TUESDAY MARCH 11, 2014
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WHALE BONES TO DEEP BAY
SANDBAR REOPENS IN QUALICUM BAY
Skeleton of 30-tonne animal coming to VIU marine station
New operator vows to respect legacy of the late Helen Hallett
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DISABLED SENIOR BEATEN
RCMP nab a suspect 66-year-old quadriplegic’s injuries called ‘severe’ CANDACE WU news@pqbnews.com
A 66-year-old quadriplegic man living in a rural area outside Qualicum Beach was airlifted to Victoria hospital on Friday after being assaulted at his residence, according to Dashwood Volunteer Fire Department Lieutenant Dick Shantz, who attended the scene. Shantz described the victim’s injuries as “severe.” An Oceanside RCMP news release issued Saturday confirmed details of the incident, which allegedly occurred shortly before 1 p.m. According to the release, RCMP located a 44-year-old male suspect at approximately 4 p.m. in Port Alberni. RCMP allege the suspect was known to the victim. The release said RCMP are recommending charges of attempted murder “based on the severity of the injuries. He (the suspect) was taken into police custody, where he remains.” The suspect was expected to appear in Nanaimo Provincial Court yesterday.
Teachers may strike B.C. teachers have given a strong strike mandate because they are frustrated with the lack of bargaining progress, said Mount Arrowsmith Teacher’s Association President Debbie Morran. Eighty nine per cent of the 29,301 teachers who voted March 4-6 voted yes. BCTF president Jim Iker said in a news release that the result “sent a very clear message to the B.C. government; it’s time to negotiate in good faith, take back the unreasonable proposals, and offer teachers a fair deal that also provides better support for students.”
PHOTO SUBMITTED WAYNE DUKE
French Creek Coast Guard station personnel help pump water out of a boat that made it back to the marina with a full load of fish and sea water on Thursday.
Full of fish, taking on water AUREN RUVINSKY
writer@pqbnews.com
One local fisherman had a wet start to the herring season Thursday when his boat started taking on water in the Strait of Georgia. But things “did go about as good as it can go,” said Gord Gibb, officer in charge of the French Creek Coast Guard station. “The boat was loaded with 20 tons of fish,” Gibb said, “when he noticed
he was taking water.” He said the seiner was probably already headed back to the marina, and was “a couple miles off ” so he contacted the Coast Guard and ended up beaching the boat right beside the Lasqueti Island ferry dock where Coast Guard personnel were able to help him pump out the hold. Local resident Wayne Duke was on the dock to take pictures of birds when he noticed the back of the boat
below water level around 3:45 p.m. just before the Coast Guard arrived to begin pumping. The water didn’t get into the engine of the Elva MII and after about 40 minutes of pumping “we were able to manoeuvre it over to the fish plant so they could pump out the fish, so were were able to avoid any pollution,” Gibb said. “Everything worked out alright,” he summed up.
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