CAniM BAnd hoSTS CulTurAl dAY A3 MAY 29, 2013
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Two sections, 52 pages
Ainsworth conveys concerns to CN Rail Al BlAnnin winS PrESidEnT AwArd A5
rElAY For liFE hElPS loCAl FAMiliES A17
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opinion A8 letters A9 entertainment B3 sports A27 community B1 classifieds A33
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BEllE oF ThE BAll
Car shortages, loading time issues for OSB plant
Carole rooney Free Press
Representatives from the Ainsworth Engineered-100 Mile House OSB plant recently called for some answers from Canadian National Railways (CN) representatives to address some problems it has with rail car supply. This discussion took place at a Rotary Club of 100 Mile House function held for the railway’s local stakeholders, when area team leader (shipping) Dave Neraasen spoke for Ainsworth, backed up by plant manager John Burns. Neraasen said ongoing peaks and valleys in the supply of rail cars has hit the local mill hard. Ainsworth has been proactively booking trucks to combat these rail car shortages, but he explained that incurs a much higher material transportation cost, and leaves a bigger carbon footprint. “With forestry coming on line again and a lot of mills starting to move, what’s the plan to get away
from these highs and lows? How are you guys going to provide us with that steady flow?” CN regional manager of public affairs Emily Hamer said the railway is aware of the problem. “This winter has been particularly rough, and this is one of the concerns with car shortages ... raised by some companies throughout the region. And, we are working very closely with those [customers].” She added CN management has also been working with its area account managers and the car management team on the issue. Neraasen noted that brought up another concern, since his close relationship with his CN customer service representative (CSR) in Prince George dissolved when that service was centralized. “We are anticipating issues because that’s the way it has gone. And, the issue with the CSR is we speak to somebody different every day.” Continued on A4
Ken Alexander photo
Carolyn Cook and her date Kevin Petersen waited patiently for the parade to start for Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School’s Class of 2013 Prom ceremonies. It has been a long-standing tradition for the grads to arrive at the prom in, or on, various forms of transportation.
District hospital funding confirmed Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District (CCRHD) chair John Massier says a couple of items of financial importance to area residents have arisen. The first is funding has come through from Interior Health that will allow Cariboo Memorial Hospital plans to move forward into further design stages. “We are pleased at this point, as we feel that we finally see some movement toward the needed renovations at the hospital in-patient [ward].” The funding confirmation came in the form of
New plans underway, old debts extinguished
a letter from IH, he explains, asking the CCRHD to submit its own 40 per cent portion of project funding for 2013/14. “That is the way we normally fund these capital projects, is a 60-40 split. So they are actually putting up $360,000 of their own money, and they are asking for $240,000 from us to make $600,000 total.”
The board unanimously approved a motion in late April for staff to prepare a bylaw to release the funds for processing at its May 28 meeting. “It’s going to mean the next [design] stage is moving along at the hospital, and it’s going to be a lot firmer costing.” The funding will initiate the project’s Concept Plan, a comprehensive summary of the capital and operating requirements specific to the scope of the project, to be submitted to the Ministry of Health in the spring of 2014. Continued on A7