THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2018 Vol. 75, No. 14
Serving Fort St. John, B.C. and Surrounding Communities
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Police investigate suspicious fires, search for missing homeowner
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Peace River North MLA Dan Davies from hospital in Vancouver Tuesday.
MLA Davies returns home to recover after accident
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Police and forensic investigators search the scene of a house fire on Hannaford Road Monday evening.
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Police are investigating a pair of suspicious fires in Charlie Lake during the Easter long weekend, and searching for the homeowner whose whereabouts remain unknown. Police were called out to a residential fire on Hannaford Road just off Highway 29 on the hills above Bear Flat around 3:16 a.m. on March 30. facebook Photo Three hours later, at 6:29 John Banky. a.m., police responded to a report that the homeowner’s mains missing. pickup truck was on fire on the The North District Major Golf Course Road near the lake. Crimes Unit, along with Fort Police say the homeowner, St. John RCMP, forensic spe55-year-old John Banky, re- cialists, North District Regional
2018 roadworks contract awarded City councillors have awarded a $4.2-million contract to DGS Astro Paving for 2018 capital roadworks. Roads set to be rebuilt this year include: • 86th Street Frontage Road Phase 1 — between 93 Avenue and 96 Avenue. The gravel road will be a full reconstruct with storm sewer, LED streetlights, curb and gutter, asphalt, and water valve upgrades. • 113th Avenue between 102 Street and 103 Street — Work includes the replacement of the A/C water main, full base construction, installing proper storm sewer, adding sidewalk, and LED street lighting. • 103rd Avenue between 102
Street and 104 Street — Work includes full base construction, installing proper storm sewer, adding sidewalk, LED street lighting, replacement of sanitary sewer, and upgrades to water services. • 111th Avenue between 106 Street and 108 Street — Work includes full base construction, installing proper storm sewer, adding sidewalk, LED street lighting and the installation of water main. • Lane south of 100th Street between 100 Street and 102 Street — This project is part of downtown revitalization.
Gunpoint robbery Fort St. John RCMP are asking the public for help after a pizza delivery driver was robbed March 23. Police say the driver
GIS, and police dog services are continuing to investigate. Banky is described as fivefeet-nine-inches, with red hair and hazel eyes. He weighs around 190 pounds. Banky’s dog, Max, was found in Fort St. John Monday morning, according to postings made by friends on social media. Police are looking to speak with anyone in the area of either fire scene on Hannaford or the Golf Course roads between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m. on March 30. Contact Fort St. John RCMP at 250-787-8100 with information. Police say no further details are being released to protect the integrity of their investigation. was robbed around 8:18 p.m. while delivering a pizza in the 8900 block of 102 Avenue. The driver was walking between housing units when a man wearing a black and white skull masked approached and pointed a handgun at the driver, stealing both the food and money. The suspect is believed to be in his late teens to early 20s. They man is described at five-feet-six-inches with a slim build. He was wearing a dark coloured hoodie and dark pants. Police believe a second male suspect was involved, who was observed fleeing the scene. A dark coloured sedan was also seen leaving the area at a high rate of speed, police say. Call 250-787-8100 or 1-800222-8477 with tips.
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Peace River North MLA Dan Davies is returning home to Fort St. John Wednesday after being injured in a workplace accident last week — but just how soon he’ll return to the house in Victoria remains to be seen. Davies says he’s beating the expectations of doctors after he was struck in the back by a jib at Inland Concrete March 27, and medevaced for surgery and care at Vancouver General Hospital. Davies says the jib pushed him into a cement form he was helping to set up at the company’s yard in the south end of the city, and caused spinal injuries in his lower back and damage to his organs. A week later, Davies says he’s mobile and walking, and that blood work continues to show improvements in his organ functions — the two biggest pieces to his recovery as he looks forward to healing at home with family. “Things are improving every day. I’ve been smashing down all the goalposts they’ve laid out,” Davies said by phone Tuesday morning. “I’m up on my feet most of the day now, strengthening, which is a huge piece of the whole healing process.” Doctors finalized their discharge plans, releasing him Wednesday. The outlook is much improved from the month-long hospital stay they first anticipated, Davies said. “The doctor said a lesser man wouldn’t have done well,” Davies said with a laugh, nodding to the build and frame of his body, and that the severity of his injuries could have been much worse. See DAVIES on A5
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