$21,000? $18,207? $19,776?
$18,455?$17,424? $18,000? $15,382? $20,933? $14,000?
How much do Kamloops-Thompson school trustees make? How does their remuneration compare provincewide? PAGE A10
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Second-degree murder charge stemming from stabbing Page A3
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Fired school bus driver accused of ‘grooming’ girls By Tim Petruk STAFF REPORTER
tim@kamloopsthisweek.com
A 59-year-old school bus driver who was fired for engaging in a relationship with a 15-year-old girl on his bus route had been “grooming” other teens as well, according to the testimony of a social worker. Merv Hanson was in Kamloops provincial court on Monday, July 16, seeking to remove a ministry-imposed order barring him from seeing the 15-year-old, whose name KTW has chosen not to publish. MERV A one-time HANSON Kamloops city council candidate, Hanson was fired in March after the KamloopsThompson school district conducted an investigation into his relationship with the teen. Court has previously heard Hanson met the girl on his bus route. He told investigators he began offering her music lessons at his house. The girl’s parents called police,
who in turn contacted the Ministry of Children and Family Development, after her relationship with Hanson began to create problems in the family home. Police investigated, court heard, but could find no evidence of any sexual relationship. An officer told Hanson to stay away from the girl, but he kept in contact with her. In May, she moved into his house for a matter of days, prior to the nocontact order being put in place. In court, social worker Michelle Pearce said Hanson exhibited similar “grooming behaviour” with other students on his route. “He tells them that they’re special,” she said. “With [the 15-year-old girl], it’s her music — he tells her she can be the next Avril Lavigne.” Pearce brought up another incident involving a teen girl who has since moved out of province. She said Hanson carried on an involved online relationship with the girl.
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HANGING ON WITH A HOOP AND A PRAYER Ottawa-based street performers Paul Perreault and partner Stephanie Wheaton entertain an appreciative audience with a bear hug while performing a duo wheel during the weekend’s Community Carnival, one of the many events held during the Merchants Market in downtown Kamloops. Dave Eagles/KTW
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