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Vol. 61, Issue 86
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Neighbours have had enough of road woes
Property owners along New Lake Road must foot the cost of repairs and maintenance; heavy traffic renders the road almost impassable BARRY COULTER
A group of homeowners who live on New Lake Road west of Cranbrook have reached a level of frustration that may compel them to take direct action. The portion of New Lake Road that extends from where the pavement ends to the lake crosses private property in three places. It is unpaved, non-status, and not maintained by any government agency or sub-contractor. But as the only way into New Lake, the dirt road sees an inordinate amount of traffic. New Lake, which is stocked by the Department of Fisheries, sees yearround fishing traffic. But the heavy traffic doesn’t just include vehicles hauling boats to the lake. Members of the public also take snowmobiles, quads and dirtbikes on the road. Hunters also use New Lake
Road for access to additional areas. This heavy usage throughout the year causes considerable deterioration, which the homeowners must repair at their own expense, whether it is grading, plowing or hauling in gravel. The homeowners estimate that the cost of maintenance and repair runs to more than $10,000 a year. “Damage this spring has already rendered parts of the road impassable, so much so, our neighbours have had to park on our property and access their property through ours,” said Kelly Hughston-Bulmer, one of the property owners. Earlier this spring the RCMP had put up police tape, and the property owners themselves had placed a road closed sign at an especially wet and muddy section of the road, to prevent
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Vehicles are getting stuck on a daily basis on the road to New Lake, rendering parts of it impassable and racking up repair costs for the neighbours who live along it. drivers from getting stuck and doing more road damage. One of the neighbours, Darlene Wilson, said that recreationists simply tore down the tape, threw
the sign in the bush and tried to cross anyway, which resulted in vehicles getting deeply stuck. “We want the public to continue to have ac-
All in for the debate
Education and economy top of constituents’ minds as they grill Kootenay East candidates Bill Bennett and Norma Blissett ahead of the election SALLY MACDONALD Townsman Staff
Education, the economy and Jumbo were hot topics at the second Cranbrook all candidates forum for the May 14 provincial election. Held by Junior Chamber International Kootenays at the Col-
lege of the Rockies (COTR) on Wednesday, May 1, the free event allowed Kootenay East constituents to pose questions to candidates Norma Blissett for the NDP and Bill Bennett for the B.C. Liberals. Moderated by educator Brenda Tyson, the
forum gave each candidate three minutes to introduce themselves, followed by a question and answer period where they had two minutes to respond, and concluded with closing remarks for five minutes for each candidate. A wide variety of
questions were submitted by the audience but themes of education and the economy came up more than once, as well as the controversial Jumbo Glacier Resort proposed for the Columbia Valley.
See BENNETT, Page 4
cess, as they have in the past,” Hughston-Bulmer said. “But we want them to understand that this increased usage equals increased costs. I don’t think they realize they’re
crossing private property and that no government agency maintains the road.” The RCMP told the homeowners they were within their rights to put
up a gate, or otherwise restrict access across their property. But all agree this option is a last resort.
See NEW LAKE, Page 3
Election marred by vandalism A R N E PE TRYSH EN Townsman Staff
The provincial election is now upon us and the lawns and ditches of the electoral district display the blue, orange or other colours of signs of the respective parties. But as is the case with most election years, some see the colourful signs as an opportunity for mischief and steal or deface the signs. Already there have been some complaints from party representatives. “Over the last two federal campaigns and the last two provincial campaigns, the NDP sign boss has
never seen this level of vandalism,” said Jennifer Burgis, who is working with Norma Blissett’s campaign. Donna Cummins, district elections officer for Kootenay East, said that if there is sign vandalism, it’s something that likely happens every election. She said the Elections B.C. doesn’t deal with vandalism or theft of the signs. Elections B.C. urges the public to contact police if they have knowledge or see signs being stolen or vandalized.
See ELECTION , Page 3