page B6 Entertainment: Shawnigan students bait classic trap Sports: Midget Bulldogs tackle Nanaimo in VMFL semifinal page A18
Your news leader since 1905
For all the news of the Cowichan region as it happens, plus stories from around British Columbia, go to our website www.cowichannewsleader.com
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
Save 10¢ /Litre on Home Heating Oil from now until April CALL FOR DETAILS
Duncan 250.737.1508 • AFDFuels.ca
No dirty-dirt dumping during appeal process Stay says: SIA can’t import contaminated soil to treatment site
Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
S
hawnigan Lake residents won a battle, but not the war, with Friday’s ruling banning dirtydirt dumping into a company’s treatment pit. The Environmental Appeal Board’s stay sticks until it hears a local appeal about South lsland Aggregates’ B.C. permit to treat five million tonnes of fuel-laced soil at its Stebbings Road pit. EAB chairman Alan Andison and the EAB granted the soil-dumping stay. It was submitted by the Shawnigan Residents Association, and the Cowichan Valley Regional District, against SIA’s permit granted in September. “This decision reaffirms the significant risk to our drinking water and environment from the (SIA) permit issued by the ministry of environment,” SRA’s release says. It and the CVRD successfully sought to stop soil being hauled by SIA to its massive treatment-quarry facility. Andison states the EAB panel found “the balance of convenience weighs in favor of granting a stay of the portions of the permit that authorize the permit holder (SIA) to receive and landfill contaminated soil, pending a decision
Andrew Leong, Don Bodger
Five more inductees to the North Cowichan-Duncan Sports Wall of Fame were honoured Saturday night at the Cowichan Golf and Country Club. Above, from left are: Don Bodger (media), Sandra Collinson on behalf of her dad Ron (Sonny) Collinson (baseball) who died earlier this year, Bob Wilson on behalf of the Chemainus Blues hockey team and Larry Irving (baseball). Right, Ted Webb presents a plaque to Wayne Bianchin, accepting on behalf of hockey player Ron Andruff. Organizer Ernie Mansueti said he received an email from Andruff, who now lives in Florida but was in Argentina on business, saying how much be appreciated the honour and regretted not being able to attend the function. The Sports Wall of Fame is located in the Cowichan Aquatic Centre, but is due to be moved to another location — possibly next year.
on the merits of the appeal.” The EAB also had environmental concerns about SIA bringing that fuelfouled soil to its pit during the appeal. “Given the serious risks to the environment, and water resources, if a stay is denied and an escape of contaminates occurs,” the EAB states, “the panel finds that any inconvenience or harm to the permit holder’s financial interests, if a stay is granted, does not outweigh the risk of harm to water resources and human health if a stay of the permit is denied.” Any soil delivered to SIA’s facility before the stay decision is subject to the permit’s full requirements concerning environmental safeguards, the EAB notes. But SRA members, fundraising to pay lawyers, aren’t finished. “We maintain serious flaws in the permit, and risks associated with the contaminated landfill in our drinking watershed — identified by experts in the field of environmental science — must not be overlooked,” a statement by SRA director Calvin Cook says. “The risk to the public in this matter far exceeds any acceptable level. We applaud the EAB for supporting the application for a stay and look forward to the matter of the appeal being heard before the board.”
Huth guilty of manslaughter in death of Shawnigan’s Noble Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
T
he killer of Shawnigan Lake’s Tyler Noble was found guilty of manslaughter Monday in Victoria’s B.C. Supreme
Court. The ruling against Brandon Carl Huth of Victoria was handed down by Justice Malcolm Macaulay.
Huth’s sentencing hearing is set for Jan. 24. Macaulay’s judgement traces tragic details about a Nov. 26, 2011 argument near the McDonald’s at View and Douglas streets. That’s where Huth, now 26, admitted to punching Noble, 20. “He received a blow to the head, and immediately fell backward, striking his head on the sidewalk,” Macaulay’s judgement states.
One of many people present quickly called 911 at around 2:38 a.m. Police officers arrived fast, followed shortly by an ambulance crew. Noble died in hospital a few hours later, as a result of blunt-force head injuries he sustained, court testimony shows. “Huth formally admitted at trial he struck the blow that led to No-
ble’s death,” the judgement reads. Huth pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, and went to trial before a judge alone. Macaulay says his ruling is based on all evidence, including testimony from 15 witnesses. Regarding Noble’s conduct, the judge says, “I do not doubt he acted drunkenly, and in a belligerent manner from the time he encountered Bailey and Tes (two men present)
until after their departure. “His homophobic slurs and invitation to Bailey to fight are ample evidence of that. “I also accept Noble, because of his disposition when drunk, easily angered and, for that reason, carried on a verbal but non-physical confrontation with (witness) Poulsen and his friends, even after Tes and Bailey left. more on page A5 bchonda.com
2013 Odyssey
Y OLIDA THE H VENT E SALES RE. IS HE
1,500
$
THE ODYSSEY COMES IN 1ST AS VAN OF THE YEAR . CASH PURCHASE INCENTIVE# ON SELECT 2013 FIT MODELS
2013 FIT FROM $16,075** $STARTING INCLUDES FREIGHT & PDI , PLUS
bchonda.com
MODEL SHOWN: RL5H9DK
††
4 000
cash purchase incentive $ 500 on any Odyssey model.£ IDAY HOL US BON
£$4,000 Honda cash purchase incentive is available on select 2013 Odyssey models. Honda cash purchase incentive will be deducted from the negotiated price before taxes and cannot be combined with special lease or finance offers. PPSA, license, insurance, taxes, and other dealer charges are extra and may be required at the time of purchase. †† For more information about the Auto123.com Van of the Year award visit http://www.auto123.com/en/awards/finalist-categories ††/£ Offers valid from July 3rd through 31st, 2013 at participating Honda retailers. Dealer may sell for less. Dealer trade may be necessary on certain vehicles. Offers valid only for British Columbia residents at BC Honda Dealers locations. Offers subject to change or cancellation without notice. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bchonda.com or see your Honda retailer for full details.
www.discovery ††
2013 Auto123.com Van of the Year
Model G3H87DE
#$1,500 cash purchase incentive available on select Fit models. Honda cash purchase incentive cannot be combined with special lease or finance offers. *$500 holiday bonus available on all 2013 Fit models. #/*Honda cash purchase incentive and Holiday bonus will be deducted from the negotiated price before taxes. **MSRP is $16,075 based on a new Fit DX GE8G2DEX including $1,495 freight and PDI. #/*/** Dealer may sell for less. Dealer trade may be required. For all offers license, insurance, applicable taxes and registration are extra. Prices and/or payments shown do not include representative PPSA lien registration and lien registering agent’s fees (fees may vary by province), which are due at time of delivery. Offers valid from November 1st through December 2nd, 2013 at participating Honda retailers. Offers valid only for British Columbia residents at BC Honda Dealers locations. Offers subject to change or cancellation without notice. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bchonda.com or see your Honda retailer for full details.
DL#5963
6466 Bell McKinnon Road, Duncan 250-748-5814 BCHD-July-Odyssey-10.306x1.786
www.discoveryhonda.com