Inside
◆ FUNDING FOR CENTRE - PG 2 ◆ NORTH ROAD CONCERNS - PG 6 ◆ FSJ FALCONS - PG 7 ◆ NEW DOULA - PG 5
Published by Black Press Ltd at 150 West Columbia Street, Vanderhoof, BC V0J 3A0 Publications Mail Contract #: 40007759
WEDNESDAY, October 14, 2015
PHONE: 996-8482 www.caledoniacourier.com
VOL. 38 NO. 33 $1.30 inc. GST
NEWS BRIEFS Trees-onfarmland program ‘not expanding’ TOM FLETCHER Black Press
A British-based manufacturing company is considering switching its B.C. tree-planting program from farmland to areas deforested by fire or pine beetles. Reckitt Benckiser Group plc added another three farms to its B.C. land holdings over the summer, prompting an accusation in the legislature that it was breaking its promise to suspend planting trees on farmland. The company halted the program in June after more than 10,000 ha of farmland in the Peace, Prince George and Cariboo regions were acquired to use as carbon offsets for the company’s world-wide operations. Delta South MLA Vicki Huntington released title documents for a 320 ha grain and cattle farm purchased near Dawson Creek in July, three weeks after the company, now known by its initials RB, said the program was halted. Asked about the timing of the purchase, RB issued a statement saying the company had three signed agreements to buy more B.C. farms when it “paused” its tree planting program to review it. Local governments have objected to productive farmland being reforested, and the effect it would have on farming communities. RB’s website says it has planted more than seven million trees in B.C. Letnick said the company has planted most of the 10,000 ha of farmland it acquired up until this spring, and the three new acquisitions bring the total to 12,000 ha.
The house, the morning of the fire on Oct. 4.
RCMP seek help in suspicious house fire BARBARA LATKOWSKI Caledonia Courier
The Fort St. James RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance for information relating to a suspicious residential structure fire. On Sunday October 4, 2015 at 4:18am, off-duty police officers from Fort St. James RCMP were travelling up Highway 27 North. Flames were observed shooting from a residence at 40 Williams Prairie Road. The Fort St. James Volunteer Fire Department attended with on-duty officers from the Fort St. James RCMP Detachment. The house was fully engulfed and could not be saved. No one was inside the residence at the time and no one was injured. The property was secured and the Forensic Identification Section from
Prince George attended and examined the scene. At this time, the fire is being treated as suspicious and the Fort St. James RCMP is asking for the public’s assistance if they saw anything or if they have any information about the incident. Police are specifically asking for any witnesses who may have been driving on Highway 27 (North Road) between 3:00am and 4:18am. Police are asking for the public to call if they saw any vehicles or pedestrians coming or going from Williams Prairie Road around that time. If you have any information, please call the Fort St. James RCMP at (250) 996-8269 or if you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
Driveway leading to Williams Prairie Rd. where police expect a vehicle or persons may have been.