August 10, 2012
The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 3
VALLEY NEWS
Dry Gulch fails to find a water solution By Kate Irwin, Pioneer Staff Two Area G communities may gain much-needed funding for water system upgrades after a resident-led initiative to bring drinkable water to Dry Gulch was deemed a failure by the project coordinator. While Dry Gulch still faces a ticking clock to bring its water up to new Interior Health standards by 2015, the $1.8 million of provincial funding allocated for the project could now be diverted to aid Wilmer and Spur Valley with their upgrades. “The regional district has tried many initiatives over the years and the residents and property owners have tried,” said Gerry Taft, mayor of Invermere, at a Regional District of East Kootenay board meeting on Friday, August 3rd. “There has been a lot of effort from everybody but the reality is there’s just not enough money and there are not enough users [in Dry Gulch].” On Friday, August 3rd, the Regional District of East Kootenay board of directors decided against going back
to the residents of Dry Gulch to vote for a second time on the latest proposed water solution for their community. The scheme would have seen the regional district enter into a private partnership with Kinbasket Water and Sewer Company, with a borrowing cost of $300,000 to get the community hooked up.
“ There has been a lot of effort from everybody but the reality is there’s just not enough money and there are not enough users [in Dry Gulch].” Gerry Taft, Mayor of Invermere
The idea received just 26 per cent support from residents when it went to a vote in September 2011. By February 1st, 2012, a group of residents calling themselves the Dry Gulch Development Property Owners had come forward with another suggestion: to
raise $2 million from residents to combine with provincial funding and create a standalone water treatment plant, at a cost of around $3.8 million. “A ‘developer-driven’ initiative to retain the grant monies and build the proposed water system was presented for the board’s consideration,” said Joe Helmer of the Dry Gulch Development Property Owners in a letter to the regional district dated July 19th. “With regret, we have to report that the initiative has failed.” High costs for the property owners group with no certainty of return on their investment is the primary reason residents were reluctant to commit funds, Mr. Helmer stated. With the deadline of the $1.8 million B.C. Community Water Improvement Program grant extended to March 2013, the regional district will now go back to the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development to ask for a reallocation of funds. They will request that $1.3 million be offered instead to Wilmer, with the remaining $500,000 going to Spur Valley.
Kelowna shooter suspect previously charged in Radium By Kelsey Verboom Pioneer Staff Three people were arrested following a highspeed chase in Kelowna on July 31st, where the fleeing suspects fired shots at police. One of the two men in custody has ties to the valley, and has been wanted since June for Radium-based drug charges. On June 16th, Columbia Valley RCMP executed a search warrant in Radium at 7330, Copper Horn Drive. The warrant was issued as part of an ongoing investigation, and when police executed
the search, they seized heroin, cocaine, and an undisclosed sum of money. Police also found enough evidence in the home to indicate drug trafficking activities. Michael Edward Ellis, 39, and Tammy Lisa Vanbuskirk, 39, were both charged with possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. Then, on July 31st, Kelowna area RCMP were shot at by the occupants of a green Dodge Caravan while attempting to pull the van over in West Kelowna. The van then sped off, and its drivers led police,
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including an RCMP helicopter, on a nearly 80-kilometre high-speed chase during which multiple shots were fired. When the suspects were eventually apprehended, one of them turned out to be the wanted Michael Edward Ellis. Mr. Ellis made a first appearance in Kelowna provincial court on August 2nd, and was charged with multiple additional offences, including three counts of attempted murder with a firearm, failing to stop in order to evade police, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.