BERNIE PIMM is Troy Mick's No. 1 fan. Just ask him.
With Mick temporaily sidelined due to medical problems, Pimm, the 32-year-old teacher by profession and student of the game, has been given the role of head coach of the Vernon Vipers as they open the regular BCHL schedule tonight against the Williams Lake Timberwolves in the Multiplex.
"Whether I am called the head coach or not, the one thing Troy and I have always done is work together and make decisions," he said, following a recent Vipers' practice session. Then he reiterated his thoughts about Mick by saying, "One thing we never want to do is close the door on Troy Mick ever coaching again. So that's one of the reasons we're not definitive on what we're doing ... I guess, right now, I'm the head coach on an interim basis, and we're going to leave it at that, and just hope that Troy gets better."
Pimm and Mick worked together in the Western Hockey League with the Kamloops Blazers. "He (Mick) was the head coach and I was the assistant coach there. That was the first time he really got sick and I think coaching had a direct affect on that. (However), it is his illness so he should really comment on it."
Then he emphasized, "The bottom line is, Kaye, that I am here because of Troy Mick, basically to do what he wants me to do. So the door will always be there for Troy Mick to be the head coach for this season. He has instilled the kind of confidence and trust in me and we just tackle one day at a time."
Prior to Mick's situation, Pimm said that Mick was going to handle more of the managerial work.
"The way Troy and I were setting it up, I was going to handle a lot of the practices and the day-to-day preparations for the games with Troy going to handle more of managerial stuff and the day of the game, Troy would kind of take over (behind the bench). It was kind of a college model of coaching ... I was going to do a lot less recruiting and scouting and Troy was going to concentrate a little more on that with our head scout."
It was a solid combination, and even with Mick temporarily shelved, Pimm has a formidable team. He has surrounded himself with individuals that "played the hockey at a higher level than I did." They include Shawn Bourgeois (who looks after the forwards), Kori Davison (responsible for the defence) and goaltender coach Sean Mathiel.
"All these guys came up through the Viper system, so they are alumni players," he emphasized.
"I'm secure enough in my knowledge of the game, and my organizational skills and my ability to prepare properly," he said, adding, "I always thought it made sense to bring in people in the fold that played the game at a high level."
Although Pimm has certainly had service as an assistant coach and scout with the Vipers, he had decided to take the job as head coach of the Okotoks Oilers of the AJHL this season. However, he wasn't quite comfortable with his situation in Alberta and a phone call with Mick, who had just been named head coach and general manager of the Vipers, changed his direction.
"Actually, I got on the phone with Troy and indicated that a kid I had been recruiting for Okotoks might need a place to play and from that conversation Troy told me about the opportunity with minor hockey (in Vernon) and the need for somebody with this organization (the Vipers) as well."
By the end of July, Pimm, the experienced school teacher, arrived in Vernon with his family of wife, Shannon, and three children of Jordyn (7), Devin (4) and Hayden (1) to not only be the associate coach to Mick, but the director of Hockey Operations for the Greater Vernon Minor Hockey association.
With his elevated role for the time being as head coach of the Vipers, Pimm has a busy schedule. By 7 a.m., he is in the minor hockey office until about 12:30 noon and then he transfers his skill to his charges with the Vipers before heading home around 6 p.m.
In preparing for tonight's opener, Pimm said : "Right now, we're really concentrating on picking up our work ethic, to get the work ethic to the acceptable level that we want it ... we do that through practice and through meetings and now we're slowly instilling and injecting parts of our system."
And what is that system?
"We're going to be obviously aggressive defensive, which is a phrase I picked up from (NHL veteran and junior coach) Marc Habscheid."
To a novice, such as the Ol' Columnist, it means the tough Vipers are going to hog the puck this year and shoot on their opposition often.
Although he works long hours, Pimm professed a passion for the game while admitting, "I give myself a day off here and there and Sundays are important because it is family time." Then he went on to say, "In this game, there is down time in spring and summer and you have to take advantage of it."
Saturday, September 15, 2007
Storm Stories. Part II
KATRINA NOTEBOOK: Before shifting to rather placid Vernon and area, I took the opportunity to scour the newswires and websites for stories of the Great Hurricane, which one observer claimed was of Biblical proportions.
As a former columnist with the U.S.-based World Net Daily website (1997-2000), the Ol' Columnist "collected" a number of WND stories, which were noteworthy:
FAMILY FROM OVER 'OME: One involved the Scott family -- Ged, 36, his wife, Sandra, 37, and 7-year-old son, Ronan -- of Liverpool, England, who were in the Ramada Hotel in New Orleans when Katrina slashed into the U.S. Gulf Coast. Ged related it this way: "I could not describe how bad the authorities were, taking photographs of us as we were standing on the roof waving for help, for their own personal photo albums, little snapshot photographs." Scott then told the BBC News interviewer there were girls on the roof, calling out to be rescued and "(The authorities) said to them, 'Well, show us what you've got' -- doing signs for them to lift their T-shirts up. The girls said no, and (the rescuers) said 'well fine' and motored off down the road in their motorboat. That's the sort of help we had from the authorities." New Orleans is noted for women flashing their breasts in public during Mardi Gras. Scott also said that the relief operation was "horrendous" and noted policemen had taken "souvenir" photographs of stranded people begging for help.
NO PRAYER PLEA: Another WND story which caught my attention involved a woman named Ellen Johnson, president of the American Atheists. In no uncertain terms, Johnson said U.S. President George Bush and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco should stop praying for the hurricane victims -- now get this --"because it violates the Constitution." While people were in great need of divine intervention and comfort, Johnson was blathering on about religion activities behind some relief efforts. She was quoted as saying, "We're getting reports of how some religion-based 'aid' groups are trying to fly evangelists into the stricken areas and how U.S. Army chaplains are carrying Bibles -- not food or water -- to 'comfort' people (at the New Orleans Superdome). People need material aid, medical care and economic support -- not prayers and preaching. And listen to this: Dave Silverman, communications director for American Atheists, claimed "'God' was once again asleep at the wheel."
RABBI'S POINT OF VIEW: There was also a WND story out of Jerusalem, in which Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Lewin, executive director of the Rabbinic Congress for Peace, said: "Katrina is a consequence of the destruction of (Gaza's) Gush Katif (slate of Jewish communities) with America's urging and encouragement. The U.S. should have discouraged Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from implementing the Gaza evacuation rather than pushing for it and pressuring Israel into concessions." The WND report noted that one week before Katrina made landfall, Israel carried out the evacuation of 9,500 residents from Gush Katif and four Samaria communities, kicking and screaming. The former Katif residents are still homeless.
EMOTIONAL TIME: Geraldo Rivera, a Fox News mainstay, certainly showed his emotional side as New Orleans residents were stranded inside and outside the wretched Convention Center. I watched with tears in my eyes as well as Geraldo sobbed: "Let them walk out of here, let them walk the hell out of here. Walk to some other town. Walk some place where you can help 'em. ... These people in the same clothes, where do you think they go to the bathroom? They don't wash their hands, they don't wash their face, these babies. What the hell?"
WADING TO THE RESCUE: Veteran newsman Ted Koppel also became part of the Big Story in the Big Hurt. It seems Koppel jumped into filthy water to help rescue a stranded woman -- Rosa Lee Branch, according to a NewsMax.com report. Rescuers loaded Rosa and her wheelchair onto a boat and Koppel got on board to interview here. "... When the boat reached the entrance to the Fairground Race Course, which is being used as a rescue staging area, the water was too shallow for its propeller to operate. So several officers and Koppel -- who had no wading boots -- jumped into the nearly waist-deep water to pull the boat the last 50 yards to dry land."
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT OVER YET: While Katrina died an agonizing death after destroying New Orleans and the U.S. Gulf Coast, another potential deadly storm -- Ophelia -- is threatening Florida's Atlantic coast. Tropical storm warnings were posted along a 100-mile stretch from Sebastian Inlet to Flagler Beach on Wednesday. Where it hits land appears to be anyone's guess, but Lixion Avila of the National Hurricane Centre in Miami has been quoted as saying: "Anything is possible."
SHAKING IN INDONESIA: There was a report out on Banda Aceh, Indonesia Wednesday of an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale with the epicenter located in the Nicobar island area. In late December, a giant earthquake rocked Banda Aceh, with a resulting tsunami killing hundreds of thousands.
FINALLY: There may be another volcano in the making in the Cascade Range. According to an AP story out of Bend, Oregon, a recent survey shows a bulge covering about 100 square miles south of one of state's active volcanoes, South Sister. There are three other active volcanoes in that area -- Mount Hood, Crater Lake and Newberry.
As a former columnist with the U.S.-based World Net Daily website (1997-2000), the Ol' Columnist "collected" a number of WND stories, which were noteworthy:
FAMILY FROM OVER 'OME: One involved the Scott family -- Ged, 36, his wife, Sandra, 37, and 7-year-old son, Ronan -- of Liverpool, England, who were in the Ramada Hotel in New Orleans when Katrina slashed into the U.S. Gulf Coast. Ged related it this way: "I could not describe how bad the authorities were, taking photographs of us as we were standing on the roof waving for help, for their own personal photo albums, little snapshot photographs." Scott then told the BBC News interviewer there were girls on the roof, calling out to be rescued and "(The authorities) said to them, 'Well, show us what you've got' -- doing signs for them to lift their T-shirts up. The girls said no, and (the rescuers) said 'well fine' and motored off down the road in their motorboat. That's the sort of help we had from the authorities." New Orleans is noted for women flashing their breasts in public during Mardi Gras. Scott also said that the relief operation was "horrendous" and noted policemen had taken "souvenir" photographs of stranded people begging for help.
NO PRAYER PLEA: Another WND story which caught my attention involved a woman named Ellen Johnson, president of the American Atheists. In no uncertain terms, Johnson said U.S. President George Bush and Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco should stop praying for the hurricane victims -- now get this --"because it violates the Constitution." While people were in great need of divine intervention and comfort, Johnson was blathering on about religion activities behind some relief efforts. She was quoted as saying, "We're getting reports of how some religion-based 'aid' groups are trying to fly evangelists into the stricken areas and how U.S. Army chaplains are carrying Bibles -- not food or water -- to 'comfort' people (at the New Orleans Superdome). People need material aid, medical care and economic support -- not prayers and preaching. And listen to this: Dave Silverman, communications director for American Atheists, claimed "'God' was once again asleep at the wheel."
RABBI'S POINT OF VIEW: There was also a WND story out of Jerusalem, in which Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Lewin, executive director of the Rabbinic Congress for Peace, said: "Katrina is a consequence of the destruction of (Gaza's) Gush Katif (slate of Jewish communities) with America's urging and encouragement. The U.S. should have discouraged Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon from implementing the Gaza evacuation rather than pushing for it and pressuring Israel into concessions." The WND report noted that one week before Katrina made landfall, Israel carried out the evacuation of 9,500 residents from Gush Katif and four Samaria communities, kicking and screaming. The former Katif residents are still homeless.
EMOTIONAL TIME: Geraldo Rivera, a Fox News mainstay, certainly showed his emotional side as New Orleans residents were stranded inside and outside the wretched Convention Center. I watched with tears in my eyes as well as Geraldo sobbed: "Let them walk out of here, let them walk the hell out of here. Walk to some other town. Walk some place where you can help 'em. ... These people in the same clothes, where do you think they go to the bathroom? They don't wash their hands, they don't wash their face, these babies. What the hell?"
WADING TO THE RESCUE: Veteran newsman Ted Koppel also became part of the Big Story in the Big Hurt. It seems Koppel jumped into filthy water to help rescue a stranded woman -- Rosa Lee Branch, according to a NewsMax.com report. Rescuers loaded Rosa and her wheelchair onto a boat and Koppel got on board to interview here. "... When the boat reached the entrance to the Fairground Race Course, which is being used as a rescue staging area, the water was too shallow for its propeller to operate. So several officers and Koppel -- who had no wading boots -- jumped into the nearly waist-deep water to pull the boat the last 50 yards to dry land."
IT'S CERTAINLY NOT OVER YET: While Katrina died an agonizing death after destroying New Orleans and the U.S. Gulf Coast, another potential deadly storm -- Ophelia -- is threatening Florida's Atlantic coast. Tropical storm warnings were posted along a 100-mile stretch from Sebastian Inlet to Flagler Beach on Wednesday. Where it hits land appears to be anyone's guess, but Lixion Avila of the National Hurricane Centre in Miami has been quoted as saying: "Anything is possible."
SHAKING IN INDONESIA: There was a report out on Banda Aceh, Indonesia Wednesday of an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale with the epicenter located in the Nicobar island area. In late December, a giant earthquake rocked Banda Aceh, with a resulting tsunami killing hundreds of thousands.
FINALLY: There may be another volcano in the making in the Cascade Range. According to an AP story out of Bend, Oregon, a recent survey shows a bulge covering about 100 square miles south of one of state's active volcanoes, South Sister. There are three other active volcanoes in that area -- Mount Hood, Crater Lake and Newberry.
Snippets of hope from the Storm
WITH NEW ORLEANS Mayor Ray Nagin saying that 10,000 may have died from Hurricane Katrina's wrath in the Crescent City, there have been snippets of hope throughout one of North America's greatest tragedies.
E-mails and text-messages have uncovered stories certainly not seen on television.
This one comes from the Mobile, Alabama Register's missing persons' forum and reads with the overline: WE FOUND THEM!
Hey, we found Sheila Loden, Mary-Jean and Frank Dean, and Boyd and Sammy Albritton! They are alive and well. Phone lines are down in the area. They said that's the only reason they did not call. So other families please be patient as hard as it may be. Most people in the Popularville area are fine. Just have no way to make contact. Thank you, Red Cross. Most people left in a hurry and don't even have family contact numbers with them. Do not be alarmed! Keep praying!
SHELTER FROM THE STORM: One of those with a sense of hope in this terrible storm has been Franklin Graham, who has challenged Christians to open the doors of churches to the victims of Katrina. "There needs to be a challenge now to our churches, I know individual churches have done this. But this needs to be organized by the denominations themselves, where there would be a collective effort all across the Southeast of all denominations to take in families ... I think the churches of America can step up to the plate. If every church in the Southeast took in 10 families, this would put a big dent in this problem." Already, certain denominations are helping churches arrange shelter for displaced families such as Southern Baptist Convention -- North American Mission Board, Louisiana District Council of the Assemblies of God, Baptist Missionary Association of America, Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, Presbyterian Church in America and Presbyterian Church (USA).
RED CROSS MOBILIZATION: With the American Red Cross launching its largest ever mobilization of resources for a single disaster, Don Shropshire of the Canadian counterpart said: "We have offered our colleagues in the United States our full support for this disaster. At present the American Red Cross has requested that the Canadian Red Cross send highly-trained disaster response volunteers and we are currently preparing our team to travel to the U.S. Then he added: "The Canadian Red Cross has received hundreds of calls from Canadians wanting to help the people impacted by this disaster and will accept funds designated for Hurricane Katrina." Already, 25 Disaster Services volunteers that will head for Houston include: Todd Weiss, Bridget Brown, Brenda McCarrell, Karen Charles, Ruth Brumwell, Mae Beauvais, Robin Bondy, Ted Giannini, Robert McLay, Suzanne Mariage, Bonnie Kearns, Peter Kearns, Pamela Whitnall, Heidi Gorham, Charles Newman, Oneil Ouellet, Deborah Stewart, David Arsenault, Mary Lou Leroy, Rylee Madison, Don Colp, Richard Harvie, Kent Leigh, Sandra Miller and Sandy Reynolds. These volunteers will help in managing 270 shelters and delivering some 500,000 hot meals daily.
A STORY OF SURVIVAL: In checking out the Mobile Register came this story by staff reporter Roy Hoffman. It read in part: "With sodden mattresses piled in the yard, and a tiny Buddha in the window, the Ngan family lingered on the steps of their Bayou La Batre home, telling of the day that nearly washed away their lives, and of a neighbor who appeared as if divinely summoned. "I was scared, so scared, and crying," said Chandara, the mother, of the rising waters of Katrina. As she spoke in halting English, the smaller of her seven children, ages 19 to 9, smiled and giggled. "We thought," said oldest son Sopheap, 19, helping his mother out, "it could have been the end." When Katrina roared in last Monday, Ralph Harbison, a carpenter who serves in the Bayou La Batre volunteer fire department, who lived next door, helped in their rescue.
IT WAS A STRUGGLE: One newspaper, the New Orleans Times-Picayune became a headline story. About 240 employees and some members of their families, including one 6-month-old baby, huddled in darkened corridors of the newspaper building, about a mile from the Superdome. In a New York Times article, reporter Lisa Guernsey related that the paper, with a normal circulation of 270,000 daily, had to report its biggest story in its history with "no electricity, no phone access and no place to work." They improvised by utilizing its affiliated website, www.nola.com ... Other newspapers also struggled with the Mississippi Press of Pascagoula being helped out by the Mobile Register and the Columbia, Georgia Ledger-Enquirer looking after the Gulfport, Miss. Sun Herald.
YOU CERTAINLY CAN HELP: There are some phone numbers and websites where those in the North Okanagan can help Katrina victims: Check out the Red Cross office, 2809 44th Ave. in Vernon (1-800-448-1111) or on the Web at www.redcross.ca ... Then there's the Salvation Army, 3303 32nd Ave., Vernon (1-800-725-2769) ... www.salvationarmy.ca.
ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FRONT: With head coach Troy Mick staying at home with a cold, the Vernon Vipers went on to the road to Penticton Friday night and were leading 6-2 over the Vees when referee Sadd Al-Jadir called the contest with 14 minutes remaining as the BCHL exhibition contest turned into a donnybrook. On Saturday night, the two sides were much more subdued at the Multiplex with the Vipers claiming a 5-2 win over the Vees in the final exhibition test. The Vipers open their regular season schedule on Friday night against the Williams Lake Timberwolves.
E-mails and text-messages have uncovered stories certainly not seen on television.
This one comes from the Mobile, Alabama Register's missing persons' forum and reads with the overline: WE FOUND THEM!
Hey, we found Sheila Loden, Mary-Jean and Frank Dean, and Boyd and Sammy Albritton! They are alive and well. Phone lines are down in the area. They said that's the only reason they did not call. So other families please be patient as hard as it may be. Most people in the Popularville area are fine. Just have no way to make contact. Thank you, Red Cross. Most people left in a hurry and don't even have family contact numbers with them. Do not be alarmed! Keep praying!
SHELTER FROM THE STORM: One of those with a sense of hope in this terrible storm has been Franklin Graham, who has challenged Christians to open the doors of churches to the victims of Katrina. "There needs to be a challenge now to our churches, I know individual churches have done this. But this needs to be organized by the denominations themselves, where there would be a collective effort all across the Southeast of all denominations to take in families ... I think the churches of America can step up to the plate. If every church in the Southeast took in 10 families, this would put a big dent in this problem." Already, certain denominations are helping churches arrange shelter for displaced families such as Southern Baptist Convention -- North American Mission Board, Louisiana District Council of the Assemblies of God, Baptist Missionary Association of America, Lutheran Church -- Missouri Synod, Presbyterian Church in America and Presbyterian Church (USA).
RED CROSS MOBILIZATION: With the American Red Cross launching its largest ever mobilization of resources for a single disaster, Don Shropshire of the Canadian counterpart said: "We have offered our colleagues in the United States our full support for this disaster. At present the American Red Cross has requested that the Canadian Red Cross send highly-trained disaster response volunteers and we are currently preparing our team to travel to the U.S. Then he added: "The Canadian Red Cross has received hundreds of calls from Canadians wanting to help the people impacted by this disaster and will accept funds designated for Hurricane Katrina." Already, 25 Disaster Services volunteers that will head for Houston include: Todd Weiss, Bridget Brown, Brenda McCarrell, Karen Charles, Ruth Brumwell, Mae Beauvais, Robin Bondy, Ted Giannini, Robert McLay, Suzanne Mariage, Bonnie Kearns, Peter Kearns, Pamela Whitnall, Heidi Gorham, Charles Newman, Oneil Ouellet, Deborah Stewart, David Arsenault, Mary Lou Leroy, Rylee Madison, Don Colp, Richard Harvie, Kent Leigh, Sandra Miller and Sandy Reynolds. These volunteers will help in managing 270 shelters and delivering some 500,000 hot meals daily.
A STORY OF SURVIVAL: In checking out the Mobile Register came this story by staff reporter Roy Hoffman. It read in part: "With sodden mattresses piled in the yard, and a tiny Buddha in the window, the Ngan family lingered on the steps of their Bayou La Batre home, telling of the day that nearly washed away their lives, and of a neighbor who appeared as if divinely summoned. "I was scared, so scared, and crying," said Chandara, the mother, of the rising waters of Katrina. As she spoke in halting English, the smaller of her seven children, ages 19 to 9, smiled and giggled. "We thought," said oldest son Sopheap, 19, helping his mother out, "it could have been the end." When Katrina roared in last Monday, Ralph Harbison, a carpenter who serves in the Bayou La Batre volunteer fire department, who lived next door, helped in their rescue.
IT WAS A STRUGGLE: One newspaper, the New Orleans Times-Picayune became a headline story. About 240 employees and some members of their families, including one 6-month-old baby, huddled in darkened corridors of the newspaper building, about a mile from the Superdome. In a New York Times article, reporter Lisa Guernsey related that the paper, with a normal circulation of 270,000 daily, had to report its biggest story in its history with "no electricity, no phone access and no place to work." They improvised by utilizing its affiliated website, www.nola.com ... Other newspapers also struggled with the Mississippi Press of Pascagoula being helped out by the Mobile Register and the Columbia, Georgia Ledger-Enquirer looking after the Gulfport, Miss. Sun Herald.
YOU CERTAINLY CAN HELP: There are some phone numbers and websites where those in the North Okanagan can help Katrina victims: Check out the Red Cross office, 2809 44th Ave. in Vernon (1-800-448-1111) or on the Web at www.redcross.ca ... Then there's the Salvation Army, 3303 32nd Ave., Vernon (1-800-725-2769) ... www.salvationarmy.ca.
ON A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FRONT: With head coach Troy Mick staying at home with a cold, the Vernon Vipers went on to the road to Penticton Friday night and were leading 6-2 over the Vees when referee Sadd Al-Jadir called the contest with 14 minutes remaining as the BCHL exhibition contest turned into a donnybrook. On Saturday night, the two sides were much more subdued at the Multiplex with the Vipers claiming a 5-2 win over the Vees in the final exhibition test. The Vipers open their regular season schedule on Friday night against the Williams Lake Timberwolves.
Drowning in water and tears II
KATRINA NOTEBOOK: With the lawless Crescent City -- New Orleans -- and the U.S. Gulf Coast drowning in water and tears and, the not-so-remote possibility of wide-spread martial law being declared to protect the American fuel interests, the world now appears nervous about its future.
Between outright terror, in such places as London and Madrid and the shocking memories of 9/11 in New York City and Washington, D.C., could there be more disasters, either natural, such as America's Tsunami, or man-made tragedies in the near future?
As the former Middle East Bureau chief for a major news-gathering organization, based in Jerusalem, I have seen close up the terror that can paralyze that part of the globe. It was, and still is, the type of fear that grips the heart and soul of any human being.
As to the most recent U.S. catastrophe, on August 23, it began as a tropical storm warning for central and northwestern Bahamas. It was strange since tropical storms usually originate off the western coast of Africa and take about two weeks to strike the Bahamas or the U.S. coastline.
On August 24 -- a Wednesday -- the newly formed tropical depression had been upgraded to a tropical storm, named Katrina, and by Thursday, at 5 p.m, Katrina had become a hurricane. This tropical depression 11 had developed and hit southeast Florida in a period of only 72 hours.
Sweeping through the Gulf, the monstrous Katrina sideswiped the Big Easy and plunged into other parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and then headed north to die a slow death in upper New York state and Ontario.
However, New Orleans was still vulnerable and then the levees broke, pouring water from Lake Pontchartrain into the now-Third World city, filled with fires and gangs. It has become a hell on earth.
The U.S. has had its share of hurricanes and tragedies in the past.
On August 23, 1992, Andrew slammed Florida, leaving 180,000 homeless and causing an estimated $30 billion in damages. However, there has never been a storm such as Katrina with more than a million "refugees" from Louisiana and Mississippi expected to be housed in temporary camps.
MUSIC LEGEND MISSING: One of the great rock-and-roll stars, Fats Domino, appears to be one of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Now, in his late 70s, Fats has been reported missing. With 65 million record sales to his credit, he outsold every 1950s rocker except Elvis Presley. He exploded on the music scene with "Ain't That A Shame." Domino, a man from the Big Easy, took his place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
JUST WORDS (From Fox News): Danut Afasei, who claimed flooding had killed 13 people recently in his country of Romania, said: "Nature proved that no matter how rich and economically developed you are, you can't fight it." ... Britain's Queen Elizabeth II said she was "deeply shocked and saddened." However, Islamic extremists sneered by stating on the Net that "Private Katrina had joined the global jihad, or holy war. With "God's help," they declared, oil prices would hit $100 a barrel this year."
SAINTS GOING ELSEWHERE: With the Superdome in a sad state of disrepair, filled with stench and angst, is most certainly not going to be the home of the National Football League Saints this coming season. NFL boss Paul Tagliabue said the club will head to San Antonio, Texas for some rest in a hotel and then practice before taking off for Carolina for their regular-season opener against the Panthers on Sept. 11.
Between outright terror, in such places as London and Madrid and the shocking memories of 9/11 in New York City and Washington, D.C., could there be more disasters, either natural, such as America's Tsunami, or man-made tragedies in the near future?
As the former Middle East Bureau chief for a major news-gathering organization, based in Jerusalem, I have seen close up the terror that can paralyze that part of the globe. It was, and still is, the type of fear that grips the heart and soul of any human being.
As to the most recent U.S. catastrophe, on August 23, it began as a tropical storm warning for central and northwestern Bahamas. It was strange since tropical storms usually originate off the western coast of Africa and take about two weeks to strike the Bahamas or the U.S. coastline.
On August 24 -- a Wednesday -- the newly formed tropical depression had been upgraded to a tropical storm, named Katrina, and by Thursday, at 5 p.m, Katrina had become a hurricane. This tropical depression 11 had developed and hit southeast Florida in a period of only 72 hours.
Sweeping through the Gulf, the monstrous Katrina sideswiped the Big Easy and plunged into other parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and then headed north to die a slow death in upper New York state and Ontario.
However, New Orleans was still vulnerable and then the levees broke, pouring water from Lake Pontchartrain into the now-Third World city, filled with fires and gangs. It has become a hell on earth.
The U.S. has had its share of hurricanes and tragedies in the past.
On August 23, 1992, Andrew slammed Florida, leaving 180,000 homeless and causing an estimated $30 billion in damages. However, there has never been a storm such as Katrina with more than a million "refugees" from Louisiana and Mississippi expected to be housed in temporary camps.
MUSIC LEGEND MISSING: One of the great rock-and-roll stars, Fats Domino, appears to be one of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Now, in his late 70s, Fats has been reported missing. With 65 million record sales to his credit, he outsold every 1950s rocker except Elvis Presley. He exploded on the music scene with "Ain't That A Shame." Domino, a man from the Big Easy, took his place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
JUST WORDS (From Fox News): Danut Afasei, who claimed flooding had killed 13 people recently in his country of Romania, said: "Nature proved that no matter how rich and economically developed you are, you can't fight it." ... Britain's Queen Elizabeth II said she was "deeply shocked and saddened." However, Islamic extremists sneered by stating on the Net that "Private Katrina had joined the global jihad, or holy war. With "God's help," they declared, oil prices would hit $100 a barrel this year."
SAINTS GOING ELSEWHERE: With the Superdome in a sad state of disrepair, filled with stench and angst, is most certainly not going to be the home of the National Football League Saints this coming season. NFL boss Paul Tagliabue said the club will head to San Antonio, Texas for some rest in a hotel and then practice before taking off for Carolina for their regular-season opener against the Panthers on Sept. 11.
Drowning in water and tears
WITH THE Crescent City -- New Orleans -- and the U.S. Gulf Coast drowning in water and tears and, the not-so-remote possibility of martial law being declared to protect the American fuel resources, the world now is extremely tentative concerning the future.
Between outright terror, in such places as London and Madrid and the shocking memories of 9/11 in New York City and Washington, D.C., could there be more disasters, either natural, such as America's Tsunami, or man-made tragedies in the near future?
As the former Middle East Bureau chief for a major news-gathering organization, based in Jerusalem, I have seen close up the terror that can paralyze that part of the globe. It was, and still is, the type of fear that grips the heart and soul of any human being.
Veteran Washington newsman Bill Koenig has outlined a Biblical connection between the disengagement process which affected thousands of Israeli settlers in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and Hurricane Katrina.
As he related, on Monday, August 22, the last Jewish settlement in Gaza was evacuated -- wrapping up Israel's historic pullout from the coastal strip after settlers held a farewell march behind Torah scrolls and a massive menora, then boarded armored buses and left.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas spoke by phone and expressed their commitmnt to peace -- the first conversation between the two since the pullout started. The leaders spoke for about five minutes, with Abbas telling Sharon, "We are your partners for peace."
The next day, August 23, the day after the Gaza excauation, the government of the Bahamas issued a tropical storm warning for central and northwestern Bahamas. (Putting this storm into perspective, many of the tropical storms begin off the western coact of Africa and typically take 10 days to two weeks before affecting the Bahamas, the Caribbean and/or the U.S. coastline. Not Katrina.)
By Wednesday, August 24 at 11 a.m., the newly formed tropical depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Katrina; and by Thursday, August 25 at 5 p.m., Katrina became a hurricane. In a period of only 72 hours, tropical depression 11 developed and hit southeast Florida (the only area untouched by the past six hurricanes) as a hurricane.
Then Katrina swung towards the Gulf, forcing oil workers to evacuate rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, stopping the production of 600,000 barrels of oil a day and closing seven oil refineries and a major oil import terminal. Then it side swiped the Big East and ripped the heart out of the Gulf Coast.
New Orleans appeared to be saved. However, the levees broke and water poured into the streets, sometimes as high 20 feet or more in height. The fires, the agonizing deaths made it hell on earth. And it continues even today -- another Black Friday.
However, what is the connection between the displacement of Israel settlers, who believed they had a right, in fact, a God-given right -- to the Land, including Gaza and the West Bank, and not their bitter enemies -- the Palestinians?
Koenig, in his book, 'Eye to Eye -- Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel' believes there at less eight major 'Acts of God' that coincides with the timing of U.S. pressure on Israel to give the Land (Israel).
Here are those eight, in Koenig's words:
October 30, 1991 -- President George Bush opens the Madrid Conference with an initiative for a Middle East peace plan involving Israel's land. On the same day, an extremely rare storm forms off the coast of Nova Scotia. It was tagged, "The Perfect Storm" and became a book and later a movie. There were 100-foot waves and pounded the New England coast, causing heavy damage to President Bush's home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
August 23, 1992 -- The Madrid Conference moves to Washington, D.C. and the peace talks resume, last four days. On that same day, Hurricane Andrew -- then the worst natural disaster ever to hit America produces an estimate $30 billion in damage and leaves 180,000 homeless in Florida.
January 16, 1994 -- President Clinton meets with Syria's President Hafez el-Assas in Geneva. They talk about a peace agreement with Israel that includes giving up the Golan Heights. Less than 24 hours later, the powerful Northridge earthquake rocked southern California. It was the second most most destructive natural disaster to hit the U.S. behind Hurricane Andrew.
March 1 to April 1997 -- The combination of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat touring America; Clinton rebuking Israel for not giving away her land for peace; and pro-abortion activity coincide with some of the worst tornadoes and flooding in U.S. history. On the very day Arafat lands in America, powerful tornadoes devastate huge sections of the nation, ripping across Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee. Arafat's American tour also coincides with the storms in the Dakotas, which result in the worst flooding of this century, in addition to weeks of major storms throughout the Midwest. Arafat finishes his tour and leaves the U.S. and the storms stop.
January 21, 1998 -- Netanyahu meets with President Clinton at the White House and is coldly received. Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright refuse to have lunch with him. Shortly afterwards that day, the Monica Lewinsky scandal breaks into the mass media and begins to occupy a major portion of Clinton's time.
September 27-28, 1998 -- Secretary of State Madeleine Albright works on the final details of an agreement in which Israel will give up 13 percent of the West Bank. The same day Hurricane Georges slams into the Gulf Coast with 110 m.p.h winds and gusts up to 175. The hurricane hits the coast and stalls. On September 28, Clinton meets with Arafat and Netanyahu at the White House to finalize the land deal. Later, Arafat addresses the United Nations about declaring an independent Palestinian state by May 1999, while Hurricane Georges pounds the Gulf Coast causing $1 billion in damage. At the exact time Arafat departs the U.S. the storm begins to dissipate.
October 15-22, 1998 -- On October 15, 1998, Yasser Arafat and Benjamin Netanyahu meet at the Wye River Plantation in Maryland, to continue the talks, which ended on September 28. The talks are scheduled to last five days with the focus on Israel giving up 13 percent of the West Bank. The talks are extended and conclude on October 23. On October 17, awesome rains and tornadoes hit southern Texas. The San Antonio area is deluged with 20 inches of rain in one day. The rains and floods in Texas continue until October 22 and then subside. The floods ravage 25 percent of Texas and leave over one billion dollars in damage. On October 21, Clinton declares this section of Texas a major disaster area.
May 3, 1999 -- This is the same day in Israel that Yasser Arafat is scheduled to declare a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital. The declaration is postponed to December 1999 at the request of President Clinton, whose letter to Arafat encourages him for his "aspirations for his own land." He also writes that the Palestinians have a right to "determine their own future on their own land, " and that they deserve to "live free, today, tomorrow and forever." That same day, starting at 4:47 p.m. CDT, the most powerful tornado storm system ever to hit the United States sweeps across Oklahoma and Kansas. The winds are clocked at 316 mph. the fastest wind speed ever recorded.
These are a few examples of the many "Act of God" events that coincide with the timing of America's pressure on Israel to give up her land for peace. The Land that God gave to Israel as the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is documented by covenant in The Holy Bible, according to Koenig.
Then fast forward to late August, 2005 and the destruction of New Orleans and the U.S. Gulf Coast.
When Gaza was placed under a state of emergency, some 8,000 residents were evacuated, now New Orleans has been given a mandatory evacuation of 500,000 people. And while many Israeli Jews from Gaza were put in temporary refugees camps and tent cities, upwards of a million "refugees" from Louisiana and Mississppi will be housed in temporary camps.
It seems that the U.S. and Israel are joined together by some measure of tragedy.
Between outright terror, in such places as London and Madrid and the shocking memories of 9/11 in New York City and Washington, D.C., could there be more disasters, either natural, such as America's Tsunami, or man-made tragedies in the near future?
As the former Middle East Bureau chief for a major news-gathering organization, based in Jerusalem, I have seen close up the terror that can paralyze that part of the globe. It was, and still is, the type of fear that grips the heart and soul of any human being.
Veteran Washington newsman Bill Koenig has outlined a Biblical connection between the disengagement process which affected thousands of Israeli settlers in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and Hurricane Katrina.
As he related, on Monday, August 22, the last Jewish settlement in Gaza was evacuated -- wrapping up Israel's historic pullout from the coastal strip after settlers held a farewell march behind Torah scrolls and a massive menora, then boarded armored buses and left.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas spoke by phone and expressed their commitmnt to peace -- the first conversation between the two since the pullout started. The leaders spoke for about five minutes, with Abbas telling Sharon, "We are your partners for peace."
The next day, August 23, the day after the Gaza excauation, the government of the Bahamas issued a tropical storm warning for central and northwestern Bahamas. (Putting this storm into perspective, many of the tropical storms begin off the western coact of Africa and typically take 10 days to two weeks before affecting the Bahamas, the Caribbean and/or the U.S. coastline. Not Katrina.)
By Wednesday, August 24 at 11 a.m., the newly formed tropical depression was upgraded to Tropical Storm Katrina; and by Thursday, August 25 at 5 p.m., Katrina became a hurricane. In a period of only 72 hours, tropical depression 11 developed and hit southeast Florida (the only area untouched by the past six hurricanes) as a hurricane.
Then Katrina swung towards the Gulf, forcing oil workers to evacuate rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, stopping the production of 600,000 barrels of oil a day and closing seven oil refineries and a major oil import terminal. Then it side swiped the Big East and ripped the heart out of the Gulf Coast.
New Orleans appeared to be saved. However, the levees broke and water poured into the streets, sometimes as high 20 feet or more in height. The fires, the agonizing deaths made it hell on earth. And it continues even today -- another Black Friday.
However, what is the connection between the displacement of Israel settlers, who believed they had a right, in fact, a God-given right -- to the Land, including Gaza and the West Bank, and not their bitter enemies -- the Palestinians?
Koenig, in his book, 'Eye to Eye -- Facing the Consequences of Dividing Israel' believes there at less eight major 'Acts of God' that coincides with the timing of U.S. pressure on Israel to give the Land (Israel).
Here are those eight, in Koenig's words:
October 30, 1991 -- President George Bush opens the Madrid Conference with an initiative for a Middle East peace plan involving Israel's land. On the same day, an extremely rare storm forms off the coast of Nova Scotia. It was tagged, "The Perfect Storm" and became a book and later a movie. There were 100-foot waves and pounded the New England coast, causing heavy damage to President Bush's home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
August 23, 1992 -- The Madrid Conference moves to Washington, D.C. and the peace talks resume, last four days. On that same day, Hurricane Andrew -- then the worst natural disaster ever to hit America produces an estimate $30 billion in damage and leaves 180,000 homeless in Florida.
January 16, 1994 -- President Clinton meets with Syria's President Hafez el-Assas in Geneva. They talk about a peace agreement with Israel that includes giving up the Golan Heights. Less than 24 hours later, the powerful Northridge earthquake rocked southern California. It was the second most most destructive natural disaster to hit the U.S. behind Hurricane Andrew.
March 1 to April 1997 -- The combination of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat touring America; Clinton rebuking Israel for not giving away her land for peace; and pro-abortion activity coincide with some of the worst tornadoes and flooding in U.S. history. On the very day Arafat lands in America, powerful tornadoes devastate huge sections of the nation, ripping across Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky and Tennessee. Arafat's American tour also coincides with the storms in the Dakotas, which result in the worst flooding of this century, in addition to weeks of major storms throughout the Midwest. Arafat finishes his tour and leaves the U.S. and the storms stop.
January 21, 1998 -- Netanyahu meets with President Clinton at the White House and is coldly received. Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright refuse to have lunch with him. Shortly afterwards that day, the Monica Lewinsky scandal breaks into the mass media and begins to occupy a major portion of Clinton's time.
September 27-28, 1998 -- Secretary of State Madeleine Albright works on the final details of an agreement in which Israel will give up 13 percent of the West Bank. The same day Hurricane Georges slams into the Gulf Coast with 110 m.p.h winds and gusts up to 175. The hurricane hits the coast and stalls. On September 28, Clinton meets with Arafat and Netanyahu at the White House to finalize the land deal. Later, Arafat addresses the United Nations about declaring an independent Palestinian state by May 1999, while Hurricane Georges pounds the Gulf Coast causing $1 billion in damage. At the exact time Arafat departs the U.S. the storm begins to dissipate.
October 15-22, 1998 -- On October 15, 1998, Yasser Arafat and Benjamin Netanyahu meet at the Wye River Plantation in Maryland, to continue the talks, which ended on September 28. The talks are scheduled to last five days with the focus on Israel giving up 13 percent of the West Bank. The talks are extended and conclude on October 23. On October 17, awesome rains and tornadoes hit southern Texas. The San Antonio area is deluged with 20 inches of rain in one day. The rains and floods in Texas continue until October 22 and then subside. The floods ravage 25 percent of Texas and leave over one billion dollars in damage. On October 21, Clinton declares this section of Texas a major disaster area.
May 3, 1999 -- This is the same day in Israel that Yasser Arafat is scheduled to declare a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as the capital. The declaration is postponed to December 1999 at the request of President Clinton, whose letter to Arafat encourages him for his "aspirations for his own land." He also writes that the Palestinians have a right to "determine their own future on their own land, " and that they deserve to "live free, today, tomorrow and forever." That same day, starting at 4:47 p.m. CDT, the most powerful tornado storm system ever to hit the United States sweeps across Oklahoma and Kansas. The winds are clocked at 316 mph. the fastest wind speed ever recorded.
These are a few examples of the many "Act of God" events that coincide with the timing of America's pressure on Israel to give up her land for peace. The Land that God gave to Israel as the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is documented by covenant in The Holy Bible, according to Koenig.
Then fast forward to late August, 2005 and the destruction of New Orleans and the U.S. Gulf Coast.
When Gaza was placed under a state of emergency, some 8,000 residents were evacuated, now New Orleans has been given a mandatory evacuation of 500,000 people. And while many Israeli Jews from Gaza were put in temporary refugees camps and tent cities, upwards of a million "refugees" from Louisiana and Mississppi will be housed in temporary camps.
It seems that the U.S. and Israel are joined together by some measure of tragedy.
Vipers' owner really cares
DUNCAN WRAY is one owner who really cares.
Of course, it always helps when the turnstiles issues a healthy profit, but this personable man wants to see his Vernon Vipers succeed, not only on the ice, but in the schooling department.
That's readin' and writin' and whatever educational advantages he can give his boys that are recruited on a regular basis by a scouting staff that beats the 'bushes.'
"I'm very passionate about this league (the British Columbia Hockey League) and this level of hockey," he told me midway through the first exhibition game against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks at the modern and comfortable Multiplex.
"My objective in getting involved was seeing kids move to the next level -- which in our case is the big carrot at the end of the stick -- scholarship to college."
Dr. Wray, who when out of the arena, has a bundle of degrees behind his name, and specializes in oral and maxillofacial surgery in Vernon, meaning he extracts teeth, deals with jaw cysts and things like tumors (ouch, ouch), practises what he preaches. "I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for an education. If we can help kids get an education through their ability to play hockey, more power to them."
The Good Doctor is not a hands-off owner, he's definitely one who steps out and makes certain would-be Vipers get the full treatment.
And what's that, Doc?
"As far as recruiting is concern. they will come here, I don't necessarily go to them ... but for someone that's considered a good prospect we might invite them here for a weekend sometimes in either the spring or the summer. I will meet them and sell them our program."
So what is the program he's selling?
"It's the facility (the Multiplex) and also the track record we have in getting scholarships. We probably have 70 scholarships in eight or nine years, total ride scholarships to U.S. schools." Those NCAA Division One schools include North Dakota and Boston University.
He was quick to point out the differences between the BCHL Junior A level, which encompasses 17 teams, and the Major Junior Western League (which includes teams such as Kelowna Rockets and the Kamloops Blazers). "I think more mistakes are made at this level and that tends to lead to scoring opportunities ... leading to goals. I'm not saying that in a negative way in the terms of mistakes. Like any kid they are finding their way and learning the ropes. We give them the opportunity to be a little more creative."
With head coach and general manager Troy Mick, with his run-and-gun style of hockey, Dr. Wray sees a difference between this year's edition of the Vipers than last season.
"It's a little too early to tell right now, but certainly last year and the last few years, it has been a very defensive-minded team. I think our coach (Mike Vandekamp) at the time was happier to win a game 1-0 than he was to win 6-1 and that was his style. He liked the defensive style. With Troy (Mick) it's going to be more of an offensive-minded team and we'll win a lot of games with high scores."
The Doc discussed the hiring of Mick this way.
"This is our present coach's second run here with me ... he had left to go to the Western League. He had a few health issues there and had to step down. He was living back here after that, and when the opportunity came to re-hire him, I jumped (at the chance)."
For Dr. Wray, this is his 14th season as owner/He has lived in Vernon for almost 20 years.
"I was doing some work for the team prior to buying it," he told me. "I would do some of the facial injuries that they would run into during the course of the game ... and at the time the owner (Mel Lis) was looking to get out. At one time, he requested a leave of absence from the league. The league turned him down. He was getting a little tired of running it. He had been running it for five or six years.
"So I sort of approached him and said I would be interested in investing in it, figuring I'd be a part-owner with him or something, but it turned out he wanted to divest himself of the whole team, so here I am."
As for his aspirations for the Vipers, he said: "My hope every year is that we win the whole thing. That's the objective every year. I don't go into a season to have a so-so record, I go in to win."
And he's here for the long term.
"You couldn't drag me out of here with a team of Clydesdales right now."
THAT'S ICE: The second annual Ice Breaker night will be held Thursday, Sept. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. It's for season ticket holders and corporate sponsors ... The next night, Friday, Sept. 9, at 7, the Vipers open their season against the Williams Lake Timberwolves ... Since I have a schedule in front of me, here are the other teams in the BCHL besides the Vipers -- Williams Lake, Prince George Spruce Kings, Merritt Centennials, Cowichan Valley Capitals, Salmon Arm Silverbacks, Burnaby Express, Trail Smoke Eaters, Penticton Vees, Powell River Kings, Quesnel Millionaires, South Surrey Eagles, Alberni Valley Bulldogs, Chilliwack Chiefs, Victoria Salsa, Langley Hornets, Nanaimo Clippers. Whew!
Of course, it always helps when the turnstiles issues a healthy profit, but this personable man wants to see his Vernon Vipers succeed, not only on the ice, but in the schooling department.
That's readin' and writin' and whatever educational advantages he can give his boys that are recruited on a regular basis by a scouting staff that beats the 'bushes.'
"I'm very passionate about this league (the British Columbia Hockey League) and this level of hockey," he told me midway through the first exhibition game against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks at the modern and comfortable Multiplex.
"My objective in getting involved was seeing kids move to the next level -- which in our case is the big carrot at the end of the stick -- scholarship to college."
Dr. Wray, who when out of the arena, has a bundle of degrees behind his name, and specializes in oral and maxillofacial surgery in Vernon, meaning he extracts teeth, deals with jaw cysts and things like tumors (ouch, ouch), practises what he preaches. "I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for an education. If we can help kids get an education through their ability to play hockey, more power to them."
The Good Doctor is not a hands-off owner, he's definitely one who steps out and makes certain would-be Vipers get the full treatment.
And what's that, Doc?
"As far as recruiting is concern. they will come here, I don't necessarily go to them ... but for someone that's considered a good prospect we might invite them here for a weekend sometimes in either the spring or the summer. I will meet them and sell them our program."
So what is the program he's selling?
"It's the facility (the Multiplex) and also the track record we have in getting scholarships. We probably have 70 scholarships in eight or nine years, total ride scholarships to U.S. schools." Those NCAA Division One schools include North Dakota and Boston University.
He was quick to point out the differences between the BCHL Junior A level, which encompasses 17 teams, and the Major Junior Western League (which includes teams such as Kelowna Rockets and the Kamloops Blazers). "I think more mistakes are made at this level and that tends to lead to scoring opportunities ... leading to goals. I'm not saying that in a negative way in the terms of mistakes. Like any kid they are finding their way and learning the ropes. We give them the opportunity to be a little more creative."
With head coach and general manager Troy Mick, with his run-and-gun style of hockey, Dr. Wray sees a difference between this year's edition of the Vipers than last season.
"It's a little too early to tell right now, but certainly last year and the last few years, it has been a very defensive-minded team. I think our coach (Mike Vandekamp) at the time was happier to win a game 1-0 than he was to win 6-1 and that was his style. He liked the defensive style. With Troy (Mick) it's going to be more of an offensive-minded team and we'll win a lot of games with high scores."
The Doc discussed the hiring of Mick this way.
"This is our present coach's second run here with me ... he had left to go to the Western League. He had a few health issues there and had to step down. He was living back here after that, and when the opportunity came to re-hire him, I jumped (at the chance)."
For Dr. Wray, this is his 14th season as owner/He has lived in Vernon for almost 20 years.
"I was doing some work for the team prior to buying it," he told me. "I would do some of the facial injuries that they would run into during the course of the game ... and at the time the owner (Mel Lis) was looking to get out. At one time, he requested a leave of absence from the league. The league turned him down. He was getting a little tired of running it. He had been running it for five or six years.
"So I sort of approached him and said I would be interested in investing in it, figuring I'd be a part-owner with him or something, but it turned out he wanted to divest himself of the whole team, so here I am."
As for his aspirations for the Vipers, he said: "My hope every year is that we win the whole thing. That's the objective every year. I don't go into a season to have a so-so record, I go in to win."
And he's here for the long term.
"You couldn't drag me out of here with a team of Clydesdales right now."
THAT'S ICE: The second annual Ice Breaker night will be held Thursday, Sept. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. It's for season ticket holders and corporate sponsors ... The next night, Friday, Sept. 9, at 7, the Vipers open their season against the Williams Lake Timberwolves ... Since I have a schedule in front of me, here are the other teams in the BCHL besides the Vipers -- Williams Lake, Prince George Spruce Kings, Merritt Centennials, Cowichan Valley Capitals, Salmon Arm Silverbacks, Burnaby Express, Trail Smoke Eaters, Penticton Vees, Powell River Kings, Quesnel Millionaires, South Surrey Eagles, Alberni Valley Bulldogs, Chilliwack Chiefs, Victoria Salsa, Langley Hornets, Nanaimo Clippers. Whew!
Paul Lagace still waging 'war'
IF THE Ol' Columnist ever went to war, I'd want Paul Lagace right beside me in the trenches. He's a man, who never gives up the fight, even against tremendous odds. He's also a retired sergeant with scars on his heart.
After years and years of battling the Canadian military, almost singlehandedly, he's releasing his paperback, 'Bullies in Power,' later this week and it's one as the blurb says "is written from the heart with a down-to-earth style intended to move the reader along a path of life as experienced by a family dealing with the challenges of poverty and racially-movitated abusive authorities. This book conveys a powerful message that love, hope and determination provide the tools necessary to overcome life's challenges."
During the course of nearly a decade, Lagace has told me a detailed story of his problems with a plethora of evidence. Now the general public will know of his plight.
It's also a love story, despite the paperback title.
Simply put, in 1979, the soldier, then a corporal and based in Kamloops, fell in love with a native Indian woman, named Amy. She had a small boy named Ken, and she was going through a divorce from a man named John.
Because of the legal system, Paul and Amy were prevented from legally marrying since as Lagace told a radio interviewer: "She would have lost her status and so would her son, but in the process she probably would have lost custody of her son as well because the status of the boy would have been in jeopardy and the natural father would probably have attempted to take custody of the boy."
The three, Paul, Amy and Ken, lived off base.
Then Lagace was transferred to North Bay, Ontario in 1982.
When he sought military housing, he told the base officials that he was living common law and had a dependent son.
"When I arrived there, we were placed on the list awaiting a PMQ (Private Married Quarters) and so we found it necessary to rent," he told the interviewer.
It was then Lagace had a rude awakening and what he considered outright discrimination.
During the official introduction to the base, a Roman Catholic padre, a major, opposed Amy and Paul's relationship and told him so.
"'Why don't you leave your Indian wife, send her and her son back to British Columbia, find yourself a nice Catholic girl, some of your own kind,' were his first words to me," said Lagace, who added that the major said: "You bring nothing but trouble to yourself."
It was the start of a litany of troubles for the Lagace family.
Later, the corporal was denied family medical, dental and other services, including moving allowances.
The "attitude and approaches" disturbed Lagace so much he complained to the Human Rights Commission, however, according to Lagace he had to wait for the internal redress of grievance, within the military. That grievance was never settled until December 1988 when a Federal Court told the military to change its policy concerning "common-law relationships."
In the meantime, Lagace told the radio interviewer: "They stopped all action for career advancement, including officer training plan ... they basically shut the door on it."
All because of his relationship with Amy.
In the Author House paperback (also available through amazon.ca in Canada), Lagace makes a scathing case, not only in his situation, but in other so-called questionable practices throughout the Canadian military, and he names names.
While the military might have tried to put a damper on Lagace's career, he gained a Bachelor's Degree from the Open University of British Columbia and in 1990 he was awarded the Governor General's Silver Medal for Academic Excellence.
After retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1994, he became an addictions counselor and now is a client services coordinator with the AIDS Society of Kamloops.
When Paul and Amy visited my home, I could see the love and devotion they had for each other.
Sadly, Margaret Amy-Louise Walkem died on March 25, 2002.
However, Paul Lagace remembers her with these words in the paperback's dedication page: "My darling Amy, I have often envied your patience and tolerance as we walked our challenging path. Your quiet demeanour calmed many of those outside storms that accompanied me from work. My most wishful dreams of a soul mate could never compare to the enchanting reality of your gaze."
THAT'S ICE: Since I have been glued to Hurricane Katrina coverage on TV, I missed the Vipers' Blue-White inter-team game at the Multiplex on Sunday night. Play-by-play broadcaster Todd Miller filled me in with a report: Andrew Coburn and Wade Davison scored two goals each as the White side grabbed a 6-3 win over the Blues before 586 fans. Aaron Volpatti and Troy Cherwinski also contributed to the cause. Chay Genoway, David Arduin and Chris Cowell were the Blue goal-getters. Tonight, the Vipers open their exhibition season, at home, against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
IT'S MILLER TIME: The smooth-talking broadcaster had this to say about his job with the BCHL club: "Dr. (Duncan) Wray and the Vipers have given me a great opportunity here in a great city and, you know what, I love every moment working for this hockey club and the people I work with."
After years and years of battling the Canadian military, almost singlehandedly, he's releasing his paperback, 'Bullies in Power,' later this week and it's one as the blurb says "is written from the heart with a down-to-earth style intended to move the reader along a path of life as experienced by a family dealing with the challenges of poverty and racially-movitated abusive authorities. This book conveys a powerful message that love, hope and determination provide the tools necessary to overcome life's challenges."
During the course of nearly a decade, Lagace has told me a detailed story of his problems with a plethora of evidence. Now the general public will know of his plight.
It's also a love story, despite the paperback title.
Simply put, in 1979, the soldier, then a corporal and based in Kamloops, fell in love with a native Indian woman, named Amy. She had a small boy named Ken, and she was going through a divorce from a man named John.
Because of the legal system, Paul and Amy were prevented from legally marrying since as Lagace told a radio interviewer: "She would have lost her status and so would her son, but in the process she probably would have lost custody of her son as well because the status of the boy would have been in jeopardy and the natural father would probably have attempted to take custody of the boy."
The three, Paul, Amy and Ken, lived off base.
Then Lagace was transferred to North Bay, Ontario in 1982.
When he sought military housing, he told the base officials that he was living common law and had a dependent son.
"When I arrived there, we were placed on the list awaiting a PMQ (Private Married Quarters) and so we found it necessary to rent," he told the interviewer.
It was then Lagace had a rude awakening and what he considered outright discrimination.
During the official introduction to the base, a Roman Catholic padre, a major, opposed Amy and Paul's relationship and told him so.
"'Why don't you leave your Indian wife, send her and her son back to British Columbia, find yourself a nice Catholic girl, some of your own kind,' were his first words to me," said Lagace, who added that the major said: "You bring nothing but trouble to yourself."
It was the start of a litany of troubles for the Lagace family.
Later, the corporal was denied family medical, dental and other services, including moving allowances.
The "attitude and approaches" disturbed Lagace so much he complained to the Human Rights Commission, however, according to Lagace he had to wait for the internal redress of grievance, within the military. That grievance was never settled until December 1988 when a Federal Court told the military to change its policy concerning "common-law relationships."
In the meantime, Lagace told the radio interviewer: "They stopped all action for career advancement, including officer training plan ... they basically shut the door on it."
All because of his relationship with Amy.
In the Author House paperback (also available through amazon.ca in Canada), Lagace makes a scathing case, not only in his situation, but in other so-called questionable practices throughout the Canadian military, and he names names.
While the military might have tried to put a damper on Lagace's career, he gained a Bachelor's Degree from the Open University of British Columbia and in 1990 he was awarded the Governor General's Silver Medal for Academic Excellence.
After retiring from the Canadian Armed Forces in 1994, he became an addictions counselor and now is a client services coordinator with the AIDS Society of Kamloops.
When Paul and Amy visited my home, I could see the love and devotion they had for each other.
Sadly, Margaret Amy-Louise Walkem died on March 25, 2002.
However, Paul Lagace remembers her with these words in the paperback's dedication page: "My darling Amy, I have often envied your patience and tolerance as we walked our challenging path. Your quiet demeanour calmed many of those outside storms that accompanied me from work. My most wishful dreams of a soul mate could never compare to the enchanting reality of your gaze."
THAT'S ICE: Since I have been glued to Hurricane Katrina coverage on TV, I missed the Vipers' Blue-White inter-team game at the Multiplex on Sunday night. Play-by-play broadcaster Todd Miller filled me in with a report: Andrew Coburn and Wade Davison scored two goals each as the White side grabbed a 6-3 win over the Blues before 586 fans. Aaron Volpatti and Troy Cherwinski also contributed to the cause. Chay Genoway, David Arduin and Chris Cowell were the Blue goal-getters. Tonight, the Vipers open their exhibition season, at home, against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
IT'S MILLER TIME: The smooth-talking broadcaster had this to say about his job with the BCHL club: "Dr. (Duncan) Wray and the Vipers have given me a great opportunity here in a great city and, you know what, I love every moment working for this hockey club and the people I work with."
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