THURSDAY JULY 20, 2017
• Kimberley’s JulyFest this weekend: Page A2 • My Spare Time - at Premier Lake: Page A4 • No victory in Iraq or Syria: Page A7 • Sproxton keen to guide Ice goalies: Page A8 • U12 Bandits win Silver at home tourny: Page A9
Bull River Shooters hosting Nationals: Page 10
Townsman Cranbrook
Vol. 71, Issue 85
1
$
10
INCLUDES G.S.T.
Proudly serving Cranbrook and area since 1946
The second installment of the Summer Sounds Concert Series, presented by Fisher Peak Performing Arts Society, Saturday, July 15, featured D Squared (left, with Dave Prinn and Dave Philippe) and Note-Able Folk (at right, left to right: Allan Kimmel, Dave Grieve, Janine Grieve, James Buhler). Coming up this Saturday, July 22, in Rotary Park in Cranbrook, Summer Sounds presents Tim Ross (5:30 - 6:30 pm) and Jazz Council (7 to 10 pm). Barry Coulter photos.
Man fined for tossing smoke out car window Cranbrook RCMP issued a fine under the Wildfire Act Tuesday to a man who tossed a lit cigarette out of his moving vehicle. Police responded to a complaint of a man driving on 14th Avenue in Cranbrook, who apparently tossed a cigarette out of the window of his moving vehicle into dry grass. Witnesses were able to provide a license plate number for an out of province Cadillac. The Cranbrook officer was able to locate the vehicle and issued the driver with a ticket under the Wildfire Act for “Drop Release or Mishandle Burning Substance” which carries a fine of $575. “Cranbrook RCMP would like to stress to the motoring public that with the dry conditions in and around Cranbrook, it might only take that one cigarette being tossed out a window to cause a devastating and life altering wildfire in our area,” police said in a release issued Tuesday afternoon. RCMP
Graham appointed to RDEK board TREVOR CRAWLEY
With the resignation of Tom Shypitka from Cranbrook city council and the regional district board, Cranbrook has appointed Wes Graham as his RDEK replacement. Graham served as an alternate director on the RDEK board during Shypitka’s term in municipal politics, as the latter recently resigned to focus on his MLA duties as the newly-elected provincial representative serving in the BC legislature.
In addition, Graham will also hold the same seat on the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District Board. Graham, whose appointment was unanimously approved by council on Monday evening, said he volunteered to take on the role with the RDEK after a little prodding from Mayor Lee Pratt. “Being the alternate and covering MLA Shypitka’s absences, it gave me a bit more knowledge around the board table and Lee asked me if I’d
be interested in continuing on and I said yes,” Graham said. Graham was elected to council in the November 2015 municipal elections, however, he also has experience in local politics, serving on Creston council for nine years His time as an alternate has helped him gain an understanding of the full scope of RDEK responsibilities and how the regional governance structure works. “[I want to] focus on issues that affect Cranbrook and how
we can be a part of the solution,” said Graham, “or how the board can work together for better outcomes as we did with recreation and their involvement with Idlewild Park; I think those kind of partnerships are crucial.” Graham joins 14 other municipal directors or electoral area directors from the East Kootenay region at the board table. Councillor Danielle Cardozo was also appointed as Graham’s alternate if he cannot attend a meeting.
Officer appointed for coming by-election TREVOR CRAWLEY
Following the resignation of councillor Tom Shypitka last week, Cranbrook mayor Lee Pratt announced the city will be appointing a Chief Electoral Officer by the beginning of August to coordinate a by-election for the now-vacant seat.
Pratt said the city has a Chief Electoral Officer in mind, with the term officially beginning on Aug. 2. Following that, there is an 80-day period for nominations and a campaign before the vote, which will occur on a Saturday yet to be scheduled, according to the Local Government Act.
Since it is not a municipal election year, a by-election must be held. Under provincial legislation, council has the authority to decide whether or not to hold a by-election if a council seat is vacated after Jan. 1 of an election year. Shypitka resigned in order to focus on his MLA duties,
as he won the Kootenay East riding in the May 9 provincial election for the BC Liberals. Pratt lauded Shypitka’s input at the city council and RDEK table, noting he was a dedicated councillor who did his research on the issues and kept the public’s interest at the forefront.