news Residents of Hedley to vote on cell tower Page 1 & 6
SPORTS Four more players acquired for the Posse Page 6
Community
Who came back to rock-out in Hedley this year. Page 11
SPOTLIGHT $1.10 Includes TAX
The Similkameen
Volume 64 Issue 32
Wednesday,August 7, 2013
Proudly serving the community since 1948 • www.similkameenspotlight.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.
Fortis moves ahead with smart meters
Project will replace 130,000 electricity meters in B.C.’s Southern Interior, while natural gas meters will stay the same KELOWNA, B.C. - August 1, 2013 – FortisBC has decided to move ahead with the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) project, after receiving approval from the BC Utilities Commission (BCUC) on July 23, 2013, after an extensive public review process. “Advanced meters, also referred to as smart meters, will help FortisBC customers see how their electricity is being used, so they can better understand their bills and make more informed decisions on how to conserve energy,” said Tom Loski, vice-president of customer service at FortisBC. “Electricity rates will be lower with advanced meters than without them, since the new meters will reduce electricity theft and nearly eliminate the expense from manual meter reading. It’s an exciting project that will provide a variety of benefits to customers, both now and into the future.” As part of the BCUC decision approving the AMI project, the commission directed FortisBC to submit an application providing an option for customers to receive an advanced meter with the wireless radio transmissions turned off if they pay the incremental cost of opting-out. FortisBC has agreed to file an application by the Nov. 1, 2013 deadline providing details about the radiooff option, including fees charged to customers related to the incremental costs. The process of exchanging the approximately 130,000 electricity meters throughout B.C.’s
See SMART METERS - Page 3
Weather Watch Wednesday
High 27/Low 14
Thursday
High 27/Low 14
Friday
High 28/Low 13
Saturday
High 28/Low 14
Sunday
High 26/Low 15
Welcome to Tu-La-Moon
Lisa Carleton/Spotlight
This terrific float was in the annual Tulameen Family Fun Days parade in Tulameen on Saturday morning during the BC Day long weekend. The weekend full of events began on Saturdaycarrying on throughout the weekend, finishing up on Monday.
Hedley residents want cell service Lisa Carleton lisa@similkameenspotlight.com
Hedley residents Neil MacLeod and Lynn Wells along with a group of other residents are upset with all the negative publicity that the proposed cell tower in Hedley is getting. In a press released dated July 25, 2013, Area G Director Angelique Wood explained that, “Although some residents of Hedley welcome the proposed tower, others have concerns.” The concerns are that, “The proposed monopole would be placed on TELUS property in the community. This is raising health and safety issues and also interferes with a view of the heritage Mascot Mine site from a lookout located at the Hedley Museum.” The group of residents who are for cell service in Hedley
Princeton
have done some research and put together the following information for the residents who are concerned. “The reasons for concern are based on fear, not fact. The World Health Organization, The American Cancer Society, The Canadian Cancer Society and Health Canada have all published fact sheets on the subject. The cell phone tower would not block the view from the Hedley Heritage Museum. See photo page 6. - The photo was taken in the winter, it gives a good view of the landscape. The cell mast has been added to the photo and it clearly shows that the mast will not be in the line of sight from the museum. In fact, the neighbourhood trees are more of a visual obstacle than the pole itself.”
See CELL PHONE TOWER - Page 6
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