COMMUNITY CONNECTION Have an idea for a story or human interest feature? Got something to tell about your club or organization? Do you know an Unsung Hero? -Or is there a special event you’d like our readers to know about? BERNICE TRICK 562-2441, Local 395 PLAZA PUDDLES — Trezley Johnny, 4, cools off by rolling in the puddles at the Civic Centre Plaza. The puddles are caused by the fountains in the plaza. The Prince George Citizen - Wednesday, July 19, 2000 - 15 Community 106th birthday celebration set by JOHNNY CARIBOU NUNAN Citizen staff Morris Joseph says he isn’t sure what to get his father for his birthday on Saturday. “It’s hard to get something for someone who’s going to be 106 years old,” said Joseph from the Tl’azt’en Nation band office in Tachie, on Tuesday. “But he does like chewing tobacco. He doesn’t have much use for anything else.” He says the birthday celebrations will include a big meal with all the family’s friends and relatives as well as singing, traditional stories and a sleep-over because the community (Middle River) is an hour’s drive north of Fort St. James. “He’ll be right in his glory,” added Morris of the attention Cammile Joseph will receive. Morris says his dad is still able to walk by himself without a cane and that his memory is as sharp as ever. “He still remembers the early 1900s,” said Morris, the youngest of seven children. Born in 1894 along the shores of Trembleur Lake, Morris says Cammile has lived most his life in the bush, in the traditional ways of his ancestors. “We’re all hunters and trappers born and raised and died in the bush,” said Pat Joseph, 66, a nephew of Cammile. Pat moved from Kamloops to Prince George two months ago and is planning on taking part in Cammile’s birthday celebrations. “I’m taking my mother and she’s 90,” said Pat. Morris says it’s only recently his dad has experienced the luxury of living with running water and electricity which the band put in the nine homes of Middle River. He says the secret to Cammile’s longevity is his dad has always respected other people and nature. “He gives me advice every day,” said Morris. “I hope I pick up some of his good qualities.” Seat belt safety stressed Seat belt Safety Week activities continue featuring ICBC’s Youth Employment Initiative team in a number of special projects being conducted at fast food outlets throughout Prince George. Seat belt safety is being promoted today from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Burger King, Thursday from 4-6 p.m. at Kentucky Fried Chicken and Friday from 3-5 p.m. at Dairy Queen, says a news release from ICBC. The promotion involves giving a coupon from the fast food restaurant and a Buckle-up key chain from ICBC to patrons wearing a seat belt as they pass through the drive thru. Ongoing projects of the Youth Employment Initiative team involve: ■ Cracked windshield display in the UNBC Northwood Wintergarden, illustrating the effect of not wearing a seat belt in a motor vehicle crash. ■ Seat belt Safety Week banner displayed outside the Prince George public library. ■ “I promise to wear my seat belt” pledge banner posted inside the ICBC claims centre and inside the public library. ■ Captain Click colouring contest with bicycle helmets being awarded as prizes. Free family fishing slated for by BOB MILLER Citizen staff The provincial government says it’s trying to showcase the scenic beauty of the province’s lakes and streams and to attract a new generation of anglers by offering families a weekend of free fishing over the B.C. Day holiday, Aug. 5-7. “We’re hoping to catch the interest of people who don’t fish by showing off B.C.’s glorious fresh water fishing opportunities,” says Ed Conroy, parliamentary secretary to Fisheries Minister Corky Evans. “We want to attract a new generation of freshwater anglers.” The number of anglers has declined slightly in B.C. over the past 15 years, particularly among yoilng people, says a government news release. Free fishing is aimed at youth, women and families to introduce them to the fun and excitement angling offers. Similar family fishing weekends in other provinces and some U.S. states have been successful in attracting new anglers and generating interest in fish and their habitat, it says. B.C.’s family fishing weekend coincides with National Fishing Week. Aug. 5-7 Sports fishing licences will not be required during the special family weekend for most of B.C.’s non-tidal rivers, lakes and streams. The licence exemption applies to all people who have lived in Canada for the past year, however, all fishing regulations still apply during the three-day event. Those wishing to take advantage of the free fishing weekend are urged to obtain a copy of the provincial Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis, available where fishing licences are. sold. In the immediate Prince George area the following “classified waters” are not included in the free fishing weekend package: Blackwater River south of Prince George and the Stellako River between Francois and Fraser lakes. A regular fishing licence plus a classified waters licence are necessary at both locations, the news release says. Fishing in B.C.’s freshwater lakes and streams contributes an estimated $400-$500 million to the provincial economy. The province’s 400,000 anglers fish a total of 5.6 million days annually. Citizen photo by Dave Milne SUMMER IN THE CITY — The corner of Third Avenue and George Street was busy Saturday as better weather brought out the tables and umbrellas at Jawa Mugga Mocha and the farmers market at the courthouse enjoyed brisk business. Residents worrying about fuel station dust by BOB MILLER Citizen staff As a spell of drier weather returns, local residents say so too will plumes of dust kicked up by chip trucks and logging trucks that use the Husky card , lock fueling station on Noranda Road near the Hart Highway. Nearby residents like Joyce Denluck and her neighbours have been trying to get something done to resolve the dust problem. But Husky Oil says it can’t afford to pave the property, Denluck said. Robin Fairservice of the pollution prevention division of the Environment Ministry, said the ministry is aware of the situation and Husky Oil could solve the problem by paving the lot. If Husky was sandblasting, dumping waste or causing offensive odours the ministry could do something, but it declines getting involved in a dust complaint in a city where there are so many gravel roads. If the city gets its clean air bylaw passed, which includes dust control measures, the city would have some teeth to do something about the problem, Fairservice said. Bob Radloff, director of development services for the city, said the problem came to the city’s attention about two weeks ago and they’re pursuing the matter through the city’s zoning bylaw, which requires Husky Oil to pave part of the property. They don’t have to pave the whole property, Radloff said, just the areas most heavily used — in and out lanes, manoeuvring aisles and the service apron. A letter was sent to Husky Oil on Tliesday, asking the company to adhere to the zoning bylaw by doing the required paving, Radloff said. One of the residents said the dust is so bad at some times it interferes with sitting on their deck. The dust seems to get into everything, she said. Whenever residents complain to the city, by the time someone gets around to check, it’s raining and the problem has disappeared. Denluck said due to the amount of rain the city has had this summer, dust has not been as bad now as the past, but two or three hours after the rain quits, dust is rising again when trucks pull in. When complaints are made to Husky, temporary solutions are tried and in a few weeks the dust problem is back, said Denluck, who has chronic bronchitis. She said the illness was not caused by dust, but the dust is certainly not helping her condition. Laurel Nichol, communications spokesman for Husky Oil in Calgary, said the company is addressing the dust control problem at the card lock site, looking at the possibility of treat- problem ing the gravel to reduce dust and determining costs. “We need to look at it and make sure it’s something that can work,” she said, adding Husky will follow up by getting in touch with residents. FOLLOW-UP In the forests Unlike the southeast section of the province, where wildfires abound, as of Tuesday, no forest fires had been reported in the Prince George Fire Centre since July 14, says fire information officer George Maratos. But that may change as the 6-10-day forecast indicates warmer, drier weather is on the way. So far this year there have been 130 forest fires in the region burning a total of 2,731 hectares. Last year at this time there had been 83 fires burning about 463 hectares. Structure removal Unused for about 20 years, wood and steel structures at the site of the former Highways Ministry Isle Pierre ferry crossing over the Nechako River are slated to be removed soon. Arnica Resource Management Inc. has requested $3,734 from Fisheries Renewal B.C. to take out-steel piling and cross-bracing, treated wood bulkhead and piling, one suspension cable and its associated trolley, and treated-wood support towers. And $1,245 in contributions are expected from ether sources. If the structures fall into the Nechako River, wood preservatives would become a toxic material endangering sockeye salmon and local species like bull trout and rainbow trout, according to Fisheries Renewal B.C. Regs on the web Hunting regulations for the 2000-2001 season, published in the B.C. Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis are available on the Internei now at: www.elp.gov. be. ca/wld/ The regulations will be available later this week at regional offices of the Environment Ministry, government agent’s offices and stores where hunting licences are sold. Reading Comer Grandma’s and Grandpa’s Reading Corner continues to be a popular children’s program at the Prince George Public Library’s main and Nechako branches. “It is just fantastic,” Marie Kelly, co- ordinator of children’s programming, said Tuesday. “We’ve had so much positive feedback from everyone — grandparents, parents and children. All ages of children from babies up to 12 years old are enjoying it. Every day we have grandmas and grandpas here, and they’re busy reading to the children the whole hour. There are so many smiles on faces.” Grandma’s and Grandpa’s Reading Corner runs for one hour at different times each weekday at the main branch, and Mondays and Tuesdays at the Nechako Branch. For more information, call 563-9251 and ask for the children’s desk. Top speaker Andrew McFayden was voted best speaker at last Thursday’s meeting of Prince George Toastmasters. Shirley Shorter was named best evaluator of speeches, and Sandra Stewart was judged best Table Topics speaker. ■ The new Hart Toastmasters Club moves to the Hart Pioneer Centre for its meeting tonight at 7:30. “We had a good turnout last week, with many new people,” said Charlie Herger, one of the organizers. “That’s positive. There are new people starting to show up each week.” For more information, or to volunteer, call Herger at 562-5645 or Debra Law at 962-9000. ■ Bob Miller, Distinguished Toastmaster and College of New Caledonia faculty member, was voted best speaker at Monday’s meeting of Cariboo Toastmasters. Greg Gale was named best evaluator of speeches at the meeting chaired by Citizen advertising director Bill Jones. Sean Janson was judged best Table Topics speaker. Table Topics are two-minute impromptu speeches. 4 i I