TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 1, 2015
FACE TO FACE WITH THE FOREIGNER
COTR
BACK TO SCHOOL
Orientation Day is Sept. 8
An “Off-Leash” encounter quashes stereotypes
See LOCAL NEWS page 2
page 7
THE BULLETIN PROUDLY SERVING KIMBERLEY AND AREA SINCE 1932 | Vol. 83, Issue 168 | www.dailybulletin.ca
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FEDERAL ELECTION
All candidates forum set for September 30 C AROLYN GR ANT Bulletin Editor
All five candidates from Liberal, NDP, Conservative, Green, and Libertarian parties have agreed to attend an all candidates forum hosted by the Kimberley Chamber of Commerce. The forum will be held at McKim Middle School on Wednesday, September 30. The format for the evening will involve a moderator asking pre-determined questions to each candidate. If you have a question you would like to ask any or all of the candidates, please send it to forum@kimberleychamber.com The subject of questions will not be limited, but all will be pre-approved. Voters will also have an opportunity to meet the candidates before the forum begins. Doors at McKim will open at 6 and candidates will be available for about 45 minutes. The forum itself begins at 7 p.m. and will run until 8:30 p.m. Attending the forum will be David Wilks for the Conservatives, Bill Green for the Green Party, Don Johnston for the Liberals, Wayne Stetski for the NDP and Christina Yahn of the Libertarian Party.
JOHN ALLEN PHOTO
RCR and the Trickle Creek Lodge hosted a Mountain Top Kidz Fest the last week of August. Above, kids enjoy the bouncy castle.
INVASIVE PLANTS
?Aq’am goat grazing project deemed a success C AROLYN GR ANT Bulletin Editor
This past summer, a unique noxious weed trial involving target-grazing goats was performed on the St. Mary Band lands. Cailey Chase of Cailey Chase’s Plants worked with Rocky Ridge Vegetation Control on the monthlong ?Aq’am Goat Grazing Project. Chase sent a report on the project to Kimberley City Council, who had indicated some interest in the use of goats for weed control. Chase reported that about 1,000 acres (404 ha) were treated in a three
week period. She noted that this was a trial and on a general basis the goats can treat an average of four to five hectares a day. 95 per cent of the seed heads were removed and were checked two weeks after, and there was no regrowth. Native broad leaf plants and grasses were preserved with minimal damage. ?Aq’am and the Tobacco Plains Bands have asked Rocky Ridge to come back next year. Chase says that according to Todd Larsen program manager for East Kootenay Invasive Plant Council, Kimberley has
The goats take over a yard infested with knapweed. the worst infestation of invasive plants in the RDEK. The city has only one third of the budget required and
therefore is taking care of only one third of the lands infested with invasive plants.
Chase noted that Kimberley has an amazing opportunity to use goats that fits into their emerging philosophy. The Sun Mine area, she says will have to be monitored for invasive plants to avoid an infestation. “Target grazing goats to eat weeds is as effective and efficient on large infestations are herbicides are.” Coun. Albert Hoglund said that the City had tried using goats around the transfer station area in the past and it was effective. Coun. Nigel Kitto suggested that staff be directed to look into the logistics
of using goat grazing in Kimberley, however, Council decided that it needed to come up at a Committee of the Whole meeting during the budget process. “Our intention is to develop a noxious weed plan,” said Coun. Kent Goodwin. “This could be a component of it.” Manager of Parks and Recreation Dave Clark said that he has been keeping in touch with Ms. Chase, and beginning an inventory of invasive sites in Kimberley. He noted that it did take several years for goats to be effective.