EAGLE VALLEY
NEWS
Demolition to occur soon at site of fire Page 3
Caterpillars back to summer in the Shuswap Page 7
Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015 PM40008236
Vol. 60 No. 33 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (GST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
Residents press need for dredging By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
Unless the Sicamous channel is dredged, the community may see some of its tourism economy slip away. This was part of the message delivered to District of Sicamous council by Mary-Ann Easton and Bill Anderson, who served as a delegation representing stratas for the Riverside and the Narrows. With the low water in the channel, marinas for the two condominium complexes have seen their number of usable boat slips reduced by 57, while a total of 173 boat slips throughout the channel, including those in business and residential marinas, are now unusable. As Easton explained, the reduction in usable slips is a result of a low snow pack, little rainfall and the subsequent rapid drop in water levels as of late throughout the Shuswap. Exacerbating the matter for Easton and other Riverside owners is the fact their marina’s dock is constructed to current federal Low water: Bill Anderson and Mary-Ann Easton stand at the Riverside condominium complex marina, where half the dock is government standards, requiring a 1.5 metre about three feet above water, making the slips unusable. Because of low water, 173 boat slips belonging to businesses and residences See Holdup on page 2 cannot be used. Photo by Lachlan Labere
Red flag raised in council over ‘free-for-all’ at Old Town Out of control: District to consider reinstalling gate at entrance. By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
Excess use and abuse of Old Town Bay has prompted district council to move on restricting access. Discussion about the need for bear-proof garbage cans in the Old Town development site prompted Coun. Todd Kyllo to report on what he’s witnessed at the beach in Old Town and to request either bylaw enforcement or the traffic gate be reinstalled. “I was out there last Saturday; there were 25 trucks and boat trailers there and there’s not even
a boat ramp,” said Kyllo. “There’s people all over the beach, there’s campsites there, there’s tenters there, there’s campers out on the foreshore. It’s a joke. “We either need to start dealing with bylaw issues out there and contain what’s happening because it’s going to be a mess, or we put up gates… because it’s just a free-for-all.” District community planner Mike Marrs noted the district is currently without a bylaw enforcement officer. He suggested he and staff could visit the site and try to bring some order, but Coun. Colleen Anderson advised against this. “Based on Todd’s description on what’s going on down there… you’re dealing with a bunch of intoxicated people,” said Anderson,
Open game: Pickup trucks with trailers, houseboats and other vehicles
line the beach in Old Town Bay, as people take advantage of the free and largely See Bylaw on page 2 unmonitored recreation site. Photo by Lachlan Labere