LOCAL NEWS: NEW BOSS FOR VICTIMS' SERVICES ▼ A3
Times
Thursday, January 16, 2014 ▼ Volume 3 No. 50 ▼ www.clearwatertimes.com ▼ $1.35 Includes GST
THE
NORTH THOMPSON
Learning how to ski
Scott Streadwick helps his three-year-old son, Slade, as he learns to cross-country ski during the Rabbits program being put on by Wells Gray Outdoor Club. "This was my first exposure to the program and I couldn't have been happier," Streadwick said. "Both our boys were tired by the end but nothing a hot chocolate and cookie couldn't cure." The eightweek program started on Sunday, Jan. 12. Lessons are about one hour long. Those needing skis should call 250-674-2327. Photo by Keith McNeill
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Incorporation worth nearly $50 million, says mayor Keith McNeill District of Clearwater has contributed $48.5 million in economic stimulus to the community since incorporation, according to Mayor John Harwood. “It kind of surprised me,” he told town council during its Jan. 7 meeting. Building permits in the new municipality have averaged about $2.5 million per year, for a total of $16 million. District operations have been
worth another $9 million, while highways projects have brought in another $5 million. Other projects include septic upgrades, UV treatment for the water system, tennis courts, bussing improvements and so on. ThompsonNicola Regional District's new eco-depot is worth $1.5 million, while the forest fuel management program done in collaboration with the regional district a few years ago brought in $2.4 million.
Harwood said he is constantly asked why Clearwater seems to be getting special treatment, with funding from senior levels of government helping with projects such as bussing and the roads and trails study recently done by Opus. The answer is no secret, just a lot of hard work by staff and council, he said. “You're to be praised as a team,” Harwood said. “We've done a reasonable job at what we've been doing.”
Valley TNRD directors reject dangerous dog control bylaw Keith McNeill Thompson-Nicola Regional District now has a dangerous dog control bylaw, but it doesn't apply to any of the electoral areas in the North Thompson Valley. “The bylaw in its current form provided limited reactive solutions to dangerous dogs,” commented Tim Pennell, TNRD director for Wells Gray Country (Area A). “I felt that by the time a dog issue got to the point where the bylaw would deal with the problem it would already be an RCMP issue.” Pennell pointed out that the service would be relatively expensive. “Many of the costs of the service are
at this time unknown, including both legal and boarding costs, which could be substantial,” he said. “A dog could have to be boarded at TNRD expense for two years while the legal process ran its course.” The Wells Gray Country director also said that the service provider would be located at some distance, which would result in delayed response times. The bylaw took effect Jan. 1 and is only enforced in Electoral Areas I (Blue Sky Country), M (Beautiful Nicola Valley-North), N (Beautiful Nicola Valley-South), and P (Rivers and the Peaks). The directors for electoral areas A
(Wells Gray Country), B (Thompson Headwaters) and O (Lower North Thompson) chose not to participate. The dangerous dog control bylaw, whose parameters are defined in TNRD Bylaw No. 2383, 2013, is not breed-specific in that it does not discriminate against certain breeds. It applies only to dangerous dogs, not unlicensed dogs, dogs at large, or aggressive dogs. Under TNRD Bylaw No. 2383, a dangerous dog means any dog that: (a) has killed or seriously injured a person, (b) has killed or seriously injured a domestic animal in a public place or while on private property, other than property
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owned or occupied by the person responsible for the dog, or (c) an animal control officer has reasonable grounds to believe is likely to kill or seriously injure a person. “The dangerous dog control bylaw was brought in by the board of directors as a way to increase safety within these four electoral areas,” said Ron Storie, manager of community services. “Before, there was little recourse for those who live in rural areas if they or their animals experienced one of these horrific attacks.” The animal control service has been contracted out to K-9 Services, which will be responsible for enforcement in the four participating electoral areas.
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