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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2012
Proudly serving Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin since 1930
VOL. 82. No. 93
$1.34 inc. HST
Adult literacy SANTA RIDES THROUGH TOWN JINGLING ALL THE WAY gets boost The B.C. government announced Nov. 26 that adult learners around the region will get help to improve their literacy and numeracy skills, and advance their education and career goals due to funding for the Community Adult Literacy Program (CALP). The government is providing $2.4 million to support 68 community-based adult literacy projects in 2012-2013, benefitting close to 6,400 British Columbians. Projects funded under CALP provide instruction and support to adult learners in everything from basic literacy to high school completion. Most projects offer one-onone tutoring by trained volunteers, small group classes and other types of learning tailored to adults, aboriginal learners, young parents and others in the community in need of support. Greg Sabatino photo
Karen Sepkowski of Cariboo Carriage had the honour of escorting Santa in the parade held in the jolly old elf’s honour Saturday morning on Oliver Street in Williams Lake.
Inside the Tribune NEWS Donna Barnett returned.
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SPORTS A9 Banff Mountain film fest Dec. 4. COMMUNITY B1 Stampede royals in Edmonton. Weather outlook: Expect fair weather today followed by snow.
Fire rips through lakecity transfer station Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer A fire broke out Monday morning (Nov. 26) at the transfer station in Williams Lake at around 8:45 a.m. The fire, which has now been extinguished, caused approximately $50,000 worth of damage to the structure the Cariboo Regional District confirmed. The fire began when CRD contractor, Peterson Contracting Ltd., started up the 966C rubber tired front-end loader in the transfer sta-
Monica Lamb-Yorski photo
Fire burns at transfer station.
tion building it unfortunately ignited. The operator tried unsuccessfully to extinguish the flames, and subsequently called 9-1-1 to dispatch the Williams Lake Fire Department. Peterson Contracting Ltd.’s comptroller Ryan Bailey said the loader was around 20 to 25 years old. While the fire was still active, there was the odd “boom” sound coming from the building. Bailey, who did not witness the fire, said the sound was most likely tires catching on fire.
Fire chief Randy Isfeld said fire crews fought the fire from the outside before going inside. Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department sent two water tenders to assist. “There are components that could blow off that machine, which is why we try to have a go at the fire from a distance first and then move up on it once we’ve got it cooled down.” By 9:40 a.m. the fire was locked down, and an examination of the facility by the fire department show it was safe to re-open it.
Resounding yes vote in fire referendum Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer
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The final results show with a vote of 978 in favour and 30 against, Cariboo Regional District residents living in the fringe fire protection area have chosen to continue receiving fire protection from the city of Williams
Lake Fire Department. Polls closed at 8 p.m. Saturday Nov. 24). Chief administrative officer Janis Bell said the CRD is pleased with the turnout for the referendum. The advance polls saw 16 mail in votes, 258 votes on Nov. 14, 255 votes on Nov. 19 and on gen-
eral election day 479 votes, for a grand total of 1008 eligible voters. “This is one of the best turnouts we have had for any CRD referendum in my experience with the organization. This positive turnout shows that people understood what was being asked of them, and they obviously felt
it was important to exercise their right to vote and have their say,” Bell said. The CRD will now be moving forward to finalize details under a new agreement with the City of Williams Lake based on the outcome of this referendum and the message received from affected residents.