GAZETTE
See Halloween guide, p. 2-3; Rotary Auction, p. 13-16; and Women in Business, p. 26
NORTH ISLAND
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48th Year No. 44
Turn clocks back 1 hour Sat. Nov. 2
www.northislandgazette.com
October 31, 2013
• FAIRY FEATURE
Gate House Theatre players host interactive play. Page 11
• HOP ALONG
Student runners compete in cross country in Sointula. Page 12
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Plane crash claims three
Gazette staff The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identities of the three men killed when the float plane in which they were flying crashed at Potts Lagoon, on West Cracroft Island, last Thursday. Kevin Roger Williams, aged 42, from Lake Country in the
Okanagan, was the pilot of the Air Cab Cessna 185 floatplane which crashed into an island in the middle of Potts Lagoon, where it was expected to land, at about 11:45 a.m. on Oct. 24. The two passengers on the plane were Frederick Gerald Cecil Wiley, aged 40, of Merville on Vancouver
Island, and Norman Slavik, aged 59, of Surrey. The two had chartered the plane to take them from Port McNeill to a logging operation on West Cracroft Island, a small island on the east side of Robson Bight east of Alert Bay. The plane struck a heavily wooded embankment about 20
yards upslope from Potts Lagoon, located on the south side of Clio Channel on West Cracroft Island. Several people witnessed the crash and rushed to the scene, but there was nothing they could do as
See page 4 ‘Crash in remote area’
‘I’ll paint you, my pretty’ Witch Debbie Cross uses her magic to transform fairy princess Paisley Barolet at the Halloweenthemed fun fair hosted by Huckleberry House last week. See more images from the fun fair inside, page 11. For info on Halloween activities in the area tonight and tomorrow, see page 8.
A O’Toole
• IN MIDWEEK
Port Hardy woman wins wildlife photo contest. Midweek, inside LETTERS Page 7 NORTH ISLAND LIFE Page 12 SPORTS Page 17 CLASSIFIEDS Page 23-25
Cougar stirs up Port Hardy residents Gazette staff PORT HARDY—Barely a week after at least two cougars sparked school lockdowns and a hunt in Port McNeill, another big cat — or more — has made its presence felt in Port Hardy.
James Hilgemann of the Conservation Officer Service confirmed reports of sightings Oct. 25 in the area around Thunderbird Mall and Port Hardy Hospital, and Oct. 26 off Market Street near CIBC and Tru Hardware.
“We called Port Hardy RCMP to attend on our behalf,” said Hilgemann, who is based in Black Creek. “Since the Oct. 26 report, we’ve heard nothing.” Other residents, however, have shared sightings with
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each other, either directly or through social media. One resident, Vi-Anne Roberts, was moved to create a new Facebook page this week, North Island Wildlife Awareness, where residents can share information and alert each other
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about potential humanwildlife encounters. Hilgemann reminds the public that the CO Service can only respond to potential threats if it is informed of sightings. To report a sighting, call 1-877-952-7277.
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