FRIDAY January 11, 2013 Vol. 28•No. 4 ••• $1.25 inc. H.S.T.
COMOX VALLEY
ARTS
SPORTS
The Gardener’s Green club gathers folk music lovers together at a residence in Merville. page B1
Andrea Lee from Black Creek will compete in the World Under 23 Nordic ski championships. page B8
RECORD A division of
Your community. Your newspaper.
www.comoxvalleyrecord.com m
Stotan Falls closed
Skier feared his life was over Tibia broken in four places only injury among four men caught in avalanche
Scott Stanfield Record Staff
Stotan Falls and surrounding trails will be inaccessible to the public indefinitely at the discretion of the property owner, which plans to develop a riverfront community at the confluence of the Puntledge and Browns rivers. Of its 385 acres, 3L Developments plans to dedicate 215 acres as parkland or greenspace upon project completion. The community plan includes 618 lots for single-family homes, nine acres for patio homes tailored for seniors, nine additional kilometres of trails, links to public bus routes and a commercial centre. 3L bought the property several years ago from Comox Timber and Hancock. The company spent nearly $800,000 on a development plan that included traffic and environmental studies, says spokesman Kabel Atwall. An economic impact analysis determined the project would be worth $171 million and create 1,200 man years of work. “We’re having conversations with the regional district as we’re going forward, and at no point was it ever said, ‘Stop’,” Atwall said, noting letters of encouragement from the CVRD and positive feedback from the public. However, he said the ... see LOGGING ■ A3
EMERGENCY RESPONDERS SEARCH the area around a grounded sailboat while dealing with a man who was on board. PHOTO BY LIA SOMMER
Sailboat has checkered past Erin Haluschak Record Staff
The sailboat involved in Monday’s crash on rocks near Union Bay wasn’t the first time it caught the attention of Comox Valley Marine Rescue. In Monday’s incident, CVMR aided in the rescue of one man and the recovery of a woman’s body. CVMR station leader Jim Linderbeck said marine rescue volunteers have assisted with the sailboat and owner Dylan Jordan numerous times. On Nov. 17, CVMR was tasked with bringing Away We Go back to the Comox harbour after it broke loose and drifted down the harbourway and ran aground on Beach
662 Anderton Road, Comox
250-339-4518
2981 Moray Ave, Courtenay
250-331-0748
www.WesternOne.ca
Drive in Comox. Less than two weeks later, on Nov. 30, the boat broke away from a sailpost in the Courtenay estuary by the 17th Street Bridge and was pushed out to the middle of the river. Linderbeck said CVMR was tasked with bringing the boat back to shore, while RCMP were called to the scene. “The wind got up and there was a high-flow (water) release from BC Hydro,” he explained. “The boat was creeping into mid-stream and the bow was pointing upstream. When the boat started pushing out, the vessel was at a 45-degree angle from shore and pointing up the river.” He added RCMP mem-
bers yelled and threw rocks at the vessel, in hopes of getting the attention of the man on board. “The man eventually appeared and was uncooperative. He was handcuffed and taken away from shore,” said Linderbeck. He added they were alerted another person could be on board, and eventually woke up a woman sleeping under a pile of blankets. There was ankle-deep water in the 27-foot sailboat, which was valued around $10,000, he noted, and CVMR deployed their dewatering pumps. On Jan. 7, CVMR was tasked again to the Union Bay area to assist the ... see BOAT ■ A2
Toyota cmyk
diately he was in trouble when the massive pile of snow hit. “I looked up at my buddy and I knew I was going down,” he explained. “It just buried me down the hill. “It was a bunch of white powder; it was really deep Erin Haluschak and I couldn’t see anything. I fell off a 25-foot cliff, hit a Record Staff tree and knew right away I Andrew Stickney admit- was hurt. I felt my leg snap ted for a few moments in multiple places.” The well-prepared skiwhile caught in an avalanche Tuesday afternoon ers used a cellphone to call in Strathcona Provincial for help, and members of Park, he might not make it 442 Transport and Rescue Squadron out alive. assisted mem“I knew right It was a bers of Comox away I was in Valley Ground an avalanche,” bunch of white Search and he noted to powder; it was Rescue (CVGthe Record in SAR) to search a phone inter- really deep and I for the strandview from his couldn’t see anyed men, whose hospital room. thing. I fell off a ages range “My mood went from 18 to 30. from thinking 25-foot cliff, hit CVGSAR, maybe I was a tree and knew based out of going to die to right away I was Raven Lodge really happy at Mount (when rescuers hurt. I felt my leg snap in multiple Wa s h i n g t o n , arrived).” reached them The experi- places. around 10 enced 18-yearAndrew Stickney p.m., and staold skier, who bilized Stickworks at a local ski shop in the Valley, suf- ney, who was in chest-deep fered a broken tibia in four snow lying at the base of spots as he and three of his the cliff. He said he felt “really friends were caught in the avalanche Tuesday after- good, definitely relieved” noon near Moat and Circlet when rescuers reached lakes near Mount Washing- him, and he was getting ton — outside Mount Wash- cold prior to personnel giving him warm water and ington Alpine Resort. Stickney was the only blankets. A Cormorant helicopter one injured in the incident. He said he knew imme... see CONDITIONS ■ A2
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Offers good on new and unregistered units purchased between 11/1/12-12/31/12. *On select models. See your dealer for details. **This is a limited time offer which is valid for the purchase of selected qualifying models and is subject to credit approval from TD Auto Finance (TDAF) on qualified purchases financed during this program. Offer may not be combined with certain other offers, is subject to change and may be extended or terminated without further notice. See participating retailers for complete details and conditions. Rates from other lenders may vary. Monthly payment and cost of borrowing will vary depending on amount borrowed and down payment/trade. Minimum amount to finance is $5,000. Example: $7,500 financed at 3.99% over 36 months = 36 monthly payments of $221.40 with a cost of borrowing of $470.27 and a total obligation of $7,970.27. Freight, license, PPSA/RPDRM, insurance, registration, any retailer administration fees and other applicable fees and taxes are not included in the financed amount. Dealers are free to set individual prices, but must be enrolled with TDAF to participate. Warning: The Polaris RANGER and RZR are not intended for on-road use. Driver must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver’s license to operate. Passengers must be at l least 12 years old and tall enough to grasp the hand holds and plant feet firmly on the floor. Drivers and passengers should always wear helmets, eye protection, protective clothing, and seat belts. Always use cab nets. Be particularly careful on difficult terrain. Never drive on public roads or paved surfaces. Never engage in stunt driving, and avoid excessive speeds and sharp turns. Riding and alcohol/drugs don’t mix. Check local laws before riding on trails. ATVs can be hazardous to operate. Polaris adult models are for riders 16 and older. For your safety, always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing, and be sure to take a safety training course. You may also contact your Polaris dealer or call Polaris at (800) 342-3764. ©2012 Polaris Industries Inc.