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MERRITT HERALD TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
FREE SWIMMING IN THE NEW YEAR Donning Santa hats and sandals, Hawaiian shirts and winter boots, a dozen brave souls swam in Nicola Lake on New Year’s Day to usher in the new year. Jolly Merrittonians faced down the mild but certainly atypical beach weather at -3 C and waded bravely into the lake on Thursday. The polar bear swim took place at Kokanee Beach, about 20 minutes north of Merritt on Nicola Lake. The group made a splash for a few seconds, laughing all the way. Then it was back to the beach for a quick towel-off and warm-up by the fire. About 30 people gathered on the shore to watch the event, which organizer Callie Langlois called a fun, crazy and brave way to start the new year. Polar bear swims are a New Year’s Day tradition in communities across Canada. This year marked Vancouver’s 95th annual polar bear swim, where an estimated 2,000 revellers took the plunge into English Bay. Emily Wessel/Herald
Police investigate New Year’s Eve stabbing THE HERALD
newsroom@merrittherald.com
Police are looking for two men after a local man was stabbed in the back on Dec. 31. The man was at his apartment at Nicola Apartments on Menzies Street with a relative when two unknown males entered the suite and ORIES D-DAY MEM3 PAGE
ORGA
turned away from them and then felt a hit in the back near the right shoulder. “He knew he’d been cut because he could feel the blood running down his back, so he dropped to his knees, and the two guys ran away,� RCMP Sgt. Norm Flemming said. The man suffered a nonlife-threatening stab wound
asked for another person. The man told police he did not know the intruders or the person they were asking for. He said when he got up to show them the door, one of the men punched him in the head near the left eye. The punch left about a one-inch wound on his face. Disoriented, the man
By Emily Wessel
PAGE 4
to his back. Police suspect the weapon was a folding or lock-back knife with a small blade. Police said the men tried to stop the bleeding themselves. “He didn’t think it was as serious as it was, and when he couldn’t get it stopped, then he panicked,� Flemming said.
The men then tried calling a friend to take him to the hospital, and that friend encouraged them to call an ambulance and police, Flemming said. Police were called about an hour after the incident, which happened in the late afternoon. The man was taken to hospital in Kamloops for a
CT scan. “The injuries from the punch to the head and the stab wound were something we could’ve easily handled here, but because he got his brain knocked pretty hard, take him in, and take some pictures,� Flemming said. Police are still looking for the suspects but are not releasing a description.
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HERALD MERRITT Runners convene for Merritt race
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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, Rob with Prime that victims reminder that victims he was being after opposition from Attorney GeneralHeritage across Canada not criminally a found y soon be more than than Harper, n and Canadian revoked she was hopefull was for: people bill said supports will it the who Nicholso get better matter — 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 time whose childrenMerritt in 2008 are to a psychiat tions [it] deserve[ ble. not crimina d by the B.C.has in into balance finally get more lly responsi those found g that there is no legal Man. was approve their father in support of the Not y, but lies of victims a statement released not crimina second readFebruar the in found up of includin s its sible, Reform speaking Review Board out. Clarke’s famito heal,� reads her cousin, Stacy notify member The bill passed Commons late Responsible obligation to a high-risk offender Criminally yet to be carried by Clarke andvictims’ advocacy web- ing in the House of to as well, saying if the a vote of 242by a community a facility, and ly opposes that move Selkirk area. Act. on the with from change Galt, in the 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 S of mental disorder the streets If the bill basses Clarke’s childrenarURE HOME for their grand years, which will correct an imbalof his and FEAT ders eight-ye e, say march down Kaitlynn system. members Voght Street 10-year-old current review on Fri ance in the being proposed is what Friday for comme “What is
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