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u Arson arrests P. 6 u Rezoning repeat P. 7
u 40 years old P. 8 u Leg up for startups P. 3/5
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WEDNESDAY, October 24, 2012
Plea for information
NEWS BRIEFS Stuart Lake Hospital ER update The Stuart Lake Hospital Emergency Room will be open for a couple more days during the remainder of October. Once again, expanded locum coverage has been found to help open the facility for extra days. The dates the emergency room will be open are as follows: October 29-30 The ER was also open from Oct 16-21
Area students earn scholarships Mr. Eugene Marks, Director of Instruction, informed the Board that based on government exam results twenty two students from School District No. 91 have each been awarded a $1000 scholarship. “These students are to be commended for their efforts and results. It is exciting to see the success of our students. Their parents and teachers should be proud of these young people.”
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An appeal goes out for witnesses to come forward with what they know Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier
commander in Fort St. James, said the door is always open A plea has gone out to the at the local detachcommunity for witnesses to ment for people to come forward in the murder come forward. of Fribjon Bjornson. Local RCMP are A CBC story last week, not involved in the both on the radio and on investigation itself, CBC News The National, rebut can take statevealed details of the case. ments or help facilBjornson, who was from itate introductions Vanderhoof but working between investiganorth of Fort St. James, was tors and local comkilled earlier this year, his munity members or severed head having been witnesses. found in an abandoned “There’s so house on the Lower Road on much more they’re Nak’azdli Reserve on Feb. 3. doing that we don’t The CBC story revealed even know at the lopeople in the Nak’azdli comcal level,” he said. munity may know who is reThalhofer said sponsible, and said according Fribjon Bjornson, whose severed head was it is understandto witnesses who approached found in a house on the Lower Road on able people in the the family, Fribjon had been Nak’azdli Reserve on Feb. 3. community can feel File photo frustrated because at a house on the reserve partying, next door to where his they are not aware head was found. Fribjon’s parents were told he of what is going on behind the scenes. was taken into the basement by a group of peo“I guess the perception in some people’s ple, who then tortured and killed their son. minds is: We know who did it, why don’t you The CBC story alleges the motivation may know,” said Thalhofer. But sometimes RCMP have been robbery, as Bjornson had recently will not have the information if someone does cashed a paycheque for thousands of dollars. not bring it to them, and the investigation inHis body was then reportedly dismembered to volve long periods of time to put it all together. hide the attack. “We have to take our time and do it right,” he Bjornson’s body has never been found. said. “I truly believe that these crimes will all be solved, but there’s a process to follow to get to The investigation that point.” While it can be difficult for community memThe criminal investigation of the murder is bers to feel comfortable speaking to outsiders, being done by the North District RCMP Major especially given the sensitive nature of the case, Crimes Unit out of Prince George, which ac- people can provide information anonymously if cording to Leslie Smith, media relations officer they need to, he said. for the North District RCMP, has been very extensive. Gang-related fears Smith said investigators have gone door to door in the communities of Fort St. James and The CBC story suggests people are afraid to Vanderhoof, and they follow up on every tip and come forward, and are not comfortable speakname they are given. ing to investigators, and suggests fears of gangInvestigators are in almost daily contact with related violence if they do come forward. the Bjornson family, and any information they Smith said while the drug trade is prevalent pass on to investigators they follow up on. in the community, which is almost always conStaff Sergeant Paul Thalhofer, detachment nected to organized crime, it is not clear there
are formalized gangs on the Nak’azdli reserve. “Fribjon Bjornson was involved in a high-risk lifestyle,” said Smith, which included hanging out with people who sold drugs. Smith said if there are people in the community who know what happened, then they should come forward. The Major Crimes Unit visits Fort St. James quite often, according to Smith, and witnesses can contact them directly, through the local detachment or through Crime Stoppers. She hopes people realize there are safety plans in place and they can come forward, adding “it’s the right thing to do.” While Thalhofer said it can be difficult for community members to feel comfortable speaking to outsiders, especially given the sensitive nature of the case, people can provide information anonymously if they need to. Nak’azdli Chief Fred Sam said while he has never been approached directly, he has heard a number of things second and third hand about the murder and people not comfortable coming forward. “They zipped their lip because they felt they weren’t being treated with respect,” he said. But Sam also said he does not necessarily believe the violence is from gang members, but individuals involved in the drug trade. While so far all he has heard are rumours, Sam said people out there know what happened. He wants to see people call Crime Stoppers if they want to remain anonymous, and he would be willing to help anyone go forward to the RCMP if they had information which could help solve the crime, but were not comfortable going forward on their own. “It would be good closure for the family,” he said. The death of Bjornson and another unsolved case, the death of Robert Boise Prince, have both been an ongoing concern for the community, as Sam said he believes people in the community know the truth in both cases. “People before wouldn’t lock their doors,” said Sam. But now he said people are more careful. Smith said the investigation into the Robert Prince death, which took place in August of 2008 after he was involved in an altercation at a gathering, is still ongoing.
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Fifth doctor signed on to Fort St. James
Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier
A fifth physician has signed on to come to work in Fort St. James. This is after what April Hughes of Northern
Health called “one of the fastest physician recruitment” efforts ever. “That is a testament to the community, and of course, a testament to Dr. Stent and to Kathy (Marchal) for
all the work they have done,” said Hughes. She made the announcement Saturday, October 13, at the Stuart Lake Hospital celebration for the 40year anniversary of the
hospital (See full story on Page 8). Dr. Putter is the newest physician to sign an agreement with Northern Health to come to the community.
Dr. Meyer and a couple, the Dr. Van Zyls also have already agreed to come to Fort St. James. All of the new physicians will be joining Dr. Stent, who has maintained a prac-
tice in the community as the lone physician. While there are no start dates yet for Dr. Putter, Dr. Meyer is expected later this month and both Dr. Van Zyls will begin in January.