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CITIZEN
Serving the Central Interior since 1916

PRINCE GEORGE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 22, 2004

80 CENTS (HOME DELIVERED: 56 CENTS A DAY)

Big drop seen in highway crashes
Enforcement, education key, police say
by KAREN KWAN Citizen staff A 45-per-cent drop in the number of collisions on area highways in recent years is being attributed to increased enforcement and driver education, RCMP say. Unsafe speed and encounters with wild animals continue to cause the most crashes. Sgt. Dave Beach of Fraser-Fort George Traffic Services said police have been on the roads more frequently doing seatbelt checks, and their increased presence might be prompting people to drive more carefully. "The biggest problem we have here is that there's a speed limit of 80 km/h, and around Prince George here when the fog comes in or you get black ice, a lot of people still feel they can drive at 80 kilometres because that's what's posted," he said. Wild animals also cause a fair share of crashes, Beach said. "They move so fast, and at night when it's wet and dark, you don't see them until the last minute," he said. The number of highway collisions in the region fell to 122 last year from 169 in 2002 and 220 in 2001 -- a 45-per-cent decrease over three years. Although the number of crashes is on a downward trend, the percentage of incidents in which someone died or were injured has remained relatively steady, around 50 to 60 per cent. In 2003, there were five fatal crashes and 53 collisions involving injuries. Beach said RCMP are working with the highways ministry to reduce the number of crashes. The ministry has been trimming brush farther back from the highways to give motorists a clearer view of animals emerging from the foliage, he said. Police are also pushing for rumble strips to be installed along Highway 97 South and Highway 16 West, just outside the city, where many collisions occur. Rumble strips are a series of grooves placed along the fog line that produce a noise and vibration to alert drivers. "Where people fall asleep, especially in bad weather or at

CRASH FACTORS
2003 Unsafe speed (13) Wild animal (9) Weather (6) Driver inexperience (5) Unspecified (4) 2002 Unsafe speed (19) Wild animal (11) Driving without due care, attention (11) Alcohol (7) Fell asleep (7) 2001 Unsafe speed (34) Wild animal (20) Unspecified (9) Alcohol (9) Weather (7) Fell asleep (7) night time, it kind of wakes them up and it's been proven that they do prevent injuries," Beach said. Safety measures in those areas along the highways are especially important considering the high-traffic volumes, he said. Last year, 22,000 vehicles were counted in one day on Highway 97 just south of Prince George, and 18,000 passed along Highway 16 west of the city. The RCMP traffic service is also continuing its seatbelt campaign, targeting one-third of its enforcement toward seatbelt use. Beach said the goal is to get at least 90 per cent of drivers to buckle up. Right now, he said only 60 per cent of motorists in the city wear their seatbelts, although that number is higher on the highways. Not wearing a seatbelt will cost drivers a $106 fine starting Feb. 1, up from the current $86. If the fine is paid within 30 days, however, it will be reduced by $25.

Citizen photo by Dave Milne

Nickelback guitarist Ryan Peake plays in front of a wall of flame during their show Wednesday night at the Multiplex.

Meet the folks
Nickelback bassist visits local in-laws as part of tour stop in Prince George
bands, have never heard of places like Kelowna, by MARK NIELSEN Kamloops, Prince George," he said. "They Citizen staff There's a special connection between Canadi- would never come here if it wasn't for us. What an rock stars Nickelback, and Prince George -- they can't believe is how many people we draw and no, it's not the oft-said but totally-untrue in these towns." It's no news Nickelback is big, but it's still not story that they got their big break by winning a something that's lost on Kroeger, even after battle of the bands in this city. Let's be clear on that one: Nickelback did play playing in front of 120,000 at Wembley Stadithe UNBC northern backyard barbecue, but as um, which he lists as the highlight, so far, of a one of the headline acts, along with Big Sugar, stellar career. "It's wild man. It is crazy. It is really crazy," he back in 1999. Nor were they responsible for raising enough said after reciting some of the numbers Nickelcomplaints about noise from the neighbours to back has drawn both in North America and in send the annual bash inside the Multiplex. That Europe. But with the fame comes a harsher glare from happened three years later -- but don't worry, the media. With the release of their latest althey're as loud as any rock band should be. bum, The Long Road, a Here's the real story. self-produced project, Whenever bassist Mike Nickelback has been Kroeger, brother of accused of being forfrontman Chad, is in mulaic, that all their town now, it's not only songs sound the same. a chance to rock one of Kroeger's response? He Canada's major junior readily admits their arenas but also a to visit sound can be stretched the in-laws. only so far, but if it ain't He's been married to broke don't fix it he Prince George's Angela adds, and points to anPapp for four years, afother oft-maligned but ter they met through still thriving band as an friends in Vancouver example. where she had been "If you listen to the studying to become a last six, eight AC/DC jeweler. And as chance records, you'd be hardwould have it, the band Citizen photo by Dave Milne pressed to detect a difhas twice performed in the Multiplex on the Playing in Prince George is more than ference," he said. "After day before their an- just another gig for Nickelback bassist Bon Scott passed away and Brian Johnson took niversary, the last time Mike Kroeger. over, there was a noticeable change, but that being in 2002. "It really keeps it there for me. It helps," said aside they've been playing the same music for Kroeger of ways to remember the big day when 20 years. "I don't think that's a bad thing. I think they the conversation takes a side-trip through lame jokes about the husband who chronically for- discovered their place and discovered what they do best, and this is what people want. Let's give gets the date of his wedding anniversary. Kroeger's marriage is not the only reason they them what they want." Kroeger plans to continue enjoying the band's play Prince George. Indeed, the boys from Hanna, Alberta still make a habit of playing the mid- success, but if the end is apparent, he says Nicksized venues -- and doing interviews with the elback won't linger. "I think you've got to go quietly when it's your local media -- even though Nickelback is now time. When it's over and you know it's over one of the biggest names in rock. The skepticism usually comes from the other that's the time to go. Some people fight it, as I'm bands who tour with them, but they often come sure you're aware." -- See Friday's Citizen for a review of the away pleasantly surprised. Nickelback concert. "Most people in bands, especially American

New board plant planned
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff A joint company for med by Slocan and Louisiana Pacific is poised to make an announcement today about a new oriented strand board plant proposed to be built in Fort St. John. No details were released, but it's expected the plant will be given the green light. The plant has been on the planning books since 2000 and received environmental approval in January 2002. At that time, the plant was expected to cost $142 million. Given that OSB was a hot commodity in 2003 -- more than tripling in price -- and is expected to do well this year as well. Forest industry observer Laurie Cater said Wednesday he was surprised the plant hadn't been given the go-ahead already. "Oriented strand board is the place to be," said Cater, publisher of Madison's Canadian Lumber Reporter. Prices for the panel product made from aspen -- used mostly in home construction as roof, floor and wall sheathing -- hit record levels of nearly $700 in the benchmark market of Ontario in 2003. Prices were less on the West Coast. While prices dropped rapidly in December, OSB made a $90 US jump last week to $460. "It looks like OSB is in the beginning of another wild ride," said Cater, who explained that prices shot up because demand continues to exceed supply. The most economical way to produce OSB is from aspen, considered for many years a weed species, added Cater. However, aspen is tough to get in the U.S., which means most new OSB plants are being built in Canada, he said. There are only a handful of OSB plants in northern B.C. Slocan and Louisiana Pacific already operate OSB plants in northern B.C. -- in Fort Nelson and Dawson Creek, respectively. Ainsworth also has a OSB mill in 100 Mile House.

RECORD YEAR
It was a good year for panel production in 2003. U.S. and Canadian production totalled a record 40.9 billion square feet, up from 40.4 billion in 2002, according to The Engineered Wood Association. OSB production in the fourth quarter of 2003 eclipsed the same quarter of 2002 by 10 per cent, and ended the year with a four per cent gain. The 2003 U.S./Canada total of 23.655 billion feet was a record for OSB. Total North American plywood production finished the year three-per-cent below the 2002 total, a loss of 494-million feet. Plywood is also produced in northern B.C. Canfor produces plywood in Prince George, while Weldwood has plants in Quesnel and Williams Lake. Slocan also has a plywood plant in Fort Nelson. The proposed joint venture in Fort St. John is a large plant, expected to produce 820 million square feet of panel each year, more than 50 per cent larger than Slocan's OSB plant in Fort Nelson. The new plant in Fort St. John would employ more than 440 people in the mill and in logging, hauling and replanting trees. On Wednesday, Slocan-LP OSB Corp., the joint company formed by two firms, said company representatives would be providing an update on the status of the proposed plant. In November, Canfor announced a friendly merger with Slocan. The merger is expected to close early this year. It needs approval of Slocan shareholders, the federal Competition Bureau and an OK from the province that the merge won't hurt competition in its new timber sales program.

INDEX
Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Business . . . . . . . . . . . .16-18 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . . . .3,5,13 Classified . . . . . . . . . . .20-23 Entertainment . . . . . . .25,27 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5,14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-11 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15,19

Car thefts reach alarming rate in B.C.
VANCOUVER (CP) -- Vehicle theft and break-ins across B.C. are rising and Vancouver is considered the bank robbery capital of Canada, suggest some alarming statistics presented Wednesday at a forum on crime solutions. A board of trade report indicates Greater Vancouver is No. 1 per-capita for property crime in Canada and the United States. Nick Geer, the head of the Insurance Corp. of B.C. said auto thef t has reac hed an alar ming rate in t he province. "We're seeing a doubling of car thefts in Kelowna," said Geer. "We're seeing significant increases in Abbotsford, Chilliwack and Prince George and other areas. "Why this is happening we're not really sure but we believe the gangs that are involved are reaching out into other areas." These increasing problems are eventually going to force the public to become more involved in finding solutions to rising crime, said Vancouver police Chief Jamie Graham. Graham predicted that people who don't protect themselves from crime may one day be refused insurance coverage. "After you've been broken into three or four times or your car's been stolen twice I think the light should go on that maybe you need an alarm in your car or a club on your vehicle," said Graham. Increasing literacy rates, doing a better job protecting children and keeping kids away from violent video games will also prevent crime, said the chief. The forum heard that car theft in the province is growing at an alarming rate. The number of vehicles in t he province has increased about 20 per cent over the last decade but auto theft has doubled. Vancouver-area theft has dropped slightly, but increased dramatically elsewhere in B.C. Insurance coverage for vehicle theft and break-ins cost $163 million in 2002, which amounts to about $60 extra for every vehicle insured.

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