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Sunday, March 1, 2015
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New track running well over budget RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
Greater Vernon’s new track is moving ahead despite some significant financial hurdles. The $7.5 million Greater Vernon Athletic Park next to Okanagan College is $790,000 over budget. “I am a taxpayer too and I’m not happy about it but how do you change things once you’re in it?” said director Bob Fleming, construction committee chairperson. “You have to Bob Fleming carry on and manage it the best you can.” Costs started to skyrocket for the Greater Vernon Advisory Committee when clay in the northwest corner of the property was discovered. It had to be removed and the hole filled. “We did 10 (soil) test pits on the site and that was the one spot we didn’t check,” said Keith Pinkoski, parks planner. Expenses also escalated because the cost of construction materials across the province climbed and there was a lack of sub-trades
CANDY LAB LISA VANDERVELDE/ MORNING STAR
Natalie Roos, eight, looks amazed as her candy solution reacts with AlkaSeltzer at the Candy Lab Camp at the Okanagan Science Centre.
as workers headed to northern Alberta’s oil sector. “We were at the mercy of the market,” said Pinkoski. Reserves will cover the increased costs for the removal of the clay and additional building costs. Taxes are being used to acquire a turf maintenance machine, rolling covers, soccer goals, players and coaches benches and hurdles. Revenue sources for other various items are being sought through sponsorships and donations. “We need to make a concerted effort to go back to the user groups to see what we can get out of them,” said director Mike Macnabb. Some potential amenities have been deferred to keep costs down, such as showers in the athletes’ change rooms. “In other communities, they don’t exist like Nanaimo,” said director Jim Garlick, adding that if athletes do need showers, there are facilities in the officials’ rooms. It’s expected the athletic park will open by the end of June, but installation of the bleachers won’t occur until June 15 because the installation company is busy with the Pan-Am Games in Toronto. “I told them Greater Vernon is more important than the Pan-Am Games,” said Pinkoski.
Morning Star finalist for honour, again Morning Star Staff
The Morning Star is once again among B.C.’s best community newspapers. For the third straight year, The Morning Star is a top three finalist in its circulation category for general excellence, or best overall newspaper, in the B.C. Yukon Community Newspaper Association’s Ma Murray Awards. The honours will be handed out April 25 in Richmond. “This is fantastic,” said Morning Star
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The Morning Star is up against Kamloops This Week and Surrey Now in its circulation category, which is the group with the highest circulation numbers. The general excellence awards take into account all aspects of the newspaper, from the stories and photos, to the ad designs, page layout and classified ads section. In 2013, The Morning Star placed third in the category, and moved up to second place in 2014, losing out to the North Shore News by only a quarter of a point.
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“We’ve been third and second and now this time?” said managing editor Glenn Mitchell. “It’s just an honour to get nominated.” Thirteen of the 21 finalists in general excellence in the seven circulation categories are Black Press papers. Bruce McAuliffe, Black Press president of B.C. South, also extended his congratulations. “It is nice to see the hard work recognized for all of your efforts.”
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