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SPORTS
BUSINESS
SHOWBIZ
Still carrying a torch
CALGARY (CP) — A 56-year-old janitor who took part in the Olympic torch relay in the 1988 Calgary Games has kept the flame burning for 10 years — as the pilot light for his hot water heater.
“I wanted then to keep it forever and I still do,” said Frank Reaume, 56. “It’ll always be near and dear to my heart.”
Reaume ran the Olympic torch on Feb. 12,1988. Before he passed it on to the next runner, he lit candles held by his daughter Teresa and his son Paul.
“I blew out the pilot light on the hot water heater and relit it with the torch flame and it’s been burning ever since,” said Reaume.
Visitors to his Calgary home are often shown the light, he said.
“You have to hunt for it on your hands and knees but it’s there,” he said.
‘Men’s club’ cited as violence grows on city drug front
by KEN BERNSOHN Citizen Staff
The amount of violence in the drug-dealing community has gone up since a clubhouse was opened here by people associated with the Hell’s Angels, say the RCMP.
“Hell’s Angels have been seen at the local clubhouse wearing their colors,” said Sgt. Gary Charles, the head of the RCMP’s North Division drug squad. “They’re not coming up to enjoy our El Nino winter. They’re here to conduct business.”
There are about a dozen people in Prince George who go to the clubhouse regularly, he said. “They like to call themselves the Prince George Men’s Club.”
The Hell’s Angels approach crime as a business specializing in the most profitable crimes, said Cpl. Gary Senner. “A lot of people use cocaine in Prince George. I’m not just talking about street people, I’m talking about blue collar workers.
“However, if you get caught dealing large amounts of cocaine, the penalties are stiff, stiffer than for dealing marijuana. The marijuana growing operations are very prof-
itable with less risk if you get caught,” Senner said. “Some of the people I talk with see a $5,000 fine every few years as a cost of doing business.”
Prostitution is tied to drugs, with the price for those services tied to the cost of drugs and the percentage taken by pimps, Senner said.
The most common crime in the city is far less profitable, said Senner. Breaking and entering gives the thieves goods traded in for drugs or cash at a small fraction of the value of the stolen items.
Recent activity by people associated with the Hell’s Angels reflects the growth of the city, said Senner. “Prince George has the potential to provide organized crime with a lot of money.” The North Division office — involved with crime from 100 Mile House to the Yukon — and the City RCMP detachment are working on the problem, Charles said.
“Our goal is to remove the profit they make,” he said. “The B.C. Hell’s Angels are the richest Hell’s Angels in the world, investing in legitimate businesses and owning a lot of property.”
Three teens convicted in girl’s beating death
by Canadian Press
VICTORIA — Three teenaged girls held hands and sobbed as they were convicted Friday of assault causing bodily harm in the vicious beating of Reena Virk, 14, before she died.
The girls will be sentenced next Friday. Lawyers for two teens asked for lenient sentences, noting both had endured watching their fathers getting killed and the experiences deeply affected them.
Judge Alan Filmer, who heard the case without a jury, can sentence the girls, aged 14, 15 and 16, to a maximum 18 months each under the Young Offenders Act.
Filmer’s verdict, delivered to a packed courtroom, ended the first of three trials in a case that has drawn international media attention and sparked debate about youth violence, especially since six of seven suspects are girls.
“What occurred.. .was some form of punishment,” said Filmer.
“The punishment was aimed at Reena Virk. It was based on something some of these people believed her responsible for.”
Virk, a troubled Grade 9 student
New Citizen history column
Second week of new feature by Valerie Giles Page 15
who’d spent time in group and foster homes, was lured by a friendly invitation to attend an outdoor party last Nov. 14 at an inlet in suburban Saanich. The party turned into a revenge beating over slights perceived by two of three teenaged girls who’ve already pleaded guilty to assault, says the Crown.
One girl stubbed a lit cigarette on Virk’s forehead. Virk tried to run away but was kicked and beaten for about five minutes. After a second beating, Virk was drowned. A 16-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl still face trial soon for second-degree murder.
Lawyers for the three girls convicted Friday downplayed their roles but prosecutor Jim Williams said they were vigorous participants in a cruel, vicious and cowardly attack.
Mayland McKimm said his 16-year-old client had been present when her mother and another man allegedly killed the girl’s father — a sight that had a devastating impact on her.
Lawyer David Lyon also said his 14-year-old client had seen her father killed, but provided no details in court.
Outside court, Virk’s mother Suman expressed mixed feelings about the grisly background of two of the girls.
She said she felt compassion, “but I don’t believe it in any way excuses their actions.”
She added she was satisfied justice was served after attending court four of five days.
Citizen photo by Brent Braaten
ROUGH AND RED — This red-necked lumberjack is none other than Mayor Colin Kinsley participating in Dress Red Day on Friday in Prince George. Kinsley is in competition with mayors Cliff Branchflower of Kamloops and Walter Gray of Kelowna as to who’s the best-dressed mayor — judged by B.C. Heart and Stroke Foundation officials in Vancouver. Last year when Branchflower won, our City Hall had to fly the Kamloops city flag for a day. This year, the losers will fly the flag of the first-place city. The event is designed to raise money for the heart campaign through purchase of Dress Red buttons and stickers.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14,1998
High today: 3 Low tonight: -5 Details page 40
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PRINCE GEORGE
Citizen
Serving the Central Interior since 1916
TODAY
'Shuffle’ could scuttle doctors’ dispute meet
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen Staff
Health Minister Joy MacPhail and deputy minister David Kelly have agreed tentatively to meet with Northern Interior mayors next Thursday to discuss the rural doctors’ dispute.
But its quite likely there will be a change to that plan because of an impending cabinet shuffle that could involve MacPhail, health ministry spokesperson Michelle Stewart said Friday.
The five northern mayors have also invited B.C. Medical Association president Dr. Granger Avery to the meeting but have had no response from him.
Fraser Lake Mayor Tony Thompson said he’s pleased the minister has agreed to meet with mayors, but he’s disappointed it’s not sooner and added the two hours scheduled with the minister are not enough.
“It just seems like this is a low priority in the ministry’s eyes and we’re left to fend for ourselves,” said Thompson, who added he’s getting very frustrated as the dispute enters week three.
Doctors in Burns Lake, Fraser Lake, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James and Mackenzie have pulled hospital ser-
vices in a dispute about overwork and underpay. The 22 doctors continue to work in their offices, but patients who need hospital treatment are being transferred to Prince George and Smithers.
The physicians want to be paid $500 a day for being on-call ($1,000 per day on weekends), which they say will help attract more doctors.
The provincial government has refused to cough up the extra money and says the dispute should be worked out with the B.C. Medical Association.
BCMA president Avery could not be reached for comment Friday. He has said he refuses to go to any meetings unless he gets a promise the government won’t be taking money out of the capped budget for doctors’ services to increase compensation for northern and rural doctors.
The rural doctors say they won’t return to work until the government puts a cash offer on the table.
In the meantime, Prince George Regional Hospital is still planning to move long-term patients to McBride and move Quesnel patients back to their home hospital to make room. PGRH has already told other B.C. hospitals not to transfer patients here, said PGRH spokesperson Renee Foot.
COMMUNITY
PAGE 13
Saturday Report: Value of the arts
■ The Prince George Cougars set a team record with their fifth straight road victory Friday by beating the Swift Current Broncos 3-2. It’s the first time the Cougars have won in the Saskatchewan city since Rick Brodsky bought the team. /8
■ If an economist with the Toronto-Dominion Bank is right, we may have seen the end to the Asian financial crisis. Teresa Courchene says prices are slowly inching up and recovery appears to be on the way. /16
“I have a
a guy, I never give out my real name
■ Dustin Hoffman and Sharon Stone ought to have known better. The two megastars find themselves stuck in a stinker. The film Sphere starts out reasonably well, but eventually slips into screenplay hell. /26
PROVINCE
■ B.C.’s smaller businesses want spending cuts and a balanced budget before tax breaks and considered. /5
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