DISTRACTED DRIVING PENALTY PAGE 5
CHRISTMAS HAMPER PROGRAM PAGE 8
2014 PFR PHOTOS PAGE 9
Nicola Valley’s News Voice Since 1905
merrittherald.com
bcclassified.com
MERRITT HERALD TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2014 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
FREE
Students connect with animal conservation By Emily Wessel THE HERALD
newsroom@merrittherald.com
Students at several local schools received a lesson in conservation last week. The students learned about wild animals from Canada and other parts of the world through a presentation by Earth Rangers, a Woodville, Ont.-based conservation program aimed at kids. The organization’s rangers will travel to 600 schools across the country during the 2014-15 school year to spread their message of wildlife habitat conservation. Last week, they did a number of presentations at schools in the Nicola Valley, thanks to a sponsorship from Teck. To illustrate their message, the presenters brought some animal ambassadors with them. Crimson the red tegu brought a gasp from the crowd of students at Lower Nicola Band School on Thursday. Red tegus are a type of lizard native to South America. They use their forked tongues to smell, and the audience got a better look at Crimson’s flicking tongue via a camera projecting her image onto a screen at the front of the gym. The students also heard a red tegu can drop its entire tail if a predator catches it, and then grow a new one. Linus the Harris hawk drew another collective “ooh� from the students. Harris hawks live and even hunt in family groups ORIES D-DAY MEM3 PAGE
ORGA
PAGE 4
1905 Voice Since ley’s News Nicola Val
in order to take down larger prey than they could individually, such as jack rabbits. Students also heard about adaptations to their natural habitat — which is hot and dry — that Harris hawks have developed. For example, they have a ridge above their eyes that acts as a sun visor, and their feathers stop well above their yellow feet. “That’s sort of like he’s wearing shorts,� presenter Becky Young told the audience. “That helps to keep him nice and cool in the hot weather.� Timber the American marten was the next animal ambassador the students saw. As a type of weasel, martens use their scent to mark their territories. Martens live all across Canada in both tall trees and in underground tunnels.
Students got a demonstration of Timber’s jumping ability (after some gentle encouragement from presenter Laura Huculak) between two platforms. The grand finale was Finn, the red fox in his first week of training to participate in Earth Rangers presentations. He was the understudy for Sonic the barn owl, who made an appearance at some of the other local schools. The presenters also spoke about habitat conservation for four animals facing threats in Canada: the Western screech owl, Eastern wolf, bobolink and swift fox. While not much is known about Western screech owls’ habits and habitats, it’s estimated there are only about 500 of the small owls in the wild in southeastern British Colum-
bia. The Eastern wolf, which is related to but much smaller than the grey wolf, is facing habitat loss and is considered a species of special concern in Canada. The bobolink is a small black and yellow songbird that migrates to South America in the winter and back to Canada in the summer to breed. The swift fox is the smallest North American wild dog, and resides in southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. After Merritt, the Earth Rangers took their message of conservation to schools in the Ashcroft area and then to Kamloops. Earth Rangers has approximately 40,000 student members across Canada, who have raised over half a million dollars for animal habitat conservation.
m bcclassified.co
HERALD MERRITT Runners convene for Merritt race
com merrittherald.
Left: Earth Ranger Becky Young holds Crimson, a red tegu, as she tells a rapt audience of students at the Lower Nicola Band School about the South American lizard. Earth Rangers is an Ontario-based conservation program aimed at kids, which sent two delegates to present in Merritt and area schools last week on a sponsorship from Teck. Emily Wessel/Herald
$
GET YOUR BUSINESS NOTICED!
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 line MA everyone SSA the starting to GE PRO the finish, to back GRA him heading even went RA A S AM its fourth annual SUC cheered. Oborne UCCES the event Merritt held PAGEns M SU Butcher. Sunday and in S BO jog a bit with running maratho 5 Country Run all ages participate WLERS said of Butcher started saw people and half-marathon runs. at age 66 and on for NATION merri retired he partther 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
Nicol Ni olaa Valle y’s
MERRI TT HE RALD News Vo N ice
FALL FAI R CATALO GUE INS IDE
Since 19 05
FREE
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 womanby addresses imbalare currentl request to transfer ding living for nearly fivebring victims’ rights receives the d The bill also Family member Schoenborn’sfacility in Selkirk, nity as a whole s]; and the famiwere murdere 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. get more time not crimina 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 be carried saying Criminally by Clarke andvictims’ advocacy web- ing in the House of and yet to ity if 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 Fri ance in the being proposed is what Friday for commencemen By “What is t. Full story Michael Potest on page io 3, more
Be sure to give us a call if you want to reserve your advertisement in this spot.
ASK FOR TERRESA r 250-378-4241
Mothe Emily Wessel By
Helping you is what we do. T R I T 78-61 81 250-3 M E R altor.ca Phone:
City facin g
www.re
ge.ca/merritt inside Review Herald. www.ro Estate t full Real n of the Merrit See our ay editio the Thursd yallepa
Tuesday.
M E R R I T T
staff sho rtage for summer photos in
section B.
Emily Wessel/H
erald Fort McM urray. “It’s a it’s nothin new adventure; She said g agains the job jo will be a in any way,� t Merri busy one. there said Sibille tt with a counc “I had a “I’ll be au. great run rewarding,� il is quite time, what doing there, th I think I’ve here, fullSibilleau contri of my desk I do off a corne “Pat’s given to some At the meetin said. succes buted us some productivity g, counwith a laugh.here,� sh administrati ses of the she said r cil gave her improvemenreal and she’s applause a round of but an opporon and counc Sibille time here,�invested a lot ts tunity came il, proud au said she is her depar when discussing up that of most ture. Merri I Noble said. of Mayor Susan ship she’s the good rel “That said, down as couldn’t turn relatio tt n- thank an advan Roline opportunity she has an council established w for my career cement ed during her with fit into her that’s going hard workSibilleau for all Merritt. way north. so I’m on time in tim to my � the city. she has done the and certai long-range plans “To be for compe nly we couldn’t that kind able to establ Noble estab ish te of relatio can do with that, so all departure said Sibilleau’s nship is leaves a as she’s really support we to fill big h l s h
PRIME ADVERTISING LOCATION!