RURAL NEEDLE WOES

Residents of rural areas have found they are not immune to the problem
of improper needle disposal.

"I think we counted 20," Marion Bear said as to the number of needles
found in the lane leading to her horse pasture. "The person had dumped
them out of the car and driven over them."

The lane is located on the south side of the South Saskatchewan River,
across the Muskoday Bridge.

"That's where we load and unload our horses," said Marion. "We let
them loose in the lane."

Marion lives near the band office and leases the pasture in the
outlying land for her horses. Aside from the wellbeing of her horses,
she was concerned about the safety of children who regularly visit the
horses.

"Usually the fire department is called to dispose of them," said Dean
Bear, land manager for the Muskoday First Nation.

He explained that this was the first he had heard of syringes being
dumped on Muskoday land, and he hoped it was a problem that would not
recur.

A resident from the area south of Prince Albert, who wished to remain
anonymous, contacted the Daily Herald to complain of needles dumped on
rural property.

On Elevator Road, off Highway 3, two syringes were found lying next to
the road.

This individual feared for the safety of children and animals in the
area, and also raised the concern that needles found in rural areas
imply impaired driving.

"What you see in the city, you're going to see in the country," said
Sgt. John Mansbridge with the RCMP. "The problem is proportional to
population."

He warned that there is a potential for injury when handling sharps,
such as needles. The RCMP will respond to calls to dispose of needles,
but response time varies on workload.

"It's akin to finding an abandoned razor blade on your property," said
Mansbridge. "A responsible person could dispose of them without much
difficulty."