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October, 14 2016 | Volume 14 Number 42
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Council comes to stalemate over Ashlee Hyatt’s memorial bench DAN WALTON EDITOR
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DAN WALTON
A GOOD TIME was had by all at the inaugural Peachland Scarecrow Festival at Heritage Park on Oct. 9. Pictured from the left is Bella Klassen,
10, Amelia Vucinovic, almost 10, Meghan Klumpner, 11 and Smudge the dog, who’s 4. Winners for the most creative scarecrows were also named at the festival. Beach Avenue Café was credited for having the Most Hilarious Scarecrow; the Most Unique Scarecrow was found at Sunny Side Market; Peachland Community Arts Council won Most Realistic Scarecrow; the Best Business Scarecrow went to the Restoration Station; United Church had the Best Community Organization Scarecrow; the Best Private Scarecrow could be found at Phyllis Papineau’s house; and the title of Best Overall Scarecrow was claimed by the Restoration Station. For photo coverage, check Page 10.
District of Peachland council has shot down a motion that would have allowed for Ashley Hyatt’s friends and family from continuing to adorn her memorial bench in Peachland. Because of a stalemate caused by a tie vote, members council voted Tuesday against a motion that would have allowed for Ashlee’s memorial bench to receive special treatment. After a 25-minute debate, council ended up defeating the motion following a 3-3 tie about whether changing the current bylaw relating to Hyatt’s memorial bench should be changed. The popular Peachland teenager, who was 16, was tragically killed at a house party in Peachland in 2010. The stalemate vote is very unusual because Mayor Cindy Fortin could not attend Tuesday’s regular meeting of council due of family reasons. Coun. Mario Mucinovic doesn’t see any good coming out of enforcement of the bylaw, which prevent symbols from being attached to the bench. “I understand the bylaw and what it states,” he said. “An issue that I have is the enforcement of bylaw did not occur. There wasn’t a complaint until recently. There hasn’t been an issue as far as I know about liability. Thinking about this, this is completely wrong to enforce the bylaw against this woman at this stage.” Until earlier in 2016, flowers have been zip tied to the bench regularly by Hyatt’s mother Charrie Hyatt-Griswald to commemorate her late daughter. Coun. Keith Thom believes there’s a better way to appease everybody an he proposed the Town donate a plot from the cemetery to the Hyatt family, which they could use as a shrine instead of the public bench. He reminded counSee COUNCIL on page 11
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