ART ANGER | Gallery staff upset referendum on new facility put on hold until at least 2015 [A5]
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Friday, Jan. 17, 2014
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City mourns Nicol’s death RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
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The accident site is investigated following the rollover of a school bus carrying students to Vernon Christian School Thursday morning. For a video of the crash scene and police interview, check out vernonmorningstar.com.
Students escape injury in crash RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
It was every parent’s nightmare as a bus full of children flipped over Thursday. Emergency crews helped 19 students crawl out of a Vernon Christian School bus after it struck an icy patch on Rimer Road and ultimately ended up on its side. “All of the students were taken to hospital for observation,” said Gord Molendyk, RCMP spokesperson. Three students were kept at the hospital for further review, but there were no serious injuries. “All students were walking, talking and generally, by all accounts OK,” said Corinne Remple, VCS marketing and communications co-ordinator. “Students and staff gathered at the school this morning to pray and debrief.”
The incident occurred at 8:25 a.m. when the bus was coming down an icy section of Rimer Road. The driver put the front wheel of the bus in the shallow ditch to prevent it from skidding on to Pleasant Valley Road and possibly over a steeper ditch on the other side. In the process, the bus overturned and came to rest on its side. The accident occurred at the same time the BX-Swan Lake Fire Department was responding to a house fire in the neighbourhood. “Our rescue unit was coming down Rimer Road and watched it flip on its side,” said Bill Wacey, fire chief. “They stopped and assisted with any of the injuries.” The students were forced to climb out of a hatch in the vehicle’s roof.
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“It was quite a shock to see,” said Wacey of the incident. As soon as word of the accident was received, the school began ensuring students and parents were receiving accurate and up-to-date details. “Personal phones calls have been placed to connect with parents of those students who were on board,” said Rempel, adding that staff and counsellors were also at the accident scene and at the hospital. Molendyk has praise for the bus driver. “It looks like the driver took all of the precautions he could to protect his passengers,” said Molendyk. The RCMP crash analyst was on scene Thursday to investigate the accident further. “We want to ensure everything that can be looked at is looked at,” said Molendyk.
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The flag at Vernon city hall is at halfmast in tribute of a dedicated community servant. Patrick Nicol, 64, who had been a city councillor for 22 years and was Regional District of North Okanagan chairperson, died Thursday after battling illness for a number of years. “His work for the community was unparalleled,” said a visibly shaken Mayor Rob Sawatzky. Nicol was known for tirelessly reading reports, taking phone calls at all hours and speaking on behalf of residents he felt weren’t getting full Patrick Nicol attention. “He had a lot of respect and dignity for everyone,” said Sawatzky. Nicol, the former general manager of Kiss FM, was first elected to city council in 1986 and he attended his last meeting Monday (he was off council for six years when he unsuccessfully ran for mayor twice). Nicol was also the driving force behind Vernon’s Canada Day celebrations for decades. “We will all greatly miss his wisdom and kindness, as well as his efforts to make his community a better place,” states the city in a release. “He acted with dignity and respect for others and we, the members of his family at the City of Vernon, extend our condolences to his family and friends.” Because there is a sufficient number of council members, a byelection will not be required before November’s civic election. RDNO directors first elected Nicol as board chairperson in 2011. It was common for him to attend events throughout the region, including in Grindrod, Cherryville and Armstrong. “I really believe in the regional district and we represent all of the region. I’ve never believed in a segmented version,” he said in a 2011 interview. Look for more coverage in Sunday’s Morning Star.
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