Pubdate: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 Source: Penticton Herald (CN BC) Page: 1, Front Page Copyright: 2003 The Okanagan Valley Group of Newspapers Contact: http://www.theokanagan.net/penticton/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/664 DIRTY NEEDLES ALARM WORKER At first, Dennis Patterson thought it was a Popsicle stick he saw in the grass Tuesday. But as the Trophic Canada employee cycled to work at 6:30 a.m. on Power Street in Penticton, he noticed another one, and then a third, at relatively regular intervals. When he saw a fourth one, he got off his bike to investigate and found something which horrified him. The items were not Popsicle sticks, but hypodermic needles with droplets of what looked like blood in the barrels. "It really upset me," said Patterson. "This was right across from the Queen's Park Elementary School playground, and all I could think was the children will be starting to arrive at school soon." Patterson picked the needles up and notified local authorities. What they were used for didn't matter to Patterson. What mattered was the potential for injury, not to mention possible health risk, to an elementary school student. The school was interested in the needles, said Patterson. He was told the school would search the grounds to rule out the possibility of more needles. Staff at City Hall also informed him they would look around their side of the street -- the grounds of the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, where a conference of wastewater professionals is underway. Patterson added that city staff told him the needles should be taken to the hospital, where they can be disposed of safely. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake