THE FREE PRESS NEWS MARCH 8, 2001
 A7
New form telethon hits $200,000
                                                                  Sentencing delayed while report is compiled
   A one-time criminology student has pleaded guilty to trafficking in cocaine.
   Now, Sanjib Singh Manhas is waiting to be sentenced.
   On February 5, 2001, the 26-year-old pleaded guilty to three counts of trafficking in cocaine, while the Crown stayed a sole charge against his co-accused, Nathan Daley Brown Williamsen.
   All of Manhas’ trafficking incidents took place in Prince George and Chetwynd in the month of May 1999. In total, three deals were negotiated between Manhas and an undercover police officer to exchange roughly $15,000 in cocaine. But before Manhas is sentenced. The judge wants details. And lots of them.
   “It is, in my view, necessary that great care be taken in the [sentencing] process, given the level of public preoccupation with sentencing which has emerged in recent years,” writes Justice Glen Parrett
   With that, he noted that the Criminal Code requires counsel to present a “very clear statement with respect to the accused’s background and circumstances.” In this case, he feels, that
requirement has not been met.
   “The information before the court falls, in my view, far short of providing me with the information necessary to embark upon the balancing of interests required and the circumstances as they are presented before the court...”
   With that, he ordered the prosecution to present evidence of how much cocaine is a problem in the region, with specifics about that “problem” and a background of Manhas
   On the first deal, an undercover police officer met up with Manhas at the Bon Voyage Motel on May 13,1999. After that meeting, the officer was quickly sent away to the Mohawk Station. In the parking lot, the two exchanged two ounces of cocaine, with an estimated valued of $3,200. Further testing proved the cocaine to be 73 per cent pure.
   A second meet was set up less than a week later, after a number of phone calls. Manhas met the officer in Chetwynd, where another two ounces of cocaine were exchanged for $3,200. This time, however, the drugs only came back as 42 per cent pure.
   The third deal was set to happen at the Mackenzie Junction on May 27. The deal was for four ounces of cocaine for $8,000. Manhas was busted at the scene, and five ounces of cocaine were seized.
   Sentencing dates have yet to be set.
By FRANK PEEBLES
Free Press staff writer
    Changing the Spirit of the North telethon was a risk, but one organizers had to take. Production staff at PGTV felt that their program costs and staff efforts would be better spent in other ways. The traditional live variety talent show concept spread resources too thinly, whereas a PBS-style telethon (a movie or televised concert event interrupted at regular intervals for donation pitches and sponsor plugs) would be easier and cheaper to produce.
    This was the first year for this new format and it worked beautifully. All the money raised goes to the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation to improve the healthcare system all across the region.
 The final total was a whopping $219, 544. Foundation spokesperson Tom Shand was asked if he had anticipated such a large dollar turn-out. "No. No. We had publicly been aware of $100,000 and that was our internal goal. As it got closer, and people communicated what they were doing, we thought might hit the 200,000 level, but we ended up even higher.”
     All the TV station had to do was air the movies North and American Grqffiti, occasionally pausing the flick to talk about the important medical needs of the community
     All the money raised goes to the Centre of Excellence project run by the foundation. It has $2 million price tag, but with a single fund-raising effort they are already a tenth of the way there.
Hopes/Crushed
Brittney Goetz applies the force to the hydraulics that ultimately crushed her popsicle stick bridge. She placed third in the elementary division and received mention for the aesthetics of her presentation, jomn mckenzie/free press
                             Judge wants more details on cocaine trade in PG
                                                    Improving BC's Education System
  By Erwin Schwarz
  Victoria- If you are concerned about access to quality education and labour shortages, if you care about an effective and efficient education system, you will be pleased to learn about the work of the Centre for Education Information...
  Helping students make education & career decisions
  When students, parents and educators want to select a post-secondary program, they are confronted with over 1,700 choices, and a rapidly changing job market. For help, they turn to the Centre's free Opening Doors Web site (www.openingdoorsbc.com)--a detailed and searchable online guide to all 1,700 public programs. Once their choice is made, many students apply online through the Centre's free post-secondary application service, (www.pas.bc.ca)
  Helping reduce administrative costs
  Reducing administrative costs allows more taxpayer dollars to be spent on improving the quality of education.
  Last year the Centre saved over SI.5 million for BC's education system by negotiating software discounts for public schools, colleges and universities.
  The Centre for Education Information also helps colleges and universities implement administrative systems. This is particularly crucial for smaller institutions that cannot individually afford the necessary computer systems and personnel. By pooling resources, over $700,000 was saved last year.
  Helping government evaluate program effectiveness
  Student feedback, labour market information and statistics help fine-tune the education system.
  The Centre helps administrators evaluate program effectiveness by managing over 55,000 surveys annually, and providing timely statistical research, analysis and reports. In short, the Centre for Education Information is an independent organization that provides research and technology services to improve the performance of the BC education system.
  For more information, visit www.ceiss.org or call 250.413-4400 or 888.629-3995.
  The Centre for Education Information is partially funded hy the Ministry oj Advanced Education, Training A Technology.
  Infonnation:
  Alan Rycroft, Communications Consultant 250.414-4330 or 888.208-2288 arycroft@ceiss.org
Protecting our natural heritage
Jean Fau is a chief park warden for Parks Canada. He and his colleagues protect the plant and animal life in our national parks. They also help Canadians explore and enjoy these special places. This is just one of the hundreds of services provided by the Government of Canada.
For more information on government services:
•Visit the Service Canada Access Centre nearest you
•Visit www.canada.gc.ca
•Call 1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232)
 TTY/TDD: 1 800 465-7735
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