FRIDAY
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NOVEMBER 28, 2014
Michelle Rybachuk
Major EKFH fundraiser underway | Page 3
East Kootenay Realty
Janet of Kootenay >
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Cranbrook writer Evah McKowan | Page 18
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Vol. 63, Issue 229
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BARRY COULTER PHOTO
Mount Baker Secondary School teacher David Hill welcomes the players from 16 teams from around the province Thursday, Nov. 27, as the 4A Girls Volleyball Provincial Championships got underway at MBSS and the College of the Rockies. The opening ceremonies Thursday morning featured the athletes’ entrance, words of welcome from SD5 Superintendent Lynn Hauptman, MBSS Principal Viveka Johnson, St. Mary’s Band Chief Jim Whitehead, and performances from the MBSS band and choirs. Action then immediately got underway. Teams are split into four pools — each team plays three round robin games with all teams advancing to the playoffs. See Friday’s playoff schedule on Page 9.
Weekend has potential for ‘truck-destroying’ avalanches ARNE PETRYSHEN
Avalanche Canada issued a special public avalanche warning which includes the Rockies and the Purcells that will be in effect from Friday, Nov. 28, to Monday, Dec. 1. The warning comes as strong winds and warm temperatures bring high avalanche danger to the regions. “In many parts of the B.C. Interior we’ve had over a metre of snowfall in the past week,” Joe Lammers, public avalanche fore-
caster at the Avalanche Canada. “This new snow is overlying some of the weak crystals that formed during the recent dry cold spell that every one remembers.” He suspects much of the backcountry is in the midst of a natural avalanche cycle, with the potential for large destructive avalanches in many regions. The weekend weather is supposed to break with clear skies and cool weather. “Natural avalanche activity will likely taper off and the warn-
ing signs will be less obvious,” he said. “That said I’m certain human triggered avalanches will still be a very real possibility. “I should point out that the avalanches we could see could be large enough to destroy a truck.” Areas the avalanche centre is especially concerned about include Caribous, the North Columbia, the South Columbia, the Purcells and the Lizard Flathead.
See AVALANCHE, Page 4 WINTER WEATHER, Page 3
Second eyewitness on the stand in Learn trial TRE VOR CR AWLEY
A second eyewitness to the shooting death of Tammy Ellis ended testimony at the trial of Cheyenne Learn on Thursday in Cranbrook Supreme Court in front of Justice Dev Dley. Crown counsel Lianna Swanson solicited testimony from the owner of the residence where the shooting took place, and defence counsel Brent Bagnall was able to cross-examine. The court also heard from Leonard Lau, an RCMP firearms expert, in the afternoon who testified about the modifications and operation of the sawed-off shotgun used in the shooting.
In the interest of protecting the privacy of the homeowner’s identity, she will be referred to as L.N. Learn is on trial for second degree murder in the shooting death of Tammy Ellis on Dec. 17, 2007. Learn was convicted in the first trial in 2009, but an appeal overturned the decision in 2013, and Learn was awarded a new trial. The day began with L.N. continuing her testimony from Wednesday afternoon, who established her version of the timeline leading up to the shooting and her interpretation of Learn’s level of alleged intoxication.
See LEARN, Page 4
Winter Market Proudly featuring 60 vendors of locally made, baked and grown products.
Friday, November 28 • 5pm to 9pm Saturday, November 29 • 10am to 3pm Sunday, November 30 • 10am to 3pm www.cranbrookfarmersmarket.com
1114 BAKER STREET