ARTS AND CULTURE DAY PAGE A3
CANCER THEN AND NOW PAGE A14
CUTTING COMES BACK PAGE A21
OBSERVER QUESNEL - CARIBOO
SINCE 1908
Friday, May 4, 2012
VOL. 98 NO. 70
$ 34
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www.quesnelobserver.com
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Boy accosted
Sweeten up for Relay
AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter
Once again, Quesnel Bakery is selling ginger snaps to raise funds for Relay For Life. For just $5 a dozen, customers can pick their favourite team to support with their purchase. The cookies are for sale at the Bakery any time; Farmers’ Market, May 5, 12 and 19; the Liquour Store May 4 and 18 and most major banks on May 18. Left to right: Quesnel Bakery’s Gerd Teetzen, left and Relay For Life’s Cathy Briggs, right, encourage Relay’s official cookie monster Mikey McDonald as she indulges her favourite food, ginger snaps. Annie Gallant photo
Thapar questions mayor regarding Stecyk’ departure AUTUMN MacDONALD Observer Reporter City. Coun. Sushil Thapar has refused to sign a confidentiality agreement regarding the departure of city manager John Stecyk. “I’ve never been asked to do that before,� Thapar said, adding it was Mayor Mary Sjostrom who asked him to sign the legal document, vowing to remain mum on “anything Stecyk.� The city released a short press release Tuesday afternoon outlining the outgoing city
manager’s departure: “Quesnel City Council has announced that it has accepted the resignation of City Manager John Stecyk, effective immediately. Stecyk, who is resigning for personal reasons, came to the City in January 2011. The City of Quesnel wishes Mr. Stecyk well in his future endeavours. The City will now begin the process of recruiting a new City Manager, which is expected to take several months to complete. The City will provide updates to the community
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when appropriate. In the interim, Council has appointed two senior managers to oversee the City’s operations and assist Council in the transition period. Those two are Director of Finance Kari Bolton and the Director of Public Works and Engineering, Ken Coombs.� Shortly after the release Thapar said he was reminded via e-mail of the confidentiality agreement. “Just a reminder that you are all bound by your oath, the community charter and the confidentiality agreement to not say anything beyond what was writ-
ten in the press release regarding John’s departure,� the e-mail reads. “We have already been advised by our lawyer that John’s lawyer is reminding us of our obligation to keep the details of John’s departure confidential.� Thapar replied with a request under the Freedom of Information Act for all financial implications on the departure of Stecyk. “Is he getting severance?� asked Thapar. “If there are financial implications, the public should know.� see PAGE A4
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RCMP are asking parents to be vigilant with their children’s safety procedures after a suspicious occurrence near Kersley. The boy was riding his bike to Kersley elementary early Tuesday morning when he says he was approached by a male driving a newer model black pickup truck with black rims. The male driver spoke to the boy and told the child to get into the vehicle. The child fled on his bike and then reported the incident to the school. The male is described as a younger male with tanned skin and flat brown hair. Anyone with any information regarding this incident, call the Quesnel RCMP immediately, 250-992-9211. Quesnel RCMP are asking parents and teachers to ensure they report any similar suspicious occurrences to RCMP and school staff immediately. Talk to your children about strangers and how to stay safe. Children should walk or bike to school in groups – safety in numbers. Parents should accompany their small children to and from school. Never talk to strangers. Never get into a stranger’s vehicle. If a stranger invites you to go with them, yell, “NO!� loudly and run to a safe location and tell an adult. If a stranger follows you in a vehicle, run in the opposite direction – so that the vehicle is facing you and continue to run in that direction to a safe location.
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