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Finally — the Tranquille Road overpass is reopened Page A3
THURSDAY
Thursday, June 14, 2012 X Volume 25 No. 48
THIS WEEK
Roger Sloan and other pros tee it up at Sun Rivers Page A29 Thompson River Publications Partnership Ltd.
Bus driver fired for trust breach By Tim Petruk STAFF REPORTER
tim@kamloopsthisweek.com
A male Kamloops school-bus driver has been fired for breach of trust after allowing a 15-year-old female student to spend nights at his house — and the 59-year-old is now fighting in court to keep in contact with the teen. Two weeks ago, Merv Hanson was named on a protective-
MERV HANSON: Allowed teen girl to spend nights at his home.
intervention order issued by the Ministry of Children and Family Development, barring him from having contact with the teen, who had been a regular passenger on his Sahali bus route. In court on Wednesday, June 13, the one-time Kamloops city council hope-
ful sought a judge’s approval to have the order overturned. Court heard testimony from social worker Dean Moore, who said he became involved in the situation on Feb. 24, 2012. “They [the girl’s parents] were concerned with Mr. Hanson’s relationship with their daughter,” Moore said. “The concern was that their daughter had met Mr. Hanson on the school bus and she started to spend more and more time with him.” Moore said the girl told him she was visiting Hanson for music lessons, which she said took place at Hanson’s house. “I asked her about the music lessons and how long they are,” Moore said. “She said sometimes they’re eight hours long. I was shocked that the lessons were that long.” The girl also admitted to Moore that she had spent the night at Hanson’s house. “At one point, I asked if she was involved in a sex relationship with Mr. Hanson,” Moore testified. X See HANSON A12
BATTER UP! Garry McIntosh focuses on knocking one into the outfield as he joins other fans of slo-pitch for a ball game on Wednesday, June 13, at Charles Anderson Stadium just east of the downtown core. The pick-up slo-pitch game is open to men and women each Wednesday at the stadium. Dave Eagles/KTW
Kamloops cat killings mirror Lower Mainland mutilations Coquitlam, more than a dozen felines have died under suspicious circumstances since the beginning of May — many of them mutilated, some cut in half. “We are documenting anything of concern,” Kokoska told KTW. “We don’t want people to jump to any conclusions, but be vigilant.” Atlanta-based forensic veterinarian Melinda Merck has been brought in by the BCSPCA to help with the Lower Mainland investigations. Kokoska said he will be sending her evidence from the Kamloops incidents. “We’re still looking for further informa-
By Tim Petruk STAFF REPORTER
tim@kamloopsthisweek.com
Investigators from the BCSPCA are looking into a pair of recent cat mutilations in the Tournament Capital — incidents similar to a wave of gruesome deaths in the Lower Mainland. SPCA Const. Kent Kokoska said the most recent discovery was made this past weekend in Valleyview, following a similar find in Aberdeen two weeks ago. It is believed both animals were cut in half. In Maple Ridge, Langley and Port
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tion,” he said. “Certainly, we would compare it to other investigations that are occurring.” Generally, Kokoska said, cat mutilations are a rarity in Kamloops. “It’s more common for unsightly incidents with natural predators,” he said. “Right now, we can only advise the general public to be vigilant with keeping their cats inside.” Kokoska said it’s also important to have a way of identifying pets — whether it’s through microchip or tattoo. He said neither of the animals found locally had identification.
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