SUMMERLAND REVIEW THE VOICE OF OUR COMMUNITY SINCE 1908
VOLUME
66
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ISSUE
WHAT’S INSIDE:
NO.
4
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S U M M E R L A N D,
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T H U R S D AY,
JANUARY
24,
2013
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16
PA G E S
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$1.15
INCLUDING
HST
Budget figures studied
Council and finance committee hope to minimize tax increases by John Arendt
World championships
B.C.
WWW.SUMMERLANDREVIEW.COM
While municipal council and staff and the
finance committee are preparing the 2013 budget, a significant tax increase is not in the works, Mayor Janice Perrino said. “We’re examining our options,” she said. “Our finance committee has gone to great depth to
look at our needs.” She said there are no big changes planned for this year’s municipal budget, but the municipality will make sure to have enough money to pay its debts and keep up with infrastructure demands.
For this year, the municipality is working on upgrades on Prairie Valley Road. In recent years, other infrastructure projects have included the upgrade to Rosedale Avenue and Prairie Val-
ley Road, the expansion of Thirsk Dam and the water treatment plant. Borrowing was required for each of these projects and the municipality is continuing to pay down the debts. See EFFORTS Page 3
The bobsleigh team led by Justin Kripps of Summerland heads into the World Championships.
Page 11
KidSport
Fund puts kids on the team by helping with sports expenses.
Page 3
To India
Musical family takes their songs of faith overseas.
Page 8
Unplug and Play
Summerland Steam team encourages kids to get off the computer and get active.
Page 9
Family cases go to Penticton Council provincial decision.
questions ministry
Page 2
Orchardists pick leaders
B.C. Fruit Growers Association has a new slate to move ahead after a year of tumult.
Page 7
Badminton action
YOUR SMILE Whatever activity you choose to do, give it 100 per cent - unless you are donating blood.
John Arendt Summerland Review
Jean Evanishen plays a fast-moving game of badminton at the Summerland Badminton Club. The badminton club has members from beginners to internationally recognized players.
Crime Stoppers tips increasing by John Arendt
When Crime Stoppers in the South Okanagan was set up in 1992, the service received around 50 crime tips a year. Today, that number has increased to between 300 and 400 tips a year. “Some days we get none; some days we get six,” said Al Sismey, regional Crime Stoppers
coordinator. The South Okanagan Similkameen Crime Stoppers covers communities from Summerland to Osoyoos and west to Princeton. It is a non-police program. Information is received confidentially and passed on to police. Sismey said tips are received anonymously and the identity of those
giving information is not released. “Anonymity has always been one of our pillars,” Sismey said. “We will go to the wall to protect a tipster.” The tips have included information about drug activity, homicides, serious assaults, home invasions and human trafficking. Many of the crimes are
drug-related, he added. “Drugs, whether we want to admit it or not, are the root cause of a lot of crimes.” While police will investigate every tip they receive, the tips do not all lead to arrests. Still, he said the information can provide an important part to an investigation. “Every tip doesn’t end up in a successful
conclusion, but it ends up with information the police can use,” Sismey said. In addition to the tollfree telephone line at 1-888-222-TIPS (8477) information can also be sent as a text message to SOSTIPS (274637) or online through the South Okanagan Similkameen Crime Stoppers website at sostips.ca.