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THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2012
DriveABLE may change
Proudly serving Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin since 1930
VOL. 82. No. 57
$1.34 inc. HST
Rolling van drags woman down hill
Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer Cariboo Chilcotin MLA Donna Barnett is confident there’ll be some positive changes to the DriveABLE program by the fall. “I’ve been working very closely with the ministry as parliamentary secretary for rural communities to make the DriveABLE accessible and close to home,” Barnett says. “At this time all I can say is that everybody should pay attention. If any senior gets a letter I want them to call my office if they have to go out of town for a test.” In the fall, she hopes to see some good news happen in the region. If people fail the computer test they can take a driving test with a car provided by the province. “Many, many seniors have said they have no problem going to take a test, as we all don’t, if we’re not safe on the road. Sometimes we think we’re safe, but it’s still good to get tested.”
Inside the Tribune NEWS A2 Residents want road graded. SPORTS A9 Rugby players represent B.C.
Monica Lamb-Yorski photo
A woman was taken to hospital with minor injuries after becoming trapped under a runaway van. Police say the owner of a van that was parked at the top of the hill at the Signal Point Trailer Park reported that somehow it started rolling down the hill. The passenger door was open and, as it started to roll away, trapped a woman under the van. She was dragged for approximately 90 feet down the hill and sustained injuries to her face, legs, and arms. A second woman was in the rear of the van with her seat belt on. The van eventually hit a ditch and crashed into a chain link fence by Signal Point. The female passenger was uninjured. The female who was pinned under the door of the vehicle sustained minor injures. She was taken to Cariboo Memorial Hospital by Emergency Health Services for treatment.
COMMUNITY A15 Model competes internationally.
Panel visits New Prosperity site
Weather outlook: Mainly cloudy/risk of thunderstorm today, high of 24 C. Cloudy Friday, high of 25 C.
Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer A site visit by the review panel and its secretariat for the New Prosperity gold-copper mine project took place July 12 and 13. In advance of the visit, Stswecem’c Xgat’tem (Canoe Creek Band) asked if members could accompany the panel during the site visit, but was turned down. On June 16, Stswecem’c chief David Archie wrote a letter to panel chair Bill Ross expressing the band’s disappointment. “Your continued intention to
exclude us while visiting our territory indicates to us that you have lack of respect for our nation and for our rights and responsibilities within our own territory,” Archie wrote, adding the panel looking at the former proposed project invited all participants to ensure a fair hearing. Responding to Archie’s letter on June 20, Ross wrote explaining the intent of the visit was to gain better understanding of the geography of the proposed project area in order to thoroughly analyze the environmental impact statement. “It was the intention of the pan-
el to exclude all parties during the visit out of fairness and not as a lack of respect,” Ross said in the letter. He also said when the previous panel visited the site in June 2009, it did not take any parties along. Ross indicated the panel may make another site visit if that’s the best way to understand the environmental assessment, but wasn’t making any commitment that a second visit will occur. Archie responded that his band would want to be notified if the panel is taking a second visit. “We would consider you com-
ing into our territory unescorted if you make a definite commitment in writing to have a second visit that includes our people. Without that we cannot support your visiting the territory if we are not present,” he wrote, adding the band wants to be alerted if, when and where the panel will go if it revisits the site of the proposed mine. Ross, however, said he wanted to assure Archie that during the panel hearings there will be opportunity for the band to explain the importance of the area and the land to the Stswecem’c Xgat’tem.