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Vol. 61, Issue 58
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One dead in Hell Roaring avalanche
One snowmobiler found deceased; caught by avalanche at popular back country recreational spot C ARO LYN G R AN T Daily Bulletin
One subject, whose name has not been released, was found dead after an extensive search on Sunday. Kimberley Search and Rescue and RCMP members were on the scene up the Hell Roaring Road in the St. Mary Valley, searching for a missing snowmobiler. President of Kimberley Search and Rescue, Peter Reid, said that the call came in at about 3 p.m Saturday, reporting an avalanche in the popular backcountry ski area. “There was one snowmobiler missing,” he said at noon Sunday. “Everyone else was accounted for.” Reid says KSAR responded immediately when the call came in but their avalanche techs deemed the area too unstable to begin a ground search.
“They blasted it and the team withdrew,” Reid said. “The search began this morning (Sunday).” Reid says that this is the same area as an avalanche last year and one a couple of years ago that took the life of a local snowmobiler. “It may not be the same exact slope, but it is the same area. It’s a popular backcountry skiing, snowmobiling area.” He said that search dogs were on the scene as well as SAR teams from Sparwood, Elkford, Cranbrook, Creston, Fernie, Golden and Invermere. Avalanche conditions in the Purcells for the weekend were listed as Considerable by the Canadian Avalanche Centre. “Very large cornices have been falling off naturally and triggered by people moving near them. Expect cornices to continue MIKE TURNER PHOTO to fall during this period of sunny weather,” the site The Kimberley Search and Rescue team boards a helicopter for another fly over the avalanche site on Sunday afternoon. bulletin said.
Opportunities for East Kootenay in budget Projects such as Kimberley flume, Cranbrook homeless shelter could find opportunity, MP Wilks says C AROLYN GR ANT
The federal government budget, tabled last week by Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, is 433 pages long. While critics say it doesn’t contain much new money
and hits the tax payer with another increase in EI premiums, Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks says there is real potential for communities in this riding. Wilks says there are sever-
CeleBRAte SpARwood’S FiRSt AnniveRSARy
al items in the budget that stand out for him, in terms of providing opportunity here in the East Kootenay. First, he points to the new Community Improvement Fund, which will provide
$32.2 billion over 10 years. “This fund used to be only for infrastructure and now it’s expanded to include broadband, culture, tourism, sports and recreation projects. The recreation aspect is
one I lobbied for because upkeep of recreation facilities is so important for communities.” There is also the Build Canada fund, which is earmarked for major projects.
Sparwood firSt anniverSary Bond Available March 22–April 12, 2013 Bond Rates 1.80% – 2.20%
“The $5.4 million awarded to Area A for West Fernie infrastructure is the type of project this funds — bigger projects.”
See WILKS , Page 4
ff GIc, RRSP, RRIF eligible ff 12-month non-redeemable term ff health feature: no-penalty redemption (in whole) in case of a medical emergency
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