N this first instalment of the News Year In Review feature, we present a summary of some key events that shaped life on the North Shore during the first half of 1997, January through June. Warch for the second instalment, July through December in the next issue of the News. Snow storm blows bucks @ The fatest snow storm has cleared alf three North Shore municipalities of their snow removal budgets. . In North Vancouver District the 1996 snow clearing, budget of $350,000 is already over- spent by about $35,000 said Bob West Sells, public works manager. 50% salary hike on hold: community opinion sought on council raise @ A 50% pay hike for North Vancouver District councillors will be placed on hold while the opinion of local community associations is ‘sought. Thar was the upshot of a long and occa- sionally rancorous debate on Coun. Ernie Crist’s proposal to raise the councillors’ indem- nity to 50% othe mayor’s salary. Police raid $1.5 million pot operation A rental house in a posh Upper Lonsdale neighborhood served as the site for a sophisti- cated $1.5 million marijuana growing opera- tion since November. North Vancouver RCMP drug section offi- cers said virtually the entire house had been turned into a greenhouse. Members buy back their club BB After rivers of red ink, lawsuits and struggle, the members of the North Shore Winter Club own their club again. The purchase comes more than a year after club executives announced that then-owners Marksearch Properties and Cooperators General Insurance had agreed to a deal to return the club’s facilities and fand back to the members. ‘North Van high school hit with measles scare — hundreds vaccinated at Carson Graham @ Attempts to contain a potentially deadly -measies outbreak at Burnaby’s SFU campus may have come up short with the surfacing of the virus at North Van’s Carson Graham high school. North Shore Health quickly set up a vacci- nation clinic in the school’s cafeteria after a Sunday. December 28, 1997 ~ North Shore News - 3 ——— PART ONE ———— NEWS photo Cindy Goodman THE white stuff was everywhere in January. A major snowstorm chokeci the streets and left drivers scrambling for traction. Grade 9 student contracted the virus from his brother who attends SFU. Kids locked out — CUPE strike hits North Van schools after two sides unable to bridge $15,000 contract gap @ Pickets were up and students were out Friday as the first day of a CUPE strike gripped North Vancouver. Negotiators for the 750-member support staff union and the B.C. Public Schools Employers Association could not bridge a dif- ference over money — less than $15,000 year- ly — to prevent a strike in the $100 million a year school district. Another snowboarder dies — teen pays with her life for going out of bounds at Eypress @ Three snowboarding deaths on North Shore mountains in less than two wecks have ski area and rescue personnel scrambling for ways to stop the carnage. Brittany McDowell, 17, was snowboarding out of bounds off Cypress with two friends when an avalanche swept her 213 vertical metres (700 feet) down the mountain side, said North Shore Rescue Team search manager Ron Royston. Councillor helps nab suspect @ North Vancouver City’s fight against crime got its start in Coun. Darrell Mussatto’s back- CUPE workers were on strike at North Vancouver schools. yard. The young politician received an unpleasant surprise when upon returning home he found a burglar casing his belongings. The man bolted with Mussacto in hot pursuit. Council trio block land fund grab — $14.6 million in district fand profits frozen B An election platform became a brick wall at North Vancouver District council. In an almost deserted council chamber the three newly elected members — councillors Lisa Muri, Trevor Carolan and Glenys Deering-Robb, voted together to block the passage of what in previous years has become a routine appropriation of district land sales money. Burrard Band rinks iced — funding in doubt for $6 million North Vancouver District ice rink complex @ An often promised but never delivered $6 million ice rink complex on Burrard Band land has likely melted into a memory. The North Vancouver — Reereation Commission has consequently approached North Vancouver District to build a rink com- plex on district fands under a private public partnership, commission recreation director Gary Young said. Natives apply for gambling casinos: Burrard and Squamish see cash, employ- ment in gaming operations ® Two North Shore native bands have expressed interest in running casinos. The Squamish Nation and the Burrard Band contirmed they have applied for a casino licence for North Shore facilities. Report rankles Laxton: Smith says ex-Hydro chair in conflict role @ It’s doubtiul the view from John Laxton’s West Vancouver waterfront home offers any solace for the former B.C. Hydro chair. A report, authored by current B.C. Hydro chair Brian Smith, outlining Laxton’s involve- ment in a controversial Pakistani power project turned out to be anything but the vindication he was looking for. PM hits North Van; students tangle with Chretien during campaign visit to Capilano College M@ Scores of secondary students received a les- son in spin doctoring during Prime Minister Jean Chretien’s campaign visit to Capilano College. Killer dad gets life @ Michel Andre Caouctte was found guilty of first-degree murder. He was also found guilty of attempted mur- der in the death of his daughter Dasielle, 10, and the attempted axe-killing of his son Joshua, now 15 and seriously brain-damaged. Executive dismissal sickens LGH nurses; Health board CEO continues with cuts @ Nurses at Lions Gate Hospital have added their voices to calis for North Shore Health Board CEO Inge Schamborzki to step down. Their comments came after popular hospital chief operating officer Lynette Best was dis- missed. Accused killers appeal @ Lawyers for two North Vancouver men accused of a brutal triple murder in Washington State, argue the pair will have their Canadian Charter Rights violated should they get the death penalty in the Unired States. The lawyers asked for a judicial review of the extradition order against Atif Ahmad Rafay, 21, and Glen Sebastian Burns, 22. See more page § NEWS photo Terry Peters A measies scare brought nurses to school to vaccinate students.