Observer SALMON ARM
Wednesday Feb. 29, 2012 www.saobserver.net $1.25 HST INCLUDED
Police find heroin use increasing
Hard drugs: Officers say three top dealers arrested. By Martha Wickett OBSERVER STAFF
It’s getting tougher to be a drug dealer in Salmon Arm. Police have made three major arrests in as many weeks, and are encouraging the public to help by providing tips. Last Tuesday, Feb. 21, police arrested a man behind the Save-On-Foods parking lot for possession for the purpose of trafficking of both heroin and methamphetamine. Police report that the suspect is known to them and had been recently released from jail after serving time for being caught in a stolen vehicle. “The male was found to be in possession of heroin, methamphetamine, Canadian currency, and a gold ring that was recently taken in a break and enter from a residence in Salmon Arm,” said Sgt. Carlos Tettolowski. “After the arrest, RCMP members answered the suspect’s phone and met buyers from all around the downtown core of Salmon Arm.” The suspect, Jeremy Robert Minion of Salmon Arm, has been charged with two counts of possession of heroin and methamphetamine, as well as one count of possession of stolen property. Just two days earlier, on Sunday, Feb. 19, police stopped a vehicle for speeding on the Trans-Canada Highway near 17th Street SW, across from Buckerfield’s. When they ran the licence plate it was discovered the vehicle was registered to a federal parolee. This raised suspicions, and although the officers discovered the man driving the vehicle was not the person out on parole, they determined there were sufficient grounds to arrest the man and search the vehicle. Consequently, a Lower Mainland man is facing drug-related criminal charges after officers discovered what they are terming a “fair amount” of methamphetamine. Cpl. Luiz Sardinha with the Salmon Arm Drug Section says police have arrested three of the town’s top dealers in the past three weeks, one of whom was a 63-year-old woman. With all of
JAMES MURRAY/OBSERVER
Taking a stand: Teachers Tyrril Tonks, Jean Brighouse and Bonnie Jackson wear placards Monday afternoon to demand a mediated settlement rather than a legislated end to the teachers’ current job action.
Teachers take to streets Dispute: Results of vote on three-day strike expected Thursday. By Lachlan Labere OBSERVER STAFF
B.C.’s teachers are ready to escalate job action in response to the provincial government’s intent to legislate an imposed contract. The B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) has received approval from the B.C. Labour Relations Board to go on strike for up to three days. The BCTF is preparing to vote on the strike action. The result should be known Thursday. Teachers in the Okanagan-Shuswap were out on the streets Monday afternoon for a “day of action,”
protesting Education Minister George Abbott’s decision to proceed with legislation that would bring an end to the yearlong teachers contract negotiations. “He’s showing poor direction – we’re standing up for the bigger picture. This is about the erosion of democracy,” commented Salmon Arm Secondary theatre instructor Cathy Hay. “I’ve been teaching for 27 years and this makes me sick. I just want to teach,” said physical education instructor Tricia Martin. Abbott announced Friday that he would be directing staff to prepare a bill or
bills that would bring about a “resolution” to the collective bargaining dispute between the BCTF, the BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA) and the province. On Tuesday, Abbott tabled legislation that would forbid any strike action. “From my perspective, it is unacceptable that this situation continue,” Abbott said in a press conference Friday. “The parties have been at the table now for one year, there have been 78 face-to-face bargaining sessions and the parties remain as far apart today… as they were one year ago, and I am
not prepared to see this go on very much longer.” The BCTF responded with demands for a mediated settlement, to which the BCPSEA has since agreed. “Our employer, BCPSEA, agreed to mediation on Friday, so I’m concerned that the minister is a little bit ahead of himself as far as legislation,” said North Okanagan Shuswap Teachers’ Association president Lynda Bennett. “We feel it would be respectful if he put legislation on the side so that we could give mediation a try.” See Class size on page A2
See Tips on page A2
This week Walkers turn out en masse to support the city’s homeless shelter. See more on A3. Shuswap athletes bring home medals galore from the BC Winter Games. See page A15.
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .............A7,A8 Life & Times ............... A9 Sports............... A15-A19 Arts & Events ... A20-A23 Time Out................... A28 Vol. 105, No. 09, 48 pages