NOMINEES ANNOUNCED | Four upstanding local ladies nominated for Woman of the Year [A17]
Morning gStar
The
Friday, April 17, 2015
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Tree falls on men
RESCUE TRAINING
ROGER KNOX Morning Star Staff
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
Firefighter Trevor Keenan watches the ropes as firefighters Chad Gilroy (left) and Brad Crawford are brought up the embankment with their training victim during a Vernon Fire Rescue ropes course Thursday morning in Becker Park.
Cosens Bay safety makes waves RICHARD ROLKE
“An accident is just waiting to happen.”
Morning Star Staff
Proponents have made their case for a contentious road right-of-way through Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park. Members of the Cosens Bay Property Owners Society urged the Regional District of North Okanagan board Wednesday to support a Ministry of Transportation bid to have a 20-metre right-of-way removed from the park so safety and maintenance issues can be addressed along Cosens Bay Road. “It doesn’t meet ministry standard,” said Rob Johnston, CBPOS spokesperson. “There is no line of sight. An accident is just waiting to happen.” However, RDNO has already indicated that it opposes a right-of-way greater than what is needed for safety and drainage measures. “Everybody agrees safety can be addressed without a great right-of-way swath,” said Doug Dirk, an RDNO board member. CBPOS insists the ministry’s plan to remove the right-of-way from the park would allow
— Rob Johnston
the agency to manage the road, which services residents of the Cosens Bay community as well as park users. “It’s not just a road leading to a cabin colony. It’s a road leading through a park people love and want to see,” said Robert Hollier, a society director. Johnston added that motor vehicle accidents, including fuel spills, can negatively impact the environment. “We enjoy the park. We’re in it all of the time but you need safe roads.” There have been suggestions that a rightof-way could allow for electricity and other services to extend to Cosens Bay, which could lead to more development. Johnston doesn’t deny the prospect of utilities
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and says possible sewer could protect Kalamalka Lake water quality. “Our community is developed in a regulated environment and the tax base is significant.” During its presentation, CBPOS’ representation was challenged. “Do you represent the majority of people out there? We’ve heard there’s a small number pushing for the road?” said Mike Macnabb. NORD director. CBPOS has 55 paid members. “The society represents a majority of the properties out there,” said Peter Rook, with the group. Juliette Cunningham, RDNO director, insists there must be a balance between a safe road and protecting the natural integrity of the park. “The ideal thing is to find a compromise so we all believe we’ve won,” she said. RDNO has requested a delegation from the Ministry of Environment, which oversees the park. “Then we will have all of the viewpoints,” said director Catherine Lord.
WorkSafe B.C. is investigating a logging accident east of Lumby Wednesday morning that resulted in one man being airlifted to Kelowna General Hospital. Three men from an Enderby contracting firm were working in the bush 34 kilometres east of Lumby off Highway 6 and approximately 45 kilometres up a forest service road, in the Keefer Lake area, when a dislodged tree came sliding down the mountainside, striking the three men. Emergency personnel were called just before 8:30 a.m. after the loggers reported to the company that they had been injured. The contracting firm had first aid on-site. “Two of the men were able to walk out and were taken to Vernon Jubilee Hospital for assessment and treatment,” said Vernon RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk. The third man was airlifted from the scene, thanks in large part to Vernon Search and Rescue, whose helicopter winch was lowered and the injured man was put in a basket and taken to a waiting air ambulance, which transported the man to Kelowna General Hospital. Vernon Search and Rescue was called in after a half-dozen fellow workers were unable to carry the injured man out of the bush due to the steepness of the slope. A spokesperson for the contracting company said the injured logger was treated for a possible orbital fracture (injury to the bone of the eye socket) and was released from hospital. He will be re-assessed next week. “I am very pleased with the response of Vernon Search and Rescue and with all of the emergency crews,” said the contracting spokesperson. WorkSafe B.C. has assigned two officers to investigate the incident.
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