OCTOBER
Worksite death
Oct. 2 at 6:50 am RCMP were called to a logging worksite on Battle Creek Forestry Service Road on Hwy 1 east of Cache Creek by a man who had arrived at work only to find his co-worker dead in an onsite camper trailer.
David K. Stark, Jr., 33 of Kamloops, had stayed in the camper overnight so that he could start work early the following morning.
No foul play is suspected, but police are investigating the possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning, along with the BC Safety Authority and the Coroner’s Office.
New switches installed at Ashcroft Terminal
Ashcroft Terminal began a new stage over the weekend as new switches were installed to divert rail cars onto sidings on the industrial property.
“It means we can quintuple our capacity,” said owner Bob Landucci on Oct. 12 as he watched heavy equipment remove a section of CP rails to make way for the premade section of rail containing the switch,, worth about $600,000. “We’ve been waiting for this for seven years.”
Until now, CP has had to park its cars on the main rail as they were being loaded or unloaded, which lead to cars sitting on the track in Ashcroft, sometimes for long periods of time.
He said Ashcroft Terminal put through 2,200 rail cars this year. He already has contracts for 4,000 in 2014 and he said it should be more like 6,000 cars by the end of next year.
Ashcroft wins national CiB competition
Several years of hard work and improving the town’s appearance through park improvements, floral settings and educating the public, Ashcroft’s Communities in Bloom committee was awarded top marks as well as the coveted Five Blooms last week in Ottawa at the national awards ceremony.
Ashcroft competed in the 1,001-2,000 population category against Sun Rivers Resort in Kamloops; Bruderheim, Alberta; Dawson City, Yukon and the Town of Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba.
Communities in Bloom chair Andrea Walker and Ashcroft Mayor Andy Anderson attended the awards banquet on Oct. 26 and brought home the honours. Ashcroft also received a special mention for community volunteers.
Shila Natha won the Scotts Miracle- Gro Contest for Best Residential Edible Garden.
Clinton also competed nationally this year, and while they didn’t place first, they were pleased to received 4 Blooms and a special mention for their Funky Flowerpot Contest.
DECEMBER
Residents escape Clinton house fire
Three residents escaped from their burning home, including a 65 year old male who was transported to the Ashcroft Hospital for observation.
The Clinton RCMP received a request from the Clinton Fire Department to assist with a residential house fire at located at 6715- 26 Mile Frontage Road, Hwy 97 on Dec.7 at 4:19 am.
The fire quickly engulfed the residence and appeared to have originated from the unoccupied side where electrical renovations were taking place. The cause of the fire is believed to have started from the renovations.
Ashcroft’s garbage collection rates expected to rise
Ashcroft residents will see an increase on their utility bill in the new year, as the newly adjusted price for garbage pickup is introduced.
Council introduced Bylaw 785 at its Dec. 9 public meeting. The bylaw “to establish a system of solid waste removal” sets out fees and charges, types of unacceptable waste, offences and other details for the mechanized system of weekly garbage removal that was introduced last January.
The service remains the same as it has been for the past year, but home owners will notice a different rate on their next utility bill of about $30 as the cost goes from $70 to $100 per cart. Another $17 per cart addition is planned for 2015.