The Chilliwack Progress from Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada • Page 3

THE CHILLIWACK PROGRESS WEEKENDER, Friday, November 8, 1991 3 Locals nailed in steroid best in Hugh Ward, manager and owner of Ward's Gym An undercover operation found steroids and other drugs are readily available Three Chilliwack-area residents have been charged with conspiracy to traffic steroids following a six-week investigation by Burnaby RCMP. The Burnaby RCMP drug section concluded its investigation a week ago yesterday (Thursday) with the announcement of charges against nine people involved in the illegal sale of steroids. The accused all appeared Oct. 31 in provincial court but were remanded without plea. Douglas Charles Millward, of Vedder Crossing, is facing five counts of conspiracy to traffic steroids; Francis Mark Blaney, of Chilliwack and Peter Caryle Wylie, of Vedder Crossing, are also charged with conspiracy to traffic steroids.

Four others charged as a result of the investigation are from Vancouver. The remaining two accused are from Delta and Vernon. An RCMP undercover team visited gyms in several communities during the course of the investigation which revealed the widespread availability and use of the banned substances. Sgt. Gordon Board, head of Burnaby's drug section, said: "The focal point for steroid users is fitness gyms.

Any gym operators or owners who deny knowing about steroid use at these places is either blind or deaf." The undercover officers found occupants of fitness gyms open and willing to talk about steroids and where they could be obtained. "If you're in the market, they're readily available," said Board. "It's widespread and we're concerned." Chilliwack, said steroid use is "pretty well widespread throughout North Most gyms, concerned about keeping their clients, ignore drug use, he said. But Ward said he's "violently opposed to" steroid use. Head of the B.C.

Chapter of the Drug-Free Powerlifters' Association, Ward said he "has a harsh talk" with anyone he finds using steroids and kicks them out if they continue to use the drugs. "It's my personal crusade," Ward said. He said steroid use tends to be a problem with competitive bodybuilders for whom appearance is most important. Steroid use amongst competitive bodybuilders is so widespread, he said, that "there's a few guys out there competing clean, but they are genetic See STEROIDS 6 r-His master's J2L 4. Rempel trial ends today By Paul Bucci Staff Reporter The trial of accused sex offender and Mennonite pastor Walter Aaron Rempel is expected to conclude today (Friday) in Chilliwack provincial court.

A court-imposed ban that prohibits publication of certain details of the trial, including evidence or any information that will identify Rempcl's alleged victims. The publication ban was applied during the afternoon session Tuesday, which was the first day of the trial. The courtroom has been filled to capacity with supporters of Rempel and friends of the alleged victims. At times, there has been standing room only. Wednesday's morning session concentrated on a voire dire a trial within a trial on the ad-missability of certain evidence.

Supreme Court Justice John Hall ruled the evidence, the nature of which can't be discussed, as inadmissable. Rempel sat with his head in his hands as Judge Hall made his decision. "Praise the Lord," said Rempel, just before he hugged a supporter in the courthouse hall. Rempel spent the majority of Wednesday's afternoon session on the stand being questioned by Crown counsel Jack Gibson. Rempel pleaded not guilty Tuesday to four sex-related charges involving two Chilliwack-area teens in 1980.

The charges include two counts of gross indecency, and a further two counts of indecent assault. Rempel currently serves on the pastoral staff of the Eben-Ezer Mennonite Church in Clearbrook. He is a former teacher at the Mennonite Educational Institute in Matsqui, and also taught at A.D. Rundle Junior Secondary in Chilliwack in the late 1970s. He was arrested and charged June 15, 1990.

The four sex offences are alleged to have taken place between Jan. 1980 and Dec 31, 1981 in the Chilliwack area. The offences were alleged to have taken place while Rempel was music director at the Men Pholo by Kobert koopmans Federal fisheries Minister John Crosbie pours a stream of invec- cheerily on. Crosbie spoke at Chilliwack's Rainbow Country Inn tive on critics of the government as the likeness of his leader looks Oct. 6.

River residents wary, hopeful Nightclub owner charged The owner-manager of Greg's Place, a Chilliwack nightclub, has been charged with taking money from his former employer and current business rival. Gregory Lome Robinson, 38, of Sardis, was charged with one count of theft over $1,000 Nov. 5. according to a Chilliwack RCMP news release. Robinson, a former manager of Earthquake Annie's, allegedly took $35,000 in cash from the cabaret between Nov.

1, 1990 and July 1, 1991. "The charge resulted from an investigation into the alleged internal theft of money from Earthquake Annie's Cabaret in Chilliwack," the news release says. This weekend is the anniversary of the Chilliwack River valley flood By Robert Freeman Staff Reporter "It can't flood three years in a row." That's what Frank Sobkowich says about the possibility of another Chilliwack River Valley flood this weekend. But while Sobkowich and Environment Ministry officials say another flood is statisically unlikely, they admit there's no guarantee it won't happen again sometime in this year's rainy season. Flash floods have swept down the river twice in as many years on the same Nov.

9 weekend, ripping homes from their foundations and leaving valley residents furious and frustrated because pleas for better flood protection went unheeded. "You can't predict Mother Nature," says Prad Khare, head of the ministry's water management section in Surrey. While floods like the one last year are only supposed to happen once in a 100 years, Khare says, "I don't think we can guarantee it won't happen a third time." A combination of heavy rain and warm temperatures that melted mountain snowpacks was responsible for the two previous flash floods, he says. Weather predictions called for about 15 to 20 millimetres of rain Thursday and that much or more again Friday followed by a return to clouds and showers on the weekend, says Jamie MacDuff, head of Environment Canada weather services in Vancouver. However, the system which closely resembles a moisture-laden system called the 'Pineapple Express' because of its origins near Hawaii could stall and rainfall levels could mount.

Weather officials will be keeping a close eye on the system to issue storn warnings if necessary, he says. Recent rainfalls have already soaked the ground, with the possibility of runoff adding to river levels in the event of a heavy rainfall, Khare says. "We're all nervous and hopeful," he says, hopeful that it won't happen and nervous that it just might. And until the rainy season ends in March, no one is going to be breathing easy, he says. There's also the spring and summer freshets caused by snowmelt in the mountains to worry about.

The 1989 flood cost the provincial government about $3 million. The 1990 costs have yet to be totalled, although damages were greater. in nonite Brethern Church Yarrow..