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MERRITT HERALD TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2014 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
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Police seize over 500 pot plants near Merritt Outdoor growop south of city busted after tip
COQUIHALLA CRASH Passengers and bystanders examine the damage to the tour bus that crashed on the Coquihalla Highway Thursday afternoon, closing the main thoroughfare for hours. Fifty-six people were on board the bus and over 40 people were injured in the crash. See the full story on page 3. Photo courtesy of Global B.C.
Rezoning for hotel sent to hearing By Michael Potestio the herald
reporter@merrittherald.com
For the second time in as many months, a proposed hotel is moving through the process of becoming a reality in Merritt. At last Tueday’s regular council meeting, city council approved and gave first and second reading to an application to rezone the property at 3969 Crawford Ave. near the Wagon West Travel Plaza and sent the matter to a public hearing. The application
would rezone the 4.62acre property from C7 (tourism commercial) to C4 (highway commercial) to allow for a hotel, convention centre and restaurant. According to the application, the hotel development comes in two phases, with a cultural centre and retail stores planned for the ON TOP
K K ART WAL ERS TAL ORGANIZ PAGE 4
hon, decided to move ahead with the land use amendment on his own. “Staff are concurrently reviewing a building permit application and the application for a development permit in anticipation of this zoning amendment being adopted,� chief administrative officer
Tracy Dunsmore wrote in a press release. The plants are more noticeable because they’re ready to be harvested in the summer, Dunsmore said. Police are continuing their investigation and no charges had been laid as of press time on Friday. RCMP are reminding people to be cautious of the dangers associated with grow-ops and to contact local police if they come across them.
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second phase — which will require another rezoning application. The City of Merritt is in the process of an overhaul of the city’s zoning bylaw, which would apply to this property. Rather than wait for the entire zoning bylaw to reach adoption, the applicant, Kulwant Sek-
Allan Chabot said. Council’s vote to approve the application and send it to a public hearing was unanimous, except for the vote of Coun. Clara Norgaard, who was absent from the meeting. The date of the public hearing was not determined by press time. Property owners within 30 metres of the one in question will be notified of the proposed land use amendment prior to the public hearing.
Merritt RCMP shut down an outdoor marijuana grow op last Wednesday, seizing 529 marijuana plants. The plants were between one and three feet tall, and the bust was the result of an investigation conducted after a tip. Police believed the plants to have a street value of more than $500,000. The grow-op was located in a forested area south of Merritt. Mounties said about 30 trees in the area were cut to provide space and sun for the plants. They also said there was a large quantity of garbage scattered around the area. At this time of year, RCMP often receive calls about this type of growop from backcountry users who stumble upon them, RCMP Const.
HERALD MERRITT Runners convene for Merritt race
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of the last He was one when the Kamloops. finish line but to cross the had amassed back at crowd, which in Voght Park, saw lineSSA MA everyone the starting to GE PRO the finish, to back GRA him heading even went its fourth annual cheered. Oborne the event Merritt held PAGEns M SUCCESS Butcher. Sunday and in jog a bit with BOWL running maratho 5 Country Run all ages participate said of ERS NAT Butcher started saw people and half-marathon runs. at age 66 and on for merri retired he parION tther 10K 300 when inspirati ald.co the 5K, a big were about r was m PAGE AL CHAMPS his daughte In total, there organizer Mary 25 event [triathhim. ticipants, said the Ironman said, done “She’s [She] , and Jorgensen. led the way. so I did,� 157 runners lon] and she The 5K had 100 participants. run?’ why don’t you ‘Dad, halfthe the 10K attracted . people ran run as well. said Butcher Thirty-three bccla came out to arssifie Families d.come and her eight-ye5K marathon. Club of Merritt Asseltin Rotary the Helen Former r Paige finished Oborne partici- The old daughte . Her husband Graeme race. president Darch half-marathon race togetherold son Isaac were not pated in the an avid runner, having is in-law, and six-yearns in 53 68-year-old & Even her motherthree maratho on the 5K far behind. completing weeks ago. When asked e, 82, took Bernice Asseltin days just two s to run so much in Country Run. Oborne race at the her first 5K and it was how he manage period of time, ,� Helen “This was while such a short doing it together gotta do it race with her our first time answered, “You running the you’re young.to tomorrow, I’m young,� said about daughter. “Relative Herald. he told the y young runner Run’ Page 3 Another relativelhalf-marathon See ‘Country the in from part to take old Bruce Butcher was 78-yearThe
l Potestio By Michae THE HERALD m
rrittherald.co reporter@me
Nicola Va lley’s
MERRI TT HE RALD News Vo ice
FALL FAI R CATALO GUE INS IDE
Since 19 05
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form Act fends NCR Re s’ rights rcie Clvicartimkes saydes Bill C-54 protects victim Familyr ofoftripDa le murder
the Merritt Country in the 5K at rald a pack of runners Ian Webster/He Little leads as Ontario. r-old Calvin as far away of life and from RACES Seven-yea OFF TO THE participants from all walks races attracted
Run on Sunday.
disorders, with mental s than those t says. and become the statemen B.C. Review Board royal assent ing, it gets In 2011, the orn escorted visits Cordon. the law. five-year-old the Port that reminds granted Schoenb old Max, and Galt have worked “This is a bill al review boards into the community from facility where provinci Clarke and of victims all it is psychiatric courts and Minister Stephen Coquitlam held. That permission we – the families– have been asking matter. In fact, with Prime y General Rob that victims reminder that victims he was being after opposition from across Canada not criminally be Harper, AttorneCanadian Heritage than a soon found y more than was revoked people and was for: will hopefull THE HERALD.com the bill who said she Nicholson get better supports matter — it statement says. Moore on merrittherald Clarke’s family, responsible in place; the communewsroom@ Minister Jamesyears. They say the y the law,� the nearby. protecs of a woman addresses imbalare currentl request to transfer ding living for nearly fivebring victims’ rights receives the The bill also Family member murdered by Schoenborn’sfacility in Selkirk, nity as a whole s]; and the famiwere legislation surroun changes will with those of people ric lly responances in the whose childrenMerritt in 2008 are to a psychiat tions [it] deserve[ ble. not crimina get more time d by the B.C.has in into balance lly responsi those found g that there is no legal Man. was approve their father in support of the Not released of victims finally y, but crimina t lies not readfound a statemen its second sible, includinnotify members of the Review Board in Februar famiReform speaking up to heal,� reads her cousin, Stacy The bill passed Commons late out. Clarke’s Responsible obligation to a high-risk offender saying Criminally to be carried by Clarke andvictims’ advocacy web- ing in the House of ity if and yet move as well, area. of 242 to that vote facility, the a the commun a Act. on with from ly opposes change Galt, by a in the Selkirk last month or escapes ca. The act would those found not leavesMARC g those with now be reviewed she has family site 4darcie. for H classifyin orn was found on before 34 and will differently ESS The treating and MADN release reviews Allan Schoenb ble from annual histories ble by reason committee and reported Merritt Second lly responsi lengthy violent criminally responsi every three ary School not crimina for the mur- , hearings its third reading. class of its third read2013 hit hearings to Darcie Clarke’s family children of mental disorder the streets If the bill basses HOMES and Clarke’s for their grand years, which will correct an imbalFEATURE ders of his eight-year march down Kaitlynne, system. members say Voght Street 10-year-old current review on Friday ance in the being proposed is what for comme By ncement. “What is Michael Potest Full story on page THE HERA io 3, more LD photos in It was section B. Manager Financial Servic Emily Wessel/H erald Merritt Pat Sibilleau’s es Fort McM The City city last urray. before she council meetin down two of Merritt “It’s a new is managers adven position moves to a new g it’s nothin She said will be workin and in Albert g agains ture; the job will be a in any way,� t Merri a staff shorta g through a. After busy one. there said Sibille tt with a counc “I had a City of two years with “I’ll be of the summ ge for most 78-6181 au. the great Merri doing 250-3 rewarding,� il is quite run here, time, what tt, Sibille there, fullI think I’ve is movin Administrati er, Chief altor.ca Phone: au www.re g contri of my desk I do off a corne “Pat’s given to some At the Sibilleau said. an oppor on to pursue Matt Noble ve Officer succes buted us some productivity said after with a laugh.here,� she said r cil gave hermeeting, counadministrati ses of the ge.ca/merritt Buffalo. tunity in Wood regular w inside d. real yallepa a impro Revie There a counc round of and she’s applause www.ro vemen , she will but an opporon and counc il meetin Estate t Heral the mana Sibille Tuesday. g on be full Real n of the Merrit time here,�invested a lot ts tunity came il, proud au said she is her depar when discussing up that planning ger of financial See our of most ture. Merri I Noble said. of ay editio for the region Mayor Susan ship she’s the good relatio “That said, down as couldn’t turn municipality tt the Thursd al an advan Roline opportunity she has an , which council established withn- thanked cement includes for my career during her that’s fit hard workSibilleau for all Merritt. way north. so I’m on time in the andinto her long-r going to my � the city. she has done ange certainly NOW N NO “To be WB M E for compe BL BLEN LEN we couldnplans ENDI DING R R that kind able to establ NG Noble G te ’t I T T ish of relatio can do with that, so all departure said Sibilleau’s nship is really we leaves a suppo as to she’s REAL fill. big hole rt her supported us.� EST
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