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Friday, Dec. 21, 2012
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Lawyer enters surprise plea
The Big Move
ROGER KNOX Morning Star Staff
LISA VANDERVELDE/ MORNING STAR
Science teachers Shelley Cornell (left) and Jacquie Nuyens unpack one of the science rooms with the help of custodian Steve Hennig in the new Vernon Secondary School building. The teachers will start at the new school Jan. 7 with the students starting the following day.
A Vernon lawyer has admitted to participating in the activities of a criminal organization. William Mastop entered a guilty plea to that charge in B.C. Supreme Court Thursday. In this case, it was participating in the activities of a North Okanagan gang referred to by police as The Greeks. Three members of that gang have been sentenced to life in prison in connection with three drugrelated killings in the Vernon area in 2004 and 2005. Two other members have also been found guilty in connection with the killings and will be sentenced next month. Mastop, 46, had been slated to be tried before a judge and jury starting Jan. 14. “I had some discussions with his lawyer (about entering a guilty plea) in the past month, but I didn’t know it was a sure thing until he said the word,” said Crown lawyer David Jardine. Mastop admitted that he participated in the activities of The Greeks. He was arrested in January 2010, in Lake Country. Mastop has been out on bail which carries a number of conditions including that he not practice law. Jardine said the bail conditions continue to apply. “From my knowledge, it was the first time a lawyer was charged and the first time a lawyer pleaded guilty to participating in the activities of a criminal organization,” said Jardine. A sentencing date for Mastop will be fixed on Jan. 18.
Cost savings pitched for sports facility RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Greater Vernon politicians are trying to balance costs with providing a sports complex that’s viable. On Tuesday, staff provided the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee with details on the proposed $8.5 million running track and sports field, and options for reducing the impact on taxBob Fleming payers. “It’s incumbent on us to make it a cost-effective project and then go out and say it’s a fantastic project,” said Bob Fleming, director. Directors recently instructed staff to
review the conceptual design because of concerns the public may not back the project in an April referendum. Design constraints exist because of the terms of the lease agreement to use Okanagan College land. Among them is a classroom. A plan based on minimum lease requirements is $5.4 million. The primary decision points for GVAC directors in terms of possibly trimming costs are off-site works, the turf field, soccer field construction, the track surface and seating. The current plan calls for off-site works, as dictated by Coldstream, worth $1 million. That could be reduced to $392,700 if curb, gutter and sidewalk is substituted by a multi-use path. In terms of the field, the preferred syn-
thetic surface is $1.1 million while natural grass is $525,000. “Natural grass is less expensive to construct but there is limited seasonal use and limited use because of damage from cleats,” said Keith Pinkoski, parks planner. Developing a sand-based grass soccer field would cost $195,000 while it would be $50,000 for a soil-based natural grass field. For a rubberized track, the options are mondon at $1.7 million or a polyurethane surface for $1.5 million. The life sexpectancy for the mondon surface is 25 years while it is 12 years for the polyurethane. The final issue is seating and whether to go with covered space for 400 people at $400,000 or open air seating for the same crowd for $200,000. Pinkoski is confident about the $8.5
million package that’s been put together, including construction, consulting fees and contingency funds. “This facility is not a Cadillac but a good, solid structure,” he said. Director Rob Sawatzky is concerned that reducing the design could negatively impact the facility’s ability to attract events and support the economy. “The B.C. Seniors Games is the one that generates revenue,” he said of athletes using local hotels and restaurants. Directors have also discussed whether some of the items can be fundraised by the facility users. “There are specific groups in the community that may wish to donate,” said Mike Macnabb, chairperson. The scope of the proposal will be discussed further Jan. 3.
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OUR WARMEST WISHES TO EVERYONE! Best wishes for a Happy & Safe Holiday Season and our sincere THANKS for your support over the past season. We look forward seeing you in the New Year.
From The Management & Staff At VERNON
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