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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2013
VOL 116 NO. 39 VOL 116 NO. 39
Friend or or foe? foe? Friend Page 16-18 16-18 Page
Arson burns City Hall
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SOL
5495 Hillview Road
Brian Thate 250-442-7370
www.brianthate.com
LITTLE OAK REALTY
Man arrested arrested aft after er fi fire re breaks breaks out out in in venerable venerable Grand Grand Forks Forks Man City Hall Hall building building in in the the early early morning morning hours hours of of Sept. Sept. 19 19 City
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Sneak Peak of City Hall!
Friday, September 27th 1 - 3 pm Public invited to view City Hall before restoration begins. Refreshments provided on the steps of City Hall.
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Grand Forks Fire Rescue firefighters on the scene Sept. Grand Forks refighters on the scene Sept. 19 hours afterFire theRescue blaze infiCity Hall was extinguished. 19 hours after the blaze in City Hall was extinguished.
A fire that broke out A fire Forks that broke out in Grand City Hall in Grand Forks City Hall Thursday morning and Thursday morningdamand caused extensive caused extensive damage is now being considage now being consideredisarson. ered arson. Grand Forks RCMP Grand Forks RCMP have apprehended one have apprehended “person of interest”one in “person of interest” in the matter, and arson the matter, and investigators have arson been investigators have been on the scene in an effort on scene in how an effort to the determine the to determine how the fire was caused. fireAlthough was caused. there are no Although thereon arethe no cost estimates cost estimates on the damage, there were no damage, there were no injuries reported. injuries reported. “There was nobody in was in the“There building at nobody the time,” the building at the time,” said Boundary Regional said Boundary Regional Detachment RCMP Staff Detachment RCMP Sgt. Jim Harrison. Staff Sgt.He Jimsaid Harrison. the fire was He said was not caused the by fire a bomb not caused by a bomb and that there was no and that wasfires no link to the there two hotel link to the two hotel fires from 2012. from “At2012. this point, we’re “At thisthat point, advising we we’re have advising that we no reason to believehave that no reason to believe that
public safety is at danpublic safety is at danger,” said Harrison. “ ger,” said Harrison. “ Charged in connecCharged in arson connection with the is tion with the arson is Andre Robert Conn, 31, Andre Robert Conn,who 31, of Grand Forks, of Grand Forks, who was apprehended close was to theapprehended scene of theclose fire. to the scene fire.a Harrsion saidofitthe was Harrsion said incident” it was a “very targeted “very targeted incident” and that’s how police and that’s how investigators werepolice treatinvestigators were treating it. ingConn it. has been Conn has custody been remanded into remanded into custody and was scheduled to and was scheduled to appear in Nelson Court appear in Nelson on Tuesday, Sept. Court 24 to on Tuesday, Sept. 24 of to answer to charges answer to charges of break and enter, arson, break and of enter, arson, possession incendiary possession of incendiary materials and possession materials and possession of break-in instruments. of break-in instruments. Members of Kootenay Members of Kootenay Boundary Regional Boundary Detachment Regional general Detachment general investigation team were investigation team were also on site helping with also site helping with the on investigation, said the investigation, said Harrison. Harrison.
Work begins begins to to Work rebuild City City Hall Hall rebuild
CRAIG LINDSAY CRAIG LINDSAY Grand Forks Gazette Grand Forks Gazette
The process to rebuild the The process to rebuild the wreckage of a burned out City wreckage of a burned out City Hall could take up to six months, Hall take chief up to administrasix months, said could the city’s said the city’s chief administrative officer at a press conference tive officer at a press conference Monday night. Monday night. Doug Allin said, although Doug ofAllin although removal debrissaid, will take place removal of debris will take place soon, the whole process of restorsoon, theburned whole process of smoke restoring the out and ing the burned out and smoke damaged areas of the building damaged of the building could takeareas until spring. could take until spring. Allin addressed a group of 20 Allin addressed a group 20 residents and media at ofthe residents and media at the Senior’s Centre in City Park, Senior’s in council City Park, along withCentre all of city and along with all of city council several city staff members. and several city staffthe members. He stressed city’s insurHe stressed the city’s insurance coverage would cover all ance coveragecosts. would cover all the relocation the relocation costs.
• See CITY HALL, Page 8 • See CITY HALL, Page 8
• See REBUILD, Page 32 • See REBUILD, Page 32
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