VE
The Invermere
ALLEY CHO
PHOTO BY DAN WALTON
g th
19
Se
WHAT A WASTE
ce
March 4 2015
th
Vo l District does away with downtown decks
Evidence of illegal dumping, such as this fridge found on the gravel road into Pine Ridge Estates, has been seen throughout the valley in recent weeks and Invermere’s bylaw officer is asking the public to report any improper waste disposal they witness. Full story below.
e9
3
BERNIE RAVEN CHRIS RAVEN 1-866-598-7415 TEAMRAVEN.CA Offices in Panorama, Invermere & Fairmont
Scratch presents 9 From Pad Thai à la Fairmont
1
$
05 INCLUDES GST
PUBLICATIONS MAIL REGISTRATION NO. 7856
Maxwell Realty Invermere
Ugly dumping habits emerge in warmer weather DAN WALTON dan@invermerevalleyecho.com Illegal dumping has become rampant in the valley — a habit that the local bylaw officer says is an annual result of warmer weather. “Everybody does their housecleaning in the spring,” said District of Invermere bylaw officer Mark Topliff. “And it costs them, as taxpayers, when city workers have to take it to the dump.” Large, illegally dumped items he has observed — fridges, a stove, a dishwasher and couches — could have all been disposed of for no charge at Windermere Landfill Tipping in Windermere. And anything that can fit into a large garbage bag can be taken to the Invermere Transfer Station for free. Topliff said the fine for those caught
dumping illegally is $150. Milt Deck, a Pine Ridge resident of six years and a regular volunteer with the annual Valley Pride litter clean-up day, found a fridge dumped at the border between Pine Ridge and Grizzly Ridge on the gravel pit road, and suspects it was the action of a local person since most tourists wouldn’t have any business dumping fridges in rural mountain subdivisions. Anyone who witnesses illegal dumping (waste purposefully left in private or public areas instead of using legal disposal methods) and would like to see it stopped is asked to record as much information as possible — the licence plate of the vehicle, a description of the person(s) and the witnessed activity, and a photo if circumstances allow. From there, Topliff can be contacted on his cell at 250-341-5436.
LOCAL NEWS Former Cranbrook mayor takes on Wilks under federal NDP banner DAN WALTON dan@invermerevalleyecho.com In the 2011 federal election, the biggest threat to the Conservative Party’s Kootenay-Columbia seat were the NDP — and they’ve now selected their candidate who will try and unseat incumbent David Wilks in 2015. Former Cranbrook mayor Wayne Stetski has been declared the local NDP candidate, and he says the riding has a few new reasons to vote for change. According to Stetski, Wilks will toe the party line even if it’s not in the best interests of his constituents. “Since David’s been in Ottawa, every vote’s been a whipped vote,” Stetski said. “My concern lies with representing my constituents and their interests, and I won’t be shy to learn what’s important to the Kootenay-Columbia constituents and taking the concerns to Ottawa, which I don’t think has been happening.” He mentioned many problems in the riding that could be solved with better federal management, including upgrades to Highway 1 and 3, affordable housing, an unreasonable minimum wage, and assisted daycare. On a larger scale, Stetski believes that scientific knowledge and the health of the environment are eroding under the Harper Government, and that the Conservatives have treated Canadian veterans very poorly — especially over the past year. See A3
Cinefest at Pynelogs Tuesday March 10th at 7 pm
The Visionary & the Ghost of Pynelogs
What does ART Live Performance – March 11th to 15th mean to you?
Call for more info 250.342.4423
Visit columbiavalleyarts.com for our current events calendar, or call 250-342-4423.
HaPPy BirTHday To PyneloGs!
1914 - 2014
Celebrating 100 years