LOCAL NEWS: NEW PRINCIPAL AT RAFT ▼ A2
Times
Thursday, October 24, 2013 ▼ Volume 48 No. 43 ▼ www.clearwatertimes.com ▼ $1.35 Includes GST
THE
NORTH THOMPSON
MIDGET HOCKEY:
Second Place Best All Round Newspaper Third Place Best Editorial Page All of Canada <1,250 circulation 2013
Icehawks host tournament. See A12 inside.
Second Place General Excellence B.C. and Yukon <2,000 circulation 2013
Town council delays on dog control bylaw Keith McNeill
A Clearwater firefighter sprays water onto a housefire in the Sunshine Valley area of Clearwater on Friday afternoon, Oct. 18. No one was injured during the blaze and the cause is still under investigation. Photo by Keith McNeill
Fire severely damages Sunshine Valley home Keith McNeill A fire on Friday afternoon, Oct. 18, severely damaged a home in Sunshine Valley. The owner was in the backyard at the time and no one was injured. Cause of the blaze is still under investigation. Clearwater Volunteer Fire Department, with help from
Blackpool under a mutual aid agreement, quickly knocked the fire back. However, there was extensive flame, smoke and water damage to the building. According to Clearwater Volunteer Fire Department spokesperson Chance Breckenridge, the initial callout came in around 2:20 p.m.
There were seven CVFD members, three Blackpool members, two RCMP on the scene, plus BC ambulance, Emergency Social Services and BC Hydro. “Hydro showed up quite quickly, which helped,” the fire department spokesperson said. Clearwater's fire department was back at the hall by 6 p.m.
Breckenridge noted that this is the time of year that people start using their wood stoves and fireplaces. “It would be wise for people to have the pipes cleaned as well as their stove boxes,” he said. “That way they know they are starting the season off clean and clear.” More photos on page A10
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District of Clearwater would like to meet with the RCMP before it moves to investigate bringing in a dangerous dog bylaw. “A bylaw sounds like a simple solution but it's not necessarily,” chief administrative officer Leslie Groulx told town council during its meeting on Oct. 15. Thompson-Nicola Regional District has looked at bringing in an animal control bylaw but so far only five electoral areas have bought in. The main problem is the cost. In order to enforce a bylaw an appropriately trained and equipped dogcatcher is needed, and there needs to be a properly built and maintained dog pound. The Central Okanagan Regional District has spent tens of thousands of dollars dealing with a dog whose owner does not want it put down, she said. The municipality does have some powers under the Community Charter, Groulx pointed out. These powers are limited but should be enough to allow the RCMP to seize a dog in the most serious cases. Councillor Ken Kjenstad said it might be a good idea to discuss with the police what can be done under the Community Charter before spending a lot of time investigating a new bylaw. At their Oct. 1 meeting the councillors heard from Clearwater resident Ryan McLarty, who was concerned after a dog bit his young son. McLarty asked that council bring in a bylaw that allows for enforcement against animals that are deemed to be a danger to the general public.
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