A2 THE FREE PRESS NEWS JUNE 21. 2001 ▼ From Front Locals watching closely His situation is not unlike most interior mills, which are restricted by antidumping watch dogs and falling lumber prices. Canfor, one of six firms named in the anti-dumping investigation, is expected to cut production by 100 mil lion board feet, said to be an entire year’s production for one saw mill. Company officials were not available for comment at press time. “Canfor has said they want to cut 100 million board feet in the second and third quarters," says Laurie Cater, publisher of Madison's Canadian Lumber Reporter. After July 1, companies will also pay higher stumpage. the price paid for use of Crown timber. "Mills are being pushed and pulled in different directions," he says, adding many of them will keep running until they run out of room on their lots. Mr. Cater says magazine reporters have noticed “more lumber than he had ever seen” on interior lots to the point where companies are air-drying lumber instead of kiln-drying it, a process he calls "unprecedented.” But Keith Andersen, of Lakeland Mills in Prince George says annual allowable cuts are flexible enough for most companies to accommodate market demands. “We've been shipping what we've been cutting,” he says. "We were down at least two months because of a fire so we don’t have that problem." That said. Lakeland is shutting down for two weeks July 16 to July 30, while the mill changes its log infeed decks. The timing, says Mr. Andersen is more to do with the availability of the contractor ♦han market prices or antidumping threats. ■gg-go:.—’!■JJTBgniv.'.-Ti-I.;~-33gir~ " Mayor wants answers on gas prices Mayor Colin Kinsley is fed up with high gas prices. So much so that the Prince George Mayor penned a letter to federal Environment Minister David Anderson on behalf of city residents to find out why gas is more expensive here than other northern B.C. centres. “Mr. Anderson has an opportunity to get to the right people,” says Mayor Kinsley, who says prices are an extra burden for local res idents and are negatively affecting the city’s economic and social welfare. There’s no reason for council not to support a bingo, says Shane Mills, is there? Under the B - a move The most interesting materials get slipped through the mail slot. This time it was a missive from an employee of the Good Time Bingo Hall. What made it unique was the perspective — until now an unheard one, that being from staff. And the person, let’s leave gender out of it to protect the writer, has a lot of venom in their pen and it dripped out. But the villain, according to the writer, is not John Major, the operator — of the bingo hall. Instead, this person is a little ticked at the Good Time Bingo Association. “The part of it all that I find upsetting is all the backstabbing and half-truths being told to the voting charities. The vol unteers that have been showing up for their appointed bingo events haven’t got a clue as to what's going on. Most think the bingo in its entirety is merely moving to a new location with everyone that’s involved." Strong words, strong emotions and to be expected, as this person believes if the Good Time Bingo Association moves into the old Odeon Cine plex a job won’t be waiting. The missive was timely, as Prince George City Council is holding a public hearing tonight at 7 p.m. on the proposed move. Council lors were origi nally asked to support the application, but dithering led to a public hearing and, if there’s any common-sense left in the world, council’s support will be forthcoming soon after the hearing ends. What gets lost in all the machinations of the two sides is a couple of simple facts — not the least of which is the B.C. Gaming Commission will make the decision on whether the Good Time Bingo Associa tion can move to a new home. And it is hard to fathom, as one scrapes below the bellowing of Harry Backlin, as to why the move shouldn't be allowed. A tireless promoter (for Shane Mills self and city). Mr. Backlin says there are traffic con cerns, there are neigh bourhood concerns and all need to be heard. The only problem is a lack of evidence. The new site for bingo holds more people, close to triple the current location. The city should also be happy to move those who presently park at the theatre into parkades oper ated by the Downtown Parking Commission, as it means more revenue. As to neighbourhood worries, the bingo is moving about 100 yards away and, if anything, is farther away from the residential area. And. it should be noted, John Major has partially made his own bed. He is the one that decided to kick out the Good Time Bingo Association at the end of September. It would seem he was gambling the association wouldn’t have an alternative; it seems like he was wrong. He gambled and he lost, but that doesn't mean the charities should have the pay price. Council should support the move. After all, it’s not council’s role to bail him out. SL*Vmcent De Paul Society r J THRIFT SHOP -s 1180-3RD Ave. ^ MON, TUES, WED..............9:30 AM-4:00 PM THURS, FRI. SAT...........9:30 AM-4.30 PM “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 “For the wages of sin is death..." WHAT MUST WE DO TO BE SAVED “...but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 BIBLE TALK JUNE 24th SUNDAY EVENING 7:00 TO 8:00 PM COLLEGE OF NEW CALEDONIA Room 2-320 SPEAKER: TROY FUNNELL Come out and hear what the BIBLE says we must do to have eternal life and not eternal death. Sponsored by THE CHRISTADELPHIANS TECHNOLOGY. OPENING THE L WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY... Everything you need to succeed under one roof - from business, computer and information technology training to job placement services, even tuition financing. At ACADEMY OF LEARNING, you get much more than just a certificate or a diploma. We realize that options are important. That's why we are REGISTERED and ACCREDITED by the Private Post Secondary Education Commission of BC (PPSEC), and a Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS) Training and Testing Centre Applicants may be eligible for the Student Loan and Grant Program. START NOW, CALL TODAY... 960-1441 • Call Centre Customer Representative • Information Technology (IT) • Medical Office Assistant • Administrative & Secretarial PPSBC Cf*TM ACCMDTTID SdCADEm" OF LE^ninC Computer.& Business Career College Our facility is located at .. 198 Kingston Street, Prince George. BC • V2L 1C3 rw academyol.com • e-mail: academy@pgonline.com HARLEY-DAVIDSQN C A H A 0 » C A .. 'presents 2001 Gates Open 8:30 am Time Trials: 10:39 am Eliminations 1pm June 23-24 at North Central Motorsport Park * .200 MPH Ef 6 SECOND f Nitro $20 per day - $30 per Weekend (Includes Pit Pass) Under 15 Free with an Adult June 22 at Harley Davidson of Prince George Illl.lilMI.VilwJ “FREE" J HB3 “SPORTSTERS^/ £vjc ONE DAY PRICE Advance Ticket Sales June 23 & 24 9285 Raceway Rd. (250) 967-4130