TUESDAY January 27, 2015 Vol. 30• No.8 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
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40 Years
South Sewer open house well attended
Shortlist of options presented to Royston/Union Bay residents Scott Stanfield Record Staff
Comox author takes readers to sea ... Page 3
Toy library turns one ... Page 4 Cancer Care Unit expansion ... Page 5
Firefighters battle a blaze on Rachel Road; below, an RCMP officer tends to Helen Anne Goulet, who pulled her friend from the house.
Senior saved from Sunday house fire
PHOTOS COURTESY CTV VANCOUVER ISLAND
Neighbour being hailed as a hero for pulling friend from flames
Comox Marina users pack chambers
Erin Haluschak
Erin Haluschak
Record Staff The Comox Valley was spared the brunt of the major storm that hit a lot of the West Coast.
No refunds offered for the three hours of life wasted by anyone who watched the NHL All Star Game.
About 160 people were presented with a shortlist of wastewater management options in the southern reaches of the Comox Valley at a second open house hosted by the regional district Wednesday at the Union Bay community hall. The CVRD launched a liquid waste management planning (LWMP) process last May. Along with water resource recovery, the process will identify the best solution to provide effective sewer service in and around Royston and Union Bay. “All residences within the Royston/Union Bay area, similar to the rest of the
A house fire Sunday afternoon with two occupants could have had a much different outcome if it wasn’t for the assistance of a 72-year-old woman, said Courtenay Fire Chief Don Bardonnex. Around 5 p.m. Jan. 25, heavy smoke engulfed the home on Rachel Road, off Powerhouse Road. By the time firefighters arrived, about one third of the house in flames, he explained. “I could hear voices in the backyard and I went to the backyard
Record Staff
and saw two victims coming out of the driveway with very, very limited mobility. As it turned out, the victim, a 89-year-old female, was burnt and collapsed inside the building, and the other female — 72-year-old Helen Anne Goulet — entered the building and pulled the person to safety, receiving burns to herself and severe smoke inhalation.
... see FIRE■ A5
Hoping a new council will bring a fresh look at marina rates, Comox Marina users packed council chambers Wednesday in hopes of keeping fees in check for the coming years. Speaking on behalf of users, Bruce Morrison asked council to consider keeping rates the same for users for the foreseeable future, as he noted increases over the past
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rural areas, are serviced by onsite treatment, so they have septic tanks and septic fields,” said Kris La Rose, manager of liquid waste planning. “The lots are very small, high-density, the soil conditions aren’t very good and the systems are aging, and they’re not very well regulated. As a result, we have a large number of failing systems causing potential impacts to human health and environment.” He notes the “long-standing problem” has generated numerous complaints from residents. The CVRD, which is partnering with the K’ómoks First Nation and Village of Cumberland, is seeking public feedback on four options for discharging treated effluent: to Baynes Sound, to Georgia Strait beyond Tree Island, to Georgia Strait off Cape Lazo or to ground at depth. ... see SEWER ■ A7
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10 years are “unjustifiable and unfair.” “There have been a large increase in berthing fees in a 10-year period … the fees have increased 80 per cent over those 10 years,” he explained. There are around 144 tenants which use the facilities, and despite the rising fees, users don’t see funds from the increases going towards marina amenities, he added.
... see MARINA ■ A4