ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2022 | VOL. 78 NO. 36
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Sikanni assessments continue Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca
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BLAZE AT BATTLESHIP — A view of the Battleship Mountain forest fire west of Hudson’s Hope. Discovered Tuesday, Aug. 30, the fire fanned to 12,000 hectares in size under dry and windy conditions over the September long weekend, putting residents of Hudson’s Hope on evacuation alert. The size of the fire was about 120 square kilometres, or five times the size of the city of Fort St. John. The BC Wildfire Service says ground access to the fire has been limited, with crews developing alternative routes to bring in heavy equipment. The BCWS says it is developing an ignition plan for the southwest corner of the fire to build containment, as conditions allow. Keep up to date on the latest on the wildfire news at alaskahighwaynews.ca
Good Shepherd celebrates 90 years Dave Lueneberg sports@ahnfsj.ca It was a milestone quietly celebrated by its parishioners, but one rarely seen in today’s world. Taylor’s Church of the Good Shepherd commemorated its 90th anniversary on Aug. 28, the exact day in 1932 that it opened its doors for the first time. The building of the church, though, comes with a story and one born from tragedy. “Otto Hoffstrom, the owner of a sawmill, was crossing the river with his four daughters,” opened Rev. Christopher Samsom in explaining its roots. “When coming off the ferry, he put the car into reverse instead of forward when he got to the other side of the river. The vehicle landed in the water.”
“While he was able to swim to safety, his daughters were not.” Lost were Lillian, Agnes, Florence, and Olga. During a deep period of grief, Rev. Samsom said Hoffstrom turned to God in prayer. “In thanksgiving for his daughters’ lives, and as a mark of what that time meant for him, he donated the wood and $500 to build the church you see here today.” The structure took all of 18 days to build and other than the addition of a basement and indoor plumbing, it’s remained true to its history. “It was consecrated on Aug. 28, 1932, by Bishop George Rix of Caledonia. It was Bishop Rix who suggested the name… that the souls of his daughters would be trusted to a good shepherd.”
“A little-known fact, most of the people who attended the church in 1932 were young children,” added Rev. Samsom. As part of the landmark day, the church service included a thanksgiving Eucharist, an event that commemorates the Last Supper. The day also featured the dedication of two stained-glass dove light boxes that now hang at the front of the church. As it moves into its 10th decade, and out from under a pandemic, Rev. Samsom is optimistic the small church at the foot of the north Taylor Hill will remain a part of the area’s history for years to come. “It’s a testament that god’s faithfulness has preserved this community and we hope will continue to preserve it for another 90 years.”
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The Church of the Good Shepherd in Taylor commemorated 90 years of history in the community during a church service on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022.
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Engineering assessments of the Sikanni Chief River Bridge continue though it will be some time before it’s fully repaired and opened to heavy traffic. One person died after a fuel tanker crashed and exploded on the bridge Thursday, Aug. 25, causing significant damage to the Alaska Highway crossing about two hours north of Fort St. John. Initial assessments done Aug. 27 found three of the bridge’s five spans suffered structural fire damage, according to Public Services and Procurement Canada, the federal department responsible for most of the highway through Northeast B.C. “Until permanent repairs are completed, the highway will not be fully opened,” said spokesperson Michèle LaRose in an email to Alaska Highway News. LaRose said the department is looking at options, “including the sourcing of temporary structures to ensure that the bridge remains safe and operational in the short-term, while a long-term option for repairs can be finalized.” The tanker was carrying condensate and oil, though the exact amounts are not known, according to the provincial environment ministry. The fire knocked out telecommunications infrastructure, since restored, and forced the closure of the Sikanni bridge for about 24 hours before it was reopened to single-lane alternating traffic for light duty pickups and passenger cars. The bridge has been reopened to travel trailers and RVs. Trucks and commercial vehicles weighing 15,500kg and under are asked to bring weigh slips and call 250-7746956 before crossing. Heavy trucks and vehicles over 15,500kg need to detour via Highway 37 or Highway 77 — a 12 to 20-hour detour, said LaRose. Material sampling around the bridge for further testing will be carried out, while “other testing and engineering assessments are ongoing and will continue over the course of this week.” Continued on A2
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