EAGLE VALLEY
NEWS
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015 PM40008236
Vol. 60 No. 45 Sicamous, B.C., • 1.25 (GST included) • www.eaglevalleynews.com
Fundraiser to help Skyline employees By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
A fundraising effort is underway to help employees of the Skyline Truck Stop through difficult times ahead. As unstoppable flames made their way through the popular Craigellachie business during a Nov. 2 fire, Trinity Kendrick says she and fellow Skyline employees stood on the outskirts, watching, while going through a mix of emotions. “We all stood in the parking lot and cried – laughed and cried at all the memories. It’s really sad,” said Kendrick. The staff at the Skyline, Kendrick says, were like family. It was a place where lifelong friendships were born, a place where the community gathered and a refuge for many travellers. “We had co-workers that had been there for more than 20 years, a husband and wife couple there for 20 years, and single moms and that was their only income,” said Kendrick. We all stood in the Following the fire, parking lot and the Skyline’s longtime cried – laughed owners Lyall and Charand cried at all lene Hainstock were the memories. It’s finishing their last payreally sad. roll for the foreseeable future. Trinity Kendrick “They really are awesome bosses, they care about their employees,” said Kendrick. “They’re more worried about us at this point which is, I mean, it’s got to be so hard for them, you know, they sunk their livelihoods into it.” Between that paycheque and the anticipated long wait for employment insurance benefits to kick in, Kendrick saw a need to support her coworkers. She has since started a GoFundMe fundraising account to do just that (https://www.gofundme.com/cn8jub3s). “I’m opting out of anything, I don’t need it, my family will be fed and stuff,” said Kendrick. “But there are other people who have nothing. I hesitate to speak about anybody’s personal situation, of course, but there are people who were just moving into bigger, more expensive places because of chilSee Truck stop on page 2
Winged complement: A flock of pigeons joins a crew from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure and contractor JPW Construction LTD. as they are shuttled beneath the Bruhn Bridge by a Snooper Truck to conduct a routine inspection. Originally named the Sicamous Narrows Bridge, the 53-year-old structure was renamed in 1968 after local pioneer and politician Rolf W. Bruhn. Photo by Lachlan Labere
Council approves Wiseman Creek permit
Development: Hotel resort proposal downsized from original plan. By Lachlan Labere Eagle Valley News
A proposed resort development about seven years in the making may see the light of day yet. District council recently gave its support to a development permit for a 73-unit hotel, conference and restaurant facility along Mara Lake at Wiseman Creek in Two Mile. (Coun. Janna Simons was opposed.) Approval is subject to the
owner entering into a servicing agreement, including the provision of securities totalling 125 per cent of the cost estimate for servicing and engineering works, the owner registering a blanket right-ofway on the property for hydro, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure approval and the provision of a landscaping plan, including a security totalling 125 per cent of the estimate for on-site landscaping. During a public hearing, the only concerns raised per-
tained to access, which were addressed by the developer and district assistant planner Melinda Smyrl. The district has been dealing with the Wiseman Creek development proposal since at least 2007. An earlier plan had been for 264 apartment units, a restaurant and boat rental facilities, a swimming pool and a phased, 235-boat slip marina. The marina has also been reduced in capacity to less than 100 boat slips. There will be
no boat launch. Simons asked what the implications would be if the area were subject to flooding. Community planner Mike Marrs said the original approvals for this development site considered all the “geotechnical reports and potential hazard reports completed and it was ruled out as potential.” Upon issuance of a building permit for the Wiseman Creek development, the district expects to collect $280,467 in development cost charges.