SEARCH AND RESCUE PAGE 3 merrittherald.com
GRANTS-IN-AID AWARDED PAGE 5
CENTS EDGE UP PAGE 17
Nicola Valley’s News Voice Since 1905
bcclassified.com
MERRITT HERALD FREE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2015 • MERRITT NEWSPAPERS
Saturday celebration at former armoury By Emily Wessel THE HERALD
newsroom@merrittherald.com
It’s seen soldiers trained within its walls go off to war twice in the century it’s been in Merritt. Now, three area organizations are coming together to recognize the historic significance of the Merritt drill hall to public life. The Merritt Elks, Merritt legion and Nicola Valley Museum and Archives Association are co-presenting a concert by the Nicola Valley Community Band on Saturday. It will be something of a blast from the past as the band plays marches and songs from the First World War years. Lieutenant-Governor Judith Guichon — the long-time Nicola Valley rancher and former flutist for the band — will also attend. The drill hall was originally built as an armoury in 1914 after much persistence on the part of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Flick. In a newspaper report from Aug. 16, 1912, Flick brought the news Ottawa had committed to building the armoury back from a meeting with the day’s minister of militia in Calgary. “Colonel Flick reports that he was satisfied with the result of his trip,” the news story states. The armoury was built from local brickwork and remained under construction when the First World War was officially declared in 1914. A Merritt Herald representative was given a sneak-peek at the nearly completed armoury and wrote about it for the Nov. 6, 1914 edition.
“The new drill hall has a striking appearance and reflects credit upon the ability and painstaking care of the contractor,” the story goes. “The up-to-date finishings of the many rooms in this new building have been carried out magnificently, and it is plain to see that nothing but the best material has gone into the construction of the building.” Come February of 1915, the armoury was officially designated as a military centre. In March of that year, the completed drill hall held its grand opening with a community ball. “With the hall decorated with all kinds of British flags, pictures of Their Majesties along the wall, the red tunics of the militiamen blending nicely with the dainty dresses of the many ladies present, the Grand Military Ball and the formal opening of the new armoury was a brilliant success from every viewpoint.” According to the story, crowds filed in steadily beginning at 9:30 p.m. and danced until 3 a.m. A three-piece orchestra entertained the crowds, beginning with the grand march and ending with singing of God Save the King. Proceeds from the evening were donated to Patriotic Guilds of Merritt and Nicola, the auxiliary that disbursed the money to soldiers’ families during and after the First World War. Those proceeds were expected to enter the triple-digits. All told, the drill hall’s opening ball was “one of the merriest nights that have been spent in Merritt for many days.”
See ‘Hall a monument’ Page 2
SHOWING SUPPORT Elizabeth Kraus and her son Marshall worked the 50/50 and bake sale table at the Shulus Hall for part of their Feb. 14 fundraiser. The Kraus family and their relatives held the fundraiser in order to raise money for members of the family who will be travelling to the Lower Mainland in the coming months to attend court appearances and eventually the murder trial of Gary Handlen, who’s accused of killing Kraus’ sister Monica Jack in 1978. People steadily came and went from the hall between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Valentine’s Day to enjoy Indian tacos, buy some sweet treats, put bids in for a loonie auction and raffle prizes, as well as simply show support for the family. Emily Wessel/Herald
Bear spotted at Rotary Park By Michael Potestio THE HERALD
reporter@merrittherald.com
A rare February bear sighting in Merritt has the conservation office reminding people to manage their attractants. A mother bear and her cub were reported at Rotary Park on Monday afternoon at about 12:30 p.m. to the City of Merritt, which then notified conservation. Conservation officer John Paquin responded to the call but the bears had left by the time he arrived on scene. He said there were children at Rotary Park, but no one was hurt in this incident. Paquin said he thinks the
recent spring-like weather may account for bears waking up from hibernation earlier than expected. “Typically the weather that we’re seeing this time of year is colder, which keeps the bears in their dens,” he said. It’s also more common to have bears wander into a small, rural community like Merritt, he said. Although not typically seen up and wandering around towns during this time of year, if bears are awake, there’s always a chance they could be moving through the community to a food or water source, Paquin said. “If they are just passing
MEAL DEAL Deluxe Cheeseburger Upgrade U Deluxe Cheeseburger Meal your sundae to Meal a sma small Blizzard TREAT f fgfg for $
1
Chicken Wrap Meal Grilled or Crispy
through, then we want to allow them to pass through the community without finding any non-natural food source that will give them incentive to stay,” he said. At this time of year there aren’t a lot of natural food sources available to bears, Paquin said. Residents are advised to manage their attractants all year long. Taking down bird feeders and keeping barbecues clean are some of the things that can be done, he said. Paquin said if anybody spots a bear in town they can report it by calling 1-877-9527277.
3673 DeWolf Way, Merritt BC 250-378-5030 3-pc.Chicken Strip Meal dq.ca