Franals Snow Lake Service Cornerview Enterprises Open 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Store hours: 7:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. Mon. - Fri, Convenience, Fuel, Movies, Etc. 7:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Sat, 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. on Sunday **Closed for all holidays** Friendly Korner Restaurant Groceries, Fresh Meat, Dry Goods, Hours - Open from 6:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Books, M.L.C.C.; we have a little bit of Where friends meet - Lunch specials daily - We now have WiFi! everything! $1.00 THE UndergroUnd PreSS P.o. Box 492, Snow Lake, ManitoBa, r0B 1M0 Volume 19, Issue 10 Snow Lake, Manitoba May 7, 2015 Local competition crowns Provincial team Did you Know? • That the Snow Lake Town Council is apparently planning to have sandbags available for future flooding. This almost seems like something that you would do if there was a river or lake that was about to burst it’s bank and not sim- ply runoff water that has nowhere else to go. Funny, this has never been a require- ment in the past… nor has the problem ever been this great… global warming? • That emails were sent to the Frontier School Division Winnipeg Head Office and the Manitoba Housing Office in Winnipeg (May 1st) bringing the tattered flag at the school and the need for siding at the housing unit at 9 Kerr Avenue to their respective attention. Hopefully by the time you read this, one will be rem- edied, and the other will be on the work plan. Of note, an email sent to the local school about the flag on March 2nd was Lalor's Team '1' under oxygen and immersed in their underground mission; ready to enter the cage and begin their underground rescue. never acted upon. ~ photo by Marc Jackson that will arise from teams dealing with their scenario and how hat from all indications, the Chamber t is 8:30 a.m. on a rainy Saturday morning when the Health • T I they will handle them. Parsons is asked if he will use the of Commerce put on a very successful and Safety Supervisor for Lalor Mine, Clint Parsons stands to term, “As you see it,” to answer any queries from rescue team and well attended Trade Show in the speak to a group of coworkers. He has assembled them in a members. “No, when I was Captain, that one bugged the hell Lawrie Marsh Hall and Wilfred T. Lipton mine conference room to help him put on, what will be a first out of me… I think I’m gonna use, ‘I don’t know, you tell me,” Arena last week. Both times I was in for Hudbay in Snow Lake, a local mine rescue competition. like it would have been any more tolerable or enlightening. attendance, I was impressed with the The winner of this contest will go on to represent the Lalor This, of course, elicits more laughs. content and how well the venues had Mine at the Provincial Mine Rescue Competition in Flin Flon What the actual problem was: At 8:15 a.m. that day, an been set up – Great job Folks! later in May. underground rockbreaker operator on the 910 meter level, Parsons speaks with a slight Newfoundland accent and his Jeremy Campbell, called the surface hoist operator and asked • That The Snow Lake Women’s Health dry wit coaxes laughter from the cluster of early risers. Some to have stench gas released into the mine. He reported that Stop is being held tomorrow (May 8th) in this group will judge the two teams vying for the right to there was dark smoke coming from the 910 m shaft station. from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the local represent the Lalor Mine, and there is no doubting they’ll know He barricaded himself in the 910 m refuge station and while Senior Center. If you are uptown – and exactly what to look for. There is close to 180 years of mine running to the station, he fell and hurt himself. He was in a even if you’re not – make a point of rescue experience spread between six men. great deal of pain and thought that he might have broken some stopping to hear what they have to say. Judges Kevin Leif, Dave Kendall, Tony Scheres, Tony Butt, ribs (not much of an acting stretch, as Campbell did have Refreshments will be served. Marshall Manns, and Olaf Hettrick listen intently as Parsons such an injury). Sixty-two people had tagged in and travelled gives his overview. “We’ve got smoke machines and bulkheads underground that morning and all but one was accounted for. • That there are only 604 days until Snow set up down there, but they’re still going to have to use their Jason Lanteigne, an electrician, was sent to do PM’s (periodical Lake's 70th Anniversary and 2416 days imagination a little bit and I hope they don’t get too caught up maintenance) on the electrical panels in the shaft station; he until Snow Lake's 75th Anniversary in it,” he begins. The men talk about the inevitable questions (70th in 2017, 75th in 2022)? MJ See MINE RESCUE continued on page 2... Sweet Nothings Get Stream 20 for Please see us for giftware, souvenirs, jewelry, computer parts and $29.95/mo!† service, baby and bath items, flowers, pictures, and the work of a * Speeds may vary and are not guaranteed. Actual download and Included: variety of local artists, artisans, musicians, and writers. upload speeds vary based on internet factors including site traffic, Open Tuesday to Friday from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m., Saturday from content provider server capacity and end user equipment. • 20Mbps download speed* 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Phone: 358-7659, FAX: 358-9669 **conditions apply please contact us for more details. • 2Mbps upload speed* † Taxes not included. Promotional price is for 3 months of service. • Unlimited data transfer** $54.95 regular rate. Offer available for new services only, otherwise regular rate will apply. 1-866-206-3707 ~ commstream.net Page 2 THE Underground PRESS May 7, 2015 to Snow and Spiteri for their realistic portrayals of ...MINE RESCUE from page 1 and emergency. The team him on the sleigh and took him to the injured. started at 955 m and was working his way to captain checked every entry or a waiting ambulance on surface. Living in a northern mining town, most people surface. He had not been seen since tagging in intersection before team members Once this was done, they re- realize the worth of the skill a mine rescue team and his whereabouts were unknown. “The way passed through an area. He also entered the mine and traveled maintains and in this case exhibits. Among the scenario is set up… he went in to do his PM’s taped off or marked areas the team directly down to the 910 level and each other, in competitions such as this, there and he stuck his hand where he shouldn’t have; had explored. the injured worker in the refuge is an obvious and easy camaraderie, but also an the ESS (Electrical Sub Station) blew and caught The team knew that the worker station there. After monitoring unspoken respect and trust. All these competitors fire,” Parson’s explained. Lanteigne would be in the 910 m refuge station the air and finding it was safe, work in the mines for a living and although they unconscious in the shaft station with burns to his was safe, so they concerned they entered the refuge, retrieved may have varying reasons for that choice; it is hands, but competitors wouldn’t know this, they’d themselves with finding the the worker, who was able to walk apparent that they all take part in mine rescue for have to work as a team to find him. electrician who was missing. with assistance, and conveyed the same reason. If or when an accident happens, With the judges’ briefing out of the way, teams After checking, then marking off, him to surface. They were done they would all be reassured knowing that there are were brought in and given the same information. a stub (undeveloped) level, they within their allotted timeframe of groups such as theirs who have their back. A flip of the coin allowed Team ‘A’ Captain re-entered the cage and traveled 1.5 hours and all were glad to be After the scenario, Team ‘1’ headed back to the Aldon Kowalchuk to specify whether he wanted down further in the mine before out of their gear and sitting down safety offices to take their written and bench tests, to begin with a first aid scenario, or tackle the locating Lanteigne on the smoke to lunch. while the judges went over the team’s reaction to underground problem. He and his crew of Director filled 835 m level. Jodi Cockle, The competitors went over the the scenario. The written test covers mine rescue of Operations (DO) Bob Forsyth, Vice-Captain who was responsible for first rescue and debriefed as a team procedures, respiratory protective equipment, Adam Harrower, First Aid Jeremy Nickel, #2 aid and is also the first female while they ate. All were looking firefighting procedures, and first aid. The bench Man Jonathon Young, and #3 Man René Gagnon mine rescue competitor ever forward to that night’s award test ensures that team members can prepare their elected to go underground.