THURSDAY AUGUST 14, 2014
WILDLIFE AWARE
HISTORY
MANAGE IT HAPPENED HERE With the Mount Polley tailings dam break much in the news, YOUR we take a look at a similar incident in Kimberley in 1948. ATTRACTANTS See LOCAL NEWS
See LOCAL NEWS page 3
page 5
THE BULLETIN PROUDLY SERVING KIMBERLEY AND AREA SINCE 1932 | Vol. 82, Issue 156 | www.dailybulletin.ca
www.facebook.com/ TownsmanBulletin Like Us and keep up to date with all the breaking East Kootenay news.
Like Us TownsmanBulletin Follow Us
@kbulletin
1
$ 10 INCLUDES G.S.T.
Just you, a map and a compass Sign up now for orienteering event C AROLYN GR ANT Bulletin Editor
CAROLYN GRANT PHOTO
Smoke was visible Wednesday morning from the fire in Mark Creek area, but dissipated through the day. The fire did not grow overnight.
Fire size unchanged Mark Creek fire not a concern, Whitetail Brook remains largest wildfire in area CAROLYN GRANT Bulletin Editor
The fire 17 k northwest of Kimberley in the Mark Creek watershed is nothing to worry about, says Kimberley Assistant Fire Chief Rick Prasad. Cooler weather and some rain over Tuesday night slowed it considerably, keeping its size to just four hectares. “It hasn’t grown. They have 15 people on it,” Prasad said Wednesday morning. “It’s nothing to worry about. They are working on it and making headway.” Prasad says the fire is burning at an elevation of 6,000 feet (1828 metres). “It’s quite high up. If it was on the valley bottom it would be of more concern, but on a mountain top, it’s got nowhere to go.” The Whitetail Brook fire near Canal Flats remains the largest in the area, now at just under 1800 hectares. Crews have been on this fire since July 27 and it is still only 50 per cent contained. There are several fires in that area which the Southeast Fire Centre refers to as the White Complex. They are the Whiteswan Lake Fire, adjacent to the south edge of Whiteswan Lake, which is 5 hectares and 100 per cent contained. See FIRE, page 3
For orienteering enthusiasts, the opportunity to experience the sport on courses and maps designed to a high standard is much sought after. This area is no stranger to high quality orienteering events having hosted the North American championships in 2010. Now locals again have an opportunity to take part in a competitive orienteering event, says Jim Webster of the Kootenay Orienteering Club. “Although this time the event won’t be as international in scope, the quality will be there and it will feature the 2014 BC Orienteering Championships as part of the series of races,” Webster said. “On September 6 and 7, the Kootenay Orienteering Club will be host to orienteers from across BC and Alberta along with a few from the US, Europe and Australia in a fun weekend of orienteering. This is a rare opportunity for local orienteers and members of the club to participate in a series of orienteering events organized to a high standard and thus experience orienteering, with others that enjoy the sport, in both friendly competition or as a recreational participant.” Websters says locals
JIM WEBSTER PHOTO
Orienteering is a sport that can be enjoyed by all ages. Above, competitors in a recent Kimberley orienteering event.
are encouraged to come out and participate at one or all of the events. There are age categories and courses designed for ages 12 & under to 85 and over and everything in between. “Those with limited orienteering experience or wanting just to come out and give it a try can enter one of the Recreational Courses,” he saId. “These may be entered as an individual or as a small group.”
The event will be run in Invermere, Kimberley and Cranbrook over two days. “The series starts off Saturday morning, at Lillian Lake, near Invermere,” Webster said. “This is what is called a Middle Distance race with courses varying from 2.5 - 5 km in distance. The times will be fast but technical, with orienteers needed to stay focussed on their map reading through-
out. “For Kimberley residents, the feature event will be Saturday afternoon, as part of the First Saturday activities. From 1:30 to 3 p.m., for only a twoonie, you can enter the OMazing Race Part 2, Webster says. “This is a new course, for those that participated in the OMazing Race during the August 2 First Saturday. No pre-registration is re-
quired. Just come to the Gazebo area, in the Platzl. This will be followed at 3:30 by an orienteering sprint event. This is a fast paced, urban navigation event, beginning near Lindsay Park School and finishing in the Platzl. Courses range from 1.5 km to 2.5 km with runners having to locate 12 to 20 controls points on the way. See page 4