Sahara out on DVD /16

Medical schools Hurricane hits need more hard; oil prices students /6 soar /14, 22
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2005

Agassi back for 20th U.S. Open /11

80 CENTS (HOME DELIVERED: 57 CENTS A DAY)

Stabbing death nets conditional sentence
by PAUL STRICK LA N D Citizen sta ff A Va n d e r h o o f wo m a n c o n v i c t e d o f manslaughter in the stabbing death of her lover was given a conditional sentence Monday of two years less a day. Teresa Layne Senner, 43, will serve the sentence in the community, obey a curfew of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. and must undergo any counselling that the conditional-sentence supervisor directs. She is also banned from using e-mail or having an Internet account. A jury returned a verdict of manslaughter in the case on May 19. Senner caused the death of Norman Craig Wicks, 50, a principal of two Vanderhoof schools, through a single stab told. She sent e-mails to Wicks that wound to the groin on Nov. 20, 2002 contained strong language, court also heard. around 4:30 p.m., court heard. Senner was a clerk in the human reShe called him at his school and had sources department of the Nechako him summoned from a meeting. When Lakes school district at the time. he came home, a struggle ensued durSenner had assumed her relationship ing which he received the fatal stab with Wicks would lead to marriage, but wound. learned that his ex-wife would be comMr. Justice Glen Parrett said Sening to a housewarming party the folner's version of events was not credible on numerous points. lowing weekend. Senner broke through "She describes herself as completely the back door of Wicks's home around SENNER 2:45 p.m. that same afternoon and passive," he said. "Things happen to learned by going through his e-mails that he her and around her. She doesn't describe herself was pursuing other relationships, court was as doing anything." For example, the judge said, Senner testified during the struggle in Wicks's home "stuff just started flying." A telescope fell and other objects started falling and flying around, according to her version of events. Senner stood up around this point of the sentencing hearing, but a sheriff motioned her to sit back down. Mr. Justice Parrett said Senner's version of events of how a long, sharp knife in the kitchen came to be used did not stand up to scrutiny. At trial, she testified that she had attempted to remove a kitchen knife from the path of their struggle and it inadvertently cut Wicks. -- See STAT E M E N TS on page 3

Harris leery of lumber stance
by GORDON HOEKST R A Citizen staff Suggestions by the federal government that it might consider recalling Parliament early to deal with the softwood lumber trade fight is nothing more than political posturing, says Cariboo-Prince George MP Dick Harris. "They're trying to make it seem like they're doing something," Harris, a Conservative, said Monday. He said he doubts the Liberals will recall Parliament early, noting the government doesn't need to do that in order to get tougher on the issue. Prime Minister Paul Martin's office says it's too early to say if MPs will actually be called back to Ottawa before the scheduled date of Sept. 26, but a spokesman said Sunday the idea is on the table. T h e c o m m e n t s f o l l owe d N D P leader Jack Layton's public appeal to Martin to recall the House of Commons immediately to deal with the latest developments in the trade dispute. Layton says it would send a clear signal to the U.S. that Canadians regard the matter as serious. Canadian politicians and industry representatives have expressed outrage after the U.S. said it was going to ignore a key North American Free Trade Agreement dispute panel win for Canada handed down earlier this month. But Harris says the latest suggestion of recalling Parliament is just another example of how the Liberals are mishandling the trade fight, as they did more than four years ago when the existing five-year softwood lumber agreement was ending. Before the five-year agreement's end in the spring of 2001, the Liberals should have mounted a massive lobbying strategy in t he U.S. to counter the powerful U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports, spending up to $300 million, said Harris. More than $5 billion has been collected in tariffs so far from Canadian lumber producers, more than $1 billion from Northern Interior lumber producers alone. Canada's ambassador to the U.S., Frank McKenna, suggested a similar strategy last spring in Prince George, saying lobbying in Washington, D.C., and grassroots America should be stepped up. In the interim, Harris said Canada should be suing the U.S. -- using a trade convention Canada signed with the U.S. in 1986 -- to advance its case. Under the federal Liberals, Canada is considering levies on such American goods as California wine and Florida orange juice to retaliate for duties the U.S. imposes on Canadian lumber. While Canada already has the OK to retaliate on a small scale, it has applied for the authority to claw back all the tariffs collected by the U.S., and held in trust by U.S. Customs. -- See POLITICIANS on page 3

Citizen photo by Dave Milne

TURNOVER DURING COLLISION -- An SUV lies on its side after a minor collision with a taxi Monday at 20th Avenue and Victoria Street.

Money in place for school expansion
by BERNICE TRICK Citizen staff The Prince George school district moved a big step closer Monday to a long-awaited expansion of College Heights secondary school. On behalf of the B.C. government, MLA John Rustad (Prince George-Omineca) presented school board vice-chair Lyn Hall with an official letter approving an innovative plan by the local board to fund the estimated $4.5-million expansion that's been 18 years in the making. Expansion construction of a multi-purpose room and music room as well as upgrading of building code standards is expected to begin next summer, following a feasibility study and planning, with completion expected in late 2007, said Bryan Mix, school district secretary-treasurer. "This is great. Anytime we can improve our schools, it's good," said Mix. "After such a long period of time, it seems a bit surreal that it's going to happen," added Dick Chambers, school district superintendent. This first phase does not include more classroom space, although that could happen in the future if enrolment increases, said Chambers. "Space is not a problem at this time," said Chambers, explaining enrollment at College Heights secondary has been on the decline for a few years to today's 850 students, down from more than 1,000 in the past. Mix related past attempts to get the project rolling since the RUSTAD late 1980s, when it was placed on the school district's capital fund list. Hopes were high again in 1993 and 1996, but for reasons like funding being denied or a capital spending freeze, it never went ahead. Finally, the school board came up with its own plan to make the project a reality. The school board will use funds from the sale of schools like Hart Highway and Seymour elementary schools and revenue from the lease of schools like Lakewood elementary and Meadow elementary to help pay for the project. When schools are sold, 75 per cent of the money goes to the government's capital fund and 25 per cent goes to the school district. The province has given permission for its portion of the sales to be used for the College Heights expansion, Mix explained. "We may have to borrow $1.5 million, but that will be paid back through the lease revenues, which go into a pool to offset construction costs," said Mix. Nadine Nicholson, chair of the school's parent advisory council, wasn't quite as thrilled about the announcement as some. "I'm hoping it will go ahead without any further stoppages, but when you hear the past stories, it makes you wonder," said Nicholson, who is also "a bit disappointed" that a needed library expansion is not in the first phase. Education Minister Shirley Bond applauded the school board for its "innovative alternative financing options" to move the project forward. "It's a very creative partnership. Over time the province will have funded this expansion."

SOFTWOOD LUMBER DISPUTE
High : 15 Low : 8 page 2

Target Terasen sale, NDP says
VICTORIA (CP) -- British Columbia should send the United States a message about softwood by shutting d ow n h e a r i n g s i n t o t h e s a l e o f Terasen Gas to Texas-based Kinder Morgan, says B.C. NDP Leader Carole James. Premier Gordon Campbell could help put pressure on one of the most important business allies of U.S. President George Bush, while protecting the province's exports, James said on Monday. The $6.9 billion Terasen takeover was announced earlier this month. But the deal must go before the B.C. Utilities Commission for approval this fall. "Say to the Americans, when they live up to their end of the bargain in free trade, (then) we'll continue on with the hearings into the sale," James suggested. "Given repeated refusals by the U.S. to abide by NAFTA, British Columbia has a responsibility to send President Bush a clear message." B.C. Forests Minister Rich Coleman, however, rejected James' suggestion that B.C. hold up the sale. H owe ve r, h e didn't didn't rule out the possibility t hat holding up the takeover might be one sanction that could be included in a package of retaliator y meaJAMES sures in the ongoing softwood dispute. "We're not going to mix the apples and oranges yet," Coleman said. "We've talked to the feds about sanctions . . . but our first step is going to be try and get to the table and negotiate a deal. "You don't do that by going off halfcocked and saying let's try this thing or that thing," he said. Coleman said he's been told that the prime minister will be discussing the softwood dispute with Bush later this week. Earlier on Monday, the B.C. Chamber of Commerce asked its U.S. counterparts to lobby the U.S. president and urge resolution to the softwood lumber dispute before it wrecks the North American Free Trade Agreement. In a letter, chamber president John Winter said NAFTA is in trouble because of the longstanding trade war over lumber. "NAFTA has brought a wave of economic progress unprecedented in our times, but increasing trade protectionism is putting those benefits at risk," Winter said in a news release. He called on chambers in all 50 states to urge Bush to respect its obligations under NAFTA and move quickly to a negotiated settlement on softwood. The federal government is still considering the wisdom of retaliatory action for duties the U.S. continues to impose on Canadian lumber despite a host of rulings against such measures. Canada is also demanding t he return of $5 billion that was unfairly charged to Canadian lumber producers.

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INDEX
Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . . . 17 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 Business . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-24 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . . . .3,5,13 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . 18-21 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . .16 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14,15

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