CAMPAIGN AGLOW | Light A Bulb surpasses goal to equip floors in tower [A11]
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Morning gStar Friday, January 9, 2015
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Snow storm toll lingers RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
B.C. HYDRO PHOTO
Snow-covered trees have been taking power lines out in Cherryville since Monday.
Cherryville residents have earned the reputation as survivors. B.C. Hydro crews were working until late Thursday to restore electricity which had been out in the community since Monday. “I don’t remember it being out this long,” said Eugene Foisy, who has lived in Cherryville for most of his life. The lack of electricity has led to alternate sources of heat. “We’ve got wood heat and candles and I’ve got a small power plant,” said Foisy. The hum of generators has also been heard throughout the community, and that has meant a steady stream of customers for local stores. “We’ve done double the business with fuel and propane,” said Lori Peterson, at the Cherryville Emporium, which has been using a generator. Residents have also been snapping up bottles of water as many of them rely on electricity to access their wells. In some cases, residents have been melting snow for water. Forty-nine students at Cherryville Elementary were just starting classes Thursday when the power went out at 8:30 a.m. With electricity not likely to be restored until 4 p.m., a decision was made to send students home because of a lack of heat and water. “They (students) are troopers. It’s an adventure for them,” said principal Mike Sutch. “We will keep our fingers crossed for stable power and that Friday (today)
becomes a regular day.” Power problems in Cherryville began as a snow storm passed through the region Sunday and Monday. Electricity first went out Monday at 6:53 p.m. as snowcovered tree limbs fell on lines. “Crews have been battling hard in tough conditions to safely get power back on,” said Dag Sharman, B.C. Hydro community relations manager. Power would get restored and then another tree would come down, disconnecting the service. That was the case Wednesday when crews got power running at 8:13 p.m. “Yet another tree came down on the line six minutes later,” said Sharman. “Crews patrolled the line in the dark, and found the tree on the line. It was in a difficult to access area. But they snowshoed in carrying their chainsaws and other electrical restoration equipment and removed the tree, climbed the pole to work at restringing the power line, and by 2:49 a.m. Thursday, they managed to finish the work and restore power.” Fourteen guys worked overnight, but by 6:53 a.m., the power was out again. The goal was to have electricity restored by 4 p.m. Thursday. “We also have vegetation management crews out there removing and pruning trees that are threatening to fall on the power line, but there are an incredible number of trees that have been damaged by the heavy snow,” said Sharman. Sutch has been impressed with how residents have handled the emergency. “Our community is strong and takes on challenges with pride,” he said.
RCMP divulge details in major drug bust in Vernon Morning Star Staff
RCMP are now releasing details of a successful late 2014 drug sting in Vernon which includes the arrest of a man with alleged significant gang ties. In late November, the Vernon detachment’s targeted policing unit conducted a four-day drug investigation utilizing undercover operators to target drug traffickers in the community. A total of 25 street-level quantity drug purchases of cocaine and methamphetamine were completed resulting in 21 persons to be facing charges of drug trafficking. “This emphasizes the importance and impact of these operations as they significantly disrupt drug trafficking groups and, in many instances, result in lengthy jail terms for repeat offenders,” said Sgt. Dave Evans with the Vernon detachment.
It was during the undercover operation that investigators identified a drug trafficking group with ties to the Lower Mainland. Drug purchases were made from at least five persons believed to be connected to this group. Vernon officers joined forces with one of the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit (CFSEU) teams out of the Lower Mainland to investigate members of this group for both drug trafficking and firearms offences. The investigation concluded on Dec. 19 with the execution of search warrants, seizure of drugs, cash and weapons. CFSEU executed a search warrant at a Vernon hotel and seized a loaded .25 calibre handgun, $2,600 and other multiple edged weapons, resulting in one arrest. In a release, CFSEU said Daniel Penton, 21, was allegedly in posses-
VERNON
TOYOTA
RCMP PHOTO
RCMP seized a loaded .25 calibre handgun in Vernon during a joint investigation in December. sion of a number of guns and running drug lines for the Unknown Soldiers gang in the Vernon area. Penton, who police say was previously convicted of being in possession of a loaded gun with a silencer, was remanded in custody on one count of possession of a
firearm knowing he was not holder of licence; one count of possession of a loaded prohibited firearm without licence; and two counts of possession of firearm or ammunition while prohibited. The South East District’s Emergency Response Team (ERT) was utilized to execute search warrants at two units of a fourplex in the 3500 block of 24th Avenue. The search of that location resulted in the seizure of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, prescription pills, cash, drug trafficking paraphernalia, a zap cane and other weapons. A zap cane resembles a cane that has the potential to be a conductive energy weapon. One man was arrested and face charges in connection with the search at the fourplex. Andres Naranjo, 21, from Vernon, is facing charges of traf-
ficking cocaine (resulting from the undercover operation) and possession of cocaine and heroin for the purpose of trafficking (resulting from search warrant). Both Naranjo and Penton are originally from the Lower Mainland. Naranjo is believed to be an associate of Penton. “The arrest of Daniel Penton will significantly diminish the level of violence and drug trafficking that occurs in the Vernon area,” said Sgt. Lindsay Houghton of CFSEU. “Getting Penton, a dangerous offender who has a previous gunrelated conviction, off the streets highlights the level of cooperation and coordination between CFSEU and Vernon RCMP to obtain successful results in two investigations.” Added Sgt. Evans: “Successfully targeting this drug trafficking group was a high priority for our unit.”
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