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TUESDAY
Tuesday, July 24, 2012 X Volume 25 No. 59
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THIS WEEK
Al Gushta is Canada’s deadly ringer Page A19 Thompson River Publications Partnership Ltd.
TIB struggles with another tragic death By Tim Petruk STAFF REPORTER tim@kamloopsthisweek.com
KNUTE CAN BEAR THE HEAT Knute, one of the resident grizzlies at the B.C. Wildlife Park, knows exactly how to combat the hot Kamloops summers. The weekend dip was taken during the weekend heat. Although this week is off to a very soggy start, Environment Canada is calling for the sunshine and heat to return by Friday, July 27, with a forecast high of 30 C. Allen Douglas/KTW
Through April, tourism tax revenue on rise in Kamloops By Andrea Klassen STAFF REPORTER andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
Kamloops’ tourism numbers are right on track, according to the latest update from Tourism Kamloops. The agency is reporting a four per cent increase in accommodation tax-revenue for the first four months of 2012, compared to the same time period in 2011. “It’s on track with exactly what we
were projecting,” said Tourism Kamloops CEO Lee Morris, who called the tax numbers “our truest measure of how many people are overnighting in the city.” Last year, the city saw tax revenue jump by more than 16 per cent in the first quarter of 2011 and an overall increase of 10 per cent from 2010. This year, Tourism Kamloops is forecasting a five per cent growth in revenue from the tax. Morris said the agency chose to set a
lower number for this year’s target. “We felt it might be a bit more of a moderate year,” she said. “So, tracking four per cent for year-todate is good, it’s really good.” The two per cent hotel room tax is collected from all hotels and motels in the city and helps Tourism Kamloops measure the number of business and leisure travelers coming into town. X See TOURIST TAX A12
A Tk’emlups Indian Band member is dead and another is facing charges after a fatal pedestrian hit-and-run on band land over the weekend — capping off a tragic week for the First Nations community. “Everybody’s absolutely devastated,” said former TIB chief Manny Jules. “We’re just wondering when all this is going to stop.” David Seymour, 64, was struck and killed at about 10 p.m. on Friday, July 20, as he walked in the area of West Shuswap and Salish roads. The suspect, 31-year-old Robert Bill, was not tracked down until about six hours later. It’s believed he fled the scene on foot following the collision, turning himself in to police at 4 a.m. on Saturday. Also a TIB member, Bill is facing charges of dangerous driving causing death and impaired driving causing death. He was released from police custody late Saturday after a telephone bail hear-
ing with a justice of the peace in the Lower Mainland. Bill has a history of violence, having been sentenced to 30 days of house arrest following a domestic assault conviction in 2008. Eight years earlier, he pleaded guilty following another domestic assault and was placed on a nine-month probation term. He was also ordered to pay nearly $1,100 in restitution after a mischief conviction in 2002. Kamloops Rural RCMP seized Bill’s vehicle following Seymour’s death. Bill is slated to make his first court appearance on the latest charges on Aug. 20. Seymour’s death came less than a week after his cousin, 29-year-old Jesse Seymour, was killed during a knife fight at a downtown Kamloops house party. Torbin Alec, also a 29-year-old band member, is in custody facing a second-degree murder charge in relation to the July 15 stabbing death. He’s expected back in court next month. X See THREE A5
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