THURSDAYAUGUST 7, 2014
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ARTISTS IN THE GARDENS
OUR SPORTS SECTION IS A HIT!
Read about action from ball diamonds, the MMA squared circle and more
Local, prominent artists will work at Milner on Saturday
A36-38
A26
TEACHERS’ STRIKE
Local leaders are optimistic Parents’ advisory council is in process of collecting opinions AUREN RUVINSKY writer@pqbnews.com
The provincial government and B.C. Teachers’ Federation are scheduled to resume talks tomorrow. Education Minister Peter Fassbender and BCTF president Jim Iker are both expressing optimism, saying their full bargaining teams will be present and each side will make contract presentations. Locally people say they are also optimistic, but aside from small regular rallies there isn’t much going on as people wait on the provincial situation to see what September 2 — the first scheduled day of the new school year — will bring. Kelly Wray, president of the District 69 Parent Advisory Council is currently sending parents a survey to canvas local opinion to take to a summit meeting called by the B.C. Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils for Aug. 16. “Parents are worried about September,” she said, not wanting to get into her personal opinion, saying she’d rather wait and see what her members are saying. See PICKETS DOWN, page A4
Parksville crime down JOHN HARDING
editor@pqbnews.com
Oceanside RCMP Staff Sgt. Brian Hunter was scheduled to provide a report to Parksville city council last night that shows incidents of crime are generally either holding at 2013 numbers or declining. Hunter’s report indicated there were 35 thefts from vehicles in 2014 up to the end of June. Over the same time period in 2013, there were 74 of these incidents. Hunter has consistently called this crime “preventable” and it’s been a point of emphasis for the detachment and its top cop. One of the only other significant changes in the number of incidents year over year was an increase in breaks-ins to residences: there were 17 in the first six months of 2014 and only eight over the same period last year. Motor vehicles accidents in the city were down to 59 in 2014 from 76 in the first six months of 2013. For more crime stats and more from city council’s meeting last night, see Tuesday’s edition of The NEWS.
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PETER MCCULLY PHOTO
CARVING FOR A CAUSE: An event called The Art of Carving a Community is scheduled for Bowser today through Sunday in the grassy area beside the Salish Sea Market. Above, a carver from last year’s event does some detailing to his eagle sculpture. The annual event will have a meaningful twist this year. See story page A19.
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