A glance through the Sooke News Mirror archives:
April 28, 2010
Regional parks still off limits to off-roaders
After having brought the idea of accommodating off-road vehicle use onto the table in the past several weeks, the Capital Regional District parks committee has decisively taken the issue off the table.
The unanimous vote on April 21 reaffirms the committee’s desire to keep CRD parks free from motorized vehicles.
There is not likely, however, to be any imminent closure on the debate as to where the popular recreational vehicles can be operated. Strong and vocal support has been demonstrated for both sides of the issue which has had a fairly high profile of late.
April 26, 2006
Taxes set at 25 per cent
Councillors recommended by a vote of 6-1 to adopt municipal tax rates of 25 per cent at the April 18 Committee of the Whole meeting. Mayor Janet Evans cast the lone dissenting vote.
In explaining her position, Evans said she felt the increase was too steep. She said councillors should put their heads together to see if other ways could be found to get the needed funds, and that some of the casino reserve fund – from which Sooke gets $230,000 annually – should be used to help with municipal projects which would lower the municipal portion of the tax bill. Evans said that using only $150,000 of that money would have reduced the increase by seven per cent.
April 25, 2001
Volunteer donates labour of love
Dorothy Edwards has combined a simple idea with a lot of work, using it to raise hundreds of dollars for the community – $700 last year alone.
Her formula for success works by crocheting towels and selling them at Home Hardware, Jo’s Hair Design and Lady Lynn’s Salon.
The 89-year-old woman allows those businesses to keep half the money from the sales, which they use to support the local charity of their choice… Edwards does the same with her portion of the proceeds.
Edwards says she doesn’t look at it as work, but something to keep her hands busy while she’s watching TV.
April 24, 1996
Sex offender warning issued
Local schools are warning parents and students about a known sex offender living in the area.
Parent alert notices were sent home with students Monday, warning of the 38-year-old man who had been released from custody this month and is now living one kilometre from John Muir Elementary School.
The notice describes the individual as having an extensive criminal background including sexual assault and sexual interference. His previous offenses have involved violence, unlawful confinement and using alcohol. In 1995 he breached the terms of his probation by having contact with a person under 16, the notice said.
April 24, 1991
Abduction try thwarted
A nine-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl were approached by a white flat-deck truck at about 2:40 p.m. on Sunday. The driver, a white male in his early 20s, reportedly asked the children to get into the vehicle. He then unfastened his seatbelt and reached to open the door. The children then fled to safety.
The man is described as having shoulder length, straight red hair and a trimmed beard.
Sergeant Rick Johnson of the Sooke RCMP detachment reported that the truck deck had a railing about six inches above it that appeared to be constructed of a pipe.
Radio reports linking the incident with a similar case in Nanaimo have been discounted.
