FRIDAY
They live in the shadows of our town >
APRIL 17, 2015
Cranbrook’s dead at Vimy Ridge | Page 5
< The search gets underway Kootenay Ice start looking for new head coach to replace Ryan McGill | Page 6
Get ready for Trashion | Page 2 Like Us TownsmanBulletin Follow Us
1
$ 10
INCLUDES G.S.T.
@crantownsman
Vol. 64, Issue 74
Proudly serving Cranbrook and area since 1951
www.dailytownsman.com
PHOTO COURTESY CPL. CHRIS NEWEL
Crews from the Wildfire Management Branch along with RCMP officers responded to a wildfire on the Mission Wycliffe Road just off Highway 95A on April 15. The fire was spreading through the grass and trees near several homes in Wycliffe area when crews arrived. Quick action by fire crews and the RCMP prevented the fire from damaging any homes. The fire spread over several acres and burned an old shed and shed prior to being brought under control. Several homeowners also assisted the crews. The combined effort of five RCMP Cranbrook and Kimberley officers, 11 Wildfire Management crew members and three or four homeowners prevented the fire from spreading and threatening other homes. The origin of the fire is unknown but it is not deemed suspicious at this time.
THE UNGULATES OF OUR LIVES Plans aloft Man gets 30 days in Urban deer coordinator jail for evading police for Cranbrook program returns this year focuses on wildlife education, to 2016 airshow Position be split between Kimberley, Cranbrook F OR THE TOWNS MAN
A driver traveling over 170 km per hour in Kimberley was given 30 days in jail after evading police. On April 14, just after midnight, Kimberley RCMP attempted to stop a vehicle south of Marysville travelling 127 in a 100 km zone. They activated their emergency equipment and the vehicle sped up to over 170 km and headed towards Cranbrook. Cranbrook RCMP members were provided with a description and began patrols. A short time later the vehicle was located on the Mission Wycliffe Road near St Eugene Resort. The driver was taken into custody without incident. The officers noted signs of alcohol consumption and obtained a breath sample which was a Warn. Police were able to gather
further evidence with respect to the dangerous driving and held the subject for court. It was also learned the subject was on conditions not to consume alcohol and obey a curfew. On April 15, Michael O’Grady, 24, from Edmonton, Alberta, attended court charged with Flight from Police, Dangerous Driving and Breach of Conditions times two. The judge sentenced him to 30 days in jail. In addition he was given a violation ticket under the Motor Vehicle Act for No Driver’s License, No Insurance and No License plate. “This was an excellent coordinated response between Cranbrook and Kimberley RCMP officers who safely took the subject into custody with minimal risk to the public,” said Cpl Chris Newel of the Kimberley detachment.
ARNE PE TRYSHEN
Plans are off the ground for a 2016 airshow, with a special teaser this summer that will include flyovers of two vintage WWII planes — a twin-engine B25 “Mitchell” bomber, which visited Cranbrook last summer, and a B17 “Flying Fortress” bomber. “This is a new contractor we’re working with out of Calgary,” explained CAO Wayne Staudt at Monday’s meeting. “He’s prepared to do some preliminary activity in 2015, including getting the Snowbirds flying over and some other things.” The vintage planes will take to the air in mid-July, while the Snowbirds — accompanied by a a CF 18
fighter and a CF Buffalo aircraft — are scheduled for mid-August. Planning for the Canadian Rockies International Airshow is underway and on Wednesday, April 22, the Cranbrook International Airshow Society will meet at 7 p.m. at the old airport firehall. Darrell Garton, chair of the society, is inviting anyone interested to come to the meeting. They are looking for volunteers from all over the area and will be going over the details of the airshow plans. The Canadian Rockies International Airshow is planned for Aug. 5 and 6, 2016.
See AIRSHOW, Page 3
ARNE PETRYSHEN
The City of Cranbrook was successful in obtaining matching funding through the province to continue with the WildSafeBC Community Coordinator program in 2015. The program has a specific focus on urban deer education and, similar to last year, the role will be split between Cranbrook and Kimberley. “We’ve done this in the past,” said CAO Wayne Staudt at Monday’s council meeting. “It’s a wildlife issue coordinator that we team up with the BC Conservation Foundation, Kimberley and ourselves. “We applied for some grant money and we’ve
been successful, so it’s just a heads up for council that we will be continuing on with this program again in 2015. It was very successful in 2014 — there was a lot of good feedback from the community.” The city’s Communications Office made the application to WildSafeBC back in January of 2015, expressing interest in participating in the 2015 program, pending the completion of the budget. On March 25, 2015, the Communications Office received an email from Jen Bellhouse, project coordinator with the BC Conservation Foundation.
See URBAN, Page 3