FRIDAY, DECEMBER 28, 2007 $1.25 (HOME DELIVERED: 61 CENTS A DAY) MICHENER AWARD WINNER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM PAKISTAN IN FLAMES A new treatment facility at Baldy Hughes isn't offering traditional 28-day detox. Instead, it's asking addicts to commit to a three-year program, which works out to ... 1,095 DAYS CLEAN Citizen photo by David Mah Pakistani supporters describe Benazir Bhutto's assassination PAGE 15 World braces for chaos in region PAGE 15 Dollar climbs amid Middle Eastern concerns PAGE 22 MLA Lorne Mayencourt, right, speaks to rehabilitation centre residents and recovering addicts Jeremy Ward and Stefeni Meinster (who is four months pregnant) in the centre's support room. T by FRANK PEEBLES Citizen staff he first five lives to be restored at a groundbreaking new addictions treatment facility have arrived in Prince George, where they will live in self-imposed exile for the next three years. That may seem like a long time in a North American rehab culture used to hearing about 28-day detox sessions. For the people who sign on for the program, however, three years is a lot less than a lifetime on the streets and the years of chronic suffering with alcohol, heroin, cocaine and other drugs. "For many people three years is a long time but if these people have already spent 10 years homeless, on drugs, in and out of programs, no end in sight but a huge desire to live a healthy life again, three years is very reasonable and attainable," said Vancouver-Burrard Liberal MLA Lorne Mayencourt, founder of the New Hope Recovery Society based at the 160-acre former Canadian forces station at Baldy Hughes, 40 kilometres southwest of Prince George. Most recently it was a tourist resort known as Moose Springs. The society took possession of it recently and opened with its first residents at the beginning of the month. -- See `THOSE on page 3 SANTA SNAFU All's well after gift-wrapping mixup Citizen staff A couple of central B.C. women received some surprise Christmas presents thanks to a mixup at the giftwrapping booth at Pine Centre Mall. While Cortni Parke was unwrapping a necklace and pendant in Prince George, Gloria Eglin was in Quesnel pulling the wrapping off a couple of tickets to Avril Lavigne's concert at CN Centre. Although Cortni, 16, was thrilled with the jewelry, her mother, Kelli was more surprised and confused. "Everyone let out gasps and sighs, except me," she said. "It was the wrong present." Meanwhile, Eglin, 43, was wondering what to do with tickets to a show definitely aimed at the younger crowd. The first move by both parties was to contact the jewelry store to let them know of the mistake and Kelli sent a letter to The Citizen in the hope readCitizen photo by David Mah INSIDE YEAR IN REVIEW April to June -- PAGE 13 Genevieve Borne, left, and Cortni Parke, 16, exchange Christmas gifts that got mixed up at Christmas. ers might be able to help. But by Boxing Day the puzzle had been cleared up as the jewelry store, People's, was able to contact the true owners and on Thursday, Eglin's sisterin-law, Genevieve Borne, met with the Parkes to make the exchange. Neither wanted to criticize the booth's operators, saying they know it's run by volunteers to raise money for the Prince George Child Development Centre and mistakes can be made given the number of gifts they wrap every Christmas season. They were just relieved the mixup came to a happy conclusion. POPPED IN P.G. Local sports too small for steroids? Think again. ATHLETES TALK -- PAGE 8 St. Vincent de Paul delivers the goods /3 Pay at the pump soon to be law /3 E-Mail address: INDEX 0 58307 00200 5 Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . .27 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Business. . . .. . . . . . . . .22-24 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . . . .3,5, 13 Classified . . . . . . . . . . .17-21 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Entertainment . . . . . . . 25-28 Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6,7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-12 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14, 15 High : -3 Low : -10 page 2 news@princegeorgecitizen.com Our website: http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com HT 7:00 PM TONIG C N C E N T R0E P M AT OW 7: 0 OMORR O ( R E M AT C H TN C E N T R E ) AT C SWITCHBOARD: 562-2441 CLASSIFIED: 562-6666 CHILLIWHACK 00626784 READER SALES: 562-3301