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A half-century-old mystery is revisted by Kamloops RCMP Page A3
THURSDAY
Thursday, August 15, 2013 X Volume 26 No. 65
THIS WEEK
The Games begin in only FIVE days! Page A27 Thompson River Publications Partnership Ltd.
BUSTED! Mine contractors meet drug dogs on way to work By Cavelle Layes STAFF REPORTER reporter@kamloopsthisweek.com
Dr. Bruce Tucker cleans teeth at the New Life Mission with Valerie Prokopetz assisting. Tucker is one of three dentists working with the mission’s dental program. Andrea Klassen/KTW
Dentists filling in admirably By Dale Bass STAFF REPORTER dale@kamloopsthisweek.com
When Holly Schwieger told Stan Dueck he had to stop, it came as no surprise. Well, Dueck acknowledged, it was perhaps a bit of a shock because Schwieger, the retired dentist who had been working at the New Life Mission two days a week for nine years, had threatened to retire before, only to show up the next day — and the next, and the next — to provide dental services for the most needy in Kamloops. This time, though, the 84-year-old Schwieger was serious and gave the mis-
sion’s executive director a date — May 1. “And, on that day, he officially retired,” Dueck said. Which left the mission with a huge hole to fill. Dueck is a man of faith, but even he had trouble comprehending the many circumstances that then followed to bring three new dentists into the clinic at the mission’s West Victoria Street building. First, on the late April day Schwieger announced his retirement plans, Dueck saw a camera team outside working on a documentary. The team from Masterminds Studios in Kamloops started to chat with Dueck, explaining what they were doing there.
Dueck invited them inside to talk about the upcoming dental problem he would have to grapple with once the man known throughout the city simply as Dr. Holly stopped coming in. The next thing he knew, Dueck was talking to Peter Cameron-Inglis, president and CEO of the videography business, who was offering to do something on the dental program. A video was shot, posted online and Dueck was soon getting resumes from dentists in Ireland, Australia, Boston, Toronto, Quebec — all asking more about the clinic and what was needed. X See FATE A22
On Monday, Aug. 12, about 600 contractors made their way to Highland Valley Copper Mine, just as they do on any other work day. Some were transported by white buses parked in the Valleyview Square parking lot, while others arrived by personal vehicle. All was normal until about 9:30 a.m., when a few temporary employees showed up for work. They weren’t machine operators, ironworkers or even custodians. Their job was not to weld or build. They were detection dogs and their task for the next two days was to seek out anyone on site who had decided to bring drugs or alcohol to work. The dogs went through each construction site, searching buildings, staff lockers and staff themselves. Sources told KTW drugs, including marijuana and cocaine, were found on the premises and suspensions and possible firing took place. Richard Boyce, representative for the Steelworkers Union 7619, said the search was limited to the contractors, noting the construction areas are separated from where direct Teck employees work. Employees of the two contracting companies working for Highland Valley Copper — Fluor and JV Drivers Inc. — were unaware of the planned searches, according to sources with whom KTW spoke. Sources described confusion among employees who were reportedly sent home at the day’s end without explanation. On Tuesday, Aug. 13, the white buses rolled into the work site for another day of work — and workers were again greeted by the dogs. Thus began the second day of searches. As of KTW press time, neither Fluor nor JV Drivers Inc. responded to multiple calls. Jacqui Schneider, senior community-affairs officer with Highland Valley Copper; however, did release a statement after being contacted by KTW: “Safety is a core value at Highland Valley Copper and our focus is on ensuring a safe working environment for all employees and contractors. “As part of their routine safety program, a contractor on a project at HVC recently conducted a search for breaches of their drug policy by X See HVC A7 their employees.
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