Charges dropped in Coalmont feud case page 3
SPOTLIGHT
$1.10 Includes TAX
The Similkameen
Volume 65 Issue 24
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
Proudly serving the community since 1948 • www.similkameenspotlight.com
We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.
Bull@#$%!
Jai Singh, owner of the Golden Hills Ice Cream and Coffee Shop, is unsure if he will rebuild following Friday night’s fire.
Business owner narrowly escapes fiery death Andrea DeMeer Spotlight Staff
Jai Singh lost everything he owned in Princeton Friday night. The local businessman is still reeling at the thought he came just minutes from losing his life. “I can’t believe it,” he said in an interview with the Spotlight Monday. “I really don’t know what to say. I’m totally lost and I still haven’t put things together, haven’t had time to figure out what the heck happened.” Singh was sleeping in a back corner room of Golden Hills Ice Cream and Coffee Shop on Bridge Street when the building caught fire about 11:30 Friday night. He had worked a 16-hour day, had two drinks, and fell into a deep sleep. “I was fast asleep. I didn’t know the fire truck was already there.” Two young passersby, who were aware that Singh lived in
Weather Watch Wednesday
High23/Low6
Thursday
High24/Low7
Friday
High23/Low12
Saturday
High26/Low13
Sunday
High28/Low12
the business, ran to the back of the building and started banging on the door and windows. “They saved my life,” said Singh. “I wouldn’t be here talking to you right now if it wasn’t for them.” Singh said he didn’t awaken until the pair banged on his bedroom window. “At first I thought someone was just fooling around so I put on my shorts and opened the curtain. There was nobody there. Then I opened the bedroom door and it was all just smoke. I couldn’t see anything. “I went down literally on my hands and knees and went to the door. I ran towards my truck but I only took about four steps and I realized the whole back of the store was all completely burning and so was my truck. I turned around and ran the other way. I jumped the neighbor’s fence and got out.” The building was completely destroyed by the blaze. Investigators were on the scene Monday, attempting to continued page 11
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Bob Marsh
The Stan Thompson Memorial Rodeo was jampacked with extreme entertainment this weekend. For coverage see pages two and nine.