Prince George Free Press, February 14, 2014

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FRIDAYFEBRUARY 14

CITY: Snow crews tackle latest dump

www.pgfreepress.com | newsline: 250.564.0005

Seniors call for more action fewer meets

Warning issued on suspicious caller The Prince George RCMP are warning the public after a series of suspicious phone calls in the city. Recently the detachment has received information that members of the community have been receiving phone calls from a local number where an unknown person seems to be attempting to gain personal information. The caller may start the conversation with “who is this?”, even though he made the call. When the victim responds, the caller may ask a series of other questions to determine your last name, where you live and other personal information. Often the questions are so confusing the victim provides answers to try to help the caller understand. Next thing you know, you have provided the caller with personal information. Police would like to remind the public that providing personal information to unknown persons will increase your chances of being a victim of fraud. For fraud prevention information, go to www.antifraudcentre.ca. The investigation is continuing.

Bill Phillips editor@pgfreepress.com There is no question that the Baby Boomer generation is getting older. There are more people in the 55- to 65year-old age group than there are in the 25- to 35-year-old group. And, as those Baby Boomers retire and head into old age, supports will be needed for them. Northern Health has been meeting with the Prince George Council of Seniors to hopefully develop a plan to deal with the impending influx of seniors. However, according to Council of Seniors advocacy committee chair Lorna Dittmar, that’s all they’ve been doing is meeting. “Northern Health keeps asking everyone to come to these meetings,” she said. “We just keep meeting and never see a plan.” Dittmar says seniors want a range of services and most want to stay in their homes for as long as they can. There are several care homes and facilities in Prince George, however, Dittmar says many of those are unaffordable for most seniors. She says with all the planning meetings Northern Health has held, it must have gathered enough input as to what the needs are. It’s time to start implementing the plan, she said. A spokesperson from Northern Health could not be reached at press time. However, its website states: “At Northern Health, we know that people want to maintain as much control as possible over their lives. That’s why we’re working hard to provide a range of health care options that promote independence, choice and dignity. The ability to make personal choices for health care is important.” Northern Health’s home and community care services provides: • Support for clients to remain independent in their own homes for as long as possible. • At-home services to prevent admission to hospital or to allow for earlier discharge from hospital. • Respite for a client’s unpaid caregivers. • Assisted Living services to clients who are still independent, but require a higher level of care. • Residential care services to clients who can no longer be supported in their homes • Hospice palliative and end-of-life care that supports people at the end of life, and their loved ones.

Submitted Photo Baby Logan at Children’s Hospital is awaiting a heart transplant.

Baby Logan waits for a new heart Teresa Mallam arts@pgfreepress.com Valentine’s Day has traditionally been symbolized by hearts. Four-month-old Logan Vandermuelen of Prince George needs a real heart. This week the infant is in B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver on a waiting list for a donor heart. In the meantime, a surgical procedure on Tuesday gave him with a mechanical heart that will buy him time until he can have a heart transplant. “He was given his Berlin Heart on Tuesday,” said Brenda Davidson, assistant manager of Visions Optical, where Logan’s mother worked. “He’s still in PICU [pediatric intensive care unit] today (Thursday).” A Berlin Heart is a ventricular assist device which helps the right ventricle of

the heart to pump blood to the lungs and the left ventricle to pump blood to the body. It comes in various sizes including for newborn babies. Most of the device is outside the body, only the tubes are implanted. The device is intended as a bridge to recovery or to transplant, according to MedicineNet.com. Previously, Logan who was born with heart problems, had a pacemaker installed. Mandy Shaughnessy of Visions is helping the family out. She says a trust account has been set up with CIBC nationwide, the number is 08950/84-78791 under the first names Mandy or Brenda in trust for Logan. Donations can also be made at either Visions One Hour Optical locations, 715 Central St. or Pine Centre Mall. For more information or updates on Logan, visit the Visions Optical Facebook page.

Strike was provoked: Negotiator The B.C. government’s negotiator admitted in court his strategy in 2012 negotiations with the B.C. Teachers’ Federation was to provoke a full-scale strike. NDP critics launched their return to the B.C. legislature Wednesday with questions about a transcript from the most recent BCTF court challenge over control of class size and support staff. It shows government negotiator Paul Straszak said provoking a full-scale strike was designed to move the union from its months-long ban on extracurricular activities that started in the fall of 2011.

INSIDE TODAY: Voices........................................P10 Community...............................P14 Chamber Week......................P22 Classifieds................................P34 Careers.....................................P36 Datebook.................................P37 Driveway...................................P38 Sports.......................................P40


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Prince George Free Press, February 14, 2014 by Black Press Media Group - Issuu