Bulldogs recover after dropping opener Sports, Page 5
15C 10C Cloudy, light rain
Serving the Alberni Valley
www.avtimes.net
Tuesday, T d September S t b 15 15, 2015
» Fall Fair
FEDERAL ELECTION
Crime caused by lack of jobs, say reps Alberni candidates offer approaches to make streets safer ERIC PLUMMER ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
er Road. A 2013 report estimated the cost between $17 million and $20 million. If built, the ring road would make it unnecessary for the city to extend 21st Avenue past Redford, and would cut costs for the arterial road project and reduce its environmental impact on the Alberni Valley’s trails system, Smith noted. The city could connect to the ring road from Burde Street and Argyle Street, he said. But the city planner recommended that council leave the 21st Avenue project on the books in its full extent – including the option to extend farther south than Redford Street – as the ACRD’s plans for a ring road are not certain and the city should protect its own road right-of-way opportunities. “Having long term transportation projects designated in the (Official Community Plan) is essential,” Smith said.
Port Alberni residents were given a chilling reminder of the dangers on the community’s streets when news broke of the death of Carlene Jack in July. The 19-year-old was found bleeding at Fifth Avenue and Bute Street in the early morning hours of July 15, later succumbing to her injuries in the hospital. The incident led to the arrest of 18-year-old Autumn Dawn Desjarlais and an ongoing second-degree murder case. For several years crime has be among the community’s most prevalent concerns. With 149 incidents per 1,000 residents, Port Alberni’s crime rate is double British Columbia’s average. Although the total number of illegal incidents have declined over the last decade, the frequency of serious crimes remains a major concern. Port Alberni ranks 10th in the country for its rate of violent crime, according to Statistics Canada’s Crime Severity index, an assessment tool that considers the volume of illegal incidents in a community while giving more weight to serious offences. The city’s overall Crime Severity index places the community ninth in B.C. – worse than all other Vancouver Island municipalities with a population or more than 10,000. With the federal election approaching, four candidates in the Courtenay-Alberni riding were asked what is needed to reduce Port Alberni’s crime trend. The following are excerpts from written answers provided by the candidates. Their full responses will appear on the AV Times website Friday. Some candidates pointed to the effects of the community’s shortage of work opportunities, including the Conservative Party of Canada’s John Duncan, who currently represents Vancouver Island North as a Member of Parliament.
Martin.Wissmath@avtimes.net.
See ELECTION, Page 3
Logger Sports Nick Russell of Port McNeill saws off a fresh slice of log in the single-hand bucking open championship during the logger sports competition of Alberni District Fall Fair on Sunday. Russell finished in fourth with a time of 17.31 seconds. He later finished in first place with Jesse Whitehead in the double-hand bucking championship with a time of 8.69 seconds. [MARTIN WISSMATH, TIMES]
MUNICIPALITY
City considers new crossing for Rogers Creek at 21st Avenue MARTIN WISSMATH ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES
Residents may have rejected the proposed 10th Avenue bridge crossing Rogers Creek in a municipal referendum last year, but the city is considering another expensive north-south connector. Port Alberni’s long-term growth plan is to build farther east. The 21st Avenue arterial road has been on the city’s agenda since 1981, and a preferred route along the eastern side of the city was in the current Official Community Plan, adopted in 2007. City planner Scott Smith presented a report on the idea to city council at their regular meeting Monday night, recommending that the proposed project remain in the municipality’s long-term transportation plans. Currently 21st Avenue is a short north-south road between Wallace Street and Victoria Drive, north of the West Coast General Hospital. The arterial road project would extend it farther north
» Use your smartphone to jump to our Facebook page for updates on these stories or the latest breaking news.
“Having long term transportation projects designated in the (Official Community Plan) is essential.” Scott Smith, Communinty planner
across Rogers Creek to Johnston Road and south at least as far as Redford Street. This would link three transportation nodes in the city, Smith noted in the report: the hospital, the Pacific Rim Shopping Centre, and North Island College. It would also facilitate faster emergency access for vehicles to get to the hospital from the northern part of the city and Cherry Creek. It’s a long-term proposal that is not included in the five-year financial plan, Smith noted. It would cost “several million dollars,” but there is no official
estimate at this time, he added, and crossing Rogers Creek would require constructing a bridge. Currently the city’s traffic volume doesn’t warrant a need to build the road, according to Smith’s report but when it happens would depend on the city’s growth in the next several years. “Although the envisaged 21st Avenue arterial road and crossing of (Rogers) Creek would allow for shorter commutes north and south in the city, there is no evidence that it is needed to resolve traffic congestion or volume problems at this time,” Smith said. Current plans for the 21st Avenue arterial road include an extension to the southern edge of the city, but one option Smith presented was to expand only between Johnston Road and Redford Street, with commuters connecting to a possible ring road to be constructed in the future by the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. The ring road would link Highway 4 south to Franklin Riv-
Cliff rescue saves injured youth over Rogers Creek
Rescued blue heron recovers at local centre
A climb in the ravine left a young man stranded, requiring a rescue operation from emergency personnel.
Young blue herons appear awkward with their long lanky legs. But don’t be fooled, the beak penetrates fish with accuracy.
» Alberni Region, Page 3
» Community, Page 5
Inside today Weather 2 What’s On 2
Alberni Region 3 Opinion 4
Community 5 Sports 6
Scoreboard 7 Comics 8
Classifieds 9 Alberni Album 10
$1.25 newsstand (GST incl.)
ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES VOLUME 66, NUMBER 173
Come check out our New Location at
4746 Johnston Road (next to The Attic) Until Sept.30th Previously Viewed Movies starting at Rent 2 $ Get 1 1299 or 3/$20
Lots of Re-Opening Specials!
Free!
Multi-Max
The Movie Store
(250)
until Sept. 30th
720-2242