Citizen Knights off to nationals /12
Back-to-back for Mallon /8

Patience key to potty training /29
Edmonton hammered by hail, flashflooding /6

CITIZEN
Serving the Central Interior since 1916

PRINCE GEORGE

MONDAY, JULY 12, 2004

80 CENTS (HOME DELIVERED: 56 CENTS A DAY)

Mushroom picker disappears
by FRANK PEEBLES Prince George Citizen The search for Juaqueline Bob carried on through the weekend in the Alexis Creek area, and Prince George Search and Rescue was in the thick of the hunt. The 41-year-old resident of Stone Reserve was part of a mushroom picking team in a remote area of the Nemiah Valley. "Access to the search area can only be made by horse, ATVs and helicopter," said Sgt. Linda Armstrong of the Alexis Creek RCMP. "The woman was last seen by friends in the Elkins Creek area on July 6 after lunch. This is the exact same area an Alexis Creek man went missing on June 13 when he was out picking mushrooms." Access to the area has been hampered by wet

Wet weather, terrain hampers search
weather conditions and high rivers and the fact the nearest airstrip is a private runway needing special permission to use. Bob Kelly, regional manager of the Provincial Emergency Program, remembers the area well from three weeks ago. "It is in a very remote area, part of the Chilko Fire burn from last year, and it's a tough logistical area to move into and out of. Picking the right weather opportunities to get people in and out has been a hassle." Prince George Search and Rescue has more than a dozen trained volunteers in the action, and they were there for the previous mushroom picker search, too. Jeff Smedley, a search manager for PGSR, explains some in-the-field problems they encountered. "Apparently mushrooms grow well in burn areas, so last year's forest fires are bringing out pickers into areas we've never had them before," said Smedley. "Pickers are very secretive about where their good spots are. Their livelihood depends on it. Then they spend a lot of time looking at the ground as they walk, and it is easy to become disoriented. That's a problem we face." The last missing mushroom picker was found successfully after four days of searching. Smedley

explains how the area played against their efforts. "Because of the fire last year, the wood in the area is extra dry. The picker was lighting signal fires, but they produced almost no smoke at all for us to see." The first Prince George searchers were on-scene on Friday, including search manager Ray Ouelette to help lead. More joined over the weekend and a change in personnel was taking place as weather allowed on Sunday. Alexis Creek RCMP report approximately 140 people are involved, from at least seven Search and Rescue teams in the province and more joining through the weekend. The Provincial Emergency Program website provides a checklist of items to have at the ready to improve your chances of outdoor survival. Find the list at www.pep.bc.ca.

GRAVE SITES VANDALIZED

Families want more security
by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen staff Lindsay Santos's sister says it is like being stabbed in the heart again, almost a year after Lindsay was killed in a sawmill accident. The Santos family were some of many mourners who suffered added grief Sunday morning, when it was discovered vandals had visited several grave sites overnight. Lindsay's is one of the most popular sites in the graveyard and was one of the hardest hit and stunned family members back into a state of sorrow and loss. "It goes on all the time. It happens often. But today was extraordinary. Everything was destroyed, thrown around, broken, weird things written in black permanent marker. Quite a few sites had ornaments broken, things thrown around, there was quite a bit of damage all over," said Lindsay's mother Anita, who visits daily. "My son Jamie is buried not far from Lindsay and yeah, this is ongoing. He passed away five years ago," said Sheryl Noel, another who regularly attends to a grave site and often has to undo vandalism. "Jamie's headstone was demolished, once, with what they figure was a crowbar. Something more should be done. His grave has been hit so often, but this time it was too much. People are already dealing with grief, they don't need to deal with this too. It's cruel." Many of the mourners have lost children. School friends and co-workers are regular visitors. Sheryl Noel describes seeing an elderly man weeping over the broken monument to his departed wife. Grief comes in all shapes, she says.

Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

Damage to Lindsay Santos's grave site is displayed
The City of Prince George has staff on cemetery grounds during the day, and in recent years have added a security patrol at night. Noel says the step she wants to see is lighting to remove the shadows where vandals do their work. "It is very peaceful at this cemetery, it is a very beautiful place. We all want to make these grave sites very lovely and be in a wonderful place to remember our loved ones. When this happens, it wrenches your heart. It makes you live through it all again," Anita Santos said. Police are investigating and are asking anyone with information to call Crimestoppers at 564-TIPS(8477).

Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

NO HORSING AROUND -- Melissa Lehman of the Timberline Club (Pineview) competes in the water balloon race during the Salmon River Gymkhana Club's Battle of the Clubs on the weekend. Sixty-two riders from four clubs competed in five events. It is the third year the Salmon River club has hosted the competition.

Man dies after scuffle with RCMP
Suspect falls off bridge
VANCOUVER (CP) -- A man died Sunday when he fell off a bridge while scuffling with a police officer. Vancouver police had tried to pull over a car driven by the man with a female Passenger because the vehicle did not have licence plates. The man sped off, entering a major bridge the wrong way and driving against oncoming traffic. Police spokeswoman Anne Drennan said the car collided with several cars before coming to a stop. The man continued to flee on foot as police gave chase. "One of our officers ran after him and grabbed him but there was a brief struggle," said Drennan. "It looked like the guy was trying to get over the side (of the bridge) to get away, but he fell and hit the pavement below, dying." The man fell more than eight metres and was pronounced dead. Police have not released information about the man or the female passenger. "It's very early in the investigation and everything is not clear yet," said Drennan. Richmond RCMP will continue to investigate the incident, which is considered an in-custody death because a police officer was physically restraining the man when he fell.

Police sifting through tips from aboriginals
Regina girl missing for a week
searchers and canine teams have by BOB WEBER searched a 100-block area of east-cenCanadian Press REGINA -- The family of a five-year- tral Regina without success. Although old Regina girl missing for nearly a hundreds of items have been collected week welcomed news that police are and hundreds of tips received, nothing following up suggestions from the has been definitively connected to the dreams and visions of abolittle girl. The ground search was riginal elders. suspended Sunday night at "That makes us feel bet6 p.m. to give volunteers ter," said Eleanor Keepness, the chance to rest. Tamra Keepness's aunt. "We believe that. That's "It's becoming more of an issue as time progresses to our Indian way. That's the way we were brought up." ensure people are getting some rest," said Popowich. Earlier, Regina police "It's important for them to spokeswoman Elizabeth have that. They have Popowich acknowledged worked so hard." that police have been acting TAMRA on such guidance. Police continued their in"We have received all sorts of infor- vestigative work through the night, mation and, yes, some of it comes to us said Popowich. "There's a lot of activity going on that way," said Regina police spokesthat we can't say much about or that woman Elizabeth Popowich. "Because Tamra (Keepness) is an people can't see. But I can assure aboriginal child, any information you it is very active overnight," she that comes to us through the First said. Nations community -- whether it is Police are considering this a missing through something like a vision or persons investigation until they are through some tradition -- we're go- able to completely rule that out, said ing to take that information and fol- Popowich. However, optimism is fading as time passes. low up on it." "As the days go by, the likelihood of Tamra has not been seen since last Monday night. a happy ending to this becomes more Dozens of police, trained civilian remote," she said.

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Out-of-province crews head home as fire threat dissipates
by HAYLEY MICK Canadian Press VANCOUVER -- The last of the firefighters who came to B.C.'s aid are heading east for home as the province's wildfire threat dissipates and their services are no longer needed. Over the last three weeks, about 600 personnel from t hroughout Canada came to B.C. and battled wildfires that raged out of control and put several communities on evacuation alert. Almost every province extended a helping hand, including Ontario, Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and all of the Prairie provinces. "It was a real joint effort and I think it's a really nice thing to see that everybody's willing to help whoever is the one that's in need," fire information officer Nancy Argyle said Sunday. Cooler, wetter days have helped as well. Now, with about 270 fires burning in the province -- down from a peak of about 450 in late June -- the extra crews are no longer needed. The last of the out-of-province crews will be home by Monday, Argyle said. The number of wildfires in B.C. is more than twice the number burning at the same time last year, and drought conditions mean campfire and open fire bans are still in effect in many areas of the province. Still, the B.C. situation has improved so much that the province can now extend a helping hand to others in need, Argyle said. Four aircraft have been sent to the Yukon, which is facing its worst fire season in 35 years. Two other B.C. aircraft headed to Alberta on Sunday to help fight wildfires there. Argyle added it is typical for B.C. to help other provinces with fire troubles at this time of year.

INDEX
Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . . 24 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 City, B.C. . . . . . 3,5,13,15,16 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . 20-23 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Coming Events . . . . . . . . 2,16 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Entertainment . . . . . . . 18,19 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Lotteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

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