Who's the famous actor trying his hand at playing a full-figured mom? /33
SATURDAY, MARCH 17, 2007 $1.25 (HOME DELIVERED: 61 CENTS A DAY)

Polar bears attract tourists /32

Police investigate hockey hit
Officer patrols streets where he grew up /13
by MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff The father of a Quesnel Millionaires player who was blindsided with a crosscheck to the neck by a Prince George Spruce King during a game at CN Centre last month says the Prince George RCMP is investigating. Longtime Prince George resident Elgin McCann said Friday he took a DVD copy of the game into the RCMP following the incident at the tail end of the Feb. 24 B.C. Hockey League game in which Ryan Hill sent Solomon McCann to the ice with a crosscheck. At first, the officer who was given the DVD was reluctant to take up the matter. "He said, `well, you know, it's hockey,'" McCann said. "But he said, `I don't know much about hockey so my superiors are going to have a look at it,' and they finally got around to looking at it and he called me back (Thursday) night at 11 o'clock and said they're going to proceed. "They're going to do interviews with Solomon and do an interview with Ryan Hill and then they're going to send it to Crown counsel." It will be up to Crown counsel to decide if criminal charges will be pursued. Prince George RCMP limited their comments Friday to saying they're investigating the matter. The incident occurred a few moments after McCann bodychecked Spruce Kings star defenceman Jeff Forsythe, flipping him onto the ice and putting him out of the game with a knee injury. The hit occurred in front of the Spruce Kings bench and Prince George claimed McCann made kneeon-knee contact. Soon afterwards, Spruce Kings Tyler Helfrich tackled McCann and landed a few punches before the scuffle was broken up and it seemed as though the players had calmed down. But the worst was yet to come. Judging by a video clip posted on YouTube, where it has drawn 2,200 views, the players were waiting around as the officials were sorting out the penalties when Hill skated slowly from his own blueline towards McCann near the Millionaires' blueline and then dropped him with a sudden crosscheck to the neck. -- See VIDEO on page 3

Who buys all the coffee at your office? /48
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Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

SLIPPERY CONDITIONS -- A two-car mishap Friday on Highway 16, east of the Yellowhead Bridge, left one driver with minor injuries after his car landed in the ditch on its roof.

CNC approves balanced budget
by CHRISTINE SKOREPA Citizen staff For the first time in years, the College of New Caledonia unanimously approved a balanced budget Friday of more than $41 million. That's up by more than $2 million from last year. "I would characterize this budget as a good news budget," said John Bowman, interim president of CNC. "This is a very happy occasion." Bowman said there will be no budget cuts to any programs. In fact, the college is waiting for confirmation of increased funding in the amount of $700,000 from the Industry Training Authority to address apprenticeship wait lists. CNC expects 300 more students when the grant comes through and those funds will then be added to the budget. A proposal for a new fee for students taking those apprenticeship courses caused eyes to roll for student board member Valentine Crawford. The fee would be $20 a week and Crawford says it's just another way to keep the financial barrier up between the students and the college. -- See MEDICAL on page 3

Environment fines increased
by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff Drivers of four-wheelers and all-terrain vehicles could face huge fines if they damage the environment, according to changes to the Forest and Range Practices Act. Forests Minister Rich Coleman introduced the changes in the legislation this week. "We are strengthening government's ability to deal with people who damage our forest or range resources," said Coleman. "This should serve as notice that we will not tolerate the actions of those who wilfully run machines through sensitive areas," he said. The fines for causing damage -- for example, for driving four-wheel vehicles in wetlands, or riding ATVs irresponsibly in alpine terrain -- will be up to $100,000. Cases prosecuted in the criminal courts will carry the maximum $100,000 fine, and up to a one-year jail term, or both. The legislative amendments also:  Enable local governments to reduce the threat of wildfires to their communities.  Streamline government's ability to increase the volume and area of a First Nation tenure, and to protect potential aboriginal rights and title.  Provide wood lot operators with greater operational flexibility to improve their economic stability.  Make changes to provisions to cutting permits to facilitate the prompt harvesting of mountain pine beetle-attacked timber.

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INDEX
Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . . 35 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Business . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-24 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . . . .3,5,13 Classifi ed . . . . . . . . . . . 18-21 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Coming Events . . . . . . . . . .36 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . 33 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43-48

Two killed in Highway 97 crash
Citizen staff Two people died Friday morning in a crash on Highway 97 near Quesnel. Quesnel RCMP responded to a two-vehicle collision about 23 kilometres south of the community, close to Kersley, where a northbound car appeared to have gone out of control and crossed into the southbound lane. The car was struck on the passenger side by a pickup truck. The two occupants of the car were pronounced dead at the scene. The four occupants of the pickup were taken to G.R. Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel with non-life-threatening injuries. All occupants of the the pickup were wearing seatbelts, which helped limit the extent of their injuries, said Quesnel RCMP Cpl. S.C. Chin. Both occupants of the car were also wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision, he said. "However, the forces inside the vehicle were too great." Names were withheld pending notification of next of kin. The highway was closed for several hours, reopening in the early afternoon. The detour along French Road was also closed for a time because of a jackknifed transport truck. Quesnel RCMP said road conditions were unsafe Friday because of heavy snowfall and slush buildup on the road. After Highway 97 was reopened, road conditions appeared to be bare and wet, Quesnel RCMP said. Slippery sections may still exist in spots, and driver caution is recommended, police advised.

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