THURSDAY
S I N C E
DECEMBER 6, 2012
1 8 9 5
Vol. 117, Issue 227
110
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Music students hit high notes Page 10
INCLUDING H.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Airport revenue soars in 2012 However, more ridership putting stress on infrastructure BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
Revenue generated by the Trail Municipal Airport has increased 44.1 per cent from last year even as the future of funding for expansion of the facility remains in question. A report on the summary of current airport operations by manager Bryan Teasdale to the East End Services committee revealed an increase of almost $53,000 in revenue as of the end of September, up to $131,985 for the year. Teasdale said the revenue was derived from a 35.4 per cent increase in ridership through the airport’s lone commercial carrier, Pacific Coastal. That money will factor into the status quo budget that was recently requested for the service as management with the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary awaits what, if any, directives will come forth in wake of the recently aborted airport facilities review. “We did a status quo budget as a placeholder to maintain service levels and the tax requisition, but that could change based on the results of the service review,” Teasdale said. On Nov. 22 the stakeholders in the service— including Rossland,
GET THOSE SKIS READY
Trail, Montrose, Fruitvale and regional district areas A and B— voted unanimously to not remove anyone from the service, shutting down the process of a service review. A service review was requested in the letter from Trail council soliciting the desire of the participants to remain in the service, as well as gauging support for future service enhancements to the facility. However, Trail councillor Robert Cacchioni—who represents Trail on the committee—said, although no one expressed any interest in leaving the service, the question remained at what level of investment were they willing to stay at. “Yes, there is support for the airport, but it is at a very minimal rate,” he said. “And it does not appear from the discussion at the meeting we have a very committed group to move ahead with airport expansion.” But the committee will eventually have to make some hard decisions on expansion at the airport. Teasdale said the increase in ridership is coming at some cost as it is putting stress on the facility’s infrastructure. There is a growing need for a new terminal building, he said, and either runway paving or expansion and paving of the existing stopways for aircraft. See RUNWAY, Page 3
Society opens new trail section BY ART HARRISON
Times Correspondent
Hiking and cycling enthusiasts wanting to explore the woodlands around Trail had reason to celebrate as the Kootenay Columbia Trails Society opened a new section of trail above Sunningdale this past Saturday. The new trail, which will eventually link the Sunningdale section with the Society’s Bluffs trail and Miral Heights trail overlooking Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital, is the first part of a two-year project providing a safe, high-level route that will
eventually cross approximately five kilometres of mountain terrain. The trail access is on the water tower hill in upper Sunningdale. At this point the trail head is halfway up the hill at the hairpin corner but will eventually be moved to the bottom of the hill where it meets Marianna Crescent. At the trail opening ceremony, KCTS Director, Hal Harrison, thanked the LeRoi Community Foundation President Adam Monteith for the Foundation’s role as primary funder for this project. See TRAIL, Page 2
GUY BERTRAND PHOTO
Ashley Escott was busy getting the rack of skis ready in the Red Sports Rental Shop at Red Mountain Resort. Officials at the local resort confirmed on Wednesday that the ski lifts will be running on Saturday to launch the 2012-13 season. The Motherlode, Silverlode and Paradise chairs will be in operation allowing skiers to access the 140cm of alpine snow depth waiting to be carved up.
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