WEDNESDAY
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AUGUST 27, 2014
1 8 9 5 Softball game signals start for Smokies
Vol. 119, Issue 133
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PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Back to school as usual for some students
TEACHERS BACK ON THE PICKET LINE
St. Michael’s Catholic school in Trail and Rossland’s alternative school set to start classes on Sept. 2 BY LIZ BEVAN Times Staff
Public school students still don't know when they are heading back to the classroom, but some students have their backpacks packed and are getting to ready to learn. St. Michael's Catholic School in Trail is starting its school year as usual, on Sept. 2 and principal Julia Mason says she has gotten a few phone calls from parents over the summer, some asking about registration. “I think that (parents) are just worried about the unknown,” she said about the ongoing labour dispute between public school teachers and the provincial government. “Lots of the phone calls that we have been “We’re not affiliated with getting started at the end of the school year any union. Our and I think that people have always thought staff signs of our school and just contracts want a change. Some every year.” of it is, I believe, (about the strike).” JULIA MASON St. Michael's is classified, by the Ministry of Education, as a Group 1 Independent School. Teachers don't have contracts with the government, but rather with the school itself. “We are not affiliated with any union,” said Mason. “Our staff signs contracts every year.” Because of the school's classification, the school does not strictly rely on the provincial government for funding, but rather, looks towards tuition fees, donations, fundraising, parish subsidies and bequests. According to St. Michael's website, the government funds 50 per cent of the “per pupil operating cost of the local school district” and there is no funding for “capital expenditures.” The Seven Summits Centre for Learning, an alternative school in Rossland, is also heading back to the classroom next week and Operations Manager Ann Quarterman says all is business as usual at the centre. “We've been working all throughout the summer and the mentors, which is what we call our teachers, are planning and setting up courses,” she said. “We will have a full day on Sept. 2.” See REGISTRATION, Page 3
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SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
Consensus by Glenmerry Elementary School picketing teachers Tuesday morning is that they’re feeling demoralized and not hopeful that a resolution to the ongoing strike is near. From the left; Grade 2 teacher Louise Sidley; Kathy Koshey, Kindergarten; Angela Curlew and Melissa Borsato, teachers on call.
Trail’s taxi service set to close if no buyer
Cab company to cease operations in Trail and Castlegar if no sale by Oct. 12 BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
In a few months Hans Markus will be out of a job. But more than a regular paycheque, the Trail man says he’ll miss the people he’s been driving to and fro throughout the city for the last 11 years. Summer months are quiet, but during the rest of the year, he can pick up 20 to 25 calls during his 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. shift, with most of the requests coming from
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people.” John Foglia, owner of JF Auto Centre, took over the Trail company 15 years ago, but now he wants to move on and maybe even retire. “I’ve run it for quite awhile and it’s beyond my time,” he said. “I tried to help the area by taking the company over. I’m not looking for a whole pile of money, just for someone to make me an offer.” There’s no doubt that losing the taxi service will impact a lot of lives in Greater Trail, because health care facilities, Teck Trail Operations and BC Transit all rely upon the company to transport patients, residents, and employees to
distal destinations. Columbia View Lodge has a person who regularly uses the cab service, says the facility’s Bridges Coordinator, Sandy Garrett. “She has doctor appointments twice a week,” explained Garrett. “She has no family that lives in town to transport her, and doesn’t know how she’ll get to her appointments if there is no cab.” Last year, BC Transit provided 279 taxi supplements to its passengers who couldn’t be accommodated by the company’s handyDART service. See TAXI, Page 3
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Trail’s senior citizens. Markus is one of two Champion Cab drivers still taxiing for the Trail company that has gradually cut back hours of operation in the last few years. The cab service along with its sister company, Castlegar Taxi, is up for sale. If there are no takers, then Oct. 12 marks the last day that taxis will be available in Greater Trail and Castlegar. “I’d say 90 per cent of my fares are elderly ladies,” said the 65-year old driver. “If nobody wants a cab company in Trail, then I just won’t drive cab. But I’ve enjoyed it and I’ll really miss all the
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