FAMILIAR SIGHT NO MORE
TODAY’S WEATHER
Sunny and hot High 35 C Low 16 C
COURTING KELLY O
Demolition process begins
KTW talks to new Miami Heat forward Kelly Olynyk
A6
A18
KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK THURSDAY
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JULY 27, 2017 | Volume 30 No. 89
CITY PARKS REOPEN, CAUTION URGED
VENOM WIN LACROSSE TITLE
Members of the Kamloops Venom celebrate in a blistering hot Memorial Arena Tuesday night after winning the Thompson Okanagan Junior Lacrosse League title with a thrilling 10-9 overtime victory over the Vernon Tigers in the deciding game of the best-of-five championship series. For complete coverage, turn to page A17 and go online to kamloops thisweek.com and click on the Sports tab.
ANDREA KLASSEN
STAFF REPORTER
andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
Fourteen parks closed due to wildfire danger reopened at noon on Tuesday, but Kamloops’ firefighters are urging the public to take care when they head back into nature. Kamloops Fire Rescue closed the parks, which included Kenna Cartwright, the Kamloops Bike Ranch and Peterson Creek, earlier this month, saying it needed to focus resources during a period of intense fire danger. Chief Mike Adams said the wildfire situation is now stabilizing throughout the province “We feel much more comfortable there’s additional provincial resources available to us, should we have an unfortunate event in the city,” he said. Cooler weather over the weekend also played a role in the decision to reopen the parks, Adams said. While firefighting resources are not as stretched, Adams said fire danger ratings in the park remain high — as is typical for a Kamloops summer. “The threat of fire in a desert city is ever present,” he said. “So we do stress to the public to not drop our guard, dispose of smoking materials in a public receptacle and if you do see smoke or fire in any of the regions in the city to phone 911.” As well, Adams said residents should avoid parking or using gaspowered equipment in or near tall grasses.
ALLEN DOUGLAS/KTW
Former interim dean suing TRU CAM FORTEMS STAFF REPORTER cam@kamloopsthisweek.com
The former interim dean of Thompson Rivers University’s law school is seeking compensation from the university after being fired two years ago. Anne Pappas, 53, filed the suit in B.C. Supreme Court against TRU. She alleges the university terminated her employment while she was out of the country, at the start of a nine-month professionaldevelopment leave. She was hired in 2010 by TRU as a development and external-relations manager. She was later named assistant dean of TRU law school. After founding dean Chris Axworthy quit in 2013,
Pappas became temporary interim dean. Pappas is claiming TRU did not pay her adequate compensation when it terminated her employment. “The plaintiff was paid certain amounts to the date of termination, but no accounting was provided for the final payments by the defendant despite requests to do so,” the notice of civil claim states. Following her termination, Pappas was sued in B.C. Supreme Court by a former colleague, TRU law school professor Craig Jones, for defamation. Jones alleged Pappas spread false rumours that he was involved in a sexual relationship with another professor. Pappas did not file a defence to that lawsuit.
In an email message, Jones told KTW that Pappas was not served with the claim. “After a year, I decided not to renew the writ because I just couldn’t be bothered with pursuing it,” he said. As assistant dean, Pappas earned $95,000 annually, along with pension, 30 days’ extra vacation in addition to time off at Christmas and a 12-month paid “personal leave of absence” for each employment contract. She is seeking general and special damages, mental distress damages, aggravated and punitive damages. TRU has not yet filed a statement of defence. None of the allegations have been heard or proven in court.
WILDFLOWER SEASON IS HERE! Join us for the Alpine Blossom Festival, July 28 – 30
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