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Journal
Serving Clinton, Spences Bridge, Lytton, Savona, Walhachin and surrounding areas Since 1895
ASHCROFT t CACHE CREEK
Volume 120 No 13 PM # 400121123
The
Thursday, March 26, 2015
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Accident claims life of Cache Creek man
Using stories to connect
Richard Wagamese, author, playwright and actor, spoke to Ashcroft high school students, staff and members of the public last week, sponsored by Bridging to Literacy. The Ojibway storyteller told how he dropped out of school at age 16 and left abusive adoptive parents and siblings to eventually make his way back to his people who helped put him on the right path.
New rodeo grounds going to public meeting The Ashcroft Rodeo Association has made a pitch to the Village Council to move the rodeo grounds to a portion of land off of Mesa Vista Dr. in an area known as The Dunes overlooking the Thompson River. Council’s response is to call for a public meeting for input. Association members Heather Philpot and Trace DeBoer made the presentation to Council at its March 23 meeting. They brought a map of The Dunes to illustrate their needs. Philpot said they’ve talked to the Ashcroft Band about land on the Reserve, they’ve spoken to the government about nearby Crown land, they’ve even looked into using part of the Ashcroft Ranch. “Our first preference is The
Dunes,” she said. It’s removed and isolated from current property owners, continued Philpot, has easy access for vehicles, will only be disruptive for one weekend of the year and has the necessary 10 acres of land. She said the group would be willing to lease or purchase the land, giving the Village first option to repurchase the property. The is another five acres of land there being reserved for a new school. Philpot said that would be their second choice if the school district no longer wants the land. However, that would involve separating the rodeo grounds into two pieces of property with a buffer of Crown land between them. It would, however, mean that the Associ-
Ashcroft RCMP and Central Interior Traffic Services Unit responded to a report of a single vehicle, fatal motor vehicle incident which occurred in the bluffs of Hwy 97C on Tuesday March 17 at approximately 5:30 pm. Local taxi driver, Donald George Alford, 63, of Cache Creek, succumbed to his injuries as a result of the collision. There were no passengers in the taxi at the time, although the vehicle was transporting luggage for an earlier passenger which made police consider that there may have been someone else in the taxi. The owner of the luggage was located and was not involved in the accident. The initial investigation determined that the west-bound taxi had crossed the centre line at a sharp angle, making hard contact with a sheer rock face on the south side of the highway. The highway was closed in both directions for approximately five hours between 5:3010:30 pm while RCMP, Ashcroft Fire Department, Search and Rescue, Paramedics, Coroners Service, Ministry of Transportation and a RCMP Collision Re-constructionist jointly investigated the scene. Any witnesses to this collision are asked to contact Cpl. Andrew West of the Central Interior Traffic Services Unit at the Ashcroft RCMP Detachment at (250) 453-2216
ation would be asking for less “buildable” land. “This is the largest special event weekend in Ashcroft,” said Philpot. “It means a huge influx of people and money.” Not everyone thought it was a good idea, however. One couple in the audience preferred to look at The Dunes without the Rodeo’s fencing and equipment. Councillors Barbara Roden and Al Mertens were con- An overflowing Ashcroft Council Chamber listened to the Rodeo cerned about the increase of Association’s presentation. traffic on the mesa during has not been set. Allen reminded bers will be placing stakes in rodeo weekend. “Whether it has to have geo- Council that the land may have the ground to show where they tech (study) or not, it is develop- to be rezoned to accommodate would like to place the grounds, to give everyone a better idea able land and that has to be con- the rodeo. With the permission of of the exact location they are sidered,” said Mayor Jack Jeyes. The date for a public meeting Council, Association mem- hoping to use.
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