PRINCE RUPERT VOL. 10 NO. 09
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
FREE
RCMP clamp down on illegal firing range
CELEBRATION
Shots fired in close proximity to Highway 16
Feature Heart of our city: Sheila Seidemann Page A5
BY SHAUN THOMAS PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View
Prince Rupert RCMP are seeking to put an end to the use of an unofficial and unlawful firing range located less than 250 metres away from Highway 16. The area, accessed through a trail located 1.7 kilometres away east of the Port Edward turnoff, is covered in shotgun - Matt Ericson shells and discarded items riddled with bullet holes. It even has a stand in one of the nearby trees that can be used for shooting, but Const. Matt Ericson of the RCMP said anyone discharging a firearm there is doing so illegally. See SHOOTING on Page A2
“There is a real concern that one of those rounds could make it to the highway.”
Business Chamber hands out excellence awards Pages A10-11
Kevin Campbell / Special to The Northern View
In front of a gym filled with fans, the Charles Hays Rainmakers Sr. boys basketball team celebrates their zones championship after going undefeated over the course of the tournament. The win secured the Rainmakers a chance to compete for the provincial championship they fell one game short of winning last year. For more from the zones, see Page A17.
City given final notice of inadequacy from RCMP Ongoing issues with detachment spark action
Sports Bantam reps take out Terrace rivals Page A20
Community Port Ed firefighters seeking equipment Page A25
BY MARTINA PERRY PRINCE RUPERT / The Northern View
The time has come: The City of Prince Rupert must construct a new RCMP detachment in the community. At the end of 2014, the City of Prince Rupert received the third and final letter from RCMP headquarters in the Lower Mainland stating Prince Rupert’s detachment is inadequate for policing operations. An agreement between the provincial government and B.C. municipalities states that communities are responsible for providing and maintaining office spaces, heat, lighting and facilities for RCMP that meet the security standard of the force. “The building is quite old and needs a lot of repairs. It’s a capacity issues as well with regards to the number of people we have in the building,”
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List New
“We’re going to re-look at the whole thing and come up with a new plan.” - Lee Brain explained Prince Rupert RCMP Inspector Wayne Maughan. The city received the first letter declaring the detachment didn’t meet standards in 2011. Because there is also a number of issues with Prince Rupert’s fire hall, the city began investigating the feasibility of constructing a joint-use facility for RCMP and firefighters in 2012, however the project stalled. “Basically it stalled because there wasn’t
enough money and [it was difficult to meet all of the conditions RCMP require for a new building],” said Mayor Lee Brain. With the arrival of the final letter, the City of Prince Rupert is no longer able to put off replacing the more than 30-year-old detachment. The city can either come up with a solution and construct the new RCMP facility on its terms or wait for RCMP to build it and send the city the bill, said Brain. “We’re going to have to do something about it regardless; we don’t really have a choice. We’d rather be proactive and figure out a solution as soon as possible,” he said. “Basically where we’re at is we’re going to relook at the whole thing and come up with a new plan. We’re going to work with the RCMP. We hope to get something lined up and then we’ll see what the next steps are from there.” See RCMP on Page A2
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