InteriorNEWS We Remember
THE
108th Year - Week 45 •
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
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Second World War veteran Douglas Bateson, 95, looks back on a lifetime of memories at his 95th birthday party in Smithers in August. Bateson passed away in September but his granddaugther, Amanda, is making sure his stories and sacrifice are remembered by writing them in a book for generations to come. Story, page B7. Contributed photo
Transport emails Smithers man arrested include Smithers after armed robbery By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News
Notes from a Smithers meeting about safer transportation along Highway 16 were among 36 B.C. government emails released last week, almost one year after they were requested in a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from the B.C. NDP. On Nov. 19, 2014, North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice asked the government to release all records that referenced the issue of missing women along Highway 16, also known as the Highway of Tears. Her FOI request specifically
related to meetings about held by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) between May 15 and Nov. 19 last year. Although some of those records were made public earlier this year, a report by the B.C. Information and Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham found MoTI had located 36 emails that were “potentially responsive” to the request, but had ultimately decided not to release them. Denham recommended those emails should be made public and the Ministry released them last Monday. See TRANSPORT on A2
Smithers RCMP have arrested and charged 22-year-old suspect in relation to a brazen robbery in Smithers over the past week. The Smithers man was scheduled to appear in Smithers court Monday after an alleged armed robbery at a gas station. The incident took place on Halloween afternoon at the Copperside Foods store, which is inside the Petro-Canada gas station at the corner of Frontage Road and King Street. Police allege the man entered the store about 4:20 p.m. carrying a knife and wearing a hooded sweatshirt, black balaclava, ski goggles and gloves. He allegedly approached the cashier and demanded money from the register, taking several bills before fleeing the scene. Officers were unable to locate the suspect when, according to police, they arrived about 30 seconds after the incident took place. They seized video surveillance footage to help their
WHAT’S IN A RAINBOW? Smithers Mayor Taylor Bachrach on why he feels a rainbow crosswalk is important.
MZ JUDGED DOC SEEKS SUPPORT Creator of Mz. Judged fundraiser documentary needs help completing it.
STROLLING TO SOUTH AMERICA Los Angeles man walks from Alaska to Argentina via the Bulkley Valley.
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Friday Only! Greenworks Dish Tablets see last page in A
investigation. The man has been charged with robbery, disguise with intent and possession of a weapon. Smithers RCMP said the man was also a suspect in a second robbery three days later, although he has not been charged. Police allege the suspect approached a female store employee who was taking a coffee break behind the Shoppers Drug Mart building on Main Street at about 2:15 p.m. The suspect allegedly threatened to get out a knife when the woman refused to give him her cellphone and car keys, so she relented and gave him the phone. Police say the suspect demanded she get in her vehicle and give him the keys, but she refused and threw coffee in his face, at which point he fled the scene. The incident was also captured on video surveillance.
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