gigs
troubadour visits
Folk musician Stephen Palmer plays at BJ’s Creekside Pub Thursday See LOCAL NEWS page 4
wednesDAY JULY 31, 2013
hometown hero
inducted
Hockey coach Colin Patterson enters B.C. Hall of Fame See SPORTS page 9
The Bulletin
Proudly serving kimberley and area since 1932 | Vol. 80, Issue 148 | www.dailybulletin.ca
Rec 9 only
$19.00
Juniors $12.00 + tax
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$ 10 INCLUDES G.s.t.
forest fires
Smooth season so far Arne Petryshen Townsman Staff
It’s been a slow burning season on the forest fire front in the Southeast Fire Centre region and in Cranbrook as well. “So far this season, we’ve had about 80 fires,” Karlie Shaughnessy, fire information officer for the Castlegar-based fire centre, said. “Those have burned about 285 hectares. Of those 49 were lightning caused and the rest person caused.”
“Right now fire officials are considering putting a campfire ban in” Sally MacDonald photo
Cranbrook Search and Rescue volunteers Bruce Gilday, Greg and Nick Bedwell are pleased as punch by their new headquarters on 7th Avenue.
Search and Rescue’s bright new future A generous donation helped Cranbrook Search and Rescue purchase a permanent new headquarters Sally MacDonald Townsman Staff
It’s been quite a year for Cranbrook Search and Rescue. Last Christmas, the volunteer organization took delivery of a new ground search and rescue truck, fully equipped with everything they need to look for people missing in the backcountry. In June, they bought two side-byside ATVs to help with ground
searches. And in April, a single anonymous donor gave the group $180,000 so they could purchase a permanent home. In between, 2013 has been one of the busiest years ever for ground search and rescue, which has responded to about 15 calls since January. In 2012 – also considered a busy year – they responded to 12 calls. Now, it’s hard to believe that three
short years ago, Cranbrook Search and Rescue (SAR) was operating out of a single bay in a shack behind the old fire hall. “I’ve been involved with volunteer groups for 30 years and for me, walking to that back alley and seeing the little shed, it was just another SAR,” said Greg Bedwell, SAR president, who moved to Cranbrook from Terrace five years ago. One truck was kept inside the
bay; another older truck was kept outside. Both vehicles were packed with equipment. In 2011, when Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services moved out of the old fire hall next to city hall, SAR moved in, temporarily renting the space. Last year, they started looking for a permanent home.
See NEW, Page 4
Karlie Shaughnessy, Southeast Fire Centre Shaughnessy said the fire average for this time of year is 133 fires. “Cranbrook hasn’t had any significant fires this year,” she noted. Shaughnessy said the fire danger rating is varied throughout the Southeast region between moderate to extreme, and around Cranbrook the rating is at moderate to high.
See MORE, Page 3
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