Ashcroft Cache Creek Journal, July 30, 2015

I N S I D E : Cornwall fire lookout tower under threat. Page 3

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Thursday, July 30, 2015

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Local Conservative nominee withdraws

THE COLDSTREAM CREEK FIRE NEAR ASHCROFT is now fully contained, but fires within the guard—a portion of which can be seen at right—will continue to smoulder until there’s enough rainfall to Photo by Barbara Roden put them out. For more on this story, see page 3.

MLA looking for healthcare answers and solutions A protester at Fraser-Nicola MLA Jackie Tegart’s office in Ashcroft is trying to draw attention to the healthcare crisis in the area.

Ken Platz is outside Tegart’s office when it’s open in the afternoon, sign in hand. He says he plans to continue until public consciousness is raised about what is, and isn’t, being done to improve local healthcare services, in his opinion.

“In Canada, healthcare is the mandate of the provincial government. I want MLA Tegart to meet with Health Minister Terry Lake to ask him to tell Interior Health to get doctors to our area.” Platz is concerned about the lack of general practitioners in Ashcroft, and says that people are moving out of town because of the lack of doctors. He’s also concerned that Interior Health is working toward the closure of the Ashcroft Hospital, which has seen a decrease in its Emergency hours over the last few years.

“The Wellness and Health Action Coalition is doing a great job of trying to get doctors here,” says Platz. “But they’re just an advocacy group. They have no power.” Lori Pilon, Tegart’s Constituency Assistant, says that Platz has been invited to come into the office and discuss the doctor

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issue directly with Tegart, but has declined.

Tegart replied that she has been very active in trying to find a solution for the area’s healthcare woes. In April 2014 she brought the SOHC (Support Our Health Care) group from Princeton to Ashcroft to share their experience in healthcare recruitment; the WHAC initiative was born from that meeting. She has also met with local elected officials and Interior Health, and in November 2014 brought Health Minister Terry Lake on a tour of Ashcroft, Logan Lake, and Merritt to show him what small rural communities face.

“The challenge is that there aren’t enough doctors. It’s a tough issue across the province,” says Tegart. “I’m a strong advocate for healthcare services being available as locally as possible. It’s looking very promising for two doctors to come to Ashcroft in February, but we have to ask what we can do to support professionals so they don’t burn out.”

To that end, Tegart says the question is what is the “best practice” in a team approach to healthcare. Nurse practitioners and a better use of paramedics are two possible answers,

Less than three months before the federal election, the new riding of Mission–Matsqui– Fraser Canyon—which extends as far north as Cache Creek—has seen the withdrawal of Conservative candidate Liv Grewal.

Grewal was one of six Conservative nominees in the riding, and won the nomination in May. The 29-year-old Grewal is the son of Fleetwood–Port Kells MP Nina Grewal and former MP Gurmant Grewal, who was banned last fall from running for the Conservative party for reasons that have not been disclosed.

While Grewal says he withdrew from the candidacy, Conservative Party communications director Cory Hann said that Grewal had been removed. “I can say the party is running fair and open nominations. Any accusation of breaking rules—we investigate them and review them and that’s as much as I’ll say on that matter.”

An internal review was carried out over allegations that Grewal’s camp paid for people’s party memberships. “What the review found is basically that these concerns on how Liv Grewal’s campaign conducted itself were found to be true,” said a Conservative source. “The Liv Grewal campaign had purchased memberships for others which is against the rules.”

In May, Abbotsford News columnist Mark Rushton wrote about the reaction from some Conservative party members following Grewal’s selection. “I’ve received many e-mails and calls over the past couple of days alleging all sorts of things: interloper-candidate, mass membership purchases, voting by non-residents—none substantiated,” he said.

A press release from Grewal stated that “100% of all membership forms were submitted by personal cheques or credit cards and all forms were duly signed by the members agreeing to the terms and conditions of the membership. I’m disappointed with this decision by the Party.”

Where this leaves the Conservative party remains uncertain as of press time. The other nominees, who include former Ashcroft mayor Andy Anderson, are tight-lipped. “I can’t comment,” said Anderson. When asked what path the nomination process takes from here, he replied, “We haven’t figured out what’s next. I called to ask, and was told someone will get back to me.”

Barbara Roden

See DOCTORS on p. 7

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Non-compliance is costly

On July 21 at 3:30 pm police received a call from a traffic controller at the Stage Road construction site in Cache Creek, who reported that a motorist had refused to stop when asked, and continued driving through the construction zone. The controller took a picture of the vehicle and got its licence number. Police anticipate that the driver will be served with a traffic violation ticket for failing to follow directions at a road construction site. The fine for this offence is $196 plus at least three points, and the fine can be doubled by the Superintendent of Motor Vehicles as it occurred in a construction zone.

Not going with the flow

On July 23 someone reported that a person was tampering with the flow control of Barnes Creek, which empties into Barnes Lake. The flow control is usual-

ly operated and controlled by a group of ranchers in the area. Whoever is tampering with the flow control is affecting the flow into the lake, which could in turn affect the irrigation systems of area ranchers. The matter was referred to Conservation for further investigation.

Remember, it’s just a game

On July 24 at 10:30 pm police received a report of a dozen youths causing a disturbance in downtown Ashcroft.

The caller suspected that alcohol was involved. An officer responded and spoke with two of the youths, who explained the group was playing a game of capture the flag in the downtown area, and that this was a regular occurrence in summer. The group was asked to keep the noise down as some people were being disturbed, and the youths said they would.

Coming Events

Aug. 7/8: Desert Daze music festival in Spences Bridge. Two days of music, arts, culture and agriculture.

Sept. 4-6: Twelfth annual Lytton River Festival.

Free event featuring music, arts, crafts, plays, and much more. www.riverfestival.ca Every Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm. The Cache Creek Market is open at the main intersection in Cache Creek, next to Chums Restaurant, from now until October. We welcome both Farmer and Flea tables. Call 778-207-6957 for vending information.

Add your community events to our online calendar at http://www.ash-cache-journal.com/calendar/

Ashcroft Royal Canadian Legion FRI., JULY 31st • 6:30 - 7:15 pm

Beef on a Bun 10/plate

$

Served with Salads and Dessert

MEAT DRAW Every Saturday ~ 3:00 pm

Hamburgers & Chicken burgers served every Wednesday from Noon Bingo 1st & 3rd Wednesday Doors open 6:00 pm, games start 6:30 pm.

Crib every Thursday at 7:00 pm Darts every Thursday at 7:30 pm

* Legion Crib Tournament last Sunday of the month Open 10 am starts 11 am sharp - 12 games * Free Pool Daily Euchre first, second & third Sundays of every month 1:00 to 4:00 pm, beginners welcome Ashcroft Legion General Meeting 3rd Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. (no meeting July and August)

Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday • 12 pm - 5 pm Thursday - Friday • 12 pm - 11 pm Saturday • 12 pm - 8 pm Sunday • 12 pm - 6 pm

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Sleeping it off (1)

On July 25 at 1:30 am police received a report of a highly intoxicated female found lying on the grass in the Heritage Park in Ashcroft. The caller knew the identity

Ashcroft rcMP DetAchMent

POLICE REPORT Barbara Roden

of the woman, who is in her mid-twenties, and phoned her mother, who arrived to pick her up just after the younger woman threw up in a police car. No charges were laid.

Break and enter at Brookside

On July 25 at 2:20 am police received a report of robbery with a knife in a trailer at the Brookside campsite in Cache Creek. When police arrived they found that one of the two owner/occupants had, with a neighbour, apprehended the alleged perpetrator, who had entered the trailer illegally and proceeded to take a wallet, cellphone, pair of eyeglasses, cigarettes, and a lighter while the two occupants slept. A 25-year-old male from Vancouver, who was highly intoxicated, was examined by medical personnel and then taken to jail. He was released the next day on a promise to appear in court

in August, where he will face charges of break and enter and theft. No weapon was found on him, and no one was injured.

Sleeping it off (2)

On July 25 at 3:30 am police were again called to the Brookside campsite, where an 18-year-old male from Merritt was slouched over a bench in the laundry room. He was found to be highly intoxicated, and said that he had a trailer at the campsite but couldn’t remember where. He was arrested for being drunk in a public place and held in jail until sober. There were no charges.

Sleeping it off (3)

On July 26 at 2:00 am police were called to the Royal Bank in Cache Creek, where a 30-year-old male from Prince George who had been hitchhiking along Hwy. 1 had decided to make the ATM lobby his home for the night. He was reported to have been abusive to other ATM users. Police attended the scene, and after speaking with the man made sure he was on his way.

Ashcroft Council disappointed with school name From the Ashcroft Council meeting on July 27 Roll call: Mayor Jack Jeyes, Councillors Doreen Lambert, Al Mertens, Barbara Roden, and Alf Trill

Counting trees and making trees count

Ashcroft’s trees are important to the Village’s well-being, something that is recognized by Communities in Bloom and CN Rail. Now they want them to count for more.

Ashcroft Council has asked the local CiB committee to come to a public meeting and tell Council more about the group’s plans for a Memorial Tree Program and a Tree Inventory. “I believe what CiB is offering is probably worthwhile to the Village,” said Cllr. Mertens, who noted that the group may have access to expertise that the Village lacked when it came to Urban Forestry planning.

“I like the idea of planting trees to replace others that are dying,” said Cllr. Roden. Memorial trees in the cemetery might cause an issue with Public Works, she said, but there are other areas of town where such a program would work.

The idea of a tree inventory has been raised before, in June 2012, but Walker noted that “there has been no move to establish an Urban Forestry plan, including plans to replace aging and nuisance trees.” She suggested applying for a grant from CN’s EcoConnexions program. “We would like to offer our assistance to the Village in the setting up of an Urban Forestry program.” Cllrs. Mertens and Trill were open to discussing the possibility of a tree inventory with the group, noting they’d seen it done in other municipalities.

Council unhappy with new school name

Ashcroft Council has lent its weight to the group opposing the new name for Ashcroft’s K-12 school. It has agreed to write to both the Gold Trail Board of Education and the Minister of Education, stating its “disappointment and displeasure with the Board’s choice of name for the only remaining school in our community.”

“I feel an injustice has been done to the Village and its

residents,” said Cllr. Mertens, who introduced the discussion. As recent Letters to the Editor in The Journal indicate, the renaming process has not been accepted by much of the public, he said, and proposed the motion to write the letters.

A petition of more than 600 names showed the Board was not in touch with public sentiment, he concluded, and he was concerned that Ashcroft would suffer an economic downturn because the new name, Desert Sands Community School, doesn’t indicate to outsiders that Ashcroft still has a school.

Cllr. Trill felt the renaming process was democratic.

Word was spread that the renaming was taking place and the Board listened to anyone who voiced their opinion. Only one member of the public chose to speak before the Board made their decision.

Mayor Jeyes reminded Cllr. Trill that Council’s liaison with the Board, Cllr. Lambert, could not have voiced the Council’s views at that Board meeting because Council hadn’t given her direction on it.

However, he said, the school renaming “is not the purview of the Ashcroft Council. It is the purview of Gold Trail School Board. It is not our mandate to tell them how to do their business.”

“I don’t see [the motion] as telling them what to do,” said Cllr. Roden. She called the renaming process “rushed” and “not transparent”. It’s great to say the process was posted on Facebook, she said, but not everyone has Facebook. “Broad swaths of the public were not informed until it was done,” she said.

“The issue to me is the school is an integral part of this village, said Cllr. Mertens. The public was asked to choose from among five names, none of which had Ashcroft in them, he said. Ashcroft Community school was added near the end of the voting. “I think Council has a say because it affects our Village.”

“Just because I don’t think it’s our business doesn’t mean I agree with the Board’s decision,” clarified Mayor Jeyes.

The motion was passed with Cllr. Trill voting against it.

JACKIE TEGART MLA Fraser Nicola

Proudly Supporting Rural Communities

Wendy Coomber

Ashcroft Constituency Office 405 Railway Avenue Ashcroft, BC Phone 250 453-9726 Toll-Free 1 877 378-4802 Email jackie.tegart.mla@leg.bc.ca www.jackietegartmla.bc.ca

The Journal Thursday, July 30, 2015

COMMUNITY

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“Boots on the ground” put out fires The Coldstream Creek fire southwest of Ashcroft has been 100% contained; but as Fire Information Officer Erin Catherall points out, “containment” doesn’t mean the same as “extinguished”. A flight over the area late last week showed several small fires still burning or smouldering within the site, and Catherall says these will continue to burn until there’s enough rainfall to put them out.

“Crews on the ground construct a guard around a fire, and when it’s completed the fire is contained,” she explains. “Crews work inward from the guard for about 50 feet, removing fuel, so that the fire eventually runs out of material to feed it.” Cold trailing—which involves fire crew placing their hands on the ground to make sure it’s cold to the touch—lets the crew know the guard is safe.

The Coldstream fire required that a guard be cleared around the entire site, but Catherall says crews will incorporate existing features such as lakes and forestry roads into the guard if they can. That’s one of the reasons why people should stay out of a fire area when crews are on the ground.

Another is the danger posed by hazards created by the fire. “A tree might still be standing, but be a danger to anyone who goes near it.

Crews do tree mapping to identify any danger trees, and flag them, so everyone on the ground knows where it’s safe.” Catherall also pointed out that lightning-caused fires aren’t necessarily visible right away. “Sometimes they can burn underground for up to two to three weeks, until weather conditions are just right and cause them to flare up.”

There were close to 70 firefighters tackling the Coldstream fire on the ground and in the air; but while they’re the visible face of wildfires, they’re supported by a large team of people making sure everything runs smoothly. The Incident Management Team (IMT) for the Coldstream blaze consisted of 10 people who set up a command post at the Ashcroft fire hall, and looked after areas including logistics, plans, finance, operations, safety, air backup, and information.

“A lot of different factors play out behind the scenes,” says Catherall. The IMT arranges housing, food, and transportation for the crew,

and ensures they have the equipment they need.

“There are a lot of resources in the background that get the boots on the ground.”

While she acknowledges that air support is crucial, it’s those “boots on the ground” that do the bulk of the work in containing a fire. “People sometimes ask why we aren’t using more water bombers,” Catherall notes. “But air support isn’t what puts out fires. A plane dropping retardant is out there buying time for the crews on the ground to do what they need to. It’s not putting out the fire.”

Each morning starts with a safety briefing with the fire crew, looking at objectives, locations, and suppression tactics. This was done from the fire hall, although crews don’t always have the option of being in a town. Remote fires require the construction of a “tent city”, complete with a food hut, eating and sleeping tents, and Internet access. If more backup and resources are needed, the IMT can call on the Kamloops Fire Centre, which monitors all the fires in the region.

Catherall is conscious that the fire season still has several weeks to go, and encourages homeowners to become “fire smart” in order to ensure their properties are at less risk. “It’s little things, like making sure your eaves-troughs are clean and not filled with dried leaves and pine needles, and that you’ve raked up any dead ground cover,” she said. “If you have a wood pile, make sure it’s at least 10 metres from the house, and trim overhanging tree branches. If you can, remove big trees that are within 10 metres of your residence, make sure dead and dry branches have been removed, and keep your lawn well-watered and cut short. Even though we’ve received some precipitation recently, things are still very dry, and that’s a good reason to be proactive.” She urges people to go to bcwildfire.ca/Prevention/firesmart.htm to see what they can do to reduce the risk of personal property damage due to wildfires.

Catherall says that the people of Ashcroft couldn’t have been nicer and more welcoming.

“Everyone was so gracious, and [Fire Chief] Josh White was very kind and helpful. I really want to thank everyone in this lovely community.”

Barbara Roden

Communities in Bloom judges were in Ashcroft last week, hosted by the local CiB committee. On Thursday night the judges attended an informal dinner, then spent Friday touring the Village with committee members. From l: Judge Lorraine Hunter; Al Stott; Judge Gerry Teahen; Marijke Stott; Dave Gory; Andrea Walker; Ina Gory; Photo by Barbara Roden Shirlee Johnson; Bruce Walker; and Lorna Delling.

The fire lookout on top of Cornwall is slated to be dismantled Photo by Grahame Rainey this fall.

Cornwall lookout under threat BC Parks has announced plans to dismantle the historic fire lookout at the top of Cornwall Mountain. The dismantling is slated to take place in the fall of 2015, unless an organization or group of volunteers interested in maintaining the structure and holding liability for it steps forward.

Built in the late 1950s, the Cornwall fire lookout station was regularly manned each summer until the early 1990s, after which it was only used if there was a fire risk in the area. By 1999 it was the only Forest Service Lookout Tower in the Kamloops Fire District that was still active, if only intermittently. The last time the lookout was used was during the 2003 wildfire in the Cornwall Hills. Despite that, the building remains in good shape and is open to the public, who can record their names in a logbook kept inside.

Over the last few years many of these lookouts have been dismantled, as they are no longer used and the Fire Protection Service cannot manage and retain liability for them. In 2012 the provincial government, in partnership with local governments, community groups, businesses, individuals, and volunteers, restored fire lookout stations in Boston Bar, Terrace, Houston, Enderby, and Kaslo. They were chosen based on their location, accessibility, community use, and historical significance. Mike Apsey, President of the BC Forest Service Centenary Society, noted that while “Technological advances have lessened the use of lookouts . . . there is still a mystique attached to them that strikes a chord with the public.”

Local groups such as snowmobile and hiking clubs have been responsible for saving other decommissioned fire towers, by taking them over and maintaining them. Many of these lookout sites are popular with hikers and ATV users in summer, and with skiers and snowmobilers in the winter. The summit of Cornwall is also a popular destination for hang-

gliding enthusiasts, and the Gold Country Communities Society has a geocache at the site.

Fire lookouts were the main way to detect fires for many decades, until they were largely supplanted by the use of spotter planes beginning in the 1960s. There appears to have been an informal fire lookout on the top of Cornwall since the 1890s, as the summit gives sweeping views in every direction. The current lookout tower is a standard cottage-roof cabin on top of a wooden tower. The base of the tower provided living accommodations for the person manning it, while the cabin—surrounded by a catwalk—was used for fire-spotting, with continuous windows on all four sides maximizing the surveillance capacity of a lone observer. It’s one of two predominant fire lookout formats constructed by the BC Forest Services between the 1920s and the late 1950s. While it’s not known how the material for the tower was brought to the site, it could conceivably have been by helicopter, as in 1957 the Nahatlatch Fire Lookout near Boston Bar was constructed from pre-fabricated materials brought in by helicopter. It took some 37 trips to bring all the material to the site, but proved that this was a viable means to construct fire lookouts in relatively inaccessible locations.

Those manning the lookout stations would scan the surroundings, paying attention to potential fire hazards and recent weather events.

Since a “sleeper fire”—ignited below ground by lightning—could smoulder for several days with no visible signs, areas that could have sustained lightning strikes needed to be watched very carefully.

Any group interested in maintaining the lookout is asked to contact BC Parks at ParkInfo@Victoria1.gov.bc.ca. The Journal attempted to contact BC Parks at this address two weeks ago for more information; as of the date of writing, no response has been received.

Barbara Roden

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Founded in 1895 Editor: Wendy Coomber

The Summer Desk

Thursday, July 30, 2015 The Journal

COMMUNITY

VIEWPOINTS

BARBARA RODEN

Election ads will find you, no matter what Many Canadians, in an attempt to differentiate themselves from Americans, like to find something we do better here—or at least think we do better—then proclaim how superior it is to the American system. A case in point is federal elections, where Canucks like to point to our fixed election campaign term: no less than 36 days, and usually not much more, between dropping the writ and the day voters decide who gets to redecorate 24 Sussex Drive.

To back this up, we point to the American election process, which seems to start within 48 hours of a new President being sworn in.

The national conventions in the States, where the Republican and Democrat candidates will be elected, are a full year away, but as of the time of writing there are already 16 people declared as Republican nominees (17, if you consider whatever lives on Donald Trump’s head to be a sentient creature whispering instructions to him, which would actually explain a lot). These people are all over the airwaves, and it will only get worse over the next 12 months.

So unlike our own dear country, you may think; in which case you have obviously been living in a deprivation chamber for the last six months. The election hasn’t been called yet, but all three main political parties have been in election mode for some time. Ever since spring it’s been impossible to turn on the TV without seeing ads in which one party is attacking another, or the government is telling us how much of our own money they’re going to give back to us, and it’s beginning to seep onto radio and into print.

If you have a Canadian IP address you can’t even watch a YouTube video without running the risk of being forced to sit through a message from one of the main parties. Things are getting out of hand when, months before the election, even cat videos are not beyond the reach of political advertising.

It’s probably frantic behind the scenes. The Prime Minister’s team is trying to teach him to smile in a way that seems authentic, rather than like an unfortunate facial tic. Justin Trudeau’s people are attempting to make him look more like a statesman and less like a high school Student Council president who’s wandered into the staff room by mistake. And in the NDP camp, focus groups are trying to determine the answer to “The Beard: Yes or No?” while Thomas Mulcair waits impatiently, razor in hand.

Expect the ads to get worse, not better, between now and whenever election day is. Be honest: that deprivation chamber is starting to sound pretty good, isn’t it?

And so my five weeks as editor of The Journal are at an end. It’s been a delight as always; and now I am off to Vanderhoof to edit that town’s paper for two weeks. Wish me luck!

THIS QUINTESSENTIALLY WESTERN SCENE at Desert Hills Ranch appears to be waiting for John Wayne to wander into the shot.

Photo by Barbara Roden

Happy campers

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Dear Editor, We had the pleasure of staying a month at the “Legacy RV Park and Campground” in the Village of Ashcroft. Your town is truly blessed, with the history, cleanliness, and friendly people within your village. Sandy, Lonnie, and of course “Charlie”—the hosts at the campground—are wonderful, warm people. They make you feel so welcome, and it feels like your home away from home. Your goldmine still exists . . . because it is precious!

Liz and Bruce Mynott, Merritt

Kindness of volunteers brings joy to many Dear Editor, A letter of thanks and appreciation to the staff and volunteers connected to the Ashcroft Health Unit. The Recreation Co-ordinator, three LPNs, and three volunteers, along with family members, managed to bring the residents from long-term care to the Wellness Festival on July 18. Needless to say, it took a lot of time and effort.

They hired the community bus and loaded it with residents, LPNs, and volunteer helpers and drove them to the

Heritage Park. Out came wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and smiling faces.

Family members came along to help, watch, and share in bringing pleasure to their loved ones who are slowed down by age and failing strength.

The staff were there on their days off in order to make the event happen.

I watched the residents singing along with “Elvis” and tapping their toes to the music, and saw they had been given a gift beyond price. I do a bit of volunteering myself, and know how much organizing goes into accomplishing an event of this magnitude.

A tip of my hat to those who made that event possible.

Lois Petty, Ashcroft

Naming process not sufficiently advertised Dear Editor, Having read the lengthy letter from the Co-Chairs of SD 74 very carefully (“New name reflects input”, July 23), I think I can see where the problem about the naming of our new school is coming from. It was natural that the people consulted would be those involved dir-

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ectly in the education of the District’s children. That is only reasonable.

What was missing was the involvement of the community as a whole. “Individuals were invited to submit names” to a website. There are still many people in our community who would not know what a website was, let alone how to use a computer to get into one.

“At an open forum where any individual could speak”—which I assume meant the general public—“the Board heard from a member of the public that their preference was that the Board select a name.” The emphasis here was a member of the public. A member is one. Was that member appointed by a group to deliver the consensus of the group?

The essential fact remains that a school is one of the most important buildings in a community. So much goes on in a school, besides classrooms, teachers, and students. As the Board and everyone else knows, the activities in a school involve any number of groups and individuals who do not relate directly to education. Suffice to note that the major funding for the schools in the District comes from the taxpayers, ergo the community as a whole.

Being a person involved with the media for more than half my life, I would think the issue was not suffi-

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Barbara Roden

See NAMING on p. 11 Subscribe to The Journal 1 Year Subscription: $44.10 (GST included) Senior Rate: $37.80 (GST included) Out of area subscriptions pay a $17.85 mailing surcharge The Journal is a politically independent community newspaper. All material contained in this publication is protected by copyright.

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The Journal Thursday, July 30, 2015

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May flood in Cache Creek similar to 1979, especially in Valleyview The Valleyview subdivision in Cache Creek was hit hard in the May 23 flood; but a similarly devastating flood swept through the neighbourhood 36 years ago.

The opening sentences of the Journal article describing the event, which occurred on Aug. 25, 1979, could have been written about the 2015 flood. “A flash flood in Cache Creek on Saturday evening did thousands of dollars’ worth of damage to homes, yards, and streets and the disaster happened in only a few minutes. It began to rain about 6:00 pm on Saturday, then suddenly the sky opened up and let it all come down at once. The sewer and storm system was unable to take it away fast enough and it ended up in basements and yards, cutting itself its own path as the water collected and coursed down.”

The article goes on to describe how the Valleyview subdivision, which suffered the brunt of the damage, was already the subject of controversy. In March 1979 Council met with engineers from the Ministry of Highways to address

residents’ concerns about shifting soil, which had lead to cracks appearing in some houses. In May the firm of Golder Associates was brought in to “do whatever they can to isolate the problem”.

No solution had been found by the time of the flood in August, which was thought to have been caused in part by a new subdivision under construction above the area. Cache Creek residents believed that the developer had done a lot of redirecting and diverting of water; but as it was outside the municipal boundary, Council had no control over it. The developer was eventually cleared of blame.

The author of a letter criticizing Council for its “slow action” in dealing with the Valleyview flooding was referred to Victoria, with Mayor Art McLean explaining that a cloudburst creates “unique drainage problems”. At a Council meeting in October 1979 Alderman Dave Debert wondered what blame could be attached to the Village, noting that the drainage system had been designed by professionals for normal drainage, not

for flash flood circumstances. “There’s no way you can design a system that would take a thing like that, the water has to go somewhere.” Debert also suggested that an engineer look at the situation and present recommendations.

Following the 2015 flood, Westrek Geotechnical Services was retained by the TNRD to undertake a geotechnical assessment of affected properties in the Village. One of these was Valleyview, and in preliminary assessment presented at the July Council meeting noted the damage caused by the 1979 flood. “At least one detention basin and a 135 metre long interception ditch were built on private property immediately uphill from these [affected] lots, just outside the Village boundary. Records are not available, so details of the facilities are uncertain, and it is unclear who is responsible for maintenance.”

These structures are in a state of disrepair and no longer functioning, according to Westrek, and therefore “a significant public safety concern exists from a

“Campfires” at Loon Lake despite fire ban The wildfire risk is extremely high throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre, and enforcement agencies are taking a zero-tolerance approach to the situation, so some residents of Loon Lake are worried about apparent campfires on a property to the southwest of the lake owned by the Bonaparte Indian Band.

Over the last two weeks locals have noted what look like campfires on the site, which is used by Band members as a summer camp for kids. The fires were reported to the Ministry of Forests, which directed callers to the Clinton RCMP, who said that First Nations land is exempt from the fire ban.

Kelsey Winter of the Kamloops Fire Centre confirms this. “First Nations land is outside our jurisdiction, and rules regarding fires are governed by the individual Bands,” she said. “Most are guided by what bans the KFC has in place.”

Bonaparte Councillor Cara Basil confirms that this is the case. “We follow the KFC recommendations,” she said. She added that the fire was in a wood stove, which was being used for cooking and was constantly being stoked.

Winter says that if someone is worried that a fire is too large, unattended, or looks as if it might be out of control he or she should call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on their cellphone and report it. “We’ll send a crew to take a look at it and make recommendations.”

At least one Loon Lake resident doesn’t see it as a problem. While acknowledging that the rules are the rules, and that she doesn’t allow campfires on her own property, she notes that it has been rainy and cool in the area lately. “If people are doing what they’re supposed to in order to prevent fires from spreading, then they won’t get out of control.”

She added that she felt some people aren’t inclined to be good neighbours with the Band.

“The kids’ camp is great, and I love that they’re bringing the kids here from Cache Creek.” She encourages people to continue to keep an eye out for people lighting fires or setting off fireworks, but asks them to let officials deal with it. “We don’t want to be getting into arguments with our neighbours.”

Barbara Roden

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future flood event that could result in similar property damage or cause injuries or possibly fatalities.” The assessment recommends that the Village review the history of the ditch; complete an engineering evaluation of the structures and make recommendations to upgrade the structures to modern standards, if possible; and carry out construction work to re-construct or restore them.

The report acknowledges that this will not be a simple task and may take years to complete. It also notes that an engineering solution that meets current standards might be too costly to build or maintain, in which case the Village should seek alternative methods to reduce the risk to lots in Valleyview. A local realtor agrees that these measures are necessary to reassure prospective buyers, saying that some buyers might be sceptical about properties in Valleyview particularly unless steps are taken by the Village to cope with any future flooding in the area.

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Thursday, July 30, 2015 The Journal

COMMUNITY

A tiny but perfect world: the Tomahawk and Western Railroad Co. The black-and-white photograph is showing its age, but the subject is clearly visible. A man and a woman stand on the back platform of a train carriage, the man leaning against the doorframe, hands in the pockets of his jacket. The woman is on the platform, hands folded across her chest. Clad in a matching jacket and skirt, she has a delighted smile on her face. Even at this distance in time they are instantly recognizable: Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth, as she was then, during their first trip to Canada in 1951.

The photograph was taken by long-time Ashcroft resident Rod Craggs, who was a train operator in Glacier when the royal couple came through more than 60 years ago. “I bought a film camera just for the event,” says Craggs. “Cost me $300 in 1951. I still have the footage somewhere.”

Many of the streets in Ashcroft are named after people who lived here and helped shape the town, but all of those people save one are no longer with us. The “one” is Rod Craggs, who was Mayor (or Chairman, as the position was then called) of Ashcroft from 1962–5.

It was under his watch that the roads in downtown Ashcroft went from dirt to paved, something in which he takes great pride.

Craggs has, in the course of his 87 years, seen and done more than most people can only dream of. In his long and eventful life he has been a tele-

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graph operator on the Kettle Valley Railway starting at age 16 during World War II, after which he trained at Brandon and entered the Air Force. In 1949 he began a stint as an operator at Glacier, and then moved to Ashcroft, where he was an operator and then the CP Stationmaster from 1960–69. He has variously been Chief of the Ashcroft fire department, an ambulance attendant, an alderman, a ham radio operator who logged 18 hours straight at one point during the 2003 fire outside Ashcroft, and a search and rescue spotter who worked from Kamloops for seven years.

Out of that wide and varied life it’s easy, however, to spot his passion: trains. That 1951 photograph is as significant for the fact that it’s taken of a train as it is for the subject. And it was in Glacier, in 1949, that Craggs first started working on something that now draws visitors from all over the world to his house on Mesa Vista Drive.

“There wasn’t much to do there in Glacier,” says Craggs, “so I began to build a railway.” Some six decades later, he’s still building it: “it” being the Tomahawk and Western Railroad Co., which now comprises some 90 feet of model railway track that wends its way through an immensely detailed landscape of towns, rivers, tunnels, and mountains.

“A lot of it is from my memory, and based on real places,” says Craggs, who has painstakingly crafted every detail, from the painted backdrops that surround the layout on three sides, to the buildings in the towns the trains pass through, to the trees and bushes beside, above, and below his miniature world. Look closely and you’ll notice any number of tiny details, from the illicit still below the tracks in one place to the deer and bears above it in another, or the nude bathers taking advantage of a quiet beach.

The old Ashcroft fire hall has a place in a row of buildings, and an engine house has been so lovingly detailed that smoke from the engines coming and going can be seen on it.

Craggs’s passion hasn’t gone unnoticed, and every year he gets visitors from all around the world, attracted to Ashcroft by notices in magazines such as Model Railroader. A glance at the visitors’ book in his shed bears this out: in the last few weeks visitors from

as far afield as England have dropped by. “Really great set-up; thank you!” wrote Ken and Margaret Cook from Deal, in the county of Kent. Closer to home, John Cowan from Maple Ridge wrote “Awesome!”; a verdict with which it’s hard to disagree. Craggs has a thick binder full of hundreds of cards from other model railroaders all over North America and as far afield as Argentina and Germany, while another binder contains more than 500 letters he’s received from enthusiasts all over the world.

Craggs is happy to show his railroad, which had its genesis all those years ago in Glacier, to anyone who wants to see it. “Just give a call,” he says (250-4532481). Please bear in mind, though, what it says on the back of his Tomahawk and Western Railroad business card: “Passengers must refrain from using those four letter words: cute, tiny, or nice.”

Barbara Roden

A tiny detail from Craggs’s layout (part of which is seen in the bottom picture), is a small cemetery complete with a hearse, and grieving widow lying on the ground crying (above).

Photos by Barbara Roden

The Journal Thursday, July 30, 2015

COMMUNITY

www.ash-cache-journal.com A 7

Museum welcomes recent donations A recent donation to the Ashcroft Museum the BX, then spent a few years in the Klonis a collection of First Nations baskets, donated dike, but like his father spent many days travelby the Bill and Bernie Kershaw family of Bar- ling throughout the area collecting furs. In 1933 riere. Bernie is the granddaughter of Arthur and Arthur, by then with his own family, headed to Lillian (née Walker) Haddock.

Williams Lake, where he continued to buy and The story of the Haddock family begins sell furs until 1960. with James and Catherine (née Turner), who During his travels Arthur also collected were married in New Brunswick in 1873. By many beautiful First Nation baskets, which have 1883 they found themselves in Victoria, where generously been donated by the family to the Catherine developed a respiratory condition. Ashcroft Museum. The collection includes exHer doctor suggested that they move to a drier amples from the Nlaka’pamux and Tsilhqot’in climate, and the new little interior town of Ash- First Nations, as well as other parts of the provcroft fit the bill. ince. Bernie is not sure how her grandfather acIn 1886 the Haddocks—along with chil- quired the baskets, but according to oral history dren Ruth, Charles, and Arthur—made prepar- at least one or two were made especially for him ations to relocate to what they thought would be as a gift. “the cold northern interior”. Catherine wrapped The Ashcroft Museum is currently open sevthe two youngest in heavy clothing, so you can en days a week: Monday to Friday 9:00 am to imagine their shock when they arrived in Ash- 5:00 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from noon croft in June to a heat wave! Their first home to 5:00 pm. Please feel free to stop in and see was a tent set up behind Foster’s General Store, these rare and unique works of art! which stood in the empty lot on Railway beside Kathy Paulos MLA Jackie Tegart’s office. On their first night it blew down in a wind storm, and the next day a large a freight horse walked right through the middle of the tent and out the back.

Despite this rather humorous beginning, the Haddocks were soon wholeheartedly engaged in their adopted community. James became involved in the school board, and obtained a fire bell for the fire hall. At first he worked at Foster’s store, then ventured out into his own business buying and selling furs.

Son Arthur worked Four of the dozens of First Nations baskets recently donated to the Photo by Barbara Roden as a stage driver for Ashcroft Museum.

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and Tegart says she’d be willing for the area to be a pilot project if necessary. “We seem to be constantly in crisis mode, so how do we move beyond that and stop the cycle?” She acknowledged that the breadth of the problem sometimes pits communities against each other.

“That’s one of the challenges; programs come into being with unexpected consequences. We need to find doctors who want to serve in rural BC.” Regarding Ashcroft hospital, Tegart says there has been no indication from Interior Health that they have any plans to close it. “I’ve not been informed of any want on their part to close the hospital.”

A meeting between Tegart and area mayors about healthcare has been scheduled for September. “I want to discuss what local expectations are, and how to get there,” she says.

“There are a lot of people working on this from all fronts, but there’s no easy fix. The problem is always at the forefront, because we need rural communities to be sustainable, and healthcare is very much a part of that sustainability.”

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Thursday, July 30, 2015 The Journal

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The Journal Thursday, July 30, 2015

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Thursday, July 30, 2015 The Journal

COMMUNITY

A 10 www.ash-cache-journal.com

Funky flowerpots brighten up Clinton Clinton’s Funky Flowerpots

The Village of Clinton was divided into eight neighbourhoods this year, with each one challenged to create more Funky Flowerpots than their “neighbours”. The totals are in, and the Hugo neighbourhood has been declared the winner. There were 33 entries found in the Vil-

STRIKING A BALANCE Susan Swan

ton on July 28. The main evaluation day will be Wed., July 29, and then they will be leaving on July 30.

The Village of Clinton and the CiB Committee produced a flyer that was placed around town and on the Clinton Chatter Facebook page, encouraging residents and businesses to clean up their properties prior to the judges’ visit.

The Provincial, National, and International results will be announced in Kamloops during the Awards Ceremony from Sept. 30 to Oct. 3.

We all wish the Village of Clinton luck in this, its third year in the National Edition.

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lage, with eight of them in the Hugo. The Main Street neighbourhood, which is mostly commercial properties, came in a close second with seven. As you’re driving around in Clinton, see if you can spot these unique planters.

Congratulations to everyone who created a special funky flowerpot. It makes walking around more interesting (as if our little community isn’t interesting enough!), and shows your pride in your community.

The Judges are Coming!

The Village of Clinton is participating in the 2015 National Edition of Communities in Bloom in the Up to 1000 population category, along with Arnold’s Cove, NL; Kinistino, SK; and Valhalla Centre, AB. CiB judges Bonita Lundberg, from Saskatoon, and Roger Younker, from Charlottetown, will be arriving in Clin-

Two of Clinton’s 33 Funky Flowerpots that are scattered around the Village, photographed by their creators. (left) Susan Swan used an old wood stove as a unique planter. (above) Amanda Mercer created a rock tower with flowers cascading down it. If you’re in Clinton, take a look at them!

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COMMUNITY

www.ash-cache-journal.com A 11

Naming of new school not sufficiently advertised Continued from p. 4

ciently advertised to the general pub‑ lic, so that maximum participation in the naming process was assured. Nam‑ ing a school is on par with getting a ref‑ erendum passed. You can’t get a refer‑ endum passed with one segment of the community involved. You have to in‑ volve all of the community.

The charge of oligarchy vs democ‑ racy (“Is it democracy?”, July 23) is the natural outcome from the above omis‑ sion.

Esther Darlington MacDonald, Ashcroft

Issue will not go away Dear Editor, I would like to thank the School District 74 Board of Education for re‑ sponding to the petitioners asking them to revisit the decision to rename the newly renovated K‑12 school in Ash‑ croft. I received an e‑mail last week with the letter which appeared in The Journal on July 23. The following is my response: “I have often been confused by de‑ cisions our trustees make, but the logic in this really baffles me. You said that 40.7% voted for the name Ashcroft and that 59.3% voted against a name with Ashcroft as a part of it. Using that same logic, 17% voted for the name Desert Sands School and 83% voted against a name using Desert Sands. No one voted for the name Desert Sands Commun‑

ity School, because it did not exist until June 2, and was a last‑second addition, because otherwise there might be two DSSs in the District.

“I would deeply appreciate a clari‑ fication as to the logic used. I am only one person, but I know that many others will be asking the same ques‑ tions and the issue will not go away.

There are so many questions that re‑ main unanswered, and the electorate deserves clarification as to why nam‑ ing the school came so late in a process begun over 18 months ago, and with so little public notice. And why the un‑ willingness to revisit the decision when presented with a petition with over 600 signatures? That petition garnered al‑ most twice the number of signatures as the number who voted on the school names.

“I am sure you will have answers at the next Board meeting at George Murray Elementary on Sept. 8. I would ask those trustees in the communities not directly associated with this de‑ cision how they would react if it in‑ volved their own communities, because every school in our district represents more than one community. I personally would like to commend the one trust‑ ee who suggested that the issue needed further input prior to a decision.”

Please understand that this was my own response to the letter I received as one of the petitioners, and reflects my own thoughts.

Another question that must be an‑ swered is why, when the ballot ap‑ peared on the school websites, the

name Ashcroft was not even on it. It took the vigilance of a student at Ash‑ croft Secondary School, who was ap‑ palled by the fact that it had been com‑ pletely left off the ballot. He com‑ plained to his mother, who in turn gathered others and protested the omis‑ sion, which in turn forced its inclusion on the ballot. This meant that the over‑ whelming majority (136 to 57) might well have been even greater, had Ash‑ croft been on the ballot from the start of the opinion poll.

The board heard from “(A) mem‑ ber of the public [who said] that their preference was for the board to select a name that reflected the school’s student population. Students are not all from Ashcroft, but also live in commun‑ ities in the surrounding area. The mem‑ ber of the public noted that when the school teams travel, many students on the teams commented that their home communities are not acknowledged in the cheers.”

It was my privilege to coach at Ash‑ croft Secondary School for 28 years, and never once did I hear a student make such a comment. I coached stu‑ dents from Cache Creek, Clinton, Lyt‑ ton, Spences Bridge, Walhachin, Loon Lake, 16 Mile, 20 Mile, Highland Val‑ ley, Upper Hat Creek, and Ashcroft, and students from the Ashcroft, Bona‑ parte, and Cook’s Ferry First Nation Bands. Every school in our District is represented by students from areas sur‑ rounding their respective communities.

If you are a local, non-profit group, post your events on The Journal’s online COMMUNITY CALENDAR It’s free! Go to www.ash-cache-journal.com/calendar/ submit/ and fill in the blanks

CHURCH DIRECTORY ZION UNITED

Sunday Worship 10:50 am

401 Bancroft, Ashcroft, BC • 250-453-9511

zuc@coppervalley.bc.ca • http://ashcroftunited.ca

United Church of Canada Lay Leader: Reta Robertson

SUNDAY WORSHIP: 10 am

St. Alban’s

501 Brink St, Ashcroft ~ 250-453-9909

Anglican Church of Canada CANON LOIS PETTY

Crossroads Pentecostal Assembly

Christ Centered People Centered 1551 Stage Rd. Cache Creek B.C. • 250-457-6463 crossroadspentecostalassembly.org

Pastor David Murphy Worship and Sermon commences at 10 a.m.

Everyone welcome

Seventh Day Adventist Church 409 Bancroft, Ashcroft, BC

http://ashcroft22.adventistchurchconnect.org

Pastor Karel Samek 250-523-9086 Local contact Reg Andersen 250-453-0090 Worship Service 11:00 am

Mike Baldwin, Ashcroft

Something for everyone at Desert Daze Spences Bridge may seem like a pretty sleepy town, a “blink and you miss it” type of mentality for lots of folks who pass through.

Nothing could be farther from the truth! Here in our little town we are gearing up for our SIXTH annual Desert Daze Festival, from August 7‑8.

It’s two days of music and workshops, shop‑ ping, and fun and games!

COMINGS & GOINGS ON in Spences Bridge

Mavourneen Varcoe-Ryan The festival is a little scaled down from pre‑ vious years, but is still jam‑packed with music and fun! It kicks off at 2:00 pm Friday with the Siska Drummers, a group of indigenous musi‑ cians who will open the festival with a pray‑ er and a welcome song. The music line‑up is the most diverse one ever, with something for everyone! In keeping with our mandate to sup‑ port local musicians we have two bands from Merritt. One is The Hoo Doos, playing a coun‑ try‑rock mix of covers that will have you dan‑ cing. The other played at the fall dance in Spen‑ ces Bridge last year, and also graced the stage at this summer’s Music in the Park in Ashcroft: Bobby Garcia and Six More Strings are play‑

ing on Friday night, and will have you singing along and dancing to their country style.

If country isn’t your thing, then Bluesfoot from Kamloops will rock you! They will round off Friday night with rocking dancing favour‑ ites! Bluegrass, anyone? The Honkey‑Tonk Dil‑ ettantes hail from Vancouver, and this bluegrass trio pluck and harmonize some of the good old tunes. Murfitt and Main, also from Vancou‑ ver, have played in this region before, and their country harmonies are not to be missed.

And now for something completely differ‑ ent: Kara‑Kata! This 15—yes, 15—piece Afro Beat band is not to be missed. With horns, back‑ up singers, and drums, this is sure to be a live‑ ly umping set! Angela Harris will bring some peace to the festival; this award‑winning sing‑ er songwriter will win your heart with her gen‑ tle vocals and poignant lyrics. Also in this vein, and back by popular demand, is Hayley Hen‑ derickx from Portland. She’s our only import, and you’ll see why she’s back again: such talent in such a lovely young gal.

And drum roll please: closing the festival Saturday night is George Leach! We’re thrilled to have got George and his amazing blues trio to come here. George Leach is a Juno award winner, and hails from Lillooet; his blues gui‑ tar style of playing is amazing and not to be missed!

Of course, our little festival would not be complete without our very talented local musicians: festival favourites such as Spiritus See DESERT on p. 14

Smell ‘n’ tell 1

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Call FortisBC’s 24-hour emergency line at 1-800-663-9911 or 911.

Natural gas is used safely in B.C. every day. But if you smell rotten eggs, go outside first, then call us.

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FortisBC uses the FortisBC name and logo under license from Fortis Inc. (15-015.13 05/2015)

Thursday, July 30, 2015 The Journal

COMMUNITY

A 12 www.ash-cache-journal.com

Feeling stressed? Try eating a banana Be Happy‑ Enjoy every moment of your life . . .

Life is too short to waste on grudges . . .

Laugh when you can, Apologize when you should, And let go of what you can’t change.

Author unknown

The CiB evaluation tour wrapped up in Cache Creek with a trip to Semlin Valley Golf Course. President Brian Henderson took the group around the course, stopping at points along the way to talk about aspects of the course and to let everyone enjoy the beautiful vistas.

Photo by Wendy Coomber

CiB judges see effects of flood From the wastewater treatment plant to the breathtaking views below Semlin Valley Golf Course, the Cache Creek Communities in Bloom committee made sure that the competition’s judges saw the village from every aspect they could think of last week.

The committee, led by chair Carmen Ranta, set out an ambi‑ tious all‑day tour for provincial judges Lynette Twigge from Qual‑ icum Beach and Victoria Bentley from Sun Peaks. Ranta and mem‑ bers of the committee accompan‑ ied the judges as they toured the town’s facilities, including the landfill and the new landfill gas converters, parks, and flood‑dam‑ aged infrastructure.

The topic of flood damage from the May 23 storm was one that came up often on the judge’s tour,

and presentations of appreciation were made to the Cache Creek Fire Dept., the Public Works crew, and the Village staff.

Mayor John Ranta was present on much of the tour and gave inter‑ esting details about many of the fa‑ cilities. Wastewater treatment plant operator Bruce Cassidy, Constan‑ tia HDI office manager Ramona Holota, and golf course president Brian Henderson also spoke about their facilities.

The judge’s tour began with a Welcome Supper at the Com‑ munity Hall on July 21 with free hot dogs, hamburgers, and bingo that was attended by more than 60 people. It ended the following night with supper at Manie’s for the judges, volunteers, and their families.

Wendy Coomber

Le Creuset Cookware, Bakeware & Tableware will make the most out of your ingredients without any compromises.

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I hope that you are enjoying the summer!

Welcome to newcomers to Clinton; if you’re a senior you might like to consider joining our Association. We meet on the third Thursday of every month except July and August at the Clin‑ ton Seniors’ Association Centre near Reg Conn Park at 217 Smith Avenue.

Our meeting follows a 12:00 noon lunch, which will be potluck on Sept. 17. The annual membership fee is $15.00, and we have three fundraisers a year, beginning with the Daffodil Tea in March, with part of the proceeds going to the Canadian Cancer Society. A yard sale is held at the Centre on July 1, and a marketplace event is held in November at the Clinton Me‑ morial Hall.

Thank you to everyone who helped in any way, or came out to support the July 1 yard sale, which was a great success. Congratulations to Bill Bisat and Susan Rose, winners of the Peel ‘n’ Pay Raffle!

Continuing on with our twelve months of wellness, let’s talk a little about stress and how to de‑stress. Most people know from little clues when they are getting stressed. Maybe it’s a quickening heartbeat or a slight feeling of nau‑ sea to let you know you are getting anxious or overwhelmed. Sometimes it doesn’t take too much to get your stress hormones pumping and your blood pressure rising: but you do have the power to reset.

When we’re stressed, hormones flood our systems, producing a response in which one’s heart rate goes up, we breathe more heavily (requiring more oxygen), and our blood ves‑ sels constrict. Not all stress is “bad stress”, like a chance meeting with a wild animal ani‑ mal while camping out, or a huge traffic jam on the highway. Shopping for a new outfit or plan‑ ning a vacation can cause those negative feel‑ ings too. Our stress response is triggered even when there’s no imminent danger.

Stress can contribute to chronic conditions like hypertension and headaches, as well as mental health concerns like depression and anx‑ iety disorders. What’s more, it can make other conditions—like asthma, irritated bowel syn‑ drome, and insomnia—worse.

So, what is one to do to handle stress of any kind? Just as we have a stress response, we also have a “relaxation response” during which our breathing slows, our blood pressure decreases, and we use less oxygen. We don’t really have a choice when it comes to getting stressed; but we do have a choice how we react to it, and we might learn how to undo its effects. Some of these ideas may work for you.

When faced with stress, start by taking a few deep breaths and slowing down your response.

This can help release the tension and relieve stress, thanks to an extra boost of oxygen. Shal‑ low breathing, a marker of stress, stimulates the nervous system, while deep breathing helps us to calm down. Occasions of stress are not usu‑ ally life threatening situations, so you can step back and assess the scenario.

Visualize a relaxed response. Make yourself comfortable if you’re able, and try to picture a peaceful scene, a favourite spot, or a future va‑ cation. You can even see yourself accomplish‑ ing a future goal.

If you can, go for a short walk to help clear your head and refocus. A walk in a park or other green space can put your body in a reflective, meditative state and bring about a feeling of peace and self control.

ROCKIN’ & TALKIN’ Clinton Seniors Association Zee Chevalier Have a nourishing snack. Potassium helps regulate blood pressure, which rises during times of stress, so some people find that eating a banana, which is high in potassium, can help improve energy and recovery. Go and sit down somewhere peaceful and eat your snack slowly, contemplating the way it tastes, its texture, and how it makes you feel.

According to a study at Washington State University, researchers found that people who have houseplants in their homes or work place are calmer and have lower blood pressure. Be‑ ing around plants can induce your relaxation re‑ sponse.

If your job or pastime involves the use of a computer, frequent breaks away from the screen are recommended. Uninterrupted computer use has been associated with stress, lost sleep, and depression. Music you love can soothe every‑ day anxiety. Classical music, particularly, has a soothing effect. It slows heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and even decreases levels of stress hormones. Try humming or singing a favourite tune.

Chewing gum may relieve anxiety and im‑ prove your alertness, while a good laugh can help relax you and defuse a stress response.

Consciously relaxing your muscles from your toes upward can help relieve stress, and yoga and exercise will restore that sense of well‑be‑ ing.

Repetitive motion, like knitting or needle‑ work, can offset anxiety. Repetition of a sound, a word, prayer, or movement, and the passive setting aside of intruding thoughts and returning to the repetitive activity, can be very helpful in reducing stress and anxiety.

To what extent you can, surround yourself with a “positive” environment. Avoid people and places where negative situations are likely to arise.

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The Journal Thursday, July 30, 2015

COMMUNITY

The Pioneer was the “friendly” newspaper We called it “the friendly newspaper” on the masthead of The Pioneer newspaper. Many will remember the weekly, published from Cache Creek between 1976 and 1982. It covered the news from 70 Mile House to Lytton, and featured articles on people of the district, some of them the progeny of pioneer folk.

The Pioneer was owned by The 100 Mile Free Press.

Fred Traff, the editor, wanted to establish a weekly in the South Cariboo, in competition with The Ashcroft-Cache Creek Journal. It was a brave venture from the outset.

The market was small, and the competition from The Journal was formidable, considering the latter’s long dominant coverage of events in the same area.

In Nov. 1976 I was hired as “associate editor” of the newly established weekly, which meant I had to cover the news of four municipal councils, as well as the usual chasing after fire trucks and ambulances. The councils were Ashcroft, Cache Creek, Logan Lake, and Clinton, so I was a woman in motion, motoring from village to village gathering the news, including the police news, and forwarding it all to The Free Press.

It all came to a halt early in 1977, when I was offered a job at the Bonaparte Indian Band as a sort of administrative assistant to then-Chief Leroy Antoine. He came into the Pioneer office at the end of Hungry Herbie’s building in Cache Creek one day, and asked me to not only help with dealing with the Band’s various contacts, such as Indian Affairs, Health, and other agencies, but also with BC Hydro, which was then seriously engaged in researching the potential of a soft coal mine at Hat Creek. Leroy also wanted me to produce a weekly newspaper for Band members, to be distributed by myself and Wanda Antoine. How could I resist an offer like that?

When I told Fred Traff I was quitting my job with The Pioneer to work for the Bonaparte Band . . . well, let’s just say he was disappointed. I was not disappointed with my new job and learned something about Band affairs and a whole lot more. However, the job ended after seven months, when Leroy warned me that Band elections were due, he probably wasn’t going to get re-elected, and my job might not be available. So I went to Kamloops to live, and found freelance work with The Kamloops Daily Sentinel.

Meanwhile, the fortunes of The Pioneer had been declining with alarming speed, and in spring 1979 Fred Traff asked me to return as associate editor. I did, and in September I told Fred I wanted to buy the paper. The price was $11,000, which wasn’t a lot of money in those days, but meant I had to go to Ray Brydon, manager of the Bank of Montreal in Ashcroft, and ask for a loan.

Ray’s immediate reaction was horror. He didn’t see how he could give me that much money for a publication that was losing its advertising left, right, and centre.

I said “If I came in here, Ray, and asked for that money to buy a 4x4 (they were a lot cheaper in those days), you’d give me the money in a flash.” Ray agreed that he would. “But you want money for a venture that is dicey from the get-go,” was his reply (more or less). I

argued with Ray for about half an hour, telling him what I planned to do with The Pioneer; and he wound up giving me the loan, for which I am eternally grateful..

The paper was being produced with some ancient equipment that should have been in a museum. The headlines were produced with a separate machine that was equally ancient. There were no computers in the newspaper industry in those days; everything was done by hand. You laid the grid sheets out on a long table, and eyeballed it for the ads (another duty, by the way: you

TALES FROM THE PAST Esther Darlington McDonald had to bring in the ads weekly), then paste in the printed copy with a waxing machine. This cut and paste production was laborious beyond belief, but fun, and I found producing a newspaper incredibly creative. I learned a whole new set of skills, and The Pioneer began to get its advertising back.

I put most of the first year’s slender profits into getting cutbooks from New York, full of wonderful graphic art for the ads and worth every penny. The Pioneer’s appearance improved 100%. Soon we had all the municipal advertising, the provincial and the federal advertising, and the local business ads. I called the latter my “bread and butter” ads, as they were the basic source of revenue that came in almost immediately, or at least within 30 days. The worst delays in payment came from the Feds, who sure took their time about paying full page and half page ads. The Province wasn’t so bad, but payment was not always within 30 days by any means.

The main source of revenue came from cheques in the mail, so the mail was very important. A postal strike could pulverize little businesses like mine, and I did suffer at least one. I had only one staff member at the paper to help produce the 12-, 16-, or 20-pager. But in the winter of 1980 I was offered a very nominal rent of a former social services office in Cache Creek, by business man Ron Colclough, and I jumped at the opportunity. We had a dark room that produced some fine pic-

www.ash-cache-journal.com A 13

tures, thanks to Ross Darlington, who did the printing.

The Daily Sentinel screener, George Smith, couldn’t get over the fine quality of The Pioneer’s production, and took our paper to editor Mike Rimmer, saying “See what this guy (Ross) is able to produce?”

The staff at The Sentinel took amazing interest in The Pioneer’s production. George once told me “We’ll make a printer of you yet, Esther.” A new masthead was designed for The Pioneer by a Sentinel staff member. It was one of the most exciting periods of my creative life, to lay The Pioneer down on the boards with the Sentinel people, and have them read the copy and look over the prints. Mike Rimmer, reading the copy one day, chided me for making it too light a read, and not critical enough. Meanwhile, there were a few complaints— back in Cache Creek particularly—that I was too critical of municipal affairs, and a few even drew their ads out. I sure learned that you can’t please them all.

The quality of the print in those 1970s and 1980s papers, before the computer took over, was first rate, and easy to read from first page to last. Needless to say, I was busier than the proverbial bird dog, covering all the events. I eventually had seven employees working for The Pioneer: producing copy, selling it, and distributing the paper. I had correspondents in Clinton and Walhachin who produced their columns for a modest fee.

Near the end of 1982, however, I was burning out.

The paper wasn’t making enough money to justify the hours spent producing it. I paid off my loan from the bank and told Fred Traff I was closing The Pioneer. He was pretty upset, but I had run out of steam. The Vancouver Sun interviewed me, and an article appeared in their paper about the Pioneer’s closure. I received letters from Alex Fraser (Minister of Transport), MP Lorne Greenaway, the Mayor of Ashcroft, and numerous others, expressing their regret about the closing of a very fine weekly with honest, fair-minded reporting. But The Pioneer became history in October 1982.

People tell me even today that they have kept articles from The Pioneer during its heyday, and I was told that the articles on pioneer folk and events are now a valuable part of the Ashcroft Museum archives. All that work provided me with an experience I will never forget, and left something of a legacy to the community as a whole.

August • Week 1 ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 It almost seems as if something is working against you this week, Aries. It could just be your overactive imagination. Channel your energy into a creative project.

TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 You may get swept away in some lifelike dreams this week, Taurus. It may be difficult to discern when you’re awake or asleep. Don’t get carried away.

GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, a professional predicament may have you feeling as if you have been run ragged. Regroup, even if it means taking a few days off. This time away is just the remedy you need.

CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 It’s nearly impossible to stick to your schedule this week, Cancer. Too many things will pop up, and you’ll be spending your time juggling multiple responsibilities.

LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 Leo, your imagination may push you in the wrong direction this week. Daydreaming instead of getting things done is risky. Focus on the tasks at hand.

VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, your coworkers will come through in a big way this week. Make the most of this opportunity to work together as a team, and it will pay dividends going forward.

LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Libra, a little daydreaming can be good for the soul. Give daydreams their due time, but remember to refocus on real life as well. You’re up to a challenge you face this week.

SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, your schedule is about to clear up so now is a great time to take some time off. You deserve a break after buckling down for so long. Relax and enjoy yourself.

SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 You know what needs to be done, Sagittarius. You may not have enough manpower to get everything accomplished, so put out a few feelers to see who is up to helping.

CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, continue with your consistent approach to handling your many responsibilities. You’re juggling a lot these days, and you’re benefiting from your work ethic.

AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, adhere to your original plan this week, avoiding distraction until the tasks at hand are a distant memory. Your plan is reliable and sure to work.

The Pioneer, from June 29, 1982 (l) and July 27, 1982.

Photo by Barbara Roden

PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 It’s nearly impossible to hide your emotions right now, Pisces. So why not share them and get some support from friends and family?

COMMUNITY

A 14 www.ash-cache-journal.com

Thursday, July 30, 2015 The Journal

More to Desert Daze than music DESERT DAZE from p. 11

Mundii, Flat Busted, John Kidder, Jennifer Ferguson, Nadine Davenport, and more!

You can find links to many of the musicians’ websites and/or YouTube videos on the Desert Daze website (www.desertdaze.ca) in order have a listen to the treats that are in store.

Vendors and volunteers are also needed for this event; please go to the website for details. Also check out the Facebook page and “like” it!

It’s not all about the music, though; we like to celebrate the bounty that this sun-drenched country provides. There will be watermelon spitting and apple bobbing contests, pickling and tomato canning workshops, and vendors supplying the local produce they grow. You

will also find fine jewellery, clothing, crafts, and fantastic food for sale. There will be a drumming workshop facilitated by Dave Dumont, so bring your djembes, hand drums, rattles, and shakers. Yoga yoga!

We are so happy that the very talented yoga instructor Maya Nadine will be offering a workshop; and if yoga isn’t your thing, there’s a workshop with “Doug the Hug”, the quirky guitarist! We will also be offering an indigenous traditional art workshop, put on by local Indigenous artist Carolyn Lytton. You’ll walk away with a little piece of art of your own!

This is a family event, and to that end there is a supervised children’s area with sprinklers to run through and games to play. On Saturday there will also be a science experiment workshop for kids. Tickets are only $20 for a weekend pass! For further information please go to the website, or call (250) 458-2282.

Young participants at last year’s Desert Daze keep cool in the heat.

Photo by Wendy Coomber

Your Local Business Directory JOHN BUNDUS & SON LTD.

Celebrating 22 Years

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Power Raking, Fertilizing, Hedge Trimming and Weekly Lawn Maintenance New customers always welcome Reasonable rates, and great service!

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Basic and Advanced Fo ot Care Provider Veteran Affairs Provid er

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TURN YOUR EMPTIES INTO A NEW SET OF WHEELS. From now until July 31st, return your empty beverage containers for a chance to win one of three eco-friendly rides! Look for the official ballot box at participating Return-It™ Depots.

For contest details and a list of participating depots, visit return-it.ca/winit No purchase necessary. Open only to BC residents age 19 or over. Limit one entry per person per household per day.

Contest closes July 31, 2014. For full contest details, visit return-it.ca/winit

Ashcroft Cache Creek Journal Thursday, July 30, 2015

www.ash-cache-journal.com A15

Your community. Your classiďŹ eds.

250.453.2261 fax 250.453.9625 email production@accjournal.ca

ADVERTISING DEADLINES

Announcements

Employment

Merchandise for Sale

Merchandise for Sale

Rentals

Rentals

Information

Auctions

Misc. for Sale

Apt/Condo for Rent

Homes for Rent

WORD CLASSIFIEDS Friday - 3:00 pm the preceding issue

AL-ANON ASHCROFT: Does someone’s drinking bother you? Meets Tuesdays, 7:00pm at St. Alban’s Church, 501 Brink. Val 250.453.9206

Drivers/Courier/ Trucking

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DISPLAY ADVERTISING Friday - 3:00 pm the preceding issue INDEX IN BRIEF Family Announcements Community Announcements Employment Business Services Pets & Livestock Merchandise for Sale Real Estate Rentals Automotive Legals AGREEMENT It is agreed by any display or classified advertised requesting space that the liability of the paper in the event to failure to publish an advertisement shall be limited to the amount paid by the advertiser for the portion of the advertising space occupied by the incorrect item only, and that there shall be no liability in any event beyond the amount paid for such advertisement.

The publisher shall not be liable for slight changes or typographical errors that do not lessen the value of an advertisement. bcclassifieds.com cannot be responsible for errors after the first day of publication of any advertisement. Notice of errors after the first day of publication any advertisement.

Notice or errors on the first day should immediately be called to the attention on the classified department to be corrected for the following edition. bcclassifieds.com reserves the right to revise, edit, classify or reject any advertisement and to retain any answers directed to the bcclassified.com Box Replay Service and to repay the customer the sum paid for the advertisement and box rental.

DISCRIMINATORY LEGISLATION Advertisers are reminded that Provincial legislation forbids the publication of any advertisement which discriminates against any person because of race, religion, sex, colour, nationality, ancestry or place of origin, or age, unless the condition is justified by a bona fide requirement for the work involved.

COPYRIGHT Copyright and/or properties subsist in all advertisements and in all other material appearing in this edition of bcclassified.com. Permission to reproduce wholly or in part and in any form whatsoever, particularly by a photographic or offset process in a publication must be obtained in writing from the publisher. Any unauthorized reproduction will be subject to recourse in law.

CANADA BENEFIT group Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll-free 1-888511-2250 or online at: www.canadabenefit.ca/ free-assessment.

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Career Opportunities KWAKIUTL Band Council is seeking an Elementary School Principal in Pt. Hardy on Vancouver Island.

For a full job description email manager@kwakiutl.bc.ca Pls send cover letter, salary expectations & 3 references via email or fax 250949-6066 by July 31, 2014.

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employertrusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-7683362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

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Must be able to have extended stays away from home. Up to 6 months. Must have valid AZ, DZ, 5, 3 or 1 with airbrake license and have previous commercial driving experience.

Apply at:www.sperryrail.com, careers & then choose the FastTRACK Application.

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Services

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Ph: 250-453-2261 Fax: 250-453-9625 Sales: sales@accjournal.ca Editorial: editorial@accjournal.ca Production: production@accjournal.ca www.ash-cache-journal.com

DRIVERS WANTED

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Heavy Duty Machinery A-CHEAP, LOWEST PRICES STEEL SHIPPING Dry Storage Containers Used 20’40’45’53’ and insulated containers all sizes in stock. 40’ containers as low as $2,200DMG. Huge freezers.

Experienced wood carvers needed, full time. Ph Toll free 24 hours 1-866-528-7108 or 1778-298-3192 8am-5pm. Delivery BC and AB www.rtccontainer.com

Loon Lk Resort: Yard Sale all summer. Pop fridge display freezer, pizza oven, dirt bikesnew unique summer clothing, and much more! 2726 Loon Lk Rd. Cache Creek BC Call for more info: 250.459.2537

WHERE DO YOU TURN

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YOUR NEWSPAPER:

The link to your community

Career Opportunities

Career Opportunities

Transportation

Best Apartments in the area!

Utility Trailers

1500 Government Street Renovated 1 & 2 bedroom VIEW SUITES Available immediately Clean, quiet & well maintained.

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Legal Notices

Legal Notices

Village of Lytton

THE VILLAGE OF LYTTON REQUIRES A TEMPORARY (ONE MONTH)

Lifeguard/Swim Instructor FOR THE LYTTON OUTDOOR SWIMMING POOL

Minimum required qualifications: t /BUJPOBM -JGFHVBSE $FSUJĂĽDBUF t 3FE $SPTT 8BUFS 4BGFUZ *OTUSVDUPS T $FSUJĂĽDBUF t 4UBOEBSE 'JSTU "JE XJUI $13 -FWFM $ The rate of pay ranges from $14.35 to $16.91 per hour, plus 15% in lieu of benefits depending on qualifications and experience. 5IF KPC DPOTJTUT PG IPVST XFFL BOE NBZ JODMVEF TQMJU TIJGUT BOE XFFLFOET 5IF QPTJUJPO XJMM TUBSU BT FBSMZ BT QPTTJCMF BOE XJMM DPOUJOVF VOUJM 4FQUFNCFS 2VBMJĂĽFE JOEJWJEVBMT BSF JOWJUFE UP TVCNJU UIFJS SFTVNFT CZ FNBJM GBY PS ESPQQFE PGG BU UIF 7JMMBHF 0GĂĽDF CZ August 4, 2015 to: Chief Administrative Officer, Village of Lytton PO Box 100, 380 Main Street, Lytton, BC V0K 1Z0 T: 250-455-2355 F: 250-455-2142 Email: cao@lytton.ca We thank you for application and wish to advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Lifeguard/Swim Instructor is a CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) position.

Help Wanted Thompson Community Services

Help Wanted

Service, Commitment, Leadership

NOTICE OF REZONING APPLICATION AND PUBLIC HEARING The Village of Ashcroft has received an application to amend existing C-1 (Commercial Mixed Use 1) Zone for 110 Railway Avenue (Lot AM5, Block 23, Plan KAP189, District Lot 423, Kamloops Division Yale District, except Plan KAP 47433, See DD 252981F, PID: 012-631-761).

The proposal is to permit the following on a site specific basis only: • Boutique Manufacturing: A Use that involves the manufacturing of small tools and other hardware, and assembly in buildings occupying small footprints and not requiring outdoor storage This application is a proposal is being considered under Bylaw 737, the Village of Ashcroft Zoning Bylaw, 2005.

Public Hearing Date: Monday, August 10th, 2015 Time: 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM Place: Village of Ashcroft Council Chambers 601 Bancroft Street, Ashcroft

COMMUNITY SUPPORT WORKERS Casual on Call- All Shifts (Kamloops)

We are currently seeking skilled individuals in the Kamloops area to work with clients with developmental disabilities.

Experience with challenging behaviours would be an asset.

Applicants must be committed to service of the highest quality and display a positive and helpful attitude. Shift work is involved.

We are an accredited agency and an equal opportunity employer.

Skill requirements: t Education - Grade 12 or equivalent t Class 5 Drivers License t Reliable Vehicle t Community Care First Aid Experience is an asset but we will provide on-the-job training Additional skills - all aspects of care and training for adults with developmental disabilities is preferred.

Compensation: As per USWA Collective Agreement Email resumes and cover letters to: reception@tcsinfo.ca or Fax: 250-372-7544

www.thompsoncommunityservices.com

For more information or to submit comments: Website: www.ashcroftbc.ca/rezoningapplications Contact: Michelle Allen, CAO admin@ashcroftbc.ca tel: 250-453-9161 Village of Ashcroft 601 Bancroft Street Ashcroft, BC

Thursday, July 30, 2015 The Journal

COMMUNITY

A 16 www.ash-cache-journal.com

Golden Country presents

... Past, Present & Beyond Summer Staycation Pt. 4: Parks and Rec 1 British Columbia is blessed with an abundance of beautiful parks. Some of them provide travellers with a place to stay; others preserve areas of outstanding beauty, history, or significance; and some combine these functions.

I’ve touched on a few of the local ones and what can be seen there, GOLDEN COUNTRY in past pieces; and for this staycation instalBARBARA RODEN ment I’m going to look at a few other parks in our area that locals might want to make part of a summer day trip.

We’ll start at Chasm Provincial Park, 15km north of Clinton. Many people have probably passed by it on the highway, with no idea that a short drive will reveal a spectacular geologic formation carved out by a melting glacier some 10,000 years ago. The resulting canyon is some 8km long, 600m wide, and 300m deep, with walls that show successive layers of lava that have been revealed by erosion over millions of years. Fun fact: The bands of red, yellow, purple, pink, and brown thus revealed have given the canyon the unofficial name of “Painted Chasm”.

Travel south on Hwy. 97, and to the west of Clinton you find three parks clustered together. Marble Range, Edge Hills, and Downing Provincial Parks are all located south of Jesmond, with Marble Range the largest and most northernmost. Its limestone topography—one of the few places in the province that features this formation—delights hikers with a fascinating landscape of sinkholes, caves, and disappearing stream, while the cliffs attract rock climbers from far and wide. Edge Hills is a hiker’s and photographer’s dream, with sweeping vistas over the Fraser River, flat benches, and grasslands which are now rare in the province. As of this writing Downing is closed to the public due to flooding caused by hydrology changes to nearby streams, but when open the park—which almost encircles Kelly Lake—is extremely popular due to its beautiful setting, and for the fishing, boating and swimming in Kelly Lake.

the Secwepemc demi-gods, Kwil-î-elt, and some of his friends tried to trick arrow-stone from its owners, two old women who lived near what is now Cache Creek. The men spoke with each woman in turn and told her that the other had been telling malicious stories about her. The two women fell to fighting, and the men collected the arrow-stones which fell from their pockets. When told that they had been deceived, the women asked why the men had not simply asked for what they wanted, and presented them with a box of unfinished arrow-stone, as well as many completed arrowheads. The arrow-stones which fell from the women’s clothing were scattered far and wide, accounting for the stone’s abundance in the area.

Back on to the Trans-Canada south to the Provincial Park on the outskirts of Ashcroft. You didn’t know there was one? It’s easy to miss, but Elephant Hill Provincial Park was created in 1996 to protect a rare area of ungrazed grassland in one of the driest parts of the province. A hiking trail leads to the top of Elephant Hill, where you can encounter several native species, including rattlesnakes, so beware. The area was much used by local First Nations people, as evidenced by the remains of several native archaeological sites in the area. Fun fact: From the top of Elephant Hill you get spectacular view along the Thompson and Bonaparte Rivers, and can see Cache Creek, Ashcroft, the highlands above Barnes Lake, and the Cornwall Hills.

Next instalment: south and west and maybe east.

Fun fact: The Grange gold mine, just outside the park boundary, was in operation until the 1940s, and numerous shafts used in the mining operation there still exist.

Continue south on Hwy. 97, then west on Hwy. 99 to Marble Canyon Provincial Park.

In 2001 the park, located between Turquoise and Crown Lakes, was expanded to include the bottom of nearby Pavilion Lake, in order to preserve the remarkable underwater formations known as microbiolates which are found there. These structures, as tall as 3m in Pavilion (they have also been found in Kelly Lake), are a very specific sedimentary formation created by algae and a certain type of bacteria some 11,000 years ago, and it is thought that they’re similar to some of the earliest life forms on Earth. Pavilion and Kelly Lakes are two of the few places in the world where these formations have been found, with the Pavilion Lake micribiolates among the largest on the planet, and a team from NASA has been studying them since 2004, hoping they might shed light on the earliest forms of microbe-based life, both here and in space. Fun fact: Marble Canyon was once mostly underwater, with the jagged top of the canyon forming a chain of islands.

On your way back east along Hwy. 99, take a detour through beautiful Hat Creek Valley to Harry Lake Aspen Provincial Park.

It preserves one of the remaining upper grasslands in the Hat Creek Valley, giving a glimpse of what attracted early cattle ranchers to the area in the middle of the nineteenth century. Fun fact: as the park is only accessible by logging road, it’s a good idea to have an up-to-date backcountry road map with you.

Head back Cache Creek and explore Arrowstone Provincial Park just to the east. It protects one of the largest undisturbed valleys in the southern interior, and offers plenty of hiking opportunities in a remote location that’s still close to major highways and has several access points.

An ancient basalt quarry at the junction of Cache and Arrowstone Creeks was an important source of material for arrowheads, hence the park’s name. Fun fact: The Painted Chasm north of Clinton is well worth a First Nations legend tells how one of

pulling off the highway to look at.

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