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OCTOBER 9, 2012 Vol. 117, Issue 193
New era, new logo
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PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Trustee raises concerns over playground maintenance BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
The state of the school district’s playgrounds has deteriorated to the extent that one trustee has called for a regular maintenance program to be put into place. Jenn Carter has asked School District 20 (Kootenay Columbia) to develop a regular maintenance program around its 11 district schools in order to avoid the situation that is now occurring in schools like Rossland Secondary School. Last year the Ministry of Education gave $50,000 to Rossland for a new playground apparatus, but the year-old equipment is already showing wear far beyond its years, said Carter. She said already in Rossland there is trouble with the flooring underneath the equipment: It is lifting and there is a grass growing underneath. The lack of maintenance is wearing out the equipment prematurely and it will need to be replaced long before it needs to, she told the board.
See MINISTRY, Page 3
Wednesday editions will support local literacy program
BREANNE MASSEY PHOTO
From the left; Chaplain Ken Siemens and Steve Pershing demonstrated how the lift on the newly-acquired van was beneficial for people who suffer from mobility issues. Ted Heslop and Pat McCabe stood in front with a donation from the Trail-Tadanac High School graduation classes from 1949 and 1950.
Van a big part of helping those with mobility issues All the Way Home program seeking donations to help cover van costs BY BREANNE MASSEY
BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER
Times Staff
Times Staff
Having a mobility issue is like being a prisoner in your own home, according to Reverend Ken Siemens of the West Kootenay Chaplain. But he’s doing everything he can to prevent it with help from the All the Way Home Chaplaincy board, by helping people overcome a series of emotional and physical burdens that come from health problems. For some, the burdens meant forfeiting health treatments due to the high costs of transportation. When All The Way Home began in 2009 the organizers quickly realized that providing transportation was a huge part of helping out those in
Who ever said you can’t get something for free. On Wednesday the Trail Times will be offered free by donation as part of the ReachA-Reader program and the Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy (CBAL). It’s a day to celebrate literacy and to raise money to support a worthwhile cause: pick up a free newspaper on local newsstands, make a donation, and watch your money grow literacy levels in the region. Last year the event raised $840 in a matter of hours in Greater Trail. But the entire Reach-a-Reader campaign, which included advertisements and articles in publications throughout the region, helped raise awareness of the program throughout the Kootenay region, said Chuck Bennett, group publisher for Black Press Kootenays.
See CBAL, Page 3
need. And when All the Way Home purchased a wheelchair accessible van that same year, the barriers for people in need began to disappear. “We’re providing assistance to people with mobility issues, principally that’s people in wheelchairs, to attend to medical appointments, dental needs and social activities,” Siemens said. “The van is really only a part of what we do, but it is certainly a big part of what we do.” But the organization needs help to continue and is calling on the community for donations to pay off the remaining $7,000 loan for the purchase of the van and make this service accessible to the people who need it. “When we first bought our van, the predecessor to this one, if you’d have asked me if there were any wheelchairs in Trail, I probably would’ve said
a few,” Siemens added. “Until you actually start meeting the people and realize that we have got a lot of people with mobility challenges. “But healthy people tend to see right past them.” During the first month of service, in August, the van gave more than 100 rides. It has been in service for two months and provides service by donation for dental appointments, eye care, medical attention and some shopping trips within Rossland, Trail, Fruitvale and Genelle. “We even have calls from the Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital to transport patients who are being discharged with no means of transport,” he said. Recently the Trail-Tadanac High School graduating classes of 1949 and 1950 rounded up a $600 donation for the charity. “We had leftover funds from the seed money at our
reunion,” Ted Heslop said. “And this seemed like a good cause. It was the right thing to do.” And the organization’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, another Trail man added. Sunningdale resident Steve Pershing had one leg amputated two years ago, a result of a case of gangrene spreading from his foot into his shin. Recently he has been struggling with the other leg. “Ken has been a lifesaver,” Pershing said. “For instance, I had one time that I had to get up there at six in the evening and Ken got me up there. HandyDart won’t do anything for you after 3 p.m. because they want to be back in the depot by 4 p.m. and signed out.” For more information about All The Way Home or to make a donation, visit www.atwh.com, e-mail WestKootenayChaplain@ Gmail.com or call 231-1149.
Contact the Times: Phone: 250-368-8551 Fax: 250-368-8550 Newsroom: 250-364-1242
STARTS THIS WEEKEND
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.OW´S THE BEST TIME TO SHOP AND SAVE
Canada Post, Contract number 42068012
Plus watch for more information on the food and clothing drive starting next week!
Free parking • Free kids playroom and ball pit • Late Night Shoppng Thurs. & Fri. to 9pm
250.368.5202
34
years serving our community
5 min. east of Trail on Hwy 3B