SE
Vol.16 Number 31
Review
www.keremeosreview.com PM Agreement #40012521
FROM TRANSIENT TO RESIDENT
PA
E
Thursday, July 31, 2014
15
THE
Serving the communities of Keremeos, Cawston, Okanagan Falls and Kaleden
GES 14
&
$1.15 including GST
Fast charging stations proposed By Steve Arstad news@keremeosreview.com
The Evans have lived both sides of the transient debate See page 3
IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE
Similkameen athletes excell at BC, Aboriginal games See page 10
BUS RETURNS
Local transit future plans discussed See page 9
BC Hydro is proposing to partner with the provincial government and other organizations to deploy up to 30 direct current, fast charging vehicle stations across B.C. To date, work has focussed on developing a workable network in the Lower Mainland. Seven fast charging stations have been installed in Nanaimo, Duncan, Surrey, Merritt, Kamloops, Squamish and Langley. BC Hydro is now considering adding a network of stations along a southern highway loop that is hoped to promote electric vehicle tourism in the province. Princeton, Manning Park / Eastgate and Keremeos are communities in the Similkameen where BC Hydro proposes to install DC fast charging stations. With such a facility, electric car users can achieve an 80 per cent charge in 20 or 30 minutes, compared to four to eight hours for a level 2 charging station (240 volt), or overnight using a standard 120 volt wall outlet. The approximate installed cost of a charging facilty is between $50 and $85,000, with annual anticipated operating costs running approximately $1,000 per year. Partnering with local governments, BC Hydro would work with the municipality to identify the proper site, then install and commission the station. The host community would then agree to operate the station for between two and five years. Costs incurred by the municipality would include minor maintenance, a $261 per year fee for remote station monitoring, data acquisition and payment processing, and the cost of electricity service, which is expected to run in the order of $75 per billing period. Keremeos village staff participated in a conference call on July 15 regarding the issue and will be seeking further information prior to the next regular council meeting.
Photo by Steve Arstad
Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Solid Waste Coordinator Cameron Baughen presented “Eat Dirt!” to youth participating in the Keremeos Library’s Summer Reading Club on Friday, July 25. The kids enjoyed listening to Baughen’s icky presentation. In photo, Baughen presents earthworms to Malachi Donovan while Riley Snooke anxiously awaits her turn.
Library summer reading club underway Malachi Donovan was one of approximately 25 children who were ready to get down and dirty with Regional District Okanagan Similkameen Solid Waste Management Coordinator Cameron Baughen during his presentation of Eat Dirt! at the Friday, July 25 installment of the Summer Reading Club at Keremeos Library. Baughen had an “earthy” disscussion with the children about the environment
and recycling, followed by his earthworm presentation, which included an icky hands-on experience that the kids really seemed to be looking forward to. The reading club hosts a different guest every other Friday through the summer school break. The next scheduled performance is “Funny Business” with popular magician Leif David, which takes place on August 8.
Area experiencing surge in bicycle thefts The past month has had a large increase in the theft of bicycle in Penticton and probably the South Okanagan Similkameen area. All bicycle owners are urged to securely lock your bike when not in use or put it out of sight. Anyone with information on the person/s responsible for these thefts is asked to contact Crime Stoppers
at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or our website www.sostips.ca for other anonymous ways of passing along information. Should your information lead to an arrest, you may qualify for a cash reward and you will never testify in court. Crime Stoppers is not a police program and does not subscribe to call display.