MADD
concert
campaign 911
dirty grace
Up and coming band to play Kimberley July 6.
New signs for the 911 campaign in Kimberley.
WednesDAY June 26, 2013
See LOCAL NEWS page 3
See LOCAL NEWS page 4
The Bulletin
T Bootleg Grill HE
is just minutes from the Rails to Trails! www.BootlegGapGolf.com
1
Proudly serving kimberley and area since 1932 | Vol. 81, Issue 123 | www.dailybulletin.ca
$ 10 INCLUDES h.s.t.
State of local emergency declared in Wasa
Sally MacDonald Townsman Staff
Wasa is on high alert Tuesday as lake levels continue to rise quickly following last week’s record rainfall. A state of emergency was declared for Wasa on Tuesday, June 25, after the level of the lake rose between four and six inches overnight. While there was no order to evacuate, the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) was warning residents to be prepared to leave flood-affected homes. “It may happen. We want people to be aware that the water is still coming up,” said RDEK’s Dan McNeill. Nine homes were sandbagged on Tuesday
at the south end of the lake, with crews from the Wildfire Management Branch in Cranbrook out at Wasa to assist with sandbagging efforts. Two crews of 10 were sandbagging two homes at a time around the ground-fed lake, which peaks about a week after the nearby Kootenay River. As of press time, the water in Wasa Lake was still about two feet below its level last year, when Wasa also experienced flooding. Just like last year, the RDEK is advising Wasa residents to boil water from their wells until the water can be tested by Interior Health.
Sally Macdonald photo
See WASA , Page 3 Forest Service crews take a break from sandbagging at Wasa Tuesday.
Truck retrieved from creek S ally MacDonal d Townsman Staff
The truck in which two young men went into Findlay Creek on June 8 has been pulled out of the water, according to a statement from Cranbrook RCMP. Stephen Thomson, 21, of Canal Flats and Nicholas Hoefnagels, 19, of Carstairs, Alberta were reported missing on June 9 after they failed to return to their campsite at Whitetail Lake. A subsequent search found signs a vehicle had gone off the forestry road into Findlay Creek and personal belongings of the two men were found nearby. However, the creek was flowing too high and too fast to get to the vehicle, which was finally sighted underwater on June 18 after the family
of the missing men paid for a blasting permit. Continuing efforts to recover the truck were hampered by last week’s extreme rainfall, which markedly increased the river flows in Findlay Creek. Receding water levels revealed that during the rainfall event, the truck had been pushed downstream and was now visible and accessible. “Family and friends of the missing men brought a skidder to the area which hooked the truck and pulled it to shore,” said Cpl. Pat Prefontaine. “The truck has now been towed from the location. The damage to the truck from the water pressure was extensive. “Neither of the deceased were located in the vehicle wreckage and the search will continue as environmental conditions permit.”
Underground railway seeks stop to vandalism Underground railway vandalism a concern
C AROLYN GR ANT editor@dailybulletin.ca
Volunteers who put in time for the Sullivan Underground Railway are frustrated by some continuing instances of vandalism taking place on their tracks in the Kimberley Alpine Resort parking lot. On Saturday and Sunday the tourist train goes up to the resort on express runs. But, says volunteer Danny Jarrett, on more than one occasion rocks have been found be-
tween the track switches and on a few occasions, cars parked across the tracks. “If a car is parked on the tracks all we can do is back down again,” Jarrett said. The rocks are more serious. If the trains encounter these rocks at the switch, it can cause the loci to jump off the tracks. Jarrett says the rocks are obviously put there intentionally, they couldn’t just fly into these spots. “Do people think it’s funny?” Jarrett said. “I don’t under-
stand. The train stops really quick if the loci goes off the tracks. There could be injuries.” Jarrett also said that there had been a small slide back in the narrow valley in the lower mine yard near the train tracks. It did not hit the track, but Railway operations were shut down until an engineer can assess the situation. However, the Railway has been given clearance to run this weekend, one of the busiest of the summer for the attraction.
East Kootenay Realty FOOD BANK DUCK FIRST PRIZE U SECOND PRIZE O Y e July 1st, 2013 v Ha d e s a h purc cket? y o uwr.ektrei alty.com ww
ils
for deta
CIVIC CENTRE at NOON
BBQ; Hotdogs & Pop provided by Mark Creek Market.
• $1500 Donated by Royal LePage East Kootenay Realtor Marilyn Jolie. • 2 Nights free in 3 bedroom condo compliments of www.rockynow.com valued at $750; $150 Gift Certificate from The Village Bistro; 2 Rounds of Golf with Cart compliments of Kimberley Golf Course. THIRD PRIZE • $250 Cash compliments of Meadowbrook Greenhouse. FOURTH PRIZE • 2 Rounds of Golf with Cart compliments of Bootleg Gap (some restrictions apply).
RACE
East Kootenay Realty 250-427-0070
Judges Decision is Final – Draw Date: July 1st, 2013, 1:00 pm at the Civic Centre.