FRIDAY
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OCTOBER 26, 2012 Vol. 117, Issue 204
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Crowe debater shines at nationals Page 3
INCLUDING H.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
SLEDGE HOCKEY FANS
Property tax sale prompts most owners to pay bills BY TIMES STAFF
JIM BAILEY PHOTO
Students from Fruitvale Elementary were among youth from several schools that attended Thursday’s Canadian sledge hockey team practice session at the Cominco Arena. Students were given autographed hockey cards of the national team players. The week-long selection camp wraps up on Saturday and the team will be treated to a banquet at the Colombo Lodge.
United Way campaign nears halfway mark Local chapter sets goal of $85,000 BY GUY BERTRAND Times Staff
A healthy lunch for a needy child or much-needed dental work for a struggling senior all begin with the work of one organization - the United Way. The organization has a goal of helping everyone in a community from its youngest citizen to the oldest and everyone in between. But that generosity does not begin at its office, it begins with each and every resident willing to help. The United Way of Trail and District is nearing the halfway mark of its 2012 campaign and is 40 per cent towards its goal of raising $85,000. Naomi McKimmie, the
executive director for the Trail district branch, saluted all the volunteers, donors, businesses and sponsors that have brought the campaign to this point. “The campaign runs all year but the main portion is from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31,� she explained. McKimmie credited the success of this summer’s Park With Us campaign and the United Way Day in the Park in helping boost its fundraising efforts heading into its crucial months. This year’s total is the same as 2011, which helped 16 organizations by sharing over $55,000. And those programs include some that help people simply make it through a day healthy and happy. “One prime example is the
Healthy Schools meal program,� said McKimmie. “That is one of the largest things that we help fund yearly. Every elementary school at the southern end of the school district benefits. “Our money goes from Rossland to Genelle to Fruitvale. That’s where the money raised at our United Way office stays.� Another example is the Dental Access Fund for emergency dental work for individuals of any age. Those are two of a myriad of programs that benefit from the United Way’s efforts and the generosity of local citizens. “It takes a village to raise a child,� said McKimmie, repeating an old adage. “But it also takes a village to create a village.�
She explained the United Way is moving from an umbrella organization, which helped a variety of at-large groups, to a more communityimpact model. “We are getting more involved in community groups,� she said. “But we’ll continue to fund the organizations that we normally fund year-to-year.� To bolster the coffers to help more groups, the organization is hoping to create an endowment fund. “We’re hoping within the next year, to solicit corporations and businesses to begin the endowment fund. The interest from that fund would be used for community groups. “So if we can build the endowment fund, the more
Three years of unpaid property taxes came with a bidder end. The annual property tax sale, held in the form of a public auction, took place in September across the Greater Trail region. The annual sale allowed municipal governments to collect outstanding property taxes by imposing a one-year period of grace for owners to “redeem� the property after the sale. During the allotted time frame the previous owners can re-gain property titles by paying overdue payments (taxes) and interest rates. However, the one-year period is subject to further conditions imposed by city council. In the past, Trail council had extended the period of tax sale to one year, giving homeowners another chance to clear their debt and their name. In keeping with that, earlier this month city council passed third reading on a bylaw to hold on title the deed to the 12 properties that were in arrears on taxes and were up in the tax sale. The nature of the sale confused Mayor Dieter Bogs and he asked Trail chief administrative officer David Perehudoff if—during the tax sale—he bid the amount owing in back taxes, would he automatically purchase a house for the amount owing on the back taxes. Perehudoff said no. “So why is it a tax sale if you can’t buy it, anyhow?� Bogs countered.
See CITY, Page 3
ROSSLAND
Celebration postponed Downtown opening set for Nov. 3 BY TIMES STAFF Good things come to those who wait. And for those itching for the unveiling Rossland’s renovated downtown, the wait will be a little bit longer. Due to this week’s snowfall and slight delays in the final phases of construction, the Downtown Rossland Celebration will now be held on Nov. 3. “Although it was a difficult decision to reschedule, we want to ensure a safe and completed downtown for all to enjoy,� says Rossland Mayor, Greg Granstrom. “There are only a few final touches to be added, but we feel it’s prudent to wait until November 3rd.� Volunteers are still needed, so please contact Renee Clark at the Rossland Chamber of Commerce at 250-362-5666 to join the fun.
See MONEY, Page 3
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