2010
on uk
Bri tis
lumbia & Co Y
h
w
sp
Th urs da y , A u g u s t 1 9 , 2 010
Serving the South Country, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford since 1898
SPCA APPEAL
ape
r Exce
en
Ne
3,301 - 6,000 Circulation
ce
First Place ll
$1.10 ( inc lude s H S T)
Crafty kids
Cats up for adoption - Page 3
PM’S VISIT
Stephen Harper honours local MP Page 4 FERNIE
Kids are enjoying summer creatively thanks to the summer activity program at Fernie Heritage Library. More photos on page 12 Photo by Mike Bull
Miner’s jurassic fossil find By Rebecca Edwards Free Press Staff
T Physio heads to Bhutan - Page 10
SPORT
After the TransRockies - Page 13 - 14
he largest moveable ammonite fossil ever found in Canada was unearthed by a miner at Coal Mountain six years ago – but it is so heavy, no museum has ever displayed it. Structural engineers said the 5,500 lb fossil could damage the floors at Courtenay Museum on Vancouver Island if it was displayed there. But now two lightweight exact replicas have been made so the fossil can be examined up close. The 150 million year old, 1.5 metre diameter, 5,500 lb fossil has been sitting out of sight in the loading area of the paleantology centre since it was donated by mine owners Teck in 2006. Hydraulic shovel operator Richard Budd noticed the unusual rock among his shovel load during a night shift in winter 2004, and set it aside for geologists. Speaking to The Free Press this week, Budd, of Hosmer, said he was pleased to hear the fossil could finally be displayed. He added: “I picked it up and
right away I knew it was different from the ridges on the rock. I moved it out to the side and a load operator came and picked it up. “When the geologists saw it in the morning, they were pretty excited about it.” Nic Milligan of Teck said this week that one of the replicas may be moved to the company headquarters in Vancouver, but another replica may be commissioned to go on display in Sparwood. The other replica will be displayed at the paleantology centre in Courtenay. Milligan added: “It is not uncommon to find fossils at the mines although nothing of this scale. “The beauty of it is that it completes the picture of where the coal came from and how it formed.” The ammonite is the second largest of its kind found in Canada. The largest is located near Coal Creek in Fernie and is so heavy and delicate it cannot be extracted from the mountain. The mold and replicas of the Coal Mountain fossil have been made by a company called Palcoprep based in Drumheller. The polyurethane
The 1.5 metre ammonite, which was discovered by Coal Mountain mine worker Richard Budd in 2004. Photo by Palcoprep
replicas have now been cast and are being painted. They weigh less than 150 lbs. Company president Frank Hadfield said the ammonite was a sea creature similar to a squid or octopus that would have had tentacles emerging from its coiled shell and an eating apparatus like a
parrot’s beak. Hadfield said ammonites became extinct at the same time as dinosaurs, but this ammonite dates from earlier in the Jurassic period. He added: “There haven’t been many fossils of that size found – most ammonites are the size of a dinner plate.”
2010
on uk
Bri tis
lumbia & Co Y
h
w
Th ursda y , A p r i l 2 9 , 2 0 1 0
ROCKY MOUNTAIN VILLAGE
Serving the South Country, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford since 1898
ELKFORD
Wapiti wins award - Page 3
SPORTS
Two Paiges, two awards - Page 17
r Exce
ll
$1 ( inc lude s GS T)
A mammoth discovery By Rebecca Edwards and Mary Giuliano Free Press Staff
Volunteers praised - Page 12
ape
en
Ne
3,301 - 6,000 Circulation
sp
ce
First Place
P
opeye Fontana thought nothing of the fossil he found out on a hunting trip in the Corbin area of the Flathead Valley – but, years later, a scholar has confirmed it is a mammoth tooth over 16,000 years old. Sparwood resident Fontana, who is in his eighties, noticed the unusual fossil while out hunting three years ago, but it like. wasn’t until earlier this year that “This particular specimen has its significance was recognized. been exposed and is very oxidized One of but it was instantFontana’s relaly recognizable. tives is the “I compared “It was instantly hairdresser it to the photos recognizable as for Rodger I had taken and something unusual.” Hauge of the was able to idenDepartment tify it as a mamRodger Hauge of Education moth tooth.” Department of Education at Eastern The tooth is the Eastern Washington University, Wa s h i n g t o n size of a human Spokane University in hand – the mamSpokane. She moth would have took the fossil been a similar to him, and he size Mammoths died out at the realized what it was. end of the last ice age and were Hauge told The Free Press: “They herbivores, are very uncommon. I knew Hauge said mammoths were straightaway it was either a mam- common in the Canadian Rockies moth or mastadon tooth, because at the end of the last Ice Age. strangely enough I had just seen Their teeth were made up of a both those artefacts in the previous row of vertically oriented attached week, so I knew what they looked
plates that create a washboardlike grinding surface which could more easily grind up tough grasses and thick vegetation. The mammoth had four teeth – two uppers, two lowers. Over the course of its life, the mammoth had six sets of teeth, with the old sets being pushed out to make way for a new set. The animal’s lifespan was limited by the state of its final set of teeth – once they became worn down there were no new ones to replace them and it was unable to chew its
food. Fontana said he was “astonished” to discover the fossil was so rare. Hauge added that he is often given fossils to look at, but they are not usually as interesting as this. “[Fontana’s niece] Gina has cut my hair for maybe 20 years, and when she said she had a fossil to show me, I thought, okay. But when I saw what it was it was instantly recognizable as something unusual.”
The mammoth tooth fossil found by Elk Valley resident Popeye Fontana. Photo by R. Hauge
2010
on uk
Bri tis
lumbia & Co Y
h
w
sp
T hu rsda y , J u n e 1 0 , 2 0 1 0
MINE RESCUE
Greenhills are the best in B.C. Page 12 - 13
Serving the South Country, Fernie, Sparwood, Elkford since 1898
Miss Elkford 2010 - Page 3
SPARWOOD
Class of 2010 - Page 2
SPORT
r Exce
ll
$1 ( inc lude s GS T)
Early start to bear season 20 sightings of bears in yards and garbage By Rebecca Edwards Free Press Staff
MISS ELKFORD
ape
en
Ne
3,301 - 6,000 Circulation
ce
First Place
W
et and cold weather in May has driven bears into town in search of food supplies much earlier than usual. In the past two weeks there have been 20 reports of bears in yards throughout the Elk Valley, several months before they normally descend from the mountains. Fernie Bear Aware coordinator Kathy Murray said the bears have not been aggressive but warned it is important to keep garbage locked up and take bird feeders in to stop them getting accustomed to human food. Hikers and bikers should carry bear spray and make plenty of noise on trails. Murray added: “I think the reason is that we had a low snow pack and
an early start to spring so many bears emerged from the dens early. “Since then the wet and cold weather has stopped the vegetation at altitude from greening up so they are moving closer to us. “I have been doing Bear Aware since May 2005 and I have never seen this many reports. “Normally at this time of year we would only have a few calls of bears passing through - never anything like this.” Murray said a lot of bears have been attracted to bird feeders and to food left out for deer – as well as deer themselves. She added: “These are the kind of things people would normally be thinking about in August and September, but they need to start doing it now. • Call in bear sightings to 1-877-952-7277 to help Bear Aware monitor the situation.
Bears in garbage
Muddy bikers at Whistler - Page 20
Fernie • Ridgemont Crescent • Coal Creek trail near Cokato Road • West Fernie: sow and cub spotted on trail between the river and Burma Road • Downtown Fernie: Park Crescent, Park Avenue, Fernie Mobile Home Park • Alpine Trails: sow and two cubs seen near homes. • Fernie Alpine Resort: base area, Timberline Crescent, Highline Crescent • Mount Fernie Provincial Park bike trails Elkford • Grizzly bear sightings by old boneyard • Black bears throughout the community
West Fernie resident Ian Bolzenius walked out of his front door and discovered this black bear eyeing up a pack of muffins in the back of his housemate Jeremy Wishart’s car two weeks ago. Photo by Ian Bolzenius
2
www.thefreepress.ca
THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, August 27, 2009
Wishing Rick & Shari Gris
a Happy 40 th Anniversary August 23, 2009
Mom & Dad, Your love and friendship over the years is an inspiration to us all! Love Tanya, Dwight, Nevaeh, Brody & Jaelyn, Nicole & Chris, Shane, Kathy, Sienna & Seneca, Andrea & Blair
BEAR AWARE OPEN HOUSE Saturday, September 5th College of the Rockies, Fernie Campus 4:oo to 8:00 pm • Featuring a slide show at 7:00 pm by
Grizzly Bear Expert Charlie Russell and much more …
• 4:00 to 5:00 pm: Kids Activities: crafts/songs/stories • 4:00 to 7:00 pm: Workshops and Displays, Charlie Russell ’s movie “The Edge of Eden ”, book signing by Charlie and much more …
As this educational event is free of charge (donations are welcome) all participants are required to register. To avoid delays the day of, we suggest that you preregister at the C.O.T.R. in person or call 250-423-4691.
For more details contact your local Bear Aware Program. www.bearaware.bc.ca Funding contributions provided by:
Garbage
wars
Battle against early bins in Elkford
neighbour will assist us with the bears.” Last week’s early evening patrol caught 29 early bins, versus 35 the previous week. The patrol takes place at a different time each week, sometimes getting people out of bed to point a flashBy Rebecca Edwards light at their bin on the sidewalk. Free Press Staff Clark says that recently he was called out to a barking dog e’re at 2 a.m. and saw bins outside from around 170 of the houses in town. Bear “We want to get that down Aware and we’re Sarah Smith of Elk Valley Bear Aware slaps an going door-to-door information sticker on an overfilled bin breaking local bylaws to zero,” says Smith, looking trying to make sure that say bins shouldn’t be on the sidewalk until after 5 a.m. hopeful. Next morning the garbage Photo by R. Edwards people don’t put collection. collection takes place and a their garbage out bear sighting is called in by the early. It attracts wildlife into the when dealing with garbage.” Smith and Scott go from street public works department. street and we’re trying to stop that.” to street, stopping by bins that are “It could have been just a random It’s 7:30 p.m. and Sarah Smith of Bear Aware is just beginning to patrol placed on public land to slap a sticker sighting,” says Smith. “But chances on the lid and talk to the owner, if are it was attracted by garbage. Elkford. “Once a bear has got into garbage The search is on - not for roam- they’re home. Most residents seem unaware of once, unless the town is cleared of ing bears, but for delinquent wheelie the bylaw and apologetically move garbage it is going to find more and bins. Every Wednesday this summer the bin back against the house once after five or six times they are classified as habituated and food condiSmith along with District of Elkford they’ve heard the reason for it. Others aren’t so understanding tioned. They have less fear of humans bylaw officer Dave Scott have been patrolling the streets in search of one guy comes out to stop them and and can become more aggressive. garbage cans already out on the side- tells them he’s never taken his large That is what we want to prevent.” • For more information call bylaw walk - more than 12 hours before wheelie bin indoors and will never do it. officer Dave Scott at 250-865-4024 they will be collected by an autoAnother man angrily defends his • What do you think of the Bear mated collection on Thursday. Elkford District bylaw states that choice of putting his vacationing Aware sticker program? Email freeit is a finable offence to place a solid neighbour’s garbage out a day early. press@shawcable.com or call 250Elsewhere in town there is evi- 423-4666. waste cart out for pickup prior to 5 dence of an even bigger problem – a a.m. on the date set for solid waste garbage can filled to the brim with collection. stinking rubbish, which Smith says Residents who ignore the bylaw would be a dream discovery for a could be hit with a $50 penalty but hungry bear. the Bear Aware initiative is designed “We took a walk behind a street to educate people before it gets to Elkford last year and found bear scat with that point. • Niagra Crescent - bear sighting remnants of diapers in it. Each bin they find on public land during garbage pick up – Thursday, “Other bins are tied down with before 5 a.m. is marked with a fluorAugust 20 escent sticker stating it has broken bungee cord, as though that will stop • Natal - bear sighting in the the bylaw and giving Scott’s phone the bear getting in. daytime feeding on berries - Friday “The worst bins are the communal number in case they want more inforbins for apartment complexes which August 21 mation. • Peace Park on Friday, Aug. 21 In Elkford, where around half the are out in the open 24/7 and bears • Balmer Crescent - Female black residents work 7 a.m to 7 p.m. shifts knock them over like nothing. You bear and cub sighted in the aftercan see the scratch marks on the side at the mines, it may be tempting to noon Sunday, August 23 put the garbage out before work or of them. Mayor of Elkford Dean McKerracher bed, but it has serious consequences, Fernie says that since 2007 the district has says Scott. • A bear has been seen passsaved thousands of dollars through “Nine bears were shot in Elkford ing through properties on lower the new automated collection system, last year – all of them garbage bears Timberline Crescent and on that had become used to eating from where a truck automatically empties Boomerang Way at Fernie Alpine the large wheelie bins at each house. bins. He added: “We have a regular col- Resort. “Most people probably don’t know • Many bear sightings (black and lection schedule so people should that until I tell them – they’re usually grizzly) seen in and around the now know when they have to put pretty shocked. bike park at Fernie Alpine Resort “The people who had bear traps set their bin out. If they really can’t do • A bear and two cubs seen on it in the morning I would like to see up in their yards get pretty upset too Dem Bones bike trail in Mount when they find out the bear has been them asking their neighbours to put Fernie Provincial Park shot. So I’m thinking, let’s do better their bin out for them, being a good
“W
Bear Corner Bear sightings
2
www.thefreepress.ca
THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, September 9, 2010
Create shopping lists, price watch and more.
We make it easy! Featured
-./0%123%456378% 5699:/./;%./% <12=%314/>
Ancient tree trail unveiled Signs for cottonwoods
!"#$%&'"($%)&*+"
t
Contes
!",-*).-"
By Rebecca Edwards Free Press Staff
!"#/0*1$$2" !"3456$*2"
!"#$%
&"'(&% 4BWF 5JNF 4BWF .POFZ
Visit our other Black Press sites
)*+,% ,"#$'*
!"#$%"&'%()*+, -./0!1230.&4035&-163728 9&:.3&!2.3-0:-1 !"#$%&'(%)*+','-).)'/)00#1'23&#'4")3&5 67'8)1*9'!:+%;#"'67'$<)")&+##8
-./0!1230.&25;411;:&9&:.3&!2.3-0:-1 -%"+=#"&'()03>%"&3)'.0<*'?#&%','@):A.%+ 6B'8)1*9'!:+%;#"'C6'$<)")&+##8
-./0!1230.&21:5&'.2.;5
D)&'E")&:3*:%9'F3*&#10)&8','G)*'/#$)*5 6H'8)1*9'F#:#I;#"'CJ'$<)")&+##8
!!"#$%&'"()"'$&*+,$
WIN! Enter for your chance to
...a trip for 2 to the
Cathedral Mountain Lodge!
M
ore visitors are now able to view and understand the oldest cottonwoods in North America in Morrissey, thanks to a series of new interpretative signs unveiled last week. The ancient cottonwoods in Morrissey are up to 400 years old, more than twice the norThree-year-old Hayden Fraser, of Fernie, gets a closer look mal age of cottonwoods in at the oldest cottonwoods in North America. Haydenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s North America. The Nature Conservancy mother Carla worked at Tembec when cottonwood grove of Canada (NCC) bought the was sold to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Photo by R. Edwards grove of trees at Morrissey from Tembec in 2003, when University of Lethbridge lecturer Dr Stewart Rood proved their age and significance. The interpretative trail has been funded by the Columbia Basin Trust and was officially opened by board member Cindy Gallinger, MLA Bill Bennett and NCC staff at an open day last Thursday. The trees are believed to have been protected from river erosion by a slab of bedrock upstream, allowing them to survive longer than most cottonwoods. The forest also includes red western cedar, white Nancy Newhouse of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (censpruce and alder trees and tre) cuts the ribbon to the new Ancient Cottonwoods interprovides a nesting place for pretative trail, watched by Cindy Gallinger of the Columbia birds including Swainsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basin Trust (left) and MLA Bill Bennett (right). Photo by R. Edwards Thrushes, red tailed hawks
Teck family day cancelled By Rebecca Edwards Free Press Staff
T Imagine waking up to the luxurious surroundings of your cabin, throwing open the door and gazing upon the raw, natural splendour of nearby Cathedral Mountain! Spend the day kayaking, hiking, biking, or simply lazing by the river in an Adirondack chair. This two day getaway to one of BCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best destinations also includes a romantic dinner for two! Enter to win at www.getawaybc.com Cheryl MacKinnonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite destinations atâ&#x20AC;Ś
and golden-crowned kinglets and animals including bears. Dave Hillary of the NCC said that, even without signs on the highway, there have been a lot of visitors to the site. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every time I come down here, there are people walking around â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is quite amazing the interest we have had even without a whole lot of promotion.â&#x20AC;? Rocky Mountains Program Manager Nancy Newhouse adds that the treesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; location close to the highway makes it ideal for visitors. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a lot of properties that are difficult to access. It is really nice to have something with the highway so close by.â&#x20AC;? Interpretation panels around the trail include explanations of why cottonwoods are more likely to thrive in wet environments and the natural obstacles they had to overcome in order to survive this long. At the opening ceremony on Thursday, Columbia Basin Trust board member Cindy Gallinger said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had no idea these trees were here all these years, thank you for all the work you have done â&#x20AC;&#x201C; hopefully it means we can see more of these trees.â&#x20AC;? MLA Bill Bennett added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m betting we all agree this is a really good idea to preserve these majestic old trees and make it a little easier for people to get in and see them.â&#x20AC;?
eck Coalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which was due to take place on Sunday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; has been cancelled, following a call from local unions for members to boycott it in support of the striking workers at Coal Mountain mine. The day would have included entertainment, games and free food for all Teck employees and had been planned for several months. Teck Coal president and CEO Boyd Payne wrote to employees last Thursday, September 2, explaining that they took the decision after hearing that the Elk Valley Coalition of Unions was planning to picket outside the event.
He wrote: â&#x20AC;&#x153;In an effort to help our employees and their families to avoid potential conflicts, we have determined that the only prudent course of action is to cancel Family Day.â&#x20AC;? He added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wish to apologize to each of our employees and their families for this unfortunate outcome.â&#x20AC;? United Mine Workers of America local president Gord Nearing said the Coal Mountain members were only planning an information picket at the event and â&#x20AC;&#x153;had no intentions of causing problems.â&#x20AC;? But he added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel that there was anything to celebrate when we are on strike. They were going to get hamburgers and hot dogs for everyone but my members are sitting at home
with no paychecks and no food for their kids. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nice for the kids, but we felt this was more serious. All the other unions supported that fully.â&#x20AC;? Coal Mountain has been shut down since August 6 over a pay dispute. Nic Milligan of Teck Coal said this week: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where we cannot recoup our costs for items or services purchased for the event, we are determining whether we can divert them to local not-for profit groups. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This includes sending perishable food to food banks and to local service clubs for their own fund raising barbecues. Our cartoonist/caricaturist will go to the Alberta Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital for a day.â&#x20AC;?
Registration is now open for the 2010 Columbia Basin Symposium. Columbia Basin Trust invites you to join in a dialogue about the future of this region and to discuss some of todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s key issues. Register for this free event online at www.cbt.org/2010Symposium, call 1.800.505.8998 or visit a CBT office. Space is limited.
XXX DCU PSH TZNQPTJVN t
2
www.thefreepress.ca
THE FREE PRESS, Thursday, August 19, 2010
Poised for attack
An air tanker drops fire retardant on a wildfire. In initial attack, air tankers drop fire retardant and/or foam on or near small fires to limit their spread until ground crews arrive to extinguish them. Ministry of Forest and Range photo By Rebecca Edwards Free Press Staff
I
f initial attack forest fighter Andre Chalibi does his job right, you may never hear about the work he has done. Chalibi leads a team of three Ministry of Forests and Range firefighters from Cranbrook whose job is to be on call to respond within 15 minutes of receiving news of a fire. The team’s role is to try to extinguish the small fire quickly, before it becomes so big that the South East Fire Centre in Castlegar has to deploy a full unit of 20 fire fighters.
“We go out to a fire when it is small and assess it to try to keep it small,” Chalibi says. “We are trying to stop it from growing into the big fires that cause evacuations and damage, so they are the fires that really don’t get picked up by the media and reported on. “During a busy period there may be as many as 100 fires started by lightning in an hour – the fire centre is very busy so the more fires we can put out at the initial stage, the more chance we have of success.” Chalibi, who lives in Kimberley, has worked as a ministry fire fighter for
Initial attack firefighter Andre Chalibi carries out prevention burning. Ministry of Forests and Range photo
Factfile So far this year the South East Fire Centre has responded to 186 fires covering a 518 hectare area. four years. His is one of five crews based in Cranbrook who work 24/7 shifts to ensure there is a swift response to any reported fires. The team can also be deployed across B.C. Chalibi and his crew have just returned from fire fighting in Smithers. Earlier this year other initial attack (IA) crews from Cranbrook went to Quebec and Manitoba to assist with fires there. On a normal shift, Chalibi says his role is to make sure the team is ready to respond as soon as possible to any fire within the South East Fire District – which stretches from the Alberta border in Sparwood to Yahk east of Cranbrook, and the Elk Lakes park to Skookumchuk. He adds: “We do one hour of fitness training each shift – sometimes we have to hike up to 2 km to fires, there is quite a bit of steep ground, travelling up and down in a lot of heat can be quite arduous on the body. “We have also been doing
some work with the RDEK clearing dead-standing timber that could be a fire risk.” “In our zone we have a grass fire season so the crew members have to come in from early to midApril. It can be fairly busy from when the snow melts to when the grass greens up. “We usually have a rainy seasons from mid-May to June. This year we didn’t have much of a spring but the summer was late starting so it wasn’t as busy. After it gets hot the fire season goes until the significant rainfall in September. Chalibi said that as the Elk Valley and Cranbrook area is in a rain shadow, there aren’t as many lightning-caused fires here as in other areas of the Kootenays. The main fires he responds to are human and industrial-caused fires. One of the first fires this season was an eight hectare fire triggered by an explosion at Greenhills Mine in Elkford, which set the nearby mountainside alight. He says campers can
help prevent wildfires by following the new campfire regulations that came in on July 1, and by observing any open fire bans. “Having campfires is great but it’s better to keep them smaller so that if they do start to spread they can be put out. Make sure they are out before you leave or go to bed. “All it needs is for people to have some common sense and to know the regulations before you light that match.” However, Chalibi says he
enjoys a campfire as much as anyone else – as long as they are done right. “Campfires are the backbone of being Canadian – going camping in the wilderness, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows. “But it can always be done in a safe way by knowing what the regulations are in your area and taking some basic prevention steps there is no reason why you can’t have a campfire. “Just be responsible and use common sense to keep the fire small enough.”
New campfire regulations (from July 1, 2010)
• Campfires cannot be larger than 0.5 metres by 0.5 metres. • People must scrape down the dirt and remove flammable debris – twigs, leaves and needles – from the campfire area. We recommended the fireguard be at least one metre in diameter. • You must have a shovel, or at least eight litres of water nearby to put out a fire. • Failure to follow the new rules could result in a $345 fine. An additional $345 fine would be levied for campfires lit during a ban. • Anyone who causes damage to Crown forest or grass land through arson or recklessness can be fined up to $1 million or spend up to three years in prison.