Merritt Herald, November 24, 2015

AUDIT FINDS CITY LACKS KNOWLEDGE OF POLICING AGREEMENT

SPORTS DAY IN CANADA Merritt celebrates event all week long. Check out the Herald’s photo page! / Page 10

Council vows to establish police oversight committee in wake of report / Page 3

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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24 2015 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS

ALBAS NAMED TRADE CRITIC “There are still choke points in our own economy that don’t allow Canadian producers and manufacturers to be able to access their own market as a single, united economic market.”

David Dyck THE MERRITT HERALD

He was given his marching orders after interim Conservative Party of Canada leader Rona Ambrose announced her shadow cabinet and other critic positions last week.

Albas said his 2012 private members bill on wine imports was a key part in the choice. “I’ve built up credibility and knowledge in the file, [Ambrose] wanted to put that to work, and I was very happy and honoured to,” Albas told the Herald.

Glue identified in Coldwater River spill Michael Potestio THE MERRITT HERALD

Albas said his past experience in trade was a big part of why he was given this file. Herald file photo

Although he wasn’t given a cabinet position in the Conservative opposition, Central OkanaganSimilkameen-Nicola MP Dan Albas will serve as critic for interprovincial trade, including labour mobility.

STICKY SITUATION

He pointed to the recent joint press conference between American President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau where Obama said that the United States and Canada would be moving forward together on the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

“When we’re talking about having more market access worldwide for Canadians than ever before, it just spotlights that there are still choke points in our own economy that don’t allow Canadian producers and manufacturers to be able to access their own market as a single, united economic market,” said Albas.

He pointed to the example of vintners in the Okanagan.

“Right now they find it easier to send their product to Tokyo and Texas than to Calgary and Toronto,” he said. “That’s just one case, there are probably hundreds, if not thousands of other barriers of different sorts. Most of

them are at the provincial level, but I know that this is an area that the federal government has taken leadership on prior to, in the previous government, and I hope to build some consensus to address this with the current government.”

The file includes labour mobility. “Does it make sense for someone who is shipping something across the country to have four or five different sets of rules when they enter into a new province and they’re transporting product through that province?” he posited. “Those add to complexities, those add to costs.”

He said standards of accreditation could also potentially be harmonized between provinces.

Over in the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding, MP Cathy McLeod was named to the Conservative shadow cabinet with the Indigenous Affairs critic portfolio.

The glue that spilled into the Coldwater River last Monday when a semi truck hauling it crashed on the Coquihalla Highway around Larson Hill is known as Liquid Phenol Formaldehyde Resin A22.

The Ministry of Environment told the Herald in an email the chemicals in this material include a five to 10 per cent concentration of sodium hydroxide and less than 0.1 per cent concentration of formaldehyde.

The total amount that spilled onto the highway was less than 15,000 litres and while the ministry doesn’t currently know how much entered the river, an estimate is still being analyzed.

The ministry expects concentrations of formaldehyde in the water to be low, and the samples taken in the river will provide a more accurate result.

The samples will take a few days to be received in Vancouver for analysis, and the results will help determine the environment ministry’s next steps in the cleanup.

Based on their current estimates, both the environment ministry and Interior Health Authority consider any risk to human health from this spill to be low.

See ‘No reported’ Page 2

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2 • TUESDAY, November 24, 2015

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

No reported impacts to fish or wildlife

DANCE PRACTICE During the past few weeks, students from the Love To Dance Academy have been practicing their dances in preparation for their Christmas Concert on November 25.

This concert is part of the Country Christmas Week and the dance students will be performing at the Civic Centre on Wednesday November 25 at 7:00 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. Eighty-four students (from age two to 55 years) will be taking part, bringing Merrittonians an evening of “Colourful Rhythms of Dance.”

They will be performing ballet, hip hop and jazz and included in the program are dances from Spain, Mexico, Africa and Portugal.

Back line (L to R): Felize Omori, Hailee Harkies, front line (L to R): Avery Warren, Abigail Bateson, Chantalle Anderson.

Lizette Nel/Submitted

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This red-coloured glue known as Liquid Phenol Formaldehyde Resin A22 spilled into the Coldwater River following an accident on Nov. 16. Submitted/Ministry of Environment

From Page 1 The glue was found in a low-lying area and was observed to be going through the culvert underneath the highway before draining into the Coldwater River, the Ministry of Environment stated.

It also stated there have been no reported impacts to fish or wildlife so far, and any health advisories, if

required, will be provided by other agencies.

The ministry tackles spills like this one in phases — initial response, recovery and remediation. At the moment, the ministry is in recovery mode.

To report an environmental spill, call the BC Environmental Emergencies spill reporting line at: 1-800-663-3456.

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The leaders in Jerusalem and members of those opposed where giving the new church problems. One day as Steven, one of the deacons, was preaching to a group of people the priests and leaders who did not accept Jesus were listening to him. As Steven was talking about Jesus and got to the part where the Jewish leaders had cruciÀed Him they became angry. They didn’t want to take the blame for the death of Jesus. They grabbed Steven, and drug him out of the city and picked up stones and stoned him to death. Steven was stoned about three and a half years after Jesus rose. Let’s look at the prophecy of 70 weeks.

After this incident, persecutors broke out and went on a rampage to shut up those who believed in Jesus, so the apostles and other believers left. The scripture says that they escaped to anywhere and everywhere preaching the gospel all along the way, telling the wonderful story of Jesus and doing some of the things that Jesus had done, like healing the sick.

This created a huge growth in believers.

Jesus had instructed the apostles to begin in Jerusalem and Judea then move on so the gospel would be preached to the Jews Àrst then spread out.

Jesus’ ministry began at 69 weeks into the prophecy. That was when He was baptized.

The prophecy said Jesus would come to His end in the midst of the last week, 69 and a half weeks into the prophecy. What about the last half? The apostles preached Jesus during the three and a half years after Jesus was cruciÀed. Their main theme was who to educate all about who Jesus was and that He One of those watching was a man named would come again just like He had promised.

Saul. He later, when he accepted Jesus, More next week. I pray you have a good became the apostle Paul. one.

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The work of the newly organized church grew rapidly and people who had extra houses and land sold them and gave to the apostles to help those in need. Many of the church leaders who had been against Jesus when they saw what was going on accepted Jesus and became part of the new movement.

2051 Quilchena Avenue, Merritt , BC (across from Fields) Phone: 250-378-5500 Fax: 250-378-5568

TUESDAY, November 24, 2015 • 3

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

City lacks knowledge of police agreement: report Oversight committee is in the works, says Mayor Menard Michael Potestio THE MERRITT HERALD

B.C.’s Auditor General for Local Government (AGLG) has found that the City of Merritt needs a better understanding of its policing agreement.

In it’s report assessing the city’s use and guidance of police resources under the 2012 Municipal Policing Unit Agreement (MPUA), the AGLG says the city had limited knowledge of the agreement and poor oversight over police services.

“Overall, the city was not fully aware of the new authorities and provisions available to it through the agreement and did not utilize some of the authorities that were relevant to its current circumstances,” the report stated.

The report covers the years of 2010 through 2013, and also outlines major changes that were made to the MPUA. “We found the City of Merritt’s senior staff and the mayor believed the 2012 policing agreement included no substantive changes compared to the previous agreement,” the report stated.

Changes to the MPUA in the area of cost containment included ensuring all policing costs a city must pay be clearly articulated to the local government. A city is also to receive early notification of changes that have cost implications.

The report stated that neither the City of Merritt nor the RCMP were proactive with regard to communicating cost changes.

The report also found that the city believed it was expected to pay RCMP costs without the ability to question them, and that municipalities are only told about changes to costs sporadically.

MPUA changes also made it so a detachment commander must inform the municipality on the deployment of officers and reasons for vacancies, as well as provide reports on complaints against the RCMP. The AGLG found that the city doesn’t request reports on staff deployment, but does receive reports on complaints against the RCMP. These reports, however, don’t usually provide information pertaining to the nature of the complaints.

Under the changes to the MPUA,

a municipality can request a directed review of the detachment to ensure its receiving value for taxpayer money.

Merritt’s mayor and chief administrative officer (CAO) of the day were not aware of this new authority, according to the report.

“While communication was strong and the relationship between the city and the RCMP detachment was positive, the low awareness level resulted in limited oversight of policing services by the city and the potential for lack of accountability,” the report stated.

Merritt mayor Neil Menard described the report as an eye-opener.

“We got our wrists slapped because we, through ignorance, really didn’t know how much input we had as far as our policing agreement was concerned,” Menard said.

He said the city needs to be more involved with the detachment’s staff sergeant and E-Division on a day-today basis.

Menard and current CAO Shawn Boven were not in their current positions during the time period covered by the report. Dave Baker, Mike Goetz and Kurt Christopherson are the only current members of council who were also councillors during this time.

BUDGET Little scrutiny was laid when it came to the police budget or quarterly invoices.

In the AGLG report, the city indicated that unlike other matters brought forward for council approval, it didn’t spend much time reviewing the RCMP budget, acting under the misconception that it was fixed.

The city also processed most quarterly invoices without analysis.

The report found that the city had somewhat limited financial controls on its policing costs, partially due to their assumption they had no ability to influence them.

The City of Merritt, however, can influence its policing costs by changing the number of RCMP members that serve the community and/or civilian support workers, the report pointed out.

“Prudent assignment of policing resources can have an impact on both police effectiveness and overall costs,” the report stated. “For example, there may be some administrative tasks that can be performed more cost-effectively by support staff than sworn officers.”

During the time covered by the report, the city increased its budget for

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the RCMP contract just once while the per officer rate charged by the RCMP increased every year despite the size of the detachment remaining unchanged.

“The city did not routinely analyze or question RCMP expenditures presented in quarterly RCMP invoices,” the report stated.

The city’s actual RCMP costs were consistently lower than the budgeted amount in the years covered by the report.

From 2010 to 2013, the City of Merritt’s total policing costs were $2.2 million on average.

The city pays for 15 police officers who work out of the Merritt police detachment and five support staff who are municipal employees.

The report found that neither the city nor the detachment could comment as to how the authorized strength of 15 officers was determined, and it seemed that a historical approach was being used. The AGLG stated that this approach doesn’t link with factors such as workload demand, community conditions or performance objectives.

The report found that policing costs for special events such as music festivals have not always been fully recovered and could be from event organizers.

The city has taken steps to do this in the time subsequent to that covered by the audit.

PERFORMANCE PLAN Merritt Mounties were found to be lacking a bit when it came to developing their annual police performance plan.

This plan provides a framework for setting community policing priorities and monitoring the results annually.

While the report found the RCMP consulted with stakeholders — the City of Merritt, the five area bands, School District 58, Interior Health Authority, Ministry of Child and Family Development, the chamber of commerce and other business groups — it didn’t provide them with a draft of the plan to review.

Instead, the RCMP sent out a onepage summary of the plan rather than undertaking a substantive review and asking for feedback.

“This has the potential to create a gap in accountability with respect to policing priorities and in the future, the city should request a more substantive review of the detachment’s draft annual performance plan,” the report stated.

CPO The report’s findings on the downtown community policing office (CPO) are that while it is regarded by the city and RCMP as a contributor in deterring crime, it isn’t clear if there are any set goals or objectives for the office.

“The office has not been formally reviewed to assess whether it is meeting its mandate to reduce crime and prevent crime,” the report stated.

It recommended the office be formally reviewed to assess if it’s achieving its goals.

RECOMMENDATIONS The report’s recommendations include establishing a police committee to ensure municipal oversight, and strengthening the city’s financial control over policing expenditures by working with the RCMP to ensure appropriate allocation of resources and better monitoring policing costs.

The other recommendations are to introduce a formal process for monitoring and reporting on annual police priorities and have staff and council brush up on the 2012 MPUA to better understand the authority it gives them.

The report also states the importance of having stakeholders and residents provide input on policing priorities for their community.

In the report, the City of Merritt has responses which essentially vow to address each of the six main recommendations made in the report, including establishing a police oversight committee by the end of the year.

Mayor Neil Menard said he will be heading up the police committee.

“We’re going to use the report, we’re going to get all the information that we can and hopefully we will do all the due diligence that’s necessary to make sure we’re very much involved in the policing of our good city,” Menard said.

During the years the AGLG report covers, Merritt’s policing priorities surrounded three main issues — drug enforcement, youth, particularly with regard to alcohol abuse, and a perceived need to increase police presence in the downtown to deter vagrancy.

In conducting this performance audit, the AGLG reviewed the City of Merritt’s practices and policies, documentation and talked to management and staff. Its findings relate to the municipal policing services provided to the City of Merritt.

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INSIDE Opinion --------------------- 8-9 Sports ----------------------- 10 Classifieds ----------------- 11

REMEMBER WHEN? From the Herald archives: November, 1993

PLANE FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN SET Whether the plane that crashed in the Merritt area Friday was intentionally set on fire is a question local police are still trying to answer as investigation into the matter continues.

Initially when the plane crashed at about 2:30 that afternoon, there had apparently been a small fire which had been extinguished, Staff Sgt. Ken Porter reported. But by Monday police were dealing with reports of the possibility somebody had set the wreck aflame.

“We know that somebody took property from it which didn’t belong to them later that day, so it is possible.” (A compass and an ax were the items stolen from the plane, police report.)

The fire was still burning in the early part of Saturday afternoon when spectators went to survey the damage which was located on a hillside.

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4 • TUESDAY, November 24, 2015

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Residential Commercial vehicle decals utility bills are available at city hall have been mailed out Residential Property utility bills have been sent out in the mail. To take advantage of the 10 per cent discount invoices must be paid in full by November 30, 2015.

The City of Merritt accepts payment by cheque, debit or cash.

We do not accept credit card payments.

Payment can also me made through online banking (as a bill payment) using the four digit account number on your utility invoice.

If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact Deputy Finance Manager Ben Currie for further clarification.

He can be reached by email at: Bcurrie@ merritt.ca or by calling City Hall at 250-3784224.

See www.merritt.ca

The decades-old Commercial Vehicle Licensing Program was established by provincial statute (currently the Local Government Act) to provide a source of revenue to participating municipalities to offset expenses related to the use of local government roads and highways as a result of commercial vehicle traffic.

Expenses would include the cost of maintenance of municipal roadways, road signage, snow removal, parking control, etc.

Under the Local Government Act, Part 20 includes the specific regulation of licensing of commercial vehicles.

Any commercial vehicle is defined as such by, and licensed under, the Commercial Transport Act, or a vehicle not so licensed, but which is used for the collection

or delivery, or both, of merchandise or other commodity in the ordinary course of a business undertaking. Both must display a valid municipal licence decal.

Decals can be purchased at the City of Merritt city hall upon presentation of your current motor vehicle registration form.

The licence year is now January 1 to December 31.

Members of the public can purchase decals beginning November 1 for the upcoming year.

Failure to display a valid decal can result in a fine of $50.

The licence year is defined as the calendar year [LGA s.

664]. Annual licence fees are set out in the Local Government

Act regulations; in 2014 under BC Reg. 405/93 fees were as follows:

- Not exceeding 2,800 kg gross vehicle weight (GVW) — $25 - Exceeding 2,801 kg, but not exceeding 11,800 kg (GVW) — $30

- Exceeding 11,801 kg, but not exceeding 20,000 kg (GVW) $35 - Exceeding 20,001 kg (GVW) — $40 Transfer fee — $6.25 - Licensed under CTA agreement — $30.00.

See www.merritt.ca

SUMMARY OF CITY OF MERRITT SNOW REMOVAL POLICY This procedure outlines the responsibility of the City, residents, businesses and contractors as it pertains to snow removal in Merritt.

NOTE: For purpose of this procedure “Area 1” is designated by heavy black line and “Area 2” is all remaining streets..

Service Level based on Snow Accumulation: 0 – 5 cm: Area 1 only sanded AS PRIORITY 5 – 20 cm: City streets are graded and sanded in the following time frame: Area 1 – within eight (8) hours Area 2 – within thirty (30) hours Over 20 cm: Exceptional Snowfall – will call out such manpower and equipment as may be available and required to maintain city streets in as passable conditions as possible.

Priorities: No.1 Emergency access routes to essential services such as hospital, police, fire, ambulance, City services. Dangerous roadways including hills and intersections.

No.2 Schools; No.3 Downtown Business Core; No.4 Highway Commercial properties; No.5 Residential properties Disposal: Residents, businesses and contractors are not permitted to blow or plow snow from private property onto right-of-ways, streets, lanes or walkways.

Residents and businesses in areas with City sidewalks adjacent to roads shall be permitted to place snow from the walk on the road.

Sidewalk Clearing: Every owner or occupier of residential zoned property shall remove snow or ice from sidewalks or pathways abutting the said property within twenty-four (24) hours of accumulation except for weekends and holidays.

Every owner or occupier of real property shall immediately remove snow, ice or rubbish from the roof or other part of a structure adjacent to a highway or pathway or sidewalk where such snow or ice or rubbish presents a hazard to vehicular or pedestrian traffic.

Every owner or occupier of commercial or industrial zoned property shall remove snow or ice from sidewalk or pathways abutting the said property by ten (10) a.m. of any day and, as needed, following the accumulation of snow or ice.

Complete copies of this procedure can be obtained at City Hall during regular business hours.

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY Position: The City of Merritt is inviting applications for the positions of Aquatic Fitness Instructors for the Leisure Services Department.

Please see the website at www.merritt.ca for complete employment opportunity posting.

HAVE A GREAT IDEA FOR AN EVENT? ARE YOU PART OF AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE COMMUNITY? Each year, Council carefully considers providing funding assistance to non-profit groups that operate in the City of Merritt and provide valuable social and community services in the municipality.

The 2016 Grant in Aid Application is now available, please go to www.merritt.ca to start your application today.

Current resumes reflecting applicants’ knowledge, skills and abilities relevant to the position and detailing education, qualifications and proof of required licenses/certificates/degrees will be accepted prior to 4:00 p.m. Friday, December 04, 2015 by: Carole Fraser, Human Resources City of Merritt - PO Box 189, 2185 Voght St. Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 Or by e-mail: cfraser@merritt.ca We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Next council meeting: Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015 Council agendas and minutes at www.merritt.ca

City of Merritt ★ 2185 Voght Street, Box 189 Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 ★ Phone: 250-378-4224

TUESDAY, November 24, 2015 • 5

www.merrittherald.com

PROVINCIAL NEWS POWER UP

Merritt-Coquitlam power line completed Tom Fletcher BLACK PRESS

A year behind schedule and $18 million over budget, the latest high-voltage line of the BC Hydro grid has been completed from Merritt to Coquitlam.

The new line parallels the existing main line supplying the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island from hydro dams on the Peace and Columbia Rivers. It was originally to be completed in 2014, but the main contractor fell behind and BC Hydro used its own crews to complete one of the most difficult portions, a 19 km stretch north of Hope.

The final cost for the 247 km line is expected to be $743 million, which Energy Minister Bill Bennett said is about two per cent more than the initial $725 million budget. “There is an ongoing arbitration between BC Hydro and [contractor] Flatiron Graham as to who’s going to bear the cost of the delay, because the project was delayed by a year,� Bennett said in an interview Friday.

It’s the first 500-kilovolt line added to the BC Hydro grid in 40 years, to keep up with demand from a growing southwestern B.C. population and increase reliability in the event of disasters. “You always have the potential for a big avalanche or a mudslide, even an earthquake, to take out one or two of your big transmission lines, bringing electricity in from the two rivers, the Columbia and the Peace,� Bennett said.

NDP energy critic Adrian Dix said the project started out with a $600 million estimate, making it $125 million over budget. He said it’s the latest in a series of cost overruns, including the Northwest Transmission Line north of Terrace, the Dawson Creek-Chetwynd line and the Iskut extension in the

Construction of the 19 km Spuzzum section of the Interior-Lower Mainland transmission line, which BC Hydro took over from the contractor after it fell behind schedule. BC Hydro

northwest.

Bennett said BC Hydro is under-budget on its overall capital construction plan, including $100 million under budget on reconstruction of five generating units at the W.A.C. Bennett Dam on the Peace River, and there is no additional effect on rates.

BC Hydro is committed to a capital budget of $2.4 billion a year for the next 10 years, including construction of the Site C dam on the Peace River and reconstruction of the Ruskin Dam in the Fraser Valley and the John Hart Dam on Vancouver Island.

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Caddy

‘There is an ongoing arbitration between BC Hydro and [contractor] Flatiron Graham as to who’s going to bear the cost of the delay.’

CHURCHES OF MERRITT CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS 2015 CROSSROADS COMMUNITY CHURCH 2990 Voght Street – Tel: 378-2911 Dec. 13, 10.30 a.m. - Children’s Christmas programme Dec. 24, 7 p.m. - Christmas Eve Candlelight Service NICOLA VALLEY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH 1950 Maxwell St. – Tel: 378-9502 Dec. 4, 7 p.m. - Ladies Christmas Tea, $5/person Dec. 13, 10 a.m. - Christmas Musical Dec. 24, 6 pm. - Candlelight Service with children Nativity play MERRITT BAPTIST CHURCH 2499 Coutlee Ave. - 378-2464 Dec. 5, 7 p.m. - International Christmas concert Dec. 19, 7 p.m. - Carols Sing-along with Delphine Dec.31, 9 p.m. on - New Year’s Eve Fun, Film, and Worship (weather permitting) ST. MICHAEL’S ANGLICAN CHURCH 1990 Chapman St. – Tel: 378-3772 Dec. 10 & 11, 7 p.m. - Service of Lessons and Carols and BBC Fashion Dec. 24, 7 p.m. - Candlelight Service SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 2190 Granite Ave – Tel: 378-4061 Dec. 11, 7 p.m. - Christmas Hymn Sing Dec. 26, 11 a.m. - Christmas Theme service

“Breaking the Chain of Abuse�

— ENERGY MINISTER BILL BENNETT

Champ

Stanley

Caddy is an 11 year old senior but won’t admit Champ requires a stable quiet home in a rural Stanley is a quirky guy looking for his special family. loves to go for outings and tends to head for the it. She is smart and well mannered. She gets setting. He will need basic training and life ex- He car ďŹ rst before ďŹ guring out he is actually going for a along with other dogs & tolerates cats. She periences. He is mild mannered, learns quick walk. He is sweet, loves to be near you. Will sit on and is friendly. Champ is very leery of strangers your feet every chance he gets. He is a communicaloves the doggie park. Caddy would prefer a and requires a skilled individual to help him tor and will chat with you to express himself. He is home with no kids under age 12. lookingservices. for an active family who is familiar with the Donations desperately learn trust in needed humans andfor otherspay dogs. and neuter English Springer Spaniel energy and breed traits.

Donations can be to made to The Angel’s Animal Rescue Society at The Interior Savings Credit Union, Account #1193739.

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We are home to "Quil" the Quilchena Store Hereford

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Available sizes: S, M, L, XL More choices on Page 2

M12™ Starter Kit

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$5999

Available sizes: S, M, L, XL More choices on Page 2

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Mon - Fri 6am - 9pm, Weekends & holidays 7 - 9 pm

154 Hwy 8 West, Merritt, BC • 250-378-9557

PURITY FEED FARM GARDEN PET CENTRE

1690 Voght Street 1-250-378-4432



You will receive a M12 Bluetooth Speaker FREE with a purchase of a M12 Black Heated Ripstop Vest or Heated Hoodie and Starter Kit

Valid December 1st - 31st, 2015

48592411

+

OR

as shown

Johnn y ’s

2172

All Tack (may not be as a shown)

Season’s Best Gifts!

*items may not be exactly



Store Hours: 7 am - 9:30 pm Restaurant: Monday - Saturday 4 pm - 8 pm 2801 Clapperton Avenue www.bobsminimart.com Merritt , BC 250-378-6500



ChristmAs

2001 Quilchena Avenue, Merritt, BC

Dennis and Jen Welcome New Customers and New Friends

OUR BOOK Y AS M T IS R CH PARTY

Gift CertifiCates available!



eat-in or take out!

2055 Quilchena Avenue (across from Fields)

250-378-5551

Miss Me Jeans

Bob’s Mini Mart

*With your piercing

250-378-5558

Shop locally with thousands of in-store special at the Merritt Location only.

Forksdale Ave., Merritt

dB an k



First Prize: $850 Second Prize: $575 Third Prize: $375

Body: $35 • Industrial: $55 • Nose: $20

Come to Merritt Canadian Tire! Our prices are the same as other locations,

SavE on thE

98

2760 Forksdale Ave., Merritt, BC



Black Friday

receive double stamps.

Phone: 250-378-2022

Canadian & Chinese Restaurant

Effective Nov 24 - 26, 2015

Fo o

Authentic Native Art Gallery

+Applicable deposit

250-378-2100

Double stamps

Vision Quest Optical & Gifts

Canada Cafe

Coca-Cola Or Sprite

3

For Rules & Regulations look on your Passport, which can be picked up from anyone of the participating merchants.

30% OFF



Holiday Special

Shop LOCAL & win BIG!  7th Annual Passport To Christmas merritt’s Diesel speciAlists

250-378-5564

Railyard Mall (Garcia St.)

$ .49

250-378-6664

Toys Treats Bring in an item for the&food bank

ALL EARRINGS!

2 0f N1918s or N1918f

Regular or Diet Varieties 12 x 355 ml

Contest Runs from Nov. 24 - Dec. 17, 2015

25% OFF

A perfect gift idea for the holidays

Automotive quality care

+WiriNg harNess

Like us on

Black’s Pharmacy

TUESDAY, November 24, 2015 • 7

www.merrittherald.com

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2032 Quilchena Ave.,

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8 • TUESDAY, November 24, 2015

www.merrittherald.com

HERALD OPINION MP REPORT

A better future Since I was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 2011, each week I have DAN ALBAS submitted View from the an MP HILL report in an effort to better communicate with citizens.

When the House of Commons is sitting it can often be a challenge to try and summarize a week of events in roughly 550 words.

This week, because of world events that have occurred since the terror attacks in Paris that claimed 129 lives, words alone cannot put this horrific event into context.

However we also must not shy away from discussing such a critically important topic that is of great importance to all citizens who live in a free and democratic society.

Over the past number of days I have heard an unprecedented amount of concern regarding the new Liberal government’s plans to accelerate the process to bring 25,000 refugees to Canada before the end of the year.

In large part the concern is overwhelming related to security.

Citizens are rightfully concerned that those who would seek to do us harm might attempt to compromise the generosity of our refugee system in order to gain entry to Canada.

These concerns are compounded by unconfirmed reports that possibly one of the terrorists involved in the Paris attacks could have gained entry posing as refugees.

A Doomsday Machine, or the next best thing

GWYNNE DYER The international STAGE “Of course, the whole point of a Doomsday Machine is lost if you keep it a secret,” said Dr Strangelove to the Soviet ambassador in Stanley Kubrick’s classic

film of the same name.

Fifty years later, it would appear that the Russians have finally watched the movie.

In Kubrick’s film, a rogue American air force commander orders a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union – but he doesn’t know that the Russians have built a Doomsday Machine that will automatically explode and spread lethal radioactive contamination all over the world if American nuclear weapons land on the USSR. So everybody dies.

Moscow doesn’t want the United States to make

the same mistake in real life, so it has just let us know that it is building a mini-doomsday machine.

It wouldn’t destroy the whole world, just a half a continent or thereabouts – like, say, all of the United States east of the Mississippi River, or all of China within 1,500 km of the coast.

It is awkward to say this sort of thing through diplomatic channels — “I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that we can now destroy half of your country with only one explosion” — so the preferred method is to get the word out by an

accidental “leak.”

In this case, the leak occurred on Nov. 10 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, where President Vladimir Putin was meeting with his senior military officers.

A cameraman for state-owned Channel One television “accidentally” filmed a general studying a poster of a new weapon called “Status-6,” a giant torpedo (a “robotic minisubmarine,” the poster called it) that can travel up to 10,000 km at high speed carrying a huge payload — like, for example, a truly gigantic

See ‘Concerns’ Page 9

Publisher Theresa Arnold publisher@ merrittherald.com

thermonuclear weapon.

And the film clip was broadcast all over Russia before the “mistake” was discovered.

The text on the poster was clearly legible. The “oceanic multi-purpose Status-6 system,” it said, is designed to “destroy important economic installations of the enemy in coastal areas and cause guaranteed devastating damage to the country’s territory by creating wide areas of radioactive contamination, rendering them unusable for military, economic or other activity for a long time.”

See ‘Nuclear’ Page 9

Sales Associate Holly Roshinsky sales2@ merrittherald.com

Production Dan Swedberg production2@ merrittherald.com

MERRITT HERALD 2090 G

Editor David Dyck newsroom@ merrittherald.com

RANITE AVE., PO BOX 9, MERRITT, B.C. PHONE (250) 378-4241

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FAX (250) 378-6818

Copyright subsists in all display advertising in this edition of the Merritt Herald. Permission to reproduce in any form, must be obtained in writing from the publisher. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada, through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.

This Merritt Herald is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province’s newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2.

For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org

TUESDAY, November 24, 2015 • 9

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YOUR OPINION NEW AT THE LIBRARY

Concerns around refugee screening process from experts, citizens

Fiction

The ISIS Apocalypse: The history, strategy, and doomsday vision of the Islamic State

Guest Room

By Chris Bohjalian

Righting Canada’s Wrongs: Native residential schools

In addition, a growing number of security experts have cautioned that such a large number of refugees cannot be effectively or properly screened in such a small window of time.

As a result of these concerns many elected officials, most notably Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall, have asked the Trudeau Liberal Government to slow down the process and ensure that it is done properly.

The concerns put forward by Premier Wall are very similar to what I am hearing from an overwhelming majority of citizens here in Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola and are concerns that as the official opposition, we will be taking to the Liberal government in Ottawa.

To date, the Liberal government has indicated the accelerated timeline that was set by the Liberals during the election will be maintained.

Unfortunately, the Liberal government has not released a formal plan nor effectively communicated how this accelerated refugee process can be accomplished in a manner that does not compromise public safety, more so as the new Minister of Public Safety has been quoted as admitting that no vetting process is foolproof.

To what extent the accelerated screening process is foolproof remains undetermined at this point thus further creating legitimate concerns for citizens.

While the need for screening and security is clearly understandable, we must not overlook that the vast majority of refugees are only looking for a safe and welcoming country where they will not be in harm’s way.

Many of these families undertook significant risks and left everything behind in the hopes that a better future could be possible for them and their families.

Here in Canada, we are that future. We can choose to get involved, to be welcoming and to support those individuals, groups and organizations that often act as sponsors to help refugees settle in our towns and cities.

While the need for security and adequate screening remains a critical concern, it must not be overlooked that successful immigration and integration depends upon a welcoming and inclusive society that respects and supports our diversity.

All of this has come to be part of what it means to be a Canadian. I will continue to provide updates on this matter as they become available, and encourage all citizens to share comments and concerns with me by emailing Dan.Albas@parl.gc.ca or calling 1-800-665-8711.

Medicinal Plants at Home

You can comment on any story you read @ merrittherald.com

?

House of the Rising Sun

By James Lee Burke

HERALD QUESTION OF THE WEEK

The Crossing

By Connelly Michael The Illegal

By Lawrence Hill

To vote, go online to merrittherald.com

Nuclear one-up game continues between the Russia and U.S. From Page 8 “It’s true some secret data got into the shot. Therefore it was subsequently deleted,� said President Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov. But the complete text and a cutaway diagram of the Status-6 are now available on a hundred websites, and the Kremlin doesn’t seem particularly upset.

Indeed, the government newspaper Rossiiskaya Gazeta later reported details of the weapon, without showing the diagram, and speculated that it would carry a gigantic cobalt bomb — just like the Doomsday Machine in “Dr Strangelove�, although a little smaller.

The explosive core of the warhead would be a massive thermonuclear bomb – perhaps as big as 100 megatonnes, almost twice as big as any bomb ever tested. Around this core would be wrapped a thick layer of cobalt-59, which on detonation would be transmuted into highly radioactive cobalt-60 with a half-life longer than five years. “Everything living will be killed,� the paper said.

Konstantin Sivkov of the Russian Geopolitical Academy helpfully explained to the BBC Russian Service that a warhead of up to 100 megatons would produce a tsunami up to 500 metres high, which together with the intense radiation would wipe out all living things up to 1,500 km deep inside U.S. territory.

This is crazy talk, but the Russians have always lived in fear that the United States might somehow develop the ability to destroy Russia without suffering serious retaliation. And the truth is that the American military have never stopped looking for some way to do exactly that.

Back in the 1950s, when U.S. Strategic Air Command really could have destroyed the Soviet Union with impunity, physicist Andrei Sakharov (later the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize) actually proposed a weapon rather like System-6 so that Russia could take revenge from the grave.

The latest U.S. gambit is anti-ballistic missile (ABM) defences to be based in Eastern Europe, allegedly to defend against nuclear missiles coming

CORRECTION

Dan Albas is the Member of Parliament for Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola. ...

MBER

Kids Eat

REME

Nonfiction Collapse of Parenting: How we hurt our kids when we treat them like grown-ups

From Page 8

Speak up

from Iran.

But Iran doesn’t have any nuclear weapons, and it may never get them. Yet the American ABM system is going to be deployed in Poland and Romania in the near future.

Moscow is therefore convinced that the whole project is really intended to shoot down its own missiles shortly after launch.

There is no realistic possibility that the American ABM defences could really destroy all or even most of Russia’s missiles, but that is exactly what Putin is saying to his generals on the sound-track just before the TV clip focusses on System-6.

System-6 is not scheduled to be operational until 2019-20, and it may never be built at all.

But the old game of nuclear one-upmanship goes on even though the two countries are no longer really enemies. It is pointless and potentially very dangerous, and President Obama might usefully spend the last of his political capital putting an end to it.

Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries.

An article on page three of the Nov. 19 issue of the Herald titled “Christmas is coming� originally conflated the Craft Fair and the Craft Project, which are actually two entirely separate events. The Herald regrets the error.

Should Trudeau keep his promise to allow 25,000 Syrian refugees into Canada by 2016?

PREVIOUS QUESTION Should the Paris attacks change Trudeau’s position on Canada’s assistance in the UN campaign against ISIS??

YES: 80% NO: 20%

LETTERS POLICY The Merritt Herald welcomes your letters, on any subject, addressed to the editor.

Letters must be signed and include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification purposes.

Letters may be edited for length, taste and clarity. Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

Email letters to: newsroom@ merrittherald. com.

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HERALD SPORTS Have a sports story tip? Tell us about itt by calling 250-3 250-378-4241 -37 -3 78 8-4 4241 24 41 or emailing sp sports@merrittherald.com

Merritt celebrates

all week long November 21 was officially Sports Day in Canada, but many communities across the nation decided to make it a week-long celebration of active, healthy living by their citizens of all ages.

Merritt was one of them!

The City’s Leisure Services Department in conjunction with PacificSport Interior BC put together a passport of events happening in and around our community, and encouraged Merrittonians to discover, explore and participate. Many locals took up the challenge!

The Merritt Herald was on site to take in and record a lot of the activities — from gymnastics to bingo, from indoor tennis and pickleball to taekwon-do, curling, lifeguard training and seniors aerobics. The common denominator amongst them all — people socializing, having fun and keeping fit. That’s sports!

Photos by Ian Webster/Herald and submitted

TUESDAY, November 24, 2015 • 11

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INDEX IN BRIEF

Family Announcements Community Announcements Employment Business Services Pets & Livestock Merchandise For Sale Real Estate Rentals Automotive Legals

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

Notice or errors on the Àrst day should immediately be called to the attention of the classiÀed department to be corrected for the following edition.

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MERRITT HERALD Ph: 378-4241 Fax: 378-6818 Advertising: sales@merrittherald.com Publisher: publisher@merrittherald.com Editorial: newsroom@merrittherald.com Production: production@merrittherald.com www.merrittherald.com 2090 Granite Avenue, P.O. Box 9, Merritt, B.C.

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Auctions BUD HAYNES Ward’s Firearms Auction. Saturday, Dec. 12, 10am, 11802 - 145 St., Edmonton. Estate John V. Abrey of Coaldale, Alberta. Collection ďŹ rearms, rare RCMP items, 12 saddles, uniforms, memorabilia. Estate Elmer (Tom) Stehr of Swift Current, SK. Phone Linda 403-5971095; Brad 1-780-451-4549; www.budhaynesauctions.com. www.wardsauctions.com.

Merchandise for Sale

Misc. Wanted Private Coin Collector Buying Collections, Olympic Gold & Silver Coins, Estates Jewelry+ Chad: 1-778-281-0030 Local.

Rentals Modular Homes Available immediately, small 1+ bedroom trailer. Suitable for 1 person or a couple.

Washer/Dryer/Fridge/Stove.

Heat/Lights included. Small partially fenced yard. Clean, quiet, close to town, schools, bus . $850.00 month.

250-378-0887

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

Rooms for rent. $400/mon. for room.$500 for large room Seniors or working person preferred. Contact Doug at 250-315-7022 or douggdixon@yahoo.ca.

No alcohol or drugs.

No Parties

Misc. for Sale

Suites, Lower

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ROMANCE Your Christmas Local BC Adult Retailer Shop Online Now & Receive 25% OFF! www.shagg.ca

4 bdrm bsmt suite. $980.00 per month. Utilities, w/d, f/s, included. ref req. n/s.

250-280-1268 or 315-7554

Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Auto Financing

Auto Financing

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Rooms for Rent

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VALUE ADDED LUMBER REMANUFACTURING PLANT Production Workers: $14-20/hr.

Steady employment with overtime available.

CertiÀed Fork Lift Operators with sawmill experience Class 1 Drivers Required for in town and out of town lumber transfer runs: Wage dependant on experience Steady employment Please submit resume in person to 1195 Houston Street, Merritt B.C. 250-378-6161

Full Time OfÀce Position We are currently looking for an outstanding individual interested in continuing their career with Murray Chevrolet Buick GMC in Merritt, B.C. If you have ofÀce, banking, client care, phone skills or enjoy dealing with people this is a position for you.

Some reasons why we’re an excellent company to work with: • Work with one of Canada’s 50 best managed companies • Comprehensive training program with industry experts • Health care plan with full beneÀts We are looking for the right individual who has the following qualiÀcations: • A great attitude • Strong data entry skills • Analytical and computer skills • Phone experience an asset Please contact in conÀdence our General Manager Richard Antonenko at richard@murraygmmerritt.com, 1-250-378-9255 or apply online.

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Drive to Save Lives

12 • TUESDAY, November 24, 2015

www.merrittherald.com

JOIN THE BATTLE ONLY AT:

Kamloops Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram

YOU COULD

WIN $10,000 IN CASH!

*

PLUS INSTANT PRIZES!*

SHARE & WIN UP TO $2,000 IN INSTANT PRIZES!**

0%

FINANCING (2)

‘15 DODGE DART SE

IN PRICE ADJUSTMENTS!

MB#PFDH41-25A

up to

17,498 $48/WK 3.49%

$

(5)

+TAX & $595 ADMIN. FEE

FOR 96 MONTHS WITH $0 DOWN

1,500 BONUS CASH

$

‘15 DODGE JJOURNEY CVP

‘15 DODGE GRAND CARAVAN CVP

19,998 $55/WK 3.49%

$

(5)

+TAX & $595 ADMIN. FEE

FOR 96 MONTHS WITH $0 DOWN

M MB#RTKH53-29E

10,845

$

MB#JCDH49-22F-WFU M

FOR 72 MONTHS!(1)

$

19,998 $55/WK 3.49%

(5)

+TAX & $595 ADMIN. FEE

FOR 96 MONTHS WITH $0 DOWN

DIESEL DIES SEL ENGIN ENGINE(4)

$

‘15 JEEP CHEROKEE SPORT

19,998 $55/WK 3.49%

+TAX & $595 ADMIN. FEE

(5)

FOR 96 MONTHS WITH $0 DOWN

MB#KLTL74-24A

NO CHARGE

MB#UFCE41-28A

‘15 CHRYSLER 200 LX

$

24,998 $68/WK 2.99%

+TAX & $595 ADMIN. FEE

(5)

FOR 96 MONTHS WITH $0 DOWN

MB#DS6L41-25A AGR,XFH

FOR FO OR O R CU CURR CUR CURRENT RRENT RRE N TR NT TRUCK RU R UC CK CK OWNERS & JOURNEYMEN(3)

‘15 RAM Q 1500 SXT QUAD CAB 4X4

28,398 $78/WK 2.99 %

$

+TAX & $595 ADMIN. FEE

(5)

FOR 96 MONTHS WITH $0 DOWN

LOG-IN: WWW.KAMLOOPSWINNER.CA OR CALL-IN: 1.844.332.1310 All images are for display purposes only. No two offers can be combined. One offer per customer only, limit two vehicles per household. At time of printing all vehicles were available. Vehicles may not be exactly as shown. Dealer retains all rebates, discounts, and incentives in order to achieve prices and payments shown in this flyer. All dealer rebates, discounts, factory incentives, prices and interest rates subject to change or end without notice as new Retail Incentive Programs are announced. Vehicle offers end Monday, November 30, 2015. *Contest begins Monday, August 10, 2015 and ends Thursday, December 31, 2015. No invitation/flyer and/or direct mail piece presented after this time will be valid. In order to be entitled to claim your prize, you must be at the least the age of majority as of October 1, 2015 and attend in person at Kamloops Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, 2525 E. Trans Canada Hwy., Kamloops, BC (“Event Headquarters”) on or before Friday, December 31, 2015 and present/surrender your mailpiece, and answer a skills testing question. All winning prizes shall be determined by Kamloops Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, in their sole and absolute discretion. The Grand Prize is $10,000 cash. A contest will be held with respect to the Grand Prize. For full contest rules and regulation, see Kamloops Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram or go on-line to WWW. KamloopsWinner.ca. Winner is responsible for all taxes, fees, and all registration, according to the rules of dealership and the Canada Revenue Service. **Discounts, Services or Products worth up to $2,000. Purchase may be required. Certain conditions may apply. Redemption is at sole discretion of dealer. Amounts may vary per product, service or discount. (1) 0% purchase financing for up to 72 months available to qualified customers on approved credit. Rate/Term varies by model/option package purchased. 0% financing not available on Ram Regular Cab and Chassis Cab models. Factory offer, subject to change or end without notice, certain conditions may apply, see dealer for details. Example: $20,000, with a $0 down payment, financed at 0.0% for 72 months equals monthly payments of $417; cost of borrowing of $0 and a total obligation of $20,000. (2) Up to $10,845 in rebates and discounts. Example: In stock 2015 Ram Heavy Duty Trucks (2500/3500) models. Discount includes no charge Cummins Diesel, and $1,500 loyalty bonus cash. Amount of discount varies by model/option package purchased, plus taxes, on approved credit. (3) $1,500 Ram Truck Loyalty/Conquest/Skilled Trades Bonus Cash is available on the retail purchase/lease of 2015 Ram 1500 (excludes Regular Cab), 2014/2015 Ram 2500/3500, or 2015 Ram Cargo Van and is deducted from the negotiated price after taxes. Eligible customers include: 1. Current owners/lessees of a Dodge or Ram Pickup Truck or Large Van or any other manufacturer’s Pickup Truck or Large Van & Customers who are skilled tradesmen or are acquiring a skilled trade. See your retailer for complete details. (4) $9,345 N/C Diesel Discount amount represents the MSRP of the No Charge Cummins Diesel engine offered on already equipped new 2014/2015 Ram Heavy Duty models. See your retailer for complete details. (5) VEHICLES MAY NOT BE EXACTLY AS ILLUSTRATED. All incentives and rebates are reflected on advertised vehicles including no charge options and conquest bonus. Advertised prices include all factory incentives, GST/PST and $595 Admin. fee are extra, on approved credit. All payments are based on 3.49% APR (Except MB#KLTL74-24A and MB#DS6L41-25A, AGR, XFH, based on 2.99% APR) for 96 months with $0 down payment. Factory order/Dealer Locate may be required on all advertised units. MB#UFCE41-28A, Cost of Borrowing (CB): $2,928, Total Obligation (TO): $22,926; MB#RTKH53-29E, CB: $2,928, TO: $22,926; MB#JCDH49-22F, WFU, CB: $2,928, TO: $22,926; MB#KLTL74-24A, CB: $3,116, TO: $28,114; MB#PFDH41-25A, CB: $2,562, TO: $20,060; MB#DS6L41-25A, AGR, XFH, CB: $3,615, TO: $32,613. Although every precaution is taken, errors in price and/or specifications may occur in print. We reserve the right to correct any such errors without prejudice or penalty to ourselves. We are not responsible for typographical errors, nor are we responsible for late receipt of mail. Contact dealerships knowledgeable and professional sales consultants for any question or more information.