InteriorNEWS THE
108th Year - Week 48 •
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
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www.interior-news.com
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PM 40007014
$1.30 (gst included)
Young skaters Kaitlyn Nikkel, Galadrielle Burgess and Jadah Grimm O’Neil make snow angels at the Hazelton outdoor arena to celebrate after the facility won $100,000 in a national competition last Wednesday. Story, page B1. Alicia Bridges photo
Volunteering in Greece gives Smithers man refugee insight By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News
When Smithers-raised Ben Alles went to the Greek island of Lesbos to help Middle Eastern refugees arriving on boats from Turkey, he had hoped to work with people affected by trauma to help them on their journey to a new life. As he reached the villages of Mytilene and Molyvos and saw the sheer number of refugees, Alles quickly realized there was barely enough volunteers to keep everybody warm and clean. “We wanted to just spend time with the kids and see what we could do on that side but that didn’t actually end up happening because as soon as we got there the volume of people increased and the volunteers just weren’t enough,” he said. After realizing the reality of the refugee situation, Alles got to work helping where it was needed most: setting up tents, picking up
rubbish and cleaning toilets. He was part of a group of volunteers working with Euro Relief, the humanitarian branch of the Hellenic Ministries in Greece, in October. The volunteers also met the boats at the shore and gave the refugees food, water, dry clothes and directions to walk to a transition camp, where they could wait for a bus to take them to another camp. “We took over this first camp and, essentially, tried to organize thousands of people to get on a bus and in the meantime feed them, give them water and dry clothes and any kind of resources they might need,” said Alles. During a visit to Smithers last month, Alles said he wanted to share his experiences to help people understand refugees as individuals, not just an issue. See PLAN on A4
New RCMP plan for safer Main St By Alicia Bridges Smithers/Interior News
Staggering shifts to increase police patrols and helping businesses improve their security are among the measures being introduced by the RCMP to make downtown Smithers safer. Staff Sgt. Rob Mitchell told The Interior News this week his detachment was increasing its police presence in the Main Street area to address concerns raised by business owners and the public. He said the decision was partly a reaction to a string of seven break-ins targeting downtown businesses on Nov. 22. “[It is] in part due to the break-ins but
also to address concerns raised about aggressive panhandling and public intoxication near Bovill Square,” he said. “Citizens want to see more police presence in vehicles; also foot patrols and bike patrols.” The new measures will include staggered shifts to cover periods when a police officer had previously been on call. Smithers community safety officer Matt Davey, who has training in “crime prevention through environmental design,” will also visit businesses targeted in the Nov. 22 crime spree to make suggestions for improving their security. See MEET on A5
SMITHERS DRUG BUST Smithers RCMP seize cocaine, cannabis, mushrooms and cash.
SKIERS HIT THE SLOPES First Tracks launches Hudson Bay Mountain’s 2015 season.
TANK TALES FROM TELKWA Telkwa tank driver tells his story in new memoir publishing next week.
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Enter into our 12 Days of Christmas Draw. You could win a GIANT pallet of groceries! No purchase necessary, limit one entry per visit. If you make a donation to the BC Children’s Hospital, we’ll give you an extra entry! Final Day to enter is Dec. 22 and the draw date is Dec. 23.