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Man found dead in shared cell Jessica Peters THE OBSERVER
Police have been called in to investigate a death at Mountain Institution. Jeremy Phillips, 33, was found "unresponsive" in his cell at 10:05 a.m. Monday morning. He was about halfway through a six-year, nine month sentence for aggravated
assault and conspiring to commit an indictable offence. "We're not really aware of what happened," Brandon Banks, Mountain's assistant warden of management services, told The Observer on Tuesday. "The police are working through these questions. "What I can conÀrm is we've had
an inmate death." However, Agassiz RCMP Sgt. Mike McCarthy said they are convinced Phillips was murdered. Phillips was in his cell with another prisoner through the night. "They were bunk mates, two in a cell," McCarthy said. He added Phillips died sometime
late Sunday night or on Monday morning. However he died, Banks said "the loss of anyone's life is a tragedy, and the death of an inmate is taken very seriously. " Corrections Service Canada will review the circumstances of the death now, and "there is substantial follow up" in all prison deaths.
Banks said that deaths in prison are not as common as some people may think. "It's not the case (that this happens often)," he said. Phillips began his sentence on October 18, 2006 and was set for release on July 13, 2013. Next of kin has been notiÀed. news@ahobserver.com
Hemlock proposes huge expansion Robert Freeman BLACK PRESS
40 years service Alan Pryor received several gifts of appreciation for his 40 years of service with the Agassiz Fire Department, during the annual firefighters awards on Saturday night at the Friendship House. JESSICA PETERS / OBSERVER Several awards were given out that night. For full coverage, see inside.
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INSIDE THE OBSERVER
A Langley-based developer wants to give a "fresh start" to the oncebankrupt Hemlock Valley Ski Resort by expanding it into a year-round recreation facility. "What's unique about our project is we're trying to include Harrison Lake in our whole program," developer Ralph Berezan said Monday. "That would be kind of neat, to go from water skiing in a wet suit to snow skiing on the mountain," he said. The project masterplan envisions an all-season facility linking the mountain to expanded resort residential areas and to summer recreational activities on Harrison Lake. A hotel named Chateau Hemlock, residential condos, restaurants, pubs, marina, retail shops and at least one nine-hole golf course are also envisioned in the masterplan. But Àrst the project must obtain
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necessary approvals from local, regional and provincial governments, and from the Chehalis First Nation. After than comes the task of raising development costs, estimated at more than $514 million -and that's just for the Àrst phase of the Àve-stage project. Total estimated development costs reach nearly $2.5 billion. Berezan is undaunted. "I think it would certainly keep the tourist industry alive in that particular area, if we do get our approvals," he said. "We're very fortunate to have two airports near our hill, and I think with the growth projected for the Fraser Valley, we're going to have access to a lot of people." The masterplan notes the existing ski resort had "stalled and languished" due to circumstances that Berezan said included aging facilities and CONTINUED – ON PAGE 2
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