THURSDAYJULY 10, 2014
Black Press C O M M U N I T Y
N E W S
M E D I A
www.pqbnews.com
BCYCNA
Silver 2013 General Excellence
LAUNCHING ON SUNDAY
IT’S TIME TO START SCULPTING
Local man’s hand-crafted boat faces its maiden voyage
32nd Annual Canadian Open
Sand Sculpt Scul pt pting ing COMPETITION & EXHIBITION GUIDE
Our guide to the annual competition and festivities has all the info you need
A4
INSIDE
WATER SYSTEM FUNDING
Straight to the source Parksville council will send letter to PM Harper JOHN HARDING
editor@pqbnews.com
Parksville city council has decided to take a more direct approach in its search for grant money to help cover the costs of a new water system. Mayor Chris Burger expressed frustration over the city’s inability to access federal grants that are usually available in March. “Here we are in July and we still don’t have a process to apply to,” said Burger. “This is the federal government’s job to return those (tax) dollars to us.” The city, in partnership with the regional district’s electoral area of Nanoose Bay, have been forced to build a new system by an Island Health decree that deems all groundwater must be treated. The Englishman River Water Service — Parskville and Nanoose Bay are the principals members — have a plan to build a $37 million system, but the city doesn’t know exactly how much it will have to borrow to cover its part (about $27 million) of the bill. If a referendum question on borrowing is going to appear on the Nov. 15 ballot for Parksville taxpayers, its wording must be sent to the province by Aug. 5. Burger said he has “every confidence” the city will receive funding for the system. “No one has said we aren’t getting any funding,” said Burger. “But unfortunately, it’s very late.” At city council’s meeting Monday night, Burger suggested the city send a letter directly to federal and provincial ministers, MPs, MLAs and “even the damn prime minister.” The letter would ask for clarification and confirmation on grant money available from senior governments for this project, with the expectation it would be the traditional one-third, one-third, one-third formula (municipal, provincial, federal). See ‘WE WERE TOLD WHAT TO DO’, page A7
CANDACE WU PHOTO
PAINFUL CRASH: Police say a motorcyclist was issued a $368 ticket after crashing his bike and breaking his ankle while allegedly attempting to do a wheelie while passing another vehicle on the right hand side at the intersection of Alberni Highway and Island Highway on Tuesday afternoon. RCMP said the motorcyclist’s bike will be impounded for seven days for what they allege is “stunting.” Police said alcohol was not suspected as a factor in the accident.
TUESDAY IN THE HILLIERS-WHISKEY CREEK AREA
Bomb squad disables explosive JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
Two members of the RCMP’s Lower Mainland-based bomb squad were flown to this region Tuesday to disable an explosive device in a newspaper tube in the Whiskey Creek-Hilliers are of the Alberni Highway. Oceanside RCMP say they received a call Tuesday morning from
AGS
We Stock Quality Name Brand Computer Parts And Accessories! #1-501 Stanford Ave E., Parksville (behind Tim Hortons)
250-248-4251 www.agscanada.com Monday - Friday 8:30 to 5:30
a resident who heard a bang Monday night but did not investigate. “Upon attendance, members learned that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) had detonated sometime overnight and damaged a plastic newspaper box,” said a news release from the Oceanside RCMP. RCMP did not provide many details, but talk at the Whiskey Creek
Store on Tuesday morning suggested the device was a two-litre pop bottle. Police later confirmed the device did use parts of a plastic pop bottle. RCMP said its members at scene took photographs of the IED and immediately forwarded them to the bomb squad, formally known as the Explosives Disposal Unit (EDU). See POLICE ASKING, page A7
COMPUTER & NETWORK SPECIALS SPECIAL RATES
WITH ANY UPGRADE
WINDOWS 7
STILL AVAILABLE WITH LABO YOUR NEW HOME ONSNPEETCWIAULR & HARD ORK W OR BUSINESS UPGRA ARE DE ON NOWS !! COMPUTER…
COPIERS / PRINTERS / AGS COMPUTERS / SALES / LEASING / SERVICING