Oct 13 full document

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MERRITT HERALD THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2016 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS

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DIACARBON FIRE

Merritt Fire Rescue responded to a fire on Thanksgiving Day at the Diacarbon manufacturing plant, which did significant damage.

/ Page 3

WANTED MAN

Doug John Marsden, a 29-yearold man, is wanted on a Canadawide warrant, and local RCMP believe he might be in Merritt.

/ Page 5 Mike Ohata, fishes the Similkameen River outside Princeton at the Canadian National Fly Fishing Championships, hosted at venues around Merritt and Princeton. For complete coverage of the event, turn to page 23.

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BEAT THE BLUES

A mental health workshop is set to be hosted at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology later this month.

/ Page 19

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2 • THURSDAY, October 13, 2016

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS STREET POPULATION

Homeless count shows steady numbers Michael Potestio THE MERRITT HERALD

ASK Wellness is looking at a possible increase in the number of homeless living in Merritt this year as its annual homeless count has identified 14 people to date.

Over the course of a month, volunteers are canvassing the city covering areas such as the downtown, parks and the banks of the rivers. Volunteers ask the individuals they talk to questions such as the reasons why they’re without a place to live.

ASK Wellness has been canvassing the community since Sept. 20 and the final numbers for this year will be in after Oct. 20.

Last year, the organization found about 18 people total who were homeless.

“If we’re already sitting at 14 and we have until the 20th to go, I imagine those numbers are going to continue [to grow],” said ASK Wellness outreach worker Keri Cooke.

The 2014 numbers also identified 18 homeless people.

These numbers, however, don’t capture the full scope of the homeless issue for Merritt, as it only counts people living outside or in a car and don’t take into account those who may be couch surfing.

This is the seventh year the count has been operating, and Cooke said they don’t necessarily see the same people every year.

“There may be the odd individual that chooses to live that way, but for the majority, it’s people not in a space defined [as] appropriate housing or [who don’t] have access to appropriate housing,” Cooke said.

Once the month-long survey is complete, a report will be compiled that will break down the numbers based on factors such as age and gender.

Back in August it was announced that BC Housing will be partnering with the ASK Wellness Society to build a three-storey, 30-unit building on Quilchena Avenue.

As of that month, the groups were in the process of evaluating requests for proposals to build the building. Cooke told the Herald she’s waiting to hear more information on this project from BC Housing.

While the complex is said to be geared towards people who are at risk of becoming homeless, rather than those who are Volunteers who worked with ASK Wellness on the annual homeless connect event this year pose for a picture. Photo currently homeless, Cooke said she believes courtesy of ASK Wellness it will nonetheless help alleviate the numAt Tuesday’s regularly scheduled council marginalized with available services. ber of people without shelter. meeting, Merritt’s city council unanimously ASK Wellness also hands out backpacks On Oct. 6, ASK Wellness held its homeapproved a request from ASK Wellness for equipped with blankets, jackets, hygiene less connect event, which in addition to $500 to support the 2016 homelessness conpacks, first aid kits and water. There were surveying the number of homeless in the nect. about 25 volunteers at the event. community, also connects some of the city’s

Tourism Symposium Gold Country is celebrating our 25th year of Incorporation at our 2nd Annual Tourism Symposium

Merritt Civic Centre on October 23rd and 24th Symposium includes

Seminars & Workshops

(RSVP required to: goldcountry@telus.net) plus a Tourism

Tradeshow which is open to the public.

The event is free to attend for Gold Country stakeholders: any Tourism related businesses and community leaders within our region Space is still available for Tourism Tradeshow.

To book a space, please contact Gold Country at 1-877-453-9467 or by email goldcountry@telus.net More Information: exploregoldcountry.com/symposium

THURSDAY, October 13, 2016 • 3

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

INSIDE

PELLET MILL

Fire damages Diacarbon facility ing,” explained McKeown. “A lot of information has to The Diacarbon manufacturget compiled ing plant in Merritt remained as to when out of operation today, after a things were last fire did significant damage to serviced and equipment yesterday, before it tested.” was contained by local firefightA stateers. ment emailed Merritt Fire Rescue respondto the Herald ed to the fire in the early afterfrom Jerry noon on Oct. 10, after being Ericsson, presiinformed that a fire had started dent and CEO in the plant’s dryer. of Diacarbon “Crews responded to a conEnergy Inc., firmed structure fire in their confirmed that dryer, which is a self-contained nobody was unit. Heat is blown into it, injured in the fibre is dropped onto a mat, The Diacarbon facility was closed on Tuesday (Oct. 12) after a fire partially gutted a dryer on Thanksgiving Day. fire. rolls around and dries as part Cole Wagner/Herald “We don’t of [Diacarbon’s] process,” yet know what explained Sky McKeown, the “The plant is not operational. the fire is being treated as suspithe cause or implications of the fire prevention officer investigatcious.

It’s a pretty key component of fire are, but are working with the ing the Diacarbon blaze.

“I expect within a couple of their process, the dryer. It’ll authorities and insurance providAccording to the company’s days an investigator will be out be some time until they get ers to come to a swift outcome,” website, the Diacarbon plant from the insurance company. up and running and repair or added Ericsson in the email. manufactures wood pellets, which replace what was damaged,” said After that, it’s really on their Diacarbon Energy Inc. are then used as a fuel source. timeline. During investigations McKeown. “There was quite acquired the plant in 2014, takThough the fire was contained extensive damage on the inside — perhaps with this one, pering over the facility from the within the dryer, McKeown said haps not — items get sent away of the unit.” previous owners, Highland Pellet there was significant damage to McKeown said it’s too early in for testing to see if they were Manufacturing Ltd. the internal machinery of the in working order and functionthe investigation to say whether unit.

Cole Wagner THE MERRITT HERALD

Opinion ---------------------- 7-8 Sports ------------------------- 23 Classifieds ------------------- 28

ROAD WORK

Coldwater Ave set to be repaved Michael Potestio THE MERRITT HERALD

The second time’s the charm for the City of Merritt.

After having its application to the New Building Canada Fund denied last year, chief administrative officer Shawn Boven confirmed that the city’s second application secured a $2.3 million grant.

This means the city will now repave Coldwater Avenue all the way from Wilson Street to Voght Street in 2017.

Boven said the city’s second application was referred by the provincial government to the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund, which is comprised of federal and provincial

dollars.

The Coldwater Avenue repaving project that the city will undertake will also involve replacing water and sewer lines below the street, as well as the replacement of its sidewalks and the painting of bike lanes on the road.

This grant provides the city with about 83 per cent of the project’s cost, which is estimated to be about $2.7 milA graphic showing where Coldwater Avenue will be repaved in lion, Boven told the Herald.

2017. Photo courtesy of Google Maps The city will only need to put up about $470,000, he said. is only a 50 per cent matching grant.

“We only have to pay 17 per cent [of the The city repaved just one block of project cost] now,” said Boven.

Coldwater Avenue between Main Street and Had the application gone through the Wilson Street last spring after its first applicaNew Building Canada Fund, the city would tion to the New Building Canada Fund was have had to put in more money as that grant denied.

MERRITT FUNERAL CHAPEL

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this week merrittherald.com

Dyer’s view The United Nations has recognized the threat posed by the abuse of antibiotics in agriculture — but the body has fallen short of meaningful reforms.

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Lesson in faith How does the traditional faith-based marriage fit into modern society, and what should we expect from our partners?

Narayan Mitra writes this week.

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Healthy Living Before we share our love with others, we must be ready to love ourselves — for our good qualities, and the ones we can improve upon.

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THURSDAY, October October 13, 13, 2016 2016 44 •• THURSDAY,

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You’re InvIted! to meet with Mayor Menard on October 19 from 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., in the Mayor’s Office at City Hall (second floor), 2185 Voght Street.

Interested citizens are welcome to stop by, say hello and discuss issues and opportunities for the City, its residents and businesses.

City of Merritt

CITY

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If you would like to schedule a particular time to meet with the Mayor at a Drop-In session please call reception at City Hall 250-378-4224.

NCCP: Developing Athletic Abilities Competitive Development Module Coaches trained in the Developing Athletic Abilities module (9 hrs.) will be able to implement general and sport-specific training protocols and methods to appropriately develop or maintain sport-specific athletic abilities.

Coaches focus on applying training principles and variables to training methods that build an athletes’ fitness in endurance, strength and speed as a well sport specific conditioning. After completing the module coaches will also be able to select and adapt testing and training protocols and methods to athletes training from 6-9 to 9-12 times per week in single to triple periodization.

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Council meetings can be streamed live online at: http://www.merritt.ca/live-streaming-councilmeetings or seen on Shaw Cable (Channel 10) on Thursdays and Sundays at 11 a.m.

View past council decisions go to: http:// www.merritt.ca/city-council/council-meetingdecisions

Building or Zoning inquiries please contact the Building Inspector at City Hall Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 250-3788622 or by email: building@merritt.ca

2185 Voght Street, Box 189, Merritt, BC, V1K1B8 | Phone 250-378-4224 | Fax: 250-378-2600 | email: info@merritt.ca | www.merritt.ca

THURSDAY, October 13, 2016 • 5

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

POLICE FILES

Wanted man could be in town

Nicola Valley FILM SOCIETY presents...

Monday, October 17, 2017 7:00pm at the NVIT Lecture Theatre Free parking • No food or drinks allowed in the theatre Season ticket holders must arrive before 6:45pm to gurantee their seats

For more info: www.bailliehouse.com & click calendar of events

Cole Wagner THE MERRITT HERALD

Merritt RCMP are asking the public to be vigilant as a Canada-wide warrant was issued on Oct. 3 for a man known to frequent the Merritt area.

Doug John Marsden, a 29-year-old man, is wanted for failing to appear on a number of outstanding charges related to drug trafficking.

“The male in question is known to be in Merritt Doug John Marsden, wanted on a Canada-wide warrant, is suspected to be in the Merritt quite frequently, and we area. Photo courtesy of Merritt RCMP believe may be in Merritt currently,” said Const.

Anyone with information regarding Marsden Tracy Dunsmore with the Merritt RCMP. is asked to contact the Merritt RCMP or crime The warrant was issued out of Estevan, Sask. stoppers at 1-888-222-8477.

BMX returned to owner Cole Wagner THE MERRITT HERALD

An expensive BMX bike, reported stolen last week, has been returned to the owner after Merritt RCMP happened to notice the bike at the Nicola Valley Hospital on Saturday.

“We had one report from someone who had seen it in the paper, but by the time the members arrived [at that call], the bike was gone,” explained Const. Tracy Dunsmore A rare BMX bike was returned to its owner this week. Photo contributed. with the Merritt RCMP. nail down the bike. the bike without knowing it had “But then [RCMP] were “We didn’t have a serial been reported stolen. at the hospital after all the accinumber — but because there The bike, which was valued dents on Saturday, and the bike were only 300 made, we knew at about $1,000, was considwas parked outside.” which number his was, and it The male who had purchased erably rare. Only 300 of the was engraved on the bike.” said the bike was not charged, added Crooks & Castles models were Dunsmore. made — which helped police Dunsmore, as he had purchased

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6 • THURSDAY, October 13, 2016

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS CITY BUSINESS

Council approves wildfire plan Cole Wagner THE MERRITT HERALD

Try s omething

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NEW & INSPIRING

Kendra McKellar

Kendra started her career in the beauty industry in 2008, Every property owner knows it’s where she studied hairstyling and advanced esthetics. prudent to stay on top of fire-proofing Kendra believes in continual education and prides herself their homes or businesses — following on listening to her clients, understanding their needs to the latest, most up-to-date practices to help provide an excellent service and salon experience while still respecting the condition of the hair. “Healthy hair is protect their investments. beautiful hair”. She enjoys creating dimensional colours, The City of Merritt is no different, blondes, men’s cuts/styling. which is why city council voted unaniRecently moving from Calgary Kendra is excited to have you mously at last night’s regularly schedcome into Kolors Cutting Lounge and meet her in person. uled meeting to approve the updated Community Wildfire Protection Plan — a comprehensive report which outlines a number of priorities for the Cutting Lounge city and Merritt Fire Rescue to pursue, in order to make the town better equipped to deal with the growing risk Controlled burns are one way of reducing the risk of wildfires, but the new wildfire protection plan offers many 2067 Quilchena Avenue, Merritt, B.C. more ideas on how to limit the risk to the City of Merritt. Herald file photo. of wildfires.

Given that Merritt’s last CWPP was most recently updated in 2006, it was a priority for the city and Merritt Fire Rescue to bring in expert consultants to help formulate the new CWPP, explained fire protection officer Sky McKeown.

The plan was created by the B.A. Blackwell & Associates Ltd. consulting firm, based in North Vancouver — but the report was supplemented by knowledge from local firefighters and stakeholders, explained McKeown.

“When it comes to priorities, did you have any input on this, or was this what we were told?”

Coun. Dave Baker asked at the council meeting on Oct. 11.

“We worked with the contractor to create this.

We had some of our own concerns, but they’ve identified — through their experience and working with other municipalities — the core concept of a community fire protection plan,” replied Merritt Fire Chief Dave Tomkinson. “There are some items in here that we think are far-reaching from a fire department perspective, but we’re in support of a community involved fire protection plan.”

The report contains 28 recommendations for improving the community’s fire safety and response.

The recommendations are identified as high, moderate or low priority and pertain to a broad range Weyerhaeuser Ltd. will be hosting a Career Day for all Tolko Nicola of fire safety topics; from landscape management to the purchasing of a new sprinkler trailer for Merritt Employees in operations, maintenance, admin, and forestlands.

Fire Rescue.

The City of Merritt however, won’t be tackling When: all 28 recommendations at once — rather, based on the motion passed at the council meeting on Oct.  Friday October 14th Salary Group Meet and Greet 10:00AM – 12:00 PM 11, city staff will address the needs of the plan by adding provisions to the city’s five year plan, with  Friday October 14th Hourly Operations/Trades Meet and Greet 1:00 PM – higher priority items slotted in first.

Kolors 250-378-4458

The Future is Growing

3:00 PM

CWPP HIGH PRIORITY RECOMMENDATIONS • • • •

Prioritize upgrades for critical infrastructure to ensure all buildings are to FireSmart standards.

Utilize social media to communicate fire bans, high fire danger days, and wildfire prevention initiatives.

Support the acquisition of a sprinkler trailer resource and provide sprinkler deployment training for all firefighters.

Encourage home owners to post house numbers in a manner that makes them clearly visible to aid emergency response.

More online at merrittherald.com, search ‘CWPP’

Where:  Merritt Civic Centre, 1950 Mamette Ave, Merritt, BC V1K 1R6 Weyerhaeuser Ltd. has a number of operations across Canada including;    

Sawmill and Forestlands Operations in Princeton BC, Grande Prairie, AB and Drayton Valley AB Parallam Plant Delta (Annacis Island), BC OSB and Forestlands Operations in Edson, AB , and Hudson Bay, SK Timberstrand Plant and Forestlands Operations in Kenora, ON

Interested Candidates are requested to bring a copy of a current resume to the specific session that applies to them above. Please indicate on your resume location preferences. We look forward to meeting you!

THURSDAY, October 13, 2016 • 7

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

IT’S AMAZING WHAT A COOKIE CAN DO!

BRITISH COLUMBIA COUNCIL

Chocolatey Mint Cookies are back!

100%

of money raised goes into local Guiding programs in BC! 7R oQG RXW ZKHUH cookies are sold: bc-girlguides.org 1-800-565-8111

Notice of ANNuAl GeNerAl MeetiNG For the

Nicola Valley Community Justice Services Society Wednesday, October 26, 2016 from Noon to 2:00 pm at Golden Chopsticks Meeting room FINE EQUINE Brambles Secret Door Gallery hosted a reception for local artist Stefanie Travers and her exhibition “Reflections of the Horse” on Sept.

30. Travers has spent a lifetime in the equine industry as a farrier, trainer, teacher, and life-long student of the horse. Her paintings are primarily done in acrylic. The exhibition of her work continues at Brambles Bakery and Cafe until the end of the month. Photo courtesy of Karen Mena

4025 Walters St.

(Lunch will be provided) For more info call 250-378-5010

Thank You

Brian, Tony and the crew from Nicola Post & Rail Ltd, would like to thank the following people for their quick response with the fire at the mill on October 2nd.

All your hard work and efforts are greatly appreciated!

Maggie Shuter Francis Shuter Vern Frazier Darryl Shackelly

Leo Fahler Ministry of Forests Initial Attack Merritt Fire Department LNIB Fire and Rescue

8 • THURSDAY, October 13, 2016

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VIEWPOINT EDITORIAL

LNG plant a tough decision When I was re-elected as an MP and became a member of the official opposition I DAN ALBAS made a few commitments View from the HILL publicly that were important to me. One of them was not just to oppose, but also to propose ideas and solutions that can be of benefit to our region and elsewhere. Another commitment was to communicate government policy as clearly as possible in spite of the fact that said policy may be strongly opposed by the opposition. This commitment is a very important one to me as one of my frustrations having sat on the government side of the house was how government policy was frequently and intentionally misinterpreted and distorted by the opposition. I believe misstating government policy does a disservice to all involved and is why I have make every effort to avoid doing so in my weekly reports. This all leads me to the Liberal governments announcement yesterday to approve the Pacific Northwest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project.

Let me state for the record I commend the Liberal government for making a difficult political decision that I am already hearing is very unpopular with many citizens who voted for the Liberals in the last election. A few points on this.

The decision to approve the Pacific Northwest LNG project also comes with 190 conditions, many of them environmentally-related, that must be met for the project to go forward. This is not unlike the approval for the Northern Gateway pipeline project that had 209 environmentally related conditions that must be met.

Aside from these conditions, the Liberal government has also noted

See ‘DRAWBACKS’ Page 8

Publisher Theresa Arnold publisher@ merrittherald.com

How the media made #clownpocalypse Like a turkey pulled out of the oven at the perfect moment ahead of Thanksgiving dinner, the “creepy clown crisis” sweeping across North America Cole Wagner has appeared to COLE’S NOTES hit its apex in the weeks leading up to Halloween.

While people have harboured fears about clowns for decades, children’s entertainers with painted faces re-entered the public consciousness in August, after reports began circulating about mysterious clowns trying to lure kids into a forest in Greenville, South Carolina.

Once that story hit the wire, reports of creepy clown sightings began coming in from all corners of the United States — and even spread to the United Kingdom. So it was only a matter of time before the clowns started being spotted in Canada.

Since the start of October, menacing clowns have been confirmed by police in Langley, and Surrey, and a clown-related threat on social media resulted in the partial lockdown of a

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Editor Cole Wagner newsroom@ merrittherald.com

MERRITT HERALD 2090 G

high school in Prince George. Two teens were arrested in connection to the clown-threat.

Though the Merritt RCMP have yet to receive any reports of clown sightings around town, anecdotal evidence on social media suggests Merritt hasn’t been spared from the “clownpocalypse,” as multiple locals have reported seeing clowns lingering around town.

The tricky part about dealing with clowns from a police standpoint is separating the potentially dangerous clowns from the pranksters who latch on to the trend on a lark. (To be clear, there have been no reports of any clowns actually committing murder or assault).

“It’s not illegal to be a clown,” Const. Tracy Dunsmore with the Merritt RCMP told the Herald.

But while the creepy clowns trend has been a goldmine for media organizations across the world, which continue to report on largely harmless clown sightings with the hopes of cashing in on the viral phenomenon, clownpocalypse has all the makings of a story about to take a dark turn — and journalists should be aware of their own culpability in helping create this faux-crisis.

Though it’s unclear what sparked the initial reports from South Carolina — as police never actually located any killer clowns in Greenville

Reporter Michael Potestio reporter@ merrittherald.com

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

— the story carried enough creepiness grounded in reality to become a viral hit. Over the last 90 days, a Google trends map indicates that searches for “clowns” started to pick up rapidly in September, and spiked in early October as the clown trend started to manifest in countries around the world.

By now, the story has hit critical mass.

School districts, including our own School District 58, have issued a warning to students and parents about participating in the creepy clown pranks: what might seem like a harmless prank could result in unpredictable consequences.

But for those looking to score a viral hit on YouTube or Twitter, the recipe has never been easier: don a clown costume, stand on a deserted street corner, scare some locals and wait for the news reports, complete with a stock image of a scary clown, to start rolling in.

It’s a bizarre 21st century take on the copycat effect — wherein sensational publicity of an event or crime tends to inspire more of the same. In the media, we’re especially sensitive to the copycat effect when it comes to suicide — generally, it is accepted that most suicides should not be reported on for this very reason.

Sports writer Ian Webster sports@ merrittherald.com

See ‘PRANKS’ Page 8

Office manager Ken Couture classifieds@ merrittherald.com

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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 National Newsmedia Council, which is an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about editorial content, please contact newsroom@merrittherald.com or call (250) 378-4241. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit the web site at www.mediacouncil.ca or call toll-free 1-844-877-1163 for additional information.

THURSDAY, October 13, 2016 • 9

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OPINION LETTER to the editor LNG has drawbacks Local MLA needs to step up on Tolko but it is the right call Editor;

The decision by Tolko Industries to close the Merritt mill is based on politics, not the profitability of the mill. Sadly, local Liberal MLA Jackie Tegart is “shocked” and has accepted the announced closure as a done deal. She may naively take Tolko at face value, but the reality is something else.

In 2002, the large forestry giants strong-armed the B.C. Liberal government into rewriting the Forests Act, thus gutting the supports that gave communities and workers the tools to fight the arbitrary closure of mills and the transfer of local timber to other communities.

According to a 2003 prophetic analysis by Patricia Marchak and S. Denise Allen called “BC Forests 2003: An Appraisal of Government Policies,” the Liberals’ destructive overhaul of the Forests Act would allow forest companies to dictate future forest policy in B.C. The legislation was purposely designed to disempower workers and communities and benefit the forest industry and their investors.

Marchak and Allen also warned that companies would take advantage of the spineless new Forests Act and ‘get out of Dodge’ with the people’s timber in tow. They also warned us forest jobs and the environment would be at risk.

Sound familiar? Brad Thorlakson, the president and CEO of the company, himself could not deny that Tolko is closing the Merritt mill in order to supply other mills in the region. Tolko plans to truck 338,000 cubic metres of Merritt’s wood supply into Kamloops and Kelowna starting December 16th.

Why is Merritt the sacrificial lamb? Why is Tolko closing the mill in Merritt and not the one in Christy Clark’s own back yard in Kelowna?

Why not Kamloops? Because Kamloops has two powerful cabinet ministers and the Okanagan has the Premier, the Forests Minister, plus a third cabinet minister. By contrast, Fraser-Nicola has a silent, usually ‘missing in action’ back-bencher.

Tolko chose the path of least resistance knowing Ms. Tegart would do nothing to stand up and fight for Merritt’s workers and for families losing their livelihoods.

The MLA may be “shocked” and resigned to defeat, but Merrittonians should not!

If Ms. Tegart really cares for Tolko’s workers and their families she needs to gather some courage and stand up for Merritt, like I did successfully against Weyerhaueser in 1998. Ms Tegart’s “Missing in Action” routine will not suffice.

Harry Lali Merritt, B.C.

From Page 7 that the Pacific Northwest LNG project will create significant economic opportunities for not just B.C., but also for Canada. This project represents a total capital investment of $36 billion and will create 4500 jobs during the construction process along with 630 direct and indirect permanent jobs after completion. Aside from these benefits the B.C. LNG project will contribute an estimated $2.5 billion in annual tax revenue to government along with an increase of $3 billion per year to Canada’s GDP growth. These are important considerations given that increases in health transfer funding is now linked to GDP growth.

Having heard the many positive aspects of this project as opposition, I must also share some of the concerns voiced from those who strongly oppose this development. As much as the Liberal government likes to use the talking point that the environment and the economy go hand in hand the reality is they do not.

This project will generate 4.3 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year not including an estimated 6.5 million to 8.7 million tonnes required for natural gas collection and transportation.

As a result the project would

become one of the largest GHG emitters in Canada and given that many climate experts already believe Canada will not meet the targets the Liberal government has committed to in Paris, it is a concern frequently raised by opponents.

From my own perspective, one other aspect on this project that is often overlooked is the fact that relatively clean burning B.C. LNG can be used in countries such as China as an alternative to coal fired power plants.

This not only significantly reduces GHG emissions on a global scale; it also greatly improves local air quality that is an important factor for human health in these regions. While all projects have environmental considerations on balance I believe the Liberal government has made the right decision in approving Pacific Northwest LNG project. However, I also believe the Liberal government does a disservice by making commitments at the Paris climate conference that are at odds with our ability to meet them, not unlike what occurred when a former Liberal government committed to the Kyoto agreement. I welcome your views on this or any subject before the House of Commons and can be reached at Dan.Albas@parl. gc.ca or toll-free at 1-800-665-8711.

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

Clown pranks akin to playing with fire From Page 7 But when it comes to the clowns, the real-world consequences of copycats have been minimal so far. A couple teen pranksters have been arrested here and there, but for the most part, pranksters have terrified children and adults, and earned their fifteen minutes of viral fame without incident.

Still, the chance for one of these clown encounters to turn from Halloween joke to tragedy remains a reality, and will only increase as more people try to become the next big thing on Twitter.

This is not lost on police in Utah, as the Orem police department was forced to devote an entire Facebook post to the creepy clown trend, reminding residents that they do not have the legal right to shoot clowns on sight.

The post from Oct. 3 warned that “if someone is standing on the sidewalk, dressed like a clown and they don’t have any weapons and they are just stand-

OVER 100 DISPLAYS!

ing there not chasing anyone around and you call us, when we respond and that person decides to look at us and walk the other way without saying a word, we can’t do anything.”

Fear is a powerful emotion. It tends to override our ability to think rationally, and encourages rash, impulsive decision making. Fear also dominates our attention, and stories about the things we are afraid of — terrorist attacks, public health emergencies, crime, and yes, clowns — are no exception to that rule.

So while journalists across the continent are eagerly awaiting their town’s first clown sighting — prepping snappy ledes and searching for the perfect stock image of Pennywise the clown from Stephen King’s It — they would be wise to remember that they are adding fuel to a fire. A big fire attracts a lot of attention but as the fire grows, it’s only a matter of time before someone gets burned.

HERALD ONLINE POLLL OF THE WEEK To vote, go online to merrittherald.com

Do you intend to give feedback to the provincial government regarding the proposed new rules for biosolids?

PREVIOUS QUESTION Will the closing of the Tolko mill in Merritt have a negative impact on your life in the Nicola Valley?

YES: 57% (13) NO: 35% (8) DON’T KNOW: 9% (2)

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.

KAMLOOPS FALL HOMESHOW 2016

There’s never been a better time to...Renovate, Decorate, Recreate!

Saturday - Oct. 15 (10am - 5pm) • Sunday - Oct. 16 (10am - 4pm) SANDMAN CENTRE • www.bchomeshows.com

10 • THURSDAY, October 13, 2016

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS LABOUR NEGOTIATIONS

Union alleges workers disciplined for volunteering The Highland Valley Copper mine, owned by Teck. The company which has come under fire from the union representing its workers as a new contract is being negotiated between the union and the company.

Dale Bass KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK

The union representing workers at Highland Valley is angry some of its Photo courtesy of Kamloops This Week members have been threatened with discipline for volunteering at the Kamloops Food Bank.

United Steelworkers Local 7619 president Kyle Wolff said the group went on a union leave — which means the Steelworkers would reimburse Highland Valley for the lost time — so they could do the volunteer work.

Carolyn Palaga, MSc, Aud (C) “Some of them were also there on some of their own time, too,” Wolff Merritt Hearing Clinic said.

A division of Carolyn Palaga Audiology Ser vices Ltd. “But we’re in bargaining and this is Authorized by: just petty bullying tactics by a mega corWolff said. members docked pay for leaving barWCB poration.”

Call Monday - Friday Martell said he could not comment gaining for a few hours.

Teck has confirmed it is looking First Canadian Health Again, Wolff said, Steelworkers reim- on Wolff ’s complaint that two of the into this situation in which some of its Veterans Affairs union’s bargaining committee members burses the wages to Teck for bargaining employees took a union leave to volunRegistered under 2076A Granite Avenue, Merritt were docked pay when they had to leave time. teer at the Kamloops Food Bank.

(Located at Nicola Valley Chiropractic) the Hearing Aid Act (B.C.) Each person had a family emergency, the talks for emergency family matters.

Peter Martell, Teck Highland Valley’s environment and community affairs manager, said it is “a good assumption” when asked if the crux of the investigation it is now conducting into leaves by union members lies in interpretation of the contract. th Wolff said his union representative asked All locations will be open him to write down all the charitable work the 9:30 am – 2:00 pm union members do “and to everyone that helped, donated, sponsored and entered. it’s a long list.”

Every year you all help to make this event exceptional.

“This bullying may We could not have did with out you all.

We’re celebrating International Credit Union Day with be effective in threatenWe are happy to announce that we have extended the water and our members, and by lending a hand in the community. ing workers in developsewer lines to the Exhibition Building in preparation for the washroom We call it our Day of Difference. facility. This was possible through hard work fund raising, donated ing countries where equipment, labour and material and a grant from City of Merritt. We Teck operates copper continue to fund raise to build a washroom facility. If interested in Members are invited to join us for treats and gifts. mines, but it won’t work buying a washroom brick @ $ 10.00 please call Marianne 378-9929 or Then at 2:00 pm we’ll close up early so our insurance here,” said Wolff. drop by H & R Block 2145 Quilchena Avenue. and credit union staff can clean, paint, cook, garden and “Teck may believe 2016 Nicola Valley Fall Fair Sponsors & Donors just generally help out those community organizations this is the way big who work tirelessly for the benefit of us all. global corporations are 3 Bar Farms Ignatia Grams, Noble Tractor & A&W Restaurant supposed to act, but In Memory Equipment Ann Johnston - In Jamara Joyal Octopi Cleaning it’s fundamentally unWant to get in on this act of local good?

Memory Massage Therapy Services Canadian.

We’re giving $100 to 100 people to use for good in their BC Agricultural Fairs Kat Ventures Panago “Whether it’s & Exhibitions Bookkeeping Pharmasave community. Learn more at interiorsavings.com through our contriBernardin Lukacs Property Property Guys Beulah Russell, Maintenance & Reimer Family butions to local food in Memory Development Rivercity Mechanical banks, the United Black’s Pharmacy Marianne Reimer Robin Hood Way or through our Brambles Bakery Merritt Party Connection Rogers Foods Ltd. Steelworkers Humanity Century 21 Moving Merritt Stock Car Save-on-Foods Fund, our commitment Real Estate Ltd. Association Sharon Keyser Creative Company Michelle Bacon Steelworkers District 3 to our neighbours is Crisco Epicure Consultant + Local 1-917 steadfast and unwaverCrystal Leier MGR Trucking Susan Riddle ing,” noted Wolff.

Photography Mirror Vintage Tenderflake “It’s sad we can’t Curbet Enterprises Movie Experts Triple G Logging say the same for Teck Dairy Queen N.M.V. Lumber VSA Highway Services Extra Foods Napa Auto Pro Wal-Mart Corporation.”

Fieldstone Granary Nicola Valley Apiaries Walter Brynjolfson, Wolff pointed to H&R Block Nicola Valley in Memory another disagreement Home Hardware Farmer’s Market Westcan Automotive between the union and Building Centre Nicola Valley Wine Press employer — who began Hughmer Enterprises Women’s Institute bargaining a new conWe are hoping to have the Fair Winners names on our tract in August — that web site soon. Visit www.nicolavalleyfallfair.com Local money has seen two union for local good. bargaining committee

How’s your hearing?

Ask an Audiologist.

315-9688

Nicola Valley Fall Fair

Early Closure October 20

THURSDAY, October 13, 2016 • 11

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

WEST FRASER IS HIRING!

West Fraser is a leading diversified North American forest products company that is listed on the TSX and has been rated one of Canada’s 10 Best Companies to Work For and as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for three years. Are you interested in working for a company that offers both a challenging work environment, stability, and a rewarding career path? We have over 8,000 employees working across 40 divisions in Alberta, BC and in the southern US.

West Fraser’s current openings can be found on the website, and candidates are encouraged to apply online.

Here are a few of the key roles we are looking to fill immediately:

Process Engineer Certified Saw Filer Maintenance Engineer Occupational Health Specialist These positions offer a challenging, diverse and exciting opportunity to become part of our team. These positions require an individual who will perform a variety of tasks related to the safe and efficient application of the technical skills and knowledge in all related fields in the mill.

West Fraser is currently looking for individuals who are interested in a full time, long-term career. We offer an excellent compensation package including: a competitive salary, excellent benefits, and an outstanding pension plan. Our employees can expect a challenging, stable, safe work environment with career development opportunities.

Interested applicants should apply online at: www.westfraser.com/jobs

12 • THURSDAY, October 13, 2016

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NICOLA VALLEY NEWS HIGHWAY NEWS

Coquihalla proves treacherous over long weekend Cole Wagner THE MERRITT HERALD

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Motorists on the Coquihalla Highway were reminded this weekend of how treacherous the route can be in winter conditions, as Merritt RCMP responded to seven accidents on the highway on Saturday afternoon.

“Between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., we had about seven accidents we responded to, all in the Larson Hill and Mine Creek area south of town on the Coquihalla,” said Const. Tracy Dunsmore with the Merritt RCMP. None of the accidents were fatal, added Dunsmore.

Inclement weather at higher altitudes on the highway in the morning of Oct. 8 prompted RCMP to issue a traffic advisory for the Coquihalla.

As of Oct. 1, any vehicles travelling on any winter driving roads — like the Coquihalla — must be equipped with winter tires.

If a vehicle is found by police to not have proper tires, drivers could face fines or be turned around and sent home, depending on where the vehicle is stopped.

While none of the vehicles involved in the rash of collisions on Saturday morning were issued fines for improper tires, Dunsmore said just having winter tires doesn’t mitigate all the risks of driving on high mountain roads during winter conditions.

“Even having winter tires sometimes doesn’t prevent [accidents].

You still have to drive accordingly,” said Dunsmore.

“I think the largest issue was the slush on the highways, and people trying to avoid other people who have

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E

THURSDAY, October 13, 2016 • 13

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REAL ESTATE REVIEW

www.facebook.com/rlpmerritt

Helping you is what we do.™ M E R R I T T

Phone: 250-378-6181

Holly Tilstra Property Manager

www.pinterest.com/rlpmerritt

1988 Quilchena Ave., Merritt, BC V1K 1B8 • Fax: 250-378-6184

SALES TEAM

PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Lynda Etchart Property Manager

www.twitter.com/rlpmerritt

Independently owned and operated

Claudette Edenoste Broker/Owner

Crystal Chandler Assistant

250-280-0689

Property Management Team: 250-378-1996 Email: proplepage@gmail.com

claudetteedenoste@ royallepage.ca

Karen Bonneteau Sales Rep

John Isaac Broker

250-315-5178

250-378-1586

kbonneteau@telus.net

johnisaac@telus.net

Debra Schindler Personal Real Estate Corp.

Melody Simon Sales Rep

250-315-8539

250-315-3548

melodydsimon@ hotmail.com

debbieschindler2@gmail.com

Connecting your listings to buyers and sellers world wide. www.royallepagemerritt.com

D L O S

SOLD

SOLD

SOLD

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LIST W E N

ING

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ING

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1326 DOUGLAS STREET $180,000 MLS# 137098

2521 KINVIG STREET 2592 CLAPPERTON AVENUE 1537 COLDWATER AVENUE 2975 ARMSTRONG STREET 2621 CLAPPERTON AVENUE 2543 JACKSON AVENUE MLS# 137207 $485,000 MLS# 136184 $165,000 MLS# 137306 $189,900 MLS# 137243 $259,900 MLS#137309 MLS# 133309 $235,000 $268,900

NG IISSTTIING L EW L N NEW

LIST W E N

1940 SAGE PLACE MLS#137285 $299,000

ING

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1565 CHESTNUT AVENUET MLS#137271 $359,000

2433 PAIGE STREET $385,000 MLS#137242

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5360&5320 MANNING CRK FS RD

$1,199,000

CE

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PRI NEW

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2664 QUILCHENA AVENUE MLS# 133846

1890 QUILCHENA AVENUE 1837 NICOLLS ROAD MLS# 135332 $475,000 $235,000 MLS# 135991

MLS#137296 $209,000

CHECK OUT OUR LISTINGS ONLINE: WWW.REALTOR.CA AND SEARCH BY MLS# MLS # House # STREET

Merritt up to $200,000 132911 76-2776 CLAPPERTON AVENUE 132252 35-254 HIGHWAY 8 134794 61-2776 CLAPPERTON AVENUE 132046 71-2776 CLAPPERTON AVENUE 133031 2302 CLAPPERTON AVENUE 135761 1138 HOUSTON STREET 137097 2375 COUTLEE AVENUE 133848 1876 COLDWATER AVENUE 130290 17-2760 VOGHT STREET 131450 #5-2760 VOGHT STREET 134983 4-2760 VOGHT STREET 133626 443 MORGAN AVENUE LN 133041 2326 CLAPPERTON AVENUE 137180 2199 CLARKE AVE 133662 206-1701 MENZIES STREET 131538 104-2799 CLAPPERTON AVENUE 132661 203-1701 MENZIES STREET 133851 2651 JACKSON AVENUE 136104 1425 CANFORD AVENUE 131428 2501 JACKSON AVENUE 136702 1730 HILL STREET 130825 3008 PONDEROSA AVENUE 137243 1537 COLDWATER AVENUE 134860 2552 CORKLE STREET 133972 1701 ORME STREET Merritt $200,000 to $300,000 133846 2664 QUILCHENA AVENUE 137175 2575 COUTLEE AVENUE 133629 1751 GRANITE AVENUE 137056 1864 COLDWATER AVENUE 134544 2556 CORKLE STREET 135332 1890 QUILCHENA AVENUE 135558 2202 CLEASBY STREET 134248 2113 BLACKWELL AVENUE 136052 2614 COLDWATER AVENUE 136578 2102 MAMETTE AVE 134789 2571 COLDWATER AVENUE 132638 1599 COLDWATER AVENUE 136921 2702 LANGSTAFF PLACE 137168 2626 PRIEST AVE 2975 ARMSTRONG STREET 130128 419 DODDING AVENUE 137154 2290 MERRITT AVE 137057 2387 REID AVENUE 136992 2462 SMITH STREET 137206 2398 MCGORAN PLACE 137285 1940 SAGE PLACE Merritt $300,000+ 136535 1364 VOGHT STREET 131637 2950 MCLEAN PLACE 136483 1973 SAGE PLACE 135175 1376 DOUGLAS STREET 137029 1620 BANN STREET 135767 1563 COLDWATER AVENUE 127816 2930 MCLEAN PLACE 137073 #3-2502 SPRINGBANK AVENUE 137201 2141 TAYLOR PLACE 136557 3051 HILTON DRIVE 137271 1565 CHESTNUT AVENUE

PRICE 42,500 58,000 79,950 84,500 89,500 94,990 99,000 135,000 135,000 140,000 145,000 149,000 150,000 155,000 155,000 159,000 159,000 165,000 174,900 175,000 178,900 189,000 189,900 195,000 198,000 209,000 213,000 215,000 229,000 234,900 235,000 239,000 245,000 247,500 248,000 249,000 258,000 259,000 259,000 259,900 279,000 285,000 289,900 289,900 290,000 299,000 310,000 315,000 324,500 325,000 329,000 329,900 329,900 339,000 344,900 353,000 359,000

MLS #

House # STREET

Merritt $300,000+ 137181 1540 BANN STREET 134753 3350 PANORAMA PLACE 136388 2201-2237 NICOLA AVENUE 135092 1849 PINERIDGE DRIVE 137196 2637 FORKSDALE AVENUE 135113 3358 PANORAMA PLACE 135151 1502 RIVER STREET 136010 3793 PETIT CREEK ROAD 132647 5240 DOT RANCH CUTTOFF RD Homes On Acreage 136008 453+461 WILD ROSE DRIVE 136347 2564 KINVIG STREET 136354 2545 ABERDEEN ROAD 137242 2433 PAIGE STREET 135991 1837 NICOLLS ROAD 132182 DL3520 MILL CREEK ROAD 134647 2397 CARRINGTON STREET 135632 2397 TORGERSON ROAD 135993 2721S COLDWATER ROAD 133346 6621 MONCK PARK ROAD 134663 757 COLDWATER ROAD 131804 1280 MILLER ROAD 127775 1323 MIDDAY VALLEY ROAD 137296 5360-5320 MANNING CREEK FS RD 136011 3793 PETIT CREEK ROAD 134693 1577 MILLER ROAD 132648 5240 DOT RANCH CUTTOFF RD Bare Land 132760 1849 VOGHT STREET 135536 1925 COUTLEE AVENUE 133649 1600 CHESTNUT AVENUE 133651 1640 CHESTNUT AVENUE 133884 1585 CHESTNUT AVENUE 127815 2488 SPRINGBANK AVENUE 133648 1685 CHESTNUT AVENUE 130261 1914 QUILCHENA AVENUE 133776 1305 FIR AVENUE 136346 2701 PEREGRINE WAY 136750 DL 588 HIGHWAY 5A 136566 3383 WILDROSE WAY 131295 6681 MONCK PARK ROAD 137306 2502 CLAPPERTON AVENUE 132195 2556 ABERDEEN ROAD 136851 600 MOUNTAINVIEW ROAD 129746 2980 PANORAMA DRIVE 127935 2208 COYLE ROAD 132723 LOT 1 ABERDEEN ROAD Commercial 132967 2302 CLAPPERTON AVENUE 132968 2326 CLAPPERTON AVENUE 134949 2040-52 NICOLA AVE(Business only) 125491 2175 NICOLA AVENUE 132977 2338 CLAPPERTON AVENUE 135428 377 MERRITT-SP BR HWY 134988 2040-52 NICOLA AVENUE

PRICE 389,000 415,000 418,700 469,000 479,000 480,000 569,000 1,486,000 1,595,000 177,000 279,000 365,000 385,000 475,000 499,000 599,000 675,000 725,900 779,000 799,900 845,000 1,175,000 1,199,000 1,486,000 1,560,000 1,595,000 39,900 44,900 65,000 65,000 65,000 70,000 79,900 80,000 98,000 98,000 110,000 115,000 119,000 165,000 195,000 225,000 245,000 450,000 899,000 89,500 150,000 160,000 220,000 310,000 395,000 499,000

MLS #

House # STREET

Logan Lake 133958 208-279 132453 310-400 129026 67-111 131605 307-400 135036 29 133956 9 135950 314 129866 154 125620 31 136183 LOT B 133022 227 133293 182 135521 136 136185 125 135705 312 134935 4621 132922 3809

PRICE

ALDER DRIVE OPAL DRIVE CHARTRAND AVE(Business) OPAL DRIVE TOPAZ CRESCENT SAPPHIRE COURT LINDEN ROAD PONDEROSA AVENUE LL BRECCIA DRIVE TUNKWA LAKE ROAD BIRCH CRESCENT PONDEROSA AVENUE LL PONDEROSA AVE LL JASPER DRIVE BASALT DRIVE TUNKWA LAKE ROAD PINERIDGE DRIVE LL

1425 CANFORD AVENUE

62,500 64,000 79,900 95,000 99,900 122,400 184,900 184,900 189,000 198,000 203,000 225,000 259,000 399,900 429,000 464,900 495,000

$174,900

Cozy And Affordable Country Charmer. 2 Bedroom Updated Cottage Type Home In Front Of City Park And Great Location In Good Area Of Town. You Will Enjoy The Ambience Of The Old And The New In This Historic Home Which Offers New Kitchen And Appliances And Updated Furnace And Roof Shingles And Hot Water Tank, Newer Bathroom With Skylights And More. This Restored Home Has Secluded Backyard Patio Surrounded By Flowering Shrubs And Flowers For Total Relaxation. If You Like The Uniqueness Of Smaller And Older Homes, Don’t Miss This One.

MLS# 136104

14 • THURSDAY, October 13, 2016

www.merrittherald.com SPONSORED CONTENT

TELUS helps Merritt residents

give back to their own community October 13, 2016 The Nicola Valley Health Care Auxiliary (NVHCA) is a registered charity run by local volunteers committed to supporting the local hospital and health centre by fundraising for things that the facility might not otherwise be able to afford.

Meeting once a month, these women ask the hospital for a wish list of items needed and then they work hard to deliver on those requests. This is no smallchange operation. Last year the auxiliary gave over $40,000 in donated items and since 1994 they have given over $880,000 worth of equipment and supplies the hospital would likely not otherwise have been able to afford.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead By giving a few hours each week, these ladies make a positive impact on their local hospital, as well as across the community and beyond. The auxiliary also provides three $1,500 bursaries to local students seeking to pursue a career in the medical field. The Auxiliary Thrift Store provides much needed low-priced clothing, giving those on lower incomes an affordable option to shop locally. Donated items that go unsold in their store are re-sold to international aid organizations providing even more fundraising dollars to help people across the globe.

Clare Adams, Regional Market Manager with TELUS, had the opportunity to hear first-hand about the work the group does when she attended the last meeting of the auxiliary. As a company that prides itself on its ‘give where we live’ philosophy, Adams was at the meeting to talk about the TELUS Fibre for Good program that is currently being run in Merritt and to which the NVHCA belongs. Along with Crime Stoppers, the Nicola Valley Community Theatre Society and Angels Pet Rescue, the auxiliary will receive a $25 donation for every new Optik TV customer on the TELUS PureFibre ™ network. New customers are able to select the charity where they would like TELUS to make a donation on their behalf.

Adams was thrilled to meet some of the current volunteers and amazed to learn that several have over a decade of service and at least one has dedicated her time to the organization over the past 40 years. “Clearly, this is a rewarding organization to be involved with and the sense of purpose and meaning the volunteers get from it is incredible” noted Adams.

If you are interested in getting involved and supporting the auxiliary, as well as considering them for your Fibre for Good charity of choice, they would welcome your support as a donor or volunteer. They are currently fundraising to help support renovations of the hospital’s ER. Their main opportunities are at the thrift store which requires 10 volunteers a day to operate, but volunteers can work flexible shifts including evenings and weekends. Youth volunteers are also welcome. There are also opportunities at the hospital assisting with the coffee wagon.

For more information about the Auxiliary, visit nvhealthcareaux.ca and for more information about the TELUS Give Where We Live initiative, visit community.telus.com.

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FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

OCTOBER 9TH - 15TH, 2016

Discover the ways to fireproof a home A house fire can engulf and destroy a home in a matter of minutes. Even with the fast-acting response of firefighters, a home that has caught fire may be irreparably damaged by flames, soot and water. Fire is no laughing matter, and it behooves homeowners to take precautions to fireproof their homes as much as possible.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

state that although death and injuries caused by residential fires have declined gradually during the past several decades, fire-related deaths continue to pose a significant health hazard. In 2010, it is estimated that someone died in a fire every 169 minutes in the United States alone. A person was injured by fire every 30 minutes, according to the National Fire Protection Association, Fire Analysis and Research Division. The Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs estimates an average of 375 people die every year from fires in Canada, mostly from smoke inhalation.

Most fires are largely preventable. The following are a few fireproofing measures for safety-conscious homeowners.

• Install smoke detectors and check the batteries regularly. Smoke inhalation causes many fire-related deaths. A smoke detector should be installed outside of every bedroom and on every level of the house. Don’t install a smoke detector near a window, door or forced-air register, where drafts could interfere with the detector’s operation. Be sure to routinely check that every smoke detector is working properly.

• Have a fire extinguisher in an easily accessible location. Ideally, there should be a fire extinguisher in every room of the home, but at the least keep one wherever fire is used regularly, such as a kitchen or by a fireplace. Ensure the fire extinguisher is charged and that you understand how to operate it.

• Remove combustible materials from around the house. Do not allow old clothing, rags, newspapers, or cardboard boxes to accumulate around the house. Discard newspapers and magazines as quickly as possible and be careful to avoid storing anything too close to heaters, furnaces or electrical equipment.

• Adhere to the recommended wattage in lamps and lighting fixtures. Do not exceed the recommended bulb wattage for lights around the house. There may be overheating or shorting that can lead to fire.

PREVENTION WEEK OCTOBER 9 - 15

Serving the Nicola Valley since 1960.

• Look for fireproof interior decor items.

Nowadays, carpeting and furniture can be coated with fireproof chemicals. The added investment may be worth it in the long run.

• Do not leave candles unattended. Many people like the look and aroma that candles provide.

Candles also provide emergency illumination in the event of a power outage. Candles can be easily knocked over and start a fire. In fact, candles are one of the top causes of house fires. Never leave a candle unattended, even for a short amount of time. And certainly never go to sleep without extinguishing a candle.

• Keep the chimney clean. Inspect the chimney flue regularly and have it cleaned to prevent an abundance of residual burnt material from accumulating. This creosote can catch fire itself.

• Use a fire-resistant roofing material. A roof should be made from metal, clay or asphalt tiles.

Trim any overhanging branches or vegetation to reduce the amount of combustible material nearby.

• Have a fire-safe wall behind wood heaters. A brick wall or another fireproof material should be used on any walls that house a wood- or gasburning appliance for added safety.

• Verify electrical safety. Extension cords and power strips should be kept to a minimum, and the outlets should not be overloaded. Replace fuses properly and don’t be afraid to call a certified electrician to verify you are correctly set up.

By making a few tweaks in and around the house, a homeowner can decrease the likelihood of a fire.

Norgaards would like to thank all of the hard-working firefighters for their continued dedication and a job well-done.

1301 Nicola Ave.

250-378-5121

16 • THURSDAY, October 13, 2016

www.merrittherald.com

Home Safety Checklist

Response Fire Systems is a full service Fire Suppression and Sprinkler System provider. We have twenty-four years of experience servicing the Kamloops, Merritt communities and surrounding areas. We are pleased to offer full installation, inspection, repair and maintenance services.

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Nicola Post & Rail Ltd. extends our appreciation to all of our dedicated fire fighters.

250-378-4567

THURSDAY, October 13, 2016 • 17

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3739 Overlander Dr. Kamloops, B.C. www.response�ire.ca

Box 730 Merritt. BC Brian 250-378-7676 Tony: 250-319-9891 nicolapost@hotmail.com Fax: 250-315-1049

Sparklers aren’t as safe as they seem

! u o Y k n a h T to our Firefighters from everyone at Shop: 250-378-5395 • 2795 Pooley Avenue Parts: 250-378-3765 • 1101 McFarlane Way

2770 Pooley Avenue

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Thanking our local firefighters for working so hard to keep us safe!

COLOURING PAGE FOR KIDS

250-378-9201

If a fire occurred in your home tonight, would your family get out safely?

1750 Lindley Creek Rd., Merritt

Parents go above and beyond to keep their children safe, especially from burns or fire hazards. They’ll put locks and guards on ovens, check the temperature of bath water, push hot drinks to the center of the table so they cannot be tipped over and blow on hot food to cool it down. However, even the most protecting of parents might be unwittingly putting kids at risk when they allow their children to play with sparklers.

Most people think that sparklers are the safest fireworks around. After all, they aren’t propelled into the sky at high speeds. Sparklers do, however, burn at temperatures between 1,100 F and 1,500 F. That’s three to five times hotter than the oven temperature required to cook many meals.

Sparklers are third only to bottle rockets and firecrackers as the firework most likely to cause injury to children ages 5 to 14. The Academy of Pediatrics states that 45 percent of all firework-related injuries occurs to children under age 15, while estimates suggest that 57 percent of the fireworkrelated injuries suffered by children under the age of 5 are caused by sparklers.

If sparklers are legal where you live and you plan to include them in festivities, there are certain precautions to take.

• Always supervise children with sparklers.

• Don’t give sparklers to very young children. Substitute much safer glow sticks instead.

• Have a water bucket handy or a pail of sand where extinguished sparkler sticks can be placed.

• Make sure any sparkler users are aware that wood and metal sparkler sticks can remain hot for some time, even after the burning has ceased.

•

Coldwater Indian Band Fire Department

A New Threat As if the dangers of individual sparklers were not enough, some people are taking even bigger risks. Spurred on by online videos and step-by-step building instructions, individuals are turning ordinary sparklers into sparkler bombs.

These homemade explosives are created by binding 300 sparklers together with electrical tape and using one sparkler as a fuse.

Sparkler bombs are being used to blow up everything from garbage cans to mailboxes.

Sparklers are made from a pyrotechnic material and iron fillings pasted on a stick. When lit individually, the sparkler simply burns for a few seconds and fizzle out. However, when bound together, multiple sparklers produce a lot of heat and energy that has no free place to go. As a result the energy produces an explosion.

Sparklers may seem to be relatively safe, but as with any incendiary device, they can cause serious injuries.

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Never leave a lit candle in an empty room Have your chimney inspected (and cleaned) annually Turn pot handles inward on the stove to avoid accidents Keep debris cleaned up, and your firewood a safe distance from the house Properly dispose of used paint cans, solvents and other chemicals Check your smoke alarms and make sure the batteries are fresh Be extra safety minded at Halloween!

18 • THURSDAY, October 13, 2016

www.merrittherald.com

CITY OF MERRITT’S

FIRE & RESCUE TEAM THANK YOU FROM US ALL FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION

This page paid for by City of Merritt

DAVID TOMKINSON, Fire Chief

AARON CLARKE, Firefighter

BESHOY MELEKA, Firefighter

BILL MORTON, Captain

BOB WILSON, Firefighter

BRANDON TAYLOR, Firefighter

CARL JOHNSTON, Lieutenant

CORY WOODS, Firefighter

BRENT MANNING, Firefighter

DARRELL FINNIGAN, Battalion Chief

VAITUA HADDOU, Firefighter

DEAN FINNIGAN, Battalion Chief

DEBBIE TANCSA, Firefighter

ASHLEY CORRIGAN Firefighter

CLAYTON TORGALSON Firefighter

DUSTIN RUBNER, Firefighter

JASON SYBRANDY Firefighter

JAY MOSLEY, Battalion Chief

JEFF JOHNSON, Captain

MARTIN PETERSON, Lieutenant

MEAGAN KING, Firefighter

NATHAN RUSSELL, Firefighter

PHILLIP DONCASTER, Firefighter

RANI HOTHI, Firefighter

SHERRY PETERSON, Fire Chaplain

SKY MCKEOWN, Captain

STEVE HILL, Captain

STEVEN REMPEL, Firefighter

TODD NAGATA, Lieutenant

DARREN KELLY Firefighter

SARAH FORSBERG, firefighter

STU MILNE Firefighter

DAWN ARMITAGE Firefighter

TREVOR REED Firefighter

DARREN PRESTON Firefighter

GARETH TILT Firefighter

GREG HODSON Firefighter

JORDAN LIANG Firefighter

KARLEY SNETSINGER Firefighter

MICHAEL GAMBLE Firefighter

NOLAN PICK WEP Firefighter

QUINN POOLEY Firefighter

RILEY BOOMGARDEN Firefighter

THURSDAY, October 13, 2016 • 19

www.merrittherald.com

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Merritt & Nicola Valley

MENTAL HEALTH

Beating the blues

Best Bites Dining Guide

Cole Wagner THE MERRITT HERALD

As the weather turns in the month of October, the collective mood of students at the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology also tends to take a turn.

Which is why the school has partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association to bring the Beyond the Blues Education and Screening Day to the community on Oct. 19.

The one-day mental health workshop is geared towards students, specifically aboriginal students, explained Marcia Mejia-Blanco, communications and events coordinator with NVIT, but anyone is welcome to attend as the knowledge will be applicable to people from all walks of life.

“We’re going to have quite a few agencies here that provide social service supports in town,” said Mejia-Blanco. “So people that are having issues

‘‘

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— NVIT EVENT COORDINATOR MARCIA MEJIA-BLANCO

with housing or something like that, we’re going to have people here who can help direct them and give them some resources.”

Along with interactive games, the mental health “fair” — as Mejia-Blanco described it — will feature videos and adult colouring books, as well as a wealth of information regarding mental health treatment, supports and self-care.

Attendees will be able to fill out self-tests on their mental health well-being, which can identify risky behaviours such as binge drinking and substance abuse.

Clinicians will be in attendance to provide further information for those looking to take the next steps in treating a mental illness or risky behaviour. Most importantly, the event is free, anonymous and confidential for all walk-ins.

For Mejia-Blanco, who was an NVIT student last year in the social work program, it was important to have a mental wellness event catered to a demographic considered to be one of the most at-risk for developing mental illness or substance abuse issues.

“I think that for a lot of students, mental health and unhealthy substance use begins in college. That’s when you start hitting a lot of stressors, be it housing, financial, or relationships.

You’re stretched thin in general with school, so you might start seeing some behaviours you haven’t paid attention to in other areas of your life,” said Mejia-Blanco.

“A lot of students start binge drinking in college, on the weekends or in the evenings to wind

See ‘STUDENT’ Page 22

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20 • THURSDAY, October 13, 2016

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www.merrittherald.com

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Winter tires highly recommended From Page 12 gone off in the ditch. That often causes a pile up on the highway.”

Tires which are deemed as suitable winter tires will bear a snowflake symbol — which can sometimes be found on allseason tires.

“They’re not the best for driving, especially in snowy condi-

tions. If you haven’t had your snow tires put on yet and you have all-seasons on, you can get by with those — but we recommend people have snow tires on, especially if they’re driving on the Coquihalla,” said Dunsmore.

With rain forecasted for the Merritt area for the weekend, drivers are advised to check drivebc.com for the most up-todate weather reports and highway driving conditions before setting out on the roads.

Get your flu shot.

dontgoviral.ca

“The pipeline will create an incredible regional boom here.”

– Bryce Herman, President, Kamloops North Shore Business Improvement Association

The Trans Mountain Project will provide economic benefits for all Canadians. First, it will create a

1.8 B

$

Construction spending in the BC Interior1.

11.3 M

$

Estimated annual local tax increases to benefit BC Interior1.

Total annual local taxes including new and existing amounts – $21.138 M.

164.4 M

$

Workforce spending in the BC Interior1 during construction by local and non-local workers.

long-term legacy of tax revenues that will help fund vital services, such as education and health care.

Overall, the Project is expected to generate $46.7 billion in government revenues. Second, the Project creates the equivalent of 37,000 jobs per year over twenty years of operations. And finally, property tax revenue to local governments in BC

15,000

Equivalent number of jobs per year throughout construction (9,000 in BC).

1

2.8 M

$

Current value of Community Benefit Agreements with BC Interior municipalities.

500 K

$

in funding over 20 years to Thompson Rivers University as a Community Benefit Agreement for students in Trades, Social Work and Applied Research Programs.

and Alberta will increase by $26.5 million annually – more than double the current amount.

The BC Interior includes Valemont, Barrierre, Clearwater, Kamloops, Merritt, Thompson Nicola Regional District (Vavenby, Birch Island, Black Pool, Blue River, Avola, Little Fort and Black Pines) and the Regional District of Fraser Fort George.

For more information, go to TransMountain.com/benefits Email: info@transmountain.com · Phone: 1-866-514-6700

Committed to safety since 1953.

22 • THURSDAY, October 13, 2016

www.merrittherald.com

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Former student organized mental health workshop From Page 19 down. But there is a cause for those things, and it’s not just because college is fun. It can also be an escape for lots of people.”

Mejía-Blanco first heard about the Beyond the Blues workshop at a “Healthy Minds, Healthy Campuses” event in Vancouver while she was still attending NVIT as a student — and was determined to bring the event to Merritt.

Stepping into the role of events coordinator with the school afforded her the opportunity to organize a Beyond the Blues workshop at NVIT.

A Beyond the Blues mental health workshop was hosted at the University of the Fraser Valley last year.

With the community of Merritt still grappling with the impending shutdown of the Tolko mill in December, Mejia-Blanco said she could see community-wide benefits from hosting the Beyond the Blues event.

“I think that when life gets tricky, you tend to default to things you’ve done regularly, and they can become unhealthy — whether it’s binge drinking or eating, or casual drug use. It’s important to see when it starts to spill over and affect other areas of life,” said Mejia-Blanco.

Photo courtesy of the Canadian Mental Health Association

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THURSDAY, October 13, 2016 • 23

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SPORTS

Have a sports story tip? Tell us about it by calling 250-378-4241 or emailing newsroom@merrittherald.com

JUNIOR HOCKEY

Cents look for bounce-back game versus Vipers Ian Webster THE MERRITT HERALD

Going into Wednesday night’s home-ice contest with the visiting Vernon Vipers, the Merritt Centennials were looking to get back on a winning track following a pair of disappointing losses to the Penticton Vees on the weekend.

The result of Wednesday’s game against the Vipers was not available in time for this edition of the newspaper, but a complete summary and the final score, along with pictures, can be read online at merrittherald.com.

The Cents’ two defeats at the hands of the Interior division-leading Vees included a 5-1 setback on Friday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre and a heart-breaking 4-3 loss in overtime Saturday at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.

Despite being outshot 13-7 in the first period at the SOEC, the Cents managed to keep Friday’s match-up a scoreless affair after 20 minutes. Much of the

credit could be put on the shoulders of Merritt starting netminder Jake Berger, who was superb all night long.

However, three quick goals by the Vees in a span of nine minutes in the second period broke open the game, and paved the way for Penticton’s eighth win in nine starts this season.

It was the Vees’ fourth unanswered goal, however, at 10:07 of the third period, that summed up the kind of night it was for the Centennials.

Penticton players buzzed the Merritt net for over 30 seconds, firing five successive shots at a beleaguered Berger before Ty Amonte found the twine at the back of the net.

Defenceman Mike Faulkner, one of the Cents’ best players all weekend, erased the donut for his team on the scoreboard with a nifty point shot that got by everyone, but it was the Vees’ Ty Barnstable who closed out the scoring with less than a minute left in regulation play.

Berger wound up stopping 34 of 39 shots

BCHL STANDINGS to Oct. 11 INTERIOR DIVISION Team

GP W L T OTL PTS

Penticton 10 9 1 0 0 18 Vernon 11 6 3 0 2 14 Merritt 11 5 4 1 1 12 Trail 12 5 6 0 1 11 West Kelowna 10 5 5 0 0 10 Salmon Arm 10 4 6 0 0 8 MAINLAND DIVISION Team

GP W L T OTL PTS

Merritt Centennials’ netminder Colten Lancaster narrowly avoided injury when his net came crashing down on him from behind during a skirmish after the whistle in the Cents’ game against the Penticton Vees on Saturday night at the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena. The Vees won 4-3 in overtime. Ian Webster/Herald

on the night, many of them Grade-A, while his counterpart, Penticton’s Mathew Robson, had a relatively easy time of it — turning aside 27 of 28 pucks.

If Friday’s outing was somewhat of a one-sided affair, Saturday’s rematch at the barn was about as close as it can get. For the second home game in a row, the Centennials failed to protect a twogoal lead and wound up

snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

Playing a hardhitting, crash-and-bang game in the back half of their home-and-home series with the Vees, the Cents were full value for early 2-0 and 3-1 leads — thanks to goals by Faulkner in the first period and Henry Cleghorn at 13:55 of the second.

The Vees weren’t about to pack up and go home, however. They

GP W L T OTL PTS

Cowichan Valley Victoria Powell River Nanaimo Alberni Valley

12 7 3 0 2 16 12 6 2 2 2 16 13 7 6 0 0 14 11 5 5 0 1 11 11 4 6 0 1 9

was short-lived however, as the Vees replied just 15 seconds later on an simple give-and-go that was made far too easy by a Merritt squad caught napping.

Things went from bad to worse rapidly, as the Vees tied the game at 3-3 with just 6:31 remaining in regulation time. A harmless play of the puck out of the corner managed to find its way through the pads

Meet the newest Centennial The Merritt Centennials added a new player to their roster, just in time for the team’s weekend home-andhome series with the Penticton Vees.

The Cents acquired 19-year-old defenceman Zachary Bleuler from the Langley Rivermen in exchange for future considerations.

Bleuler, a native of North Vancouver, stands six-foot one-inch and weighs 200 pounds.

In 115 BCHL games with the Rivermen, Bleuler has scored six goals and added 28 assists for 34 points. He was an assistant captain with the team prior to the trade.

Gone from the Centennials team are defenceman Mark O’Shaughnessy and forward Ryan Roseboom.

You can read more about the Cents’ recent player transactions online at merrittherald.com.

Merritt Centennials

Wenatchee 9 8 0 0 1 17 Chilliwack 11 7 3 0 1 15 Coquitlam 11 4 6 1 0 9 Langley 11 3 6 1 1 8 Prince George 11 3 7 1 0 7 Surrey 10 2 7 0 1 5 ISLAND DIVISION Team

made it a one-goal game again less than two minutes after Cleghorn’s tally, and were buzzing for the equalizer as the first 40 minutes came to a close.

Veteran Zach Zorn, playing his best hockey as a Merritt Centennial, picked up his third point of the night at the midway mark of the third period with a goal that restored his team’s two-goal lead. It

of Merritt netminder Colten Lancaster who, up until that point, had been magnificent in his first start for the team in a couple of weeks.

The misfortune continued into the first period of overtime.

Playing four-on-four, the Vees gained the Merritt zone with ease, and captain Mitch Meek was allowed to get a quality shot away from the high slot. Lancaster initially handled the puck, but it managed to skip over him and into the net for the game winner. The final shot count was 39-28 in favour of the Vees.

Against the Vipers on Wednesday, the Centennials will be looking to replicate Saturday’s strong start, but avoid the late-game meltdown that has cost them so dearly in recent home outings.

Merritt will conclude its four-game home stand on the weekend with match-ups against the Powell River Kings on Saturday at 7 p.m. and versus the Nanaimo Clippers on Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

vs Powell River Kings 7:00 pm Saturday, Oct. 15 at N.V. Memorial Arena

For the month of October bring in a non-perishable food item or cash donation for the food bank to any home game for your chance to win SEASON TICKETS - compliments of Murray GM. Draw will be October 23

NICOLA VALLEY MEMORIAL ARENA

2075 Mamette Ave., Merritt