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JANUARY 19, 2016 Vol. 121, $ 05 Issue 9
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Veteran politician wins byelection SHERI REGNIER Trail Times
Mike Walsh, a veteran Montrose politician, will return to council following a landslide win in the village’s byelection on Saturday. The former Montrose mayor garnered 99 votes from 164 total ballots cast, securing the one seat that’s been empty since the October resignation of Coun. Mark Reid. Although he’s the clear winner, Walsh will sit in council chambers only as an observer until the first meeting next month. Chief Election Officer Bryan Teasdale clarified that before the new councillor begins his duties, a period of time must past before the swearing in ceremony. “Until the Oath of Office is taken, you can’t actually sit in,” Teasdale added. “It’s more of an observer status until he is sworn in.” The unofficial results are posted on the village’s Facebook page: Mike Walsh, 99; Linda Bouthillier, 26; Dwayne McDonnell, 23; Don Berriault, 16. Of the total votes, 64 were cast during advanced polling opportunities and 100 on Saturday, which was General Voting Day. “We were definitely pleased with the number of people who came out for our advance polls,” said Teasdale. “And with four people interested in running. Often in smaller municipalities (byelection positions) are filled by acclamation, and not an election, so it was nice to see people interested in pursuing that seat on council.” Montrose Mayor Joe Danchuk says he’s looking forward to working with Walsh, giving a nod to his past experience as well as to those who threw their hat into the ring. “We had great candidates and I want to thank everybody that ran,” he said. “This shows there is interest in politics in Montrose.”
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Westcana Electric’s highway maintenance division was on the Victoria St. Bridge on Monday scouting the structure for the installation of lights to complete the city’s Bridge Lighting Project scheduled to be finished in time for Silver City Days in May.
Busy start to 2016 for South Columbia Search and Rescue VALERIE ROSSI Trail Times
Local search and rescue is attributing an increase in calls to the high snowfall, and braces as the forecast calls for more. South Columbia Search and Rescue (SAR) has been on five calls this year in relation to winter activities, with a most recent mutual aid this past weekend near Whitewater Ski Resort in Nelson. Four lost skiers were counting their lucky stars their Personal Locator Beacon signal was received by the Joint Rescue
Coordination Centre in Victoria Saturday night. The distress signal was picked up by the RCMP, who traced the device back to some overdue backcountry skiers, while Nelson Search and Rescue headed a search in the 5 Mile Drainage area. Due to darkness and avalanche danger, a helicopter rescue team and ground crew deployed at first light Sunday. The missing group was found in good health deep in the valley bottom in a snow cave shelter with a camp fire burning. Despite knowing the area well,
the group had become disorientated due to poor visibility and claimed to have skied in a circle before they realized they were in trouble. This weekend marks the third rescue in the 5 Mile Valley this year, which South Columbia SAR has assisted Nelson with. The local group of about 28 members has also responded to a snowmobiler who was having mechanical problems and a snow cat operator who had a medical issue. The handful of calls may not seem like much, but is a drastic climb from
last year where they responded to one call. “Usually, we’ll get three calls, maybe four, and that’s through the winter and we’re just getting started and we’re already at five,” said Mike Hudson, South Columbia SAR president. While skiers and snowboarders are bowing to the snow gods and setting out to find fresh powder, Hudson is left with a sinking feeling in his stomach. “On the days that we’re really getting pounded with lots of CONTINUED ON A3 Contact the Times:
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