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WEDNESDAY, October 22, 2014
NEWS BRIEFS Fort St. James residents chosen to carry Canada Games torch Jesse Cole Caledonia Courier
The 2015 Canada games may still be 113 days away but the Canada games torch has already been lit and made its way to Victoria, B.C. and as the torch makes its way to Prince George, as few Fort St. James locals will be helping it along its way, Alexandra Luggi and Leon Erikson were both chosen to take part in the torch relay throughout British Columbia with the two northerners participating in the Quesnel, B.C. portion of the relay. The British Columbia leg of the torch relay begins in Victoria and makes it’s way north towards Prince George with residents from communities throughout the north including Fort St. James, Vanderhoof and Fort St. John among others. The 2015 Canada games will mark the first time in the history of British Columbia that the province has hosted the winter edition of the games.
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Burns Lake update long it will take to determine the cause, but our hope is to determine the Burns Lake Lakes District cause quickly. It is my News understanding that the At around 8 a.m. three workers were in the Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014, dryer area at the time of a fire related incident the incident. We have not occurred at the Pinnacle at this point determined Pellet plant in the Burns whether there was an exLake facility resulting plosion or a fire.” in minor injuries to two Luke Strimbold, employees and more Mayor of the Village of serious, but not critical Burns Lake, said, “On injuries to a third em- behalf of our entire comployee. munity, I would like to WorkSafeBC has extend our thoughts, been notified and the af- prayers, and support for fected area of the plant a healthy recovery to the were secured to allow for workers of Pinnacle Pela full investigation. let.” At the time of the in“After everything cident, the plant was in a Burns Lake has endured maintenance shutdown. over the last few years, The fire was quickly this news was especially contained and there are troubling. I know people no reports of equipment across B.C. are praying damage. for those injured. Burns Three workers were Lake is a resilient comtransported to Lakes Dis- munity that has proven trict Hospital and Health its character time and Centre. Two patients again in difficult situwith minor injuries were ations,” said Nechako transferred to the Univer- Lakes MLA John Russity Hospital of Northern tad. B.C. in Prince George WorkSafeBC last inand one patient is being spected this mill on June transferred to Vancouver. 17, 2014. At the time of Scott McCloy from that inspection it was WorksafeBC said, determined that combus“WorkSafeBC Preven- tible dust issues were betion officers arrived on ing managed. The mill scene at about noon. has not been inspected They will be working since that time. Howto determine what hap- ever, WorkSafeBC pened and why it hap- launched another compened. WorkSafeBC bustible dust effort relatofficers are coordinat- ed to the pellet industry ing with the RCMP and on Oct. 1 and the Burns other regulatory bodies, Lake facility is on the including the BC Safety schedule to be inspected. Authority, in this regard. More on this story at At this point, it is dif- a later date as the investificult to determine how gation continues. Laura Blackwell
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The Fort St. James Minor Hockey Association with a little help from Bam Bam Trucking filled a school bus with bottles for their annual minor hockey association bottle drive. Submitted Photos.
Election season fever Jesse Cole Caledonia Courier
“I believe that voting is the first act of building a community as well as building a country” - John Ensign On Nov. 15 Fort St. James residents will get a chance to contribute to the building of their community as they choose who will sit on municipal council for the next four years. While Mayor Rob MacDougall is running uncontested, two councillors, Joan Burdenuik and Riley have stepped down from their position and three others have submitted candidacy. Brenda Gouglas and Kris Nielsen, both form councillors, have announced their candidacy as well as newcomer to municipal politics, Brad Miller, owner of Bam Bam Trucking in Fort St. James. Running for re-election are current councillors Russel Gingrich and Dave Birdi. With five candidates running and four council seats available, it is anyone’s guess who the odd person out will be after Nov. 15 Regionally, Tom Greenaway representative for Rural Area C of the Bulkley-Nechako District has submitted his bid for re-election and is running unopposed. School District 91 will be electing a new trustee as well with Alexandra Luggi and Lucille Duncan running for the position. As is the Caledonia Courier’s civic duty, we have outlined the candidates running for municipal council so that you, the public, can be as informed as possible prior to voting.
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