Burn smart PAGE A3
signs of winter carnival PAGE A12
golden rings PAGE A17
OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Friday, January 25, 2013
VOL. 99 NO. 42
www.quesnelobserver.com
Pre-taxation funding approved by NCJPC
The North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee (the four CRD northern directors and seven city council members) has approved in principle to commit funding from MultiCentre pre-taxation towards the project. This funding is designed to be “the last piece of the puzzle� and would be used if the funding secured from all other sources, such as the federal government or corporate fundraising initiative, is not enough to complete the project. Only then would the pre-taxation amount be formally committed. “The North Cariboo Joint Planning Committee made this decision collectively,� CRD Vice-Chair Ted Armstrong said. “We will continue working together to source any alternative funding options to help move this project forward.� “As elected officials, we are committed to this project and are leaving no stone unturned in our fundraising efforts,� Mayor Mary Sjostrom added. “I have always maintained that I would like to see as little taxation used for this project as possible. But we also want to fulfill the mandate of creating first-class recreational and arts facilities for our residents.� The resolution also states that the facility would need to be built “in a manner generally in accordance with the concepts presented to the public during the referendum process,� and adds that the funding would be in addition to the $15 million North Cariboo residents approved borrowing in 2008. The NCJPC established the Multi-Centre pre-taxation in October 2006, two years prior to the referendum. This resulted in an initial $500,000 in funding in 2007. In the years following, that amount was reduced to $300,000 per year. By mid-2013, approximately $2.3 million will have been collected, with $600,000 of that used for MultiCentre work, including the development of necessary preconstruction studies, technical documents and the fundraising campaign. This leaves $1.7 million in the reserve. The pre-taxation and any Multi-Centre expenses are reviewed each year during the North Cariboo Recreation and Parks budget process. The North Cariboo Multi-Centre will be a modern facility designed to replace the 62-year-old arena and aging theatre infrastructure. It will feature a 1,600 seat NHL-sized arena, a 450-seat performing arts theatre and accompanying event and assembly area. For more information about the North Cariboo MultiCentre project or how you can participate in the fundraising efforts, visit www.ourmulticentre.com.
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Rare bear rescue Conservation officer, Ryane McIntyre displays the sedated cub before delivering the male to Second Chance Wildlife Rescue. The cub was found sleeping under a porch at a residence on top of Airport Hill. Second Chance Wildlife Rescue was making plans to transport the cub to Northern Lights Wildlife Rescue in Smithers. “I would like to stress that the rescue of a bear cub and taking it to wildlife rescue is a rare event,� McIntyre said. “We can only rescue cubs if we know the bear has not been into non-natural attractants and has not presented itself a risk to the public by doing property damage or threatening the public. For example, a sow that has been hit on the highway and left cubs orphaned are rescue candidates.� Any wildlife issues call the Conservation Officer Service,1-877-952-7277 (24 hours a day, seven days a week.) Autumn MacDonald photo
Shadow sentenced to four months AUTUMN MACDONALD Observer Reporter Shadow Laflamme was sentence to four months jail after pleading guilty in provincial court. After more than three weeks at large, Shadow Laflamme turned himself in. At approximately 9:15 a.m. Nov. 26, 2012 Laflamme turned himself in at the Quesnel
RCMP Detachment. Laflamme was wanted for possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, assaulting a police officer, being unlawfully in a dwelling house, possession of stolen property and trespassing at night. The 22-year-old fled from police Nov. 2, 2012 after resisting arrest and jumping out a third-
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storey balcony. Shortly after 8 p.m. Nov. 2, RCMP were called to an apartment in the 1200 block of Lark Avenue on an unrelated matter. Upon arrival, police located and arrested Laflamme for possession of a controlled substance. The arresting officer attempted to apprehend the suspect but he resisted arrest. A struggle ensued which
ended when Laflamme fled the apartment out of a third storey balcony striking his arm and leg on a second floor balcony before landing on the ground. He then fled the scene on foot. In addition to the four-month sentence, Laflamme received one year probation and was ordered to supply a DNA sample.
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