Breaking news, video, photo galleries, and more always online at www.wltribune.com
TUESDAY, MAY 14, 2013
Proudly serving Williams Lake and the Cariboo-Chilcotin since 1930
Thousands vote early
VOL. 83. No. 39
PANCAKES MAKE SMILES FOR MOTHER’S DAY Greg Sabatino photo
It was a happy Mother’s Day for Tsiqwah Myers (right), 2, and Diego Hunlin, 5, who spent their morning with their mother, Stella Hunlin (left), at the Lion’s and Lioness’ Club’s annual Mother’s Day Pancake Breakfast in the Save-OnFoods parking lot. Hundreds of people came for breakfast and to check out the Mother’s Day market, located right next to where breakfast was served.
Advance voting opportunities resulted in 3,299 people voting in Cariboo-Chilcotin and 2,273 in Cariboo North. Throughout the province, 380,741 people took advantage of advance voting. In Cariboo-Chilcotin there are 20,926 registered voters, meaning advanced polls received 15.76 per cent voter turnout. In Cariboo North there are 23,375 registered voters, which means advanced polls received a 14 per cent voter turnout. On regular voting day Tuesday May 14 the polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Results will be updated regularly on a web page linked directly to elections.bc.ca while initial count takes place at over 10,000 voting locations throughout the province.
Inside the Tribune NEWS Recommendations made in Sargent case.
A2
SPORTS A13 Povelofskie commits to Vipers. COMMUNITY A15 Full house for cattlemen’s dinner. Weather outlook: Sun/clouds today, tomorrow. Highs of 17 C.
$1.30 inc. TAX
Hospital plan closer to a reality Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer The log jam has been lifted and the plans can flow, said Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District chair John Massier after a presentation Friday from Interior Health and a formal request for funds to proceed with the Cariboo Memorial Hospital concept plan. “We received a letter requesting 40 per cent of the total funding for
the concept plan from IH. They are actually putting up 60 per cent of this from their own pockets,” Massier said. “It’s the first positive sign from Interior Health that they are moving ahead now. It’s the movement we’ve been hoping for and pushing them to make.” There will be an open evening public meeting on June 26 where Northern Health will present the hospital master plan for the G.R. Baker Master Plan for the Quesnel
hospital and Interior Health will present the concept plan for Williams Lake. “We will have a discussion after that about how we are going to save them money,” Massier chuckled. At the CCRHD board meeting May 10, the board asked staff to bring back a bylaw to authorize the funding for the concept plan, which will be around $240,000. for the next board meeting. “We unanimously approved it.
Interior Health has already worked on the request for proposals for the plan, and as soon as we approve the bylaw at our meeting the first week of June, then they will advertise.” Massier’s hoping by the end of June a contractor will be in place and start collecting information over the next few months. “I hope we’ll receive the plan by next spring at the latest and that will give us a lot more detail as to what we can do.”
Cariboo Fire Centre warns of dry, volatile conditions Monica Lamb-Yorski Tribune Staff Writer
PM 0040785583
The Cariboo Fire Centre is reminding the public to be safe with fire use — especially in the Chilcotin where dry, volatile wildfire conditions exist. Last week the fire danger rating for the Chilcotin was increased to high. Two new fires, each less than one
hectare in size, started in the Chilcotin during the weekend, said fire information officer Greig Bethel. Of the 44 fires in the Cariboo Fire Region in 2013, all were started by humans, and therefore preventable. Bethel reminded the public an open burning prohibition is in effect for the entire Cariboo Fire Centre region. The prohibition bans all backyard and industrial burning, includ-
ing waste, slash, stubble and grass. Campfires are still permitted, but they must be kept under a half-metre by half-metre in size. Cook stoves that use gas, propane or briquettes are also OK. Anyone found in contravention of the prohibition may be issued a ticket for $345 or, if convicted in court, be fined up to $100,000 and sentenced to one year in jail. If the contravention causes or
contributes to a wildfire, the person may be subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 and be ordered to pay all fire fighting and associated costs. Eight warning and violation tickets have already issued, Bethel noted. He added this week the Cariboo Fire Centre will be on the lookout for thunderstorms and lightning strikes especially in Chilcotin and Cariboo Mountains.