news Weyerhaeuser Timberlands celebrate Page 2
Community Princeton receives $20,000 grant Page 1, 3 & 12
SPORTS
Celebrating Minor Hockey Page 10 & 11
SPOTLIGHT $1.10 Includes TAX
The Similkameen
Volume 64 Issue 03
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Proudly serving the community since 1948 • www.similkameenspotlight.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.
Storm closes a number of B.C. highways Highway 3 west heading out of Princeton closed Wednesday morning due to poor road conditions brought on by storm. Lisa Carleton lisa@similkameenspotlight.com
Residents of Princeton were welcomed by quite the sight Wednesday morning while heading off to work or taking kids to school. Due to heavy snowfall throughout Jan. 8 through and into the morning of Jan. 9, Highway 3 west was closed early Wednesday morning joining numerous BC highway road closures. Large semi-trucks and a few travellers filled the parking lots of the Chevron and Husky stations and were lined up to the top of the hill of Highway 3 headed west of Princeton. A storm including heavy snowfall - about a meter in some areas and freezing rain along with threats of avalanches forced B.C. officials to close several major sections of highways. Highway 3 was closed from Hope to Allison Pass, west of Kootenay Pass and opened at approximately 10:30 a.m., on Wednesday morning. The Coquihalla Highway between Hope and Merritt was closed and reopened for travel Wednesday afternoon. Drive BC issued travel advisories for several of the mountain highways including the Coquihalla. Keep up with the latest road conditions and advisories by visiting www.drivebc.ca
Weather Watch Wednesday
High 0/Low -6
Thursday
High 1/Low -7
Friday
High -1/Low -6
Saturday
High 1/Low -7
Sunday
High 2/Low -3
Lisa Carleton/Spotlight
Large trucks and a few travellers caught in between were lined up to the top of the hill by the Princeton Husky at approximately 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The parking lots of both Husky and Chevron were filled with trucks held back due to the highway closures.
Princeton receives Age-friendly BC grant Lisa Carleton lisa@similkameenspotlight.com
Princeton has been approved for a $20,000 grant by the age-friendly planning and project grant program, a partnership between the government of B.C. and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM). The grants are provided by UBCM to help establish or continue a variety of projects that support healthy, active seniors. Seniors in Princeton and throughout the province will benefit as 27 communities receive grants of up to $20,000 to help create programs or tools that address the needs of their older residents.
Princeton
In a press release issued on Jan. 8, president of the Union of British Columbia Municipalities, Mary Sjostrom stated, “As local governments come to grips with aging populations, there is a need to rethink the range of services we provide and how they are delivered. This program is helping communities around the province to improve policies and services for seniors.” The UBCM staff and the Ministry of Health reviewed and scored applications on a variety of factors including: goals, proposed activities, involvement of seniors and other key partners, budget, and innovation and sustainability.
2,000 Appliances Available Right Here! •Fridges & Freezers • Home Electronics • Washers & Dryers • Dishwashers •Barbecues • Lawn Mowers • Treadmills • Vacuums • TVs • Stereos & More “When it’s on sale at Sears, it’s on sale at Princeton Sears”
207 Bridge Street, Princeton BC • 250-295-6933 Locally Owned and operated by Murray White & Cathy Facey
See GRANT - Page 12
Why Make the Drive? We are your Hometown Sears. If we don’t have it in-store, we’ll get it for you, and deliver it to your door.
Princeton