WEDNESDAY
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SEPTEMBER 30, 2015
Lindi Ortega, Paul Brandt, Dean Brody in concert | Page 2
Athletics at Mount Baker > Sporting season kicks off at high school | Page 6
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Vol. 64, Issue 187
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BARRY COULTER PHOTOS
The renowned Quartetto Gelato performed at Key City Theatre Monday, Sept. 28. The “Cirque de Soleil” of quartets presented a genre-busting style incorporating a mix of classical masterworks with tangos, gypsy music, folk songs, Italian music and other world themes. Left to right: Greg Gallagher, Peter De Sotto, Colin Maier and Alexander Sevastian.
Rural issues brought to the fore Local politicians tackle fire safety, Auditor General, rural development at UBCM TRE VOR CR AWLEY
For RDEK board members, it was a hectic week packed with meetings with provincial government officials. However, it was more than just face time with ministers at UBCM as resolutions were also debated by delegates representing municipalities and regional districts across the province. Cranbrook Mayor Lee Pratt and Councillor Tom Shypitka represented Cranbrook, while Rob Gay, the Area C director and board chair of the RDEK, represented the regional government, along with a few fellow directors.
Gay noted that there were a few important things that came out of UBCM, such as $75 million Rural Dividend to be used help grow the economies of small communities, $2.2 million in funding for the Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation to go towards high-speed internet and the election of regional board directors to the UBCM executive. “We did have a number of meetings with minister and for the most part, we got positive feedback, and some of it is just letting them know that some issues are still priorities for us,” said Gay. The $2.2 million broadband
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funding was announced to complement the $3.34 million in funding received from the federal government that was announced in July. The new money was necessary to complete the project and purchase some hardware that wasn’t covered under the federal dollars. “Now we’ve got everything we asked for, so we’re very happy there,” said Gay. “Now the onus is on our Internet Service Providers working with the Columbia Basin Broadband Corporation to perform and get some of this stuff in place.” As of press time, Mayor
Pratt and Councillor Shypitka have not responded to interview requests from the Daily Townsman. Changes proposed to rural building inspections One noteworthy issue coming off the UBCM floor was a resolution that drew attention to proposed changes to the Fire Services Act, as the amendments under consideration would require regional districts to enforce the Fire Services Act in unincorporated areas, adding significantly to local government costs.
See RDEK, Page 3
Stolen car located thanks to Twitter TRE VOR CR AWLEY
Once again, Cranbrook RCMP detachment has benefitted from the power of local social media. As platforms such as Twitter and Facebook move into the mainstream, everyone from individuals, to companies to celebrities to authorities are using the medium as a way to communicate. At roughly 4 p.m. on Monday afternoon, a white, two-door Chevrolet Cavalier was stolen from the 300 block of Kootenay St. in Cranbrook. At 6 p.m., the incident was reported on the Cranbrook RCMP twitter account (@CranbrookRCMP). Only two minutes later, the vehicle was located—by a civilian member of the RCMP no less, who was off-duty at the time. “They’re processing the vehicle right now for fingerprints, but I don’t know what the results from that would’ve been,” said Cpl. Scott Milliken. Milliken adds that the car was abandoned when it was located.