Family travels to California for baby’s heart transplant operation Robert Gatster News Reporter robert@nsnews.com AS her six-week-old nephew awaits a desperately needed heart transplant operation in California, Judy Doutre is holding down the fort in North Vancouver. Brent and Jessica Palmer accompanied their baby to the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital in California last Saturday. Since the weekend, the plight of Baby Jack has been ina nation-wide spotlight in both the U.S. and Canada as television stations and newspapers reported his story. Baby Jack was born on Oct. 10 with a heart defece and although two lifesaving operations have been performed at Vancouver's Children Hospital, the condition is now inoperable. Baby Jack’s only hope is that a donor is found and a heart transplant operation performed before his own fragile organ gives out. Brent, a member-in-training of the North Shore Rescue Team, and wife Jessica have spent the last few days in a bedside vigil. Joining them in California are their own mothers. “What we're saying is the baby’s in critical condition but stable — minute by minute,” said Doutre, “It has been a roller coaster of emotion and it’s not just me but also a lot of family and friends.” She is setting up an account to accept donations to help offset the fam- Christmas telethon nicks local ‘Timi Morgan takes his life-threatening illness in stride Murder accused arrested Anna Marie D’Angelo News Reporter dangclo@nsnews.com awaiting a heart donor. Palmer family photo JESSICA and Brent Palmer with baby Jack before an incurable heart condition forced them to travel to a California hospital where they are ily’s expenses during their ordeal — and alse to help pay for whatever drugs may be necessary for Baby Jack upon his return. In the meantime, the David Foster Foundation is assisting the family in covering non-medical expenses. Doutre said she hopes baby Jack’s story also heips raise the profile of various organ donor programs both in Canada and around the world. : y A former North Vancouver resident charged with the first- degree murder of a drug dealer in Burnaby was arrested in Las Vegas on Tuesday. Haddi — Binahmad, also known as Jimmy, and as Haddy Bin Ahmad, 24, was arrested after a security guard recognized the fugitive in the Palace Station Casino. Burnaby RCMP Sgt. Derck cooke said that Binahmad got into a car with Canadian licence plates with ovo people outside the casino. Las Vegas police pulled over the car and arrested Binahmad. Binahmad’s = murder co- accused, Shane Kelly Shoemaker, 23, of Vancouver, was later arrested at an inn in Las Vegas. To press time, the duo were in jailin Las Vegas. See Photos page S Deana Lancaster News Reporter deana@nsnews.com MORGAN Grant-Tapp isn’t nervous being interviewed for print, on radio, or even on television. : It’s old har for the 12 and-a-half year old, who will participate in his fourth telethon on Saturday. This year is a little different for the North Van resi- dent, though, because he has been chosen as “Timmy,” one of the child representatives for Timmy’s Christmas Telethon — the annual fundraiser for ‘The B.C. Lions Society for Children with Disabilities. “ffike it,” says Morgan, when asked if all the atten- tion makes him’ uncomfortable. And his job isn’t tao hard. “Ljust have to tell people what the Lions Society does, and tell them to watch the show, and to make a donation.” So what does the Lions Society do? He looks up and thinks about it. “Raises money through the telethon and uses it for Easter Seal houses, camps and patient care.” Morgan knows this stuff pretty well because he’s been able to benefit from the work of the Lions Society. This summer he spent a week at Easter Seal Camp, enjoying campouts, and staging skits with his friends, for the sixth year in a row. It’s clear he doesn’t think of himself as disabled, but he does have a rare skin condition known as Epidermolysis Bullosa, Junetional. “He has to be careful,” says his mom, Lou Tapp. “Any bumps or scrapes can turn into blisters. And we have to be careful about infection.” In fact, she said, the condition is considered a fite- threatening illness, and Morgan wears bandages over most of his body for protection. It doesn’t hold him back much, though. He won't ever be able to play in the NFL or become a wrestler with the WWE — owo of his favourite sports — but his modified PE class at Holy Trinity elementary school is one of his favourites, along with art. He gets mostly A’s and B's in school, and loves the Simpsons television show, video games and messing around on his lap top computer. He is also possessed of a devilish sense of humour, Any mention of ways to irritate his two older sisters, and a gleam comes into his eve. We vet back to the telethon. His eves are on the ceil- ing again. This vear, “Rita MacNeil, Rick Tippe. Bobby Curtola, a guy named Michael Bub ... Bubl something (Michael Bublé) and ... Norman Foote are going to be there.” The interview is obviously winding down —- Morgan's getting fidgety. Like most 12-vear-alds, long detailed conversations are not his style. Besides, his dad Gary is downstairs watching Denver, his favourite team, beat Oakland and he'd really like to join him. Timmy’s Christmas Telethon begins at 10) p.m. Saturday and ends at 5 p.m. on Sunday on CBC (Channel 3 on the North Shore). Laxton faces law society hearing Robert Galster Corp. (IPC). gate “other issues respecting Mr. Laxton’s con- News Reporter robert@nsnews.com WEST Vancouver’s John Laxton just can’t shake the BC Hydro affair that dominated headlines in 1996 and cost him his position with the public utility. Last Tuesday, the Law Society of British Columbia served Laxton with a discipline citation tor his involvement with a controversial power project in Pakistan. The socicty will hold a disci- pline hearing next May 18-20 into his conduct while he was chairman of the Crown corporation. Laxton served as chairman of BC Hydro from Nov. 18, 1993, until Feb. 23, 1996. The seeds of his present problems were sown several years ago as BC Hydro, under Laxton’s chairmanship, began to pursue involvement in international power projects. The work, funnelled through a series of BC Hydro subsidiaries, culmi- nated with the creation of International Power IPC was a joint venture between Laxton’s BC Hydro and a Pakistani group headed by Ali Mahmood. Hydro was to bring in much-needed expertise and Mahmood's group was to provide the necessary Pakistani contacts to get the project off the ground. Their first venture was the construction of the Raiwind power project in Pakistan. A report written by current BC Hydro chair- man Brian Smith and released in March 1997 out- lined two areas of questionable conduct by Laxton: his purchase of IPC shares and a $1 mil- lion loan he made to Mahmood. “The hearing will inquire into Mr. Laxton’s conduct ‘in making false, inaccurate or misleading statements to the members of the press concern- ing your activities while Chair of BC Hydro, at a press conference which took place on or about February 21, 1996,” stated the society’s announcement. The Law Society is also continuing to investi- duct in the BC Hydro/IPC matter.” Meanwhile the RCMP commercial crimes unit has given a copy of its final report into the affair to special prosecutor Paul Fraser. RCMP Insp, Bill Ard said the report was sub- mitted “within the last 30 days” and included a recommendation, though he would not divulge what it was. Fraser did not return News calls to press time Thursday. Laxton, reached at his downtown office on Tuesday, did not divulge his strategy in dealing with the charge at the upcoming hearing. “] don’t want to make any comment until they (the law society investigators) finish their investi- gation,” said Laxton. At the hearing the law society will attempt to determine whether Lexton’s conduct was “unbe- coming a lawyer.” At its discretion, the society can dole out punishment ranging from a simple repri- mand to permanent disbarment. Fram page 1 There are also plans for a new separate terminal maintenance facility located on land above Horseshoe Bay and adjacent to the highway. Private investors, which include Scott Management, Newcourt Credit Corp., Standard Parking Ltd., Con- Force Structures, and local busi- nessmen Cam Ware and Gary Troll, would be responsible for financing, building and operat- ing the tacilir. Because the land is being ultimately used by the provincial government, it will not be sub- ject to focal municipal zoning and design bylaws. Construction could begin as early as next month. So far, West Vancouver coun- cil appears to be powerless. Tt has formed a study and planning committee which is attempting to gauge the overall impact on Horseshoe Bay residents, busi- ness owners, and Gleneagles school. Although the conimittee includes community members and BC Ferries exccutive per- sonnel, it has had little effect on the project’s progress. Parker and fellow spokesman Patrick charged that despite West Vancouver — council’s efforts, BC Ferries is refusing to give out information or cooper: ate with «othe = people of Horseshoe Bay. Patrick was also critical of the committee's effectiveness. “My own personal opinion is that (the committee meetings) are slanted towards BC Ferries’ position,” he said. However Coun. Soprovich argued otherwise. “PIL fight to the end. until this ferry corpora- tion starts to listen to this com- munity.” he said. (Council) is not sitting there prepared to roll over.” Boname agreed. “This is the first public-private structure that they are doing,” she said. “And we don’t need it.” Area —sresidents Susan Rowntree and Bill Sheddy are ansious for action. “Unless you hit them hard, they're going to run right over us,” said Sheddy. Rowntree, who has spent y hours researching the topic, accused the corporation of using, Horseshoe Bay tor person- al gain and as a way of paying off its debt. “We're on one of the two key money making routes,” she said. According to Rowntree, the corporation is spending S7 mil- lion (of public tunds) to modify the access ramps for the new fast ferries. This is in addition to the $10 million (of private finds) for the new facility upgrades. The group is planning a protest for Sunday at } p.m. at the ticketing centre on Bay Street. Ferry plan opponents are taking lessons from the anti-big box store group in West Vancouver. “The very fact that we've succeeded, proves {it can be done),” said Coalition for a Healthy Community (CHC) president Peter Miller as he addressed the group. “We've learned that a lot of fittle Davids can knock a Goliath over.”