INSIDE: Gore plays role of Grinch, steals Edmonton’s Christmas Pg. 10 T U E S D A Y
December 21, 2010
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E N T E R T A I N M E N T chilliwacktimes.com
Study goes off the rails
Odds not good for missing Planje
release issued Monday. “That’s more than a little hard to believe given that there are few cases roponents of the inter- where buses attract equal, let alone u r b a n r a i l l i n e f r o m greater, ridership.” The report finds that rapid bus Chilliwack to Surrey are critical of some of the service between Chilliwack and a s s u m p t i o n s u n d e r l y i n g t h e Abbotsford would be the more provincial government’s Fraser economical alternative, but Buker Valley Transit Study (FVTS) released said the ridership predictions that allow for this conclusion are last week. B a s e d o n e c o n o m i c a n d doubtful. “There are some nice ideas demographic projections, the long-awaited report concludes that presented of enhanced local bus service which light rail on the deserve a closer old inter-urban look, but the line would cost “By digging a little hard truth is “significantly more under the surface, i t i s e x t re m e l y than the other one discovers doubtful that transit options ridership will shockingly that the available.” be high enough B u t D r. J o h n report is actually to sustain these Buker of the Rail assuming a regional levels of services for theValley group without a light rail said those doing bus service would backbone,” Buker the calculations attract more than said. aren’t telling the “If the Fraser whole story. triple the number Valley can The FVTS of passengers of an support hourly, found that the or even halfinter urban line equivalent light rail hourly, regional from Chilliwack service.” b u s s e r v i c e, i t to Surrey would can also support have annual costs John Buker light rail, whose in 2031 from operating costs approximately over the lifetime $110 million to $175 million for of the vehicles tend to actually be operating, vehicle and capital. “However, the projected 2031 lower, when all costs are taken into ridership does not grow to the account.” For Mayor Sharon Gaetz, she same degree, resulting in a higher system cost of $100 to $110 per is just happy the FVTS has finally been released by the province so ride,” the report said. “By digging a little under the the city can begin to work on its surface, one discovers shockingly “vision.” “The main thing is it reinforces that the report is actually assuming a regional bus service would attract the need for new funding sources,” more than triple the number of she told the Times. “The way we passengers of an equivalent light See TRANSIT, Page 23 rail service,” Buker said in a press
BY PAUL J. HENDERSON phenderson@chilliwacktimes.com
BY TYLER OLSEN tolsen@chilliwacktimes.com
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t Chilliwack United Church, a white poinsettia sits in the second pew from the front, waiting. The poinsettia keeps vigil for Robert-Jan Planje, the 64-year-old Chilliwack man now missing for more than a week and feared dead by friends and homicide investigators. Police are still investigating Planje’s disappearance, but Integrated Homicide Investigation Team spokesperson Cpl. Dale Carr said that the longer the search continues, the worse the odds that he will be found alive. Police began searching for him last Monday morning after he disappeared from his tidy home in the Rainbow Estates mobile home park, leaving behind signs of a struggle. For friends new and old, the sudden disappearance of Planje—a lay minister at the church, the secretary for the Gypsy Project, and a man who, when asked how he was, would choose between “fantastic” or “amazing”—has been traumatizing. “He was the sweetest, kindest man you’re ever going to meet,” said his friend Jim Rogers. “We’re beside ourselves here. He’s been there for us; we’ve known him for nearly 18 years and he’s been there for us. “You know the stereotype of [how] everytime somebody gets hurt or gone, everybody says how nice he was? I’m not s---ing you, he was.” Rogers said Planje worked as a paperboy for the Progress, lived in Chilliwack all his life, and left a deep mark on everybody he touched. “He was special to a lot of people
He kept his murderous past a secret
Tyler Olsen/TIMES
A poinsettia rests in Robert-Jan Planje’s normal seat at Chilliwack United Church. Planje has been missing for more than a week and is feared dead. in this town.” Even gone, Planje’s kindness has continued to shine through to longtime friends Darren and Colleen Crook. Planje gave the couple a place to stay when they first moved to Chilliwack and, the week before his disappearance, had presented a ring to Colleen to celebrate 40 years of friendship. Last week, the couple received a call from a local store from which Planje had ordered the Crooks a Christmas present before he disappeared. Darren choked up as he recounted the call. “It just kind of blew us away. He’s
already given my wife a ring and now this; it’s a little overwhelming.” The Crooks are now trying to gather people together to search for any sign of Planje, with the first stop being Ballam Road, near where police scoured the Fraser River last week. Anybody wanting to help can call 604-393-6885. Police have found Planje’s car in Chilliwack, but IHIT’s Carr could not say where exactly it was discovered. Carr said that a “person of interest” remains in custody and will likely face charges on other issues. See PLANJE, Page 6
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