Logging Shutdown Hits Stewart
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Farewell, '96 Tweet, tweet On track The final six months of our annual Birders counted fewer feathered Cross-country skiers are out in year in review friends in their local force this weekend for winter retrospective\NEWS AS-A8 tally\COMMUNITY B1 games trials\SPORTS B5 WEDNESDAY 93¢ PLUS 7¢ GST JANUARY 8, 1997 xI DARD VOL. 9 NO. 39 Logging shutdown hits Stewart Hooey said the Buffalo Head attd Orenda shut- Hooey said the shutdown will have a "very Town's plight compared downs are the product of continuing poor pulp log dramatic" effect on the contractors in the area. [] MLA says forests minister prices. "We're telling them the truth," he said. "We to recent crisis in Golden may Intervene, Page A2 The two companies last year cut the minimum 50 thought it was important to tell people the facts and By JEFF NAGEL per cent of their annual allowable cut required to let them judge for themselves." STEWART residents are in shock over word log- keep their licences, Hooey said. That meant already A number of the key con~actors affected, includ- ging in the area won't resume until June. Those that aren't on UIC or welfare are un- lean times over the past 12 months in that area. ing Ed Penner Trucking and EIsworth Bros. Log- Loggers for two Repap-controlled firms -- Buf- deremployed or working somewhere else -- there's Timber from the two licences normally feeds ging Co., are owned by Terrace residents. falo Head Forest Products and Orenda Forest Pro- nothing here." Repap's Port Edward pulp mill. Randy Derksen, president of Vandyl-c Camp Ser- ducts -- had expected to go back to work next The news came as Repap's logging operations in "They tell me they have pulp coming out their vices Ltd. is one of numerous contractors affected. week. the Terrace area re-started following a brief holiday ears," Hooey said. "And so far we are unable to "It's going to devastate our company," said But Bob Hooey, general manager for Orenda and shutdown. firm up any firm sale of pulp logs with any other Derksen. "Every single contractor at Ellsworth is Buffalo Head, confirmed Friday it will be another West Frsser's Skeena Sawmills here remains mill." either looking for work or selling equipment. six months before an estimated 200 loggers, truck- closed, with its re-start still scheduled for Feb. 3. Hooey said pulp logs are continuing to fetch People here cannot survive on a four-and-a-half ers, camp operators, and other contractors there will But West Fraser general manager Bruce Mae- about $30 to $35, with the companies' costs ex- month year." see paycheques again. Nicol said his company's workers in the Stewart- ceeding $60 per log. Operators like Derksen are fufibus the govern- "This is another kick in the teeth," Stewart Meziadin area may not be working again until June Pulp logs account for 65 to 70 per cent of the tim- ment approved Repap's purchase of Orenda last mayor Andy Burton said. "It's a real blow -- either. ber in the Meziadin area, Hooey said. year without tougher conditions that would have there's no two ways about it. Some people are "It will hinge on wood requirements over then Market conditions prompted them to target ensured more economic stability in the Stewart going to be in very difficult situations." next while," he said. "It's quite possible that we sawlog-heavy stands this past winter, he added, but area. "This commnnity is really hurting right now. may be down until about that time as well." even that hasn't justified logging. Continued Page A2 Top staff Zone dispute keep jobs in School goes to court RD wants tenants evicted District 82 By DAVE TAYLOR By CRIS LEYKAUF A THORNHILL landlord engaged in a year-long THE NEW Coast Mountain battle with the regional district is facing iegal ac- tion.which seeks to force him to remove tenants~, from his property. its two predecessor districts. Helmut Reinert owns a piece of land on Old And all indications are the amalgamation of the Terrace Lakeise Lake Road near the Thornhill Landfill. and Kitimat school districts The zoning on his property allows for one single won't result in any real cost family home. However, Reinert has also been renting ' savings at the top administra- ,. out two renovated trailers on the land for almost a tive level. V year and a half. But the newly elected And for more than a year the regional district has school board was able to been pressuring Reinert to remove the tenants. Now claim one victory in the deal they have moved to legal action to force the evic- cut last week - elimination of highly unusual five-year roll- tions. over contracts that guar- "We've been really trying to avoid this course of ac- anteed senior Terrace admin- tion," says Andrew Webber, RD manager of development istrators five years of severance pay if a board ever wanted them removed. i¸¸ / 'i ~ : ~ "We are just looking for compliance Frank Hamilton has been with the zoning bylaw. There are too given a three-year contract as many dwellings on the property." superintendent of the new I district. The controversial roll-over clause, which gave him in effect a perpetual con- services. "We've sought voluntary compliance for a long tract, is now gone. ' ' ~ :~' ~:'~'~ ~ ' i ~,,::,~i~.' /'! time but unfortunately that hasn't happened." George Neumann, head of ¸¸¸¸¸1 Yl Webber says legal action was simply the next recourse school district 82, said available to the regional district. Hamilton gave up the roll- "We are just looking for compliance with the zoning over clause on his own. bylaw," he says. "There are too many dwellings on the "He realized he could gain property." considerable good will by Meanwhile, Reinert says he has only one couple and a giving up on the roll-over single man living on his land right now, and they don't issue," Neumann said of cause any problems to anyone else living in the area. Hamilton. "None of the neighbors have any complaints," he says. Skip Bergsma, who "I'm just giving people a place to live." remains as assistant-superin- Reinert says he had previously received a letter from the tendent for the Tenace, regional district allowing the tenants to stay until May, so Hazelton and Stewart areas, he is confused by the legal action. also was given a three-year "It's reached the point where I just don't understand contract. He too gave up the them," he says. "It makes no sense." roll-over clause. Reinert's Victoria-based lawyer has filed a statement of 'I was really pleased with il Taking the plunge defence against the RD claim, but Reinert says the whole that," said Neumann. "There DAVE WHITE was the only swimmer brave (or foolhardy) enough to dive in the icy waters of Lakelse Lake process is just a waste of time and money..... was no big buy-out monies. "It's going to cost me a pile of money and them a pile of This was one of our goals a second time on New Years Day. Only 17 people took part in the 6th annual Kermode Bear Swim, despite money," he says. "Only their money comes from the tax- right from the outset and it's near perfect weather condiltons. White said the water wasn't so bad, but the ice was very chilly on bare been achieved quickly and feet. For more photos, see page B1. payers." A court date on the dispute has not becn set. bloodlessly." . Sharon Beedle, who served as Kitimat's acting, superin-, • tendent last year, signs on as assistant superintendent for Fed election promises rematch Kitimat, working out of an Scott says Reformers across the country office in that town. By JEFF NAGEL Witherly said the Liberal organization As for who will be the are getting ready for a potential spring elec- THE TWO main contenders in Skeena in will be better prepared next time. secretary-treasurer of the tion, possibly on June 16. the last federal election have said they want There are no obvious answers as to who new district, that matter was "The entire party apparatus is gearing up to run again the next time voters here go to the NDP candidate will be. settled last night, during an to that," he said. "We are raising money Fulton says he won't run again. in-camera session of the the polls. Skeena MP Mike Scott says he will seek and there is an advertising strategy in place Barrett has stayed in the riding, and so board. It's expected that geared toward that date." could run again. Party workers say he's Barry Piersdorff will have the Reform party nomination again. And Liberal candidate Rhoda Witherly Scott won the 1993 election with 11,968 presently in Spain, accompanying some Ca- the job, with former Kitimat votes -- about 37 per cent of the votes cast. nadian veterans of the Spanish Civil War secretary-treasurer Ron Burnt indicated last week she has all but decided. to seek the L~eral nomination a second Witherly won her home town of Prince there. acting as assistant. Rupert and rode the Liberal wave into sec- Among those who lost the divisive NDP Neumann says that all five time, ond place with 7,477 votes. nominatimt fight to Barrett last time were .administrators will stay on at She said the main issue will be The surprise was the disintegration of Terrace labour activist Norm Lavallee, salaries similar to what they "representation".