SCHOOL SUICIDE PROTOCOL PAGE 3
TEACHER DEAL REJECTED PAGE 9
REC HOCKEY RESULTS PAGE 10
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MERRITT HERALD FREE
TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2013 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
Bobcat goes on a killing spree, 23 chickens dead By Emily Wessel THE HERALD
reporter@merrittherald.com
The loss of 23 heritage chickens at a local farm on Granite Avenue is the result of a bobcat encounter on Wednesday morning. “I heard a ruckus. The dogs were freaking out,” property owner Roslyn Duclos said. “Normally the dogs bark at the back of the property, but they were over by the chicken coop, so I ran. I knew as soon as I turned around.” The bobcat had killed all but three of Duclos’ chickens, two of which she managed to cordon off in a separate part of the chicken coop, and a rooster,
which was in her house at the time. Duclos said she didn’t know how long the bobcat had been in there, but her friend and fellow chicken producer Katie Sanders speculated it probably didn’t take long. “I would think, the way chickens panic, it would take five minutes to kill them all,” Sanders said. Some of the chickens were still warm when Duclos and Sanders went in to check the carnage. Most of the chickens died either from puncture wounds to their heads or from snapped necks.
(Left) A bobcat was caught red-handed on Wednesday after killing 23 chickens. (Below) After capturing the feline, City of Merritt Bylaw Services Officer Bob Davis released the animal in a wooded area off Sunshine Valley Road. Emily Wessel/Herald
See ‘Bylaw’ Page 2
Merritt adds 134 hectares to boundary The area is designed to accommodate a boom to the number of seniors in the Nicola Valley By Phillip Woolgar THE HERALD
newsroom@merrittherald.com
About 30 people gathered in Merritt council chambers last Tuesday to discuss plans to designate to the municipality 134 hectares near Midday Valley Road. After about a 45-minute public hearing, council signed off on the land transfer previously granted by Thompson Nicola Regional District, which, until Tuesday’s approval, had jurisdiction over the land. City staff said the transfer is needed
to accommodate a growing community, which is expected to be largely driven by an increasing number of senior citizens. “The population is aging at a greater rate than the provincial average, up three per cent in the last census,” Development Services Officer Sean O’Flaherty said. “There is a focus [in the zoning of the lands] on walking paths, park benches, health services, et cetera.” Each developer would need to earn council approval for
‘We need to approach that with caution, or at least with a sustainable approach to water conservation.’ —WATER RESOURCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON GINNY PROWAL
their project before construction begins. Wildfire and geotechnical assessments are required on each lot. The geotechnical component aims to address concerns about underground earth materials. This was a major concern among the public, particularly the availability of water.
According to Ginny Prowal, chairperson of the Water Resource Advisory Committee to the city, enough water might not be available to serve such a vast number of homes and businesses. “I don’t think this has been fully addressed,” she said. “We need to approach that with caution, or
at least with a sustainable approach to water conservation.” O’Flaherty said water can be stored in reservoirs, but further studies are needed to determine capacity. Prowal also said she is concerned about an asphalt plant rumoured to be in the area, though no one could confirm its existence. An operating asphalt plant would emit stinky toxins, but the city only confirmed the application of an asphalt factory and aggregate storage. As the second and final member of the
public to speak at the hearing, Linda Baird said she is concerned because city documents don’t include a map from the Ministry of Mines. “If we don’t have the documents to show it, how do we know how safe that is?” she asked. “There was coal mining out there and I’m concerned about gases coming up from the ground. I can see the wisps of steam rising throughout the winter, and I wonder how much more there will be if the ground is disturbed.” Staff said that
will be determined with the geotechnical assessments. The city overview outlines BC Stats information that indicates Merritt’s population could reach nearly 15,000 by 2030, demanding an estimated 881 new housing units. However, a lower projection of nearly 9,000 people in that same time period would demand about 661 new housing units. The area is designed for residential properties, commercial buildings, industrial and future development.