THURSDAY
< Tapping into top pick
MAY 14, 2015
Keenan Taphorn excited to join Ice | Page 8
Key City Theatre >
Presenting Great Lake Swimmers | Page 25
Buying Selling Buying or Selling Call First Call Marilyn Marilyn First 250-427-8700 250-427-8700
MONDAY LEAGUE GOLF & CART FROM $25 FOR 9
Like Us TownsmanBulletin Follow Us
1
$ 10
INCLUDES G.S.T.
@crantownsman
Proudly serving Cranbrook and area since 1951
Vol. 64, Issue 92
Patrols at Koocanusa bolstered for long weekend FOR THE TOWNSMAN
Extra enforcement will be taking place at Lake Koocanusa throughout the Victoria Day long weekend in an effort to keep the popular recreation area safe and clean, Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett announced today. The multi-agency strategy is aimed at eliminating acts of vandalism on Crown land along the lake, where partiers from Alberta and B.C. caused extensive damage during last year’s Victoria Day weekend. “The enforcement efforts planned for the long weekend will help discourage unruly behaviour and promote a fun and safe environment for residents and visitors,” Bennett said. “I want to assure residents and people who use Lake Koocanusa that we will not put up with a repeat of the mess and destruction of property made by vandals last year.” The co-ordinated enforcement campaign will involve RCMP, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Ministry of Environment.
See ENFORCEMENT , Page 3
Four deer culled earlier this year ARNE PETRYSHEN
The City of Cranbrook conducted a cull of urban deer from Feb. 22 to March 5, 2015 and during that time four deer were captured and put down. The city had a permit that extended to March 15, but the cull had to be cut short due to vandalism to four of the six clover traps used to capture the deer.
The RCMP investigation is still ongoing, the city reported in the Urban Deer Management 2015 annual report, presented to council on Monday. Of those four mule deer that were captured and dispatched, one was an adult buck and three were adult does. None of the does were pregnant.
CRANBROOK
501 Slater Rd NW, Cranbrook 250-417-3235 www.thebrick.com
Saving You More!
See CULL , Page 5
www.dailytownsman.com
Reptiles on display for Turtle Day TRE VOR CR AWLEY
The Western Painted Turtle was on full display on Tuesday afternoon at Elizabeth Lake as biologists and volunteers spent the afternoon educating the public about the creatures. Set up by the rest area on the west end of the city, the displays included live turtles, shells and eggs. Wildsafe BC was also present with some animal skulls and pelts. Roughly 130 school students came down to the lake in the morning to learn about the turtles before the displays opened up to the public in the afternoon. Turtle Day is all about connecting people with the environment and the Western Painted Turtle because they’re a pretty cool creature,” said Angus Glass, the communications coordinator for the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program. “They’re right at the northern edge of their range in North America. “Today is all about making sure people are aware of how cool the turtle is, how beautiful they are and how fragile they are because they are under considerable challenges from a variety of different quarters, whether it’s predation or human impact…” At this time of year, turtles are hatching from mid-April to mid-May. In June, the females will lay their eggs in the nests and head back to the water. For the next 11 months, the eggs will remain in the nests until hatching. Adult turtles can live in the wild for more than 55 years and fossils have shown that painted turtles existed 15 million years ago.
See TURTLES , Page 3
TREVOR CRAWLEY PHOTO
Angus Glass, with the Fish and Wildlife Compensation Program, holds up a Western Painted Turtle at Elizabeth Lake on Turtle Day.
FINAL WEEKEND ALL REMAINING CLEARANCE MUST GO!
No reasonable offer will be refused on discontinued items, customer returns, floor model sell-offs, etc. Holiday Weekend Hours: Saturday 9 to 6, Sunday 12 to 5, Holiday Monday 12 to 5