Prince George Free Press, May 09, 2014

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FRIDAYMAY9

FOOD: Final article in our series Can we feed the need?

www.pgfreepress.com | newsline: 250.564.0005

Grass fires deliberately set

Bill PHILLIPS/Free Press Onlookers survey the damage after a fire ripped through two buildings on George Street Monday, destroying them and damaging several others. Below: A photo of the fire posted on Facebook by Coun. Brian Skakun.

Fire on George St. Bill Phillips editor@pgfreepress.com The Copper Pig Barbecue House has posted on its Facebook page a link to Elton John’s song “I’m still standing.” It’s luckier than Mothers ‘N’ More Maternity, which, along with another adjacent building being used for storage on George Street, were destroyed by fire Sunday night. The alarm sounded about 11:30 p.m. Sunday and destroyed the buildings nestled between the Copper Pig and the building housing EDI Environmental Dynamics. The two buildings, along with Simmy’s Bistro across the street, all suffered damage. Mothers ‘N’ More Maternity, owned by Carri Hunter, had been open for just three weeks. The other destroyed building was being used for storage, according to Dan McLaren of Commonwealth Financial,

which owns the two destroyed buildings and one housing EDI. “It’s very sad,” McLaren said of the Mothers ‘N’ More Maternity. “They put a lot of time and effort into developing the store. They did a wonderful job.” He says Commonwealth was getting ready to do some façade work on the buildings. He said there is smoke damage in the EDI building, water in the basement, and the front door was shattered. McLaren says he plans to eventually bebuild. As for the Copper Pig, they are awaiting word on how badly damaged the building is.

Police are requesting help identifying the person or persons responsible for a series of grass fires Tuesday. Prince George Fire Rescue and Prince George RCMP responded to no less than seven reported grass fires in the VLA area and along the Hudson’s Bay Slough. The fires were all extinguished immediately and are believed to have been deliberately set. Although no one was injured and there was no apparent structure damage, both agencies take these fires seriously. Police are requesting the public’s help in identifying the person or persons responsible. If you have any information about these criminal offences, please contact the Prince George RCMP at (250)5613300 or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1(800)222-8477, online at www.pgcrimestoppers.bc.ca (English only), or Text-A-Tip to CRIMES (274637) using keyword “pgtips.”

INSIDE TODAY: Voices........................................P13 Datebook..................................P16 Community...............................P17 Classifieds................................P26 “Copper Pig is still standing and assessments need to be made by engineers, etc.,” they Tweeted Wednesday. “We will be closed this week, but not two months.” A cause of the fire has not yet been determined.

Careers.....................................P28 Driveway..................................P30 Sports.......................................P32

Court ruling goes against Haldi residents Bill Phillips editor@pgfreepress.com Mayor Shari Green says the only winners in a recent court ruling are women who need the services of a recovery centre. Haldi Road residents, who fought long and hard against plans to have women’s addictions recovery centre approved at the old Haldi school, were dealt a final blow Wednesday when Supreme Court Judge Ron Tindale dismissed a lawsuit filed by area resident Torre Pettersen.

An initial lawsuit contended that the city’s rezoning of the property was invalid because it contravened the Official Community Plan. Area residents won that lawsuit, but the city amended the Official Community Plan, prompting a second lawsuit. This one went in the city’s favour. “An OCP is not meant to be a static document but rather is fluid and develops over time,” Tindale wrote in his ruling. “Surely a municipal council can revise and change its policies and visions to accommodate an ever-changing community. Certainly one of the objectives of council could be to provide special-needs housing in a rural area. It is up to

council to determine whether special needs housing fits in the rural setting.” The issue has drawn out over three years and, for Green, she is glad the Northern Supportive Recovery Centre can finally proceed. It’s a ruling that was also being eyed by other municipalities around the province as it pertained to how council’s can change their Official Community Plans. “It’s a very significant ruling for municipalities,” said Green. “It clearly outlines that the city authority (to change an Official Community Plan) … Council can make changes

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Prince George Free Press, May 09, 2014 by Black Press Media Group - Issuu