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September 17, 2015
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Bear problem big and deadly
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A frustrated conservation officer fired back at criticism from a local resident about the shooting of six bears in the Lac la Hache area recently, while aiming his own disapproval at people not doing their part to keep bears and other dangerous wildlife away from residential areas year after year. “We attempted to educate the public there by going around and telling people to secure their attractants,” says James Zucchelli, a conservation officer in 100 Mile House. “Unfortunately, the message didn’t get through. “The message is: We’re not the ones killing the bears. It’s the people and the lack of responsibility with their attractants that’s killing the bears.” Gary Young, a resident of the Emerald Crescent area north of Lac la Hache where one boar, two sows and three cubs were dispatched in three separate incidents, the latest on Sept. 10, says he and fellow residents are “absolutely [peeved]” about the killings and upset at the neighbours who notified the conservation officers (COs) to the presence of the animals. “We’ve never had a problem,” Young says. “Every once in a while, in the spring or in the fall, the bears come by, but they don’t do anything. Continued on A5
Monika Paterson photo
Mayor Mitch Campsall and Madison Lamb were neck-and-neck during the bucket race portion of the Survivor Challenge at the West Fraser 60th Anniversary Celebration in Centennial Park on Sept. 13. The celebration, which was open to the public, was a huge success and volunteers worked hard to feed and entertain the throngs of people who attended.
Tax break would not prevent closure Ken Alexander Free Press
Many people who are involved with the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #260-100 Mile House are disappointed the canteen has been closed due to financial difficulties. Legion president Bob Wangensteen and other longtime members say they believe the District of 100 Mile House has added to the difficulties because it would not exempt the Legion from having to pay municipal taxes – upwards of $6,000 annually. Wangensteen says the Legion is being treated like the private businesses in town that are being taxed for operating an establishment that sells liquor, when the Legion is a “service club.”
“Yes, they serve alcoholic beverages in the place, but you have to pay for a membership, he says. He adds the other licensed premises in town are there “100 per cent for profit,” whereas the Legions are not. “The financial situation is such that the municipal taxes were really hindering [the Legion] and pulling it down because it don’t make the money in [the whole operation] to pay the taxes.” Wangensteen complains he and other Legion executive members have met with the District, but they haven’t been able to get a tax exemption. “They tell us we’re too late or we’re too early....” District chief administrative officer Roy Scott says there have been meetings with
Legion representatives. “Although the Legion has appeared as a delegation to council to make a case for tax exemption consideration, at no time was a formal application submitted to the District when the District advertised for application intake.” Scott notes the Legion property is listed as Class 6 (business) and class 1 (residential – upstairs apartment) property, according to BC Assessment. He notes the District has advised Legion members to appeal to BC Assessment to change all or a portion of their property to Class 8 (non-profit), which would qualify the property for tax exemption. “However, there wouldn’t be any guarantees [it would get an exemption from the District], but it would at least qualify.”
Wangensteen points to the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #261-Forest Grove, which receives a tax exemption. However, that Legion is run entirely by volunteers, with no paid staff, and the Cariboo Regional District is providing the tax exemption. Scott notes the 100 Mile House Legion purchases a business licence to operate a bar annually, and it’s the same licence any other liquor establishment obtains within the District boundaries. The bottom line is when an organization is consistently operating at a deficit of $35,000 [plus or minus], the municipal taxes would account for anywhere from 10 to 20 per cent of that shortfall – depending on the level of exemption.