THURSDAY
S I N C E
JANUARY 24, 2013
1 8 9 5
Vol. 118, Issue 14
110
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Winter workouts begin Page 9
INCLUDING H.S.T.
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Snowfall warning triggers avalanche concerns
BUGLE BOY
BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
TIMOTHY SCHAFER PHOTO
Jackson Konkin holds a note during Tuesday’s session of the Trail and District After School Band Program. See story on Page 2.
SCHOOL DISTRICT 20
Trustees and politicians meet to save schools BY TIMOTHY SCHAFER Times Staff
The chess match between two local administrations has progressed through its first move. An “exchange of positions” has taken place between the City of Rossland and School District 20 administration on the possibilities of a partnership between the two governing bodies to keep K-to-12 education in the Golden City. Officials from both sides met one week ago in wake of a public forum on the future, possible reconfiguration or closure of one of Rossland’s two schools, in a bid to keep all 13 grades of education offered in the city. There was a frank discussion about what was possible between them, said Darrel Ganzert, chair of the SD20 board of trustees, but nothing concrete was advanced.
“To an extent, we as a board are waiting for the City of Rossland to make a firm suggestion to us on what kind of cost sharing or cooperative venture we can have,” he said Wednesday. “Both sides would like to see something that works. And it is really a matter of what that looks like financially in the end, and what is possible by law.” Both sides have taken the information discussed last week back to their respective administrative bodies and discussions are taking place within the board and city council. “I can tell you that we have had one face-to-face meeting late last week plus have exchanged some data back and forth,” said SD20 superintendent of schools, Greg Luterbach. “We are still in conversations.” Rossland Mayor Greg Granstrom said there is a lot of discussion yet to be had on
the partnership. “We are very aware here in Rossland of the value of K-12 in our community as to our sustainability and economic development. It goes far ranging,” he said. “We are definitely going to work diligently with the school board to come to an agreement ... and have to explore all the options.” Ganzert said SD20 is expecting to hear back from the city soon, but could not give a timeline for a decision on a deal. “But they understand how urgent a decision is needed,” he said. “If we are very, very close to something with the city, we can extend that (deadline) very slightly.” The city had asked for a May deadline for a deal to be struck, but that was impossible to do, Ganzert said, with the district preparing to advance its budget next month. See PACS, Page 3
Better rosin up the shovel, the heavens are unloading on Greater Trail and its backcountry brethren. There is a snowfall warning in effect for Greater Trail and the entire West Kootenay until later today, according to Environment Canada, and the potential for backcountry avalanches is worsening as a result. The region should have to dig itself out of around 15 centimetres (five inches) of total snowfall when it is all said and done late today as a Pacific frontal system moves over the British Columbia coast and across the Southern Interior. In the backcountry, the Canadian Avalanche Centre is predicting a “considerable” risk of an avalanche at the alpine and at the tree line into the weekend, with a moderate risk below the tree line. Reports of avalanches were limited to relatively harmless natural wet sluffs on steep sun-exposed slopes, the most recent report noted, and dry sluffs with ski cutting on faceted shady slopes. “Expect wind and storm slab avalanche activity to pick up with stormy weather throughout the forecast period,” the report read. Old “stubborn, and fresh touchy wind slabs below ridge crests” exist behind terrain features in the backcountry in the West Kootenay, and in cross-loaded gullies. The Centre was predicting up to one foot of new snow in the higher reaches of the region after the system hits today (or more in westerly “upslope” areas) with isolated flurries turning to light snow on Friday. Sun exposed slopes have been subject to melt-freeze cycles and all current snow surfaces will likely provide a poor bond once buried by the new snow, the report noted.
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