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Vol. 61, Issue 177
Proudly serving Cranbrook and area since 1951
www.dailytownsman.com
City council concerned for railway safety CP Rail invited to speak to council about its safety measures for carrying hazardous materials through city SALLY MACDONALD Townsman Staff
COURTESY LOREE DUCZEK/RDEK
A mock emergency exercise was held Monday, Sept. 9, at the Canadian Rockies International Airport. The exercise served as a training opportunity for airport, airline and emergency response personnel, and allowed airport personnel to evaluate the Emergency Plan. A variety of agencies were involved, including the RCMP, Cranbrook Search and Rescue, Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services, the BC Ambulance Service, Air Canada Express, Pacific Coastal Airlines, CATSA, the Canadian Rockies International Airport, the City of Cranbrook and Impalla Security. Students from the Mount Baker Secondary School drama program will be participating as mock passengers.
THE GREAT ELEPHANT HUNT OF 1926
Elephants make good bait
87 years ago this month, three elephants escaped from a travelling circus in Cranbrook and roamed the hills. One of them never made it out alive. This 4-part series retells the story. SALLY MACDONALD Townsman Staff
Two weeks after three elephants stampeded from Cranbrook rail yards on August 6, 1926, two of the pachyderms
are still at large. By September 2, Myrtle is known to be hiding in dense timber near the base of Moyie Mountain. Charlie Ed hasn’t been seen for three weeks. The
weather is starting to turn and things are looking grim for the pair. On September 8, an exhausted, barely alive Myrtle is captured on Moyie Mountain.
The Herald reports that she had fallen over a 40-foot cliff and was suffering from pneumonia.
See MYRTLE , Page 3
Concerned with rail safety in Cranbrook, city council will hold a special meeting next month to hear from Canadian Pacific Railway about cuts to local safety inspector positions. On Monday, September 9, Mayor Wayne Stetski recommended that council invite Rick Poznikoff, CP Rail community relations, to speak to council in October. Last month, the Townsman reported that CP Rail has cut four out of seven specialized safety inspectors, known as railway carmen, based in Cranbrook. Union officials told the paper that this staffing level does not allow every train to be inspected by carmen, which raises concerns about dangerous goods passing through Cranbrook bound for the West Kootenay.
“Initially, I was quite concerned with these cuts and quite willing to write a letter or whatever it took, and we may still want to do that,” Mayor Stetski said on Monday. “The suggestion here is that perhaps we give CP Rail the opportunity to come and speak with us directly before we write those letters.” In a letter to Cranbrook council, fire chief Wayne Price explained that CP Rail had reassured him that it continues to meet or exceed federal requirements. “(Poznikoff ) explained that all railcars are inspected where they originate as well as enroute in Calgary, Lethbridge and Golden. He explained that they also have in-line rail safety features located every 20-25 miles as well as wheel impact load detectors on the rail cars,” wrote Chief Price.
CELEBRATING YEARS IN THE EAST KOOTENAYS!
See CITY , Page 3