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TUESDAY April 1, 2014 The Central Okanagan’s Best-Read Newspaper www.kelownacapnews.com
Fruit farmers object to burning fees
▼ COURT
Family hears grim details of teen’s death Kathy Michaels STAFF REPORTER
Jennifer Smith
The family of a slain Armstrong teen sat quietly and showed unflinching reserve as they were faced Monday with the details surrounding her fatal meeting with Matthew Foerster. At the tail end of a lengthy interrogation process that was videotaped in April 2012 and played for the jury for much of the last week of the trial, the accused killer explained he followed Taylor Van Diest down the railroad tracks where her body was later found as she walked to her friend’s house. “I talked to her for, it seemed, a few minutes,” said Foerster, speaking very faintly in the video. “I pushed her down and I just told her to keep quiet and she wouldn’t listen and I freaked out and I took off. I WAS SCARED “I was scared when I WHEN I REALIZED realized what I’ve done. WHAT I’VE I shouldn’t have never DONE…I WISH I been there. I wish I could COULD CHANGE change it… turn back time. IT… “But I can’t. I felt realMatthew Foerster ly bad for her and her family and how everything worked out. If I could take it all back I would,” he said. With a bit of prodding from Sgt. Mark Davidson, Foerster admitted that he did more than just push the 18-year-old over that night. “What did you hit her with Matt?” asked Davidson. “A flashlight,” said Foerster, noting later it was a Maglite. “How many times did you hit her?” Davidson followed. “I don’t know, I can’t remember,” said Foerster. “More than once?” Davidson asked. Foerster’s voice was often difficult to make out, but a low-level “yeah” can be heard at that point.
STAFF REPORTER
City council should stick to the new $20 open burning permit rates, even for farmers who operate multiple orchards, Kelowna Fire Chief Jeffrey Carlisle is recommending. On Friday, Assistant Fire Chief Lou Wilde met with B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association president Fred Steele on the issue, after Steele pointed out the new $20 fee attached to the permit can really add up for orchardists with multiple sites. As the majority of orchardists farm several sites simultaneously to turn a profit on the notoriously tight bottom line the industry struggles with, some are facing bills of several hundred dollars to dispose of orchard trimmings. “The $20 is partially to offset the cost of running this program,” said Carlisle, who noted anyone who buys a new lot or has run afoul of the fire department for burning items outside what the city’s bylaws allows must be inspected by a member of the department.
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WADE PATERSON/CAPITAL NEWS
CUDDLY LAMB…Selah Wylie, 6, took a break from the clean-up to play with the animals at the
Kangaroo Creek Farm in Lake Country. Several FortisBC employees throughout the Okanagan and their families helped rake leaves, paint fences and plant flowers Saturday as part of their Community Giving Day at the popular hobby farm which features uncommon animals to the Okanagan such as kangaroos, wallabies, peacocks and an emu.
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