TUESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2015
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FLY-FISHING FOR FEMALES
A TRIP THROUGH ROCK HISTORY
Local club enjoys an increase in women who want to fish
Learn about Qualicum Beach Downtown Business Association’s annual dance party
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FRENCH CREEK WATER SYSTEM
Debating the rates Residents’ assoc. opposed to possible 45% increase JOHN HARDING editor@pqbnews.com
French Creek residents are unhappy about a proposal that could see their water bills increased by more than 45 per cent over the next three years. The private company that supplies water to about 2,000 homes in the French Creek area — Epcor — has applied to the B.C. Comptroller of Water Rights for a rate increase that could see a resident’s monthly bill go to $66.17 in 2017 from $45.30 in 2014. “No one is saying Epcor is dishonest,” said French Creek Residents’ Association (FCRA) vice president Rob Williams. “They know what they are doing — they run water systems all over the world. But we think they spend too much money on niceties and we pay for it.” The association has achieved intervener status with the comptroller on the issue of the rateincrease application. All parties must have their submissions to the comptroller by next week and then a response period, which ends March 23. The comptroller is expected to provide a ruling on the application shortly after March 23. The monthly bill numbers above can fluctuate from home to home depending on usage. The FCRA is disputing the rate increases on three fronts: • Capital costs. “They want to spend too much money — we want to see that reduced,” said Williams. • Riders, a portion of the bill moved forward from year to year to reflect the amount of water Epcor budgeted to deliver, but did not have the need to. Williams said that budget includes profit, and he said he doesn’t believe the profit portion of the riders should be moved forward. See INCREASE CALLED EXCESSIVE, page A9
CANDACE WU PHOTO
PUCKER UP: Shades of Green on Craig Street in Parksville became shades of red Saturday morning in the spirit of Valentine’s Day where Patrick and Heather Ash shared a kiss at the store’s kissing booth. Craig Street was lined with bright red balloons for the occasion and many storefronts offered discounts and sales for Valentine’s Day.
SCARY INCIDENT ON THE ENGLISHMAN RIVER
Women help family rescue teen AUREN RUVINSKY
writer@pqbnews.com
A local family wants to use a scary incident at Top Bridge Regional Park near Parksville Feb. 8 as a safety warning, especially around the area’s rainswollen rivers. “My daughter was standing on the
rocks and something slipped under her foot and she fell into the river,” said Dan Mackay, describing the 17-yearold as very careful and responsible. “She wasn’t horsing around or anything, it was just an accident,” he said. “In a flash she was in the raging river struggling in the current and disap-
peared under the surface twice.” A couple of women, one named Carla, were walking their dogs and heard yelling from the water. Mackay said they were instrumental in talking the young woman to the rocks and a spot where they were able to help her climb out. See ALSO, page A9
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