BUSINESS
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KELOWNA’S Trevor Haaheim is back in familiar territory as winner of the Peak To Beak Run for the fifth time.
URBAN FARE offers a unique grocery shopping experience that is drawing raves from both shoppers and our business columnist Maxine DeHart.
NO MORE FREE rides in the District of West Kelowna for illegal secondary suites after the conclusion last week of a two-year amnesty approval period.
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82 serving our community 1930 to 2012
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SALES SINCE 1965
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Model 435
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1892 Byland Rd,
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West Kelowna
250-769-7355 1892 Spall Rd,
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Kelowna
250-868-1010
THURSDAY September 13, 2012 The Central Okanagan’s Best-Read Newspaper www.kelownacapnews.com
Reservoir water use licence decisions upsetting Judie Steeves STAFF REPORTER
looks for remaining hot spots from the Trepanier Fire in the Peachland area on Thursday. DOUG FARROW/CONTRIBUTOR
▼ TREPANIER FIRE
Fire evacuees endure a second indignity Kathy Michaels STAFF REPORTER
Knowing their home and irreplaceable belongings were just a stone’s throw away from remnants of flames that incinerated three Peachland houses has been difficult enough. But Wednesday morning, Louise and Terry Mains had a new layer of grief added to their evacuee experience. “We’re booked in to the Super 8 Hotel, and they’ve said they had good surveillance all night, but when I got up to go to my chiropractic appointment this morning our truck, with its camper, was gone,” said Louise Mains. The couple—whose home is on Desert Pines Road and
within view of the three Coldham Road houses that burnt down Sunday—were holidaying on Vancouver Island when fire broke out in their neighbourhood. “Our children told us about the fire. It was scary, watching it from afar, so we left our friends, took the ferry home and drove immediately here,” Louise said, adding her neighbourhood friends have shown her pictures of flames licking the perimeter of their property, to drill home how close they came to losing everything. “We knew we weren’t getting a thing out of our house, and we’ve had to worry about irreplaceable valuables because we didn’t think of them when we left—we never dreamt a fire
would happen, it didn’t cross our minds.” What they did have to lessen the sting of what could be, however, was a truck and camper filled with living supplies and various other belongings. “It’s a really good truck and an amazing camper,” said Louise. “We really didn’t need this on top of that scare.” The Mains have been told by other hotel guests that there was a noise at about 12:30 or 1 a.m., and they’re assuming that was the sound of their truck leaving. “It’s a diesel truck, so that was probably it,” she said. The thief has yet to be caught, although police are looking. Meantime, the Mains are
hoping for the best and still finding a way to be gracious about their situation. “We’re very fortunate that we have a house,” she said. “We’re so thankful to the firefighters that saved our home.” Mains and the other 200plus Peachland residents in the evacuation zone were given the green light to return home 5 p.m. Wednesday after approximately 65 fire trouble spots highlighted that morning were brought under control. However, their return is likely to be bittersweet. Officials have said homeowners in the Coldham Road area should be aware there was an extensive power outage during the time they were out of their homes on evacuation or-
The Okanagan Valleys only
Cadillac Dealer Since 1977 JACOBSEN EXCELLENCE
der. Electricity was restored yesterday and residents should take this into consideration regarding the safety of food in refrigerators and freezers. Interior Health has excellent information available regarding food and water safety and power outages for residents returning after a fire on its Emergency Preparedness web page: Meantime, police are continuing their investigation into the missing truck. If anyone sees the 2002 green Dodge Ram dually, with a white Northern Light Camper, call the Kelowna RCMP at 250-762-3300, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.crimestoppers.net to report. kmichaels@kelownacapnews.com
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Over the objections of Lake Country council, the head of water allocation for this region for the province has granted water licences on the district’s main reservoirs to a number of owners of recreational leases on lots on Crown land. Lake Country Mayor James Baker said the reservoir’s water is already fully licensed, so to add new licensees goes against the Water Act. He said the district intends to appeal the decision. In a letter dated Aug. 21 to the district, Conrad Pryce, assistant regional water manager, says there is water available to meet the licensed demand and the quantity of water involved is “insignificant relative to the total reservoir volume.” Instead of licences for water for the whole year, he approved restricted licences from May 1 to Oct. 31. Other conditions included the licence being only for when the reservoir is more than 30 per cent full; only for the term of the Crown lease
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