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Police seek help in series of robberies ALISTAIR WATERS Black Press
Police in three provinces, including the Okanagan, are asking for the public’s help to identify and locate a suspect in a series of armed robberies that took place at financial institutions in B.C, Alberta and Saskatchewan over the last 12 weeks. The robberies included the hold-up of the Interior Savings Credit Union branch on 32nd Street in Vernon Dec. 9. “All the robberies involved a weapon, either being produced or mentioned,” said Const. Kris Clark of the Kelowna RCMP Tuesday. Speaking for the force’s South-east division, he said in all instances, the suspect fled the financial institution on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash. No employees or customers present any of the in the financial institutions — located in Princeton, B.C. (Dec. 1), Vernon, B.C. (Dec. 9), High River, Alberta (Dec. 19), Merritt, B.C. (Dec 23), Swift Current, Saskatchewan (Jan. 8), Lethbridge, Alberta (Jan. 13), Claresholm, Alberta (Jan. 16) or Aldergrove, B.C. (Jan. 21) — were physically injured at the time of the robberies, Clark added. In addition to the RCMP in B.C, Alberta and Saskatchewan, the Lethbridge Regional Police Service is also appealing for the public’s help in finding the man.
RCMP PHOTO
RCMP from B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan believe the same individual is responsible for eight robberies from financial institutions in a month-long span, including one in Vernon. According to police, a white male, aged between 25 and 35 entered each of the financial institutions and demanded money before fleeing on foot. Clark said a firearm was either brandished or mentioned during the man’s demand for money. The lone robber is described as having
a slim build, five-feet, six-inches to six feet tall, unshaven with a brown goatee or beard. During the robberies he wore dark clothing, gloves, a black toque and sunglasses, said Clark. While the manhunt is being co-ordinated by the RCMP in Calgary, public appeals for help were also made in
Kelowna, Calgary, Lethbridge and Regina on Tuesday. Clark said the public should not approach the suspect as he is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information regarding the suspects or any of the robberies, is asked to call the tip line at 1-844-887-6287. Clark said while RCMP here have seen series of robberies in the past, but this is a first in that the crime spree covered three provinces. He said both the investigation to date and video surveillance collected from the crime scenes appear to indicate the robberies are the work of the same man. What has police stumped, however, is the lack of any pattern to the robberies. Some occurred earlier in the afternoon, others later and one at night. With the exception of over Christmas, there was a robbery just about each week as the suspect moved randomly back and forth through southern B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan. While some of the robberies took place in small towns, others targeted financial institutions in medium-sized centres. Video surveillance footage of the suspect entering the Canada Trust branch in Lethbridge earlier this month has been posted on You Tube at: http://youtu.be/ z1bKNj0gGl8.
Lavington residents continue pellet plant battle Some Lavington residents are demanding answers over a controversial pellet plant proposal. On Monday, Coldstream council was handed a letter from a group of residents upset with a recent decision to issue a building permit for a pellet plant on School Road next to the Tolko mill. “We are still getting additional signatories to the letter, but wanted it entered into the public record at this meeting,” said Tom CoapeArnold, with Lavington Is For Everyone. In the letter to Mayor Jim Garlick, the 71 residents ask council if it will refuse to issue a development permit until it’s guaran-
teed provincial air quality objec“Have you as much as read the tives will be met. technical reports submitted by “What has the District of Pinnacle’s consultants and if so, Coldstream done to assess noise, when?” states the letter. light, dust, traffic, fire and explo“We find it shameful that the sion risks?” they state in citizens of Coldstream the letter. have to ask these ques“What steps have tions of a mayor who was been taken and are elected to protect their planned on being taken interests.” to safeguard the children Garlick says some of of Lavington Elementary the questions in the letter from the risks inherent are based on not underin the above environstanding process. mental issues?” “The first being that Jim Garlick The residents also I as mayor play the role ask why Coldstream has of breaking a tie vote on refused to join LIFE’s appeal of the council. As laid out in the comMinistry of Environment’s permit munity charter, the mayor has only to discharge contaminants into the one vote and votes on all issues. I air. was only one of the four in favour,” £
he said. “The second being how the rezoning, including public hearing were handled. These were in no way rushed. We held three additional public hearing meetings, along with the first which started in January 2014.” Garlick also says that under provincial legislation, the municipality cannot place conditions on rezoning or building permits such as air quality monitoring and meeting air quality objectives. “More importantly, according to the Ministry of Environment’s response in issuing the permit, both of these points were met by the applicant,” he said. “On the air quality, the work
that will take place is stated will decrease the overall particulate emissions by adding additional bag houses for filtration to both the existing saw mill and new state of the art pellet plant.” On Monday, council decided to write the Ministry of Environment’s area director about monitoring particulate. “We just want to get clarity on their plans for monitoring — equipment, location and the process,” said Garlick. The motion to approach the ministry came from Coun. Doug Dirk. “They can put down on paper what they meant,” he said referring to verbal comments from ministry staff about monitoring.
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RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
†Based on IHS Automotive: Polk Canadian New Retail Vehicle Registrations as of CYTD November 2014 for the Compact SUV/Compact Car/Subcompact Car segments as defined by Honda Canada Inc. *Limited time weekly lease offer and all other offers are from Honda Canada Finance Inc., on approved credit. #The weekly lease offer applies to a new 2015 CR-V LX 2WD model RM3H3FES for a 60-month period, for a total of 260 payments of $69.89 leased at 1.99% APR based on applying $400.00 “lease dollars” (which are deducted from the negotiated selling price before taxes). ‡In order to achieve $0 down payment, dealer will cover the cost of tire/battery tax, air conditioning tax (where applicable), environmental fees and levies on the 2015 CR-V LX 2WD only on customer’s behalf. Down payment of $0.00, first weekly payment and $0 security deposit due at lease inception. Total lease obligation is $18,171.40. Taxes, license, insurance and registration are extra. 120,000 kilometre allowance; charge of $0.12/km for excess kilometres. **MSRP is $27,685 including freight and PDI of $1,695 based on new 2015 Specified Models described above. License, insurance, registration and taxes are extra and may be required at the time of purchase. £For more information about the 2015 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year® award, visit http://www.motortrend.com/oftheyear/suv/2015_honda_cr_v_is_the_motor_trend_suv_of_the_year/ */#/**Prices and/or payments shown do not include a PPSA lien registration fee of $30.31 and lien registering agent’s fee of $5.25, which are both due at time of delivery and covered by the dealer on behalf of the customer on Specified Models only. Offers valid from January 3rd through February 2nd 2015 at participating Honda retailers. Dealer may sell/lease for less. Dealer trade may be necessary on certain vehicles. Offers valid only for British Columbia residents at BC Honda Dealers locations. Offers subject to change or cancellation without notice. Terms and conditions apply. Visit www.bchonda.com or see your Honda retailer for full details.