WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 25, 2015
Farewell, but not goodbye >
Irish Rovers’ victory lap to stop in Cranbrook | Page 12
INDOOR MARKET
Saturday, February 28th 10am - 1pm in the Ktunaxa Gym 220 Cranbrook St. N. www.cranbrookfarmersmarket.com
< Back to the Prairies Kootenay Ice in Swift Current | Page 7
Like Us TownsmanBulletin Follow Us
1
$ 10
INCLUDES G.S.T.
@crantownsman
Proudly serving Cranbrook and area since 1951
Vol. 64, Issue 38
www.dailytownsman.com
Idlewild dam to be decommissioned A R N E P E TRYSHEN
Cranbrook City Council has decided to decommission the Idlewild Dam. At the regular coun-
cil meeting on Monday, Mayor Lee Pratt said that over the course of an in-camera session prior to the regular meeting, council had
come to the decision. “We had a closed meeting before council and what came out of that is council has decided to decommission
the Idlewild Dam,” Pratt said. “Basically what that means is that we’re going to draw the water out.” The meeting includ-
ed a review of findings and recommendations of an engineering report on the safety of the dam at Idlewild Park. Pratt said a number
of issues had influenced the decision. “It’s not a decision that came lightly to council,” he said, and it came down to safety. The Dam Breach Inundation Study noted if the dam failed, the uncontrolled release of water from Idlewild Lake would follow Joseph Creek through town and potentially flood up to 21 per cent
of the city. That could impact as many as 2,100 residential properties and nearly 500 businesses. The report noted there was also potential for loss of life. Pratt said the city needs to lower the lake as a temporary measure to protect the public, but would revisit the matter in the future.
See IDLEWILD, Page 4
Deer translocation not an option, for now, City says TRE VOR CR AWLEY ARNE PETRYSHEN
TREVOR CRAWLEY PHOTO
RHYME TIME: The 35th annual Curlathon, a fundraiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, was a smashing success once again this past weekend. Over 30 teams hit the ice sheets at the Cranbrook Curling Centre, all costumed with the theme of Nursery Rhymes. Over $12,000 was raised by the event, which continues a long tradition of support for the Heart and Stroke Foundation in Cranbrook. Teams came dressed up as Little Bo Peep and her sheep, the Three Little Pigs and the Big Bad Wolf, while the winners of the team costume category was a medley of Whovians from the classic story of Horton Hears a Who by Dr. Seuss. Jeff Bleany laid claim to the top fundraiser, raking in over $1,900 by himself.
Locally operated lumber company ranks 2nd on TSX list ARNE PETRYSHEN
A lumber company with operations in Cranbrook has been ranked in the 2015 TSX Venture 50 list, ranks strong performing companies on the
TSX Venture Exchange Jemi Fibre Corp. ranked second in the Diversified Industries Category. “We are pleased to be ranked amongst the top per-
forming companies on the TSX Venture 50 list,” said Mike Jenks, CEO. “This recognition by the Exchange supports and encourages our goal to build long term shareholder value in
the forest products sector through integrated operations and a focus on unique timber and manufacturing assets.”
See JEMI, Page 3
With the City of Cranbrook poised to conduct an urban deer population reduction program, council and city staff are fielding questions about relocating the deer instead of euthanizing. At this point, the province does not consider translocation as an option for urban deer management. The city noted a cull is the only management tool the province makes available to municipalities to try to alleviate some concerns of local residents — specifically around aggressive animals.
Wayne Staudt, the chief administrative officer for the city of Cranbrook, gave an update on options for dealing with urban deer during a city council meeting on Feb. 23. Staudt told council that there is some work being done on translocation, but it is not being looked at as an alternative to a cull. “It’s not, do this [translocation] and not do the cull,” Staudt said. “This is just a pilot project that is being considered and we’re part of the group in the East Kootenay that is looking into this.
See DEER, Page 3
Kimberley’s Ferrie wins Gold at Canada Games C AROLYN GR ANT
Golden news out of Prince George late Tuesday — Kimberley’s Colin Ferrie took gold at the Canada Games in the 1.5 Classic Sprint, cross-country ski race. We will have more on
the race in Thursday’s Townsman. Also on Tuesday, 13year old Molly Miller of Kimberley, racing against skiers five years and older than her, placed nine in the Women’s Classic Sprint.