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Vol. 65, Issue 47
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A mini-baby boom to help launch spring FO R THE TOWN S MAN
The Cranbrook area is finishing off the winter with a mini-baby boom, according to Interior Health. Karl Hardt, Communications Officer for Interior Health East, wrote in an
coming. One, then another, then another, then another… In just 24 hours from March 2 to 3, a total of 11 babies entered the world at EKRH. In astrological terms, hat’s a lot of Pisces.
email that March 2 was already a hectic day at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital. A surge in patients had teams in emergency, medical and other departments scrambling. Then, the babies started
For a site that generally averages fewer than two deliveries a day, delivering 11 babies in 24 hours was a testament to the dedication, teamwork and flexibility of the great staff and physicians.
“This required monumental effort and everyone stepped up and helped out in spite of the pressures being felt in every unit,” said Karyn Morash, EKRH Acute Health Services Director. “We are learning daily
how to strengthen our teamwork within departments and between programs. It’s a difficult but exciting time to be in healthcare and I’m happy to be in it with all y’all.”
Bear sign City CAO set to retire
Poor berry crop means bears denned up skinny and may have depleted fat stores, leading them to emerge from hibernation early C A R O LYN G R A N T
It was an unusually warm February, and March is continuing in the same fashion. Does this means bears will be emerging from hibernation early? There has been some early bear activity in the Kootenays, both east and west, already this year, says Frank Ritcey, Provincial Coordinator of WildSafe BC, but the cause may not be warm weather. “In general, bears do not come out early as a response to warm weather,” he said. “The bigger factor is how much fat they have. A bear with good fat stores will stay in hibernation longer. “If the bear is skinnier and the fat reserve depleted, it will get up to find food. “My theory is that we will see more bears
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City of Cranbrook will be looking for replacement for Wayne Staudt
early this year because they went into hibernation thinner, because of poor berry crops, among other things. However, there is nothing to prove that theory yet.” There are reports of bear activity in the area, although none in Kimberley yet. In Cranbrook, a black bear was spotted on February 2 — that is quite early, Ritcey says. In Fernie, there have been two bear sightings reported and one in Elkford on January 15. “The thing is, with bears there are always some outliers, every winter the odd bear shows up. It could be because their den was disturbed; say a bear denned in a snowbank and someone walked over it.
TRE VOR CR AWLEY
After 14 years of service to the City of Cranbrook, Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Staudt will retire on March 24, 2016. Staudt, who has served in the CAO capacity since 2012, has previously announced his intention to retire, however, he postponed it in order to help the new mayor and council get their feet under them after the 2014 election. The City is currently involved in a recruitment process and hopes to make an announcement in the near future. An interim CAO position will be appointed until a permanent candidate is hired. Staudt, who has lived in Cranbrook since 1978, joined the city administration in 2002 as the Director of Finance before taking on CAO duties and has worked with six councils and four mayors over his tenure.
See DENNING, Page 3
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Jan 1 Jan 1 Jan 4 Jan 9 Jan 20 Jan 25
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See STAUDT, Page 3
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Wayne Staudt, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Cranbrook.
• EAST KOOTENAY REGIONAL HOSPITAL
Tamara Garand & Brad Ferrier of Fernie, a boy Summer Caseley & James Kaufman of Cranbrook, a girl Cathy & Greg Eaton of Cranbrook, a boy Kristin Moore & Eric Blair of Rosslan, a boy Jenn & Kjol Bjordal of Cranbrook, a girl Amy & Geoff Walker of Cranbrook, a girl
Feb 3 Feb 11 Feb 12 Feb 26 Mar 3 Mar 3 Mar 3
Keegan Fowell & Cody Tanner of Cranbrook, a boy Alanna & Nathan Laity of Cranbrook, a boy Solange & William Cox of Cranbrook, a boy Amanda O'Sullivan & John Christmas of Cranbrook, a boy Kristen Sharpe & Robert Klewchuk of Kimberley, a girl Jame & Jay Ford of Cranbrook, a girl Antonia Sedlmeir & Cam Yawney of Cranbrook, a boy
COURTESY CITY OF CRANBROOK
Jason Wheeldon
Personal Real Estate Corporation
250-426-8211
East Kootenay Realty