Wednesday March 13, 2013 www.saobserver.net $1.25 GST Included
Driver not impaired Court: Jean-Paul Kowal guilty of dangerous driving causing death.
By Cavelle Layes obServer STAFF
After a weeklong trial last month, Jean-Paul Kowal was convicted Friday of dangerous driving causing death for a collision that killed 17-yearold Salmon Arm resident donovan Pippus in 2010. Kowal was facing charges of dangerous driving causing death, impaired driving causing death, and causing an accident resulting in death, after witnesses testified seeing signs of impairment moments before his vehicle hit Pippus head-on, just seven minutes from his home. While Justice dev dley found Kowal guilty of dangerous driving causing death, he acquitted him on the charge of impaired driving causing death. Throughout the trial, Kowal’s lawyer rishi Gill argued that he had not been impaired when the accident took place, but instead, consumed alcohol after the crash. He noted that rcMP, ambulance attendants, and other professionals did not see any signs of impairment while at the scene. blood tests later showed Kowal had over three times the legal lim- Donovan Pippus Killed in it of alcohol in his syscollision tem, and a nurse at the hospital reported seeing signs comparable to those of ‘sobering up.’ Kowal had been heading home to Kelowna on Sept. 1, 2010, after working a stint in Alberta. evidence presented at the trial indicated Kowal’s vehicle had been swerving, tailgating and executing a pass close to a dangerous turn. Moments later, Kowal’s vehicle drifted once again into the oncoming lane on Highway 97A, killing Pippus, who was on his way home from a friend’s place. Pippus’s family and friends were in court every day of the trial. diane Pippus, donovan’s mother, said earlier in the trial that she had hoped that their presence would show Kowal how many lives he had damaged. Kowal will be sentenced later this spring.
James muRRay/obServer
Ruling the stage
Doc Walker’s Chris Thorsteinson and Emerson Drive’s Brad Mates share the stage and Coldplay’s When I Ruled the World in the finale of their concert Thursday evening at the Shaw Centre.
Approval for SmartCentres Development: Construction of phase one to begin immediately. By martha Wickett obServer STAFF
one thing led to another last week as Smartcentres fulfilled its quest to begin building a shopping centre at the west end of Salmon Arm. on Tuesday, March 5, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure signed off on a development permit for the shopping centre. Such a permit guides the “form and character” of a development. later that day, the city of Salmon Arm was notified of the approval. on Thursday, both a development permit and a building permit were issued to Smartcentres by the city. on Thursday afternoon, Smartcentres
This week The SilverBacks clinch a playoff spot with a win over Merritt. See details on A17. Mississippi Heat is the latest act to burn up the Roots and Blues Stage. See more on A23.
replied to a request from the Observer with regard to the corporation’s plans. “Smartcentres will begin the first phase of construction including the widening of Highway 1, the development of an internal frontage road in addition to the first store,” said Sandra Kaiser, vicepresident of corporate affairs for Smartcentres. “construction is scheduled to begin immediately and is expected to be completed by the end of 2013. construction contracts have been awarded to norson construction ltd. for the work on the site and bA dawson blacktop ltd. for the offsites.” norson construction ltd. has offices in Kelowna while bA dawson blacktop ltd. is based in Kamloops. According to
norson’s website, it was established in 1983 and offers general contracting, construction management and design build services throughout western canada, serving its clients through offices in vancouver, Kelowna and edmonton. bA dawson blacktop ltd.’s website explains the company was established in 1969 and has been serving the concrete and asphalt needs of the Kamloops area for nearly 40 years. It states the company is an expert in the installation of all types of paving materials. Asked about involvement of Salmon Arm trades, Kaiser said any subcontractors interested in working on the site See anchor on page A2
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Time Out................... A12 Sports............... A17-A21 Arts & Events ... A22-A25 Vol. 106, No. 11, 44 pages