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Friday, November 30, 2018 | Your community newspaper since 1916

Warmer, dry winter predicted Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca The next three months in B.C.’s Central Interior should be slightly warmer and drier than usual for that time of year, according to a long-range forecast from The Weather Network. Temperatures should hover 1.5 to 2 C higher than normal while snowfall should add up to slightly less than the 100 centimetres the region typically gets, TWN meteorologist Brad Rousseau said this week. The average daytime high for the so-called meteorological winter of December, January and February is -1.5 C. January tends to be the coldest with an average high of -3 C. “You’re still going to see days when it’s a little bit warmer than normal, you’re still going to have days that are going to be colder than normal but you take the average of all three months and you lean to the warmer side,” Rousseau said. An El Nino, associated with warm ocean water in the central Pacific, and slightly-warmer water in the Gulf of Alaska are the reasons for the prediction. The season won’t start out that way. “You are going to go through a cold spell to kick off December,” Rousseau said. “The cold spell should last until not quite mid month and then you should see a bit more of a warmer trend take hold.” As of Thursday, TWN’s 14-day forecast was calling for daytime highs of -6 C on Wednesday and Thursday, rising to freezing by Sunday, Dec. 9. On balance, skiers should get their runs in – just not all season long. “This warmer, drier pattern will break down at times and when it does, you’ll get your winter systems moving in,” Rousseau said. “It should bring in enough cold air that ski regions should do OK in terms of snow. They’re going to have their struggles throughout the warmer periods but overall, ski season should be average.”

Operation Red Nose kicking off tonight Citizen staff CITIZEN PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN

Community Heritage Tree Alyssa Tobin, Tracy Calogheros and Lisa Connor from The Exploration Place put donated ornaments on the Community Heritage Tree inside the museum on Thursday afternoon. The tree features ornaments that have been donated by the community. They are accepting more donations this year from the public that will be kept in the permanent collection. This Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. the museum will host the members Christmas party.

Parole revoked for woman serving time for crime spree Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff A woman serving a five-year sentence for her role in a three-city crime spree that ended in Prince George is back behind bars after her day parole was revoked over concern she might be falling back into her old habits. Sentenced in December 2016, Stephanie Rene Deschene was released on day parole in early May but by the end of August, she had been brought back into custody. Over that time, she failed to secure a job and while she initially seemed intent on regaining custody of her child, her attentions instead turned to reconnecting with her intimate partner, who is currently homeless, according to a Parole Board of Canada decision. The partner’s name was not provided, but in January 2017, Kelsey Alexan-

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der Allard was sentenced to a further two-and-a-half years in prison for the September 2016 escapade. Arrested in Prince George following a lengthy game of hide-and-seek with police, they had been driving around in an SUV stolen in Grande Prairie and holding items stolen in both cities as well as Kamloops. Deschene received a stiffer sentence in part because she was behind the wheel when the couple fled police and because of her past record of similar crimes. While she was out on parole, Deschene and her partner became the subject of a break and enter complaint. Deschene told supervisors they were house hunting and in the process of using Google Maps were directed to the wrong address. When there was no answer at the

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door, Deschene said she went through an open garage door and knocked on that one. As she was doing so, the homeowner came to the door and “freaked out.” A subsequent investigation by her case management team found the home she was looking for and the one where she ended up were 6.5 kilometres apart. The team also contacted her halfway house and were told of troublesome behaviour, such as sneaking her partner into the house, leaving her child unattended and leaving vague information on her signout logs. She was also seen behind the wheel of a vehicle despite being subject to a driving prohibition. In a Nov. 21, decision, a Parole Board of Canada member found that letting her back out would pose an undue risk and revoked her day parole.

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It’s all systems go as Operation Red Nose Prince George begins delivering safe rides home this weekend, the first of its 2018 campaign. Tonight will feature 14 volunteer road teams of three and 18 teams on Saturday, ready to take party-goers and their vehicles home between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. Those who need a safe ride home can call 250-962-7433. Operation Red Nose Prince George is celebrating its 21st year in the city. The designated driving service available during the holiday season relies on an army of volunteers to help keep Prince We’re as George roads safe. prepared as “We’re as prepared as we can be and we can be we’re really looking and we’re really forward to finally out there and looking forward to getting helping people who finally getting out need it,” said OperaRed Nose Prince there and helping tion George spokesperson people who need it. Andrea Johnson. “Rudy, our mascot, — Andrea Johnson along with other Red Nose volunteers will also be making appearances at various pubs, restaurants and parties to remind people to call us if they need to.” In comparison, in 2017, 16 teams provided 57 rides on the first night of service, while another 18 teams delivered 99 rides on the second night. The free, seasonal service, organized by the Rotary Club of Prince George-Nechako, in partnership with the RCMP and ICBC, allows partygoers to not only get themselves home safely, but their vehicles too. The service is available on nine nights during the holiday season to those who do not feel fit to drive. — see OPERATION RED NOSE, page 3

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