TUESDAY
< Representing the Zone
JANUARY 28, 2014
Kimberley Arts at Centre 64
WINTER/SPRING CONCERT SERIES Wednesday January 29 at 8:00pm:
Anja McCloskey and Dan Whitehouse with support from Daze of Grace
Local skiers ready to hit the slopes at BC Winter Games in Mission | Page 7
DON’T WAIT – Get Your Tickets Today at: 250-427-4919 • kimberleyarts.com
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Proudly serving Cranbrook and area since 1951
Vol. 63, Issue 19
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Cranbrook curler to officiate at 2014 Paralympics SALLY MACDONALD Townsman Staff
A Cranbrook curling enthusiast will be an umpire at the 2014 Sochi Paralympics. Donna Butler will travel to Russia from March 3 to 17 to volunteer as an umpire for the wheelchair curling events – about 14 games, Butler said. “Each game I’m assigned to two teams to make sure everything goes well for those teams on the ice,” she told the Townsman. “We’re busy. There’s two games a day plus there’s practice ice and late night practice.” Butler is an umpire for Curl B.C., the Canadian Curling Association and the World Curling Federation. She has been involved in curling for longer than 30 years,
and it goes without saying that she is passionate about the sport. “It’s a gentleman’s sport. They shake hands before they start; they shake hands before they finish. And they look like sometimes they’re not that happy with each other but they hang out together after and they sit down and have a drink or supper together.” Butler has been an umpire at seven or eight world championships, she said, a role that has taken her to Korea twice, the Czech Republic, and all over Canada. Later this year she will travel to Beijing, China, as an umpire, and hopes to go to Japan in the same capacity next year.
See BUTLER , Page 3
COURTESY STEWART WILSON
Gordon Terrace Grade 3 student William Schafer and Principal Michelle Sartorel are both absorbed in their books during Family Literacy Day, Monday, January 27, which was celebrated throughout schools in School District 5, Southeast Kootenay.
Man found dead in Kelowna was from Cranbrook JENNIFER SMITH Kelowna Capital News
He was a father and reputedly a hard worker. Originally from Cranbrook, he is also being described as a pretty tough 32-year-old man, according to friends posting on his Facebook memorial page. But something happened to Christopher Ausman in the early hours of Saturday that RCMP cannot explain, as yet.
A police officer found the young man’s deceased body in a pool of his own blood on a Rutland sidewalk, and yet his death is not officially being called a murder. “We want to gather as much information as possible. The circumstances certainly are suspicious and once we can provide a label such as homicide, or not, then we’ll go to that next step,” said Const. Kris Clark, Kelowna RCMP spokesman,
in a press conference held outside the detachment Monday morning. “…We are left with very few other circumstances, yes,” Clark admitted, but he would go no further. Ausman’s lifeless body was spotted in the 100 block of Highway 33 near to where it intersects with Rutland Road at 2:06 a.m. by an officer who was just driving through the area. The stretch houses the Cadillac Lounge
strip club, the Olympia Greek Taverna Restaurant, a jewellery store and a vacant storefront. Just up the street is a 7-Eleven convenience store and gas station. Police have done interviews and received tips from several members of the public and there are video surveillance tapes from the surrounding businesses. Ausman’s personal Facebook account shows a man
with near 900 friends and a life that included a young daughter. He is originally from Cranbrook. The memorial page set up by friends and family continues to collect photos, videos and comments. “Well, I sure as hell hope someone in the world today had triplet baby boys to try and make up for the loss of this great man! We’re gonna need at least three hearts to balance the huge heart that
Cranbrook, BC – Western Financial Place
Chris had,” wrote Trevor Wicheruk. “The other side must be having one hell of a good time now that the life of the party has arrived,” wrote Jayna Colins. Police will not comment on whether a weapon was found in the vicinity. A dog team was called in immediately and officers could be seen combing over the scene all day Saturday.
Thursday, May 22nd, 2014 – 7:00pm TICKETS:
• In person at Western Financial Place Box Office • By phone at 250-426-7328 (seat) • Online at http://westernfinancialplace.ca
www. charley pride .com