Classifieds 986-6222 Office, Editorial 985-2131 Two saved from river rapids in‘alcohol-related’ accident TWO BURNABY men who were plucked Saturday from a deep canyon along the Capilano River after their rubber raft flipped in the icy river may have to pick up the tab for their rescue costs. In response to what is_ being termed ‘tan alcohol-related inci- dent,” approximately 40 emergen- cy responders from the West Van- couver and North Vancouver District. fire departments, the North Shore Rescue Team and the B.C. Ambulance service were call- ed in to perform a tricky three- hour canyon rescue. While both men, Glen Davis, 21, and Charles Lindsay, 20, escaped the ordeal suffering only mild hypothermia, rescue officials are concerned that the incident compromised emergency response capability throughout the North Shore for three hours. Said North Vancouver District assistant fire chief Bruce Ramsay, “1 don’t know what gave them the idea —- they had too much to drink and made a poor choice. was just a plain foolish manoeuvre. Obviously we’re con- cerned that we had these resources tied up in a rescue that really shouldn’t have been.” Added Ramsay, ‘‘While cost is aconcern for us, the greater con- cern is that the coverage for the rest of the community is less than it should be when something like this happens.”’ The rescue was initiated at By Michae! Becker News Reporter about 4 p.m. when two men were spotted at the side of the river just south of the Capilano Suspension bridge. According to Ramsay, the two had entered the river in a raft at the Capilano fish hatchery. Rescuers found them sitting on a beach located on the east side of the river. But’ because of the ter- rain, the rafters had to be rescued from the west side of the deep, 280-foot river canyon. One man, who complained of back injuries, was given spinal immobilization treatment at the scene by three paramedics sent down to the beach. Both were eventually brought up from the river in stretchers in a two-stage recovery. They were first roped up to a ledge and then pulled up to the top of the canyon on another rope. The two were ireated at Lions Gate Hospital and released later on Saturday. Cost estimates for the Saturday rescue operation were unavailable to press time Tuesday. Main post office could close in NV THE MAIN North Vancouver post office is listed among several post offices Canada Post intends to close, accord- ing to a Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) of- ficial. But a Canada Post spokesman, while conceding that some post offices will be closed, would not say Tuesday whether Canada Post plans to close any North Shore post offices. He added that there will not be as many post office closures in the Lower Mainland area as the union claims. But Brian Charlton, president of the Vancouver local of CUPW, said Canada Post has closed various post offices throughout the Lower Mainland. In the last year alone, he said, three Lower Mainland post offices had been closed. He added that the North Van- couver post office, located at 100 East First St., will be one of the next to be shut down. To press time Tuesday, CUPW By Surj Rattan News Reporter had no information about the fate of the main West Vancouver post office. Charlton said Canada Post has promised to give CUPW a com- plete list of the post offices it plans to close by the end of this week. But Canada Post spekesman Doug McCleiland said Tuesday that he was unable to say at this point which post offices will be closed. “d's not six or seven, I know its not six or seven. { know we're a week away from making an an- nounvement,"" said McClelland. Poet Trevor Carolan in the spotlight North Shore Now: 22 Display Advertising 980-0511 Distribution 986-1337 52 pages THESE WEST Vancouverites are getting set for tonight's (Wednesday) Chillie Willie Winter Carnival at Eagle Harbour Recreation Centre. Snow play, ice sculpture and bonfires are all part of the fun. Here, (left to right) Sara Burke, Brightening up winter Brenton Bowen, Jill O’Connor and Sydney Jones show off the cutout penguins they have made for the carnival. | Lo __| : cio SE eR ARES ANE EAI cf NTE EEA IIS EI, SCTE SS NE IE RG STG TE NEIL SE SO SOR TS B 1 COMPLETE WEEK’S TV LIST BS SER is AL STP SN a Sia a Seale Va atau eters SPORIS: 1 SR CAEN IR : 28 RSE AREAS Irae aL Or ener SR RN RO OIL BARRE