problem because of the high cost, for instance, of flying between Terrace and Vancouver, “"T won't be able to fit all those presents in those tiny overhead bins anyway,’’ added Santa. Santa has considered appealing lo Ottawa bul is worried about the Tesponse a request for additional financing will generale, **The spirit of Reform is sweep- ing ihe country, I doubt if I'll be able to get my two cenls — er, make that one cent, with restraint — in,’ be said. ‘<] hear the federal government is in just about as much financial trouble as I am. 1 should know. Last year they cut back so much that I got my suit dirty because 75¢ PLUS 5¢ GST VOL. 6'NO. 36° they couldn't clean the chimneys on Parliament Hill,” ‘Santa con- tinued One’ Reform. MP, Skecna’ s Mike Scott, was doubtful his party could be of any help. « “ST could say. that. our leader, Preston Manning, might let Santa use his car when he’s in Ottawa. But ‘he gave it back, saying he didn’t need It,”’ said Scott, ‘*As for myself, Pve already given up some Santa perks — we’re not having our piclures taken while sitting on his knec.’”’ “Nathania Talstra Merry Christmas NATHANIA TALSTRA. created this Christmas drawing in Diane Nyman’s Grade 4 class at Centennial Christian School, Artwork from her classmates is featured in the Terrace Stan- dards Christmas Greetings Section in this issue. Union, district cut deal Lavern gets to keep job — A MENTALLY handicapped man who has worked as ¢ labourer for the school district for - 22 years won't losehisjob, Lavern Chinn faced an un- certain future this fall when the school district's: unionized. maintenance workers withdrew a’ letter of understanding: that had - for years. ‘allowed ‘him: to work" outside the ubion, CUPE iocal 2861 then filed a grievance aimed at eliminating lis Job. : Union officials said they were - responding to the school board’s decision. to cut.the hours of the maintefiance staff in October... The. dcpartnient’s hours were reduced . by the equivalent of 5.5 full-time jobs. But the union faced intense crit- ‘ielsm for the stand it made and began negotiating with the school board fo resolve the issue. settlement ~ was... finally ‘ached last Friday. without the | = grievance being taken to arbitra tion.» Piersdortf. ‘*He’s pretty happy now,"’ said Matg Stattvick, Lavern’s sister. Both the union and the board have signed new. letters of urider-.” - Chinn will conttinie \6 work for: the. school district, ‘said school... district socrelary-treasurer ‘Barry " stariding allowing Chinn to work © + outside the unlon, Piersdorff said. “Both we and the union have agreed that the issue is resolved, . the district, and that tomorrow is another day," he said, He: said both, bides hope to put the issue to rest. : “Both parties were very inter- | ested in resolving tho iisue rather than ‘put it. to arbitration,? he said, ‘Neither party is interested in raising this issue." . CUPE:: local. . 2861 president “Rudy Mermans said the issue Should ‘never have been made “public and declined to comment on the details of the agreement. that the grievance is resolved, that "-Lavern will conlinue working for Lavern Chinn THE JUDGES are out tonight choosing the wit- ners of this year’s Christmas lights decorating contest. McRac Crescent, off of Caledonia in the horseshoe, is once again a strong con- tender for best sirect. Queensway), 2360 Thorn- hill St., 4917 Park and 4523 Graham had entered. Some of these homes are previous prize winners. The 1991. first: runner up for best theme Is 4917 Park. First runner up ‘to’ “bead home in 1991. is. 4523, Gra- Explore city’s alluring lights ham. Last. year’s best theme - winner, 4930 Scott, is also it up." Pedestrians strolling by reccivea bonus in the form of Christmas music. Nol entered ‘a3 of late last : week, ard. best, home last As of late last week, 4731 | - Hamer, 4303.. Mark (off: “year and best theme in 1991 Is‘ the: residente at 5502 . Hwylé. That's by the Wild Duck Inn, And, dn keeping with the spirit of the CounterAttack drinking » “and: “driving campaign, ‘check - oul4li6 : North es : CounterAttacle theme,