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POOL REFERENDUM AHEAD P. 2 EDITORIAL P. 6
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VANDERHOOF GIRL COMPETES P. 5 FAMILY DAY FEATURE P. 12-15
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Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Public safety meeting scheduled
Truck topples on treacherous turn
In light of major crimes, town and RCMP arrange public security meeting Cameron Ginn Omineca Express
A logging truck went off the road near Fort St. James on Monday, Jan. 28. No one is believed to have been injured in the accident. RCMP and emergency services didn’t attend the scene, but the spectacle served as a warning to other drivers to drive carefully. Berit Christensen photo
Shocker unveiled: Government doesn’t understand rural realities Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier If you have ever sat waiting on hold for ages trying to access government services, or struggled for hours over government service forms, you are not alone. But you already knew that.
The real news is now at least government may become more aware of these and other issues, at least if the Omineca Beetle Action Coalition (OBAC) has anything to say about it. This was the message brought with the presentation of a study of the coordination of social services in the Omineca region. The study was initiated by the OBAC,
an organization formed in 2005 to look at economic diversification and long-term sustainability in the region after the massive pine beetle epidemic, which could potentially jeopardize the economies of many communities still dependent on the forestry sector for jobs and revenue.
Town and RCMP officials are looking at organizing a community meeting on Feb. 20 to address concerns about public security. Following a spate of unrelated major crimes in Vanderhoof, including the fatal shooting of a teenage girl on Dec. 20, 2012, and the discovery of two suspected homicides in January, officials want to open dialogue with the community about public safety. "When we have crimes that we didn't expect, all of a sudden it's shattered for a bit," said Mayor Gerry Thiessen. "But when bad things happen, such as what we've experienced this past month, we shouldn't generalize where we are as a community." The Vanderhoof RCMP detachment has gradually assumed a more strategic and proactive approach to policing between 2010 and 2012, when Sergeant Jason Keays took over as commander. Over the same time period, the town implemented at least three crime-prevention initiatives aimed at reducing loitering, curbing alcohol offenses and increasing the presence of police in the community. According to statistics released by the Vanderhoof RCMP, liquor offenses have risen 88 per cent since 2010, when some of the initiatives were put in place. "These are all things that will be discussed at the meeting," said Thiessen. Continued on page 3
t SPRING r a t S Kick “
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Kick Start is a community driven initiative focused on creating an awareness of what Vanderhoof has to offer!
For more information call the Omineca Express: 250-567-9258
Publication Date: March 13 & 20, 2013