MOVING AHEAD | Armstrong and Spallumcheen councils approve improvements to fire hall [A10]
Morning gStar
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Friday, July 18, 2014
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Residents flee blaze
Mayor’s decision sparks mystery
RICHARD ROLKE
Morning Star Staff
RICHARD ROLKE
Morning Star Staff
Occupants of a Vernon townhouse complex were forced out by fire Thursday morning. At about 7:30 a.m., fire was discovered in one of the units in the 1900 block of 44th Street and the residents in all four of the units fled. “It’s a heck of a thing to wake up to and to have your kid on the other side (another unit),” said one woman. When firefighters arrived, the blaze was fully involved in the upstairs bedroom of one of the units. “There was one occupant in the building and we got the occupant out,” said Lawrie Skolrood, deputy fire chief. Most of the fire was contained to one unit but it’s believed there may be fire and smoke damage in another unit. Skolrood admits the design of the complex created challenges because the units are contiguous. “In this area, they are older townhouses and you never just get one (unit),” he said, adding that the cedar siding acts as a fuel source. “We got lucky on this one because it was reported early. It could have been far worse.” The cause remains under investigation by the fire department and no further details were available at press time. It’s not believed Thursday’s blaze is connected to a recent rash of arson fires in Vernon.
RICHARD ROLKE/MORNING STAR
Ryan McGivern, with the Vernon Fire Department, tears off shingles to access the roof while at a townhouse fire in the 1900 block of 44th Street Thursday.
Highway crash claims three victims Morning Star Staff
Three Vernon residents died in a multi-vehicle crash in Lake Country Tuesday. Emergency crews rushed to Highway 97 at Parkinson Drive, next to Duck Lake, at 4:42 p.m., where three others were also taken to hospital. “According to witnesses, a northbound Chevrolet Malibu crossed into oncoming traffic, impacting the front passenger’s side of a southbound Kia Forte before colliding head-on with a five-ton commercial truck,” said Const. Kris Clark, with the RCMP. All three occupants of the Malibu, an 82-year-old man, a 79-year-old woman and a 14-year-old boy, died at the scene.
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The driver of the commercial truck, as well as the two occupants of the Kia, all suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries and were transported to hospital. The names of the deceased are being withheld pending notification of the next of kin. The highway remained closed while an RCMP collision reconstructionist conducted a detailed scene assessment. “The analysis of that data is not yet complete and the investigation is ongoing,” said Clark. “Police are seeking further witnesses to this tragic event.” Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Const. Schneider at the Central Okanagan Traffic Services at 250-980-5353.
Rob Sawatzky is walking away from the mayor’s job and he’s identified his potential replacement. While announcing Thursday that he won’t seek a second term as Vernon mayor, Sawatzky took the unprecedented step of saying that he is aware of an unnamed individual who wants the job. “I feel that this potential candidate has the full set of skills for the mayor’s role,” said Sawatzky, who declined to reveal the person’s name. “This person has years of experience in economic development, in dealing with various levels of government, is a skilled facilitator and has the energy, commitment and desire to serve our community well.” Sawatzky, who is a retired physician, has been weighing his political future for some time. “It was a very difficult decision to make until I became aware of a potential candidate,” he said. Rob Sawatzky Sawatzky, 62, admits he is largely stepping back because of the social aspects of being mayor. “The daytime work is great but you owe it to the community to be out evenings and weekends,” he said of being invited to special events. As for his term as mayor, Sawatzky says he achieved his goal of restoring Vernon’s relationship with neighbouring jurisdictions, initiating a core review of city operations and promoting economic development. “Things have moved positively in that way,” he said of the economy. “We as a council have done what we can do.” Sawatzky is receiving praise from his colleagues. “He’s been such a good and patient leader but when he was elected, he made it clear about his mandate which was a core review and the parks function review and he did it,” said Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe. “He has been a great person to work with.” Coun. Juliette Cunningham says she has been impressed with Sawatzky’s role as mayor. “I am disappointed (with his decision) because I enjoyed working with Rob but I respect his reasons,” she said. “He’s done a great job and we’ve accomplished a lot as a council with the relationship with the regional district and we’re more in control of our destiny with the parks function.” O’Keefe admits she was waiting for Sawatzky to declare his intentions so she can decide if she is running for councillor or as mayor. “I am interested (in mayor) but I haven’t made a final decision. There are a few people I need to talk to first but I am considering it,” she said. Cunningham won’t speculate on what position she will seek in November. “It’s too early to say too much. I am putting a lot of thought into the decision I make and I am not there yet,” she said. The only declared candidate for mayor is Klaus Tribes, a former Vernon councillor.
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