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FEBRUARY 23, 2016
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Vol. 65, Issue 36
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JCI Family Fun Derby raises $7,895 FOR T H E TOWNS MAN
Another year of unseasonable weather, but another great turnout by the community to support local kids with cancer. JCI Kootenay, Fort
Steele Heritage Town and the Family Fishing Derby volunteers and sponsors have a lot to be proud of after hosting an amazing fundraising event on Family Day.
Cranbrook gets deer project funds B A R RY CO U LT E R
Cranbrook is among the East Kootenay communities awarded grants to support an urban deer translocation trial project, set for this winter. The Province announced Monday it is providing $36,000 to three communities — Cranbrook, Elkford and Invermere — to support urban deer management projects. The announcement was made by Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests,Lands and Natural Resource Operations. “The Province is committed to partnering with local governments to facilitate the development of urban deer management solutions,” Thomson said in a statement Monday. “Every community is unique, and strategies for dealing with urban deer are informed by local conditions and community attitudes.” Cranbrook is receiving a total of $4,000 in funds, while Invermere gets $6,000. Elkford gets the lion’s share of
the grant — $26,000. “Urban deer continue to be a problem in the city,” said Cranbrook Acting Mayor Wesly Graham. “We appreciate the financial support of the Province in helping us try to manage our local deer population.” Cranbrook’s most recent deer count identified an urban herd of 137 ungulates — the highest result since the city began keeping track of urban deer numbers in 2010. The City also conducted a cull over December and January of 20 animals. At the Union of BC Municipalities meeting in September last year, the Province also announced it would set aside $100,000 a year for urban deer mitigation. The statement released Monday said the Province will review the results translocation project with an eye to improving it. The translocation is set to take place over the course of the next few months. It is already underway in Kimberley.
Topping last year’s similar event at Fort Steele, the 2016 version of the derby raised nearly $7,900 that will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society who will then distribute the funding to local kids with cancer and their families to support
treatment, travel and other expenses incurred while they fight the disease. In addition to the fundraising, two local families won amazing vacation prizes donated by long time Derby Whale Sponsors. Dean and Tracey Uphill of
Dacota Freight sponsored a trip to Disneyland for a young cancer survivor and her family from Fernie; this is a legacy Dean and Tracey have generously continued every year the Derby has been held. When contacted about the good news the fami-
ly was extremely grateful, “This is such an amazing event. The phone call we received last night just made my year. We told our son and daughter and they both cried they were so happy.” Sunshine Houseboats Ltd. also spon-
sored a houseboat vacation for a young boy and his family from Creston who were very excited and made the trip to Fort Steele with many family members to enjoy the Family Fund Day festivities.
See JCI, Page 4
COURTESY AL NUTINI
The Mount Baker Senior Girls basketball team travelled to Notre Dame High School in Calgary on the weekend to wrap up their tournament schedule for the 2015-16 season. The Wild defeated the Blue and Gold of Notre Dame to take home the Championship. Back row, left to right: Julie Frankle, Mary Amsing, Rachel Hubick, Alexius Bell, Claire Duffy. Front row, left to right: Lacey Reay, Kal Taye, Justyn Mackie, Haylee Thomas. Missing: McKenzie Lightburn, Hunter Burton, Ashley Drought, Madeline Gentile & Sabrina Hobi. See more in Sports, Page 11.