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AUGUST 5, 2016
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Townsman Cranbrook
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Vol. 70, Issue 121
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Your Kootenay Cambrian connection U.S. man killed in Anomalocaris Canadensis a significant addition to the local fossil record
duced at the CHC lecture — Anomalocaris Canadensis (“abnormal shrimp”), was a member of an animal family believed to be related to ancestral arthropods. They roamed the oceans in these parts half a billion years ago during the Cambrian Period. The Cambrian lasted about 53 million years and marked a dramatic burst of evolutionary changes in life on Earth, known as the “Cambrian Explosion.” Anomalocaris was huge — almost a metre long — and is thought to have been a predator, and to have even feasted on trilobites, although the scientific jury is still out on this. We are in trilobite country after all.
B A R RY CO U LT E R
Half a billion years ago, Anomalocaris was the terror of the local seas. On July 21, the Cranbrook History Centre and Dr. Jean Bernard Caron discussed the results of a discovery in the Fort Steele neighbourhood, and a significant addition to the local fossil record, at the third installment in the CHC’s public lecture series on local paleontological heritage Dr. Caron, a renowned paleontologist with the Royal Ontario Museum, returned to Cranbrook last month to follow up on the previous Fort Steele expedition. Along with Dr. Bob Gaines, Dr. Mark Webster and Dr. Gabriela Mangano, Dr. Caron’s team looked at
SUBMITTED
Half a billion years ago, Anomalocaris swam in local waters, possibly preying on trilotes. previously discovered species and possible new species in the Fort Steele area — already
digenous to this area during Cambrian times. The creature intro-
renowned for its beds of trilobite fossils — and assessed possible soft bodied created in-
See CHC, Page 5
RCMP, COs save turtles from life of captivity
from Cranbrook attended the scene. Investigation revealed these families were taking the
the Conservation Officer Service. A Conservation Officer
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The turtles are not for the taking!
turtles home with them to have and gift as pets. The individuals, all from out of province, were charged under Section 33(1) the Wildlife Act, Unlawful Possession of Live Wildlife. “We welcome people to come and see the Western Painted Turtles in their natural habitat. When people decide to hold these turtles in captivity, we need to step in and ensure they remain in the wild. This was an excellent partnership between the Cranbrook RCMP and the Conservation Officer Service”.
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FOR THE TOWNSMAN
Cranbrook RCMP partnered with the Conservation Officer Service to save approximately 15 turtles from life in captivity. On Monday, August 1, Cranbrook RCMP were conducting patrols in the Fort Steele area when they noticed people they believed were fishing. The constable stopped to speak with the individuals and noted that they had over 15 Western Painted Turtles in their possession. The officer instructed the people to release the turtles and contacted
Cart 9 Holes withfor after 5pm 5 under $2
highway collision TOW N S M A N S TA F F
An 83-year-old American citizen is dead after a collision on Highway 93/95 Wednesday evening. RCMP are reporting the motor vehicle collision occurred just south of Canal Flats just after 7 p.m. The accident happened when a southbound rental van carrying four passengers pulled out to pass a tow truck. In trying to pass, the driver of the van put his vehicle right in the path of a northbound Ford Mustang, which was being driven by the 83-year-old, accompanied by his wife. The crash involved all three vehicles, and resulted in the death of
the driver of the Mustang. Two of the four men in the rental van sustained minor injuries, RCMP said in a press release. The highway was closed for seven and a half hours as police and a Collision Reconstructionist investigated. East Kootenay Traffic Services is continuing the investigation. The name of the deceased, an American citizen, is being withheld at this time. Police want to remind everyone that the highways are currently experiencing peak vehicle volumes. Everyone is reminded to stay vigilant, patient, and to obey all traffic signs.
MP tours riding seeking electoral reform feedback TRE VOR CR AWLEY
Electoral reform is on the mind of Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Stetski, who will be touring the riding this month to gather feedback to bring to Ottawa in the fall. The issue was one of three major planks that Stetski says has the potential to significantly change the country,
with physician-assisted dying and the legalization of marijuana being the other two. Stetski will make stops across the region and will be at the Snowdrift Cafe in Kimberley from 9 - 10 a.m. and Hot Shots Cafe in Cranbrook from 2 - 3 p.m. on Aug. 15.
See STETSKI , Page 3