WEDNESDAY
S I N C E
SEPTEMBER 4, 2013
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Vol. 118, Issue 139
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PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Police investigating cause of blaze
Historic covered staircases double as great fitness tool BY VALERIE ROSSI
Monday morning fire damaged three homes in West Trail
Times Staff
An aerial view of West Trail may look something like a game of Snakes and Ladders, as long narrow roads are connected by a series of staircases. Due to the steep topography of the west side of Trail and the fact that transportation was once limited, stairways were needed to get residents to town, work and school, according to Sarah Benson, director of Trail Museum and Archives. Nowadays, residents may not rely on them for the same reason. Tadanac resident Ev Cross walks the set at the Trail Memorial Centre frequently. The 71-year-old does four sets, approximately 900 stairs, once a week. If that wasn't enough, Cross rounds out her weekly exercise with a bike ride up the Rossland hill and even drops into the gym time-to-time. “I'm not the only one either,” she said. “There is a lady from Castlegar, let's see I'm 71 and I think she's a bit older than that, and then there are two other young women who run it and do sort of sprints up them.” Cross has lived in the area since 1966 and was always drawn to the steps but didn't make it part of her regular fitness regime until this spring when she couldn't get into the arena and opted for an outdoor workout. “I like it because by the time you get down to the bottom, it doesn't feel so bad so I go up a second time,” she said. “But by the fourth time, I'm feeling tired.” Known locally as one of the “Graffiti Grannies,” she couldn't help but notice some scribblings on the staircase and with help from some new recruits (Carol Ferro and Lauran Pettijohn), Cross recently removed graffiti and garbage. She'd like to see residents take ownership of the Trail landmark, a vision shared by Trail Community in Bloom (CiB). Dan Rodlie, chair of the beautifying group, said there was talk of naming the steps. “End to end it's like climbing to the top of Mount Roberts I think,” he said. “Maybe (Trail has) the most
BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
Investigation into the Monday morning house fire in West Trail that destroyed three homes continued Tuesday with police taking over the lead. Fire crews were called to the scene on Pine Avenue, where a house was consumed in fire, and two homes on either side were engulfed in flames. “The cause of the fire is being treated as suspicious and the investigation is continuing,” confirmed Sgt. Rob Hawton of the Trail and Greater District RCMP in a press release Tuesday. The fire was brought under control in five hours with 32 firefighters from Rossland, Warfield, Trail and Montrose on site, and the regional fire rescue took the reins of the investigation that morning. Although there was no suspicious activity reported in the neighbourhood, located at the junction of Pine Avenue and Topping Street, the intensity of the fire and level of destruction hampered the initial investigation, said Terry Martin, regional fire chief. See HOME, Page 3
‘Movie Night in the Park’ returns Friday BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
VALERIE ROSSI PHOTO
Teck employee Bill van Beek walks to work everyday from his Sunningdale home, traveling the last leg of this journey up the covered stairs at the Cominco parking lot. covered stairs in Canada?” The City of Trail has 63 sets of covered stairways, with the majority located on the west side in Columbia
Heights, according to “A Guide to Historic Buildings and Places,” a publication released a few years ago. See STAIRS, Page 3
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Even though drive-in theatres are a thing of the past in Greater Trail, Kootenay Savings “Movie Night in the Park” just might bring a sense of nostalgia for parents and a new experience for the kids. The sixth annual family movie night at Haley Park returns Friday with a screening of Disney’s “Wreck-it Ralph” on a three-storey mobile screen. “I can remember going to the drive-in in high school,” said Aron Burke, community relations coordinator for Kootenay Savings. “Movie night is a way to bring your kids to something fun outside, and give back to the community.” Movie night is free to all, however the donation of a non-perishable food item is requested. “The night is for the community and geared to kids as a back-to-school event,” said Burke. “Donating a food item teaches kids a little about giving back with Mom or Dad there to explain See BRING, Page 3
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