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FEBRUARY 21, 2013
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Park worker gets rare photos of lynx mother, kittens | Page 20
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Vol. 61, Issue 36
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Green light for new ICU
B.C. budget includes money to replace Intensive Care Unit at East Kootenay Regional Hospital S A L LY M AC D O N A L D Townsman Staff
TREVOR CRAWLEY PHOTO
Mitch Duthie of the College of the Rockies Men’s Avalanche Volleyball squad is expecting some red hot action as the Pacwest Provincial Volleyball Championships get underway today. COTR is hosting the event, which features the top six ranks men’s and women’s teams in the province. The Avs’ run at the Provincial title begins tonight, Thursday, Feb. 21, at 8 p.m. as they take on the four-ranked Capilano University Blues. Head on down the the COTR gymnasium and help out with the Av’s home court advantage.
RCMP investigate cull trap vandalism S A L LY M AC D O N A L D Townsman Staff
Two clover traps being used to cull urban deer in Cranbrook were vandalized on Tuesday, February 19. According to a statement from the City of Cranbrook,
the RCMP are actively investigating the vandalism, which happened overnight February 19. “The traps are the property of the Ministry of Forest, Land and Natural Resource Operations,” the City’s statement
reads. Last Thursday, the city announced that it is culling up to 30 mule deer this winter in its second round of urban deer population control. The B.C. Deer Protection Coalition has spoken out
against the cull and held a protest in Cranbrook on Sunday. However, Mayor Wayne Stetski said Monday that council has heard from residents both in favour of and opposed to the cull.
After years of waiting, Cranbrook’s hospital will finally get a new Intensive Care Unit (ICU), says Kootenay East MLA Bill Bennett. The $20 million project was included in the health care component of this week’s B.C. budget. “The budget included reference to money for ‘projects at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital’. This means we will get funding for the new ICU – details will be announced at later date,” Bennett said Tuesday. The announcement was met with excitement by Kootenay East Regional Hospital District board chair John Kettle. “That is absolutely awesome. I’ve been carrying that cross on my shoulders for the last three years. It’s something we’ve fought for very hard,” said Kettle. The budget does not spell out exactly how much funding is heading this way, Bennett said. “The first and most important step in moving this critical regional
health care project forward is now behind us, that of ensuring the project is in the province’s fiscal plan. Now, we will determine the details of the project: total cost, number of beds and design.”
“The first and most important step in moving this critical regional health care project forward is now behind us … Now, we will determine the details of the project: total cost, number of beds and design.” MLA Bill Bennett
Renovations to the four-bed ICU will include mandatory upgrades to the electrical system throughout the hospital to bring it up to the latest CSA standards, Interior Health’s director of business support Todd Mastel said earlier this month. The health authority told the Ministry of Health the total cost would be $19.9 million.
See ICU , Page 3
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