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Friday, October 4 • 2013
Vol. 6 • Issue 28
Whitecaps introduce new bench boss See Page 16 280 Baker Street Nelson BC (250)
354-4089
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Skunk stats presented See Page 11
Health Care
Creston has Kootenays’ quickest ambulances GREG NESTEROFF Nelson Star Reporter
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If you have a medical emergency in the Kootenays, it’s best to be in Creston, judging by statistics from the BC Ambulance Service. In 2012, Creston’s average response time to Code 3 calls — requiring lights and sirens — was nine minutes and 20 seconds, better than Cranbrook (10:01), Nelson (11:06), Castlegar (10:42), Trail (11:16), or Grand Forks (12:30). However, all were slower than the nineminute standard suggested by the US Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services, a benchmark reached by only ten communities in the province last year. Creston also posted the fastest times in the region in 2010 and 2011. The slowest response times in West Kootenay/Boundary last year were in Christina Lake (27:05), Rock Creek (26:27), and Kaslo (24:05). The former two don’t have ambulance stations, but the latter does. The figures, obtained through a freedom of information request by former air ambulance pilot Hans Dysarsz (see related story, page 5), surprised rural Creston regional district director Larry Binks, a retired BC Ambulance administrator. “Under ten minutes is good,” he said. “It comes down to staffing: if a station isn’t staffed properly, response time is going to be poor. We Story continues to ‘Local’ on Page 4
Powder Plunge Sherpas Cinema’s newest ski film Into The Mind is screening Monday at the Nelson Civic Theatre. Read more about Eric Crosland photo the film and its local producer on page 12.
Animals
Kaslo approves cheetah proposal KIRSTEN HILDEBRAND Nelson Star Reporter
Kaslo village council has given the go ahead to a couple wanting to bring cheetahs to the community — but the cheetahs may not come. Earl Pfeifer and Carol Plato own two of the endangered species that now live with them at their home near Toronto. In late June, they approached the community of Kaslo about bringing Robin and Annie
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with them to live at Kane Manor, their second home, in a conservation efffort with the benefit of tourism. Mayor Greg Lay said council has granted approval in principle to the cheetah proposal subject to the proper certification and community support. “These people love their animals and Mr. Pfeifer is a well-respected community citizen — he’s no flyby-nighter — so that’s why council supported it in principle,” Lay said. Needing the village’s endorse-
ment to gain the necessary permits to proceed, the endeavour intended to offer educational and outreach programs from their home which would be transformed to safely house the South African cats. Since council’s approval was granted at their September 24 meeting, it was learned that Pfeifter and Plato are instead moving their project to Innisfail, Alberta. Story continues to ‘Cheetahs’ on Page 11
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