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POSTED FEB 3/12

Nanaimo RCMP say they've arrested two men, suspected of committing upwards of 20 break and enters in Central Nanaimo.
Police say the crimes started in early December.
The suspects were arrested around 1 Thursday morning by the Nanaimo RCMP Property Crime Unit, after the search of a home in the 1000 block of Oakley Crescent turned up: 2 handguns, 3 passports, computer equipment, antiques and coin collections, home electronics and other items believed to have been stolen.
The two men, 26 and 28, appeared in provincial court yesterday -- RCMP say one of the pair has seven outstanding warrants from Alberta.
RCMP also say they're just starting on the task of returning the items to their rightful owners.

POSTED FEB 3/12

Protecting the water supply is going to be front and centre on the Sunshine Coast this weekend...
The Sunshine Coast Regional District is getting ready to give the public a look at the Chapman Creek Source Assessment Response Plan.
90% of the residents of the Sunshine Coast get their water from Chapman Creek.
SCRD Chair Garry Nohr says the fight to stop logging in that watershed in 2006, planted the seed for development of the SARP. Since that time local governments on the Sunshine Coast, and elsewhere, have been fighting for control over activities in watersheds -- similar to the situation in Greater Vancouver. Nohr says the SARP doesn't create that, but he hopes it's a step toward the eventual goal.
Gibsons Councillor Dan Bouman sat on the technical working group that helped create the Plan, "The SARP is kind of an attempt to make some progress here without being able to resolve some of these underlying issues" he says. "When we look at the Plan we're basically looking at where risks to the water could come from in the lands that the Regional District and the Town of Gibsons [and DOS] have no control over."
There will be two open houses on the SARP tomorrow (Sat Feb 4th) The first from 10am to 1pm at the Sechelt Indian Band Hall, and the second from 3 to 6 at the Gibsons and Area Community Centre.
You can see the full text of the draft SARP at www.scrd.ca

POSTED FEB 3/12

At least two environmental groups on Vancouver Island say they're not happy with the province green-lighting the expansion of a coal mine near Campbell River.
The Energy and Mines ministry has given Quinsam Coal a permit for the '7-South Project'. Minister Rich Coleman says allowing the expansion will help the mine maintain 5-hundred direct and indirect jobs in the area.
But, the Campbell River Estuary Group claims the mine is already failing to properly control the release of sulfates into the Quinsam River Watershed -- and for that reason alone the province should have stopped the expansion.
CoalWatch Comox Valley, a group fighting against the proposed Raven Coal project has been following the Quinsam file as well.
President John Snyder says he's "dismayed" by the awarding of the permit to Quinsam Coal and says it has the appearance of "rewarding bad behaviour"
A 2010 Canadian Watershed Network report also claims the mine is a source of increased sulfate and arsenic levels in Long Lake sediments.
Leona Adams of the Estuary Group says their next move will to be push for tight restrictions in the Environment Ministry's waste permits for the '7-South Project', which is expected to come on-line late this year.

POSTED FEB 3/12

The BC Civil Liberties Association is comparing the case of an RCMP officer accused of stealing a lap-top in Cranbrook with that of a Nanaimo Mountie involved in a shooting when he was with another detachment.
Association head David Eby says while the officer in Cranbrook was taken off duty, Constable David Pompeo, formerly of the North Cowichan/Duncan RCMP, remains on duty in Nanaimo, including taking part in public events.
Pompeo is facing aggravated assault charges in the shooting of Bill Gillespie during a routine traffic stop on September 18th of 2009. His trial is scheduled to start this September.
Eby says the difference in the way the two cases are being handled is an example of the “bizarre nature of RCMP accountability in British Columbia."
RCMP officials say they are considering a disgraceful conduct proceeding against Pompeo - pending the outcome of the criminal trial.

POSTED FEB 2/12

Two people are in custody after an art theft yesterday lead to a dramatic confrontation with police on the Alberni Highway in Coombs...
Oceanside RCMP say it all started just after 11AM when they were called about the theft from a business in Qualicum Beach.
Some 15 minutes later an RCMP officer on patrol spotted the suspect's car in Coombs. She made a u-turn to follow it. Then the other driver made a u-turn and sped straight at her cruiser.
The officer swerved to avoid the oncoming car, then turned to resume the pursuit. Only to find the suspect's car had also turned again.
It rammed the cruiser twice, and two other vehicles were hit.
Despite suffering from minor injuries, the officer got out of her cruiser and arrested two suspects at gun-point.
The 40 year old man and 47 year old woman are now facing numerous charges.
The driver of a pick-up that got tied up in the accident was also treated for minor injuries.

POSTED FEB 2/12

Some on Sechelt council want to see the District find a new owner for the Sechelt Golf and Country Club as soon as possible while others are urging a "go-slow" and "get it right" approach.
The District moved in to take over the club over unpaid debts in early January.
Last night's Council meeting saw the release of in-camera documents confirming the authorization to spend up to 50-thousand dollars from reserves to run the course and the hiring of an "interim operations consultant" to help at a cost of 7-thousand a month -- for a maximum of 4 months.
Councillor Mike Shanks says if Sechelt doesn't move quickly to put out a Request for Proposals for new permanent owners the District could be stuck running the Golf Club for much longer.
But Mayor John Henderson, says there's a good reason to move carefully, "The intention is to make sure we can put out a comprehensive RFP, so to do that we need to know quite a bit more about the operation and be able to provide some statistics and history... I think it'll be another 6 weeks before we're ready for it."
Council Alice Lutes - the liaison to the newly created Golf Course Advisory Committee - also defended taking things slowly and says that's in line with the Committee's feeling on the issue.
Lutes also says rushing the RFP could play into the hands of those hoping to get a "distress sale" deal.

POSTED FEB 2/12

One of the suspects charged in a vicious attack on a Nanaimo senior at Maffeo Sutton Park in early January is going to jail for a year...
18 year old Keith Too Prince was sentenced in Nanaimo Provincial court this week for his part in the robbery and beating of a 74 year old man
The victim suffered serious injuries, and after several days in hospital is now convalescing at home.
Prince was one of three people charged in the incident.
Nanaimo RCMP say a 17 year old is awaiting sentencing and charges against a third young man were stayed.

POSTED FEB 2/12

RCMP on the Sunshine Coast are hoping for the public's help with their investigation into two suspected arsons...
Police say the cause of a January 9th fire that destroyed a house on Mills Road in Sechelt has now been ruled suspicious.
The fire broke out around 3 that morning. No one was injured.
The other fire under investigation was less damaging. RCMP say around 1:15 Sunday afternoon, somebody set a fire inside the men's washroom at Hackett Park in Sechelt.
Fire crews were on the scene quickly and put out the fire -- but there was a lot of smoke damage.
Police are hoping anyone with information on these fires will come forward either by contacting the detachment (604)885-2266 or Crime Stoppers 1(800)222-TIPS(8477).

POSTED FEB 2/12

Nanaimo RCMP are reporting a pair of drug busts... one involving a suspect with a lengthy record of similar crimes.
RCMP say early yesterday morning a 26 year old man was arrested on firearms and drug charges after a search at his north Nanaimo home.
The municipal drug unit, backed up the Emergency Response Team carried out the raid - seizing two handguns, powder cocaine, heroin and cash.

And on Monday night RCMP arrested a 47 year old man at the Departure Bay ferry terminal. Police say he was carrying several ounces of methamphetamine.
Mark Posin was picked up by members of the Municipal Drug Unit as he walked off the Ferry that had just arrived from Tsawwassen.
He is charged with one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking and two counts of breach of an existing undertaking.
RCMP say this is the third time in the past two years Posin has been arrested bringing drugs into the city on a Ferry.

POSTED FEB 2/12

Officials at the Regional District of Nanaimo say somebody's left a boat in the bush... and they want them to come get it and dispose of it properly.
A 24 foot fibreglass cabin cruiser - was reported by a hiker lying off a logging road in the Hillers-Whisky Creek area.
The RDN's Zero Waste Compliance Officer Maude Mackey says it's an area known for illegal dumping.
Efforts to find its owner through registration numbers haven't worked, and RCMP say the boat has not been reported stolen, so the RDN is hoping the public might recognize the "Marybeth" and tell them who dumped it or who owns it.
Mackey also says at this point there's nothing to suggest the boat might present an environmental hazard.

If you know who owns the "Marybeth", or who dumped it call Maude Mackey, RDN Zero Waste Compliance Officer at 250-390-6576.

UPDATED FEB 1/12

Other pulp and paper producers are keeping a close eye on the unfolding situation with Catalyst, after the company announced yesterday that it was planning to file for protection from creditors.
Catalyst made a similar move in the US earlier this month, as it tries to restructure more than 800 million dollars in debt.
Catalyst management says the rejection of concessions by some workers at the Crofton mill was the final event that pushed it towards this move. Unionized workers in Port Alberni and Powell River accepted a new deal.
Kevin Mason is an industry analyst with Equity Research Associates in Gibsons. He says companies like Howe Sound Pulp and Paper and Harmac will be watching to see what comes out of the restructuring, especially on the labour front, but he also says that's less of an issue for the employee-owned Harmac. On top of that Harmac is a pulp-only operation which means a restructured and "leaner and meaner" Catalyst would not represent direct competition in the same way it might for HSPP.
Mason says going through these sorts of processes is now very common in the industry, and he predicts it will be months, if not a year or more, before Catalyst emerges from the restructuring.
He says the most likely mill to close in the process, if it comes to that, is the company's facility in Arizona. "I think there definitely is a bit more of an elevated risk for their Snowflake, Arizona mill.. that is one mill that has been a problem for them on a financial basis."

POSTED JAN 31/12

Catalyst Paper is planning to file for protection from its creditors after workers at the company's Crofton mill rejected a new contract.
Company officials say the new contract, which would have included concessions, was a key part of its effort to restructure more than 800 million dollars in debt.
Catalyst had set a deadline of today to get contracts ratified at Crofton, Port Alberni and Powell River. The 380 Crofton Local members of the Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers Union were the only ones to reject it.
Earlier this month Catalyst filed for Chapter 15 protection in the US, to keep creditors in that country from moving to seize its assets.
The company says it will continue operating as usual while it continues working with creditors.

POSTED FEB 1/12

Councillors in Gibsons are facing a new dilemma as they try to get a Neighbourhood Plan in place for the environmentally sensitive Gospel Rock area...
Some property owners, frustrated with how long the process is taking, have withdrawn their support and filed applications to subdivide under current zoning rules. Including the owner of the block that encompasses the waterfront and the areas known as Cross Rock and Little Africa.
Towns are able to put off such applications if a new neighbourhood plan is close to completion, but word from Gibsons' lawyers is that the Town can no longer reasonably put off this application.
So now the question facing Councillors is how to maximize protection of key areas within the rules for subdivision. Planner Michael Epp says those rules don't leave many options, "The Town is entitled to take either 5 per-cent parkland, or cash in lieu, so the value of that 5 per-cent parkland dedication." But Epp also says which 5 per-cent can be determined by council.
At last night's Committee meeting councillors considered options for taking a section of waterfront and the area covering Cross Rock and Little Africa as a combination of park and road allowance.
But Councillor Dan Bouman suggested they visit the area before making any final decision, "Things do get kind of real when you're standing there... and I'd like everyone to have that opportunity."
Bouman's fellow councillors agreed, and it's expected the site visit will be in the next two weeks, with a decision at one of the two council meetings before the end of the month.

POSTED JAN 31/12

BC Ferries CEO Mike Corrigan says he's optimistic about the future of the company's relationship with local governments -- and Ferry Advisory Committees
Corrigan was on the Sunshine Coast yesterday for meetings with local government leaders and the Sunshine Coast Ferry Advisory Committee as part of series of such meetings up and down the coast.
Although the meetings were set up well before the release of Ferry Commissioner Gord Macatee's report last week, that report was a major topic of discussion along with fares and levels of service.
Corrigan says those issues have been coming up at all the meetings so far, adding that on top of those issues, his meeting with Nanaimo mayor John Ruttan focused on the efforts to get the Duke Point Terminal re-opened after the December 20th accident involving the Coastal Inspiration.
Corrigan says with the Macatee Report in hand, and his fresh start as CEO, there's a new chance to work together at the local level, "We're all starting to realize that we're all in this together and we have to come up with a common solution for Ferries so it can be successful for the next 50 years just like it has for the last 50 years. There are no 'silver bullets' here, if there were they would already be fired out of the gun by now."
The Chairs of the Ferry Advisory Committees, meanwhile, are calling for a fare roll-back, to set what they say would be, "a sustainable baseline for inflation-indexed increases."
Macatee was not optimistic about that idea when he released his report, saying at the time that given the current economic situation in the province a fare roll-back is likely "unrealistic".
The FAC Chairs say overall Macatee has laid out a "realistic though rocky path toward sustainability of essential coastal transportation."
Transportation Minister Blair Lekstrom is not yet ready to commit the government to moving forward on any of the recommendations, saying he's still reviewing the Macatee Report.

POSTED JAN 31/12

Two back country skiers had to be rescued from Tetrahedron Provincial Park near Sechelt over the weekend.
Sunshine Coast RCMP say they were called just after midnight on the 28th after the pair failed to re-join the group they were skiing with by nightfall.
Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue, aided by a helicopter, started looking for the missing skiers at daybreak -- and found them near Chapman Lake, where they'd spent the night in sub-zero temperatures in the shelter of a tree.
RCMP and SAR say the 24 year old Sechelt man and 30 year old Kelowna woman were properly equipped for travel in the back country and were well when found by rescuers.