AGRICULTURE MEETING
SESS SOCCER SCORES FIRST
ELEMENTARY TRACK AND FIELD
Employment services explain operation See page 16
SESS soccer team makes first trip to Provincials See page 9
Field day at SESS See pages 12, 13
E H T HIGHLIGHTED LABEL MEANS SUBSCRIPTION EXPIRED
www.keremeosreview.com
Vol.15 Number 23
Thursday, June 7, 2012
$1.15 including HST
Serving the communities of Keremeos, Cawston, Okanagan Falls and Kaleden
IDs still not official By Steve Arstad news@keremeosreview.com
Photo contributed by Barry Berger
Wildfire lights up Puddinghead Mountain off Bypass Road in Keremeos on Saturday, June 2. A grass fire began near the west end of the bypass late Saturday afternoon, challenging Keremeos, Kaleden and BC Forestry ground and air crews.
Eight weeks after the arrest of three Canadians off the coast of New Caledonia, French authorities remain silent as to the identification of the trio. It is widely assumed at this point that the three were residents of the Okanagan-Similkameen. Following the Review’s story about the arrest in the May 17 edition, an article in the June 3 edition of the Vancouver Province revealed three names, but as yet there is no official confirmation of the identities. John Babcock, Director of Communication for the Ministry of Consular Affairs told the Review on June 4 that the ministry remains limited as to what they can say about the case. “Consular officials in Australia and New Caledonia are providing consular services,” he told the Review, noting that consular officials are addressing issues pertaining to any health concerns those in detention might have, and ensuring that the justice system is followed in a timely, transparent process. Babcock could not provide details regarding the workings of the French justice system, but noted that in some countries a philosophy of “guilty until proven innocent exists, opposite to the Canadian justice system. It could take months - or longer - before the three Canadians go to trial. (The French judicial system is based on the Napoleonic Code, meaning that under laws in that country, one is presumed guilty until proven innocent.).
Fire season begins early in Keremeos with weekend wildfire By Steve Arstad news@keremeosreview.com Fire crews from Keremeos, Kaleden and the B.C. Forest Service battled a grass fire on Bypass Road in Keremeos on Saturday, June 2. The fire began approximately 4 p.m. in a field near the west end of the bypass, spreading to the north. Trees at the base of Puddinghead Mountain could be seen candling as the flames moved through the sparsely treed hillside, fed by moderately strong winds. A water bomber made three passes across the fire front on Saturday evening, dropping retardant, and
a helicopter was also put to work through Saturday evening. Crews worked to contain the fire to keep it from reaching the dump. Strong winds on Saturday afternoon and evening were a factor, necessitating a fire crew to be on scene through the night. Keremeos firefighters, along with forestry crews, worked to overhaul the burn on Sunday morning. Kaleden firefighters were put to work protecting a couple of residences close to the fire. They were released from the scene around 9:30 p.m. Firefighters managed to contain the blaze to the hillside, and no buildings were lost, although a wind change could have had severe consequences. Cooler temperatures on Sunday and rain Monday
morning aided forestry crews still on the mountain doing mop up. Even with more favourable conditions, the odd tree could still be seen going up in flames on Monday morning. It is unknown at this time exactly what started the fire, although suspicions are that it was human caused. An eyewitness told the Review that they saw a neighbour burning material in their backyard prior to the fire. A total of 19 firefighters from Keremeeos and Kaleden attended the blaze, (including four on mutual aid from Kaleden,) and a number of forestry personnel. One residence voluntarily evacuated late Saturday afternoon, although it was felt that no homes were under imminent threat from the flames.