Similkameen Spotlight, October 07, 2015

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Celebrate your firefighters

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SPOTL SPOT SPOTLIGHT LIGHT $1.10 Includes TAX

The Similkameen

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Volume 65 Issue 40

Proudly serving the community since 1948 • www.similkameenspotlight.com

A pool is on the table

Driver eludes radar, dies in crash Andrea DeMeer Spotlight Staff

While stressing all plans are strictly conceptual in nature, town officials say the proposed aquatic and wellness center could include features like meeting rooms for social gatherings and an indoor walking track. Andrea DeMeer Spotlight Staff

Town council is likely to make a splash with its recent announcement that an indoor pool – part of a health, wellness and aquatic center for the Town of Princeton – is definitely back on the table. “We are looking to start firmly planning it in 2016,” Mayor Frank Armitage told the Spotlight last week. Armitage said the question of funding for a pool was recently raised at the Union of British Columbia Municipalities’ conference for the first time. “We asked that the provincial government partner

with us to secure the necessary funding from the federal and provincial governments to complete a project for Canada’s $150th birthday in 2017,” said Armitage. “The premier encouraged us and liked our approach. We feel very confident that there will be funding available.” Armitage stressed that all plans for a wellness and aquatic center are, at this point, “conceptual in nature.” A committee of councilors and interested parties will be struck early next year to look at fundraising and planning options, he said. The idea of a pool will live or die on

Weather Watch

the issue of whether or not Princeton can afford to build and operate a facility. “We hope we can put together a realistic plan with acceptable costs to them [the taxpayers]. Otherwise we will not pursue it.” Princeton CAO Rick Zerr said the pool project needs to be broad in scope, and could incorporate community meeting spaces as well as an indoor walking track. “It isn’t just a pool, it’s got to be more than a pool. We want it to be a place that is used by the population on a daily basis.” Twice in the past proposals to build an indoor pool in partnership with the continued page 12

A vehicle that raced through police radar on Highway 3 at high speed last Sunday was found two days later at the bottom of a steep embankment 44 kilometers further along the road. The driver, German Santana, 65, of Victoria, was deceased at the scene, approximately 24 km west of Princeton. His body was discovered last Tuesday evening by Santana’s 34-year-old son. The coroner’s office is now investigating the accident. According to Sergeant Barry Kennedy the Independent Investigations Office – which queries all cases where police officers are involved in incidents that result in death or serious harm – will not be called in as “there is no correlation between the accident and any actions taken by police.” According to Kennedy an officer on patrol near Bromley Rock clocked Santana’s 2008 Ford Ranger travelling west on Highway 3 at 150 km an hour, at approximately 6:30 p.m. September 27. While the officer engaged lights and sirens in an attempt to stop the truck, the speeding vehicle accelerated even further, and the officer did not initiate a high-speed chase. “For the safety of the public and the safety of the driver at this point the decision was made to not pursue the vehicle,” said Kennedy. “The vehicle disappeared into the darkness and we never saw or heard anymore about it.” Kennedy said the officer did not radio ahead to notify officers in Princeton about the speeding truck, as there was only one cruiser on duty at the time. “The officer made the right call to pull over and not pursue the vehicle,” said Kennedy. The following morning Princeton RCMP were notified that Santana, travelling from Osoyoos to continued page 3

FLETCHER Building Supplies

Wednesday

High18/Low4

Thursday

High21/Low6

Open @ 7am Mon-Fri, 8:30 am Sat, 9am Sun

Friday

High23/Low13

email: info@fletcherace.com

Saturday

High20/Low13

Sunday

High19/Low12

222 Burton Ave.,Princeton

250-295-6938

Bring your Coupon Book in for Savings! Sale ends Saturday, October 24th

* If you find an identical item advertised locally at a lower price, we will match it! * Item must be identical and in stock. No rain cheques.

Coupon books were inserted in the Spotlight last week.


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