The Chilliwack
Progress Wednesday
11 Scene
3
News
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Sports
River Rock
Flight Fest
Football
Southside rocks the river Thursday nights.
Chilliwack airshow draws the stars.
Huskers hammered by heavyweight.
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Animal thefts leave Chilliwack farmers worried RCMP investigating the latest theft Jessica Peters The Progress Ria Rumph wants to send a message to the people who stole her goat on Saturday night. “I want to let them know that they’ve been seen,” she says. At least two men were noticed sneaking around her farm and loading up her goat. Chilliwack RCMP confirmed they are working on the case, with the help of the AgriWatch program. “We’re aware of this, and we take it seriously,” says Corp. Mike Rail. “This is livestock.” Rumph has had three goats stolen in the last few There is a large weeks, causing local farmers demand for to worry that more goat thefts are on the horizon. goat meat and “Two weeks ago, two went missing during the day,” a big shortage Rumph said. And then on Saturday night, her neigh~ Susan bour heard the goats “screaming” and looked out in time to Barker note some pertinent information about the men and their vehicle. The theft has shaken Rumph, as she worries about the fate of her goats and whether they are being treated properly, or if they’ve already been slaughtered. She hopes they’ve been treated humanely. It’s a heartbreaking theft that goes beyond the obvious financial losses. Rumph has been raising goats for the last 13 years, at the corner of Lickman Road and South Sumas. Her venture with goats follows years of dairy farming, both here in Canada and in Holland. The milk from her herd goes just down the road, to Smits & Co.w Farm Cheese, where it’s turned into delicious cheeses. Goat cheese has been popular for decades, but both goat cheese and meat are becoming more desirable than ever. Meat is in high demand, for its taste and because it’s lower in cholesterol. B.C. goat milk is very popular across Canada, and highly sought after. Goat meat is popular in many different ethnic dishes, and goats often sell for a higher prices around holidays, including Ramadan. But that was more than a month ago, and there are no other holidays right now that Rumph is aware of.
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Cash Kerner shows his winning form during the final day of the Chilliwack Rodeo on Sunday. Kerner won the bareback riding and currently leads the BC Rodeo Association standings in the event. GREG KNILL/ THE PROGRESS
Shooting sends one person to hospital Chilliwack RCMP have confirmed they are investigating a non-fatal shooting, but haven’t released any details. Unconfirmed social media reports point to the Tim Hortons at Eagle
Retail 85¢ Box $1.00
Landing as the scene of the crime, which occurred around 10 p.m. Monday night. The same report suggests the shooting did not involve Tim Hortons employees. One person was taken
to hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries. Chilliwack Hospital emergency room was locked down. The area of shooting was surrounded by police tape Tuesday morning.
Chilliwack RCMP had yet to release anything official about the incident as The Progress went to press Tuesday. For more, go to www. theprogress.com
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