APRIL
Desert Hills builds retail store
Desert Hills Ranch got ready for another busy season by building a large retail outlet at the bottom of the hill where the greenhouse and stables are.
Twenty-three years after the Porter family began ranching and farming there, it’s hard not to describe it as a “growing” business, but the family-owned ranch has been expanding not only its acreage, but it’s also marketing its products further afield while spreading out into new areas.
Besides selling fresh produce and bedding plants to appreciative local customers, Desert Hills also exports produce and sells to grocery stores in Kamloops.
This year, expansion included the new retail outlet where they sold bedding plants, locally-produced fruit and vegetables, fresh cut flowers, locally-made jams, sauces and other products, house plants, tropicals, palms, etc.
Spatsum Creek Wildfire
Investigators have determined the Spatsum Creek Wildfire started on April 27 between 1 and 1:15 p.m. by a person, but are unsure if it was accidental or purposely set.
“There were no natural causes that could’ve sparked this fire (lightning or natural spontaneous combustion) so that’s why investigators have come to the conclusion it was a person-caused fire,” said Melissa Welsh, a fire information officer for the Kamloops Fire Centre’s Wildfire Management Branch (WMB).
At its biggest, the fire burned more than 1,400 hectares - or 14 square kilometres. Well over 100 firefighters battled the blaze with helicopters and air tankers.
MAY
Walhachin climber rescued from ledge after plunge
A 54 year old Walhachin man was rescued from the nearby hills after a six meter tumble to a ledge below while rock climbing with his son.
Members of Kamloops Search and Rescue (KSAR) and South Cariboo Search and Rescue were called out the afternoon of May 1 to a rock-climbing area about 14 km west of Cache Creek.
The man was free climbing with his son, a 22 year old Vancouver resident. Neither were using climbing gear when the father fell about six metres (19 feet) onto a ledge, which was about 15 metres (49 feet) above the ground.
He injured his elbow and shoulder and was unable to climb any further.
Creek washes out Backvalley Road
Hot temperatures caused a sudden melt in local waterways last, sending water and debris gushing through Cache Creek.
Backvalley Road bore the brunt of the creek’s energy and it was washed out in at least three places.
BC Hydro had to rescue two of its power poles after the water washed away the material supporting them.
Interior Roads spokesperson Phil Doddridge said he and Donny Lowe pulled a picnic table out of the creek just as it was about the enter the culvert under Hwy 97. The table was followed by a log and other debris. Dodderidge said they could have lost the highway if the table had gone into the culvert and jammed.
Jackie Tegart goes to Victoria
Ashcroft’s loss is BC’s gain. From first-time candidate for the BC Liberal Party to newly-elected MLA in just 28 days, Jackie Tegart soundly beat her opponent, incumbent MLA Harry Lali.
Elections BC released the final count of the May 14 election after counting absentee ballots on May 27. The final tally added another 1,269 votes to the overall numbers and reduced the spread between the top two contenders to just over 600 votes.
Fraser Nicola final count:
Jackie Tegart (Lib) 6,002 - 44.14%
Harry Lali (NDP) 5,388 - 39.62%
John Kidder (Green) 1,314 - 9.66%
Michael Beauclair (Cons) 895 - 6.58%
Total votes cast: 13,599
Voter turnout in Fraser Nicola - 62.9%
JUNE
Village unveils $2.1 million water treatment upgrade
Cache Creek Mayor John Ranta and Councillor Lisa Dafoe hosted the grand opening of the Village’s new water treatment upgrade last week. Interior Health ordered the Village to treat their drinking water almost 10 years ago, and the planning for the upgrade began immediately. The physical work was completed in January 2012, but a pipe ruptured during the plant’s commissioning, causing the plant to be shut down and repaired.
As no fault could be determined among the contractors, Cache Creek spent another $51,500 for the repairs. There are still some minor repairs to be made before the new equipment passes its 10-day commissioning process. Cache Creek’s tap water now passes through four green sand filters and is treated with chlorine and ultra violet light. Elementary school children and members of the public were on hand for the official ribbon cutting and tour, and enjoyed cake and ice cream afterwards.
Attempted murder
A Spences Bridge area man was arrested and charged with attempted murder after a rash of violent incidents in Ashcroft and Spences Bridge.
Eric Nelson, 52, was arrested following two incidents involving firearms that occurred on May 15 and May 17.
Lytton RCMP responded on May 15 to a report of a man in his 50s receiving serious non-life threatening injuries after being struck by shotgun blasts fired from outside of his home in Spences Bridge.
Nelson was alleged to have shot at the victim’s vehicle and home with a shotgun causing damage to both. In addition, he allegedly discharged the shotgun through a wall of the home and hit the victim in the face causing grievous bodily harm and disfigurement and continued to discharge the shotgun in attempts to fatally injure the victim.
Charges of Possession of property obtained by crime, and Theft of motor vehicle stem from an incident on May 17 where, at approximately 8 am, Nelson allegedly drove his van to a residence in Spences Bridge and stole a pick-up truck. He was seen driving the stolen vehicle.
He is then alleged to have driven the stolen truck to the Venables Valley area, where he encountered a couple in their car. Nelson allegedly threw a rock through the car window and accosted the occupants, assaulting the male driver and instructed them to drive and meet him at another location. Once at the second location it is alleged that Nelson threatened the couple at gunpoint demanding cash and an amount of farm produce (potatoes). Nelson fled the area with cash and later abandoned the stolen vehicle.
New library gets a big thumbs up from community
The brand new TNRD Cache Creek Library was officially opened on June 26. Cache Creek Council members, TNRD board members and staff and members of the public were all in attendance to celebrate the grand opening and view the items intended to be buried in the Time Capsule, which will include the photo seen on this page The capsule will be opened 50 years from now.