Progress
The Chilliwack
Wednesday
21
3
Sports
News
Chiefs
Warriors
Chiefs battle Rivermen.
Wounded Warriors coming to Chilliwack.
13
Scene
Art
An inspirational opening.
Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • W E D N E S D AY, J A N U A R Y 1 4 , 2 0 1 5
Storm’s impact on city trees still being assessed Most stumps will be replaced, mayor says Jessica Peters The Progress The plum trees along Yale Road in Chilliwack were the hardest hit during last week’s blast of snow, ice and wind. While early numbers suggested about 200 city trees were heavily damaged, Mayor Sharon Gaetz said “the number of reports of trees damaged are way up.” It’s going to take at least another two weeks to clean up from the storm, as the city’s arborist assesses the damage. In addition to the plum trees on Yale, other areas hard hit were the Garrison Crossing residential area and the UFV campus on Yale Road. “Some of the trees appear to only have broken limbs,” said Jamie Legatt, the city’s communications manager. “If that’s the case they will try to prune them. But some of them have structural cracks that travel down the trunk.” Most of the removed trees will be replaced, with the exception of those along Yale Road by UFV. Those trees were already competing for light due to overcrowding. While Gaetz agrees it’s hard to see the plum trees damaged and removed, she said the city has a plan in place to keep neighbourhoods full of colour. “We hold great value in trees in the City of Chilliwack,” she said. “Our arborist is working really hard and we will do our best to save them. They’re so beautiful and they make such a statement in the spring,” she said. The city is learning that it’s not a good idea to plant all of the same species of trees in a row. Continued: TREES/ p4
RCMP officers survey the scene on Tuesday morning where a shooting took place on Hazel Street, just south of First Avenue around 11 p.m. Monday night. JENNA HAUCK/ PROGRESS
RCMP investigate apparent fatal shooting Greg Knill The Progress One person is dead and a quiet cul-de-sac in Chilliwack was behind police tape Tuesday following a shooting Monday evening. The incident happened at around 11 p.m. on Hazel Street, just off First Avenue. Police had been called to a vehicle accident, but quickly determined the driver had died of injuries “inconsistent with a crash.” The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team was called in. They’ve identified the victim
as 39-year-old Chilliwack resident Stuart David Ellis. He is known to police. Ronald Worden lives next door to where the vehicle came to a stop. He said he heard two shots and then a loud crash, “like a car hitting another car.” He then heard what sounded like a vehicle speeding away. He raced outside to find neighbours around the red SUV and the driver covered in blood. One of the neighbours, believed by Worden to be either a former or off-duty police officer, was checking for a pulse, but found none. Across the driver’s lap, said
Worden, was what appeared to be a firearm. Police were on the scene within minutes, as well as ambulance and the fire department. A resident said the victim lived in the area and that he had just met his wife walking in the nearby park the day before. Residents of about 80 homes were cut off while the investigation continued Tuesday morning. One of the neighbours said there was loud music coming from the parking lot of a nearby church prior to the incident. She said she wasn’t sure if it was related, but it was unusual.
IHIT spokesperson Sgt. Stephanie Ashton said investigators do not believe this was a random act, there is no reason to be concerned for public safety. The investigation is still in the early stages, and police have yet to confirm anything. IHIT continues to work in partnership with Chilliwack RCMP, the Forensic Identification Section and ICARS to determine what occurred, she said. Anyone with information related to this investigation can call the IHIT Tipsline at 1-877-5514448.
Dressers, Chests, Nightstands
save an additional
Retail 85¢ Box $1.00
PLUS PST
PH: 604-393-7242
www.canadianliquidation.com
30
%off
already liquidated prices Sale ends Jan 17, 2015