Review
THE www.keremeosreview.com PM Agreement #40012521
Vol.15 Number 30
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Serving the communities of Keremeos, Cawston, Okanagan Falls and Kaleden
SKY HIGH STORYTELLERS
Oliver parachutist guest speaker at summer library program See page 11
NEW WINNING WINERY
Keremeos Sage Bush Winery is getting noticed See page 5
SUPPORT GROUP SEEKING VOLUNTEERS
Alyzheimers support group looking for assistance See page 15
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Friends mourn drowning victim
By Steve Arstad news@keremeosreview.com Friends of Derek James Woodrow erected a monument Sunday on the portion of dike adjacent to where Woodrow drowned Saturday afternoon. The nineteen year old Keremeos resident became trapped in a boulder laced channel of the Similkameen River after falling out of a raft on July 20. “He was tied in but his rope came undone,” said Photo by Steve Arstad friends of Woodrow on Monday morning, who were A.J. and Jade, friends of Derek James Woodrow, pause at a memorial erected for the 19 year old, who gathered in tribute drowned in the Similkameen River on July 20. around the memorial. the accident made several atlow gravel bar. Close to the dike A rope bobbing on the river bed temps to get to their friend, added however, a deeper, swifter channel marked the spot where Woodrow’s Shawn, who estimated that a half of water runs. The Similkameen body was recovered. hour had passed from the time of River is higher than normal for “He was a good swimmer. this time of year, due to late runoff the incident to the arrival of emerHe knew this river - he grew up gency personnel. and excessive rains in June. around it. He tubed all the time. A.J., Jade and a couple of other Shock and mourning over the He wouldn’t tie a rope around his incident was interspersed with mo- friends got together Saturday leg,” stated A.J., countering sugnight and built the memorial for ments of anger from the group of gestions that Woodrow had a rope friends gathered around the shrine Woodrow. It was placed on the attached to a cooler tied to his leg. dike Sunday afternoon during an Monday morning. “I wish I had been here,” A.J. impromptu service. “We shouldn’t have had to wait added bitterly, “ I would have got“This whole area was packed three and a half hours to get his ten him out.” with people,” said Stacey, who was body out,” added Shawn, who Six friends in five rafts set out also at the site Monday morning. was disgusted with the way rescue from Red Bridge Saturday afterA tent was erected Saturday personnel stood by, preventing noon for a leisurely cruise to Konight on the dike, where Woodfriends and family from accessing bau Park. The accident occurred row’s sister has been holding nightthe scene. just west of the intersection of ly vigils since the accident. “We would have formed a huTwelfth Avenue and Second Street. “She was with her brother man chain and gotten him out,” he The river is wide at this point, added. most of it running over a shalcontinued on page 4 Those on scene at the time of