100 Mile House
Co-workers recall nearly three decades
Riders delight audience at gymkhana
Tomlinsons look back on an art-filled life
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AUGUST 22, 2012
Fastball tournament
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• 48 Pages • Two Sections
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Timber supply report reveals huge shortfall Carole Rooney
was one of the conclusions.” Barnett says she is also The Special Committee pleased the local land-use on Timber Supply has plans (LUP) will not be released its report to the touched without involvLegislative Assembly ing the communities they with 22 recommendations affect. for managing timber sup“Going back to those ply in the province. [LUP development] comIt predicts significant mittees to me is very negative ecoimportant, for nomic and social more consultation impacts on forand communicaestry-dependent tion.” communities and The province’s major challengbrand must be es to industry retained for resulting from industry, Barnett the mountain says, adding it pine beetle devincludes cerastation. tifications for Donna Barnett Committee lumber products member and Cariboo- recognized throughout Chilcotin MLA Donna the world. Barnett says working “We want to make sure together with commu- that the work that is done nities in a collaborative on the land base [applies] manner and recognizing to sustainable forest non-timber values, such management. That gives as First Nations rights to certification to our proddevelop new strategies ucts and we don’t want to must always be recog- jeopardize that at all.” nized. The report estimates All people who work that since the mountain on the land base need to pine beetle infestation be consulted and consid- reached epidemic proered, she says, including portions in 1999, it has tourism operators, trap- affected 18.1 million hectpers and guide-outfitters. ares of forest land in “I am very happy this British Columbia. It projects that between 53 and The Voice of the 70 per cent of marketable South Cariboo Since pine will be beetle-killed by 2021. 1960 It also indicates the 20 How to reach us: Ph: 250-395-2219 per cent projected drop in Fax: 250-395-3939 timber harvest levels for www.100milefreepress.net mail@100milefreepress.net the Central Interior repPM 40021189 resents enough timber to otherwise supply about eight mills. Free Press
See TIMBER… page A4
Chris Nickless photo
Local resident Mike Hughes was denied a grant intended for home adaptations to help keep seniors in their homes. Hughes suffers from arthritis pain when maneuvering over long stairways and other obstacles in his house.
Senior refused home safety grant Land value trumps income level in criteria Carole Rooney Free Press
Despite his low-income level, a local senior was refused a grant intended to help older and disabled residents stay in their own home because his property value isn’t low enough. Mike Hughes of 108 Mile Ranch has been refused a Home Adaptations for Independence (HAFI) grant for installing safety equipment in his home because his property is assessed higher than the average value in the Cariboo. “My house assessment is $248,700 and the area’s assessment average is $169,330.” The HAFI program grant assists eligible low-income seniors and people with disabilities in British Columbia to continue to live in the comfort of their home. Since his income level and other assets fit the criteria, Hughes won-
ders why he was denied based on various installations to help him his property value when the whole manage in his home, he explains. point of the grant is to help keep “It’s painful going up and down seniors at home. stairs, because in my house, all the In Vancouver, the HAFI 2011 entrance/exits involve going up assessed property value cap is set and down stairs. I find it harder at more than $1 million. In Everybody I’ve talked to says it Kamloops, the seems to be an unfair system.” cap is $280,858; and in Kelowna, it’s is $420,000. Mike Hughes This means low-income seniors and disabled people in those now because of the arthritis in the communities, who own proper- knees.” ty worth significantly more than Additional handrails for those Hughes’ home, can qualify for the steps, as well as modifications to grant. the bathtub so he wouldn’t need to Hughes says living on land with climb over the side, were among the a higher value doesn’t reflect the renovations Hughes had planned. residents need, or even the value of “There could be quite a bit of the house. money involved with making these An Interior Health Authority changes.” occupational therapist visited See HUGHES… page A3 Hughes last fall and recommended
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