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MERRITT HERALD FREE
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2013 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
Heroic rescue on Nicola River Merritt RCMP officers risk lives after woman jumps into river By Emily Wessel THE HERALD
reporter@merrittherald.com
Two Merritt RCMP officers are being hailed as heroes after saving a couple from the Nicola River on Friday morning. Around 10:30 a.m., officers received a call from a 49-year-old man who said his girlfriend was in distress and threatening to jump
into the river in an apparent suicide attempt. When the officers arrived a short time later, they tried to talk to the 47-year-old woman, but she jumped in the river. The woman’s boyfriend then jumped in after her to save her, but ended up needing rescuing from the fast-flowing, high river himself.
Const. Brock Hedrick jumped in the river with his life jacket on while his partner readied the throw bag, which contains a rope to pull people back to land. “One officer went in with his life jacket and the second one used the throw bag and pulled the three of them out,” RCMP Const. Tracy Dunsmore said, adding that all police cars have lifejackets and
throw bags in them. Hedrick caught up with the woman just before the confluence of the Nicola and Coldwater Rivers. Dunsmore said the incident could’ve ended differently if the officers hadn’t reacted so quickly at the scene. “It’s probably a good thing he called before she jumped in, because it could’ve been a little bit
different of a scenario,” Dunsmore said. There were no physical injuries. The woman was taken to the Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre for evaluation. “I am very proud of my officers who risked their lives to help these people in serious distress,” Staff Sgt. Sheila White said in a press release.
NVIT graduates honoured at local ceremony By Emily Wessel THE HERALD
reporter@merrittherald.com
Amy Brinson (right) and Jennifer Collins (centre), Bachelor of Social Work Degree graduates (joint program with Thompson Rivers University). listen attentively to speeches from dignitaries at the NVIT graduation ceremony on May 16. Emily Wessel/Herald
Seventy-one graduates of the Nicola Valley Institute of Technology received their degrees and diplomas on May 16 at the Merritt Civic Centre at a ceremony attended by the NVIT elders, MLA elect Jackie Tegart, Mayor Susan Roline, and graduates’ friends and families. Assembly of First Nations Chief Shawn A-inchut Atleo attended the luncheon before the graduation ceremony. “Your success is our success,” Merritt Mayor Susan Roline said in her speech to the graduates. Nooaitch Indian Band chief Joyce Sam — a graduate of the first NVIT class — recounted the school’s humble beginnings from the administration building of the Lower Nicola Indian Band 30 years ago. The school’s roughly 1,500 students represent over 60 per cent of the First Nations in B.C. NVIT President Ken Tourand commended the graduates on their years of hard work, and said the school is open for registration for the next slate of courses beginning in the fall.
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