FRIDAY
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MAY 25, 2012 Vol. 117, Issue 102
110
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Page 2
INCLUDING H.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF
ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALM SALMO
BEAVER VALLEY MAY DAYS
New wrinkles added to venerable event BY BRIAN SEIFRIT Times Correspondent
Every year after the snow has melted and the flowers blossom, Beaver Valley comes alive with the anticipation of another May Days event. This year is no different. The annual event, which is in its 101st year, has added a few new wrinkles to the schedule, which kicks off tonight. New this year is the 5-10 km walk run that begins at 8 p.m. tonight. It starts in Haines Park and ends in the park, just before the fireworks begin at 9 p.m. “It is a whole new concept this year. We’ve done it as a Sunday morning thing before, and we’ve had maybe 30 people go,” explained David Chartres of the organizing committee. “This year it will be on Friday night. Candy Schroder has put in a real effort to make it a success. It is a dedicated 5km and 10km walk. The 5km walk will start on Molnar Rd and end in the park. The 10km walk will start at the park and go to Blue Bird Corner and
First Trail bridge opened 100 years ago
BRIAN SEIFRIT PHOTO
This weekend’s Beaver Valley May Days brings out the kid in everyone including organizer Dave Chartres. back along the highway to town and back to the park.” At 5 p.m. tonight, Skewers mobile restaurant and Confusion
Taco mobile restaurant will also be on site, to add some new flavours to the already favourite Hot Dog extravaganza. “We’ve never had
vendors here before, it has always just been hot dogs and greasy hamburgers,” Chartres chuckled. “This year we’ve turned it up a few
notches. Both vendors will be staying open late and right through the fireworks event.” The Citizen of the Year event will be held at 7 p.m. tonight, the nominee this year is Craig Horsland. “Usually we hold that event in the park, this year we’re holding it at the curling rink,” Chartres pointed out. The fireworks display will begin after dark at around 9:30 p.m. There may be a few surprises this year and the fireworks might be the best that the village has seen, with an extra $500 added to the budget. The guided tours of the Waneta Dam expansion start at 10:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday. “There are a few problems with this event,” Chartres explained. “The problem lies with the Columbia Power Corporation not having enough tour guides for the last two trips. Last year we had four trips down there and all were full. This year we made it so that one of the trips was for seniors only and that tour has completely sold out.
See KIDDIE, Page 3
Diamond Jubilee medal for former Fruitvale mayor BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
Accolades are still rolling in for former Fruitvale mayor Libby Nelson. The woman who served the village and the villagers of Fruitvale for 15 years in the top municipal political posting will be receiving a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee medal in honour of her contributions to the community.
Nelson was nominated by her council, as well as the Regional District of Central Kootenay board of directors, last month for the medal, designated in commemoration of Queen Elizabeth’s sixth decade at the helm of the Commonwealth. Nelson was not
LIBBY NELSON
just about community political service, said current Fruitvale Mayor Patricia Cecchini, she also did a lot of community work through her church in philanthropic support. “She has dedicated herself to the local govern-
ment and to the community in immense ways,” she said. “Libby Nelson has made a tremendous difference in our area, not only in Fruitvale, but regionally as well.” Fruitvale chief administrative officer Lila Cresswell said Nelson was chosen based on her “dedication to peers, local government, the community and Canada.”
See FORMER, Page 3
Montrose meeting allows citizens to air water concerns BY BREANNE MASSEY Times Staff
Montrose residents were desperate for an explanation Wednesday night after a water main breakage three weeks ago forced water restrictions on the community. Over 60 people packed Montrose community hall for a public meeting in which the village chief administrative officer Kevin Chartres presented residents of the area with information about what damage occurred from the water pipe break on May 3, and what the current status of the repairs were at. The community was eager to hear what was happening and many had questions about how the project was being pursued. “It bothers me when we hire engin“It was good eers who don’t serve to hear some us well,” said Ken of the specific Rugg, a man who lives near the destroyed concerns of the property. “There are a community.” lot of qualified people in this area and counSCOTT WALLACE cil should be talking to people in this community. Now that’s just my opinion—nobody is going to think you’re stupid if you ask questions; not asking them is.” Rugg is not an engineer by trade, but he has experience working with water systems. He said it’s basic to install an alarm to alert officials if there are any future problems, and add a drainpipe to minimize where excess water runs if the new pipe leaks to decrease the damage. He said the damage would probably still exist if there was a drainpipe, but the scale of the problem could have been reduced if the water had a place to escape. “I don’t blame council,” said Rugg, “I blame the engineers. (Council) started making repairs quickly— it isn’t easy being a public official.” Scott Wallace, engineer for TRUE Consulting, said the village is going to improve the chamber configuration with a piped drain out of the chamber with more capacity than the drain to rockpit which was previously in place. “The town hall meeting was very worthwhile,” said Wallace. “It was good to hear some of the specific concerns of the community. We were already planning various improvements to the valve chamber including drain piping, but after some of the comments made at the meeting.
See WATER, Page 3
Contact the Times: Phone: 250-368-8551 Fax: 250-368-8550 Newsroom: 250-364-1242
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