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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Your source for weekly news and views in the Robson Valley

McBride mills

Volume 1 Issue 10

to re-open?

Industry sources mum on details Joseph Nusse and Laura Keil

lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com

While industry contacts remain tight-lipped, local sources say a firm called Goldstar Corp. is in discussions with the owners of the McBride Forest Industry (MFI) veneer plant and Medley Cedar mill to potentially re-open them for business.

The deal could include plans to build and run a 5 mw cogeneration plant which would be tied into the veneer kiln, McBride Mayor Mike Frazier says. The wood waste from the mills would be burned and the heat generated used to create steam, turn a turbine, and drive an electrical generator. Many larger mills in BC and Alberta have cogeneration plants tied in with their operations.

The MFI veneer plant and mill closed down in November of 2006 terminating over 100 jobs. It was the single biggest employer in the McBride area.

Industry sources confirmed there was interest in the mills, but declined comment pending a firm sale agreement.

While a deal to re-start largescale mill operations is welcomed by the McBride Com-

munity Forest Corporation, manager Marc von der Gonna says he remains cautiously optimistic.

“I think this is the sixth time this mill has supposedly been sold,” he says. “If somebody shows up, starts moving in, comes and says ‘Here is how much wood I want to purchase, here’s a deposit on it, here’s $100,000 or half a million in your bank account,’ ok, I can believe that.”

The buyers would have no form of tenure meaning they would have to buy wood from the McBride or Valemount community forests or a logging company like Carrier Lumber Ltd. Von der Gonna says the mills are likely in working order, except for the construction necessary to install upgrades such as a drier. The drier would allow wood to be stored a longer period before being shipped.

Van der Gonna says the Medley cedar mill, which is also mentioned in the anticipated sale, would generate 1520 jobs alone.

“You never know what’s going to pan out.”

More Inside:

Bud the Logger

Photo: Laura Keil Dean Osadchuk was one of 22 golfers taking their swing at the Men’s Open golf tournament in Valemount Aug. 14-15. Two golfers, Ryley Nordley and Peter Kolida, tied for first place, but Nordley broke the tie. Third place went to Brent Burling. Peter Kolida and Gary Foreman won the horserace competition on Sunday. On Tuesday, 25 young people age 7-17 took part in the Junior Golf Summer Program.

Cougar stalks Dunster See A3 Training tourists from Jasper

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Riding the Yellowhead rails Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com

The Continental Divide may split the Robson Valley and Jasper along the B.C.-Alberta border, but many tourists are finding that crossing the provincial line is a fabulous way to tour.

Ina Mentzel from Germany is hopping on the train today with her parents from Dusseldorf, Germany. They hadn’t heard of the Robson Valley. They came to Jasper from Vancouver, because they heard Jasper is less crowded than Banff.

They are on their way to Prince Rupert now. They will see Mount Robson from the train, though won’t be stopping.

It’s the case of many tourists who come to Jasper with only precious time to tour and little knowledge of the area.

Jasper, Alta. is the largest and most northerly Canadian rocky mountain national park and a World Heritage Site, highly publicized around the world.

The Robson Valley, in B.C. comprises the Mount Robson provincial park, and a train ride through shows it is chock full of wildlife, views and trails.

At this time of year, Jasper’s scenery is rugged; the Robson Valley’s is either hilly or snowcapped. Both offer waterfalls, crags and serene lakes. In Jasper you can stand alongside Sunwapta Falls, enjoy the beauty of Mount Edith Cavell, or connect with nature along 1,000-plus kms of trail, see Athabasca Glacier up close or soak in Miette Hotsprings.

In the Robson Valley, there is the serene calm of Kinbasket Lake, Cranberry Marsh, canoeing, and hikes to the top of many mountains, not to mention the creek where at this time of year Chinook Salmon come to spawn.

One key difference when you cross the divide is price. A quick comparison of hotels and groceries shows the steep increase in prices in Jasper.

The Via Rail train runs three times a week from Jasper to TeteJaune, Dunster and McBride and three times a week to Valemount, on a different line. For a one-way ticket, it’s $30 to McBride and $80 to Valemount ($25 to Valemount on the bus). On a clear day, you get a fabulous view of Mount Robson, the Seven Sisters, and Moose Lake during the 2.5 hour trip (1.5 hour drive in a car).

Photo: Laura Keil Above: Mount Robson as seen from the Jasper-Prince Rupert train. Left, Logan and Cory Pambrun from Edson, Alta. Below, Jasper-based Via employee Bruce Brown at the McBride station. The train also stops at Tete-Jaune and Dunster.

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Photos: Laura Keil Bees and flies buzzed around the bait inside the wildlife trap set by conservation officers at the residence in Dunster where a goat was killed and another injured.

Cougar stalks, kills animals in Dunster Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com

Just down the hill from where Angeline lives with her German Shepherd Sasha in Dunster is a pit in the earth. Something dug a hole, and now the dog has dug it up.

Angeline, who doesn’t want her last name used, wades through the waist-high plants on her property. The plants obscure the view down the slope, where she spotted the cougar that killed one of her 5-monthold goats.

“That’s where he buried the guts,” she says pointing at the pit. “This is where it dragged the poor baby.”

She was away berry picking last week and brought the dog along for her own safety. The goats were used to having free range over her property, and she hadn’t seen a cougar nearby in years.

When she returned from berry picking the young bottlefed goat was gone, and the remaining goats were huddled on her porch. The dog found the guts buried just paces from her driveway.

Then she caught sight of it: the sandy backhide slinking into the bush. She camped out in the loft above the goat shed with her gun that night, but it didn’t show.

Hours 9 am to 5:30 pm Monday - Friday

Sale runs till Aug 20, 2010 Discounts of 25 to 70% on select stock.

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She was lucky the cougar didn’t do more harm. A few days after she lost the goat, she was inside her cabin and heard the mama goat’s distressed bleet, this time for her other 5-month-old kid.

“The cougar had her right outside my window,” she says.

She let out Sasha and the dog scuffled with the cougar into the bush. Angeline put the goats inside her own cabin to keep them safe.

The young goat that survived the pounce still has the marks on its back.

“There’s a tooth or claw,” she says, running her hand over a black bump under the coarse white hair of its back. “There’s

one mark, then there’s more.”

The goat was not seriously injured and the dog is unharmed.

Now, next to the goat pen is a green metal trap, set up by conservation officers after Angeline reported the incident.

“When he steps on that, it’s supposed to release that platform and then the door bangs shut at the back.”

Inside the cage bees and flies buzz around what looks like porcupine meat.

“It’s still here,” she says. “It’s waiting for a baby to be vulnerable.”

She says the Ministry of Fish and Wildlife are returning with a team of dogs.

No one at the Ministry was available for comment as of press time.

Angeline says her neighbours are aware there are cougars in the area, but they have not had any altercations.

Her property is surrounded

by Crown land on three sides.

She has neighbours below her on the slope, but not in sight.

“I live in harmony with the animals as much as possible,” she says. “They have a right to be, but I figure this little space is mine.”

She says her goats are pets and don’t deserve a terrible death. “Ìt’s scary.”

Nusse Construction Basements to roofing Bathrooms and decks Renovations and retrofits If you need a job done right, put 35 years of experience to work for YOU!

Professional woodworking shop Completely self-equipped Concrete forms

Call 250-566-4840, ask for Tim

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Village updates McBride

The Council received notice from the Postal Workers’ Union that Canada Post will be cutting Joseph Nusse workers’ hours at the McBride jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com post office. Part-time employees Councillor Rick Thompson will have hours reduced from reported to council that the 29-25 hours per week. The Post Community Forest Board has Master’s hours and office hours approved two grants of a com- will remain unchanged. Mayor bined value of $1242,89. One Mike Frazier resolved to bring grant has been given to the Step- up the issue with MP Jay Hill ping Stones Daycare for equip- during his coming visit.

Council received an applicament. The other has been given tion for a tax fine exemption. to the Elks and Royal Purple for their annual Pioneer Days Log- The local business applying for gers’ Sports. A proposed grant to the exemption says that due to McBride Secondary School for a the Canada Day holiday, they school trip to Bamfield is still missed the July 2nd deadline.

The Council voted to deny an under review.

Council received notice that exemption when it was detersome McBride residents feel the mined that the Village is bound local deer population is too high. by the Community Charter to There are concerns regarding collect taxes on behalf of the gardens and safety. The Council province and it is not within the directed the village Chief Ad- village’s authority to grant disministrative Officer Eliana Cle- cretionary exemptions.

McBride airport manager Kelly ments to look into the issue.

The Council received notice Mortensen proposed an expanthat Jay Hill, Federal Member of sion of a taxi-way at the airport Parliament for McBride will be to accommodate more hangar retiring at the time of the next sites. The new taxi-way will be federal election. Hill will be vis- grass since pavement would make the project significantly iting McBride on Aug. 18

more expensive. The proposal is in keeping with plans already in place. The Village will collect taxation revenue from any new hangars. The total estimated cost of the expansion is $1,000. The Council voted unanimously to proceed with the project.

Council received a letter from Joan Chess, representative for the Fraser Basin Council (Prince George Region). In the letter, Chess presents a ‘tool kit sustainability plan’ offered to communities within the Fraser Basin to help promote community sustainability. Councillor Thompson recommends the village consolidate efforts that have already been completed to date.

The village will then use the kit to review their efforts. The recommendation was carried.

Do you know of a new business?

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sets, one with a summer theme and one with a winter theme.

The banners measure 30 by 60 inches and are made of matte vinyl. They cost $148 each, and the total cost of the project was $3,759.

Council voted that they have no objections to the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources looking into obtaining a geothermal permit in the Canoe Reach are, which is not within the Village’s jurisdiction.

The building inspector’s report shows there were four conLaura Keil struction projects in the month lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com of July in Valemount, with a The light poles along 5th total value of 394,000. The yearAve. will soon be adorned with to-date total is 1,258,500. eight decorative banners. TourThe Village will support a lobism Valemount ordered two by effort by the Union of Brit-

Valemount

ish Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) in light of prohibitive increases in the cost of RCMP for municipalities across the province.

The Village currently pays about $40,000 for police service in the village. In a letter to council, the UBCM Community Safety Committee states 64 per cent of local governments say RCMP costs are not affordable and are rising faster than inflation, population growth, and other local government departments. The letter says local governments in B.C. do not have the ability to pay for RCMP policing costs as currently projected. The UBCM conference takes place Sept. 27Oct.1.

The Rocky Mountain Goat is distributed free weekly Office: 1070, 5th Avenue, Valemount British Columbia

Laura Keil

Telephone: (250) 566-4606 E-mail: jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com, or lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com Web-site: www.therockymountaingoat.com Mail Address: Box 21, Valemount BC, V0E 2Z0

Co-Owner Editor/Reporter lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com

Joseph Nusse

Co-Owner Publisher/Sales jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com

The Rocky Mountain Goat is produced and distributed by ‘The Rocky Mountain Goat News’ and is subject to copyright. Reproduction, or distribution of any article, photo, or other content must recieve prior consent from Joseph Nusse (Co-Owner/ Publisher) or Laura Keil (Co-Owner/Editor).

Illustrations by Luke Siemens

The Rocky Mountain Goat is a free distribution newspaper serving a population base of approximately 4,000 residents in Blue River to Valemount, McBride to Dome Creek.

Convenience Mail Delivery Subscription For questions, call The Goat at (250) 566-4606, or e-mail jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com

Robson Valley ($70/Year) Subscriber’s Name: P.O. Box #: Street Address: City/Province/Country: Postal/Zip Code:

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Please check off the appropriate boxes, fill out all of the lines, cut out the form along the dotted line, and mail with a cheque, or money order to: Subscription The Rocky Mountain Goat Box 21 Valemount, BC V0E 2Z0

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

More blue

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sticker parking Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com The Village of Valemount is looking at installing more parking spots for people with a disability in the downtown shopping district after concern from residents.

“It is a problem,” says village councillor Bobbi Roe. “There aren’t that many handicapped spots.”

Valemount resident Barb Shepherd says for people like herself with mobility problems, every step can be a hazard.

“In the winter it’s a death-trap out there if you have to walk very far,” she says, adding places like IGA are very good at helping people carry their groceries to their vehicle. The problem is she still has to get herself back to her car.

On 5th Ave., there are spots in front of the old grocery store, the bank, the parking lot next to Fields, and the drugstore.

Shepherd says there should be at least two spots in front of the grocery store, whereas now there is only one, located some 40 paces from the front doors.

“I see the stickers all the time in the morning, and they’re parked half a block away,” she says. Often there are big vehicles parked in front of the store that don’t have stickers, she says.

In order to receive a parking permit, you have to apply with a doctor`s signature and pay a fee of $20.

Salmon spawn!

Photo: Laura Keil

Grace and Alan Wong of Singapore took in the Salmon Talk next to Swift Creek in Valemount last week. The educational talk explains the migration and spawning cycle of the Chinook Salmon that travel from the Pacific Ocean to spawn in the creek. Several dozen people showed up for the 45-minute long session, which is held every night at 7 p.m. for the duration of spawning season.

Shepherd says it’s human nature to take a spot in front, if it’s not specially marked.

Village administrator Tom Dall says the

line painting on roads should be done by snow fall, at which point they will look at adding another spot.

They are looking at increasing the number of spaces on Cedar Street next to the IGA.

Clubhouse upgrades McBride seniors housing finally a-go Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com

Photo: Laura Keil

The Valemount Pines Golf Course and RV Park has finished its renovations of the patio and clubhouse. The pro-shop is now in the back room, instead of carpet there is hardwood floor, there are new tables and chairs and a covered pa-

tio that looks out onto the course.

Golf course manager Arnold Wied says the renovations were highly needed to replace the out-dated decor.

No changes were made to the course itself.

After a delay of over a month, construction on the B.C. Housing seniors’ housing units is underway in McBride.

Upgrades to the water and sewer began last week. Work on the foundation will begin as soon as that is done.

The move-in date for future residents will likely be pushed back until January or February.

Ray Guenther with Mierau Contractors Ltd. says they have been waiting for the green light from B.C. Housing, but the land transfer between Interior Health and B.C. Housing was held up. A spokesperson from B.C. Housing says the transfer is now completed.

Mierau Contractors are in charge of the work in Valemount, McBride as well as Clearwater. The housing units in Valemount were delivered last week. The work in Clearwater has not yet begun.

Photo: Laura Keil

The units, 10 in Valemount and 10 in McBride will provide low-income seniors with affordable housing.

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Tuesday, August 18, 2010

Editorial:

The Robson Valley: Jasper’s forgotten cousin Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com It was somewhere between Mount Robson and Tete-Jaune that I began to breathe easier. It wasn’t allergies or the smell emanating from the cramped swaying bathroom. It was something about the mountains and the feeling that I was home – Heidi in her hills.

I’d spent the past night in Jasper, fending for myself in the National Park.

It was a culture shock after living three months in the Robson Valley. Jasper has many charms, but when its campgrounds are full and you try camping in a Sani-Dump station and are kicked out, you start to long for the wardenless backroads of Tete-Jaune.

Obviously I’m not a great tourist, and should not judge my time in Jasper accordingly. If I were deserted in Valemount, I’d likely curl up next to cabbage plants with my BC visitors’ guide. But I have one secret to share with tourists who come to Jasper to escape the crowds in Banff: the people, the seasons, and the discovery are just as fabulous in the Robson Valley. And you can take the train and bus here for dirt cheap.

I met some people on the train who were part of a tour to Mount Robson.

They took the train there and were bussed back by their tour company. But why stay in Jasper when a place like Valemount is closer to Mount Robson and more affordable? The Robson Valley is not as slick, buzzing or publicized

The Rocky Mountain Goat Presents...

Bud the logger

A column:

Bud the Logger takes a gander at Afghanistan as Jasper. But for tourists wanting a sense of discovery in their travels, this is the place to come.

The Via Rail train runs three times a week from Jasper to Tete-Jaune, Dunster and McBride and three times a week to Valemount, on a different line. For a one-way ticket, it’s $30 to McBride and $80 to Valemount ($25 to Valemount on the bus). On a clear day, you get a fabulous view of Mount Robson, the Seven Sisters, and Moose Lake during the 2.5 hour trip (1.5 hour drive in a car).

It’s not just the mountains that move me. Ever since moving to the Robson Valley, I’ve been touched by the friendliness and generosity of the people.

After living in the big city for two years, the Valley has felt like a giant hammock, always ready rock me into good humour, if ever I get stressed.

I can understand people who stay here their entire lives. I love floating in Kinbasket Lake, or relaxing with a coffee and the mountains in perfect quiet, or braving the sun for an exciting day at the rodeo grounds. Whatever the day, there is always something to do – often for little money.

Maybe that’s why I inhaled deeply when the train rolled into the green of the Valley. It was un-crowded space to reflect on my surroundings. And no Sani-Dumps to spoil my camp.

So in Nov. 2008 we got our own air support over in Afghanistan. Well it’s not really ours, cause if some other Nato force needs it more than us they get it first. Also we don’t own it we just pay a contractor to supply it. But it’s a Canadian contractor, well sorta, they got offices all over the world, places like Dubai, Baghdad, Kabul, Moscow, Rome, London and Washington. Hmm, sounds like a multinational corporation don’t it? Oh well they say they are Canadian, they also say they specialise in servicing disasters and war zones, well they’re in the right place cause Afghanistan is sure enough a disaster.

Anyway, the boys at Skylink Aviation inc. are providing Russian helicopters, apparently these are a study design and have proven useful to the Russians when they were occupying Afghanistan. I hope they have changed the paint scheme on these machines, ya never know, might be a few Mujahideen still kickin around that remember how to fire a shoulder rocket. Anyway,

Skylink is prepared, cause some of their pilots are ex Russian combat and have experience from the last time they were there. So this is all good news. I don’t know whether these pilots wear Canadian uniforms or Russian, maybe they wear a corporate uniform. Lot of questions here, who will want these guys back if they get shot down? Hard to say, ain’t it? Could be a trend, maybe they get Canadian citizenship if they survive.

I’m sure glad I didn’t have to sign up for a war just to get a job. That’s the surest way I know to create hell on earth.

The only thing worse would be to let Work Safe start run’n the war. Wait! Just a moment now! This could be brilliant!

If we get those guys involved maybe they would declare a “stop work” until they figured out a safe way to resume the killing. Well, there’s my idea for the day, I’ll let someone smarter than me run with it, I’d rather be loggin.

Bud

Do you like Bud’s take on the world?

Comments lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com

Bud dwells in the small logging towns of British Columbia, but most recently he has been spotted in the Robson Valley. Everybody knows Bud, you might recognize your dad or your neighbour in him. A life long logger who didn’t get much schoolin, Buds’ news is like Bud himself, straightforward, honest and rough around the edges.

New smoke prediction system for Western Canada Joseph Nusse jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com A new smoke forecasting system has been launched by the province. According to provincial officials, the BlueSky Western Canada Smoke Forecasting System combines forest fire information including location and size, with weather forecast computer models to provid an hour-by-hour forecast of the location and concentration of smoke in B.C. and Alberta up to 48 hours into the future.

Since 2007, the Ministry of Healthy Living and Sport, Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Forests and Range

have been working in partnership with numerous agencies to develop a smoke forecasting system for B.C. and Alberta at a total cost of $95,000. Organizations involved include Environment Canada, Alberta Environment, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Natural Resources Canada, the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the United States Forest Service.

“Wildfire smoke has been affecting communities across B.C.,” says Environment Minister Barry Penner. “The BlueSky Western Canada Smoke Fore-

casting System can help people anticipate and prepare for air quality changes.

While BlueSky will be used regularly by air quality meteorologists along with the public, it will also help the tourism sector, and transportation, health services and environmental regulatory agencies.”

BlueSky is operated by UBC’s Department of Earth and Ocean Sciences and is based on a similar system used in the United States. Smoke forecasts for B.C. and Alberta are produced daily and displayed as hour-by-hour anima-

tions of smoke plume locations with corresponding fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations due to smoke.

Provincial officials say that the new system will also help B.C.’s Ministry of Environment decide when to issue air quality advisories.

BlueSky smoke forecasts are available daily in visual animations from B.C.’s air quality website at www.bcairquality.ca/ bluesky.

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

4/4 Truck For Sale

Chamber re-enters web world

Robson Valley Weather Wednesday

Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com

I’ve lived in the Robson Valley for 31 years, and every time I’ve gone looking for a good, dependable, low mileage vehicle it’s almost impossible.

Well here’s one available. My 1995 NISSAN XE-V6 4/4 5-speed is very clean and reliable. There’s 116K on the odometer, and it’s always been cared for by Robson Valley Auto Service. It has new tires, new battery, no cracked glass, very minimal rust, cassette and CD player, canopy and boat rack. The only reason I’m parting with my faithful chariot is that I cannot operate a clutch anymore, so bought an automatic. I purchased this truck when it had 21 pampered Ks, and have never had a wreck or any mechanical difficulties. I wish this truck was around when I was looking for a good 4/4. Asking $7200.

Phone Mick @ 250-968-4332 or e-mail @ callasm@telus.net

The Valemount Chamber of Commerce is launching a new website this week. Chamber Secretary Marie Birkbeck says the new site will make it easier to find local businesses from anywhere in the world.

“It’s designed for anyone who wants to know about services in the area,” she says. “It doesn’t do any good to have all these little brochures if it’s not made available to the public.”

She says she receives many calls from people outside the Robson Valley who are looking for information on local businesses. The

business directory will allow people to search for contact information for any organization listed on the site.

“It’s important to market Valemount,” Birkbeck says. “It’s important to let people know what we have here. We’re not just a stop along the road.”

The Chamber also commissioned a new logo. Donna Skerlak, of Edmonton built the website.

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Thursday

20 9 Sun and Cloud

Friday

16 5 Rain 40%

Saturday

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As owners, we live here too!

Sunday

Gardening with Pete

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Monday

Peter Amyoony Special to The Goat Mid August can be a busy time in the gardens around our Valley. A lot of produce is coming on all at once and the time to freeze, can, dry and preserve is here for sure. If you haven’t already started to pull the dirt away from your onions, it is time to get to it so they will fall over and cure before the frost.

It is also time to dig around a few garlic plants to see if the “papers” are well formed. If so, it is best to pull them and hang them in a dry airy shed to finish maturing and cure for winter storage.

When the tops of onions and garlic die back and are crispy they can be cut off an inch or so above the bulb. I find it best to store the bulbs in mesh bags or paper bags in a dry place. Both keep well in either a warm dry place or a very cold (not freezing!) dry place. If they

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are stored between 40-60F (5-15C) they tend to rot or sprout in mid winter.

If you have tomatoes coming on too fast and don’t feel like canning on hot summer days, you may want to try a method shown to me a few years ago.

With a sharp paring knife, cut out the stem end, chop the tomato skin and all and put in a blender. When the blender is full, blend until there are no signs of skin or chunks and then pour into a large roaster. Repeat until the roaster is almost full or you run out of tomatoes.

Place the roaster in the oven at 250275F. Stir every hour or so and cook until they are thick like tomato paste. Cool and pour into ice-cube trays and freeze for a few hours. Dump into freezer bags and use as needed. This method takes much less freezer space than freezing

whole tomatoes.

Meanwhile, back in the garden, if you have spaces left where you had early crops, you can clean off the area and plant some buckwheat or fall rye to turn under next spring. This builds your soil and adds lots of organic matter rather than leaving the bare soil to bake out all the humus in the hot August sun.

If you have an area that gets only the morning sun, you could plant another crop of leaf lettuce, spinach or radishes for a mid-September treat. I find the germination is better this time of year if I plant the row as usual and water it well, then cover it with a board held off the ground with a few stones or sticks. This protects the seed from the hot mid-day sun. These crops don’t germinate well in extreme heat. Check every day and re-

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move the board when the seeds sprout.

(This is best done on a cloudy day so the little seedlings don’t get sunburned on their first day out!)

Pete Amyoony is a gardener in the Robson Valley of central B.C. high in the Rocky Mountains near Mount Robson. He has lived, worked and gardened in the Dunster area for almost thirty years.

Attention all Robson Valley tourism businesses: The Rocky Mountain Goat is now distributed free in Jasper AND Mt. Robson

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Local performers to School negotiations shine at music fest still in headlock Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com

Photo: Laura Keil Robson Valley singer-songwriter Raghu Lokanathan entertains at the Anglican United Church in Valemount on August 3rd, 2010. He will be playing at the Robson Valley Music Festival Aug. 20-22.

A dozen local musicians will take the stage this weekend at the Robson Valley Music Festival in Dunster.

The festival attracts musicians from all over the world, and that includes many talented folks from the Valley.

Tete-Jaune musician John Crowley has played at the festival before. He met his wife there several years ago.

He’s got folk tunes to share on his guitar and says he’s looking forward to being at the site in Dunster - taking a swim in the river and meeting other musicians.

Organizer Shara Gustafson says are expecting this year to be the biggest yet with at least 1300 people on their one-square-kilometre property over the course of the three days. About 40 acts will play. They have more children’s activities like a giant interactive salmon inside of which a storyteller will entertain children. They also hope to build a giant sandbox out of the bow of a pirate ship

ROBSON VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL 2010 MAINSTAGE SCHEDULE

ROBSON VALLEY MUSIC FESTIVAL 2010 WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

6:30 Opening Ceremonies with Brent Morton (Tweener Stage) 7:00 Sasha Lewis 8:00 Jesse Dee & Jacquie B 9:00 The Shaman 10:00 The F-Holes 11:00 Aurora Jane 12:00 Earthbound SATURDAY 12:00 Peter Alan 1:00 Raghu Lokanathan 2:00 Joanna Chapman-Smith 3:00 Faye Blais 4:00 Linda McRae 5:00 JP De Roover BREAK 7:00 Fish & Bird 8:00 Brian Macmillan 9:00 Kinobe & Soulbeat Africa 10:00 Blackberry Wood 11:00 Mamaguroove 12:15 Papagroove SUNDAY 11:00 Gospel Workshop with Shane & Lori, Pam & Bob and Laurie Lemke 12:00 Valley Kids Showcase 1:00 Blue Syntax 2:00 Jessica Heine 3:00 Scott Dunbar 4:00 Aurora Jane & Massive Change 5:00 Papagroove & Friends

10:00 – 11:00 YOGA 11:00 – 1:00 Learn Traditional Ugandan Dance & Song with KINOBE (all ages welcome!)

1:00 – 2:00 Storytelling in Songwriting w/ Jessica Heine, Raghu Lokanathan, Scott Cook 2:00 – 3:30 Politics in Songwriting w/ Mamaguroove, Papagroove, Aurora Jane & Scott Dunbar 3:30 – 5:00 Introduction to Gypsy Jazz Guitar Clinic w/ Phill West ( bring your guitars!)

SUNDAY 10:00 – 11:00 YOGA 11:00 – 12:30 Traditional Songs & Stories Of Uganda w/ KINOBE (all ages welcome!)

12:30 – 2:00 Girls in the Round w/Andrea Ramolo, Ashley Slater, Joanna ChapmanSmith, Faye Blais, Sasha Lewis 2:00 – 3:30 Boys in the Round w/Brian MacMillan, Free Soul, Jean Paul De Roover, Kaley Kinjo

For the side stage and children’s activities, see the festival website.

Submitted photo The above photo was issued as part of a press release by The Dunster Fine Arts School Society, where they stated their frustration with negotiations with the Prince George school district. They titled this staged photograph "This What School in Dunster is going to look like in September?" The release states: "The Dunster Fine Arts School Society is extremely aggravated with School District 57 administration and board following their inaction in regards to the recent counter offer to purchase the School and grounds." They still have not received word from the district about meeting to discuss the cost of the school transfer.

Laura Keil lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com As of press time, the Dunster Fine Arts School Society had not heard from the School District #57 (Prince George) since requesting a meeting with them Aug. 5th. The Society invited all school district trustees and administrators to a meeting Aug. 25th to negotiate the transfer of the school building and land from the school district to the society.

The meeting would be held in camera at the Dunster Community Hall followed by an open meeting the same evening to present the results of the negotiations to the public.

“If we haven’t heard anything by this weekend, we’ll have to take it from there,” says Chris Taylor, a member of the Society, on whether members had discussed what they will do if they don’t hear back.

With the beginning of the school year less than a month away, community members are still holding out for the school to remain open for their use.

The school society had submitted an offer to buy the school for $10 at the end of July, on the advice of members of the school district in June, says Taylor. The school district sent the Dunster Fine Arts School Society an offer to sell

the school for over $39,000. The face-toface meeting with the district would be to negotiate the price of the transfer.

The school district has said they are not discussing their counter-offer with the school society.

“There are no discussions. We sent them out counter offer and they sent one back,” school board vice-chair Lois Boone said when contacted early August, at which point the board had not yet come together to discuss the society’s counter-offer. The district did not respond to calls this week, as of press time.

The Dunster Fine Arts School Society was formed July 9th in order to transfer the building from the school district to the society for the purpose of continuing local education in the area. The school district has officially closed the school, and students were expected to attend elementary schools in McBride or Valemount, some 30-40 minutes away by car.

Parents occupied the building for five days beginning on the last day of school, until a Supreme Court of B.C. injunction ordered them out of the building.

www.therockymountaingoat.com

The Tourism Directory

Call Joe at 250-566-1444 or jnusse@therockymountaingoat.com

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

A9

$40 for 4 weeks, or $20 for one week

Teepee Meadows Cottage

Spectacular mountain and marshland scenery Phone:250-566-9875 Located 3 km west of Valemount

Hosts: Claude, Alke & Noland Germain 545 Jack Adams Road, Box 786 Valemount, BC V0E 2Z0 Open at 4:30 pm daily 1002 5th Avenue Valemount, B.C.

Visit us at www.caribougrill.com

The Business Directory

CRACKMASTER Windshield Repair/Replacement Specialists

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Open 9 am -5:30 pm Monday thru Friday

250.566.4380

We have lowered our rates! placing your business card in the Business or Tourism Directory now costs only $40/4 weeks.

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Briefs: TRAFFIC FINE REVENUE TO BE RETURNED TO ROBSON VALLEY MUNICIPALITIES Residents in McBride and Valemount will receive a total of $204,014 in provincial funding that will be put toward public safety initiatives and important municipal services. The funding is part of a $38.6 million instalment from the Strategic Community Investment Fund.

McBride is receiving $106,546 and Valemount is receiving $97,468 from Small Community and Regional District Grants.

The Strategic Community Investment Fund is a restructuring of provincial grants, consisting of the Traffic Fine Revenue Sharing program and Small

Community and Regional District Grants. This payment of $38.6 million to B.C.’s communities is the third instalment of a total $227 million provided to local governments since 2009; a first instalment of $133 million was paid to communities in March 2009 and a second instalment of $55.5 million was paid in September 2009.

Since 2001, the Province has transfered $413 million in traffic fine revenues back to communities.

DEAD CROW FROM THE CENTRAL OKANAGAN AREA HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR WEST NILE VIRUS This is the first positive case of WNV in a crow ever in B.C. and the first evidence of any WNV activity in the province this year. To date, there have been no human cases or positive mosquito pools reported or identified in the province.

The bird was tested as part of a routine surveillance, followed by subsequent confirmatory testing at the B.C. Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) Public Health Microbiology and Reference Laboratory.

WNV is spread by mosquitoes that

have fed on an infected bird. The disease can sicken people, horses, many types of birds and other animals. It is not spread from crows to other animals or people.

Eighty per cent of people who contract the virus have no symptoms at all.

The 20 per cent who do have symptoms may experience headache, fatigue, rash, fever, sore joints and muscles and sometimes an upset stomach.

About one in 150 people who are infected will get a serious illness that can include inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) or inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).

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Wednesday, August 18, 2010

www.therockymountaingoat.com

Twenty for a Toonie: The Classified Ads Classified ads policy If it is for free, it is free.

Up to 20 words for $2, 30 words for $3, 40 words for $4 etc. If the asking price is over $499, then it is $5 for 20 words, $6 for 30 words etc. Non-business announcements are welcome at the same rates.

The Rocky Mountain Goat reserves the right to refuse to print any classified submission that is not an advertisement of a private sale, or rental arrangement.

How to submit an ad

To submit your classified ad, e-mail or call the goat, or place your ad in an envelope with payment and drop it in our mailbox, 1070 5th Ave

By Craig Elder, M.A. Economics

Used Building Materials

For Sale

Wanted

Salvaged metal siding for sale. Perfect for any outbuilding or shop. Approximately 550-600 square foot coverage. Will consider any offer! Call Joe 250-566-1444

500 gal. single-wall fuel tank. Asking $200. Call 250566-5069, ask for Jared

Small truck canopy to fit S-10. Length 75” by width 60”. Message 250-566-1588

Heifer and one-year old llama for sale. Cute kitten to give away. Call 250-5660010, ask for Maria.

Chairs, hammock, specific gravity thermometer for beer making and coffee machine. Call 250-566-5135

House for sale. Three bedrooms. Two bathrooms.

14th Avenue. Asking $175, 000. Call 1-867-332-4778.

Ask for Ryan.

Roommate Wanted

Trusses for sale. Approximately 42 foot span. 14 units. Single slant, could be modified with a chalk line and skill saw. Now considering offers! Call Joe 250566-1444 and skill saw. Now considering offers! Call Joe 250-566-1444

Garage Sale

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Mobile Home with full addition, and large garage on a lot, in Valemount recently renovated. comes w/ fridge stove washer dryer.

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Asking Kakuro & Futoshiki $110.000.00 O.B.O Call 778 328 7285 leave a message.

$295 plus shared utilities.

1 bedroom in 2 bedroom apartment in Valemount.

250-566-4044 For Free

Sudoku-Puzzles .net

Family Garage Sale at Zotek’s 1144-5th Ave. Valemount, BC. Saturday August 21, 2010, 10AM-4PM. No early Sudoku, birds. There is something for everyone!

For free! Desperately seeking a good home for a small 3-year old blue-healer-rottweiller cross male dog, or if Puzzles you can also provide temporary foster parenting as well, please call: 250-566-0173.

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Shared Accommodation - dwntwn McBride Incl: lge bdrm with private entrance, ADSL, phone/ voice box, furniture.

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Plain Talk Horoscopes

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Taurus: Life is a constant struggle, never give up in a fight. If you feel you may be losing bring up that thing you said you had forgiven.

Gemini: I swear, you’ll be fine this week. Nothing to worry about... really.

Cancer: You will be disappointed this week but at least you are not a Gemini.

Leo: To be happy you have to be able to laugh at yourself as well as others, especially Geminis.

Virgo: Think hard and you will realize how badly you messed up.

Libra: Inward self-reflection piecing together the many clues from the last few years yield a twist ending.

Scorpio: Your life is coming together nicely, if anyone asks where you got that information, deny my existence.

Sagittarius: After last week’s horoscope you have lost all faith in me.

Capricorn: Always have patience, if that doesn’t work try yelling.

Aquarius: You have a long road ahead of you, so you best go to the bathroom now, you never know when your next chance will be.

Pieces: Your astrologer is running ‘trout’ of fish puns.

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Our classified ads are cheap, and EVERYBODY reads a free newspaper.

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www.therockymountaingoat.com

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Community Events

August

Aug. 20-22 Robson Valley Music Festival (See P.8) Location: Dunster, B.C. Aug. 28 Moving Arts Festival Location: Valemount Museum 11 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Aug. 27-29 Jasper Wildlife Festival (see sidebar) See ongoing events below

September

Sept. 4-5 Valemount Marina Association Annual Fishing Derby Location: Kinbasket Lake near Valemount Sept. 10-12 60th anniversary of the train wreck near Valemount that killed 17 soldiers who were en route to Korea.

Location: Valemount Sept. 15 Community Awareness Night Location: Valemount Community Hall Sept. 17th Thrift Store Fashion Show Location: Anglican Church, McBride

Ongoing diversions Every day Interpretive talks on spawning salmon Valemount Visitor Centre 7 p.m.

Every Wednesday Farmer’s Market in Jasper Location: Jasper Legion parking lot 10 a.m.

Valemount Seniors’ Music Night 7p.m.

Valemount Museum Children’s activities Every Thursday Cribbage tournament Location: Valemount Golden Years Lodge lower level 1-4 p.m.

Every Friday Farmer’s Market in McBride 12-3 Location: McBride Village Park In Valemount: Musical jam at The Gathering Tree cafe, 7 p.m.

Hamburgers and drinks at the Legion, 5:30 p.m.

Every Friday to Sunday Live music on the Canoe Mountain Restaurant patio.

Location: Valemount 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Every Saturday Farmer’s Market in Dunster 10 a.m.

Location: Dunster Community Hall Farmer’s Market in McBride

Where are you?

A11

Wildlife festival

Jasper’s 6th Annual Wildlife Festival is going to be a wild one. The event kicks off on Friday with slide guitar legend Ellen McIlwaine teaming up with park biologists for an evening of caribou and blues music. One of Rock and Blues most exciting performers, McIlwaine will be serving up her particular brand of blues, folk, rock n’ roll and world music. Known for having played with Jimmy Hendrix, Ellen McIlwaine’s music roots are firmly planted in the 70s but have spread worldwide with influences from Japan and the middle-east. Join McIlwaine and wildlife biologists at the Royal Canadian Legion at 7pm on August 27th for Caribou got the blues an unforgettable evening in support of caribou recovery in Jasper National Park. Cover is $15.

Saturday evening is Tales with Ale. Join “Canada’s next top comic” Brian Stollery as he performs his very own brand of wildlife comedy and hosts an evening of true life storytelling by retired park wardens. Under 18? How about Water…on the Rocks!? a free outdoor theatre performance at Whistlers campground by the hilarious and entertaining Mountain World Heritage Interpretive Theatre.

This year’s festival will no doubt have something for every wildlife enthusiast. Check out wildlife inspired art. Choose from several free guided walks led by Parks Canada specialists, certified guides and aboriginal interpreters. Even more tours are on sale available for 50 per cent or more off the regular price. So come see what wildlife there is behind the scenery on a wildlife watching tour. Examine up close and personal animal artifacts including bear skulls, wolverine hides and moose antlers.

Find out what you want to know from knowledgeable Parks Canada interpreters and wildlife researchers. For the young critters there’s face painting, storytelling and wildlife games. And of course, if you’re hungry you can always grab a bite at the Carnivore Grill...herbivores are welcome too!

Got a community event?

Let us know! lkeil@therockymountaingoat.com

Did you know?

The Robson Valley is only one hour from Jasper. Ways to travel: By train: Three days a week, catch the 12:45 train from Jasper through Mount Robson Park to Dunster or McBride or all the way to Prince George or Prince Rupert. Cost to McBride (1-way)= $30 By bus: Catch a Greyhound bus to Valemount for $25 or to McBride for $36.

By car: Take Hwy 16 west to Dunster or McBride. To get to Valemount or Blue River, turn onto Hwy 5.

A12

www.therockymountaingoat.com

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

The Right Agent... For Today’s Market

RE/MAX Centre city • 1679 15th Avenue • Prince George BC V2L 3X2 • 1-250-562-3600 Each office is independently owned and operated Data is from sources believed to be reliable but accuracy is not guaranteed.

201 Dominion St, McBride Sponagle Rd, Salmon Valley, BC 4592 Mountainview Rd, McBride

Spittal Crk, Tete Jaune Cache

$163,500

$159,000

- Nice heritage home on two large lots - Five bdrms, 2 baths - Excellent guest house - Central location

- Nestled in the Rockies - Cottage & modular - Spectacular views - Private 9.15 acres

$69,900

- Nice 5 acre parcel - Treed View lot - Water is in - Ready to build on

$350,000

- Open and spacious - Valley view home - On 13.5 treed acres - 5 bdrm, 4 baths

250-981-5742 or 250-569-0125 or Toll Free: 1-877-732-5767 • allanmiller@remax.net

AL Miller

MCBRIDE, VALEMOUNT, AND AREA View all listings at: www.robsonvalleyrealestate.ca THE HARD-WORKING NICE GUY

Friends of Valemount Annual Trudeau Mountain Hike

Coral Bells, Rhododendron, Arnica, and Mountain Heather were but a few flowers greating hikers in full bloom last Saturday.

“We really enjoyed our hike on Mount Trudeau and it was great to be able to join Friends of Valemount Hiking Group.

We do a lot of hill walking in Scotland, but your mountains are younger so are steeper and higher. It was thrilling to break out of the forest and into the alpine meadows, and the views of Mt Robson were fantastic. We were very grateful for the efforts of those who have cut an excellent trail through the lower parts of the route. This hike was a real highlight of our vacation in Canada.”

John Watt and Hilary Lawson, from Inverness in Scotland

“It is so neat, you can sit on big rocks at the first lake and have lunch.

The back shot to Mt. Robson was fantastic, it was a crystal clear sky day. It was framed just beautifully.”

Peter Fox, Valemount Resident.

How to get there, what to bring Mount Trudeau trail is a short but steep 3 kilometre trail starting at kilometre 14.7 on the Westridge forest service road. The trail begins at a sign and terminates at a small sub-alpine lake with lunch spots and fire rings. Beyond the first lake is a very steep climb up a grass slope into higher alpine. Several high alpine lakes await hikers willing to climb 2,000 feet in elevation over only 1-2 kilometers. There is no marked trail beyond the first little lake.

For those who are not up to the climb, but could still hike down, helicopter drop offs can be arrange with a local helicopter company. Four hikers or more can get dropped off at the higher lakes for a very reasonable price. Allow plenty of time regardless of your hiking ability. Always carry good all-weather clothing, and bear spray. Grizzly bears are frequently sighted on this trail! Groups of three or more are highly recommended. Bring your camera and... cell phone! Yes, due to its close proximity to town, Mount Trudeau is within cell service range wherever a direct line of sight to Valemount is possible.

Photos courtesy: Peter Fox, Ainslie Jackman