2016 0512 Alaska Highway News

Page 1

THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016 VOL. 73, NO. 66

SERVING FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

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alaskahighwaynews.ca

“The Only Newspaper in the World That Gives a Tinker’s Dam About the North Peace.�

NORTHERN GATEWAY SEEKS DELAY

ONE MUDDY MOTHER’S DAY RACE

BUSINESS A10

SPORTS B1

STAGE NORTH RUSTLES UP SOME OUTLAWS

ARTS B5

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HEATHER THEEDE PHOTO—FACEBOOK.COM/CAPTURETHEMOMENT15

An air tanker drops a load of fire retardant on the wildfire at Beatton Airport Road behind Shepherd’s Inn last week. Hot, dry and windy weather helped fuel the fire, which began April 18, forcing a brief evacuation order for residents in the area. Cool, wet weather helped prevent the fire’s spread on the weekend, but as of May 10, the fire was still burning at an estimated 15,000 hectares. Officials are bracing for a return to hot, dry weather. For more on the wildfires, turn to A3.

LNG group plans to drive its message to Ottawa MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca

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Residents from Fort St. John, Fort Nelson, Prince Rupert and Kitimat plan to hit the road to Ottawa Sunday, May 22, to deliver a stack of petitions to federal lawmakers and appeal for the creation of a liquefied natural gas industry in Canada. The Fort St. John for LNG group is spearheading the “LNG or Bustâ€? road trip alongside its Northern B.C. counterparts. After attracting national media attention for its 600-truck rally in March followed by a visit by Premier Christy Clark at a rally in April, group founder Alan Yu said it’s time to meet federal officials on their own turf. “There’s nothing we can do here anymore ‌ it’s preaching

“It’s about time the federal decision makers hear the voice of the unemployed here in Fort St. John and Northern B.C.�

to the choir. We need to bring the unemployed people, the workers, to Ottawa,� Yu said, noting several business associations and local politicians have already made the trip to Ottawa to share their voices. “It’s about time the federal decision makers hear the voice of the unemployed here in Fort St. John and Northern B.C.� Yu said the bus plans to build support and speak with local media in resource towns along the way. See OTTAWA on A6

MATT PREPROST PHOTO

Alan Yu of FSJ for LNG stands next to the bus he and a half-dozen others will call home for 11-day road trip to Ottawa starting Sunday, May 22.

Councillors want a new coat of arms for the city Coun. Davies and Klassen don’t see need for redesign, question $2,400 spend BRONWYN SCOTT peacereporter@ahnfsj.ca

Despite objections from two city councillors, the City of Fort St. John will purchase an official, newly designed coat of arms from the Canadian Heraldic Authority to replace the unofficial one currently on display in council chambers. The maximum cost for the creation of the new design is $2,400, according to a staff report to council.

On Monday, Coun. Gord Klassen nor Coun. Dan Davies voted against the purchase, preferring instead to continue using the existing coat of arms that was designed for the city in the 1970s. “I know it’s not a huge amount, but the total cost is $2,400 to get something that we already all seem to like,� Klassen said. “I understand it would be the official thing, but is there any way of getting around just saying, look, we want this one,

Coun. Gord Klassen

make it official? “For us to pay up to $2,400 for somebody to take what we already have and like and change it to something that somebody

PAVING Residential • Commercial • Industrial Roads • Driveways • Parking lots

else seems to think is more artistic seems like spending money for something that we may not be happy with in the end.� The heraldic authority has a “fairly clearly defined set of criteria with the coat of arms,� City Manager Dianne Hunter said. The process requires that the city submit a description of the community, and the heraldic authority designs and presents a coat of arms for approval. See COAT OF ARMS on A6

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