I N S I D E : Spring is here! March 20
Journal ASHCROFT t CACHE CREEK
The
Volume 120 No 12 PM # 400121123
Thursday, March 19, 2015
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Biosolids become a regional issue
Bringing water to the ranch Taken last March at Historic Hat Creek Ranch, the photo to the right shows workers putting in the historic site’s new water system. The work is ongoing and the foundation has been laid to provide an emergency fire suppression system - via sprinklers - for certain buildings. The next project will be to build a storage take to contain the new system which holds a much greater water capacity and a higher pressure to deliver it.
RCMP investigating vehicle stolen from Surrey Ashcroft RCMP received a call at about 9:50 am on March 15 from a motorist on Hwy 1 about a Ford Econoline van in the ditch by the Red Hills rest stop. There was no one in the vehicle, but the motorist said he saw a northbound male walking on the highway. The male was located in Cache Creek on Stage Rd. by police. Police discovered that the van had
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been reported stolen in Surrey the previous day. They also discovered that Marc Leveiller was not the man’s real name. He was properly identified as Michel Dionne, 29, of no fixed address, and was wanted out of the Lower Mainland on three arrest warrants for possession of drugs for the purpose of trafficking and possession of stolen property. He was taken into custody and
transported to Kamloops, charged with obstructing police. He is facing more charges of obstruction, possession of drugs and two counts of theft. The matter is still under investigation and police would like to talk to anyone who may have given him a ride into Cache Creek. They can call the Detachment at 250 453-2216.
Soil and Seeds in stock ASHCROFT IRLY TIM-BR-MART Building Supplies & Garden Centre www.ashcroftirly.com
Although the protests are taking place just outside Merritt, local governments are discussing the issue of biosolids and the need for local consultation and governance over them. Ashcroft Council, at the Feb. 23 meeting, passed a resolution calling on the province to form a committee that includes local politicians, to examine and make recommendations for changes to the provincial biosolid review process and changes to the content in the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation and Agricultural Land Commission Act that govern the biosolid regulatory process in BC. “Biosolids are being moved from the Okanagan to Fraser Nicola without consultation,” said Ashcroft Mayor Jack Jeyes, who also sits as a TNRD Director. The issue of biosolids has been ongoing in BC for several years, and was front and centre in the local area around 2006 when the Greater Vancouver Regional District wanted to test Nutrifor on local fields. Local farmers and ranchers were opposed to the idea, concerned about possible heavy metal contamination in the product. Biosolids are produced at wastewater treatement plants by recovering and treating organic material. The TNRD uses biosolids at several of its closed landfills to recover and condition the soil, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Besides landfills, biosolids are used around the province for fertilizer and soil enhancement. They have not been approved for agricultural use. A group of activists set up a road blockade on Hwy 8, 10 km west of Merritt earlier this month to prevent trucks from bringing more biosolids to the Sunshine Valley facility. They are concerned about contamination of their drinking water. Last Saturday, MLA Jackie Tegart announced that the company “has voluntarily agreed not to accept any product for the next seven days,” while the TNRD meets with provincial officials “to explore options for resolving the immediate issue, and to discuss how to best manage biosolids, including ensuring public concerns are addressed.” Despite the assurance, the road block remains in place. “I think biosolids will be front and centre for a while,” said Jeyes.
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