TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2007

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MICHENER AWARD WINNER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM

Citizen photo by Brent Braaten

ELUDING THE TACKLE -- Fraser Valley player Giordano Maronato throws the ball while being checked by Fraser South Daniel Thatcher during play Monday at the Aquatic Centre. Water polo is the opening event of the B.C. Summer Swim Association provincial championships this week. Speed swimming, synchronized swimming and diving competition starts later this week.

Mounties focus on stolen cars
by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen staff Since the BAIT Car Program and the provincial car theft IMPACT specialist team came to Prince George, rank and file RCMP are showing a new vigour for spotting stolen cars, said the Mountie leading the effort in the city. Const. Ryan Arnold said general duty members have so much on their plate handling the steady stream of crime and following up on their regular duties that it is often asking a lot to also scan every licence plate and vehicle description that they pass on the street, but that is exactly what they are doing. "People have become more proactive within the detachment," Arnold said. "People are actually looking for stolen vehicles and they weren't always doing that before." This new attention led to the decisive police action to capture a pair of fugitives who ran from a fatal car wreck on Sunday, leaving one passenger dead, two more occupants injured and someone locked in the trunk -- all in a car reported stolen earlier that day. It was spotted by a regular Mountie on patrol downtown. -- See SPOTTING on page 3

Helicopter survey seeks mining data
by JAMIE WOODFORD Citizen staff The helicopter that has been flying around the Prince George area at low levels recently while dangling a large web-like object has been conducting an airborne electromagnetic survey of the area. The project, lead by an organization that encourages mineral exploration, hopes to obtain enough data to advance investment in B.C.'s mining industry, according to a Geoscience B.C. advisor. Peter Kowalczyk is a geophysicist with Geoscience B.C., an organization whic h has launched a program to acquire geoscience data to provide an outline for mineral exploration in gravel covered areas, such as those around Prince George. "The geology is great geology, but it's just hidden," said Kowalczyk. "We're trying to identify the context that mines sit within on a larger scale ... and carry that information into the central area, which is covered with gravel, to give people an idea of where they should look." Kowalczyk notes there are mines in the north and south of the study area, which extends from Williams Lake to north of Mackenzie, but a discovery has yet to be made in the central area between them. "We have some really big mineral deposits, but in the central area nothing has been discovered and the main reason is the gravel covered area," he said. Kowalczyk said the project is a positive step in the right direction. "It stands a good chance of being a lead into the discovery of a mine and perhaps more than one mine between Williams Lake and Mackenzie," he said. "It's something for the private mineral exploration community to build on, so it's really very helpful for them to have this larger context and then to direct their exploration inside it," he added. -- See HOOP on page 3

Citizen staff photo

A helicopter conducts an electromagnetic survey as part of a mineral exploration project in the Prince George area.

Funding approved for arts centre study Charges pending after fatal crash
by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen staff The city has never been so close to getting a performing arts centre. On Monday night, council voted unanimously to invest the first municipal dollars ever dedicated toward the building of an arts centre. "There are many whose first consideration would have been a performing arts centre, but they supported these other items," said councillor Don Basserman during the hearing, adding that "I think we are at that threshold" where the arts centre now needs to be the project of council's focus. "We have to get on with the project, and with Mr. Dezell I believe the money will be in good hands," said councillor Brian Skakun, referring to retired councillor Cliff Dezell who heads the society advancing the cause. That group has been laying the ground work up until this point. They now need a consultant to take the project to the next level. Dezell was thrilled that finally, after decades of discussion and several other projects coming to fruition in the meantime, money has been dedicated to a needs assessment and feasibility study. Council agreed to put $150,000 into a threephase process intended to u n c ove r t h e f a c t s fo r building the proper facility in the proper place for DEZELL the proper functions. He did not believe this process would take long. "We anticipate bringing a report back to council early in the new year," Dezell said. That will include the holding of public meetings and the hiring of a consultant to determine the necessary details. "We have a huge list of people involved in the arts in all ways, not just performance. We hope to cast the net as wide as possible to gather input on what a performing arts centre should look like, where it should be located." Also advocating for the society at the council meeting Monday was retired councillor Anne Martin who said studies beg for a cultural precinct to evolve downtown to attract and sustain a lively economy, and the arts centre is expected to be a focal point for that. "I have a good feeling about this one," Martin said. "I am impressed by the support shown by council and the support shown by the community. I know this city considers itself a sport community but it also demonstrates other talents. We need this building to nurture that, especially our young performers." During the hearing, councillor Murry Krause said that because of the leadership already shown by Dezell and the rest of the task force, "if anyone can make this happen, it is them, so let's seize this opportunity." Council will decide in two weeks who among them would sit on the task force, at the society's invitation, to ensure the feasibility study moves forward. by PAUL STRICKLAND Citizen staff The suspected driver of a vehicle that crashed into a tree off Queensway Street Sunday faces charges of robbery, extortion, failure to stop for police, criminal negligence causing death and related counts. Prince George provincial court judge Dan Weatherly received the charge document against Wayne Willier Monday afternoon. He could not officially deal with the session as a first appearance because Willier, who is under RCMP guard in Prince George Regional Hospital, was not personally present in court and no video or speakerphone link could be arranged before the end of the court day. However, the judge did issue a warrant that will ensure Willier's appearance before the courts, either by a justice of the peace going to the hospital or a video or phone conference. -- See BAIL on page 3

INDEX
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58307

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8

Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . .17 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Business. . . .. . . . . . . . .22-24 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . . . .3,5,13

Classified . . . . . . . . . . .18-21 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . 15

Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6,7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14, 28

High : 21 Low : 7 page 2

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