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Local businesses experiencing decline in sales By Ken Lusk The Aguasabon Chamber of Commerce recently polled the businesses in the area to determine the impact of the Kimberly-Clark Survival Plan and the. Pollution Control Order. All businesses reported no growth in sales. A few stated business was the same, but the ma- jority had decreases up to 25 per cent the chamber found. To their credit, most businesses maintained their staffing levels, although a few did have to shorten hours or layoff staff. Terry Korzinski of Terry's Sight & Sound in Terrace Bay used to have three full-time employees. He now has one full-time employee working between Terry's Sight & Sound and the flower shop. "Sales are down quite a bit," he said. "Nobody's buying anything in Terrace Bay."' Korzinski noted that February was bad but is in part due to Christmas expenses and tax bills. He said the older people aren't buying the good or expensive fur- niture because of the layoffs or ear- ly retirement, and the younger peo- ple 'aren't buying the expensive stereo equipment because they are laid off. What's left is the middle group with three or four children. Kor- zinski said they're not buying either. Some people are utterly disgusted with Terrace Bay and are planning to leave the first chance they have he said. Korzinski is not terribly worried yet but he said if March and April follow suit like February, then things will be really bad. Korzinski's plan is to make ad- justments such as having less staff, less stock, lowering his expenses, and having a lower profit margin. ' Kimberly-Clark will probably pick up again but it will never be the way it was before he said. '*People's attitudes have changed."' Ken Randle owns and operates the Print Shop in Terrace Bay with his wife Jeannie. He said his sales have been constant. Some of the outlets for their business like Corporation Falcon- bridge Copper, the Schreiber Food Market, the school boards, local businesses, and the hospital still need the same amount of materials he said. '*People still need food, the school boards still have the kids and the hospital still has the same amount of patients," said Randle. He mentioned that there are new businesses opening in this area © which are giving him additional business. The businesses, whether they be charter services, electricians or plumbers, need business cards, in- voices, etc. **We have been very fortunate to have a lot of local support for both stationary and printing," said Jean- nie Randle. "'For example, we supply Falconbridge with a substantial amount of their supplies," said Ken Randle. The Print Shop is not suffering a noticeable decrease in sales and the Randles said they are happy with their business here are not preparing to close the shop and move out of town. Don Robb, manager of the Bay in Schreiber, said his sales aren't depressed. "It is making people shop more 'Wednesday, March 11, 1987 Serving Terrace Bay, Schreiber and Rossport locally," he said, *'rather than go- ing to Thunder Bay for the weekend."' Robb said he does expect sales to drop in the future when the layoffs from Kimberly-Clark take effect. Paul Cebrario of Cebrario's Hardware store in Schreiber told the News that since the layoff an- nouncement last May he has not suffered a decrease in sales. Cebrario's also supplies materials for contractors. In fact, he said that in January of this year he experienced an in- crease and he expects to do the same or better this month. For the month of January, Cebrario said both he and his brother Bart (of Cebrario's in Ter- race Bay) experienced an increase of 35 per cent. 307! Many families have left this area as a result of the Kimberly-Clark layoffs, and Tony Commisso of Costa's in Terrace Bay said his store has felt a definite reduction _ in sales. "'We have lost a lot of big families but it is certainly not crip- pling," said Commisso. Commisso believes that once the woodlands problems are resolved, and because the Control Order situation has passed, the situation should level off. He said that some of the losses will be offset because the Winston Lake mine will be bringing families to this area. '*We won't see sales the same as they were before," said Commisso. Chamber of Commerce The Chamber of Commerce has concluded that in order to improve and stabilize the social and economic health of the region, steps should be taken by the pro- vincial government, the municipal governments and the chamber itself. The chamber concluded that: "Kimberly-Clark, along with strong co-operation with their unions, appears to have resolved the financial problem as it relates to the mill operation. Cur- rently the woodlands operations are be- ing addressed." Members of the chamber feel that "'the Control Order should be realistic and attainable. There is no question that more needs to be done to improve the quality of the water we drink and the air we breathe. If it can be proven that the technology will work which will allow K-C to meet govern- ment standards, then the company should, with government assistance if requested, meet or exceed the guidelines. We hasten to point out, however, that Kimberly-Clark is not the only paper mill on Lake Superior and continued on page 7 Houston new councillor to replace Romanuk By Ken Lusk New Councillor Bill Houston (pronounced House-ston) was of- ficially sworn in at the Feb. 23 meeting of Terrace Bay Council with the required oaths of office and allegiance- he replaces Peter Romanuk who resigned. Houston is certainly not a stranger to people in this area and neither is he a stranger to council. Houston was a councillor before for three years and his last term was in. November of 1985. At that time he ran for reeve of Terrace Bay against Coun. Ollie Chapman. Houston told the News that it was a unanimous decision by all of council that he replace past-Coun. Romanuk. "I couldn't refuse to serve the town.' Houston said he feels the same way now as when he ran for reeve a few years back- "duty bound." 'The decision was easy and I'm glad to do it," he said. Well-known in community Houston, who is the vice- principal of the Terrace Bay High School, has lived in this area for 20 years. "When we came here, my son was six months old. He is 18 years old now,"' said Houston. Houston and his wife Prisca have two sons and one daughter. Kimberly-Clark Houston mentioned Kimberly- Clark's woes and said that this is one area where council is faced By Rene McKnight A $2-million investment in sprays to combat the spruce bud- worm could net a $1.1 billion return through saved forests. " Bruce Campbell, Thunder Bay district budworm co-ordinator, said the Ministry of Natural Resources' spray program has the potential return of $14,000 per hectare. The ministry is recommending 79,683 ha. of the North Central Region by sprayed with Bactillus thuringiensis: About 57 per cent of the total spray program will be con- centrated in the Nipigon district. The infestation forecast for 1987 shows that over-all egg mass counts are down 30 per cent from last year and, as a result, 41 per cent less\Bt spray will be used. There is, however, a continua- tion of moderate to severe defolia- tion, especially in the western parts of Terrace Bay, Nipigon and Thunder Bay districts, Campbell said. -. with some problems. He said that Terrace Bay has always been a boom town, not a bust town. Terrace Bay is now fac- ed with layoffs and people leaving town, he said. '*Kimberly-Clark is working diligently to continue to operate efficiently- the town is cooperating" with K-C," said Houston. Busy man Houston has served on the Hospital. board and the Library According to Roger Davison, regional budworm co-ordinator, there has been a reduction in the in- festation during the past few years but several "hot spots" remain. In Quetico: Park and Sturgeon Falls the budworm continues to taint the forests. Most of the area recommended for spray is commercially operable. About one per cent of the © region is being treated for aesthetic value. Spraying will likely begin in May. The budworm has a life cycle of about 10 years and the current plague has existed about a decade, Davison said. While it may be true the pest is dying, the ministry has to protect trees yet unaffected with the help of the Bt spray. While the bud- worm cycle will collapse, forests can be ruined in the meantime, Davison explained. The Bt insecticide is about twice the price of chemical sprays, but is not toxic to mammals, birds or board. (He is resigning from the Library board but he will be reap- pointed as a representative from council). Houston plays the tuba in the Community Band and he is a member of its executive. Present- ly he is also teaching night school. Houston said he is going to give council as much time as he's got, but he is a very busy man. Being principal of the high school is a very demanding job, he said. =] Budworm spraying likely -) to begin in region by May fish. Any wildlife, such as heron nestlings, which could be disturb- ed by the spray-crafts will be pro- tected by a no-spray buffer. ' Trees which have not fallen vic- tim to the budworm, but are not yet ready to be harvested may be marked for "chipping" instead. Generally trees are harvested after reaching maturity but excep- tions are occasionally made as the ministry "wants to take the tree before it dies."' Again this year the ministry will harvest susceptible stands. Last year 15,920 ha. were taken and this year the ministry intends to in- crease the amount by 5,000 ha. Trees which might otherwise be infested by the budworm can in- stead be of -value through harvesting, Davison said. Environment Canada claims the budworm is the most destructive forest insect in North America. In an effort to prevent future infesta- continued. on page 12