CITY: Council gives final approval to Haldi centre A5 Wednesday, April 24, 2013 Liberal leader Christy Clark rallies the troops in Prince George A3
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www.pgfreepress.com ■ POLICE
Fire at Highglen
Three in custody after body found
A lla n W ISHA RT/ Fre e Pre s s
Fire damaged Highglen School Monday afternoon. The fire broke out in a classroom at about 3:30 p.m. after students had been dismissed for the day. Crews got the blaze under control fairly quickly, but worked for several hours to put it out. In consultation with School District 57 officials, a large excavator has been brought to the scene to dismantle the affected area of the roof. All occupants of the building evacuated when the alarms sounded. One firefighter was taken to hospital with a minor knee injury. Firefighters also rescued several animals from various classrooms, including birds, lizards, and rabbits. The fire damage is limited to the classrooms and roof area at the northwest corner of the building. However, smoke permeated throughout the structure, affecting all rooms and contents. The school will be closed to classes for the remainder of the week while the situation is assessed.
■ CITY
Plea made to save Pine Valley Council to mull core services review recommendation to sell golf course DELYNDA PILON
nickel per resident per year. Investment, however, may return the course to a level where it can add to the city coffers. When it had a driving range, the course The seats in council chambers were contributed $85,000 per year to filled Monday night with about the city. 60 people coming out to show “Let’s make Pine Valley proftheir support for the Friends of itable again,” he said. Pine Valley, a delegation which Speakers representing a presented several reasons the city number of user groups added should retain the course rather their support during the prethan sell it, a suggestion from the sentation. core services review the city is Jenny Carsons, representing considering. seniors, said she has two artiHistorically, the land used to ficial knees and the course is be the city airport until it was easy for her and others like her donated or sold to the city for to enjoy. Shari Green what Don Chamberlain, head of “Please save Pine Valley,” -Mayor Friends of Pine Valley, described she said. as a nominal fee. It was pointed out Pine Val“Are we following the moral intent of ley is the only par three course that offers those obligations?” he asked, pointing out easy accessibility combined with a conthe area currently provides recreation and venient location, something seniors can green space for city residents. enjoy and beginners can learn on. A Power Point presentation listed the Margaret Conway added it serves the annual allocation for Pine Valley at $4,200, needs of users like herself, a special Olymwhich broken down comes in at about a pics champion who brought home the gold
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in golfing when she had the opportunity to represent Prince George in Hamilton, Ontario last year. “There are many excellent reasons to retain Pine Valley,” Chamberlain said. “It has been said that golf is a good walk spoiled – but golf is still a good walk.” Many councillors thanked those who came for the presentation. One concern brought forward is since Pine Valley is real estate, the report coming to council from staff on it and other city land will be heard in-camera, meaning the meeting won’t be open to the public. This is always the case when council deals with real estate issues. However, once council is informed on whatever information is within the report staff brings, the Pine Valley discussion will continue to take place in open sessions of council. Mayor Shari Green explained the report will be heard in a closed session by council, then council can decide which aspects to move forward to the open session. However, the ultimate decision regarding Pine Valley will be a public matter.
Three men, two adults and one youth, were taken into custody by police after a homicide on Douglas Street. Friday. Police are not yet releasing the names of the victim, nor those of the men in custody. A press release says they will release the name of the deceased following an autopsy later this week. The release goes on to say, “two adults and a young person, all males, have been taken into custody and are believed to be responsible for the death. The deceased and the suspects are known to each other and police do not believe the public is in danger.” At about 3:30 p.m. on April 19 police were called to the 800 block of Douglas Street after the report of a death. Generalduty officers secured the property, and the serious crime section as well as the forensic identification section were called out to investigate. The coroner ’s office said because the incident was deemed a homicide, all information regarding it is being handled by the local RCMP, who are awaiting the results of an autopsy before releasing further information.