Walters wants more cash for memoirs /16
TUESDAY, MAY 30, 2006

Toronto hit by strike /7

Soldiers wounded /15

New book chronicles Prince Philip's gaffes /18

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Helicopter extinguishes cutbank fire
by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen staff A helicopter was used to dump water on a small forest fire at the top of the cutbanks above downtown Prince George Monday afternoon. A Pacific Western Helicopter piloted by Ken Knight swooped down on the Nechako River and scooped up five loads of water before rising up to treetop level directly above the flames and raining a total of 1,200 gallons down on the fire. It only took about 90 seconds to dump a load of water, reload, and dump another. The helicopter was used because city crews couldn't properly fight the blaze located in McMillan Park at the top of the highest cutbank. "The terrain was too rough to get water, or get supplies, or get any equipment into. We could barely get ourselves in there," said deputy fire chief Dale Kronebusch. The helicopter was dispatched at 1:45 p.m. and the fire was out at about 2:25 p.m. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the cost of bringing the helicopter in is still being totaled. "As it gets drier and drier we need to get more aggressive in putting fires out," said Kronebusch. Those at the scene said the chances were very high that the small fire would have been a very large fire had a witness not noticed a puff of smoke and called it in to authorities.

Skating oval group pitches $7.6M plan
by MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff Building a "four season" speed skating oval at Exhibition Park will cost $7.6 million according to the business plan presented to city council Monday night by the Outdoor Ice Oval Society of Prince George. But the group won't be asking the city taxpayer to foot the bill just yet. The ice oval society won council's permission, instead, to present its proposal to the federal and provincial governments as well as potential corporate supporters with the aim of raising as much of that money from outside sources first. How well those presentations are greeted will determine how much of the cost the city will be asked to cover. "We think there is a climate of significant interest in this project at both the federal and provincial level," society president Anne Pousette told council. "And I think if the city is able to say this is a good idea and allow us to do some groundwork and take it forward that there will be opportunity for significant partnerships." The group is proposing a two-phase project. The first phase, to cost between $300,000 and $360,000, would consist of simply moving the natural oval to a new location next to the Kin Centres and build a berm around it to protect the skaters from the wind. The next phase, to cost a further $7.3 million, would entail putting in a 400-metre concrete oval suitable for both ice skating and in-line skating, a refrigeration system to provide ice from Nov. 1 to March 15, lighting to allow evening use, a berm and fencing for security and protection from the wind, and a two-storey building to store equipment and house a concession and change rooms. With Prince George now selected as a regional training centre by the B.C. Speed Skating Association, the ice oval society estimates 45,000 visits over each winter -- as many as 19,000 have used the natural ice oval during a winter -- and a further 55,000 when the ice is gone and it's available for inline skating. "The proposed four-season outdoor oval in association with the Northern Sport Centre at UNBC, the Caledonia Nordics' cross-country skiing and biathlon facilities and the international ice surface at CN Centre, will result in Prince George becoming a centre of winter sport opportunity," the group said in its summary. To take full advantage of events and training in the years leading up to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the society wants the facility constructed by fall 2007. "If you can get people here pre-Olympics, you can get them here for the next 25 or 30 years," Pousette said. There are only two other refrigerated ice ovals in Canada -- the indoor facility in Calgary, built for the 1986 Olympic Games, and an outdoor one in Quebec City. A new indoor oval will be built in Richmond for the 2010 Games, but the local society says it will be turned into a multipurpose building after the Games are held and will not be a long-term training venue for the province's long-track speed skaters. The business plan predicts the facility will generate a net cash flow of $26,500 in the first year and rise to $153,000 by the fifth. Admission for public skating sessions would start at $3.50 and rise to $4 per skater by the fifth year in the winter. In the summer, admission would start at $2.50 and rise to $3 by the fifth year. Council members made it clear that giving the society permission to present their proposal to other levels of government does not mean they've won the city's endorsement to build the project. mnielsen@princegeorgecitizen.com

Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

A Pacific Western helicopter pulls up from the Nechako River after filling a bucket with water to put out a fire on the cutbanks Monday afternoon.

COMMUNITY

Man nabbed after four-hour standoff
by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen staff Prince George RCMP ended a fourhour standoff peacefully Monday afternoon, arresting a 26-year-old man wanted for violating parole. Police surrounded the home in the 700 block of Second Avenue after the man was seen around a drug house in the area. He was wanted on a Canada-wide warrant after failing to report to his Prince George parole officer on May 18 after being released from a federal penitentiary. The man refused to come out of the house, threatening police he was armed with a shotgun. He hurled defiant remarks at police, who were stationed, guns drawn, all around the residence on Second Avenue near Ottawa Street. "Nobody's going to get hurt, we just need to deal with this issue," said an RCMP negotiator over a loudspeaker in front of the home. "Come on out and talk to me. We can talk in my car if you want." "Come on in," the man retorted through a window. "Let 's just deal wit h t his now, smoothly," said the officer. "You have to do this, you know that. Your parole officer is here, we're getting your mom on the phone, you can talk about all this with us. "This is all just a big misunderstanding, we know that, this isn't a big issue, we can deal with all of this, but you have to help me," said the officer. "All you've done is breech your parole.

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INDEX
Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . . . 18 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Business . . . . . . . . . . . .22-24 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . . . .3,5,13 Classifi ed . . . . . . . . . . . 19-22 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . 16 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6,7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,15

Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

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That's all. We can deal with the rest, that's not a problem." "Stop talking to me," the man shouted from a side window. "None of us are going away, so you should probably come out and talk to me," police replied. At 3:16 p.m., the man opened the door of the house. Three females left the building and were ushered a safe

Police officers had their guns drawn, left, during a standoff Monday afternoon on Second Avenue. The man shouted at police during the afternoon from the front window, above. distance away by police. and the man continued, there was no "Thanks for letting those people movement on either side for several out," said the officer. "That was a good hours. move on your part. Now let's get you Finally, at 5:55 p.m., police fired two out of there safe and sound, too. We tear gas cannisters into the home and can get your girlfriend to sit down the man surrendered without inciwith you and have a talk down at the dent. office, but that is not going to happen Six officers, two trained negotiators here." and a police service dog and handler Although the talk between police were on the scene during the standoff.

May 31 - June 1, 2006
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