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T H U R S D AY, D E C E M B E R 3 0 , 2 0 1 0
Bank robbery suspect faces judge Jessica Peters THE OBSERVER
A Chilliwack man suspected of holding up two separate Ànancial institutions is in custody. Police believe Micheal Dustin Burgess, is responsible for the robbery at the Prospera Credit Union in Agassiz on November 26, and also at the Prospera Credit Union on Wellington Avenue in Chilliwack
on December 9. He was charged with two counts of robbery and remanded in custody until he saw a judge in Chilliwack on December 22. RCMP Cpl. Lea-Anne Dunlop said Burgess was identiÀed as a suspect by Agassiz and Chilliwack RCMP serious crime units working with "excellent" witness information. The Agassiz and Chilliwack RCMP Serious
Crime Units had been actively investigating these robberies, and were able to identify Burgess as the suspect in both investigations. "Robberies are very serious crimes and are investigated aggressively" Dunlop said. "In this case team work between the Chilliwack and Agassiz RCMP, along with excellent witnesses information in the early stages of both investigation lead to the identiÀcation
and arrest of the suspect. This should serve as a warning to would be robbers. We will identify you, and you will be brought to justice and charged whenever possible." Sgt. Mike McCarthy of the Agassiz RCMP said "the Prospera staff were very calm and professional in their response to the robbery and provided information that assisted us in our investigation."
A year of debates, events and memorable moments Scouring through images and stories of the year a chance to reflect on values Jessica Peters THE OBSERVER
When I tell people that I work as the editor in a one-room, one-reporter news room in a small town, some of them laugh. "So, you cover things like strawberry teas?" they say, trying to be cute. "Yes, I do," I answer. I do cover strawberry tea socials, and bake sales. If someone calls me to tell me it's going on, I try to be there, because that's what small newspapers do. It's what makes them better (in my view) than sensational big city papers that would only cover a social event if it were attended by either the queen, or a crazed gunman. But then I also tell them that it's not all tea parties. I may talk about the
politics, the thriving farming industry, the debates over how tax dollars are spent, and the innovative ideas at the UBC Dairy and Research Centre. Keep in mind, I tell them, there are two prisons, two mayors, nearly 500 businesses, major highways, several First Nation bands, a vital river, beautiful scenery, interesting history, and famous festivals to cover. I tell them about how grown up this small town is — wining and dining at the Fraser River Lodge for the Taste of Agassiz comes to mind. There are the Saturday's spent visiting idyllic and unique spots along the Circle Farm Tour, and the 10 days I lounge on the beach in Harrison under the guise of getting stories and photos from the Harrison Festival of the Arts.
MARCO D. CEDRONE
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7070 Pioneer Ave., Agassiz BC _ ZZZ FDVFDGHODZ FRP
But to my colleagues, I say yes, it's strawberry teas — all week long. "You don't want my job," I tell reporters from larger papers. "It's awful out here. Lonely." But between you and me, Àne readers, I love it here. You all know that while teas and quilt shows make Agassiz and Harrison Hot Springs a small town, it also makes them a community. And I appreciate that. It has been a pleasure to be the editor here for the past two years. And scouring through 2010's 52 editions of The Observer has reminded me why it's been so delightful. There were the debates I heard in Harrison council chambers, from intelligent points of view on land use and the community plan, to insults and barbs thrown around from both council members and the audience. There were days mucking around on farms, and days spent in the local
INSIDE THE OBSERVER
CONTINUED – ON PAGE 2
OBSERVER FILE PHOTO
Barry Mansfield of Hope pulls his handmade boat into the dock on Harrison Lake, just weeks after a near disaster in the same waters.
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