Along the Fraser Boomers learning iStuff. p6
Burrards embarrass Adanacs. p35
THE NEWS
Floods Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows need help. p3
www.mapleridgenews.com Friday, July 18, 2014 · Serving Maple Ridge & Pitt Meadows · est. 1978 · 604-467-1122 · Delivery: 604-466-6397
Our schools can take no more: board Trustees catalogue years of cutbacks and closures by Ne i l Cor be tt staff reporter
The Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school system can’t take another round of financial cuts, say local trustees. One of the last acts of the school year for the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows school board was to send a fivepage letter to the Education Minister Peter Fassbender, asking Victoria to change the way it funds schools. The letter chronicles years of austerity, that have included the closure of six schools, elimination of resource and administrative positions and maintenance set at minimal levels. All of that took place prior to the 2013-14 budget year. The 2013-14 budget increased class sizes, cut teacher librarian staffing levels in half at secondary schools, and increased school rental fees for community groups.
Colleen Flanagan/THE NEWS
Dang varmints
See Schools, p9
Adrian Nelson, with the Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals, protects a tree from beavers Wednesday along Kanaka Creek. See p5.
Man flees, crashes into ditch Targeted incident, say cops, teen says he was abducted by M o n i s h a M a r t i n s staff reporter
Ensuring your garden isn’t too friendly for cats like Gus. See story, p27 The
Hayes Team Paul • Peter • Matthew
604-467-0811 www.thehayesteam.ca
A 19-year-old man managed to escape from his abductors Wednesday night following a car crash on a lonely rural road in Pitt Meadow. Ridge Meadows RCMP and the Pitt Meadows Fire Department rushed to Sharpe Road around
9:20 p.m. after receiving a call about a car in a ditch. Upon arrival, officers found a young man nearby suffering from minor injuries. Cpl. Bert Paquet said the man, who is known to police, alleged that he was abducted earlier in the evening from somewhere in Surrey. Surrey RCMP’s General Investigations Team interviewed the man and other possible witnesses to confirm details and identify potential suspects.
OPEN Daily 1-4 pm Except Friday
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Opinion Letters Weather Driveway Homes Sports Classifieds
SHANE MACKICHAN PHOTO
See Crash, p9
Index
Beautiful Grant Hill Estates Home
Ridge Meadows RCMP and firefighters at scene after a car hit the ditch Wednesday night on Sharpe Road. See video, mapleridgenews. com
6 7 13 14 27 35 38
FAMILY FUN DAY Sundays on the South Course after 3:30pm 25 FOR 1 ADULT + 1 CHILD INCLUDES GOLF + HOTDOG + POP $
604-460-1111
Regular holes as well as oversized holes, great for beginners or a change of pace "Short Course"scorecards available for beginners and children Taxes not included, Child must be under age of 16
21770 Ladner Rd, Pitt Meadows
goldeneaglegolfclub.com