AHN AUG 9 2018 by Alaska Highway News

THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2018 VOL. 75, NO. 32

SERVING FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES

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MATT PREPROST PHOTO

Dave Coupland competes in the Class A speed round, finding his gold nugget in a time of 19.21 seconds.

Barry Scott claims gold panning title MATT PREPROST editor@ahnfsj.ca

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Barry Scott found himself Class A golden at this year’s World Invitational Gold Panning Championships in Taylor. Scott’s 24-point finish was good enough to earn him his first championship title here since he started competing with his family some 28 years ago. “Shaking inside. It feels really good,” said Scott, who lives in Slave Lake. “I’ve been after that belt buckle for a long time.” Nineteen professional gold panners from across the province and Canada took part in the Class A competition under a sweltering afternoon sun on Sunday, Aug. 5. Scott found 15 flakes in 181.54 seconds in the first round of the event, and found five flakes in 152.25 seconds in the second round. In the speed round, Scott found gold nugget in a personal and tournament best time of 9.22 seconds. Scott kicked off the speed round first, just as he had hoped. If you can score seven points in the each of the first and second rounds, and start the speed round with an impressive time that’s tough to beat, there’s a good chance of scoring the full 10 points to bump you into first place, he said. “That sets the tone,” he said.

MATT PREPROST PHOTO

Gold pan champion Barry Scott with Taylor Mayor Rob Fraser.

CLASS A RESULTS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Barry Scott (24) Michael Gunderson (19) Dave Coupland (19) Trina Barrette (19) Becky Scott (18)

* Most Sportsmanlike: Trina Barrette For more results and pictures, turn to A12/A13

“These guys are so good that I’m fortunate to win today.” Scott, who has previously won the Class B event, was joined in the Class A event this year with his wife Becky, daughter Alicia, and father

Rod. Becky finished in fifth place, Alicia finished 10th, and Rod finished 15th. “We look forward to this every year,” Scott said. That kind of family tradition, whether it’s the Scotts, the Gejdos’, or the Totuseks, is what continues to make the championships a success, said event organizer Sandi Miller. It was Miller’s first time organizing the event. “Our big goal is just to encourage the families to come out. This is a chance to come out and learn and experience, and try something new,” Miller said. “The people that come here, it’s a family. They come here every year and are a close-knit group. It’s interesting to be a part of it.”

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Food donations quickly add up The Salvation Army’s new perishable food recovery program in Fort St. John is quickly paying dividends for those in need in the city. The agency collected more than 16,000 pounds of perishable food items from grocery stores in July — or about 750 pounds of food per day diverted away from the landfill. That’s allowed the food bank to greatly expand its offerings to clients. “The environment is just a lot more positive,” says Cameron Eggie, executive director. The agency is in need of more volunteers to collect, sort, and distribute the food. To lend a hand, even for an hour, call 250-785-0506.

Interim fire chief hired Patrick McPhillips in the interim fire chief of the Charlie Lake Fire Department. McPhillips comes with a 35-year career with Coquitlam Fire/ Rescue, according to the Peace River Regional District. In Coquitlam, he served as a professional firefighter, chief training officer and assistant chief of operations. McPhillips will fill the gap left by Dale Widsten, and will oversee the fire hall’s daily operations until a new fire chief and deputy chief are in place, the regional district says.

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