FILL UP THOSE TOY BOXES
TODAY’S WEATHER
Sunny and hot High 35 C Low 18 C
GONE TOO SOON
Help make a kid’s day brighter
Parents sound warning after daughter’s death
A13
A15
KAMLOOPS THIS WEEK THURSDAY
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AUGUST 3, 2017 | Volume 30 No. 92
NO REPRIEVE FROM THE HEAT JESSICA WALLACE STAFF REPORTER jessica@kamloopsthisweek.com
One need only look to B.C. wild fires to surmise the weather has been hotter and dryer than normal, but statistics from Environment Canada paint a detailed picture. And that picture is a smoky desert called the River City. “I don’t think it surprised any one,” said Environ ment Canada meteo BC Hydro is expecting a rologist summer electricity usage Alyssa Char record to be broken this bonneau. week as the mercury Last heads for historic highs month, Kamloops’ in the province. hot Page A4 test day peaked at 38.5 C on July 6, with three more days tipping the 36 C mark. Environment Canada records are based on temperatures measured at Kamloops Airport, so residents may have noticed higher readings on their vehicle dashboards or felt hotter temperatures under the sun in their backyards, depending on where they live. The record high can be traced back to July 31, 1971, at 40.6 C — meaning last month’s hottest day was about two degrees shy of beating the
RECORD TO FALL?
city’s alltime hottest day on record. “That’s pretty hot for Kamloops,” Charbonneau said. The B.C. Wildfire Service’s chief information officer told reporters in a recent fire update they are keeping a close eye on the weather, antici pating potentially recordbreaking weather into the long weekend. “We are on the cusp of a heatwave across Southern B.C. . . .,” Kevin Skrepnek said. “Of course, hot and dry conditions are going to make it more volatile from a wildfire per spective.” A lack of rain isn’t helping the situation. Environment Canada reported just 3.4 millimetres of precipitation fell in Kamloops last month, about 10 per cent of the 31.4 millimetres July usually receives. June was also much drier than normal, also checking in with 3.4 millimetres of rain. June normally receives 37.4 millimetres of rain. Charbonneau said the hot and dry conditions are due to a ridge of high pressure that has been “very persistent.” Moisture coming off the Pacific Ocean has been bypassing the Interior and heading north. The Yukon has been experiencing the wet weather of which our local firefighters surely dream. Headed into the B.C. Day long weekend, Charbonneau noted the forecast is calling for much of the same for Kamloops.
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See TEMPERATURES, A4
RCMP wants a hand ANDREA KLASSEN
STAFF REPORTER
andrea@kamloopsthisweek.com
DAVE EAGLES/KTW
STEPPING UP FOR YOUTH HOMELESS
Joe Roberts and his Push for Change cross-country walk to raise awareness and funds to prevent youth homelessness stopped at Kamloops United Church on Tuesday. To read more about his initiative, turn to page A14 and go online to thepushforchange.com.
The head of the Kamloops RCMP says other organizations in the city need to step up as Mounties are being swamped with calls that have more to do with social issues than criminal behaviour. Crime statistics for the second quarter of 2017 show most types of crime falling within the city, but provincial statute files — often public intoxication — are up 10 per cent, from 650 to 718 files, and files labelled other Criminal Code viola tions, which include vagrancy and nuisance calls, have risen by 9.5 per cent, from 759 to 831. Mueller told the city’s police committee Monday the depart ment is also seeing an increase in crimes of opportunity and fraud, in which stolen iden tification and credit cards are used. “We’ve seen an increase in the number of homeless people in this city . . .” Mueller said. See AGENCIES, A5
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