FACILITY OPENS| Memorial Terrace housing units officially unveiled in Enderby [A10]
Morning gStar
The
Friday, July 13, 2012
P R O U D L Y
S E R V I N G
O U R
N O R T H
O K A N A G A N
We’ll get you home! HILLTOP TIRE
w w w. v e r n o n m o r n i n g s t a r. c o m
C O M M U N I T I E S
F O R
O V E R
2 0
24 Hour # 250-309-4440 1830 Hwy 6, Vernon 250-542-7737
Y E A R S
Verdict nears in court case
TRUCK STOP
ROGER KNOX Morning Star Staff
One official predicts a verdict will come in the fall in the 14-month trial of five Vernon men believed to be associates of a gang the police call the Greeks. Peter Manolakos, Jr., Dale Sipes, Sheldon O’Donnell, Leslie Podolski and Douglas Brownell are all facing murder and/or manslaughter charges in connection with the homicides of David Marniuk, Thomas Bryce and Ronald Thom in — Al Haslett the North Okanagan between 2004 and 2005. All five pleaded not guilty on the opening day of their trial in May 2011. “Legal arguments are now going on,” said RCMP Sgt. Al Haslett, one of the main investigators of the homicides. “A schedule has to be set so Crown and defence can address the jury, then the judge will address a jury. “I think sometime in September we’ll have a verdict.” The trial is being held in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver in front of judge William Smart. Haslett estimates close to 120 witnesses have taken the stand.
“Legal arguments are now going on.”
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
Jacob Girard, four, takes a truck for a test drive in the Crazy Cow Kid’s Corral at Davison Orchards Wednesday morning.
Falkland gets tossed from federal riding RICHARD ROLKE
adding that Falkland has no social and economic connections to the communities in Falkland may get the federal boot. the proposed Central Okanagan-Coquihalla The Federal Electoral riding. Boundaries Commission is “It doesn’t make sense to put proposing Falkland leave us in with Summerland and the Okanagan-Shuswap ridKelowna.” ing and be put into a new ridTalbot is concerned residents ing with downtown Kelowna, of his community would not have Summerland, Merritt, Logan easy access to their federal epreLake and Princeton. sentative. “It’s a bit of a joke,” said Rene “Where would our MP be locatTalbot, Falkland’s Columbiaed? If you wanted to have a meeting Rene Talbot Shuswap Regional District direcwith their office staff, you’d have to tor. drive to Kelowna or wherever they Talbot points out that his area is linked to are located,” he said. Salmon Arm through the CSRD and its secTalbot will be launching a formal protest ondary students go to school in Armstrong. of the proposal and he is urging residents to “Ninety per cent of the people shop in do the same. Vernon and they work in Vernon,” he said, “The boundary should be left as it is,” Morning Star Staff
VERNON TOYOTA
he said. Other proposed changes to OkanaganShuswap would include moving the area between Blind Bay and Chase into Central Okanagan-Coquihalla and Chase into Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo. Okanagan-Shuswap — which could become known as North OkanaganShuswap — would see its population go from 121,062 to 112,399. The average sought for each riding is 104,763. Canada’s electoral districts are reviewed every 10 years by independent commissions to account for shifts and growth in the population. “It’s a challenge when you come to the rural areas of B.C.,” said Stewart Ladyman, with the Electoral Boundaries Commission and a former Vernon resident. “There’s decreasing population in rural
areas and increasing population in urban areas.” Other factors considered when changing boundaries are communities of interest, history and geography. Ladyman admits there may be concerns about shifting Falkland from OkanaganShuswap. “We’re well aware of those types of discussions. We’re willing to listen to people and see if adjustments can be made,” he said. There will be public input sessions Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Kelowna Ramada Hotel and Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Kamloops Convention Centre. Those wanting to make a presentation at a hearing are requested to register by Aug. 30 at bc-cb@rfed-rcf.ca or by writing 1095 West Pender St., Suite 301, Vancouver, B.C., V6E 2M6.
DID YOU KNOW... DL# 30382
3401 - 48th Ave • Phone (250) 545-0687 VISIT US 24/7 AT WWW.VERNONTOYOTA.COM
EVENT
SEE OUR AD ON PG. A-15
Vernon Toyota Is The #1 Import Dealer In The North Okanagan! Come in and test drive a Toyota today.