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Publications Mail Agreement No. 391275
50th Year No. 46
• VIGIL..
A candlelight vigil was held for those lost in Tofino. Page 5
•CONCERT...
GordieMackeeman & his Rhythm Boys are coming to town. Page 13
• WILD...
The Tri-Port Wild tied Campbell River in action this weekend. Page 16 OPINION Page 4 HOT SPOTS Page 10 SPORTS Page 16-17 CLASSIFIEDS Page 18-19
Newsstand $1.29 + GST
FP Foods closes Sundays By Trish Weatherall For the Gazette Port Alice’s only grocery store, F.P. Foods, announced in October that as of Nov. 1, it is closed Sundays “due to extreme conditions”. Store manager Bill Feader Jr. said sales have dropped about 20 per cent since the summer, and necessary investments in new freezers, meat cases, related piping and accessories have left a large debt. “Three-quarters of the store was on sale in October and still sales are plummeting,” said Feader. He had to make the decision to close Sundays, lay off one cashier, and decrease hours for other employees to reduce expenses. Shortly after the announcement, resident Pauline Steele wrote an open letter delivered to Port Alice post office boxes, imploring the community to support local business or risk losing local services. “If we really care about our community, and protecting what we have here in Port Alice,” Steele’s letter stated, “we could all pull together to support our local businesses. Is a trip down island to shop worth it if it means our local businesses can’t continue to provide the services right here? Can we rally that community spirit to help our whole community by supporting local businesses that not only offer convenience, but provide jobs for local people?” Many of the village’s residents have been affected by the Neucel mill shutdown last March, and with no recall in sight, are in a difficult financial situation. Some residents have left.
See page 2 Sunday closure for FP...”
2015 NISSAN TITAN CREW CAB PRO-4X NAVIGATION, HEATED SEATS, LEATHER, MOONROOF, LOCKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND MUCH MORE...
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Bidding Bonanza
The annual Rotary Club Auction was held at the Thunderbird Mall in Port Hardy this weekend. In the photograph, from left to right, Dan Foster, Deborah Murray, and Elizabeth Eggenberger take a turn manning the phone bids. At presstime, it was estimated that about $50,000 had been raised which will be shared between the Port Hardy and Port McNeill Rotary Clubs and put towards future projects.
IIO seeks shooting witnesses Gazette staff The Independent Investigations Office of BC investigators returned to Port Hardy Nov. 4 for follow-up interviews in an officer-involved shooting in Port Hardy July 8. James Reginald Butters, also known as James Hayward, was shot after a confrontation with two Mounties at the intersection of Granville Street and Highway 19. Police said Butters had a knife, and witnesses heard officers repeatedly shouting “Drop the knife” before several shots were fired. Since that time, the investigation has been active.
The IIO has designated one subject officer and interviewed the two witness officers, and all members of the Port Hardy RCMP. A significant number of civilian witnesses were located and interviewed. Information obtained from both police and civilian witnesses is critical to IIO investigations and to the formulation of the timeline of events. There was physical evidence recovered including a knife. These items have been forwarded for specialized forensic testing and analysis. The IIO is seeking additional Anyone who believes they have information is asked to call the IIO Witness Line at 1-855-446-8477.
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NEWS: editor@northislandgazette.com
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November 11, 2015
NORTH ISLAND
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