Thursday December 18, 2014 (Vol. 39 No. 101)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
S U R R E Y
w w w. p e a c e a r c h n e w s . c o m
Batters up: After being left out of the last few Olympics, women’s fastpitch – one of the Semiahmoo Peninsula’s most popular sports – may be getting another swing at the Summer Games. i see page 13
Hill climb dropped from 35-year-old cycling event
Tour de White Rock changes gears Sarah Massah & Nick Greenizan Staff Reporters
Change is coming to next year’s Tour de White Rock cycling weekend. For the first time in the 35-year history of the event – which is held every July – there will be no Friday evening hill climb, and just two days of racing will be staged, as opposed to three. The changes were made late last month
when organizers of BC Superweek – the weeklong series that includes the Tour de White Rock, Tour de Delta, Giro di Burnaby and both UBC and Gastown Grand Prix events – released the 2015 Superweek schedule, and the new two-day format was further discussed at White Rock council Monday evening. With the hill climb cancelled, the Choices Market Criterium race – in which cyclists
zip around a short course in uptown White Rock – has been moved from its usual Saturday afternoon spot to the evening of Friday, July 17. The Peace Arch News Road Race will also move – from Sunday morning to Saturday, July 18. “We’ve noticed declining participation in the hill climb,” Eric Stepura, director of leisure services, told council. “The original intent of the hill climb was to include local
riders in the Tour de White Rock, and it’s been our experience that we really aren’t attracting local riders, and professional riders choose not to participate or they really don’t give it their best.” Stepura noted that by re-allocating the resources from the hill climb to the other two races, the change could attract more participants. i see page 10
South Surrey homicides
Surrey plans boost
Search for answers continues
Residents plead for tax-hike reprieve
Tracy Holmes Staff Reporter
Police investigating the murders of two South Surrey children – with perpetrators of one still at-large – were mum on both files this week. “There are no updates to provide in these two investigations,” Staff Sgt. Jennifer Pound, spokesperson for the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, said by email Wednesday. “IHIT is concentrating our efforts on the (Dario Bartoli) homicide and locating the individual(s) responsible.” IHIT took charge of the files associated with Bartoli, Dario Bartoli 15, and eight-year-old Teagan Batstone within hours of each child’s death last week. Bartoli died in hospital last Saturday from injuries suffered in what police suggest may have been an “alcoholfuelled” altercation early that morning in or near Bakerview Park. Batstone, 8, was found dead Teagan Batstone in the trunk of a car in the 13900-block of 35A Avenue on Dec. 10. Her mother, Lisa Deanne Batstone, has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the youngster’s death, and is scheduled to make her second appearance in Surrey Provincial Court this morning. i see page 10
Kevin Diakiw Black Press
Tracy Holmes photo
Flowers, cards and stuffed animals at 18 Avenue and 156A Street form a tribute to Dario Bartoli.
Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays
She said she wept as she walked to Surrey’s budget meeting Monday, knowing that if planned tax hikes passed, she would no longer be available to afford her home. That evening, Surrey’s finance committee – comprised of all of city council – approved a budget that calls for a $162 hike in taxes. For Binder Mahal, it also means an additional $116 for her secondary suite, a necessary addition to make her home affordable. “Our house needs a fence and we can’t afford it,” she told the finance committee. “Who knows how long our fridge or stove will last? “Please, please, this is not fair,” she implored. “We are not happy to live in Surrey anymore.” Since Surrey First came into power nine years ago, taxes have gone up 100 per cent, she said, adding her taxes are now $4,000 annually. “I cannot take this anymore.” Surrey’s finance committee met on Monday afternoon to discuss the five-year financial plan for 2014-2018. i see page 10
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