THURSDAY
S I N C E
JUNE 5, 2014
1 8 9 5 Carshare rolls on in Rossland
Vol. 119, Issue 87
105
$
INCLUDING G.S.T.
Follow us online
Page 2
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
New CBT program for Lower Columbia
ROSSLAND
Grizzly spotted on popular hiking trail
BY ART HARRISON Times Staff
Sow and cubs in area BY VALERIE ROSSI Times Staff
A Rossland/Trail Wildsafe BC coordinator is asking mountain bikers and hikers to refrain from their regular trails around the Neptune Creek area for at least a month to allow enough time for a grizzly bear family to make their way to higher grounds. Sharon Wieder said she's had several calls from residents who've spotted a sow and cubs while enjoying popular mountain bike trails Larch Ridge, Monte Cola and COG or making use of Black Jack's trail system toward the Biathlon Range. “I would say probably over the last three years the reports of grizzlies up there have been increasing, particularly more up toward Nancy Greene Lake but the grizzlies have a huge range and if there is an increase in population and there are more females coming in then obviously they're going to be moving around a little bit to stake out their own territory,” she said. “They (those who've spotted the bears) think it's a grizzly from the way it looks and it's not uncommon for them to be in that area, which is why it wouldn't surprise me,” she added. “But cinnamon coloured black bears and grizzly bears can often look really similar.” The description of “the typical face shape to the hunch on the back” is enough confirmation for Wieder to alert those who use these systems. Unlike the black bear, which will send its cubs up a tree and guard from the base, grizzlies tend to stand their ground in open areas which causes them to potentially act more aggressive while defending their young, she explained. “Mountain bikers move pretty fast through the trails, they don't See ADVERTISE, Page 3
OPen HOuse
Sat. June 7 • 10am - 1pm
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
J.L. Crowe Secondary students (from the left) Kara Tomasini, Sommer Bowden, JoJo Freiheit and Morgan Johnson protested the ongoing teacher’s strike Wednesday morning by joining the B.C. Student Walkout for Students event and walking off school grounds.
Walkout gives students a voice BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
With most of the Grade 12 class on a trip to Silverwood Theme Park, grade 10 and 11 students at J.L. Crowe Secondary were left holding down the fort during Wednesday’s student staged walkout. At 9 a.m. about 25 students walked out and left the school site entirely, according to Greg Luterbach, superintendent of SD20. “While I respect the desire of students to express their views regarding the current labour dispute,” he said. “The proposed walkout raises a number of concerns with regard to student safety.” Shortly after the walkout, a handful of stu-
OPen HOuse
Sat. June 7 • 1:30 - 4pm
townhouse
dents gathered with “Honk for Education” signs and staged a protest to passersby along Highway 3B. “Ever since the strike happened our classes have been cut down,” said Grade 11 student Kara Tomasini. “We haven’t been learning and we aren’t allowed to go in and see the teachers at lunch or any other time for help,” she explained. “We need help for the provincials and we can’t even get that.” The B.C. Student Walkout for Students movement began on social media after two Lower Mainland Grade 12 students began a Facebook page encouraging their peers across the province to walk out of their classes at 9 a.m. Wednesday. See STUDENTS, Page 3
2.7ac Hobby Farm
triplex
One Percent realty
nancy Kaiser
1208 2nd Ave, Trail 2 bed 1 bath charmer
$169,900
1175 Green Ave, Trail 2 bed 1 bath renovated 1 level retirement. A Must See!
$157,500
1621 Balsam, Trail
4015 Ross Spur Rd.
$199,000
$249,900
3 bed 2 bath
Motivated Owner
The Columbia Basin Trust (CBT) has begun rolling out a new community development program in a number of areas around the basin and a team of volunteers from the Lower Columbia area has gathered to begin planning how the program will work here. The Community Directed Funds (CDF) program will provide $200,000 per year over three years to groups in sub-regions of the basin rather than directly to any one city or town. “There are currently three active CDF committees; Columbia Valley, from Canal Flats to Spillimacheen, Elk Valley, from Fernie to Elkford, and Slocan Valley,” said Kelvin Saldern, community liaison, Southwest Basin, for CBT. “The funding can be used for anything from the social sector, economic development, environmental initiatives, or arts and culture. The funding could be leveraged with other sources of funding like federal or provincial sources or even foundations.” The new funding initiative is intended to focus on input from the citizens of the combined communities about what they want to see for their particular region in addition to the programs, grants and initiatives the CBT already has in place. For the Lower Columbia region the CDF committee is comprised of representatives from five municipalities; Rossland, Warfield, Trail, Montrose, and Fruitvale, as well as Regional District areas A and B. “We’ve really tried hard to put a process in place that is based on transparency and broad consultation,” said Bruce LeRose, CDF committee chair. See PUBLIC Page 3
368-1817 362-9094 Turnkey operatoin, Rossland nancykaiser.ca nnckaiser@gmail.com $289,000
1992 LeRoi
Contact the Times: Phone: FineLine250-368-8551 Technologies 62937 Index 9 Fax:JN250-368-8550 80% 1.5 BWR NU Newsroom: 250-364-1242 Canada Post, Contract number 42068012