106th Year - Week 36 PM 40007014
Money raised to date:
$176,820 GOAL
$400,000
BBQ IN PHOTOS The Bulkley Valley Kinsmen hosted the 101st Telkwa BBQ.
COMMUNITY/A9 & A13
JOY OF SAX Jazz musician P.J. Perry returns to Smithers.
A&E/A15
INSIDE LETTERS A5 SPORTS A7 COMMUNITY A12 OUR TOWN A13 THREE RIVERS B1 CLASSIFIEDS B7
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
www.interior-news.com
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CUPE workers threaten strike By Amara Janssens Smithers/Interior News
Students in the Bulkley Valley are heading back to school this week, but their return to classrooms may be short lived. If negotiations fail between CUPE support workers and the province, it could force school closures as early as mid-September. The Canadian Union of Public Employees, the union representing education assistants, secretaries, custodians and bus drivers, began bargaining talks with the province today which are expected to last until Friday. Barbel Schroeter of CUPE Local 2145 said the union is asking for a two per cent wage increase over the next two years, something she said has been given to other provincial employees. “We haven’t had a wage increase in four years and our last
contract expired a year ago.” Schroeter said support workers are not “rolling in money” as the average salary is about $24,000 a year. “I’m hoping we come to a fair agreement.” While negotiations take place, the province is looking for options on how a wage increase could be funded. School District 54 Bulkley Valley superintendant Chris Van der Mark said the province has asked school districts to come up with a savings plan. “We don’t know how much of a savings plan we need to find,” Van der Mark said. If a fair agreement between the province and union doesn’t come together, job action could result. And it could come in the form of a strike, something that could have school doors closed. “The teachers have already stated their support to CUPE,” Schroeter said.
ROCK AND ROLL DUTY Kim Mitchell wowed the audience at the Bulkley Valley Kinsmen’s 101st Telkwa BBQ Saturday night. More coverage of the event can be found throughout this week’s newspaper.
Ryan Jensen photo
Smithers woman clipped by train in Telkwa By Amara Janssens Smithers/Interior News
A Smithers woman is lucky to be alive after being struck by a CN train in Telkwa near Coalmine Road on Saturday night. At approximately 11 p.m. first responders arrived on scene after the conductor reported the
train he was driving had struck the 39-year-old woman. Smithers RCMP Cst. Joey Mindel said the conductor saw the collision and felt the impact. RCMP said the woman was walking alongside the tracks on the highway side when she was clipped by the train. Only her right arm was struck, and
appeared broken, Mindel said. The woman was rushed to Bulkley Valley District Hospital by BC Ambulance at 11:45 p.m. She was conscious and suffered no blood loss. “It could have been way worse,” Cst. Mindel explained. “She’s a lucky girl.” Police are cautioning
the public who cross the railway tracks not all train incidents end this well. “We are realists and we know that people use that thoroughfare as a very easily accessible way to get to and from this area of town. “But I would definitely caution them, this is one woman who got extremely lucky, hopefully we never
have to deal with this again. I hope people are a little more careful when they are going across those tracks,” Cst. Jennifer McCreesh said. The Telkwa Volunteer Fire Department was first on scene, as emergency responders including RCMP and BC Ambulance were on location at the nearby Telkwa BBQ.
8
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