ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

Green Thumbs

New group sought to take over community gardens at Catholic Church

Spring Camp

Northern Stars Sports Camp keeps youth busy building skills over spring break

For all the news we couldn’t fit into print: alaskahighwaynews.ca

Lng Approval

Cedar LNG will be world’s first indigenous owned LNG export terminal

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

Fort St. John businesses got a snapshot of this year’s provincial budget at a meeting with local MLA Dan Davies last week.

The budget forecasts a deficit of $4.2 billion, and $11 billion over three years. And while the deficits cover a range of new social programs, such as the $400 renters’ rebate, free contraception, new housing, and mental health and addiction beds, Davies says there’s not much emphasis on growing the economy.

“The front pocket is empty so they’re reaching into the back pocket,” Davies said after a lunch meeting with the Chamber of Commerce on March 20. “The only way they can support their budget is going into the taxpayer’s wallet.”

Home targeted in drive-by shooting

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

RCMP are seeking the public’s help in identifying and tracking down a suspect vehicle involved in a targeted drive-by shooting at a home in Fort St. John early Friday morning, March 24.

Several shots were fired at a home in the 8600 block of 74 Street at 87 Avenue around 4:30 a.m. on March 24. No injuries were reported by RCMP, which say frontline police officers as well as the Serious Crimes and Forensic Identification units are investigating.

“A drive by shooting of this nature demonstrates the offenders complete disregard for the safety and wellbeing of the residence and the entire community as a whole,” said Cst. Chad Neustaeter.

“Investigators will be giving this top priority in efforts to locate and arrest the offenders.”

Three RCMP cruisers were seen on scene mid-morning Friday with officers canvassing neighbours and one officer was documenting bullet holes around the door of a residence.

RCMP said “numerous” bullet holes were found in the residence as well as in a vehicle in front of the home.

RCMP on Saturday released a surveillance image of the suspect vehicle, described as a black or dark mid-2000 Volkswagen Jetta with what police say appears to be a dark front passenger side tire rim.

Police say the vehicle departed the 8600 block of 74 Street by turning westbound onto 87 Avenue.

“Though the investigation is still in the early stages, it has been determined this was a targeted incident as the inhabitants of the residence are known to police,” said Neustater. Investigators are asking anyone who may have security camera footage of the area between 4:20 a.m. and 4:26 a.m. on March 24, to review their footage and report any relevant information.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 250787-8100, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Tips can be made online at northernbccrimestoppers.ca.

Davies raised his concerns that natural resource revenues are forecast to slide 21% to $4.7 billion this year, and by 34% to $4 billion by 2025-26.

Natural gas royalties are projected to drop 31% over the next three years, while forestry revenues are projected to plummet 54% this year alone, from $1.85 billion to $846 million.

The province needs to “snuggle up” to the resource sector in a hurry and not shut them down, Davies says.

“You can’t have a dying resource sector and ballooning fees and taxes to cover programming,” he said.

Davies says employer health tax will cost businesses $2.7 billion this year, while the carbon tax will cost consumers $2.8 billion.

“The NDP says, ‘we eliminated the health premiums’. They didn’t eliminate them; they moved them to businesses. They think businesses are all rich and millionaires,” he said. Davies says B.C. has lost its competitiveness. By the time the budget cycle is done, the province will be more than $100 billion in debt, which he says the NDP has doubled in the last six years.

“We’re losing businesses and people that are going to Alberta,” Davies said. “Why would they stay? It’s cheaper to do business, there’s less taxes, and more opportunity.”

“For us in Northeast B.C., next to Alberta, that has a significant impact on us. It already is,” he said, adding his daughter was initially talking about moving to Vancouver after graduating high school, but that it might be Calgary now.

“It’s a shame our kids our grandkids are saying, ‘I want to stay in B.C. but it’s not affordable. I can go next door and live for significantly less,’” he said. “There’s no growing the economy in the budget, in fact it’s shrinking it,” he said. “That points to a lot of concern, big time.”

COMPLEX FOR SALE 97 Street Fort St John BC floor has living room, dining room, kitchen. Basement has utility room with mixed development. Small porch with each unit that houses utility meters. Driveway off 97th and 98th street. MLS® C8049645

$924,000 Investment Opportunity 2 Buildings on 1.13 Acres Each 2 story building has 4 units. Each unit has a 450sf+/- footprint. Upper floor has 2 bedrooms and bathroom.

Four arrested in drug bust

More than 50 grams of suspected cocaine were taken off the streets in Fort St. John during a traffic stop this month, according to police.

In a news release, Fort St. John RCMP say officers on a proactive patrol March 19 seized the drugs after stopping a vehicle with four passengers in the parking lot of a local hotel around 2 p.m. All were arrested for the possession for the purpose for trafficking, and

51.5 grams of suspected cocaine and crack cocaine were seized, police said. The individuals were released pending lab results of the seizure.

“This demonstrates the Fort St. John RCMP’s commitment to dealing with drugs and trying to keep our community safe,” said detachment commander Insp. Anthony Hanson. “This arrest removes 50 doses of potentially lethal drugs off the streets of Fort St. John.”

Business break and enter

A Fort St. John man has been charged with theft and mischief after breaking into a business near Totem Mall this week.

Justin Collins has been remanded in custody until March 27 after his arrest Tuesday night shortly before midnight.

RCMP say they were called to a break-in at 9803 93 Avenue to find the front glass door and window displays of an unnamed business had been smashed, and merchandise stolen.

Collins was quickly found and arrested 20 minutes later near Mathews Park after a quick investigation by the responding officers, RCMP said.

He is charged with break and enter, theft under $5000, mischief under $5000, and possession of property obtained by crime, among other breaches.

Court docket

• CALLIOU, Brittany Virginia Jane (born 1995) was fined $2000 under the Motor Vehicle Act, given a two-year driving prohibition, and ordered to pay a $300 victim surcharge for driving while prohibited/licence suspended in Dawson Creek on Feb. 22, 2022.

• BLANCHARD, Trent Frederick (born 1988) was fined $1000 and given a one-year criminal driving prohibition for impaired driving in Pouce Coupe on Aug. 12, 2022.

• MCKAY, Keith Alexander (born 1992) given a 60-day conditional sentence with 12 months probation for theft committed in Dawson Creek on March 20, 2022.

• KIMMIE, Jerald Andrew

(born 1970) was sentenced to 12 months probation, fined $500, and assessed a $75 victim surcharge for failing to stop when requested by police in Cecil Lake on Dec. 7, 2021.

• CAMPBELL Lloyd Frances (born 1986) was sentenced to a nine-month conditional sentence order, issued a nine-month peace bond and ordered to provide a DNA sample for possessing stolen property over $5,000 and fleeing police and sentenced to a 30-day conditional sentence order and prohibited from driving for 18 months for breaching a release order, all committed in Dawson Creek. Campbell was also sentenced to one year probation on the counts.

Light Industrial Shop On 3.24 Acre ASKING $3.75 Million MLS® C8047004

16,000sf building Shop has 4 drive thru bays plus 2 drive thru wash bays

FOR SALE Commercial Land & Building 10515 101 Ave Fort St John 850sf building located in Commercial zoned area perfect for a small office or boutique retail use

ASKING $258,000

Building originally designed for residential use but now situated within commercial area - potential for 3-4 offices, IT or storage room, large reception with full kitchen. Front and rear porch entrances off fenced front yard with driveway parking and street parking access. Neighboring commercial use includes fitness center, various retail and service oriented businesses, professional office center. MLS® C8050260

FOR SALE FORMER TAYLOR LODGE 10256 100 Street Taylor BC

ASKING $530,000

7840sf building on 2 lots totaling 0.36 Acres

Well Maintained 56’ x 140’ motel designed building. 18 rooms made up of 7 – 2 bed units, 10 – 1 bed & sofa units and a large caretaker suite plus laundry, service and storage. Natural gas for water heaters and laundry services. Electric heating. Shaw internet. Each unit has fridge, microwave, tv, furnishings and bed(s). Roof and hot water heater replaced recently.

LIVE IN YOUR OWN PLACE WITH OPPORTUNITY FOR EXTRA INCOME

Asking price includes all dishware, utensils, furnishings/appliances, linens and drapes, snow blower, power washer, tools.

LAND & BUILDING ONLY MLS®