TUESDAY MAY 17, 2016
RAILS 2 TRAILS
FORT MAC RELIEF
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PROUDLY SERVING KIMBERLEY AND AREA SINCE 1932 | Vol. 84, Issue 86 | www.kimberleybulletin.com
The Sullivan Mine accident; ten years later C AROLYN GR ANT Bulletin Editor
T
oday, May 17, 2016, marks the ten-year anniversary of day four people lost their lives on the Sullivan Mine property in Kimberley. Ambulance paramedics Kim Weitzel and Shawn Currier, water sampling contractor Doug Erickson, and Teck Cominco employee Bob Newcombe all died in an oxygen deprived atmosphere inside a water sampling shed near the top mine on May 17, 2006. It was a tragic day that impacted everyone in Kimberley and area.
As Mayor Jim Ogilvie said at the time, “It is one of the worst things our fire department has ever had to deal with. I spoke to some of the fire fighters this morning and they were visibly shaken. “This incident is going to affect everyone in our community. Every individual in our community will know one or the victims. The sympathy of the entire community goes out to the families.” Even ten years on the impact on the families of Kim, Shawn, Bob and Doug has not lessened. George Weitzel, widower of Kim, spoke to the Bulletin of his mem-
ories of that day and week, and the long fight for an inquest that followed. In the years since the accident, Weitzel has become an advocate for workplace safety, work he continues to this day. “It still goes on,” he said. “As memories fade, diligence about safety on the job fades. Every time I hear of a preventable accident, I find it difficult.” Weitzel’s memories of that day 10 years ago are crystal clear. “I can remember every bit of it. This season of warm, sunny days George Weitzel, whose late wife Kim was one of the paramedics memorial- triggers my memories of ized with the Fallen Paramedics Memorial, attended the ceremony dedicat- that week. It was way ing the memorial in Victoria last year with Columbia River Revelstoke MLA above seasonable in Norm Macdonald. 2006, just like this year.
In fact they attributed warm weather as a factor in the breathing of the waste dump, which led to the atmosphere in the sampling shed.” Weitzel says the days leading up to May 17 each year are always difficult. “It is a reminder of how fast a person’s life can change,” he said. “Some people say, you’ll get over it. You don’t. You only learn how to carry it around. “It may be ten years old but it’s still recent in my memory. It doesn’t seem like ten years. It’s a lot fresher than that for all of us (the four families). See TEN YEARS, p 4
Ice cream bike on the way Stay tuned for On its way to at trail near you
C AROLYN GR ANT Bulletin Editor
Kimberley residents may be hearing the siren call of an ice cream bicycle this summer. Local entrepreneur David Johnson visited Kimberley City Council last week to lay out his plans for a mobile ice cream business. The plan is to provide service to those using public parks and trails, such as: (but not limited to) Mark Creek trail, Rotary Park, Rails to Trails, Skate/Bike Park, Peak to Platzl trail, Kimberley Nature Park, Ball fields, Tennis Courts, the new flume area and swimming hole, Forest Crowne, Townsite, Chapman
Specializing in safe, environmentally-friendly and globally responsible children’s products. 117 Baker St, Cranbrook 250.489.4499
Kimberley Chamber to bylaw changes Next up, fees for using space in host open house front of stores to display wares C AROLYN GR ANT Bulletin Editor
City of Kimberley Council has deferred a decision on a change in the sidewalk café and street patio bylaw. City staff is the midst of updating all of Kimberley’s bylaws, some of which haven’t been updated in many years. Last year the City added a one time application fee and an annual fee for outdoor cafés. Now the staff recommendation is that businesses that display wares on the sidewalk outside their businesses should also be paying a fee.
See ICE CREAM , Page 3
March 31, 2016 to Heidi and Shawn Fox of Cranbrook, a son April 6, 2016 to Naomi Karanja and Vincent Oravec of Cranbrook, a daughter April 10, 2016 to Natasha Gray and Ryan Plant of Cranbrook, a son April 10,2016 Pamela and Benjamin Hellewell of Cranbrook a son April 11, 2016 to Jessica Decker and Daniel Kibala of Cranbrook, a daughter April 15, 2016 to Kelly and Christopher Waller of Cranbrook, a son April 19, 2016 to Christine and Ken Wheeler of Cranbrook, a daughter April 22, 2016 to Caitlin and Brandon Pighin of Marysville, a son May 06, 2016 to Kayla Ferguson and Chris Kinsey of Invermere a son
See BYLAW, page 5
All the info on JulyFest and more C AROLYN GR ANT Bulletin Editor
The Kimberley Chamber of Commerce will be hosting an open house on Thursday, May 26 from 5 to 7 pm at Centennial Hall. At the Open House you will get all the information you need about JulyFest, including the location of the bocce tournament. At present,
because of the new Rotary Spray Park, the location for the Canadian Bocce Championships is somewhat up in the air. The spray park will be built at the current bocce site. By the date of the open house the Chamber and city will have decided on a new location.
See CHAMBER, page 5
Jason
WHEELDON PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORP.
East Kootenay Realty
25 - 10th Avenue S l Cranbrook, BC l V1C 2M9 Office 250.420.2350 Mobile 250.426.9482 Email jkwheeldon@shaw.ca Web www.cranbrookrealty.com/cranbrookrealestate