February 28, 2012 - News Leader
COUNCIL STANDS UP FOR RURAL SERVICES
Town Council has passed a resolution demanding better services for rural communities. The resolution states that centralization has caused specialized services to locate in larger centers with the result that there is an unacceptable cost of travel for residents of rural communities. The resolution points out that the rural communities are frequently the source of major provincial revenues from natural resources such as mining and the forest industry, and the personnel and their families require access to services close to their work, especially in case of accidents.
COUNCIL OFFERS PRAISE
Town Councillors had a lot of praise to offer at the February 20 meeting. Councillor Frank Armitage commented on the loss of Janine Terbasket, whose funeral he attended. He praised the work she had done for the Lower Similkameen Indian Band and said, “She was a good citizen of our valley.” Councillor Armitage added more praise for the excellent performance of the Posse hockey team and urged everyone to go out to watch the playoffs. He added praise to Princeton Curling Club for the way they have hosted some excellent bonspiels. Councillor Jason Earle praised the Legion for their ongoing series of poker tournaments on Wednesday evenings, and for their hosting Youth Night for young people aged 10 to 18, offering games, snacks and soft drinks free. Councillor Earle went on to encourage people to help Princeton Rotarians raise funds for a proper concession kitchen at Riverside Centre. A Wine Fest fundraiser for the project took place at Riverside Centre on March 3.
PXA ADVANCES PLAN FOR 2012
A lengthy meeting of Princeton Exhibition Association (PXA) held February 21 addressed a multitude of action items and forward planning for 2012. Problems with a leaking barn roof, leaking underground pipes and tractor repair will be taken care of as soon as possible. Committees were assigned and will be reviewed at the March 20 meeting for possible changes. Racing Days President Karrie Crucil outlined progress and hopes to have the race meet dates confirmed this week. Sue Gereau reported the Rodeo Club has their plans set for May 12 and 13. The question of Little Britches Rodeo is still not settled. Jen Bernard is trying to find people to run the event, as Princeton put on such an excellent Little Britches last year and the Rodeo Club would be disappointed if it could not be held this year. There is a possibility that there will be a chuck wagon event at this year’s rodeo. Fall Fair President Keith Olsen said the Fall Fair will be more of a family event this year. There will be no beer garden, and no race meet going on. The Saturday evening of the fair will feature a family dinner, music and dance at a reasonable price. Laser tag has been booked again for this year. A work party is planned for April. This is a general clean-up event that will involve all of the PXA members and all of the user group members.
Town Council has passed a resolution demanding better services for rural communities. The resolution states that centralization has caused specialized services to locate in larger centers with the result that there is an unacceptable cost of travel for residents of rural communities. The resolution points out that the rural communities are frequently the source of major provincial revenues from natural resources such as mining and the forest industry, and the personnel and their families require access to services close to their work, especially in case of accidents.
COUNCIL OFFERS PRAISE
Town Councillors had a lot of praise to offer at the February 20 meeting. Councillor Frank Armitage commented on the loss of Janine Terbasket, whose funeral he attended. He praised the work she had done for the Lower Similkameen Indian Band and said, “She was a good citizen of our valley.” Councillor Armitage added more praise for the excellent performance of the Posse hockey team and urged everyone to go out to watch the playoffs. He added praise to Princeton Curling Club for the way they have hosted some excellent bonspiels. Councillor Jason Earle praised the Legion for their ongoing series of poker tournaments on Wednesday evenings, and for their hosting Youth Night for young people aged 10 to 18, offering games, snacks and soft drinks free. Councillor Earle went on to encourage people to help Princeton Rotarians raise funds for a proper concession kitchen at Riverside Centre. A Wine Fest fundraiser for the project took place at Riverside Centre on March 3.
PXA ADVANCES PLAN FOR 2012
A lengthy meeting of Princeton Exhibition Association (PXA) held February 21 addressed a multitude of action items and forward planning for 2012. Problems with a leaking barn roof, leaking underground pipes and tractor repair will be taken care of as soon as possible. Committees were assigned and will be reviewed at the March 20 meeting for possible changes. Racing Days President Karrie Crucil outlined progress and hopes to have the race meet dates confirmed this week. Sue Gereau reported the Rodeo Club has their plans set for May 12 and 13. The question of Little Britches Rodeo is still not settled. Jen Bernard is trying to find people to run the event, as Princeton put on such an excellent Little Britches last year and the Rodeo Club would be disappointed if it could not be held this year. There is a possibility that there will be a chuck wagon event at this year’s rodeo. Fall Fair President Keith Olsen said the Fall Fair will be more of a family event this year. There will be no beer garden, and no race meet going on. The Saturday evening of the fair will feature a family dinner, music and dance at a reasonable price. Laser tag has been booked again for this year. A work party is planned for April. This is a general clean-up event that will involve all of the PXA members and all of the user group members.
Similkameen Wine Takes Gold!
Photo: Similkameen Wineries Association
The competition was fierce and the determination was evident as nine of Canada’s best chefs competed for top honours during the coveted Gold Medal Plates Canadian Culinary Championships on February 10th and 11th in Kelowna. The Grand Finale at the Delta Grand Okanagan was the hottest ticket in town, featuring the nine chefs competing in an all-out slamdown competition. The Similkameen was well represented at the event, as the Similkameen Wineries Association was selected to be the featured wine region at a special VIP reception for over 300 people just prior to the final
competition. Sara Harker, President of the Similkameen Wineries Association explained, “The Gold Medal Plates Canadian Culinary Championships is such an incredible event. We were thrilled to be a part of such a special fundraising event for our Canadian Olympians. In addition, we were absolutely honoured to showcase the Similkameen wine region to all of these food and wine lovers. We received tremendous feedback on our wines, including great comments from many that had not heard of our very special wine region.” As part of the final awards ceremony, bronze, silver and gold medals were also awarded for the wines. A trio of esteemed wine judges evaluated the 29 wines involved in the CCC events and judged Orofino’s 2009 Syrah to be the top wine of the weekend, awarding it with a Gold Medal! “It is quite an honour for our Similkameen winery to be chosen as the gold medalist at this event, especially knowing that it was judged by some of the best palates in the country,” said John and Virginia Weber, owners and winemakers. “We'd like to congratulate Murray and Maggie Fonteyne of Cawston’s Scout Vineyards for their terrific work in growing these grapes for us. This was
their first crop of Syrah so we are very excited about Syrah and its potential here in the Similkameen. These types of accolades bode well on future vintages!” This is Orofino’s second win at the Gold Medal Plates, as their 2009 Riesling won top wine of the night in the Saskatchewan regional competition held last October. “We like to think of the Similkameen wine region as a hidden gem,”
explained Harker. With wins like this, expect this hidden gem to be discovered by a lot more people!
- submitted
competition. Sara Harker, President of the Similkameen Wineries Association explained, “The Gold Medal Plates Canadian Culinary Championships is such an incredible event. We were thrilled to be a part of such a special fundraising event for our Canadian Olympians. In addition, we were absolutely honoured to showcase the Similkameen wine region to all of these food and wine lovers. We received tremendous feedback on our wines, including great comments from many that had not heard of our very special wine region.” As part of the final awards ceremony, bronze, silver and gold medals were also awarded for the wines. A trio of esteemed wine judges evaluated the 29 wines involved in the CCC events and judged Orofino’s 2009 Syrah to be the top wine of the weekend, awarding it with a Gold Medal! “It is quite an honour for our Similkameen winery to be chosen as the gold medalist at this event, especially knowing that it was judged by some of the best palates in the country,” said John and Virginia Weber, owners and winemakers. “We'd like to congratulate Murray and Maggie Fonteyne of Cawston’s Scout Vineyards for their terrific work in growing these grapes for us. This was
their first crop of Syrah so we are very excited about Syrah and its potential here in the Similkameen. These types of accolades bode well on future vintages!” This is Orofino’s second win at the Gold Medal Plates, as their 2009 Riesling won top wine of the night in the Saskatchewan regional competition held last October. “We like to think of the Similkameen wine region as a hidden gem,”
explained Harker. With wins like this, expect this hidden gem to be discovered by a lot more people!
- submitted
February 21, 2012 - News Leader
TOWN COUNCIL NEWS
At the February 13 Town Council strategy meeting (formerly called Committee of the Whole), Council made two new appointments to local organizations. Frank Armitage will be Council Liaison for Princeton Posse and Kim Maynard will be Council Liaison for Princeton Accessibility Awareness Committee. Three customary appointments were dropped: Fall Fair, Princeton Rodeo and Princeton Racing Days Association. These were dropped because each of the three groups now has a Director on the Board of Princeton Exhibition Association. Councillor Jason Earle is Council Liaison for Princeton Exhibition Association.
Air Quality - Town Council now has a report from the one and a half years of air quality monitoring in Princeton. Mayor Fred Thomas will meet with the local Air Quality Coalition to hear their position and invite them to make a presentation to Town Council.
Urban deer pamphlet - Councillor Jason Earle has drafted a pamphlet to educate the public about dealing with urban deer. Other members of Town Council have been asked to read it and provide comment. In addition, he has obtained policy and bylaws from three other communities dealing with urban deer problems. These will be reviewed by Council, as well as by a committee of local residents which Council plans to appoint. Appointments to this committee will balance those who love the deer with those who do not. Another useful source of information is the website located at www.urbandeer.org
ACCIDENT NEAR PRINCETON CLAIMS KEREMEOS LIFE
On February 11th at approximately 7:33 AM a 1995 Honda Accord heading eastbound on Highway 3, 9-kilometres East of Princeton lost control on the slippery road surface. The vehicle skidded off the road to the left, down the embankment and came to rest overturned in the Similkameen River. Three passengers were able to escape the vehicle and a patrolling South Okanagan Traffic Services RCMP member encountered one of the injured passengers on the road side. “He stopped, observed a car upside down in the river, and a female on the icy bank holding another woman, who was in the water, keeping her from being washed away by the current,” explains Cpl. Dave Cramm of Keremeos Detachment. The RCMP member, Cst. Mike Leiding, assisted by an Argo highways worker, pulled the woman from the river. “They subsequently jumped into the water and attempted to extract the female driver from the car, who was submerged in the water,” Cpl. Cramm adds. They were unable to pull the driver from the vehicle and planned to roll the vehicle over using chains and the Argo truck. The injured women were transported to Penticton Regional Hospital by ambulance for treatment of moderate to serious, non-life threatening injuries. All four of the occupants of the vehicle were related and in addition to an IRSU member and BC Ambulance, Fire & Rescue, Collision Analyst and BC Coroners Service all attended the scene to investigate the incident. The deceased woman was later identified as 34-year old Jeanine Terbasket of Keremeos.
STUDENTS TAP DISTRICT RESOURCES
Students of School District #58 are blessed with a lot of resources to assist them through their years of learning. Each school has its own initiatives for improvements to learning, including teachers who help other teachers. The district has additional initiatives that apply to all schools. At the February 8 Board of Education meeting, Assistant Superintendent Steve McNiven gave trustees an onscreen overview of the many approaches to learning available to students in the district. Early learning programs, aboriginal education programs, student support systems, individual learning plans, and distance education contribute to the entire span of school years. Many different forms of learning technology provide many opportunities to today’s students.
At the February 13 Town Council strategy meeting (formerly called Committee of the Whole), Council made two new appointments to local organizations. Frank Armitage will be Council Liaison for Princeton Posse and Kim Maynard will be Council Liaison for Princeton Accessibility Awareness Committee. Three customary appointments were dropped: Fall Fair, Princeton Rodeo and Princeton Racing Days Association. These were dropped because each of the three groups now has a Director on the Board of Princeton Exhibition Association. Councillor Jason Earle is Council Liaison for Princeton Exhibition Association.
Air Quality - Town Council now has a report from the one and a half years of air quality monitoring in Princeton. Mayor Fred Thomas will meet with the local Air Quality Coalition to hear their position and invite them to make a presentation to Town Council.
Urban deer pamphlet - Councillor Jason Earle has drafted a pamphlet to educate the public about dealing with urban deer. Other members of Town Council have been asked to read it and provide comment. In addition, he has obtained policy and bylaws from three other communities dealing with urban deer problems. These will be reviewed by Council, as well as by a committee of local residents which Council plans to appoint. Appointments to this committee will balance those who love the deer with those who do not. Another useful source of information is the website located at www.urbandeer.org
ACCIDENT NEAR PRINCETON CLAIMS KEREMEOS LIFE
On February 11th at approximately 7:33 AM a 1995 Honda Accord heading eastbound on Highway 3, 9-kilometres East of Princeton lost control on the slippery road surface. The vehicle skidded off the road to the left, down the embankment and came to rest overturned in the Similkameen River. Three passengers were able to escape the vehicle and a patrolling South Okanagan Traffic Services RCMP member encountered one of the injured passengers on the road side. “He stopped, observed a car upside down in the river, and a female on the icy bank holding another woman, who was in the water, keeping her from being washed away by the current,” explains Cpl. Dave Cramm of Keremeos Detachment. The RCMP member, Cst. Mike Leiding, assisted by an Argo highways worker, pulled the woman from the river. “They subsequently jumped into the water and attempted to extract the female driver from the car, who was submerged in the water,” Cpl. Cramm adds. They were unable to pull the driver from the vehicle and planned to roll the vehicle over using chains and the Argo truck. The injured women were transported to Penticton Regional Hospital by ambulance for treatment of moderate to serious, non-life threatening injuries. All four of the occupants of the vehicle were related and in addition to an IRSU member and BC Ambulance, Fire & Rescue, Collision Analyst and BC Coroners Service all attended the scene to investigate the incident. The deceased woman was later identified as 34-year old Jeanine Terbasket of Keremeos.
STUDENTS TAP DISTRICT RESOURCES
Students of School District #58 are blessed with a lot of resources to assist them through their years of learning. Each school has its own initiatives for improvements to learning, including teachers who help other teachers. The district has additional initiatives that apply to all schools. At the February 8 Board of Education meeting, Assistant Superintendent Steve McNiven gave trustees an onscreen overview of the many approaches to learning available to students in the district. Early learning programs, aboriginal education programs, student support systems, individual learning plans, and distance education contribute to the entire span of school years. Many different forms of learning technology provide many opportunities to today’s students.
Princeton Posse Head to Play-offs!
Photo: Brenda Engel
Princeton Posse are heading into the 1st Round (Division Semi-Finals) of KIJHL play-offs after finishing the 2011/12 Junior 'B' hockey season in 2nd place in their division. Although the team struggled in February, they finished the 52-game season with a 28-19-1-4 record worth 61 points, just four points behind division leaders Osoyoos. The first play-off game is February 24th against Penticton.
Congrats to One of Our Own!
Photo: Brenda Engel
Similkameen News Leader’s George Elliott is nearing the end of his 4th season as internet play-by-play announcer for the Princeton Posse. The pay-per-view webcasts are the 2nd most viewed in the 20-team KIJHL - a feat first achieved last season with 18 teams.
"I'm prepared to keep doing this as long as the team wants me to," Elliott says. "It's been a lot of fun and I quite enjoy making a contribution to the Princeton Posse and the KIJHL."
"I'm prepared to keep doing this as long as the team wants me to," Elliott says. "It's been a lot of fun and I quite enjoy making a contribution to the Princeton Posse and the KIJHL."
February 14, 2012 - News Leader
MAN SENTENCED FOR THEFT
Raymond J. Witzke appeared in Provincial Court in Princeton on February 9 for sentencing on a charge of theft, to which he had entered a guilty plea at an earlier date. A pre-sentence report had been prepared before sentencing. In September 2010, Troy Shenton and his girlfriend, Teresa Baird, were awakened by Shenton’s truck alarm. Shenton found his truck door open and signs somebody had been moving things around. He called the police. While police officers were investigating, Witzke staggered out of some bushes on a property across the street. Police questioned him and saw he had Baird’s wallet in his possession along with cheques belonging to Shenton. Witzke had a long record, but the pre-sentence report indicated he has been making progress. He is unable to work, but is maintaining a residence. Crown Counsel requested a jail term for Witzke, but his lawyer asked for one morechance. Judge G. Sinclair was impressed with the pre-sentence report and ordered a one year probation with condition that Witzke stay away from alcohol and drugs.
COUNCIL WANTS TO HEAR STEELWORKERS
Town Council received a letter from United Steelworkers Union on the question of raw log exports. The union opposes any measures that would increase the export of raw logs from British Columbia. They asked for Council support for their position. Council decided to invite union representatives to a Council meeting to present their position to Council.
COUNCIL CAN BUILD MORE DIKES
Town Council applied two years ago for funding to complete the dike project along the Similkameen River in an area referred to as Burton Flats. A letter arrived on January 30 advising Council it has been approved up to $210,000 from the Building Canada Fund, Flood Protection. Council must comply with all necessary permits and authorizations and to meet with funding representatives.
COUNCIL DEFERS WEDDING REQUEST
Town Council received a request from Paulette Boyd and Rod Carlson to use Two Rivers Park as the site for their August 4 wedding. This was a first for Town Council. No policy exists for weddings in Town parks. Several concerns have to be addressed, beginning with liability, possible safety issues, and parking. Two Rivers Park is located at the junction of Tulameen and Similkameen Rivers and is accessible along the TransCanada Trail. Council will respond to the couple to discuss the concerns before a decision is made.
Could This Be A Sign of Spring?
Photo: Brenda Engel
The Town of Princeton Public Works Department has been busy the past week scraping away ice build-up on downtown streets. At the time this photo was taken the crew had completed a good portion of Vermilion Avenue. We think it means Spring is around the corner.
Deer Feeders Beware!
Photo: Town of Princeton
Someone continues to provide hay for deer to munch on near Princeton Airport. This is in violation of the Town of Princeton Deer Feeding Bylaw. The Bylaw Enforcement Department requests anyone with information related to the dropping of bales of hay near the airport to contact them at 250-295-3135.
February 07, 2012 - News Leader
RURAL PRINCETON OFFICE EXTENDS HOURS
The RDOS announced last week they expanded hours for building inspection service for Electoral Area ‘H’, Rural Princeton. The existing office in the Riverside Centre at 148 Old Hedley Road, has undergone a renovation and will be staffed Monday from 8:00 AM to 12 Noon and Tuesday to Thursday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. RDOS Building Official Aaron Hough will be available to assist Area ‘H’ residents with building inspection services. The Princeton office phone number is 250.295.6685. Aaron can also be reached at 250.490.4123 or toll-free 1-877-610-3737. This office was previously only open Mondays from 10:00 AM to 12 Noon. “The RDOS is pleased to provide expanded service for Area ‘H’ residents,” said Donna Butler, Director of Development Services. By having the Building Official based out of the Princeton satellite office, travel time for inspections will also be reduced.
REPORT URBAN DEER PROBLEMS
The Town of Princeton has a bylaw in place that states residents should not purposely provide food for 'urban deer' to feed on. The bylaw has a fine schedule in place but has been a hard one to enforce. Town of Princeton Mayor Fred Thomas says local residents who have witnessed deliberate feeding of deer, or have photographic evidence of residents leaving food out for deer can have their concerns handled by simply filing a formal, written complaint at the Town Office located on Bridge Street. Mayor Thomas says all deer feeding complaints will be followed up on by the Town of Princeton Bylaw Enforcement Department with appropriate action taken where warranted. If urban deer are a problem for you visit www.urbandeer.org for ideas on how to deal with them in your yard or garden.
WINTER HOBBY CAN LEAD TO MONEY
Many people occupy spare time during the winter months by working on a hobby. Some people do woodwork, some paint, others carve or make jewelry. Some people knit, crochet or quilt to pass the time. If you are one of these people, have you thought ahead to the Fall Fair? Entering your hobby pieces in the fair not only offer you a chance to win a prize, but also offer you an opportunity to show others what you can create, and more than one exhibitor has had people ask him or her to make something for them. This means a little added income in your pocket by doing something you love doing. What could be better? Entering your hobby is simple. You take it to the fairgrounds during registration time (August 30, 31 this year), pay the 50 cent registration fee, then come back and pick it up on Sunday afternoon. Prize money ranges from $5.00 for first to $1.00 for third. There are 35 Leisure craft categories you could enter. There are a number of woodworking categories, ceramics, glass work, bead work, rock work, scrap booking, hand made soap, leather work, decorative painting, and articles that involve recycling fabric, plastic, wood, glass, metal or other materials. For those who do needlework, there is a large number of categories for those hobbies, too. Watch for the 2012 Fall Fair Exhibitor’s Booklet, which contains an entry form as well as a description of all of the categories of exhibits in the fair. The booklet is generally available by late spring and can be found in many retail outlets in Princeton, Tulameen and Hedley.
The RDOS announced last week they expanded hours for building inspection service for Electoral Area ‘H’, Rural Princeton. The existing office in the Riverside Centre at 148 Old Hedley Road, has undergone a renovation and will be staffed Monday from 8:00 AM to 12 Noon and Tuesday to Thursday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM. RDOS Building Official Aaron Hough will be available to assist Area ‘H’ residents with building inspection services. The Princeton office phone number is 250.295.6685. Aaron can also be reached at 250.490.4123 or toll-free 1-877-610-3737. This office was previously only open Mondays from 10:00 AM to 12 Noon. “The RDOS is pleased to provide expanded service for Area ‘H’ residents,” said Donna Butler, Director of Development Services. By having the Building Official based out of the Princeton satellite office, travel time for inspections will also be reduced.
REPORT URBAN DEER PROBLEMS
The Town of Princeton has a bylaw in place that states residents should not purposely provide food for 'urban deer' to feed on. The bylaw has a fine schedule in place but has been a hard one to enforce. Town of Princeton Mayor Fred Thomas says local residents who have witnessed deliberate feeding of deer, or have photographic evidence of residents leaving food out for deer can have their concerns handled by simply filing a formal, written complaint at the Town Office located on Bridge Street. Mayor Thomas says all deer feeding complaints will be followed up on by the Town of Princeton Bylaw Enforcement Department with appropriate action taken where warranted. If urban deer are a problem for you visit www.urbandeer.org for ideas on how to deal with them in your yard or garden.
WINTER HOBBY CAN LEAD TO MONEY
Many people occupy spare time during the winter months by working on a hobby. Some people do woodwork, some paint, others carve or make jewelry. Some people knit, crochet or quilt to pass the time. If you are one of these people, have you thought ahead to the Fall Fair? Entering your hobby pieces in the fair not only offer you a chance to win a prize, but also offer you an opportunity to show others what you can create, and more than one exhibitor has had people ask him or her to make something for them. This means a little added income in your pocket by doing something you love doing. What could be better? Entering your hobby is simple. You take it to the fairgrounds during registration time (August 30, 31 this year), pay the 50 cent registration fee, then come back and pick it up on Sunday afternoon. Prize money ranges from $5.00 for first to $1.00 for third. There are 35 Leisure craft categories you could enter. There are a number of woodworking categories, ceramics, glass work, bead work, rock work, scrap booking, hand made soap, leather work, decorative painting, and articles that involve recycling fabric, plastic, wood, glass, metal or other materials. For those who do needlework, there is a large number of categories for those hobbies, too. Watch for the 2012 Fall Fair Exhibitor’s Booklet, which contains an entry form as well as a description of all of the categories of exhibits in the fair. The booklet is generally available by late spring and can be found in many retail outlets in Princeton, Tulameen and Hedley.
PSS Honours Student(s) of the Month(s)!
Copyright 2012 Bengel Publishing Inc.
Princeton Secondary School Students of the Month are Hannah Crawford (January) and Kennedy Edwards (December). Crawford, left, a Grade 12 student, was nominated for "upholding our school values - notably honesty" while Edwards, a Grade 11 student, was nominated for her kindness.
Acting Class Goes To A Play!
- photo submitted
by Adam Gullason
The Princeton Secondary School drama/acting class left the school to head to Kamloops on February 1st to see a production called "Seeing Her Again". The play was written by Michel Tremblay, the story is about a mother and a son. The mother was played by Margo Kane and the son was played by former Corner Gas actor Lorne Cardinal. Cardinal goes through many different ages and stages of his life during the course of the play. His mother who can come off as naggy or annoying is actually a very sweet woman. The play is very dramatic and very comical. The whole class had a great time watching it.
The Princeton Secondary School drama/acting class left the school to head to Kamloops on February 1st to see a production called "Seeing Her Again". The play was written by Michel Tremblay, the story is about a mother and a son. The mother was played by Margo Kane and the son was played by former Corner Gas actor Lorne Cardinal. Cardinal goes through many different ages and stages of his life during the course of the play. His mother who can come off as naggy or annoying is actually a very sweet woman. The play is very dramatic and very comical. The whole class had a great time watching it.