Inside
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IN MEMORY OF LOREN P. 4 EDITORIAL P. 6
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LOCAL FIRE SAFETY INSPECTIONS P. 5 MIDNIGHT MADNESS P. 8, 9, 12, 13, 14
E xpress OMINECA
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Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Mill fire probe referred to prosecutors
Remembering Loren
Tom Fletcher Black Press
Three wooden benches were presented to area schools on Tuesday, Nov. 27, in memory of Loren Donn Leslie. After meeting with students and faculty during a brief ceremony in the foyer at Nechako Valley Secondary School, Doug Leslie, Loren's father, third from left, and his daughter, Megan, at right, presented a bench to McLeod Elementary across the street. Cameron Ginn/Omineca Express
New markets lure farmers overseas Cameron Ginn Omineca Express Markets in Asia and the Far East are offering local farmers high prices for hay, also known as alfalfa. The domestic price of hay has long been stagnant, largely due to oversupply. But in highly populated, resource-scarce
nations abroad, like China, the United Arab Emirates and Vietnam, hay is up to five times more valuable, according to Mel Gulbranson, a local producer of hay with more than 35 years of farming experience. Hoping to capitalize on the global roundup of animal forage, Gulbranson is building a plant west of Vanderhoof that processes hay for export to countries in
Asia and the Middle East. Using a special baling machine, Gulbranson plans to compress hay into manageable sizes that can be loaded onto containers, transported to the port of Prince Rupert and shipped overseas. "We've been looking into this for years," he said. Continued on page 7
WorkSafeBC officials have completed their investigation into two fatal dust explosions and fires in northern B.C. sawmills earlier this year, and referred the cases to Crown prosecutors for possible charges. WorksafeBC vice-president Roberta Ellis said Crown lawyers will consider whether to proceed with charges under the Workers Compensation Act, which could be laid against individuals as well as the companies involved. Criminal charges were ruled out earlier in the investigation. If Workers Compensation Act charges proceed, the companies could face fines up to more than $500,000 and individuals could be sentenced to up to six months in jail. If prosecutors decide not to take charges to court, the case would be referred back to WorkSafeBC for possible administrative penalties related to cleaning, ventilation and other conditions at the mills. Two mill workers died and 20 others were injured when an explosion and fire tore through the Babine Forest Products sawmill in Burns Lake on Jan. 20, 2012. On April 23, a similar explosion killed two workers and injured 22 more at Lakeland Mills in Prince George. Investigators ruled out natural gas, oil and other fuel sources, leaving fine, dry dust produced from milling wood. WorksafeBC concluded that the likely ignition source was hot electric motor and gear reducer equipment running wood waste conveyors in low, confined areas of the mills. The Babine mill is co-owned by Oregon-based Hampton Affiliates and the Burns Lake Native Development Corp. Hampton CEO Steve Zika said he is disappointed that the company has not yet seen the final WorkSafeBC report. Greg Stewart, president of Lakeland Mills owner Sinclair Group Forest Products, also expressed concern that the referral to Crown counsel means the report is being withheld from the mill owners pending a decision on charges. Continued on page 3
Salute to Minor Hockey Be a part of this exciting event by participating in our annual salute to local and arena minor hockey teams... Team photos along with the names of players and coaching staff will be featured. Circulated in the Caledonia Courier and Omineca Express, on January 9, 2013 this presents a great advertising opportunity. To book your space or for more info call Tel: 250-567-9258 or Fax: 250-567-2070