local news City editor: 562*2441, local 503 Friday, September 23, 1983 — 3 Citizen photo by Ric Ernst Slave Day Cliff Marcel trips the light (and really) fantastic with teacher John Glass during Thursday’s Slave Day at John Mclnnis Secondary School. The students raised $207.90 for the United Way through their Slave Auction Wednesday. Thursday the high bidders had their slaves dress in odd costumes; roll eggs down corridors, using their noses to push them; had them dance, wash cars and clean lockers. Today a pie throw is scheduled, with disobedient slaves or mean masters as targets. REGIONAL PARK? Farm plans in limbo A move to create a regional park at the Huble Farm in Giscome Portage was approved unanimously by the Fraser-Fort George Regional District at its regular board meeting Thursday in Mackenzie. The decision puts a halt to plans by the Prince George heritage advisory committee to relocate the historic farmhouse to the Old Fort brewery property and restore it there as an historic building and visitor information centre. It also means a $45,000 grant approved recently by B.C. Heritage Trust to cover about half the project cost will remain in limbo. Director Jim Scott of Summit Lake, one of two regional district directors who have lobbied to have the farm restored on its original site, greeted the news enthusiastically. “There’s a lot of work cut out for us. . .we’re raring to go.” Scott and Salmon Valley director Henry Christensen were instrumental in co-ordinating a move by Summit Lake and Salmon Valley residents to oppose relocation of the Huble farmhouse, which dates back to the turn of the century as a trading post and focal point of the Giscome Portage Trail between the Fraser River and Summit Lake. About 300 residents signed a petition opposed to the plan and earlier this week formed a group to preserve the historic site. The group will meet Wednesday to formally apply for status under the B.C. Societies Act and to lay plans to stabl-ize the building for winter, Scott stated. The farmhouse has deteriorated and is in danger of collapsing if steps aren’t taken soon to preserve it. Regional district planner Derek Trimmer said all parties involved in the Huble farm will be informed of the board’s decision and work will start to prepare a detailed proposal for development of the regional park. The regional district will start negotiations with the Ministry of Agriculture to either lease the 10 to 15-acre site or have have it dedicated for regional park purposes. The development plan may form the basis for a future grant application to B.C. Heritage Trust to help defray the cost of the project, Trimmer added. The $45,000 grant received by the heritage advisory committee is specifically for relocating the farmhouse to the brewery site and can’t be used for any other purpose. "I don’t know if we (regional district) will apply for a grant, perhaps the new society will apply or it may go through the heritage advisory committee. . .it’s something that will have to be determined as plans proceed.” Monica Becott, chairman of the heritage advisory committee, greeted the news optimistically. “I’d have to say I’m very happy. A heritage building is only valuable if it stays where its heritage is, if you move it what you have then is a Disneyland concept of heritage.” Becott said she is happy people took an interest in the project and encouraged the regional district to make its decision. She pointed out the committee has been trying to do something to preserve the Huble farm for a number of years but was totally frustrated until the Old Fort brewery proposal came forward. “It was our last chance.” Becott termed the regional district move a long-range plan that could prove expensive, but agreed it could also work out well for everyone concerned. CONNAUGHT AUTO SALES Will look after ICBC Windshield Claims. We offer free courtesy cars. Ph. 562-1341 by JOHN SPILKER Staff reporter A Crown witness told a Supreme Court jury in Prince George Thursday Maurice Bernard threw away his knife moments before he was shot to death in a remote cabin Aug. 21, 1982. Blaine Jobin, 20. told the court Bernard dropped the weapon after being ordered two or three times by a man who was trying to place Bernard and Jobin under citizen’s arrest. Both men were escapees from a minimum-security prison in Alberta. But during cross examination, Jobin agreed he had changed some of his testimony from the preliminary trial earlier this year. Mark Doyle, 28, of Fort St. James is on trial for the second-de-gree murder of Bernard, an 18-year-old resident of Barrhead. Alta., who died in a Takla Lake cabin, about 160 miles northwest of Fort St. James. Bernard and Jobin lived in the cabin without the permission of the Victoria owner for about three weeks before the incident. Jobin said he had broken into the cabins of Doyle and the two other men who tried to make the citizen’s arrest — Ed Stremecki and Robert Swanson. Jobin also testified he and Bernard stole knifes and a rifle from a nearby trading post. However, the gun was not in the cabin at the time of the shooting. Jobin said his foster father lived in the Takla Lake area and he was familiar with all the people he robbed. He said he returned to the area because he and Bernard wanted to build cabins and hunt and trap for a living. The night before the shooting, Jobin said they entered Stremecki’s cabin, but were scared off when they realized the cabin owner’s in-laws were sleeping there. Earlier, Stremecki testified his father-in-law was recovering from a heart attack and could have suffered a relapse if he had seen the two prowlers. PRINCE GEORGE HOTEL Coffee Shop Open Dally at 7 a.m. (Sunday at 8 a.m.) Examp)* Menu: 2 Hot Cakes & Sausage *2.95 Bacon & Eggi, Toaat, Tea or CoffM $3.75 Toaat & Coftaa Jam or Marmalada *1.50 FAST SERVICE! at 5th A Georg* BARRISTER & SOLICITOR Is Pleased To Announce the Opening Of An Office In Prince George at Suite 303-1575-5th Ave. 563-5339 Doyle, Stremecki and Swanson tried to capture the two escapees when they learned where the were hiding. Jobin told court that Doyle tied him up first and then was handed a rifle. “Mark (Doyle) told Maurice (Bernard) to throw down his knife,” Jobin testified. Bernard threw the knife onto a nearby bed, Jobin added, and told Doyle moments later, “I hope you know the (martial) art(s). . .Maurice slowly started to move towards Mark. Mark fired and shot Maurice.” Jobin told the court the victim straightened up after being shot and said to Doyle, “you murdered me,” and then dropped to the floor. “Mark pointed the rifle at me and took me outside,” Jobin continued. “I was crying and yelling at Mark, ‘why did you have to shoot him? For God sakes he was only 18 years old, check if he’s dead, he can’t be dead .” But during the cross examination, defence lawyer Paul Pakenham told Jobin his trial testimony differed with what he gave at the preliminary trial — especially on the sequence of events in the cabin and the amount of liquor the two escapees drank the night before the shoot- mt ’akenham then asked Jobin if he liked Doyle. “Nobody likes anyone after they’ve shot your friend,” Jobin said. In earlier testimony, Swanson said the victim was threatening Doyle with a knife moments before the shooting. Robert Fredrick of the Fort St. James RCMP told the court he was the only police officer on duty tne morning of the shooting. He said he received a call from Stremecki’s wife at 10:30 a.m., indicating there was trouble at the remote cabin. However, he told court he couldn't leave immediately for the cabin without permission from his superiors in Prince George. “We can’t just take off and abaondon the village,” he said. Fredrick arrived at the cabin in the RCMP float plane from Prince George at about 2:15 p.m. The shooting occured before 11 a.m. He said the road to the cabin area was in poor condition and usually took about 2Vi to three hours to drive. He also told the court eight complaints of theft and break-ins in the remote vacation area were reported before the shooting. “We don’t have regular patrols in that area,” he testified. “We have to assess each individual case and go by its merits.” The trial continues. River run set Northwest Brigade Canoe Club members intend to paddle the Nechako River Saturday from Miworth to Prince George, cleaning the riverbanks along the way in honor of B.C. Rivers Day. Sunday the actual observance will be from 1 p.m., when a mass river run starts from Howie’s Marine, heading to Fort George Park. It is to is feature all types of craft, from rafts to kayaks, power boats and seaplanes. Participants must wear life jackets and use sturdy craft. From 2 p.m. Sunday, various river-oriented activities will be demonstrated at the park by representatives of several organizations: fishermen, environmentalists, canoeists and search-and-res-cue units. An environment ministry spokesman said no other groups have informed officials of activities. j”SUBDIVISION-I I LIQUIDATION I TABOR GLEN 4 ACRE LOTS WITH INDIVIDUAL WELLS PRICED FROM $1S,000,o $24,000 Limited Time Financing Available with 10% Down Fantastic Investment or Building Opportunity Salespeople on Location Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or Call Dave Rahn at 963*7910 FOR MAIL INFORMATION I I I I J GOV'T EMPLOYEES Talks Citizen news services VANCOUVER - Negotiations between the provincial government and two major components of the B.C. Government Employees’ Union have broken off because of a lack of progress in bargaining but strike action is not imminent, union leaders said Thursday. The mediators involved in the bargaining have been asked by the union to book out of the dis- off putes, said union spokesman George Reamsbottom. The negotiations covered the 11,000-member administrative services group and the 4,000-member hospital and allied workers component, which have voted 80.6 per cent in favor of strike action and are in a legal strike position. There is no immediate threat of a strike or other job action, said Reamsbottom. broken UNITED WAY Pretty Ritzy Prince George United Way will kick off its 1983 campaign with the style of the 1920s, 30s and 40s ’ during its Putting On The Ritz event. The event, to be held Oct. 1 at the Civic Centre, will feature flapper styles, ballroon gowns, black and white tails and tuxedos worn by participants dancing the charleston, jitterbug, jazz and ballroom numbers. THe Old Smoothies band, offering Big Band sounds, will feature lead singer Alicia Forrester, but rock and roll will also play a part. Tickets, by advance only, are $5 single and available at Harmony Sound, Sol Lunas, The Skillery and United Way’s new office donated by Vienna Schnitzel at 1854 Third Ave. The goal for the annual October campaign is $250,000, which is divided among 17 member agencies here that serve the sick, handicapped, blind, crippled and those in crisis. Commission for parkland urged here by BOB MILLER Staff reporter i Creation of a parks commission to administer funds and promote park development in Prince George is urged by the city’s rivers committee in its final report to council. The report, which is the product of numerous committee meetings and seven public hearings during the past 11 months, is expected to be presented to council Monday. The committee was formed in October, 1982, to study the Fraser and Nechako River valleys, find ways to reduce land-use conflicts and recommend a land-use plan recognizing the economic, residential, recreational and aesthetic values of the two river corridors. A stronger focus for park planning, acquisition, development and maintenance is required, the commmittee noted in the first, and most major of five recommendations contained in the report. It pointed out the parks function at present is shared among three different bodies — the public works department, the planning department and the civic properties and recreation commission — all co-orainated through the city’s park planning unit. “While the good intentions of these departments ' are not questioned, the committee does not believe the present structure is conducive to a strong park function.” Creation of a parks commission would allow the civic properties and recreation commission to concentrate on programming recreation facilities and the public works department to drop its peripheral activities. Membership outlined However, the committee points out another level of bureaucracy should not be established. Instead, the commission should draw its members from existing city staff and those appointed should not receive remuneration. It suggests a commission made up of a council member, one each from planning and public works departments, a member from the civic properties and recreation commission and four members from the public. Other recommendations: • The city establish a fund to acquire and develop riverfront amenities and encourage the support of senior government, service organizations and charitable foundations. • The city adopt a bylaw prohibiting train whistles on the CN line between the Fraser River and the western boundary of the city limits. • The city and CN assume responsibility for construction of an earth berm north of Stirling Estates subdivision between Ospika Boulevard and the CN line. • The city’s noise control bylaw be amended to include decibel levels as a better means to enforce the bylaw. The last three recommendations have already been brought to council’s attention this year. *1 kj . i City administration is considering the pros and cons of incorporating decibel levels in the noise bylaw, the earth berm is under construction and the city’s anti-whistling bylaw is being considered by the Canadian Transport Commission. Perhaps the most startling suggestions contained in the report deal with gravel removal and industrial development — a subject that to a large degree was responsible for creation of the rivers committee from the start. More recommendations “While the committee recognizes the concerns of the petitioners, it could not agree that the extraction of aggregates and future industrial development should be ruled out south of the Nechako River." Until sewage and water services are extended to the area, industrial development should be ruled out, the report says, but sand and gravel mining should be allowed subject to the following conditions: • A berm be constructed, landscaped and sufficiently treed to eliminate noise. • The $5,000 bond deposited by gravel pit operators be increased to $25,000 to ensure the land is rehabilitated. • Sand and gravel deposits on the west bank of the Fraser River south of College Heights be mined provided a proper berm is constructed and a 70-metre (200-foot) buffer zone is retained between the operation and residential or waterfront areas. • Ongoing rehabilitation and monitoring be done on gravel-extraction operations. On the issue of preserving riverbanks and escarpments the report has recommended bylaw to establish a 30-metre setback for construction on the cutbanks; a 70-metre greenbelt buffer between residential and industrial users on opposite sides of a river, and where industry has removed trees and cover along riverfront that it be encouraged to replant and landscape. In the area of commercial development, it has called for a study to locate a commercial campground on or near Cottonwood Island; that land west of the Highway 97 bridge be set aside for a tourist hotel with waterfront setting and the city encourage development of several restaurants along the Fraser and Nechako Rivers. Witness recalls death of friend