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FEBRUARY 9, 2016 | Volume 29 No. 17
WEATHER Periods of snow High 2 C Low 1 C
SUN PEAKS SNOW REPORT Mid-mountain: 132 cm Alpine: 165 cm Snow phone: 250-578-7232
GHOST HUNTERS OF KAMLOOPS
WILL WE SEE THEIR FINANCIALS?
Meet Jon and Karina Kozuska
Judge orders release of WHL teams’ numbers
A19
A13
Mountie did not breach Charter
The city is looking at upgrading the main lighting system at Sandman Centre to LED to fulfill a Western Hockey League mandate that all games be broadcast in high definition. The conversion will cost about $300,000. The city also needs to retrofit Sandman Centre’s boards and glass to a new WHL standard at a cost of about $550,000 and retrofit bleachers nearest to the ice for about $460,000.
CAM FORTEMS STAFF REPORTER cam@kamloopsthisweek.com
An RCMP member concerned about her safety after pulling over a truck with violent criminals inside did not breach the Charter when she asked one of them, ‘Do you have something on you?” That question to Charles Patrick in December 2013 netted a sawed-off shotgun stashed under his jacket. The evidence, along with more illegal firearms seized at Patrick’s home, was excluded from trial by B.C. Supreme Court Justice Hope Hyslop in a ruling in 2015. As a result, the Crown could not proceed to trial and Patrick walked away. The Crown appealed the ruling, however, and the B.C. Court of Appeal has overturned part of Hyslop’s ruling. It ordered a new trial on three charges relating to the shotgun seized at roadside, but ruled five other charges cannot proceed. The incident began on Dec. 11, 2013, when Cpl. Kelly Butler pulled over an SUV with four men inside, including Patrick at the wheel. Butler called for back-up and three other Mounties arrived. The three passengers were co-operative when asked to leave the vehicle, but Patrick delayed and fumbled with something inside. Police yelled at him to put his hands on the wheel, but he did not comply. Patrick finally left the SUV when another officer entered from the passenger side and screamed at him to get out. See NEW TRIAL, A6
KTW FILE PHOTO
Sandman Centre upgrades pegged at $1.5M ANDREA KLASSEN STAFF REPORTER andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
Changing standards for major-junior hockey are behind more than a million dollars in upgrades at the Sandman Centre council must decide whether to fund over the next three years. All told, the home of the Kamloops Blazers needs more than $1.5 million in repairs, upgraded systems and trespassing deterrence, according to staff requests on this year’s supplemental budget list. Parks, recreation and cultural services director Byron McCorkell said the city
has until 2019 to upgrade its main lighting system at the arena to LED to fulfill a Western Hockey League mandate that all games be broadcast in high definition. The conversion will cost about $300,000. The city also needs to retrofit Sandman Centre’s boards and glass to a new WHL standard with improved shock absorption, designed to cut down on injuries, at a cost of about $550,000. To accommodate the boards, the city must retrofit the bleachers nearest to the ice for about $460,000. McCorkell said if the city doesn’t change the bleachers, it will lose the first row of seating in the arena, which is one
1 0 0 % p u r e C R A F T S M A N S H I P. A
of the most popular spots for spectators. Asked why it’s up to the city to pay for the changes rather than the WHL, McCorkell said the new requirements are being driven by Hockey Canada, not just the league. “We own and operate hockey rink so we need to provide one which meets the standards,” he said. “We also benefit from having a WHL team through rent, marketing and food and beverage sales. No team, no revenue.” McCorkell said the arena’s ice plant condensers are also due to be replaced, at a cost of $200,000. See DECISION DAY, A6 ®™ Trademark of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. Used under licence by LoyaltyOne, Inc. and Craftsman Collision Ltd.
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