THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016
Volume 42, Issue 11
www.starjournal.net
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Barriere students excel in TRU Skills Competition
Spruce beetle spreads in B.C. Interior ..... page 3
Crackdown on passing school buses ..... page 6 Eight students from Barriere Secondary School (BSS) competed successfully in the Cariboo Skills Competitions at Thompson Rivers University on Mar. 4. Four of the students returned with awards for their efforts. Will Dana, Isaiah Ducharme and Dawson Huber took the gold medal in the Gravity Vehicle Race, and Matlock Brown came home with the silver. This is the second year in a row that BSS teams have qualified to attend the Provincial Skills Canada British Columbia Competition which will be held Apr. 13, in Abbotsford. Pictured (l-r) are BSS team members: (Above) Anthony Dixon, Kamryn Cousins, Sami Jones, Taylynn Eustache, Dawson Huber, Isaiah Ducharme and Will Dana. (Left) BSS team member Matlock Brown.
Submitted photos: BSS
Local artists show their works in Kamloops
Fines increasing for forest fire violations
..... page 10
By Tom Fletcher Black Press
St. Patrick: Separating the truth from legend ..... page 19
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The pilot of a recreational drone that forced waterbombers from smoke-filled skies around Oliver last summer was never located, but future offenders who impede forest firefighters will face higher fines. Fines for 19 offences under the Wildfire Act, including interfering with wildfire protection efforts, are being increased to among the highest in Canada, Forests Minister Steve Thomson said Thursday. The fine for failing to comply with fire restrictions such as campfire bans will increase from $345 to $1,150. A new penalty of failing to comply with a stopwork order made because of fire risk will carry a maximum penalty of $100,000 and one year in prison. Thomson said there are “constitutional” issues with a proposal
to seize vehicles from people who toss cigarette butts out the window while driving, but the province is still considering its options. A proposal to ban people from B.C. parks if they violate campfire restrictions is also being considered, but is not included in the current changes. Thomson said the legislation will redefine “interference” with firefighters so it doesn’t mean intentional interference. That would apply to boaters who blocked air tankers from filling with water on Okanagan Lake, as well as the drone pilot who caused aircraft to land as vineyards, homes and a school around Oliver were threatened by fire. Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes the battle against two fires threatening the community last August were likely due to a recreational drone flown because “somebody just wanted a closer look. “It was very hard to drive by
B.C. Wildfire Service
Wilson’s Mountain Road fire threatens farms and homes in Oliver, August 2015. the airport and see helicopters quiet on the ground, no bombers in the air, all the while people were
clinging to the hope that the fire wouldn’t reach their homes, their businesses,” Hovanes said.
S E R V I N G T H E N O RT H T H O M P S O N VA L L E Y F R O M H E F F L E Y C R E E K TO B L U E R I V E R