NEWS Hwy 3 reopens with restrctions in slide area Page 1 & 2
COMMUNITY Dr. Kunz gives Cancer Talk to local firefighters Page 11
EVENTS
Ideas on how to celebrate Family Day Page 12 & 13
SPOTLIGHT $1.10 Includes TAX
The Similkameen
Volume 65 Issue 6
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Proudly serving the community since 1948 • www.similkameenspotlight.com We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund (CPF) for our publishing activities.
Highway 3 reopens with restrictions Highway 3 is open to two lanes of traffic with a 60 km speed limit in the slide area between Hedley and Keremeos. Lisa Carleton lisa@similkameenspotlight.com
A rock slide occurred Monday, Jan. 27 at approximately 12:25 p.m., 8 km west of Standing Rock in between Keremeos and Hedley. The approximate 150 meter wide slide covered all four lanes of the highway closing it in both directions until it was finally reopened early Thursday evening. Students and people commuting to and from work affected by the slide either stayed in Keremeos or travelled via detours on the Nickel Plate route, Hwy 5A, Hwy 3A and some used the Princeton-Summerland Road. Large boulders rolled across the highway causing damage to power lines which in turn, caused temporary power outages—reports coming in from Princeton, north to Apex and east to Oliver. The power outage was reported to have lasted about an hour. On Tuesday, the site experienced further rockfall and weather including snowfall delaying Ministry engineers having access via helicopter to the top of the mountain where the falling rock originated.
See SLIDE - Page 2
Lisa Carleton/Spotlight
Princeton Minor Hockey hosted a Novice Tournament over the weekend, with five teams including the Princeton Minor Posse. Visiting teams came from Merritt, Kelowna, Chilliwack, and Surrey.
Earle resigns from Princeton Council Lisa Carleton lisa@similkameenspotlight.com
On Monday, Feb. 3, during the regular meeting of Council of the Town of Princeton, a motion was received and carried to accept a letter of resignation from Councillor Jason Earle. Mayor Armitage, announced that, “This is not a pleasure to do,” and read the letter aloud. Dear Mayor and Council, I have been a member of Town Council for five years and I have enjoyed serving the Townspeople, as a Councillor and a brief term as Acting Mayor. The work has been challenging, yet very rewarding. Some of the milestones and projects that I will remember the most are:
Weather Watch Wednesday
High-10/Low-18
Thursday
High-10/Low-20
Friday
High -7/Low -20
Saturday
High -7/Low -17
Sunday
High -2/Low -8
The re-instatement of 24/7 Emergency services at Princeton General Hospital; the creation of a framework for sustainable Health Care Service in Princeton; the Riverside Community Centre upgrades; being awarded the Gold Medal for Gamestown 2010 and the completion of the Miners Climb rebuild. However, due to changes in my employment, I find myself now working out of town on a regular basis. Recently I have relied on the help of my fellow Councillors, staff and the chairs of my respective committees, to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of Town Council. It has become increasingly difficult to balance these responsibilities and work obligations and I am feeling I can no longer
See RESIGNATION - Page 2
250-295-0101
Custom Hydraulic Hoses
309 Culbertson Way