THURSDAY
S I N C E
JUNE 12, 2014
1 8 9 5
Vol. 119, Issue 91
105
$
INCLUDING G.S.T.
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Little League playoffs this weekend Page 10
PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Another hat thrown in mayor’s ring
GETTING READY FOR GRAD
Doug Jones declares intention to run BY ART HARRISON Times Staff
SHERI REGNIER PHOTO
City employees Jen Daoust and John Harper, were on the job at the Trail Memorial Centre Wednesday morning setting the stage for the J.L. Crowe Secondary graduation ceremony slated for Friday at 7 p.m. Rehearsal for 168 Grade 12 Crowe students began that afternoon, a day earlier than usual, to accommodate Thursday’s school closure due to the teacher’s rotating strike action.
Former Local 480 President, Doug Jones, has openly declared his intent to file the necessary paperwork to enter the race to become Mayor of Trail in the coming municipal elections this fall. The 61-year-old Jones retired from his position with the Steelworkers union a year ago but says he feels passionate about the area and the community and is willing to set aside his golf game to take on the demands of running for the mayor’s job. “There’s a lot that can be accomplished and it’s a challenge I’d like to take on,” DOUG JONES said Jones. “Of course I’m not taking this lightly, I’ve had conversations with friends and family and I feel I’ve got support.” Jones said that a mayoral run isn’t a new idea for him but is something that has been in the background for some time. “This goes back further than this election,” he said. “I was approached a number of times before the last election but had already committed to staying on through bargaining.” See JONES, Page 3
Homicide investigation continues
Teachers vote for full scale strike, no date set BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
With just weeks left in the school year, B.C. teachers have voted in favour of a full scale strike, although when full-scale job action happens is yet to be determined. The result of the vote, conducted Monday and Tuesday, showed 89 per cent in favour, or 28,809 out of 33,387 ballots cast. A record high turnout in favour of escalating job action up to and including full withdrawal of services was reflected in votes cast from Kootenay Columbia teachers, according to the local union’s president. “I want to express my deepest gratitude and respect for the resounding support and solidarity shown by Kootenay
Columbia teachers by their vote in our local,” wrote Andy Davidoff, president of Kootenay Columbia Teacher’s Union in an email statement to the Trail Times. The earliest a full-scale strike could begin is Monday but with no 72-hour strike notice issued as of Wednesday afternoon, the strike start could shift to Tuesday next week or later. Full job action would close elementary and middle schools while secondary schools would be open only to conduct exams for Grade 10 to 12 students. As parents and students wait out a full strike date, Lisa Stewart, chair of the district parents advisory council (PAC) and Glenmerry PAC, said families have already been advised to make child care arrangements from now until the end of June.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen but we want them to be prepared,” explained Stewart. Parents are being constantly updated through social media and emails, she said, but if teachers walk and there’s no school, an important line of communication is cut off. “So many of our year end activities are up in the air because we usually send the information home with the kids,” Stewart said. “And if we only have three days notice we will be totally cut off from parents.” Throughout June, Glenmerry PAC sponsors various activities on school grounds including a fun day and a hot lunch special. Now those plans could be cancelled See GRAD, Page 3
BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
As the Rossland community mourns one of its own lost through a violent act, the Southeast District RCMP continue to actively seek and follow up tips into the murder of Thomas Feeney. The body of Mr. Feeney was found in his home on Feeney Road in Rossland last Thursday following what Mounties have said is a violent homicide during a robbery. “I cannot speak to what stage the investigation is at other than to say this is a very active and ongoing investigation,” Cst. Kris Clark from the Kelowna detachment told the Trail Times Wednesday. See RCMP, Page 3
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CHRIS HOPKYNS
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