Inside
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VHF SGT. ON THE MOVE P. 3 EDITORIAL P. 6
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VHF HISTORY AND FACTS P. 5 SPORTS P. 8
E xpress OMINECA
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Highway 16 reclassified
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Transportation Minister Todd Stone and John Rustad MLA for Nechako Lakes. Bill Phillips Prince George Free Press With a slew of fatal accidents on Highway 16 this winter and expected increased industrial traffic, the province is changing the highway’s designation. Transportation Minister Todd Stone announced Tuesday morning that the highway, from Prince Rupert to the B.C./ Alberta border and Highway 97 north from Prince George, will be moved from a Class B designation to Class A, changing how snow removal and maintenance is conducted. “A Class A highway has more patrols,” Stone said during a press conference at the CN Intermodal facility in Prince George. “Patrols will take place every four hours as opposed to every eight hours. The maximum amount of snow accumulation that is permitted on the highway before it has to be removed is quite a bit less … four centimetres, as opposed to six centimetres. There will be more snow removal, more plowing,
there will also be more salt and sand applications. All tolled, it represents a heightened level of winter road maintenance.” It will also mean renegotiating contracts with the six highways maintenance contractors that are responsible for maintaining the stretches of highways. Stone expects the changes will cost the province between $2 million and $3 million per year. “Those dollars I have found within our ministries,” he said. He said the province has looked at the number of accidents and fatalities along Highway 16, in addition to traffic volumes in making the decision to reclassify the highways. “It is absolutely the right time to reclassify Highway 16 and Highway 97,” he said. “It will immediately improve safety in those corridors.” The province has put $129 million into Highway 16 improvements for past four years. The changes are expected to be in effect by mid-to-late February.
Titania the fairy queen, played here by Brittney Martens, argues with her lover Oberon during the first half of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at NVSS. Erin Baker, drama teacher, put on the play with her grade ten to twelves on Friday, January 24.
Dogs chasing wildlife could lead to fines or loss of dogs Sam Redding Omineca Express The Conservation Officer Service in Vanderhoof has received three complaints in the last week regarding dogs chasing deer.
Violation tickets can be issued by Cam Hill, the Conservation Officer, or by the RCMP in the amount of $345 or a court accessed penalty of up to $100,000 or one year imprisonment for a first offense where an owner allows his dog to run at large and pursue wildlife. Continued on page 3
The Service Department is offering a
NO Tax Sale on select maintenance needs!! Stop in and see Tammy, Steven or april or call 250-567-4781 for your appointment! Feb1-28
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TOLL FREE: 1-888-449-4029 250-567-4781 1473 Hwy 16 EasT www.westlineford.com DL # 30423
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