GAZETTE See our Shop Local insert, p. 13-16
NORTH ISLAND
Publications Mail Agreement No. 391275
48th Year No. 50
December 12, 2013
• SHINING A LIGHT
Vigil remembers the victims of ‘Montreal Massacre’. Page 10
• ALUMNI ACTION
Veterans top Eagles midgets in Hamper Fund benefit game. Page 17
• BACK IN ACTION
Pygmy owl returned to wild following trip for rehabilitation. Page 27 LETTERS Page 7 SPORTS Page 17 CLASSIFIEDS Page 23-25 NORTH ISLAND LIFE Page 26
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SAR Unit granted new boat
J.R. Rardon Gazette editor PORT McNEILL—Port McNeill’s Marine Search and Rescue Society is $121,000 richer, courtesy of a provincial gaming grant. But the society won’t have the money for long. The fundraising arm of Royal
Canadian Marine Search and Rescue Unit 50, the society is putting its funding to use for the purchase of a new fast-response rescue boat. Next, it will go after its other pressing need — more members. “We’re hoping for delivery by the end of March (2014),” RCMSAR 50 skipper Aaron Frost said.
“We’re really hoping the new boat will help us with our recruitment effort.” The nine-metre, rigid-hull inflatable is designed specifically for RCM-SAR use and built by Victoria-based Liquid Metal. The estimated cost is $139,000, but Frost noted that will provide RCMSAR Unit 50 a fully loaded search
and rescue craft, with RADAR, GPS, AIS, double radios, lights and a shock-absorbing cab that seats five members with a pulldown jump seat. “It runs twin 250 (horsepower
See page 2 SAR needs new members
Youth collared in McNeill break-ins Gazette staff PORT McNEILL—A single youth suspect was expected to be charged with multiple break, enter and theft charges following a series of residential break and enters in a Port McNeill apartment complex on Dec. 2. Port McNeill RCMP received multiple reports of residential break and enters (B&E) in the Kaleva Garden townhouse complex on Broughton Boulevard in Port McNeill Dec. 2. In total, six B&E’s occurred, with police suspecting another six were attempted but unsuccessful. The ensuing investigation resulted in local officers quickly identifying a lone youth suspect, and the recovery of multiple items stolen during the B&E’s. Investigators met with the youth on December 4, and he is expected to face charges of break, enter and theft in the coming weeks, said Sgt. Craig Blanchard, Port McNeill’s Detachment Commander. “As a result of some quick work by our local officers, we were able to identify a suspect and recover much of the stolen property”, Blanchard said. In keeping with the requirement of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, no additional information will be released that may identify the youth suspect in this case.
Talent unveiled
Ella Waring leads the “Genies” in one of the choreography numbers performed during the Celtic Christmas show at Port Hardy Secondary School last weekend. See more in A. O’Toole North Island Life, page 26.
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