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Vol. 63, Issue 63
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Joseph Creek a mess, decry seniors Residents of Joseph Creek Village are upset that the creek behind their homes is full of garbage
SALLY MACDONALD Townsman Staff
Residents of a Cranbrook retirement village are decrying the condition of Joseph Creek be-
hind their complex. A group of residents at Joseph Creek Village are upset that the City doesn’t seem to be listening to their com-
plaints about the garbage in and beside the creek as it runs between the village and the Tamarack Centre. “It seems like every-
body is missing us,” said Ida Aitzetmueller. “We are facing another spring with it like this.” Commercial businesses on the strip use
the land beside the creek for storage and, in some cases, a dumping ground for detritus. “It’s getting to be a garbage dump,” said
Burk Benischke. “We don’t mind the machinery, but it’s the junk laying around.” And garbage has built up in the creek to
the point that it has created an island of dead branches, plastic bags, pop cans, and larger items like shopping carts, tires and even a bicycle. “This is my view. I come from out of town where I looked at nothing but trees and the Steeples. The first time they showed me the unit, I stood there crying,” said Ida.
CONDITION, Page 4
Bullock gets two years jail
Man charged over carjacking, police chase sentenced SALLY MACDONALD
SALLY MACDONALD PHOTO
Members of Cranbrook’s Youth Action Team said thanks to local businesses that were certified youth friendly in a survey by CBKyouth. Kootenay Roasting Company, Hotshots Cafe, and The Choice were all recognized for their efforts in welcoming youth. Pictured, left to right: Cayenne McIntosh, Taylor Miller, Camryn Abel, and Lalita Stetski. See story on Page 2.
Family fundraising for wheelchair for local girl with rare condition ARNE PE TRYSHEN Townsman Staff
The family of a young Cranbrook girl with a rare condition is hoping to get a boost as they fundraise for a specialized wheelchair. Brooke Willisson is six
years old and was born with crommelin syndrome, which is so rare there have only been seven people diagnosed with it in the world. Brooke was born missing hips, femurs, fibulas and both arms.
The wheelchair isn’t cheap as it is customized for Brooke. They are raising $26,000 through the fundraising site gofundme.com. “I’m getting a little bit scared,” admitted Brooke’s mother, Rachel Turner-Wil-
lisson. “We’re at $12,200, the goal for gofundme is $26,000. The entire price to do the wheelchair is actually going to be a little bit more. We thought $40,000, but it’s actually going to be a little bit more
than that.” The reason it will be more is that they hadn’t yet factored in some changes they will have to do in their home and on their van to make it wheelchair accessible.
See A CHAIR, Page 3
The man charged over an October 2012 carjacking near Creston and subsequent police chase through Cranbrook has been sentenced to another two years jail for the offenses. Nickolas Bullock, 27, pleaded guilty last July to two counts of robbery, one count of assault with a weapon, one count of dangerous driving, and one count of evading a police pursuit, resulting from a crime spree on October 2, 2012, that began in Port Coquitlam and ended in Cranbrook. The case was being heard in Port Coquitlam before Judge Deirdre Pothecary.
See BULLOCK , Page 3