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Classic cars create special bond for Chilliwack couple.
B-24 bomber engine recovered.
Chilliwack Attack grabs gold.
Y O U R C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R • F O U N D E D I N 1 8 9 1 • W W W. T H E P R O G R E S S . C O M • F R I D AY, J U LY 1 7 , 2 0 1 5
Lights go up to replace flaggers at Vedder Crossing Jennifer Feinberg The Progress Flaggers can no longer be used to cut traffic congestion near the Vedder Bridge or at the Cultus Lake turnoff. Citing safety concerns, Work Safe BC notified the City of Chilliwack this week that the city could no longer use traffic control personnel at the two locations to keep traffic moving during peak hours. “Upon receiving this news, City staff immediately began working on alternative strategies to ensure minimal impact to the travelling public in these areas over the weekend,” according to the news release. During the summer months, the city has regularly posted flaggers to control Cultus Lake traffic, both at the three-way stop at the Vedder Bridge and at the signalled intersection at the Cultus Lake turnoff. “This additional traffic control helps relieve some congestion in the Vedder Crossing area and keeps motorists moving,” said the release. The change is effective immediately. Manually controlled traffic signals were installed at both locations and will be used starting this weekend. The operator of the traffic signals will be positioned “away from the flow of traffic,” thereby complying with WCB regulations. “The City of Chilliwack would like to thank the travelling public in advance for their patience as this new system is implemented.”
Monty Raine of Dickey and Sons Electric installs temporary traffic lights at the Vedder Bridge and Chilliwack Lake Road. The new lights, which will be manually operated, will replace traffic flaggers during peak times. GREG KNILL/ PROGRESS
Chilliwack man charged for dumping in wildlife area Jennifer Feinberg The Progress The Fraser Valley Illegal Dumping Alliance formed last fall to fight the rampant garbage dumping threatening local watersheds. And it’s working. A Chilliwack man was charged under provincial regulations, said conservation officer Steven Jacobi with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service, Fraser Valley zone. “We did charge someone with littering in the Burt Brink Wildlife Management Area,” he confirmed.
David Wilgose of Chilliwack is facing three ticket violations from the one incident. He was charged as part of an intensified effort to apprehend people dumping illegally in the Fraser Valley. “We had pictures of the suspect but it took some time to figure out who he was,” added the conservation officer. Wilgose was issued three tickets for littering under the Environmental Management Act. The fines came to $345 and the incident dated back to July 2014. “It took some digging to find the
suspect,” said Jacobi. Officers had investigated the suspect a few months before in a different area, and there was some suspicion he might commit other environmental violations along the Fraser River. He became a person of interest when officers spotted items that had been dumped and burned in the wildlife area, like household trash, plastic, and paper thought to be from a house move. “It was only when we were reviewing person of interest files together that we figured out who
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that people are out there watching.” The education blitz has already significantly boosted the number of calls coming in about illegal dumping to the RAPP line, said the conservation officer. “They have been very helpful in raising awareness of who to report violation to and this has made a difference in our call volume,” noted Jacobi. “We have seen an increase of 60 per cent related to illegal dumping now that more people are reporting violations directly to the COS.”
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our suspect was for the dumping,” he said. Rachel Schoeler, operations and program manager of Fraser Riverkeeper Society was thrilled to hear that someone had been charged. The Society’s mission is to protect and restore the Fraser River and its watersheds, with volunteer driven cleanup events and education efforts. “It’s so good to hear that the received enough information to proceed with charges,” Schoeler said. “It means the dumpers will know
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