THURSDAY, august 22, 2019 Vol. a-75, No. 34
Serving Fort St. John, B.C. and Surrounding Communities
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alaskahighwaynews.ca
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memorial for murder victims
red-eye swings in the rain
community gardens growing
news A3
sports b4
news A4
muddy good times
1,800 volunteers needed for Winter Games
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Arena conditions were a muddy slog that made for slick sliding and tough trotting during the heavy horse pull at the 72nd North Peace Fall Fair, Aug. 18, 2019. Turn to A9 for more on this year’s fair, including photos and results.
Mile 54 gas station poised for reopening CONTACT US
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The multi-million dollar redevelopment of the Mile 54 gas station in Charlie Lake is set to re-open in the coming weeks. Crews have been busy at the rebranded Chevron station, installing new pumps, renovating the interior, and pouring new concrete. Exterior painting is underway, signs are going up, and merchandisers are working on stocking the shelves. “It’s definitely a central location and it’s easy to see why people have missed it so much the last few years,” said Century 21 realtor Brenna Burns, who facilitated the sale of the station. “After news of the sale went public, I received an outpour from the local community, so many people contacted me directly to express how happy they were to hear it would reopen. It’s very exciting and, after several years of inactivity, it will be really wonderful to see the station come back to life.” The station was purchased by the company which formerly operated the Redwood Esso in Fort St. John. When the company’s license and lease on that station ran
Weapons seized, two arrested
matt preprost Photo
The old gas station at Mile 54 in Charlie Lake is undergoing renovations, and will soon reopen as a rebranded Chevron station.
up, they immediately started looking for a new a home, Burns said. “They really like Fort St. John so it was important for them to find a new location in the same area, the station at 54 was the first option which came to mind,” Burns said. “They’re definitely investing a lot of money into it. They want to make sure it’s a spot that will accommodate the demands of the neighborhood as well as the highway traffic in either direction.” The station will re-open in several phases, starting with gas sales and a convenience
store along with a market for basic groceries. The rest will be developed eventually as the demand for more services arises. “They are definitely considering to put in a coffee shop or a restaurant,” Burns said. “It certainly seems as though the community would appreciate one.” It’s likely the station will open the first week of September, Burns said, with a grand opening celebration to be scheduled later in the month. Stay tuned for more details on that, Burns said.
PAVING 100 Canadian
Fort St. John and the Peace region will need 1,800 volunteers at the ready when the BC Winter Games come to town in 2020. The city and region plays host to the Games from Feb. 20 to 23, and will need one volunteer for every athlete, coach, and official who will be attending. “The driving force for any Games are the volunteers,” said Darren Snider, president of the local organizing committee, told councillors in Taylor on Monday. “The volunteers are what makes it happen. It is our hope that every volunteer involved with the BC Games learns new skills, gains valuable knowledge, and has a memorable experience.” The Games need volunteers of all skill levels — up to 600 are needed for food preparation alone, with more needed to help organize events, work security, or be a driver. “There’s something for everybody,” Snider said. Volunteer registration will open Saturday, Sept. 7, during the Community One Stop event at Totem Mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also on Monday, Taylor council gave its support to the Games by granting exclusive use of the arena for its figure skating events, and forgiving all associated rental fees. The figure skating events will see around 75 athletes and 40 coaches and officials over three days of competition.
Residential • Commercial • Industrial Roads • Driveways • Parking Lots
An attempted traffic stop in Fort St. John last week led police to a home on 92 Street where several weapons were seized. An officer was trying to stop a well-known offender for driving without a licence on Aug. 14 around 3:20 p.m. when they fled at a high rate of speed, Sgt. Dave Tyreman said. Police did not pursue, Tyreman said, but their search led them to the suspect’s home in the 10000 block of 92 Street near 100 Avenue a short time later. The suspect was not there, though officers found two others who were wanted on outstanding warrants, and arrested them. They were taken into custody. Several others were detained and later released. Two firearms were seized from the home, one believed to be AK-47 and the other a shotgun, Tyreman said. An ornamental sword was also seized, he said.
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