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120 YEARS YOUR COMMUNITY
NEWSPAPER
1891-2011
Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • F R I D AY, F E B R U A R Y 2 5 , 2 0 1 1
Crime spree nets suspect and alligator Robert Freeman The Progress A Popkum resident has been charged in connection with a day-long crime spree earlier this month that had police in Agassiz and Chilliwack following a trail that included one woman’s emergency 911 call, one vehicle burning under the Agassiz/Rosedale bridge, one dust-up with a Chilliwack car dealer, one startled shopper in the Chilliwack Safeway parking lot - and one alligator. “They knew it was the same person linking them all,” RCMP Const. Tracy Wolbeck said, about the trail of crimes police were tracking. But the challenge was assessing all the information coming rapid-fire into two RCMP jurisdictions, and catching the suspect before the next crime report. The spree began at about 5 a.m. on Feb. 11 when police responded to a 911 call from a woman on Bernston Road in Popkum. “While Agassiz police were clearing the residence, they discovered a small (marijuana) growop in the basement and an “exotic pet” that was later caught by animal control officers,” Wolbeck said. She would not disclose the nature of the 911 call, but the “exotic pet” was an alligator. B.C. conservation officer Steve Jacobi, sergeant in charge of the Fraser Valley area, said the alligator seized by conservation officers was a small American alligator about 28 inches long.
Late winter blast An early morning snowfall, coupled with plunging temperatures, created havoc on Chilliwack roadways Wednesday morning. Worst hit was Highway 1 just west of the Lickman overpass where two jack-knifed semi trailer units were part of multiple accidents on the road. Pictured above: A vehicle sits in a water-filled ditch after leaving a slippery Highway 1 while travelling eastbound; the driver finds warmth in a blanket. Right: Earlier fire crews helped pull the driver from the stricken vehicle. Despite all the accidents, there were no reports of serious injuries. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
Continued: CRIME/ p9
Board overrules objections for boundary change Katie Bartel The Progress A 27-signature petition wasn’t enough to sway trustees to vote against a motion to change school boundaries for Yarrow students. Nor was verbal opposition expressed from several parents attending Tuesday night’s board
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meeting. Starting in September, middle school students living in Yarrow will be attending Mount Slesse middle school instead of Vedder middle. However, a one-time amendment was passed that would allow students going into Grade 7 next year with siblings already attending Vedder middle to attend VMS
if they so desired. The amendment affects four students. Parent Ingrid Schoolkate, who’s youngest child will be going into middle school next year, had great concerns going into the meeting and was adamant she did not want her son attending Mount Slesse. She was satisfied with the amendment.
“My son, from what I understand, has a choice because he has siblings [attending VMS],” she said following the meeting. “Ultimately it would have been good if all students were given a choice, but this is the next step.” Some parents expressed concerns regarding the short process, given they were only notified three weeks ago.
“The appearance is that it’s been done in haste,” said parent Dan Davis. Superintendent Corinne McCabe said that while there were suspicions of Mount Slesse’s enrollment continuing to decline, accurate projections weren’t available until early December. Continued: YARROW/ p8