THURSDAY
S I N C E
JULY 10, 2014
1 8 9 5
Vol. 119, Issue 106
105
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PROUDLY SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF ROSSLAND, WARFIELD, TRAIL, MONTROSE, FRUITVALE & SALMO
Buckley’s closed for day use due to ‘unruly’ guests
HIGH FLYER
Overnight camping still allowed BY LIZ BEVAN Times Staff
In the season of hot sun and outdoor activities, Buckley Campground's day use area, southeast of Trail, has been closed due to misuse of the area by a few guests. BC Hydro owns the campground at the Pend D'Oreille Recreation Area, and Sabrina Locicero, communications and stakeholder engagement officer, says the campground has closed its day use area due to reports and complaints about public safety concerns on the site. “There were enough [complaints] “There were that we decided it (enough) was making the site complaints that unsafe,” she said. “As we decided it was a recreational site, it is designed for fammaking the site ily use and also for unsafe.” people to use for recreational purposes. SABRINA LOCICERO With the reports we were getting, we had to address those concerns immediately.” Reports and complaints received included threats of violence, excessive alcohol consumption and “other unsafe activities,” said Locicero. “[The operator] had discussions with folks that were some of our unruly guests who had been there for a while,” she said. “There was some escalation from there and it got to the point where conversations with them weren't working.” The concerns were serious enough that BC Hydro came to the decision to close the day use and the boat launch to visitors. “We had to make the decision to close down the day use area and the boat ramp site,” said Locicero, adding that overnight guests currently camping aren't getting kicked out of the area. “The campers that are there for now are welcome to stay and they can use the boat ramp site, but in the meantime, the day use is closed as a means of addressing our concerns.” Locicero says the next step is to take care of current concerns and move forward from there. “Our hope with this is that we close the site, we address the immediate concerns and following that, we will reassess again,” she said. “We know it is a well-used facility and the majority of the guests are not a concern and we want them to be able to use the facilities and use that beautiful site.” The Buckley Campground hasn't been closed for this reason in recent memory says Locicero and BC Hydro hopes to avoid it in the future. See SECURITY, Page 2
LIZ BEVAN PHOTO
Austin Bolen takes a flying kick at Pride Gym trainer Glen Kalesniko on Wednesday during Trail Parks and Recreation's Cowabunga Day Camp. After lunch, the kids in the camp spent the afternoon at the gym practicing kicking and punching pads, as well as taking some flying leaps.
Montrose mayor will seek re-election BY SHERI REGNIER Times Staff
A second Beaver Valley politician is ready to seek re-election this fall. Montrose’s Joe Danchuk confirmed Monday night that he is ready to tackle the job as village mayor for another four years. Danchuk was a mayoral newcomer after winning the race in 2011, and after an eventful first term filled with water woes and recreational upset, he is again ready to go to bat. “I had to make sure my wife was on board first because this is a big com-
mitment that takes away time from the family,” said Danchuk. Since February, he has been knee deep in Beaver Valley recreation troubles but the Montrose mayor and now regional district director, is determined to find solutions to fractured regional recreation. “I’ve become very involved in this and I think our recreation is really in trouble,” he said. “It’s so important for everyone in the area to have access to recreation,” Danchuk continued. “We need to work together regionally and find something that works for everyone.
“That is something I would like to see through.” A legislative decision made earlier this year extends local government terms from three years to four years following the Nov. 15 civic election. Adding the extra year has some elected officials thinking twice before running again. Montrose councillors Don Berriault, Mary Gay, Cindy Cook and Don Duclos said they need more time to consider a four-year commitment and can’t comment if their names will be on the ballots this fall. See LONGER, Page 3
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