108th Year - Week 17 PM 40007014
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
District drafts medical potgrowing bylaw
NOT JUST READING Smithers library team talks about the future.
COMMUNITY/A11
EARTH DAY WIN High school awarded for being green.
OUR TOWN/A17
RESOURCES BOON Special feature digs into mining industry.
MINING WEEK/B1
LETTERS SPORTS COMMUNITY OUR TOWN A&E CLASSIFIEDS THREE RIVERS
A7 A9 A11 A17 A18 A19 A24
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LABOUR OF LOVE
By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News
The Regional District of KitimatStikine (RDKS) has drafted a medical marijuana bylaw aimed at preventing grow-ops from cropping up near schools, daycare centres and hobby farms. Prompted by changes to the way medical marijuana is being handled by federal and provincial law, the regional district started reviewing its zoning policies in July 2014. Growing marijuana is legally permitted in areas within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and some of that land is close to public facilities, including schools, in Terrace and Hazelton. Local governments are not allowed to prohibit medical marijuana facilities on ALR land, but the RDKS wants to ensure its zoning includes provisions to prevent grow-ops sprouting too close to certain places. The draft bylaw requires medical marijuana facilities to be at least 150 metres away from schools, daycare centres, parks, churches, community halls and campgrounds. See DRAFT on A4
Smithers Secondary School students put on three performance’s of their Beatles-infused version of Shakespeare’s Love’s Labour’s Lost over the weekend. Drama teacher and director Heather Lytle (inset) was recognized by the Bulkley Valley Community Arts Council for her years of service to her students and the community after Saturday night’s show. Chris Gareau photos
Smithers sportsplex moves forward By Chris Gareau
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Smithers/Interior News
A version of the proposed Bulkley Valley School District sportsplex is moving forward, with the district seeking out partners to help fund the $3.5 to 4-million project as soon as May. A more affordable version than the one drawn up by architects last September, the facility would provide turf for indoor soccer and rugby year-round. It would also include a walking track, mezzanine space, change rooms, court space for basketball and volleyball. It could also be used for other non-sporting events.
“If you look at the gym facilities at Smithers Secondary School, we need it. We’re not going to get from the government an increase in money to build a second gym, so [the district is] trying to do this and trying to build something that’s both a benefit both to the students in our district and to the community in general,” said school board chair Les Kearns at last Tuesday’s board meeting in Moricetown. Vice chair Frank Farrell said he believed everyone in the Bulkley Valley would use the facility year-round. “It’s one of those facilities that can benefit the whole community, young and old,
and it’s something much like the swimming pool that can help keep the community active during the winter months. It’s also something that can be used in the summer months as well,” said Farrell. “And it’s not just a Smithers facility, it’s something that would be a regional facility.” The board has allocated $1.5 million to construction of the sportsplex, with an option to add $500,000 for a total of $2 million. That means half the funding would have to come from elsewhere. “I’ve been working off of some of the work the Town [of Smithers] did on the second sheet
of ice around recognition of different levels of sponsorship. Certainly at the community consult phase we’ll be looking at what community sponsorship is available. “It could be naming rights on the building; it could be naming rights on the field; it could be putting plaques up on the main entryway at various levels for whatever the donations are,” said superintendent Chris van der Mark during the meeting. “It does change the game a bit with people knowing that you’re more than halfway there as a starting point. It’s a great concept, but we can’t go it alone.” See SPORTSPLEX on A3
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