InteriorNEWS THE
SMITHERS, B.C.
105th Year - Week 42
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
www.interior-news.com
Single Copy • $1.34 ($1.20 + 14¢ HST)
PM 40007014
Hazelton RCMP allegedly went too far
SPIKE IT Sr. Boys volleyball descends on Smithers
SPORTS/B1
Incident leaves woman bruised and scraped By Jerome Turner Smithers/Interior News
START UP SAVVY Local entrepreneurs up for regional awards.
COMMUNITY/A9
RUNNING A MILE JANZE RECOGNIZED Gitxsan artist Phil Janze is recognized as among the best.
OUR TOWN/A13
INSIDE
LETTERS COMMUNITY OUR TOWN SPORTS THREE RIVERS CLASSIFIEDS
A5 A12 A13 B1 C1 C4
District 54 Elementary school students from across the board took part in the annual District 54 mass run at Riverside Park last week. Check back in next weeks sports section for full results. Dan Mesec photo
Smithers resists E. coli problems By Dan Mesec Smithers/Interior News B.C.’s new Agricultural Minister, Norm Letnick said he’s taking a look at meat regulations in the province and the possibility of making changes to better suit the growing desire for “closer-tohome” meat processing. In light of the XL Foods recall, where thousands of E.
Coli contaminated products were recalled, the province is preparing their meat regulations systems to assume all responsibility for meat inspection once the federal Canadian Food Inspection Agency pulls out of B.C. in 2014. “Over the last several month the Agricultural Ministry has consulted with all the key stakeholders,
including industry as to what we do once the federal government pulls out,” Letnick said. After meeting with numerous experts on the subject, including agriculture delegates from other parties, Letnick felt the, “Food regulations in B.C. need a second look.” See E. COLI on Page A7
Lena Wright alleges RCMP Constable Kevin Mack used excessive force during an incident in Gitanmaax on the morning of Oct. 7, 2012, which led to her arrest. Wright, walking home from a wedding dance at Gitanmaax Hall with a friend near John Field Elementary, claims she had a bright flashlight shone in her eyes and was immediately thrown to the ground. “I put my hand up to block the light from my eyes and I was grabbed and slammed to the ground,” Wright, 5’3” and was wearing high heels and a mini-skirt, said. “He didn’t say anything, not ‘I’m constable soand-so’ or ‘you’re under arrest’, nothing.” Wright, afraid and thinking she was being attacked, tried to break free from her assailant. Carly Nabess, friend and classmate of Wright’s at the Terrace Northwest Community College, witnessed the incident. “By the time he said ‘stop resisting arrest’, Lena was already on the ground,” Nabess said. “He had his knee on her back and then he punched her in the back of the head.” Wright claims one of her teeth was chipped when it struck the road, as a result of the blow from Const. Mack. Neither Wright or Nabess can recall Const. Mack reading Wright her rights before or during the arrest. Nabess, stunned by the incident, wonders why she wasn’t also arrested. The incident occurred on the decommissioned road next to John Field Elementary, where Const. Mack and another unidentified officer parked their vehicles, waiting for people walking home on the frequently used road from the wedding dance, according to a source already in Const. Mack’s custody. See RCMP on p. A3
Friday & Saturday ONLY!
LUMINUS INDOOR/OUTDOOR 99 LED CHRISTMAS 50’s LIGHTS see page A-16
17