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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 2020 | Volume 33 No. 37
NO SOAK THIS YEAR
CANCELLED BY COVID TODAY’S WEATHER
University sports fall victim to the pandemic
Sun, clouds, showers High 25 C Low 11 C
It appears as though the flood threat is subsiding in the region
SPORTS/A31
NEWS/A5
Defunding? No Body cameras? Yes JESSICA WALLACE
STAFF REPORTER
jessica@kamloopsthisweek.com
DAVE EAGLES/KTW Toddlers Kelly (left) and Quinn watch with anticipation for one of 21 painted lady butterflies to gain strength and fly away after kids in the Parasol Early Years Learning class released the newly formed butterflies into the environment recently at the Stuart Wood playground downtown.
Flying away from the cocoon DAVE EAGLES
STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
dave_eagles@kamloopsthisweek.com
Through the stages of egg, larva, pupa and emergence, a group of pint-sized pupils learned about the magic of butterflies. Recently, children from Parasol Early Years Learning made the one-block migration from their 350 Seymour St. home, parading 21 painted lady butterflies en route to
their anticipated release at the Stuart Wood playground. Educator Tiffany Reid assembled her collection of toddlers and children around the enclosure before carefully opening the door to the world for the butterflies. There was no rush for freedom. Little by little, their brightly coloured wings took flight as little hands and feet padded around the playground, their curiosity piqued by the nectar-feeding insects.
A few social butterflies needed coaxing before venturing out into the wide open. A few others boldly took to the air straight away, flying high, away and out of sight. Most of the Lepidoptera brethren made short flights to nearby benches and sunlit grassy areas, which allowed for many goodbyes to be exchanged. Next up on the youngsters’ learning list — ladybugs.
Kamloops politicians have no interest in defunding the police — the city’s single-largest expenditure — despite calls sparked by the George Floyd protests. But they are in favour of having local Mounties equipped with body cameras. Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian said calls to defund police are coming from areas served by sizeable municipal police forces, largely in major American cities. Two Toronto councillors have called for defunding of the Toronto Police Service by 10 per cent, redistributing the money cut to community resources. Kamloops’ policing budget has grown by more than that number in recent years. Christian told KTW whenever the city solicits feedback on spending priorities, the public has consistently over the last decade prioritized uniformed services: police, fire and bylaws. Defunding, he said, would result in increased response times. “If you’re in any danger, there’s
priority one [calls] and it takes somewhere in minutes to get there,” Christian said. “If we defund the police, it’s going to take ex-number plus more. I know for priority three calls, the last time [Kamloops RCMP Supt.] Syd [Lecky] and I were doing an open house in North Kamloops, it was 75 minutes to respond to priority three calls. Maybe it’s going to be an hour and a half. That’s the result.” Councillors Dale Bass and Mike O’Reilly sit alongside the mayor on the city’s community services committee, which deals directly with RCMP and oversees issues like crime and poverty. Neither are in favour of defunding the police. Bass said the Car 40 program, a partnership with Interior Health that pairs mental-health professionals with police officers, is making a difference and council has discussed expanding the program. In addition, Bass said, the police are working with city bylaws to address street issues. “It’s never enough, but it is a step in the right direction,” Bass said.
End of Spring Sale June 12-14!
30% off Storewide! Some exclusions apply.
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See LOCAL RCMP, A6
Covid Practices in Effect
420 Nunavut Way Kamloops, BC Behind Home Hardware & Honda on the Halston
GREAT SELECTION OF FRUIT TREES! PLANT EARLY FOR GREAT SUCCESS!