Greenwood City Foods FRESH FRUIT, VEGETABLES AND MEAT
250-445-6548 $
1.10
Times THE BOUNDARY CREEK
Thursday, APRIL 9, 2015
Includes tax
POLICE
An extensive search using a police helicopter and two dog units fails to locate suspects.
Wing Night
Texas Holdem Poker
Thursday, Registration 6:30 pm
Karaoke
Saturday, May 2 8:30 pm Family Friendly • Rooms Available
250-449-2655 Bored Room Bistro 607 8th Ave., Midway, BC
250-449-2465
14,254 pizzas SOLD as of April 5, 2015
Sunday Brunch 11 am - 2 pm
12 per person (tax incl)
Takeout, Sit In, Delivery Midway, Greenwood, Rock Creek www.boredroombistro.com
Westbridge, BC
Located in Westbridge and proud to service the area
1-250-446-6808
0
24543 16681
250-449-1982
bordercountrybob.ca
VOL. 33 Number 15
EDITORIAL
EDUCATION
Consider joining an emergency services group—it’s a great way to give back to your community. P
Students of Boundary Central Secondary School’s grad class of 2015 begin their exit interviews. P
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7
Residents call for aquifer study
Wednesday 5 - 8 pm
$
P3
Bob Bugeaud
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PAT KELLY
Boundary Creek Times Reporter
Several residents in the area around the Miller Springs water bottling plant in the Sidley Mountain area are calling for a study of the aquifer before expansion of the plant is allowed to proceed by the Agricultural Land Commission (ALC). They say the study is needed to guarantee residents and all people downstream will not be placed in danger of losing agricultural capability due to shortage of water. “Our concern is simple,” said area resident Don Halverson. “Can the aquifer sustain the increase in water extraction?” Halverson also noted contradictions in documents filed by Miller Springs. Currently the operation is allowed to remove 6,250 litres per day. They have applied to the ALC for an increase to 50,000 L/d; and yet another number (300,000 L/d) was given to the Town of Osoyoos. As well as aquifer levels, there is concern about the impact of the increased extraction on Nine Mile Creek and a nearby nature conservancy that Halverson says serves as an ecological benchmark. It contains old growth larch, some as much as 600 years old, as well as the Williamson sapsucker and other species at risk of extinction. In addition to the study, residents say they would like a monitoring well south of the plant and a flow meter on the plant. In January, Miller Springs sought support from the Town of Osoyoos stating that the lack of three-phase power is having a detrimental effect on the economic development. The company wants three-phase power so they can install machinery to blow the plastic bottles on site. According to answers filed by Miller Springs to questions from the Town of Osoyoos, the plant now employs eight people, but that could go to 27 when the 10-year expansion is complete. Not all neighbouring landowners are opposed to the expansion. The bottling plant is currently shut down from November to March each year but the plans call for pumping two 10hour shifts four days per week for 50 weeks per year. “Although this appears to be a large quantity you must bear in mind that the centre pivots in our area draw approxi• See AQUIFER STUDY page A12
Egg-citing fun!
(clockwise from top) Easter fun in Westbridge, Midway and Rock Creek kept parents and kids busy on the weekend.
PHOTOS: PAT KELLY