The Chilliwack
Progress
15 Life
Tuesday
3
32
News
Sports
Mayan Countdown
Video
Chiefs
A light-hearted look at the coming apocalypse.
Saying thanks to Sally Ann with a video.
Chiefs beat Nanaimo on somber night.
Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • T U E S D AY, D E C E M B E R 1 8 , 2 0 1 2
Chilliwack woman, 64, assaulted in parking lot
■ C HRISTMAS I N T HE C ITY
Chilliwack RCMP looking for two men A 64-year-old Chilliwack woman was assaulted in the parking lot of the Newmark apartments on Bole Avenue last Tuesday. Police say the woman was walking through the parking lot at about 4:15 p.m. when she saw two men standing by her vehicle. “After questioning the men, she was punched in the chest area,” Const. Tracy Wolbeck said. But the woman was able to run to a door and escape further injury, she said. “An assault like this leaves the victim feeling very vulnerable and unsafe,” she said. “This is something that we take very seriously and hope that someone saw something that can lead us to the suspects.” One suspect is described as a native male in his early- to mid-20s, about 5’9” tall and weighing about 160 lbs. He had a short brush-cut and was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, black runners and he had a scar under his right eye. The second suspect, also a native male, was also in his early- to mid-20s, about 5’4” tall and weighing about 200 lbs. He had a stocky build and a reddish-brown mohawk with a ponytail in the back. He was wearing a sleeveless shirt with tattoos down his arms and a tattoo around his neck that looked like a snake. He was wearing grey sweat pants. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the Chilliwack RCMP at 604-792-4611 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222TIPS.
The appearance of Santa Claus draws a crowd and the cameras at the Christmas in the City celebration in downtown Chilliwack on Saturday. GREG KNILL/ PROGRESS
End of residential grow-ops coming for medical pot Chilliwack mayor welcomes the move Kevin Diakiw, Jennifer Feinberg Black Press
The federal government is poised to eliminate licensed medical marijuana grow-ops in homes, which has long been criticized over safety concerns and connections to the illegal drug trade. Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced a planned shift to a new system of federally regulated commercial producers who will supply authorized users who have a prescription from their doctor with medical pot.
“Under our new rule, only facilities that meet strict security requirements will be able to produce marijuana for medical purposes,” Aglukkaq told a press conference in Maple Ridge on Sunday. The new direction moving out of the residential areas is “really good news” for Chilliwack, said Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz. “Of course this has been a concern for our city for several years,” said Gaetz, adding that venting smells and health dangers are only part of it. Chilliwack officials have written
letters, talked to Health Canada officials and solicited support of MP Mark Strahl over ongoing issues around the access regulations. “We have the belief that our residents have the right to live in safety, without the fear of theft of marijuana in their neighbourhoods called grow rips, or fires or the criminal element that can be part of the growing of marijuana, whether it’s medical or not,” said Gaetz. “This new direction will also reduce the risk in our neighbourhoods of criminals who would just rather steal the marijuana to sell.” The new system – which also
ends government production of medical pot – is expected to come at a sharply higher price for the nearly 26,000 users authorized to possess medical marijuana. Local authorities have argued most medical pot home growers are producing far more plants than they require, suggesting rampant abuse of the program by licensees selling into the illicit market. “The high value of marijuana on the illicit market increases the risk of home invasions,” Aglukkaq noted. “These production operations can also present fire and toxic mould hazards.”
BOXING SALE ON NOW! OME CHECK IT OU C S THER E T! MUSICWORX E WILL BE NO LOWER PRIC Locallyatowned for 20 years We guarantee the BEST price on the BEST electronics 365 DAYS A YEAR
$1.25
Continued: CHANGES/ p13
MUSICWORX AUDIO VIDEO Making Customers for Life U N L I M I T E D
8755 Young Road Opposite Valley Toyota 604-795-6655 12/12t MW18