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Northern
www.northernsentinel.com
Volume 61 No. 48
Vermette case remains open
Cameron Orr The police search for Kitimat murder suspect Kevin Vermette continues, but the reward money for his capture is being retired at the end of the month. That means if anyone has information that can lead authorities to Vermette’s whereabouts they only have about four weeks to collect the pot which is currently approximately $25,000. Kevin Vermette was and remains the sole suspect in the grizzly triple murder which shook the community of Kitimat in July 1997. Michael Mauro, David Nunes, and Mark Teves were killed and a fourth, Donny Oliveira, was seriously wounded in the confrontation in Hirsh Creek Park. Hundreds of tips to police poured in after the incident however none led to the discovery of Vermette’s whereabouts. Vermette, at that time, was considered Canada’s most wanted criminal. The reward for his capture was offered by a committee, chaired by Richard Wozney. Wozney said it’s time to put the reward to rest. “It’s been ongoing for more than 18 years,” he said, adding, “Maybe with this news dangling out there, there may be more tips that come forward.” The reward closes after December 31 this month. “The reward was a good idea and still is a good idea but at this point in time it hasn’t produced any results. At some point in time we have to bring it to an end.” The reward was initially offered in early 1998 after the committee received donations from businesses and private individuals. It was initially $17,500 and rose with interest. Continued on page 3
These firefighters sported mustaches for a cause. /page 9 Kingfisher townhouse plan back on table.
/page 9 PM477761
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
1.30 INCLUDES TAX
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Fashionable City Centre Mall Manager Laurie Middleton says a turn out of approximately 150 people to the mall’s fashion show November 20 exceeded their own expectations for the community event. Models sporting fashions sold by retailers in the downtown area worked the runway in the lower area of the mall, while patrons were treated to local food items. The event also doubled as a food drive for the Kitimat Food Bank.
Protecting trailer owners through policy Cameron Orr For residents of Kitimat’s two manufactured home parks — Vista Village and Jed Stumps — a new policy of the District of Kitimat means better protection should the status of their homes become blurred. Residents had wanted a policy that gives assurances of the process of redevelopment of mobile home properties. Those assurances include the required timeframes for a park to be redeveloped, as well as established buy-out rates a park owner could offer to the tenants to assist with moving. The move comes after a number of stories of concerned residents of local trailer parks worried about things such as if their manufactured home park will be closed by the owners, and if they’ll end up on the street in a housing market that’s significantly higher than in year’s past. From the public discussion of the policy at the November 23 Committee of the Whole meeting some residents still indicated there is hard feelings among some for park owners. While issues such as trouble selling individual trailers was mentioned to councillors at the meeting, this town policy wouldn’t specifically address these concerns. Rather, the policy sets out rules for redevelopment. Even so the town was praised for making efforts to protect the
town’s citizens. The core component of the policy is a requirement for a communications plan by the park owner to tenants explaining any anticipated changed. Under the BC Manufactured Home Park Tenancy Act, owners can redevelopment the facilities but must give 12 months notice once all permits are in place and provide compensation equal to 12 months of rent too. The new policy requires notices to tenants be increased to 24 months from time of the council’s receipt of application. A reasonable relocation plan also must be offered to tenants under the policy. Tenants appeared quite happy with the policy, although comment received from the parks themselves were more mixed. The lawyer who represents Vista Village Owner Lee Ann Wolfin, Michael Gemmiti, said the policy as drafted shouldn’t be adopted, “because it is not needed in Kitimat,” noting the community doesn’t have the same land redevelopment pressures as other areas such as the Lower Mainland. Meanwhile the Manufactured Home Park Owners Alliance of B.C. said council should work to discourage any redevelopment of parks at all. Continued on page 2