Forest threat remains by AL IRWIN Citizen Stuff Reporter One day of hot weather will undo the effect of Thursday’s rain, which has temporarily removed extreme forest fire hazards in the Prince George forest district. Peter Madison, weather presentation technician with the forestry here, says Thursday’s rain has penetrated smaller ground fuels to a depth of about 3 cm (IM2 inches) but larger fuels (trunks and branches) are still dry. There was 9.2 cm (one-third inch) of rain in Prince George, one half an inch north of Wil-liston Lake, and more than one inch in the Fort Nelson area Thursday, Madison said. The Prince George Forest district is bounded by the Alberta and Yukon borders, and extends to Gndako in the west and Hixon in the south. Madison said the greatest help to fire fighters has been the cooler temperatures (reduced from a high of 30 Tuesday to 17 today and Thursday) higher humidity and reduction in winds. Jim Haley, a duty officer with the forest service here, says the three uncontrolled fires in the district have gained no ground since Thursday. The largest fire, which has consumed 20,000 acres about •100 km north of Prince George, between Fort Ware and Kwadacha Wilderness Park, has been reduced by rain and was described by Haley as “very quiet.” A 25 man crew is working on the fire’s southwest flank to prevent it from moving into commercial timber near the park’s boundary. On the north and east ‘‘there is nothing left to burn,” Haley said. A 300-acre fire near McBride, in the Castle Creek drainage area, while not yet under control, has not spread since Thursday. A third uncontrolled blaze, which consumed 50 acres near Bowron Park in the Hagen Creek area, is being “mopped up” by a 12 man crew. Only two new fires, both small, near Fort St. John and Summit Lake, have been reported in the past 24 hours. But the hazard remains moderate to high throughout the district, and Haley says a province-wide campfire ban will remain in effect during the weekend. Early morning logging shifts will also remain n effect. Woods employees must cease work by 1 p.m. There were 186 men fighting fires in the district today, down from 286 Thursday. Forest fires in the district total 143, two less than Thursday. In the Cariboo forest district, a forest fire 24 km east of Quesnel. which jumped firelines Wednesday, has been brought under control, says a forestry spokesman. About 150 firefighters and 27 pieces of equipment, with the aid of an hour-long shower Thursday, re-established fire guards on the northeast side of the fire. Oberle hits PM's plans Frank Oberle, MP for Prince George-Peace River, said today that his first reaction to the recent statements by Prime Minister Trudeau is one of skeptism. On nation-wide television the prime minister recently stated that the government was planning to cut costs of government in an effort to stimulate the economy. Oberle said he can’t believe Trudeau is serious, because ‘‘cutting back on plans doesn’t save money for anybody.” He called the prime minister’s package on the economy an ‘‘exercise in political expediency, with which he hopes to buy time before calling an election.” Bear Lake to vote on status Bear Lake residents will vote Sept. 9 on forming a local community. Fraser Fort George regional board passed a bylaw to enable the vote at its meeting in Mackenzie Thursday. The poll will ask residents of the area around Bear Lake if they are in favor of establishing by bylaw, a local community. The net costs of the functions of the local government wduld be paid for by local taxation. The new community would be known as Crooked River. The bylaw which the board passed outlines the area to be included in the new community by the legal definition of the properties. And so, to sheep Citi/rn photo by Dhv«» Milne Two firsts and a reserve championship are pretty tiring and Hugh Mouritson, 10, Todd Millard. 11. and Mouritson's prize sheep take a break. The youngsters are Vanderhoof 4-11 members here for the Prince George Exhibition. C EXHIBITION SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION SATURDAY Saturday’s Prince George Exhibition begins at midnight today. At midnight tonight, M. F. Wagner Shows midway holds Midnight Madness where fair goers can ride any and all rides-until 6 a.m. for S5. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the exhibition office. Saturday, gates open at 8 a.m. and the horse show begins with halter classes and Arabians at the livestock arena. The 4-H judging continues in the show ring at 9 a.m.. the same time as goat judging in the livestock show ring. Log loading and the logging truck rodeo take place at the logger sports area at 9 a.m. Buildings open at 10 a.m. At 11 a.m. the old time fiddlers’ playdown begins in the Kin Centre. The midway reopens at noon. At 1 p.m. things happen on three fronts with logger sports in their own area, performance classes of the horse show at the livestock arena and the Canadian Forces skydiving team. the Skyhawks, at the grandstand area. The rodeo starts at 2 p.m. and the stagehand performs at the Kin Centre. The Allen Sisters perform at 2:30 p.m. Chuckwagon and chariot races start at 4 p.m. while the gympix perform in the Kin Centre. Horseracing events take the spotlight at the grandstand at 5 p.m. At 6 p.m. the 4-H club members put their year’s work on the line at the annual sale. At the same time the old time fiddlers’ contest finals begin. Loggers sports continue at 7 p.m. while the parade of champions takes place in the livestock arena. Agricultural horses show their stuff at the horse show. The Canadian Forces parachute team performs again at 8 p.m. The Prince George Secondary stage bands perform at 9:30 p.m. The Allen Sisters go 011 stage again at 10 p.m. SUNDAY On Sunday, gates open and the horse show starts at 8 a.m. Logger sports begin at 10 a.m. Buildings and the midway open at 1 p.m. Also at 1 p.m. the horse show resumes and logger sports start again. The stagehand performs at 2 p.m. at the Kin Centre and the rodeo begins at the same time. The Allen Sisters performance is 2:30 p.m. The chuckwagon races and chariot races start at 4 p.m.. At 4:30 p.m.. the annual goat milking contest begins at the Kin Centre. Horse racing goes at 5 p.m.. while the Gympix perform at the Kin Centre. The stagehand performs again at 8 p.m. and the Allen Sisters do their last performance at 8:30 p.m. Buildings dose at 11 p.m. Pickets to be removed Locked out employees of School District 57 Thursday agreed not to continue picketing at five school construction sites and at the renovation of burned-out Highland School. The decision was made after the Construction Labor Relations Association threatened to seek an injunction at an informal hearing before the labor relations board in Vancouver. The agreement came at a meeting that had been sought by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 858. which charged the school district with unfair labor practices. But in return for the half of picketing, the CLRA agreed to let only employees of CLRA firms onto the construction sites and only supplier who are members of CLRA. Gates will be set up at the 1,10 Citizen Bob Harvey City Editor 562-2441 Local news construction sites and the contractors will be responsible for keeping out people not connected with the CLRA. The LRB also informally heard the charges of unfair labor practices, but made no decision. Local 858 president Murray Odegaard said today the union will consult with its lawyer to see what the future course of action will be regarding the charges against the district. The union has set a membership meeting for Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Yellowhead Inn to discuss the latest developments. The 380 non-teaching employees were locked out by the district Aug. 2 when 110 con-tract agreement could be reached. More airport aid granted Mackenzie airport will get its paving and McBride airport will get an extension. The federal Community Airport Financial Assistance Fund has granted $300,000 for paving the runway, taxiway and aprons of the Mackenzie airport. The announcement follows one by the provincial government that it had released its part of the project money. $100,000 for lighting at the community airport and $252,000 to help with the paving. The Mackenzie council hopes to go ahead with the paving part of the project before winter and have the lighting installed in the spring. The council applied for the money a year ago and was concerned that it would not come Pedestrian injured A 43-year-old Prince George woman was taken to hospital shortly after 9 p.m. Thursday after being hit by a motor vehicle. Police said a car driven by Marian Joy Perry, 21, was going north of Victoria Street, when the accident occurred at Ihe intersection with Sixth Avenue. RCMP said Beatrice Caisse did not appear to have been injured seriously. through in time to get the work done before winter. McBride airport will get an extension under a plan announced by the provincial government today. MLA Howard Lloyd said the airport would receive $83,000 to extend the strip 500 feet and pave the apron and taxiway. Lloyd said the community is currently negotiating for an extension to the airstrip to allow government air ambulance jets to land there. If they are successful, Lloyd said, the provincial government would look at assistance. Zoning hearing planned A second public hearing on the regional board’s Bylaw-331. Rural 2 zoning is scheduled for Sept. 7. The date was set at the Fraser Fort George Regional District board meeting in Mackenzie Thursday. A time and location for the meeting is yet to be confirmed. The board has also not decided if it will be taking new submissions at the hearing. Administrator Bill Kennedy said the format of the meeting was still to be discussed; but the meeting would include answers to the people who presented briefs at a meeting July 27. At that meeting. 20 people, supported by a noisy crowd of 100, presented briefs opposing the Rural 2 zoning. Under the zoning, subdivisions 011 most of the area surrounding the city of Prince George would be limited to a minimum 37 acres per lot except for division for family purposes and ‘‘first time” subdivisions of up to three lots. In addition to holdinga meeting at the curling club in Mackenzie. the regional board toured the Mackenzie hospital, had lunch with the hospital advisory committee and dinner with the Mackenzie district council. The regional district board is also the regional hospital board. A.P. Gold We cire pleased to announce the appointment of Anker P. Gold, k.P.f., tothe position ol Chief forester. Prince George taaindi. Mr. Gold was previously employed with a major integrated forest industry company in Prince George and, for the last IV? years, with n major lumber manufacturing company m Liiiooet, B.C. k. Art. Mar dy & Associates Ltd. lias branches in eight Wester n Canadian cities and provides consulting services in Geotechmccii, Materials Testing, Metallurgical, Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Sciences. Mr. Gold wiil extend the* services of the Environmental Division to provide I orestry Consulting Services to the Pnnce George aiea. The offices and laboratory cue located at No. 9, 1750 Quinn Street, Prince Geoi ge, fi.C. V2N 1X3. Telephone: (60-1 562-928 1 . Extra summer service Summer is a great time to travel — now Greyhound has more trips daily to take you there. THE CITIZEN. Prince George - Friday, August 11, 1978 — 3 JAIL PROTEST Meals refused A small number of prisoners at the Prince George Regional Correctional Centre took part in the observance of National Prison Justice Day by refusing to eat their meals on Thursday. The day was designed as a protest of conditions in Canada prisons and it drew support throughout the country. At Prince George only 28 prisoners out of 170 participated by refusing their breakfast, dinner and supper. They were back eating today, a centre official said. Aside from hunger strikes inside prisons and refusals to work, there were small demonstrations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa Fasting prisoners at Prince George did not refuse to work, as they were held in the remand unit in which inmates do not have to work. Union denies 'harassment' by JAN-UDO WENZEL Citizen Staff Reportei Striking members of the Retail Wholesale and Department Store union have strongly reject claims by a number of merchants that they are conducting a harassment campaign. Earlier this week several store owners said they have been subjected to harassment by striking employees of Goodwill Bottling North Ltd., because their stores were still No more free fill for track A race-track builder won’t get any more free fill from the highways department, district highways manager Seymour Young said today. Young said Gordon Schade, owner of North Central Raceways which is building a drag-strip on Chief Lake Road, was told he can haul fill from a sand-silt hogback on the Chief Lake Road right-of-way only until today. He said Schade was told not to take any more gravelfill from another area below the road. An independent gravel pit operator, Paul Hamborg,complained more than a week a^o that Schade was getting ‘‘thousands of yards” of free “gravel” for the racetrack. Although Young initially relied on foremen’s reports in answering Hamborg’s complaints, he investigated the matter personally earlier this week. ‘‘The fill from the hogback (near the road) is useless to us.” he said. ‘‘It has a seam of sand running through it but is filled with silty material. “I found, though, that he (Schade) had also been getting better material from down below where we hadn't intended.” selling Coca-Cola and Canada Dry products. Union spokesman Linda LaFrance said today that if incidents have taken place, they did not have the sanction of the union. She said if individuals did harass anybody the union was not informed. However, she also questioned if the merchantstoldthe truth about harassment. “There are five or six stores in town that like nothing better than to put us down,” she said. LaFrance said Thursday pickets appeared at a grocery store at Fifth Avenue and Os-pika Boulevard and the owners of stores who claimed harassment were at the site. “They swore at the women pickets and called them names,” she said. LaFrance feels it is the union which is harassed by a handful of merchants. “It’s not as if we just come and picket. We have sent letters to the merchants explaining why we are on strike and have asked the merchants not to handle the products of Goodwill. We have also visited them and explained in person.” she said. While most of the stores are co-operating, she said the handful of unco-operative store owners will do anything to help the company to prolong the strike. A Thought for Today Success is not gauged in gross bulk, but in the measure in which we put what we have to use. —J.C. Macoulay rl__ The (0 Happyfoce Ptoce -V I UMV» In lo mato you wM Presented as a Public Service Every Day by: Schultz Pontiac Buick Ltd. 1111 Central 563-0271 HOME OWNERS INSURANCE Mrs. Debbie Tidsbury PORTER & HOWAT 564-1400 A 12 Channel, VHF, 2 Way Radio Telephone per month ’ SALESMEN: Do you travel logging ‘ roads in your business or do you just - travel? Make the time in your vehicle ■i pay with a radio telephone to keep in j touch with your office and private road I channels for road safety, and the con- : venience of communications. ASK ABOUT OUR SPECIAL INTERIOR RANSCEIVERS ltd. 2173 Ogilvie St. Prince George 564-1151 r