THURSDAY
S I N C E
JANUARY 10, 2013
1 8 9 5
Vol. 118, Issue 6
110
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Band donates drums to cadets Page 2
INCLUDING H.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
SCHOOL DISTRICT 20
Facilities review meetings set to begin next week First session scheduled for Jan. 15 at Rossland Secondary School
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
Pharmacist Lee Boyer drew his 700th dose of the flu vaccine this season on Wednesday.
Flu bug bites into region SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
The Kootenay Boundary region has been hit with a surge in the number of flu cases, according to B.C. Centre for Disease Control. Although, according to Doctor Trevor Corneil, Medical Health Officer for Interior Health, it is too early to say what the final statistic will look like. “The flu has hit earlier than last year, so the number of cases seem to be high right now,” said Corneil. “But it actually meets the average over a period of the last 10 years.” The most common strain of flu that is affecting the Kootenays is H3N2 type A influenza virus. Winters when H3N2 viruses predominate are generally harder flu seasons because this subtype hits the elderly with particular severity. “Severe symptoms from this strain are seen in the elderly and immune-compromised,” said
Corneil. However, he does concede that most healthy people, who are exposed, won’t become as sick, if they show any symptoms at all. “Most people who are getting the flu are not getting the severe version of it,” he said, Corneil advises that it you are sick, to stay at home and avoid exposing others to the illness. “Lots of fluids and rest,” he added. However, Corneil said that if a person is experiencing a high fever, consult a physician to make sure that something else isn’t going on. The best way to reduce severity symptoms is to receive an annual flu shot. In any given year, there are at least 10 to 15 differents strains that come by, but the three that are the most virulent, are in the flu shot, said Corneil. “People who get their shot are protected against the three strains that cause the most severe symptoms,” said Corneil. “And they won’t get as sick when exposed to the other strains.”
could not support their sentiment with hard facts. “It is unfair for the folks in Rossland not to have a school,” one BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER man wrote. “This will devastate the Times Staff town.” Fireworks are set to fly as the Many writers cited the reason debate and deliberation on school they moved to Rossland was for the closures in the region hits close to quality of life the small city afforded home in Rossland Tuesday night. them. And part of that quality was The knives will having kindergarten be sharpened when to Grade 12 education “I think the board of trustavailable to their chilreasonable, ees ascends into the dren. sensible people mountain kingdom’s But if the situation Rossland Secondary changed, and grades will understand School gymnasium at nine to 12 were moved why we have to 6:30 p.m. for a public to Trail’s J.L. Crowe forum on the facili- make these tough high school, many ties review underway threatened to move or decisions ...” in School District 20 to home school their DARRELL GANZERT (Kootenay Columbia). children. The board plays “If schooling is not host to what could be made available our an inhospitable public to discuss family will be joining the many potential closures or reconfigura- others who would choose to leave tions in the city of Rossland, as well due to these circumstances,” one as in Castlegar on Wednesday. man wrote. But with over 300 letters com“I know of several people who ing in during the month-long call are either open to moving or actfor public input—and well over ively looking to move due to the 95 per cent of the letters from ongoing school issue,” another man Rosslanders—if the mood of the added. meeting reflects the public response There will be a facilitator in place so far trustees will have targets at the meeting, said SD20 board pinned to their backs for the even- chair Darrell Ganzert, perhaps to ing. quell the emotion that is likely to “I must question the experience erupt. Any dramatic change is diffiand training of those making these cult to accept at times, he said, and decisions, with a seemingly incom- this could be one of those times. plete evaluation, that so significant“I think reasonable, sensible ly affects an entire community,” people will understand why we have wrote one woman in a letter posted to make these tough decisions, but to SD20’s public website. there will always be people who will “Placing all the teenaged popu- not accept, there is no question lation in one high school (J.L. about that, and with difficult deciCrowe) denies our young adults sions there is always some of that,” these types of opportunities to grow he said. “We think most people will and develop and would be a serious understand a logical argument and disservice to our communities as a we’ll point out what we’ve done whole,” wrote another. over the last few years to balance Most people in Rossland agreed our budget.” the city needed both schools, but See BOARD, Page 3
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