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Vol. 64, Issue 48
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Free bus service of low income approved New provision is an additional benefit to the City of Cranbrook’s Leisure Access Program
A R NE PE TRYS HEN
Cranbrook will now have a free bus program for low income individuals. The new provision was approved at the Monday, March 9 council meeting and is an additional benefit to the Leisure Access Program.
Coun. Danielle Cardozo said it is an amazing initiative and matched perfectly with an earlier presentation. “It goes perfectly with having Interior Health here today talking about healthy communities,” Cardozo said, adding that bus access, in
particular for individuals in areas of the city far from grocery stores, would help many people in that situation. The Leisure Access Program was started in 2010 to enable low-income residents to access public swimming at the Aquatic Centre
with a 75 per cent discount with the intent to build a healthier community. It is run in partnership between the Salvations Army, Community Connections Society, Interior Health Programs and the Ministry of Housing and Social Devel-
opment. An applicant that is approved receives the benefits for one year then has to re-apply. There were 109 applicants in 2014 and the city noted that amounted to 2,481 uses of the pool for those applicants. Coun. Norma Blissett was
strongly in favour of the motion. “I’m also in favour of increasing bus use,” Blissett said. “This is a wonderful way to do it, and also, as you (staff ) say, it helps with health concerns and accessing our leisure facilities.” Coun. Ron Popoff also said he also supported the motion, both privately and formally as the liaison to the Poverty Initiative and the Urban Governance and other meetings he attended.
See CITY, Page 3
Guilty pleas to 2013 home invasions TOWNSMAN STAFF
BARRY COULTER PHOTOS
All of us rejoice when the spring seems to roll around early. Temperatures in the season between winter and spring are in the double digits and show no signs of dropping — and the sun shines every day. At left: Chickie, a Bichon Shih Tzu dressed in the latest fashions, enjoys a gallop along 24th Avenue North. At right: Jorgia-Lynn kicks back in Rotary Park, Tuesday. March 10.
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• EAST KOOTENAY REGIONAL HOSPITAL
Lauren & Darnell Rousson of Cranbrook, a girl Megan Perry & Gordon Frew of Cranbrook, a boy Tasha & Darren Thorburn of Kimberley, a girl Leah & Ian Bolzenius of Cranbrook, a girl Kimberly Weatherston & Timothy Bierhals of Kimberley, a boy Courtney Clark & Trevor Chanski of Cranbrook, a boy
Jan. 22 Jan. 26 Jan. 27 Jan. 30 Feb. 3
Nicole & Bradley Scriver of Cranbrook, a boy Amanda & Nathan Astrope of Invermere, a boy Julie & Robert Mogentale of Cranbrook, a girl Keira & Jason Meldrum of Elkford, a boy Danielle Lavigne & Patrick Murphy of Cranbrook, a boy
A member of a group of four individuals involved in a pair of home invasions in December 2013 pleaded guilty to a number of charges on Tuesday in Cranbrook Supreme Court. Andrew Monnette changed his plea from not guilty to guilty on 10 charges—five in the first incident on Dec. 18, 2013 and five more on a separate incident eight days later. Those charges will be stayed, while Monnette also pleaded guilty to a robbery charge from a third incident in April 2014, which will be knocked down to a lesser assault charge.
See GUILTY, Page 4
Jason Wheeldon
Personal Real Estate Corporation
250-426-8211
East Kootenay Realty