Up front: Raptor rescue operations return to the Cowichan Valley page A3 News: Meet Enzo — Cowichan’s newest cop on the beat page A5
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Wednesday, May 28, 2014
Family mourns after body found in brush Tragic end: Family and friends find Rodney MacKinnon after three weeks of searching Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
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he body of missing Lake Cowichan man, Rodney MacKinnon, was found by his cousins and a friend late Thursday. MacKinnon’s mother, Debby SkramstadNickell, said her son’s remains were located near an area of dense bush Cowichan Search and Rescue crews had diligently combed in the Fairservice logging-road network, between Lake Cowichan and Mesachie Lake. Skramstad-Nickell explained she’s distraught yet thankful closure can start now that her 35-year-old son’s body has been found after he went missing May 1. “I was devastated on hearing,” she said of the grim news after three weeks of anguish. She spent Thursday night on the mountain hoping searchers would gain hints about MacKinnon’s disappearance. With one waiting game over, another is in play: official word about the cause of MacKinRod MacKinnon: non’s death. intelligent and quiet “They’re not saying anything at this point,” she said of RCMP investigators and medical experts sifting clues involving the body, and MacKinnon’s truck found in the Fairservice area. Skramstad-Nickell said her son had been upset after “a huge fight” with a friend. “He was on the mountain to clear his head.” When MacKinnon failed to return from the bush, in an area familiar to him, Cowichan SAR teams and police started an extensive dragnet. It was called off around May 6, but family and friends continued looking for the guy they described as an intelligent, caring, artistic gentleman. “Search and Rescue were wonderful,” his mom said, saluting her kind community too. “The minute the RCMP called them out, they were on it right away.” Still, she couldn’t help believing persistent RCMP tracking dogs may have found her son sooner. “It disturbs me Rod lay in the bush for three weeks. “I honestly feel a scent dog would have shortened that period — the whole family feels that way; they’re so frustrated.” more on page A6
Peter W. Rusland
Corinne Eisenstein, left, can’t wait to take a dip in the revived Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan pool this summer after lifeguard Tatum Toporowski sparked an effort from the Duncan Kinsmen to get the pool re-opened.
Kinsmen rock pool for Easter Seals campers Camp Shawnigan: Effort and expertise leads to revived pool and big savings for Lions Easter Seals effort Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
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ulling a 1/4-inch rock plugging a pool valve at Easter Seals Camp Shawnigan saved its owners and valley volunteers about $30,000 in repair bills. Still, Island District Lions Club members, and their Duncan Kinsmen colleagues, dove into about $4,820 worth of tile renovations to the handicapped-accessible pool
used by hundreds of young physically or mentally disabled campers. They were unable to use the popular pool last year, thanks to that pesky pebble. So Corinne Eisenstein, 22, can’t wait to take a dip this summer after proud members of both service clubs christened the camp’s revamped tank earlier this month. “It’s awesome,” she said, poolside. “What’s not to like?” Lifeguard Tatum Toporowski didn’t like seeing special campers unable to use the pool where the hidden stone stuck a flowvalve open, stopping the tank from filling. So she, and boyfriend Shane Hudson, screened a video about the dry-pool dilemma, and fixes needed, to the Kinsmen Club of Duncan. Early figures pointed to about $40,000 in
repairs, Kinsman Mike Wiersma explained. Enter fellow Kinsman Greg Smith, a septic and water pro, who traced the system, then removed the culprit rock. A grateful Stephen Miller, of Easter Seals B.C. and the Yukon, noted a new valve was installed, and the tank’s tiles were scraped off. “Basically, the pool renovations were donated by the Kinsmen of Duncan,” he said, applauding an anonymous donor of funds for tile materials. Kinsman Mike Goulden cited Wiersma as the project’s golden boy who led about 10 guys doing sterling service. “Mike was the key guy. He put in full days over four or five weekends — the amount of time he put in was just amazing.” more on page A6
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