RODEO RIDES IN | Falkland Stampede gets underway this long weekend with fun for everyone [A12]
Morning gStar
2013 GMC YUKON XL
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The
Friday, May 15, 2015
P R O U D L Y
Family ‘waits it out’
S E R V I N G
O U R
N O R T H
O K A N A G A N
w w w. v e r n o n m o r n i n g s t a r. c o m
C O M M U N I T I E S
F O R
2 5
Y E A R S
Leather
35,900
$
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*plus $499 doc fees & taxes.
BANNISTER
4703 - 27th St. VERNON • 250-545-0606
GM DL#9133
School kept open
RIGHT ON TARGET
TRACY HUGHES Black Press
RICHARD ROLKE Morning Star Staff
A Vernon family remains anxious during escalating turmoil in a central African country. Ray and Mary Anne Bale, and their 11-year-old son Boss, have remained inside their home in Bujumbura as the military has attempted a coup against president Pierre Nkurunziza. “The airport and all borders are now closed, so we wait it out,” Ray Bale told The Morning Star. Violence broke out in Burundi more than a week ago when Nkurunziza attempted to seek a third term as president. However, the situation worsened as the military got directly involved. “There’s lots of shooting and explosions. We are OK but hunkered down for the moment,” said Ray. The violence has made it difficult for the Bales to not only leave their home but visit the 62 children they care for at an orphanage. “Sitting watching tracer fire over the city at present. It looks like there is fighting out by the airport. Still uncertain where this will all end but continuing to pray for peace in Burundi,” said Ray in a Facebook posting Wednesday. The Bales began working in Burundi in 1995 and the family moved there in 2002 to continue with their efforts through New Hope Centre and Vernon Christian Fellowship.
Stk# P15-330
LISA MAZUREK/MORNING STAR
Eight-year-old Emmarie Louis tries her luck roping while spending the day with her mom at the Mother’s Day Event at O’Keefe Ranch. The historic ranch is now open for the season with Murder Mystery Dinner Shows Death Rides a Pale Horse tonight and Saturday, lawnmower races May 23 and 24 and the Black Tie and Blue Jean fundraising gala June 6.
See COST HIGH on A6
WE ALWAYS HAVE 10 PRE-OWNED VEHICLES FOR UNDER
VERNON
TOYOTA
There will be students entering classrooms at Silver Creek Elementary in September after the School District 83 board voted against closing the school. The school, which currently has 36 students enrolled, had been proposed for closure as part of a long-term facilities plan due to low numbers and the need to reduce costs. Parents and school district staff rallied to prevent the shutdown, arguing in favour Debbie Evans of converting the school to a Montessori education model which they say, would boost student numbers and provide a new educational option for students in the school district. Another primary concern was the long bus ride either to Hillcrest Elementary or possibly Salmon Arm West. This would see some students on the bus for an hour and 15 minutes each way, or 30 hours per month. When it came to the vote, the majority of trustees opted to keep the school open, causing an eruption of applause and cheers from anxious parents in the audience. “I’m ecstatic,” said parent Kristy Clark. “If the school closed, it was going to be homeschooling, so keeping the doors open, this is the much better option. I’m thrilled.” Trustee Debbie Evans championed the efforts to keep the school open, her hands shaking and her voice breathless as she implored her fellow trustees to keep the school open. She noted the closure would reduce property values and fracture the entire community. “You can’t put rural schools in a cookie cutter,” she said. “If this is passed, we could lose not only the school but the library, the store, the fabric of rural life. We can not ignore that.” Trustees paid tribute to the parents and the Parent Advisory Council for showing them there were other options for Silver Creek than closure. “You came with a solution and that is heartwarming. You showed us how the community was working together. You were not complaining, instead you were telling us how great it could be,” said Bobbi Johnson, board chair. But other trustees warned the board that keeping the school open does have implications for the school district’s budget and services to the entire student population.
DL# 30382
250-545-0687 • 3401 - 48th Ave Vernon
10,000!!!
$
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