NEWS photo Mike Wakelield Baby back JACK Palmer rests with his North Vancouver parents Jessica and Brent. Jack’s life was saved with a heart transplant in California. He returned for Easter. Former cop in court A former North Vancouver Mountie appeared in court on Wednesday to face six marijuana traf- ficking charges. Scott Randall Simpson, 38, is also charged with possessing marijuana, psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and hashish and stealing a “cobra fashioned smoking pipe.” The marijuana trafficking charges which includes ovo charges of possession for trafficking purposes date back to events alleged to have occurred between February 1998 to Feb. 17, 1999. Simpson was arrested on Feb. 16 at work at the North Vancouver RCMP detachment. Simpson’s home was searched as part of the investigation. The search warrant was sealed by police, preventing public scrutiny. With drug charges pending, the suspended 12-year RCMP veteran quit work on March 3. He had worked in North Vancouver for more than three years as a patrol officer, According to the charges, Simpson allegedly trafficked mar- ijuana to a male, in Richmond and in North Vancouver District. He alleged trafficked marijuana to another person in North Vancouver District.He allegedly possessed marijuana, magic mushrooms and hashish in the basement suite of a house in the 3200-block of Regent Avenue in the Carisbrooke area on Feb. 16. The pipe was allegedly stolen between Jan. 1, 1995 and Dec. 31, 1997 in North Vancouver District, according to the charges. The North Vancouver RCMP conducted the drug investiga- tion. The charges were appreved by the Department of Justice in Vancouver. Drug charges are usually approved by the local federal Crown prosecutor, but an exception was made in this case.Simpson is scheduled for a North Vancouver provincial court appearance on April 21 to fix a date for trial. An internal private investigation by North Vancouver RCMP into Simpson’s actions continues . —Anna Marie D'Angelo ‘Women are Frou puac 1 served notice they would revisit the politcal eld as necessary to obtain their goal. “Hwe can’r play soccer it will become a political issue because we'll be sitting around with time en our hands.” warned Bruce Hendriks, president of the North — Shore Sportsmans League. The trouble began a couple of weeks ago when summer soe- cer league organizers say they were told that North Vancouver City’s Boulevard Park would only be released for soccer ifthe district also released a grass field. That, said director of reere- ation Gary Young in an Apni 1 memo to council read out to the aveting, is just not so. “This issue is not a question of one municipality providing, and the other denying as has been suggested. The inventories were never designed to be iden- tical bur rather complemen- tary,” wrote Young. “This year, due to the needs of baseball and the planned field maintenance and reconstruction plans, there is very little (sic) grass fields available for summer soccer.” . According to district: parks manager Cameron Cairneross there are 22 grass and eight all- weather fields in the district while the city maintains six grass and three all-weather fields. There are additional piaying fields in che district attached to schools, but public access to them is limted until a joint-use agreement berween the city, dis- trict and School District 44 is hammered out. So far, the district has refused to sign and take on the expen- sive upkeep of the fields because the school district says it cannot afford to provide public access to certain school facilities (gyms and/or changing rooms) in return. The district estimates it would cost $400,000 annually to maintain the school playing fields. 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Sources: "Statistics Canada 1995. ** Gender inequalities in Care Giving in Canada, Health Canada, 1997. Merrill Lyuich - Member CIPE x0 f you are like the majority of Canadian women, you are increasingly active in planning your long-term investment strategy, and there are many compelling realities that quickly explain why. We understand the realities of financial planning that women face today and are here to help. T would be pleased to describe the potential role of Fidelity Investments Mutual Funds in your long-term financial planning. Please call to arrange a meeting today. Please call 925-5552 KATHY SAGER Vice-President Financial Consultant West Vancouver Merrill Lynch Canada Ene. dangerously decaved fields ata one-time cost of S500000. According to Cairneross, 3 grass soccer field costs an aver- age of $20,000 a vear te main- tain if it gets double use asa softball diamond. Albeweather — ficlds cost $3,000 to $5,000 to maintain. “The district ficlds are maxed out in their use,” Cairnecross told the News. He said that most of the dis- trict grass fields are used for soft: ball or baseball in. the spring, while the three dedicated soccer pitches see play-off games ran- ning through the spring trom the winter season. “I we use them in the sum- mer too, they won't be ready for winter play.” He said the pitches would need a minimum of two months rest. Cairneross sees artificial turf as the way of the future but says und) that time, or undl new fields are built at the district's Inter-River site, there is not much he can do. Nevertheless, to press ime, it appears that some extra field time in the district has been found, which cogether with an offer of some field use in West Vancouver will take care of sum- mer soccer needs this year. But several soccer organizers continue to maintain thar field management and allocation could be handled in a way to accommodate more use, espe- cially in the summer. Colin Thomas, a News soc- cer columnist, told council that soccer players are getting sick and tired of playing in the rain and mud ofa West Coast winter that cancels game after game. “They play soccer during the spring and summer months in the rest of Canada, so why not here?” he asked. Philip Cunliffe, coach of Sailor Hagar’s soccer club, points out that between the Sportsmans League and women’s summer soccer alone there are 500 to 600 North Shore players sponsored by local businesses. In turn those players Since 1978 LTD. Sunday, April 11, 1999 ~ North Shore News — 5 it soccer squeezed vat and dink at the sponsor bars and restaurants. “There’s a business factor here, Ht affects evervbody,” said Cunliffe. He says soccer is growing in populariey, bur gravel fields in the summer is not the answer to the need for more space. “Unless they are watered down, thev are a dust bow! in the summer. You cough God knows what up for nwo days after playing in that dust.” He questions why adults are asked to play on small fields like Norseman, while smail children get the bigger field at Norgate. Why not double, or tiple, the small-fry games on a field and free up another pitch some- where else, he asks. Hendriks also says that field management and allocation is not handled well in) North Vancouver. “We go down to Jook at Boulevard (the city field that handles the bulk of spring and summer soccer fixtures) to see if wateclogging will cancel our match tomorrow. “It’s starting to rain, right, Se and the sprinkler sestem, which is already leaking and running one part of the pitch inte a bog comes on! This is park mainte- nance?” Besides presiding over the Sportsmans League, Hendriks is president of Lobbans F.C, which he says is the oldest ama- teur sports franchise in B.C. “We have a bit of money. | don’t mind paying for feld maintenance. I say to the school board: “Give us a bunch (of fields) and = we'll maintain them.”” Be Noticed We specialize in custom design BO’: #2-2435 Marine Dr., West Van 922-3014 wwock tane) on S99 ve Iecutes: soit pine sofa bed frame tip foam cate fen, scatch-gardedfalag vet | putts *0¢ pile cavers Wile quantines as | os _ FACTORY FUTOR Sat_H1-Gpm Sunday 12-$ a SA-SU | | if you have been injured in an auto accident Call Stephen Anderson 922-8881 SAGER ANDERSON LAWRENCE Barristers & Solicitors | 235-15th Street, West Vancouver if it’s news, then it’s in REGISTRATION FO SEPTEMBER 1999 , OPEN HOUSE Saturday, April 17th Iiam-2pm Mes Petits Montessori 209 West 13th, N.Van Le Petit Montessori 195 East Windsor Rd., N.Van 980-1102 Lighthouse Montessori 4773 Piccadilly South, W.Var 921-1574 Snap up those morning spots now!