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TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2007

Meal program warms up winter /33
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Family mourns victim
by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen staff Police have confirmed the body found last week in a wooded area along t he cutbank s was t hat of Shawn Halikowski, 44. His death is being investigated as a homicide, the first this year in Prince George. Halikowski was last seen by family and friends on March 9. His father, David Halikowski, said "we miss him dearly" and t he family was "in the stressful process of making funeral arrangements" at the same time as t he police were pushing forth with their investigation. " We cer t ainly suppor t t he poHALIKOWSKI lice's activities, t h ey h ave b e e n just wonderful," his father said. Halikowski's family asks anyone who knows anything about their son's final hours to pass that information along to police. Halikowski's body was discovered March 26 by someone on a walk in a sandy clearing at the end of a semideveloped driveway about a kilometre and a half along Hoferkamp Road. Police did an intensive analysis of the scene and an autopsy has been performed, but have said little so far about their findings pending further investigation. Investigators are hoping someone will remember seeing suspicious activities on Hoferkamp Road or might know something regarding Halikowski's death. Anyone with information is asked to call Prince George RCMP at 561-3300 or do so anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1800-222-TIPS / www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca.

Upgrade of trail approved
by MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff City council approved an additional $360,000 for construction of an underpass to allow walkers to make their way along the Heritage River Trail without having to cross Highway 16 after bids for the project came in higher than budgeted. The tax levy will not be affected by the additional expense because $300,000 will be taken out of the capital expenditure reserve and $60,000 out of the community works fund, which is made up of the city's share of federal gas tax revenue. Cost of the underpass, which will include lighting, was originally estimated at $550,000 of which the provincial government agreed to fund $241,000 while the city would be responsible for $309,000. However, when the project was tendered in late 2006, the bids received were more than double the expected budget. The city held off on awarding a contract and over the winter reduced the scope and a new tender was issued in late February. Although the bids were much less, they were still $360,000 over the allocated budget and the work needs to be completed by July 2007 to ensure there are no conflicts with the Highway 16 resurfacing project this summer. Meanwhile, city staff will continue to seek money from other sources, such as ICBC, city council was told in a report, with any funding put into the project. As many as 70 people an hour cross Highway 16 at the spot.  Rezoning bylaws for two developments were passed through third reading after no objections were raised during public hearings on the items:  Sunrise Trailer Sales Ltd. wants to establish a dealership over 2.24 hectares at 4204 Highway 16 West near the Bon Voyage Inn. The application was passed through second reading in December but a public hearing was delayed until a traffic impact study was completed.  Janus Developments Inc., Pay-N-Save Building Supplies Ltd. and Thomas and Emmi Thee want to develop a subdivision consisting of 46 single-family and manufactured homes in the Glenview Area. The 4.4-hectare site is located to the northeast of Dawson Road and Greenforest Crescent. A geotechnical report had to be completed before the item, which was passed through second reading on March 5, could go to a public hearing.

Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

A BUG'S LIFE -- Hunter, 10, looks at ants in a petrie dish with a magnifying glass at The Exploration Place Monday. The spring break camp theme is `Bug Bonanza.'

Treaty vote disappoints mayor
Citizen staff Mayor Colin Kinsley says he's disappointed in the Lheidli T'enneh's rejection of the proposed treaty on the weekend, but added city council will continue to work with the Indian band. "As Chief (Dominic) Frederick has continuously obser ved throughout the treaty negotiation process, a decision concerning the proposed treaty was the Lheidli T'enneh community's to make," Kinsley said Monday. The treaty included a local government relations chapter, which established how the Lheidli T'enneh and the City of Prince George would work together had the final agreement been approved. The chapter also directed the city and Lheidli T'enneh to develop a comprehensive master agreement to provide direction concerning harmonization of development, servicing and use of the proposed treaty settlement lands. Even with the outcome, which saw fewer than 50 per cent of the band membership voting in favour, the draft master agreement between the city and the Lheidli T'enneh had been working on in the run up to the vote remains valuable, city manager Derek Bates said. "The document will serve as an effective guide and tool for local and First Nation governments to codify the methods and processes required for long term successful relationships," he said. Fraser-Fort George Regional District electoral area F (Willow River-Upper Fraser) director Shelley Zenzen also said the result was disappointing but the relationship between the regional district and the Lheidli T'enneh will continue. "How the Lheidli T'enneh people move towards their future remains their decision. I do believe when one door closes, another opens," said Zenzen, who also chairs the Prince George Treaty Advisory Committee.

More MDs sought in Mackenzie
Citizen staff A severe shortage of physicians in Mackenzie has prompted a town meeting today at St. Peters Church. The meeting, being held from 4 to 6 p.m., will revolve around efforts being made to recruit doctors to t he town of 5,000. Mackenzie is 185 kilometres north of Prince George. Pat Bell, MLA for Prince George North, and Michael McMillan, c hief operating of f icer wit h Northern Health, will lead the discussion. "We are definitely having an issue with recruiting to Mackenzie," said McMillan. "It's been some time since we have had a full slate of four physicians there. We'll be talking to the residents about our recruitment efforts." Mackenzie is coping with one full-time doctor and on-and-off time locums (temporary doctors), McMillan said.

Telethon raises $1.5 million for health foundation
Citizen staff A fundraising event Sunday for the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation raised about $1.5 million for the cause. "This sixth annual Spirit of the North day was a wonderful success," said David Wharrie, executive director. "We are delighted to recognize so many members of the community who have come together to show their support. Donations came from all sectors, including individuals, small businesses, service organizations and corporations." Topping the list of major donors is the Auxiliary to Prince George Regional Hospital at $216,158, followed by P.G. firefighters ($73,000), Guru Gobind Singh Temple ($45,000) and Costco Wholesale ($32,395). Donors adding funds to complete pledges include TD Canada Trust ($20,000), Scotiabank ($10,000) and CIBC ($20,000). Other major donors were FMC Canada ($20,000), the Brent Marshall family ($19,522), Tim Hortons ($10,985), Bank of Montreal ($10,000), Canfor ($8,500), All-Wood Fibre ($7,500), Nechako Rotary ($6,206), RBC Financial Group ($5,000), Spruce City Lions ($3,460), Shoppers Drug Mart ($3,049), and Wild West Rodeo Group ($3,721). The funds are used "to help build PGRH into a centre for health-care excellence for northern B.C.", said Wharrie. A $12.5-million renovation includes the new pediatric wing which opened in November, a pediatric ambulatory area for clinics and out patient services, and a new special care nursery and labour-delivery area expected to be complete in June. Donations and pledge payments can be dropped off, or mailed to: Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation, 1475 Edmonton St.., Prince George, V2M 1S2. To use credit cards call 565-2515 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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