AHN JAN 12, 2023

RING THE BELLS Christmas campaign raises $131K for Salvation Army

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Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Four first babies of 2023 were welcomed into the world across Northern B.C. on New Year’s Day.

In Fort St. John, Marilyn Walter was born at 8:06 a.m. at the hospital birthing centre to parents Marena and Mathias Walter of Fort St. John, according to Northern Health. She weighed six pounds, 13 ounces.

In Dawson Creek, Tyrell Wiebe was born at 1:10 a.m. at the local hospital to parents Lisa and Jay Wiebe of Gordondale, Alta, according to Northern Health. He weighed nine pounds, one

ounce, and joins his siblings Lucas, Cameron, and Brooklyn, the health authority said.

In Prince George, baby Paxton was born at 12:45 a.m. at the local hospital to parents Chelsea and Dave of Prince George, according to Northern Health. He weighed seven pounds, 15 ounces, and is the first child for the family, the health authority said.

And in Terrace, baby Kim was born at 9:44 a.m. at the local hospital to parents Bella and Chan of Terrace, according to Northern Health. She weighed seven pounds, three ounces, and joins her siblings Stella and Christina, according to Northern Health.

NORTHERN HEALTH

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

It was a year of record-high of employment at the Site C dam construction site outside Fort St. John in 2022.

And BC Hydro says the earth fill dam crossing the Peace River is now 87% complete, saying progress last year “puts us in a good position to complete the remaining work on the dam” in 2023.

The $16-billion project saw four record employment peaks throughout the summer and fall, first in June with 5,209 workers and up to a record 5,554 workers in October, according to figures from BC Hydro.

There were 5,238 workers reported in November, the latest available data from the Crown utility released this week.

BC Hydro spokesman Bob Gammer says there was also a new peak set for women employed on the project at 589 in September, a record that was broken with 621 in October.

In the latest filing to the BC Utilities Commission, president and CEO Chris O’Riley

says overall construction on the project is now more than 70% completed, with the earth fill dam now standing at an elevation of 445 metres.

“This past year was the busiest construction season yet on Site C and work continues to advance in all areas –with some parts of the project already completed or nearing completion,” O’Riley wrote in the Dec. 20 filing.

Close to 90% of concrete has been poured for the dam’s powerhouse, where the first

generating unit is being installed. The penstocks, spillways, and approach channel “remain on track for completion in 2023,” according to O’Riley.

And along Highway 29, realignments were 90% complete as of the fall and expected to be finished this year. New bridges at Farrell Creek, Lynx Creek, Cache Creek, and Dry Creek have all been opened. A new bridge crossing the Halfway River will open later this year.

BC HYDRO

The next important project milestone is filling the reservoir, which O’Riley says “could occur one year early in 2023.”

Continued on A14

Above: Mathias and Marena Walter with baby Marilyn, Fort St. John’s first baby born in 2023. At right, baby Tyrell, the 2023 first born in Dawson Creek, with mom and dad Lisa and Jay Wiebe, and siblings Lucas, Cameron, and Brooklyn.

Site C more than 70% complete

From left to right: construction of the Site C spillways and stilling basin weirs, penstocks, powerhouse and operations building as seen in November 2022.

First power by 2024 or sooner, says BC Hydro

Home assessments up 4% in 2023

Matt Preprost sports@ahnfsj.ca

Property assessments for the typical single-family home in Fort St. John have climbed 4% from $329,000 to $343,000 in 2023, according to BC Assessment.

The agency said Jan. 3 that residents can expect to receive their 2023 property assessment notices in the mail in the next few days.

“Most northern home owners can generally expect to see a rise of about 5% to 20% in their assessments when they receive their notices in early January, but with some exceptions depending on the community,” Northern BC Deputy Assessor Teria Penner said in a press release.

“I want to emphasize that assessments are based on July 1st, 2022. While the local real estate market has seen some shifts, it is important to compare your assessment with simi-

lar properties that sold around July 1st.”

Based on market values as of July 1, 2022, the property assessments are used to calculate municipal property taxes.

Looking at municipalities across the rest of the northeast region...

Assessments for the average single-family home in Dawson Creek were up 7%, from $261,000 to $280,000.

In Taylor, the average assessment jumped 11%, from $205,000 to $226,000.

In Chetwynd, assessments were up 9%, from $246,000 to $267,000.

Up in the Northern Rockies, assessments also climbed by 9%, from $129,000 to $141,000 year-over-year.

In Hudson’s Hope, assessments were up 8%, from $173,000 to $188,000.

In Tumbler Ridge, assessments were up 4% from $145,000 to

$151,000.

And in Pouce Coupe, assessments were down 5% from $204,000 to $193,000, according to BC Assessment.

When it comes to condos and townhouses, assessments in Fort St. John were up 3% year-over-over, from $196,000 to $201,000. In Dawson Creek, assessments jumped 11% from $193,000 to $214,000.

Overall, assessment values in Northern B.C. increased from $81.5 billion in 2022 to $90.6 billion this year, according to BC Assessment. The agency attributes $1.06 billion of that growth to new construction, subdivisions, and rezonings.

Homeowners can check their home’s value, as of July 1, 2022, by searching the BC Assessment database online. Property owners have until Jan. 31 to file an appeal of their assessment. For more, visit bcassessment.ca or call 1-866-825-8322.

Manufactured home owners encouraged to appeal

Matt Preprost sports@ahnfsj.ca

Manufactured home owners in Fort St. John and the North Peace sticker shocked from dramatic spikes in their property assessments this year are being encouraged to file an appeal by the end of the month.

Assessments for the typical singlefamily home in Fort St. John rose 4% this year, according to BC Assessment figures released this week.

But city and rural owners of manufactured homes have reported assessment spikes far above average, ranging between 50% to 150% in many cases.

Northern BC Deputy Assessor Teria Penner said Wednesday that the agency was aware of the unusually large increases in the city and surrounding area.

“This was due to an internal calculation error, which we have identified and are in the process of correcting for impacted property owners,” Penner said in an email to Alaska Highway News.

Assessment notices for 2023 are in the mail, and based on market values as of July 1, 2022. The assessments are used to calculate municipal property taxes.

In Fort St. John, assessments for the average single-family home rose 4% from $329,000 to $343,000 year-overyear. For condos and townhouses, assessments were up an average 3%, from $196,000 to $201,000.

No data was available for average increases for manufactured homes. However, a search of units in the BC Assessment database sheds light on the increases owners are facing.

A search in Southridge Estates

found hikes ranging from 40% to 88% for several units. In Peace Country Park, increases ranged between 35% to 50%.

Outside the city, increases were found ranging between 130% to 148% for units in Shady Acres in Charlie Lake. In Forest Lawn, increases ranged from 104% to 140%.

“We are currently working on identifying the impact and determining how many home owners are affected. We will be issuing corrections where necessary,” Penner said, adding, “I would encourage anyone who is concerned with the assessment to file an appeal prior to January 31st.”

Homeowners can check their home’s value, as of July 1, 2022, by searching the BC Assessment database online.

For more, visit bcassessment.ca or call 1-866-825-8322.

BC ASSESSMENT

Assessments for the typical single-family home in Fort St. John are up 4% to $343,000 in 2023.

Saskatoon couple $500,000 richer after Wonowon lotto win

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

An outstanding $500,000 lottery prize won in the North Peace last year has finally been claimed.

Andrei and Zinaida Milchevska of Saskatoon won the Oct. 14 Extra prize from a Lotto Max ticket purchased at Petro Canada in Wonowon on Highway 97, according to the BC Lottery Corporation.

The couple regularly visit B.C. for work and vacation, and celebrated the winning occasion with a nice dinner out, the BCLC said.

They also plan to use their

winnings to help family and friends, the lottery corporation said.

“I was at work during a night shift, and I scanned the ticket on the Lotto! App and saw it was a winner,” Andrei said in a statement. “Then I called my wife to tell her and woke her up – we both could not believe it!”

The BCLC says 9.3 million winning tickets were sold in Northern B.C. in 2022, including 10 grand prize-winning tickets valued at $500,000 or more.

All told, $58.4 million was paid out to lottery winners in the north, according to BCLC.

Zimmer slams feds over Arctic oil moratorium extension

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Local MP Bob Zimmer is criticizing a continued ban on oil and gas licensing and development in Canada’s Arctic region.

The federal Opposition critic for northern affairs and Arctic sovereignty, Zimmer said in a statement released Wednesday that a five-year review of the 2016 moratorium should have been completed by the end 2021.

The review’s delay, however, “has resulted in the order to prohibit oil and gas extraction in offshore Canadian Arctic waters to be extended once again, this time until December 2023,” Zimmer stated.

“Conservatives have always said that it should be northerners who decide on the level of development and opportunities that they want in the north,” Zimmer said.

“We have long supported economic development in

the territories and northern provinces and the responsible development of our natural resources demonstrating Canada’s presence in the North and key to Canadian sovereignty.”

The CBC reported this week that a federal suspension of oil and gas activity in the Arctic was extended to mid-December of this year.

Delays have also drawn concern from at least one regional politician in the Northwest Territories, MLA Jackie Jacobson.

“We need employment,” Jacobson told CBC. “Right now people are really suffering in regards to work.”

In his statement, Zimmer said northern Canadians “need certainty and hope,” framing the delay on as an “’Ottawa-knows-best’ approach to governing Canada’s North.”

“Canada has the highest standards for oil and gas work on offshore Canadian Arctic waters and we are proud

of our Canadian workers,” Zimmer stated. “This Liberal government should be proud of them and this industry instead of hurting them.”

Meanwhile, energy-hungry Germany welcomed its first regular shipment of liquefied natural gas from the United States this week on Jan. 3, according to the Associated Press.

The facility in Wilhelmshaven is one of several such terminals being put in place to help the country, and Europe, avert an energy supply shortage and replace energy supplies it previously received from Russia.

During a visit with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in August, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau questioned whether there was a business case for new LNG infrastructure investments on Canada’s east coast.

BC LOTTERY CORP

Andrei and Zinaida Milchevska

— with files from Associated Press, Canadian Press

JAMES DOYLE PHOTO

Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer.

B.C., feds deny new northeast mine

By Arthur Williams

A proposed $450-million coal mine in Northeast B.C. will not go ahead, after the B.C. Environmental Assessment Office announced an environmental assessment certificate will not be issued for the project. According to Glencore Canada, the Sukunka mine – located about 55 kilometres south of Chetwynd and 40 km west of Tumbler Ridge – would have created roughly 700 jobs during construction and 250 ongoing jobs. The mine was expected to produce roughly three million tonnes of metallurgical coal for export per year over the 22-year life of the mine.

The B.C. Environmental Assessment Office recommended that an environmental assessment certificate not be issued after concluding that Glencore’s proposed mitigation measures would unlikely to reduce the negative impacts of the project to an acceptable level, the agency said in a statement on Dec. 21.

“The assessment found the project would have significant adverse and cumulative effects on the threatened and red-listed Quintette caribou herd, increasing the risk of its extinction,” the EAO said. “The EAO’s assessment additionally found that the project would have significant cumulative effects on grizzly bears, by adding to existing impacts from previous development in the region, as well as adverse impacts to First Nations, such as treaty rights to hunt.”

The B.C. EAO carried out an assessment on behalf of the provincial and federal governments under an agreement,

which allows a single review for both levels of government. The federal government also announced its decision on Dec. 21. The assessment of the project involved extensive consultation with technical experts, federal and local authorities, First Nations and the public, the EAO said. The assessment began on May 6, 2013 and the recommendation was referred to the provincial and federal governments on Oct. 17, 2022. The process was suspended three times, to allow Glencore Canada to respond to requests for additional information and conduct additional studies.

“Glencore also requested a timeline suspension to discuss federal and provincial caribou recovery initiatives. This resulted in the assessment timeline being extended by 6.5 years in total,” the EAO said. “Provincial and federal caribou experts and First Nations raised concerns about the direct habitat removal (125 hectares in high-elevation summer range and winter range) and indirect disturbance (4,186 hectares based on a 4.5-kilometre buffer) to the threatened and red-listed Quintette caribou herd.”

In a statement on Glencore’s website, project leader Matt White said the mine would have produced “premium steelmaking coal for some of the world’s fastest growing economies.” The project would have had “significant economic benefits, especially for the people and First Nations of northeastern British Columbia,” and the company was committed to leaving a positive legacy in the region, White added.

— Prince George Citizen

WONOWON 4-H CLUB REPORT

WONOWON4-HBEEFCLUB MonthlyReport

Hi everyone, I hope the start of a new 4-H year is going well for you !

Shipping and picking out our new 4-H animals: We shipped Oct 3,4 and 5th, it went great. Picking out my steer was a bit challenging for me this year, there was so many good steers, as there always is. I really liked a calf ever since it was born but it has longer legs then I would have wanted, his tail is really short and he is really big. So I was thinking that I would pick a different steer, but even though there is three things wrong with him, I still really liked his build.

I hope that you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! We did our Club Weigh-In on November 12, 2022. The Weigh-In went great, I was surprised on how much our steers weighed. We also had our Club meeting and elections. We have a couple new members in the Wonowon 4-H Club this year and I would like to welcome them. We haven’t had our District Awards night yet for 2022, but I am really looking forward to it. Getting together, visiting with friends and getting to see people that you haven’t seen for a long time. I am also really looking forward to the dance that we are going to have there. Awards night is a great way to bring all the Clubs together and to visit with each other.

I ended up picking him anyway, he is a dark red curly calf with not much white. Sara picked out a steer that day as well, it was a brown long bodied steer. She also wanted to wait and see one of the calves that was still out on the range at the time, to compare it with the long, brown steer. So she waited until it came in then she compared the two of them, she liked the red steer better. So she too now has a big dark red panda eyed steer. Picking out our 4-H heifers went great, Sara has picked her heifer off her own cow, like she has done for the last 3 years in a row. I sold one of my cows and decided to give Mom and Dad the money I got from it, in trade for one of their heifers and guess what that is my new 4-H heifer.

At the end of Dec Sara and I put halters on our 4-H animals for the first time this year. We had to snare them all because they wore all a little bit too nervous for us to just put the halter on. We got things ready the night before so that there wasn’t as much new stuff going on that morning, and so that they wouldn’t be as suspicious when we went to catch them. To our surprise all of the 4-H animals weren’t that hard to catch. We just put a rubber grain tub beside a post or tree, put the rope loop around the trough, did a couple loops around the post or tree with the other end of the rope and when the steer or heifer went to eat, we just slipped the rope around their neck. After we got them closer to the post or tree, we put the rope halter on and tied it to a tube, which was also around post or tree. We then took the rope that was around their neck off. That is how we caught all of our 4-H animals this year.

Weighing the 4-H animals: I am not sure yet when we are weighing them but I think that Sara & I will soon see how big our 4-H animals are. I would also like to welcome our new members in the Wonowon 4-H Club too.

special Thank You to CO-OP or sponsoring this page Grace Trask Wonowon Club Reporter

GLENCORE CANADA Rendering of the proposed Sukunka metallurgical coal mine in northeastern B.C.

Sara’s Heifer

Reading

Halter breaking

Unemployment still too low to report

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Unemployment in Northeast B.C. ended 2022 the same way it ended 2021: too low to report.

However, there were 500 fewer people working in the region in December 2022 as compared to December 2021, according to estimates released Jan. 6 by Statistics Canada.

Stats-Can reported an estimated 37,300 people employed last month out of an estimated labour force of 38,200.

Unemployment figures as well as the unemployment rate were suppressed to meet the confidentiality requirements of the Statistics Act. Stats-Can says it suppresses estimates below 1,500 unemployed people to prevent “direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.” Given the provided labour force figures, however, there were about 900 unemployed, according to the data.

Year-over-year, the employment count is down from last December, when 37,800

were working in the region.

Month-over-month, employment is up 100 from November, when 37,200 were reported employed.

Posted unemployment rates for the region averaged around 4.6% in 2022, and peaked at 5% in May and June.Unemployment figures were also suppressed in September, October, and November, and during the first three months of 2022. And among all economic regions of B.C., the northeast ended 2022 with the highest overall employment rate, at 67.1%, and labour participation, at 68.7%.

B.C., meanwhile, added 16,600 jobs during the holiday season. Last month’s hiring surge pushed the provincial unemployment rate down 0.2 percentage points (4.2%) compared with a month prior when the province shed 13,300 jobs.

Canada added 104,000 jobs last month as the national unemployment rate declined 0.1 percentage point to 5%, according to Statistics Canada.

The most notable gains in

B.C.’s job market came in transportation and warehousing (+8,300 jobs); other services (+7,500 jobs); and finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing (+4,400 jobs). Losses were felt most acutely in wholesale and retail trade (-3,000 jobs); business, building and other support services (-3,800 jobs); and health care and social assistance (-2,100 jobs).

The Bank of Canada hiked its key rate seven consecutive times in 2022 in a bid to cool the economy and tamp down on inflation. B.C. answered the central bank’s late October rate hike by quickly shedding more than 13,000 jobs in November. But the BoC’s early December rate hike did not seem to cloud the job market in the same way as the province recouped those losses that same month.

BMO chief economist Douglas Porter is predicting the central bank will hike its key rate by 25 basis points, which would bring the key rate to 4.5 per cent.

— with BIV files

A worker patches concrete barrier at the Lynx Creek Bridge.

for sexual invitation of minors

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

A Fort St. John man has been sentenced to jail following a child sex crime investigation at a local park last year.

Tyler Joshua Drapeau was arrested June 19, 2021, after police were called to Kin Park to reports a man had solicited sexual touching from two children under 16 in exchange for a video game card.

When officers arrived, witnesses identified a man in a nearby vehicle and Drapeau was arrested without incident.

Drapeau, 34, pleaded guilty to one count of invitation to sexual touching and was convicted in March of this year.

He was sentenced to 317 days jail during a hearing in provincial court Friday, Dec. 16, and credited 48 days of pre-sentence time in custody, according to court records.

Drapeau was also sentenced to 18 months probation, ordered to submit

a DNA sample, and given a mandatory 10-year firearms prohibition.

He was named to the national sex offender registry for 20 years, and given a five-year sexual offence order under the Criminal Code prohibiting him from activities and locations where children under 16 are present.

The Crown dropped a second charge of communicating with a person under 18 for the purpose of obtaining sexual services, according to court records.

In 2017, Drapeau was fined and had his registration as a pharmacist suspended for six months after he was caught dispensing medication for himself and others dozens of times without a valid prescription, according to the College of Pharmacists of B.C.

The college also barred him from working as a pharmacy manager for three years following his reinstatement; however, at the time of his arrest last year, his registration had not been reinstated, according to a report by the Vancouver Sun.

Wanted for self-checkout smash

On December 20, 2022, at 6:13 p.m., the Fort St. John RCMP received a report from staff at the Safeway grocery store that a man had punched a self-checkout till, causing damage and rendering it useless.

Police obtained surveillance video and requests the public’s assistance in identifying the male suspect.

The man is described as: -Caucasian male

-Appears to be in his 40s – 50s -Heavier set -Wears glasses

The Fort St. John RCMP continues to investigate and is asking anyone who has information in this matter to contact the Fort St John RCMP at 250-787-8100.

Should you wish to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.northernbccrimestoppers.ca.

Released by Cst. Chad Neustaeter Fort St. John RCMP

Police investigate excavator theft

The Fort St. John RCMP is requesting the public’s assistance in identifying a man who fraudulently rented heavy equipment.

On November 21, 2022, the Fort St. John RCMP received a report from a local equipment rental company that on October 21, 2022, a man fraudulently rented a trailer loaded with an excavator while posing as an oil and gas company employee.

The man picked up the trailer and excavator by using a grey F-350 pickup truck stolen from Red Deer, Alberta.

The trailer had been recovered by Beaverlodge RCMP on November 18, 2022, after it was located abandoned and returned to the local equipment rental company, located in Fort St. John. The truck was recovered in Red Deer Alberta. The suspect man has not been identified and the excavator has not been recovered.

The suspect male is described as wearing blue high visibility coveralls with face mask pulled down. The stolen excavator is described as:

-John Deere 50G 2020 compact (mini) excavator

-Yellow and black in colour

-Serial No. 1FF050GXLLH292048

-Peace Country Rentals decals

“This individual is involved in the theft of very expensive equipment which is negatively impacting the businesses he is stealing from,” said Constable Chad Neustaeter, Media Relations Officer for the Fort St. John RCMP. “The RCMP remain committed to locating and arresting this individual which could immediately

decrease the instances of high value thefts in the North Peace Region.”

The Fort St. John RCMP continue to investigate and are asking anyone who has information in this matter to contact the Fort St. John RCMP at 250-787-8100. Should you wish to remain anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.northernbccrimestoppers.ca.

Released by Cst. Chad Neustaeter

Fort St. John RCMP

Men ned for poaching

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Two men have been fined by the courts for hunting illegally in the Fort St. John area two years ago.

Bill Charles Cash, born 1952, was fined $2400 for killing a mule deer buck on cultivated land without permission on Nov. 20, 2020, and for discharging a firearm with a single projectile in a closure, according the

B.C. Conservation Officer Service.

Richard Dawson Smith, born 1959, was also fined $1200 for hunting cultivated land without permission, according to the COS.

The fines were handed down in Fort St. John provincial court on Dec. 13. The Conservation Officer Service says Cash and Smith are both required to retake the CORE hunting education course before they are able to hunt again.

Man wanted on string of charges

The Fort St. John RCMP is requesting the assistance of the public in locating 28-year-old Darryl Kenneth Dowd who is currently wanted for two counts of theft of motor vehicle, dangerous operation of a conveyance, flight from police, assault with a weapon, possess weapon for a dangerous purpose, two counts of break and enter with intent, mischief under $5000, and two counts of breach of release order.

Darryl Dowd is described as: -5 feet 10 inches (178cm) tall -161 lbs (73kg)

-Short black hair -Brown eyes Dowd has been down in the Lower Mainland but was last seen in Fort St. John in December of 2022 and is believed to still be in the Fort St. John area.

If anyone has information on Darryl Dowd’s whereabouts please contact the Fort St. John RCMP at (250) 787-8100. Should you wish to remain

anonymous, please call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online at www.northernbccrimestoppers.ca.

Released by Cst. Chad Neustaeter

Fort St. John RCMP

BC CONSERVATION OFFICER SERVICE

ARIES

It’saGirl!

It’saGirl!

HANNAH GRACE DRIEDGER

BABY BOUQUET WALL IVY KAPP

 MAR 21/APR 20

you are willing to take risks and never afraid to try new things. This bene ts you as you seek new solutions regarding how to get things done.

TAURUS  APR 21/MAY 21

Taurus, gure out a new goal to pursue and start to make a list of how to get to the nish line. You may need to recruit a few volunteers to help along the way.

GEMINI  MAY 22/JUN 21

Gemini, when a project at work lands on your desk, you may be ambivalent about it. You appreciate the challenge, but already have a long list of things to do.

CANCER  JUN 22/JUL 22

Could this be the right time to think about making a career move, Cancer? The new year marks a fresh start, and perhaps you have had your eyes on a new work opportunity.

LEO  JUL 23/AUG 23

There’s more than meets the eye this week when someone from your past suddenly pops up on your radar again, Leo. Learn all of the facts before you make assumptions.

VIRGO  AUG 24/SEPT 22

Virgo, try to stay in the loop around the o ce. Doing so might pay professional dividends that could open the door to new possibilities.

LIBRA  SEPT 23/OCT 23

You’ve been keeping quite busy, Libra, but don’t forget to make time to touch base with friends and loved ones from time to time. Keep those lines of communication open.

SCORPIO  OCT 24/NOV 22

Patience is a virtue of which you are in short supply recently, Scorpio. You have no control over the timeline on certain things and that can be frustrating. Wait it out.

SAGITTARIUS  NOV 23/DEC 21

It’s time to tackle all of those tasks you have been putting since the end of last year, Sagittarius. If you need help getting organized, reach out to someone you trust.

CAPRICORN  DEC 22/JAN 20

Think about all the possibilities you have before you, Capricorn. When you consider all of the positives in your life, the negatives just may fade away.

AQUARIUS  JAN 21/FEB 18

Your name is on the lips of so many people. That is likely because you are a ecting change wherever you go. Keep forging ahead because you are helping others.

PISCES  FEB 19/MAR 20

Now that spending has ceased, take a closer look at how you can budget for the new year. Make your money work for you, Pisces.

JANUARY 8 Cynthia Erivo, Actress (36)

JANUARY 9 Nina Dobrev, Actress (34)

JANUARY 10 Rod Stewart, Singer (78)

JANUARY 11 Jamie Vardy, Athlete (36)

JANUARY 12 Je Bezos, Entrepreneur (59)

JANUARY 13 Natalia Dyer, Actress (28)

JANUARY 14 Dave Grohl, Singer (54)

NORTHERN HEALTH

Get the u vaccine to protect Northern B.C. children

By Dr. Kirsten Miller

Influenza has hit communities in northern B.C. hard. As a pediatrician at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. (UHNBC) in Prince George, I have seen the profound impact of influenza on children this season.

Typically respiratory viruses hit northern B.C. at least one month after the rest of B.C., and this has been the case for this year’s flu season. Northern B.C. is truly in the thick of it now.

As of December 21, 2022, the Northern Health (NH) region had the highest ‘positivity rate’ for nasal swabs for Influenza A (40 per cent of all NH swabs were positive for Influenza A). NH has also been experiencing the highest rate of pediatric presentations to emergency rooms (ERs) for “influenza-like illness.”

Almost 50 per cent of all ER assessments of children have been for this reason in recent weeks. Physician colleagues who work in ER and family medicine tell me that for every child sick with the flu who is urgently referred to see a pediatrician, they have seen 3040 other children with the same symptoms, although less severe. The volume of children sick with the flu this year has been staggering.

UHNBC in Prince George is the only NH hospital with designated inpatient beds for infants and children. This means that the children admitted to our pediatric ward come from all over the north.Some have received care in small, rural hospitals or remote medical clinics for hours or even days before transport to Prince George could occur. The rural clinicians provide excellent care, but are pushed well outside their comfort zone.

In Northern B.C., sick children depend on an overloaded pediatric patient transport system which is challenged by winter weather.

Allow me to paint a picture of what we are seeing on the pediatric ward at UHNBC. We have cared for infants and toddlers with such significant breathing difficulty that their whole body moves with every breath, their eyes are wide and staring and they cannot speak because they are so short of breath. We have admitted pre-school and early school-aged children who have had eight, nine or ten days of very high fever, have refused to eat solid food for days and have only managed to drink small amounts of fluids. They are dehydrated, listless and look very unwell.

We have seen older children and teens with influenza and serious bacterial infections such as pneumonia or bloodstream infections; they need admission for IV antibiotics and fluids.

Some children have been so sick that transport to B.C. Children’s Hospital is needed. These children and their families have spent the early part of their winter holidays in hospital. The stress

and worry experienced by the caregivers of these children cannot be overstated.

I know that readers are aware of the provincial campaign to encourage British Columbians to get their annual influenza vaccine. What you may not realize is that the reason the flu vaccine is important this year is not simply to avoid the need for a couple of ‘sick days’ off work or from just feeling run down due to the flu.

Rather, it is my opinion as a pediatrician that getting as many northern B.C. residents vaccinated against influenza is essential in order to prevent serious cases of influenza in our region’s children. These serious illness are preventable!

The fact that there have been several deaths of children in B.C. related to influenza (more than in any other year in recent history, and more than in any other province this season), should be reason enough for everyone eligible for the influenza vaccine to go out and get vaccinated.

Some readers may feel that they do not ‘need’ the vaccine because they have already had the flu. It is important to keep in mind that there are viruses other than influenza circulating right now which can also cause “influenzalike illnesses”. Perhaps a different virus was the cause of the illness that has resolved so it is still important to get the influenza vaccine in this case.

It is even important for those who already had influenza (confirmed on a nasal swab) to get vaccinated. All influenza cases in northern B.C. so far this season were Influenza A but we know Influenza B is coming to the north. The first few pediatric cases of influenza B have just been detected in the Lower Mainland. The good news is that the influenza vaccine protects against both Influenza A and B.

The B.C. Centre for Disease Control just announced that immunity provided by this year’s vaccine against the circulating variants is excellent. Their preliminary findings report that the flu vaccine this year cut the risk of influenza illness by about half.

And for those who worry that it may be too late to bother with the influenza vaccine, please believe me when I say that it is not. We still have time to reduce the risk to the children of our community by encouraging friends, family members and colleagues to get their flu vaccines!

If you have been ambivalent about getting the influenza vaccine in the past, this is the year to do it and now is the time. That will be the best gift you can give your community this holiday season.

Dr. Kirsten Miller is a pediatrician in Prince George and the medical lead for Northern Health pediatrics.

Above: Baby Kim with parents Bella and Chan, Terrace’s 2023 New Year’s Baby. Below: Baby Paxton, the first born of 2023 in Prince George.

30x30 agenda means Saanich, Surrey, Sumas and Summerland must go

By Evan Saugstad

The United Nations

Biodiversity Conference (COP15) ended in Montreal on Dec. 19, with the announcement that delegates had agreed to “working towards conserving 30% of the worlds lands and 30% of the oceans by 2030.” Scientists say this is a minimum to prevent a biodiversity collapse. I can agree there is some validity to this conclusion, but what does conserving mean, or conversely, what can possibly go wrong with this objective?

The word ‘conserve’ has differing definitions, depending upon one’s objectives, knowledges, and experiences. Broadly speaking, it means to keep something safe or sound, or to use less of. In a biodiversity sense, it means to ensure our biodiversity exists and is not degraded to the extent it disappears, which most, including me, agree. What it does not always mean is that we must put up the proverbial fence around all places to ensure we meet our biological goals. Yes, some places may need that, as the current state of an identifiable ecosystem and its plant and animal communities may be so degraded, threatened and so in danger of obliteration that this is the drastic step needed. For others it may mean a small adjustment in management practises, or for some, doing nothing different than what is practiced today.

Along with Canada, B.C. has adopted the 30x30 objective. Amazing how scientists came to this conclusion and the numbers magically matched, must be sheer coincidence… to those advancing this agenda, it means 30% park-like designations by 2030, no exceptions. On that, I disagree, as con-

serving biodiversity does not always equate to requiring more parks. 15.4% of B.C. is currently listed as protected, which means a park, conservancy, or other designation prohibiting most all development. Much of this is in the northern half of the province as a result of the 1990s Land and Resource Management Plan (LRMP) process and, not so coincidentally, B.C.’s north has few, if any, ecosystems in danger of collapsing and losing their biodiversity. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for much of the southern parts of our province.

In short, most of Northern B.C. does not need more parks to meet the “conserving biodiversity” goal. We have plenty already and when combined with “tweaking” some of our Crown land management objectives, we do not need more, and especially not if it’s done to make up for the lack of conservation in our more populated south.

94% of B.C. is Crown land, land that is owned and managed by the Province, to which each resident is a shareholder. Most of this 94% is not biologically threatened, as these lands are in no danger of permanently being converted to uses that prohibit biodiversity, such as converted to cities, or cleared and cultivated for agricultural crops. Current public land use objectives include forestry practices (yes, some practices should be modified), but in the long term, remain as forest. Same for mines, gas/ oil, wind farms, and livestock grazing. Most of these, if not all, will return to contribute to our biological diversity when their current use is no longer required.

All management objectives that can be tweaked or changed, depending upon the outcomes and objective

we desire. This only requires a new land use planning process, like what we experienced in the 90s. Where most of our biodiversity is threatened is where we have allowed urban areas to consume our wild and natural spaces with little to no thought about biological consequences – such places as southern Vancouver Island, Okanagan lowlands, lower Fraser Valley, and Metro Vancouver, which currently account for most of our threatened species.

In the spirit of proposing solutions, I have one that, when completed, will ensure B.C. has very few endangered species left on the list. I drop “threatened” from my solution as, according to scientists, whomever they are, everything is threatened by climate change, so nothing that can practically be achieved will change any of that. B.C. should immediately begin returning four key areas of our Province from their present urban jungles back to their biological paradises. These are Saanich, Surrey, Sumas, and Summerland. Convert them from biological deserts back to their former role of providing habitat for the thousands of endangered creatures, plants, and other organisms that used to call these places home.

We could, in a few short years, remove most species from B.C.’s endangered list by creating conservancies and converting thousands of homes, business, and thousands of kilometres of asphalt back to grass, shrubs, trees, waterways, and functioning ecosystems.

Oh, you say, that would cost a lot and how would we fund such an endeavor?

Simple, follow the polluter pay principle we have so conveniently developed for paying our climate change

bill. Premier David makes it mandatory that all residents and businesses living on these biologically threatened lands and endangered ecosystems begin paying a surcharge for the purchase and restoration of these endangered lands. Another aspect of the COP15 agreement is to transfer “funds” (read: billions of our tax dollars) to help poorer countries cope with the loss of their economies. In B.C. it also takes on meaning as some aboriginal communities have petitioned government to pay them to protect our Crown lands from the threat of evil industrial activities that currently pay our bills, i.e. pay someone to do nothing to ensure nothing is done.

Both can be problematic if it means creating economies that are akin to welfare. If it means paying for active management to ensure biological communities thrive, such as inventories to ensure we understand what we intended to conserve is being conserved, and, where threatened, pays for actions to reduce or eliminate that treat, then yes. To use a very B.C. example, ensuring that our predator-prey stay in balance, and when they do not, support active interventions to reduce one population in favour ensuring another survives.

Ah yes, so easy to make plans. Now, to get those unfortunate souls living in Saanich, Surrey, Sumas, and Summerland to understand that their livelihoods and living are being threatened, but for very good and valid reasons to which they should be very happy. And if they don’t understand, just ask those northern people who have experienced this concept for a couple of decades to explain.

Evan Saugstad lives and writes in Fort St. John.

e year 2022 in review

By Ken Boon

It is said that a picture tells a thousand words, and the annual Year in Pictures feature from The New York Times does just that.

It goes through the year chronologically and shows amazing photos from around the world with the stories behind them. Every past year is the most recent history of mankind and the world, and it is good to review and remember what happened, both good and bad.

The elephant in the room for 2022 was the war in Ukraine, and that still continues. It’s hard to believe that such a senseless invasion of a sovereign nation would still happen in this day and age, and is a reminder of the importance of maintaining democracy and a society that follows the rule of law. The January 6, 2021, invasion of the U.S. Capitol has demonstrated how fragile that can be.

In Canada, we had the trucker’s convoy in Ottawa. I understand that there are people frustrated with our government for various reasons. However, when you look at all of the problems around the world, our Covid-19 restrictions from last year seem pretty insignificant.

I am not a fan of Justin Trudeau, but the visceral hatred that some display towards him is disturbing to say the least. To that end, I was glad to see a Vancouver Sun article that reported where former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole expressed a New Year’s wish in a year-end blog post that Canadians ditch all the “f—k Trudeau” flags.

“These flags and the hyper-aggressive rhetoric that often accompanies them are slowly normalizing rage and damaging our democracy,” O’Toole wrote.

The article goes on to mention how even Jason Kenney is voicing his concerns: “I am concerned that our democratic life is veering away from ordinary prudential debate towards a polarization that undermines our bedrock institutions and principles,” he wrote in a November letter resigning from the Alberta legislature.

I agree. The more our society is polarized, the more dysfunctional it becomes, and we should work towards curtailing that. Unfortunately, I don’t think the new Federal Conservative leader or the new Alberta Premier will help with that, but I hope to be proven wrong there.

There is so much we can learn from history. Even just looking at the Year in Pictures mentioned above can help to give a broader perspective of the world we live in, and shed light on how silly some of our “problems” are.

I have heard it said that astronauts often come back from space with a new outlook on life here on Earth. From space, you don’t see our man-made dog-eat-dog worldly problems. You just see one beautiful planet in the “Goldilocks Zone” perfect for habitation.

In fact, from space it becomes very apparent that our number one priority should be working together to maintain a healthy planet for all. Not waging wars in a quest for more territory, or lashing out on social media, or displaying vulgar flags filled with hate.

Ken Boon lives and writes at Bear Flat.

COPYRIGHT & LEGAL NOTICE

publisher.

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CONTRIBUTORS

Ruby McBeth, Evan Saugstad, Ken Boon, John Grady, Don Pe it, Heather Sjoblom, Jaclyn McNicol, Merlin Nichols, Pa i McDougall, Dr. Kirsten Miller

Interested in contributing? Send an email to at editor@ahnfsj.ca

William Julian Regional Manager wj@ahnfsj.ca

Ryan Wallace Sales Manager rwallace@ahnfsj.ca

Ma Preprost Managing Editor editor@ahnfsj.ca

Lynn Novack Circulation Manager circulation@ahnfsj.ca

to take helm as new Chamber CEO

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

The Fort St. John Chamber of Commerce has named Kathleen Connolly as its new chief executive officer.

The news announced Friday, Jan. 6, follows on the heels of Connolly’s resignation as CEO for the Dawson Creek Chamber of Commerce, announced the day prior after more than a decade in that role.

In a news release, the Fort St. John Chamber lauded Connolly as “a strong advocate for the Oil and Gas industry for changes to the Caribou Recovery Program, taxation reform

and indigenous reconciliation.”

“On top of this, as a local indigenous person, she will also work closely with local indigenous communities and our members to find ways to continue to drive growth for all,” the Chamber stated.

Said Adam Reaburn, president of the Fort St. John Chamber board, “Her work to grow the Dawson Creek Chamber has impressed the Board, and we look forward to having her join our team in early February.”

For its part, the Dawson Creek Chamber announced Connolly’s resignation “with mixed emotions.”

“The magnitude of Kathleen’s accomplishments during her ten-

ure with the Dawson Creek Chamber has not gone unnoticed by the Directors, the members and our community,” the board stated in a release.

Connolly’s resignation in Dawson Creek is effective Feb. 3 after which she will move into her new role in Fort St. John. She takes over from Cheryl Montgomery, who was transitioned out of the Fort St. John role in November.

“I have enormous respect for the Fort St. John and District Chamber of Commerce and look forward to leading the organization and working with the business community in Fort St. John,” said Connolly.

Christmas campaign raises $131K for Salvation Army

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

The Salvation Army in Fort St. John topped its Christmas wish of raising $110,000 during the 2022 holiday season.

In fact, $131,098.78 was raised as part of its annual Red Kettle campaign between Nov 14 and Dec. 24, according to figures released this week.

Those funds will stay in the community to provide food, clothing, emergency supports as well as mental, emotional,

and spiritual care for those in need, says Executive Director Jared Braun.

“This is exciting and encouraging as not only did we exceed our goal of raising $110,000 but we were reminded of the support and generosity of our community,” said Braun in a statement.

“Making this all helpful were over 50 volunteers who gave their time to greet donors and make the Christmas shopping experience more joyful for all.”

Braun says more than 150 food hampers and 150 toy hampers were given to families in need during Christmas, which included a full meal and toys geared toward the interests of the benefiting children.

And, a Christmas dinner at the Northern Centre of Hope was prepared for more than 100 people on Dec. 23, said Braun, with more than 80 gift bags filled with treats, socks, and hygiene products given to those staying at the shelter.

“The Christmas initiatives are in addition to the day to day work our team is involved in so with the increased demand we are already facing it was an exhausting but rewarding time as so much love was shared,” Braun said.

Close to 700 families were using the local food bank every month heading into Christmas, with between 35 to 65 visits a day. And around one quarter of them are seniors.

“We are optimistic as we

move into 2023,” Braun said. “Though the needs look to keep growing we anticipate meeting those needs with our mission ever our motivation, that is to share the love of Jesus, meet human needs and be a transforming influence in the communities of our world.

“For us that is Fort St. John,” he said.

To learn more about ways to support or volunteer with the Salvation Army, call 250-785-0506.

Jigsaw puzzle proverbs

By Ruby McBeth

Over Christmas, our daughter Joyce was visiting. She had picked up a jigsaw puzzle at a Value Village store. It was a picture of chickens and roosters with sayings like “don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”

When I was at the Seniors Hall, I looked for a puzzle with words and pictures and found one. The Seniors Hall presently has 84 puzzles to lend out. You do not have to be a member to borrow one. While most have 1000 pieces there are also puzzles from as low as 300 pieces and as high as 2500. The hall is open between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. for their social days on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The puzzles are near the front door.

If you want to check out the social days more closely it is free for visitors. After that it costs $4 each day just to cover expenses. The lunch is still free but you need to arrive before 10 a.m. and sign the list as a visitor so that you will be counted.

CARE HOME QUESTIONNAIRE

The office of the BC Seniors’ Advocate is doing a survey of long-term care facilities with the aim of improving them. But they need volunteers to do the survey. If you think you might have some time in February and March then contact Emily Jurek by email at ejurek@providence-

health.bc.ca or by telephone at 1-877-952-3181.

So far there is only one volunteer in Fort St. John and none at all in Dawson Creek. The government is not likely to improve conditions in our care homes without having scientific evidence of the need.

DESCALING COFFEE MAKERS

I have a Keurig coffee maker, which has the descale light on. I tried descaling but it did not help. When I was in Peace Coffee picking up some more decaf coffee and hot chocolate for the grandchildren, I got talking to the owner, Grace Skolos. Grace tells me that the only way to prevent scaling is to use bottled water. She recommends the water store across from the museum – Canadian Water. Because Grace has dealt with coffee makers for a long time I took her seriously.

LEARNING THE LINGO

This week’s term is ‘livestream’. This is when you get to watch an event as it is happening. Another term for this is “in real time”.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” — Kay Wills Wyma

Ruby McBeth lives and writes in Fort St. John.

RUBY MCBETH PHOTO

Dear Miss Patti, I’m having such a difficult time tooth brushing with my four-year-old! He hates it when I want to help him, but I know he is not doing a proper job. It always ends up being a fight and it looks like a wrestling match in the end… and I don’t think I’m winning!

Thanks,

—Toothbrush

Wrestler

Dear Toothbrush Wrestler!

This is a common problem as toddlers discover independence and go through the lovely “Me do it!” phase. This is a wonderful time that requires immense amounts of patience from the parent. We want them to discover their own autonomy but at the same time there are things that need to be done properly

for health or safety reasons.

Two things I can suggest that will help with this situation. First, come up with a list in your house of negotiables and non-negotiables. What are the things that need to be done? Maybe the way they are done can be up for debate but not the actual deed. Like you must go to school but what you wear is up for debate. You need to eat breakfast but what you eat we can decide together. You need to brush your teeth and it needs to be done properly to avoid cavities, but let’s come up with a plan that works for you.

The second thing to do to help make sure everyone’s words are being heard and respected is incorporating family meetings into your schedule. As soon as they

begin talking, they can have a say! Positive Discipline is an amazing organization that has resources for all challenges your child may encounter as they grow. Having family meetings allows you and your children to put things on the agenda they want to see discussed as a family. This could include family vacations, chores and toothbrushing concerns.

For example, if toothbrushing is a problem-put it on the agenda and discuss it as a family. Why is it so important to you? Why is it a struggle for them? (Maybe they have sensitive mouths and their toothbrush, or the toothpaste might be the problem?) Then you come up with a solution where both parties are happy… “We’re going to

brush teeth in five minutes, I’ll set the timer. I’ll help you brush first and then you can finish up on your own…” This leaves the child to either agree with the plan or add/ change things. “Lets make it four minutes (they always seem to pick a lesser time) and if I don’t listen you can sit on me to get it done…” (they also pick more harsher consequences then we could ever think of). Always put a time on it — “We’ll try this for a week and see what happens, if it’s not working we’ll come back and find another solution.”

Brainstorming together not only helps build respect in a family but it also builds connections and keeps the communication lines open. It shows them how to problem

solve and gives them a sense of belonging. Modeling how to problem solve in a collaborative way will help them be part of a bigger community like their classroom, their workforce, and the community as a whole.

Here is the link to the Positive Disciple Association https://www.positivediscipline.com/ and if you want to see when the next locally run Positive Disciple classes are being held, contact Gloria Cleve the Early Learning Project Manager for School District #59 at (250) 784-6330 or email at Gloria_Cleve@ sd59.bc.ca

Patti

—Miss

Send your questions to Miss Patti at motherofdragonflies2021@outlook.com

Local residents are one- fth of Site C workforce

From the front page

Ground first broke at Site C in fall 2015, and employment first surpassed the 5,000-mark in October 2020 when 5,181 workers were reported. The project workforce has surpassed that mark several times since:

June 2021 - 5,046

July 2021 - 5,108

August 2021 - 5,087

May 2022 - 5,060

June 2022 - 5,209

July 2022 - 5,414

August 2022 - 5,396 September 2022 - 5,420

October 2022 - 5,554

Of the November workforce, 19% of workers were local, with 1,015 Peace region residents employed by construction and non-construction contractors. There were 3,552 B.C. residents, or 68% of the total workforce, working for

construction and non-construction contractors, and in engineering and project team jobs, according to BC Hydro.

BC Hydro reported 185 apprentices as well as 386 indigenous workers and 558 women working on the project in November.

There were no temporary foreign workers employed in a specialized position, according to provided figures, and 43 managers and other professionals working under the federal international mobility program.

BC Hydro says not all workers were on site or in camp at one time. Monthly numbers include those working off the dam site area, working from home, and others who may have been on site at any one time in August, and who may have been on days off for other periods of time.

One who crosses over

By John Grady

Acouple months ago, I was in Israel on business, and I was reminded what the word Hebrew means in Hebrew, which is “one who crosses over.”

Being in Israel, you immediately think of the Israelites who were freed out of Egypt, led by Moses across the Red Sea, through the wilderness journey stopping at Kadish in the Desert Paran. They sent the 12 spies into Canaan for 40 days to explore the land. As we know, upon their return their report was negative, full of fear, and complaints, except for Caleb and Joshua.

As a result, a whole generation did not cross into the Promised Land and the crossing was delayed 40 years – one year for every one of the 40 days Canaan was explored by the spies. After the 40 years, Joshua, who had been mentored by Moses, was chosen by the Lord to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land. Interestingly, Joshua in Hebrew means Yeshua and it was Joshua who led the Israelites into the lan,d which they could see with their own eyes and walk with their feet.

It is so amazing but not surprising how we have examples in scripture that prepare us for what is ahead for us. Our lives are a journey, some much shorter or longer than others, but we will arrive at our Jordan River. In our wilderness walk, we all have different struggles with challenges and, de-

pending on your belief and faith, the old life is finished and a new life begins. How exciting for those believers who have long hoped for, and for the many who have longed for and by faith believed, for as you know our hope is the promise of our Lord and the purpose of the Cross and Resurrection.

Our old world that we have lived in and everything in it will pass away except the one who has walked with us, sustained us, encouraged us, talked to us, led us, forgave us, loved us — whether we realized it or not — will not only cross the Jordan with us but also meet us on the other side and we will live for ever and ever and ever with Him.

I call that a one-sided deal if there ever was one, as all we have to do is believe, repent, and receive. You can never earn or warrant God’s blessings, or his salvation or eternal life.

When you attend a funeral or, if you will, a celebration of life, for a believer in Jesus Christ, one of the songs that is often sung is Far Side Banks of Jordan, which refers to the ones who have already passed on greeting the one who has just passed away. That is comforting and encouraging but the real prize is spending eternity with our Lord.

Our wilderness journey on earth can be short and we need to make it count. It is up to us to live a life that is of the utmost of value and of the greatest worth.

John Grady lives and writes in Fort St. John.

BC HYDRO

Above: Site C construction crews working on the runner, wicket gate, and stator in the pit on unit 1, November 2022.

IAISI/GETTY IMAGES

The Jordan river and in the background, the Gilead mountains in Jordan.

2023

Council and Committee Meeting Dates

Each year, Council publishes the adopted Council and Committee schedule for the upcoming year in compliance with Section 127 (1) of the Community Charter. All Council and Committee of the Whole meetings are held in Council Chambers at the District of Taylor Municipal Office on Mondays (or on the next business day if a holiday falls on the Monday)

LAND WANTED

Committee of the Whole at 3:30 pm Council at 5:00 pm

February 6th and 21st

April 3rd and 17th

May 1st and 15th

June 5th and 19th

July 10th and 24th

August 14th and 28th

September 11th and 25th

October 10th and 23rd

November 6th and 20th

Attendant(Two) Attendstocus− tomers’ordersand requests,receives payments,pre− parestables,at− tendstotheclean− linessofthe restaurant,and maybeassignedto hostspecialfunc− tions. 250−782−3666 samfriendjobs@ gmail.com Sam’sFriend RestaurantCook (Two) Preparesfoodon themenu,take− out,andspecial functions.Check inventory,order supplies,trains staffandsupervise thekitchenopera− tionsandcleanli− ness. 250−782−3666

WANTED 1/4 section in Dawson Creek area, if selling call Mitch 778-903-7759

ANNOUNCEMENTS

December 4th and 18th Phone:

nitynews.com/advertise or 1-866669-9222.

LEGAL/PUBLIC TRUCKS & VANS 2003 Mercury Marq, runs well and tires good. $1000 CALL 250-224-1122

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250-785-5631 or 250-782-4888 Fax: 250-785-3522 or 250-782-6300 to place your Coming

Events!

April 29, 1931 - December 28, 2022

OBITUARIES SELL YOUR Motorcycle Car RV Boat Snowmobile & More FASTER! Place Your FREE Ad Today! 15 Words or Less Some restriction apply. Contact us for details. buy • sell • subscribe to our newsletter Contact Lynn @ 250-785-5631 or classi eds@ahnfsj.ca for details GET RESULTS! Reach almost 2 million people in 95 papers for only $395/week for a 25-word text ad, or $995/week for a formatted display ad Book by province or whole country and save over 85%! bccommunitynews.com/ advertise 1-866-669-9222 ANNOUNCEMENTS WANTED TO BUY TODD 250-864-3521 Also BUYING ENTIRE COIN COLLECTIONS & old money! BUYING large quantities of SILVER. 999+ bullion, ALL sizes, ALL brands, bars, rounds, ingots, coins, sterling, silverware, pre-1968 coins +. BUYING ALL GOLD & SILVER coins, bars, unwanted jewelry, nuggets, dust, scrap +++ WANTED: SASQUATCH SKULL! X THIS IS WHERE YOUR AD SHOULD BE X THIS IS WHERE YOUR AD SHOULD BE

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Frances Richter (Ollenberger) on December 28, 2022.

Frances passed away peacefully at the Fort St John Hospital with family by her side. Frances was born April 29, 1931 to parents Valentine and Katherina

Ollenberger (Scheck) in Macklin, Saskatchewan.

She attended the Ollenberger schoolhouse, so named a er her family and many siblings who populated Macklin. Most Ollenbergers relocated to Dawson Creek, Goodlow and Baldonnel to farm and forge their own families.

Frances met Vincent Richter and they were married May 25, 1949 in Fort St. John and settled on the Grand haven homestead where she lived until her last

NOTICES ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 12, 2023 | CLASSIFIEDS | A15 CLASSIFIEDS PLEASERECYCLETHISNEWSPAPER.