NEWS Dr. Peacock announces retirement Page 3
COMMUNITY New Beginnings hosts social afternoon Page 11
LIFESTYLES
Love horses? Here is an invitation for you. Page 12
SPOTLIGHT $1.10 Includes TAX
The Similkameen
Volume 65 Issue 17
Wednesday, April 23, 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 of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Cooper’s Foods provides Easter Sunday fun Lisa Carleton lisa@similkameenspotlight.com
Approximately 250 people attended The Great Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by Cooper’s Foods Princeton on Sunday, April 20. The hunt for eggs began at 11 a.m. and went quickly with kids running through three sections of Memorial Park scooping up goodies as fast as they could. The hunt began by the sounding out of a steam engine whistle provided by local Bob Stothert. While the kids were hunting goodies, Cooper’s Easter Bunnies; Corinn Beverage and Colleen Stothert passed out cookies and goodies to the adults. Emily Sheppard came to the hunt with her grandchildren. “It’s a beautiful day, the kids are having fun and the food is great,” she said. Cooper’s staff members Stacey Van Skiver, Rod Bronswyk, Nicole Flemming, Maureen Frances and assistant manager Jon Stammers, along with the Easter Bunnies and a few volunteers served 250 burgers and five dozen hot dogs to attendees for lunch as well as Easter doughnuts for dessert. As Cooper’s was collecting donations to assist Princeton Rotary with the kitchen project, Rotarian Judy Short along with her friend Lynn Johnson donned their bunny ears and gave the Cooper’s crew a hand. Volunteer Scott Michaud had “a lot of fun helping set up the event.” It’s my first time volunteering and it was great,” he said. Michaud was joined by volunteers, Bradley Bronswyk, Jason Yates and Kyle Vesper who had a great time as well. “It was so awesome,” said little Lilly Pratico’s parents, Rick and Eva, “Not one child was left out and they all had so much fun.” Cooper’s staff are already planning for next year.
Weather Watch Wednesday
High 11/Low -1
Thursday
High 12/Low 1
Friday
High 11/Low 4
Lisa Carleton/Spotlight
The Great Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by Cooper’s Foods Princeton was held at Memorial Park on Sunday, April 20. Three age-appropriate sections were set up for all the children to go hunting. (4 and under, ages 5 to 7 and 8 to 12) Approximately 250 people attended the event. For more photos visit the Spotlight page on Facebook.
Horse racing takes hiatus for 2014 Lisa Carleton lisa@similkameenspotlight.com
The Princeton Racing Days Association has decided after much consideration to suspend horse racing for 2014. However, the association is geared up to present two days of fun-filled events. Due to successive funding cuts to Interior Horse Racing and other province-wide issues, the association has decided to take this year to work on the stumbling blocks they face in hopes of hosting a successful event in 2015. Prior to 2010, Interior Racing was allotted $150,000 to split between the tracks. Funds were then distributed through a racing committee. A management committee took over and the cuts began.
In 2011, Princeton was allotted $25,000. In 2012 - $20,000. For 2013, the allotted amount was $13,500. For this year, Interior Racing has been allotted $11,000 per day per track with races planned for Vernon, Princeton and Osooyos. In Princeton alone, the association spent $50,000 to host its one day of racing last year. “In my opinion, horse racing in the whole province is in serious jeopardy,” said Karrie Crucil, president of the Princeton association and of the Interior. Wildflower Mix sun/sh Crucil explained that there is a lack of horses province(should wide. “For instance,” she said, “Hastings Park usedterfly to have 700 to 800 horses in their barns and this year have $12.59 only just over 200.”
FLETCHER Building Supplies 222 Burton Ave.,Princeton Open Sundays 9 - 4
ACE 250-295-6938 Bow email: princeton@timbrmart.ca Rakes
Wildflower Mix
See RACING - Page 5
Foldable Muskoka Chair item #7772163
Sun/Shade or Butterfly
item #7725252
Saturday
High 11/Low 1
Sunday
High 10/Low -2
$12.99
$12.59 $39.99