May 19, 2010
Reservations expressed over road changes
Lively discussion accompanied an agenda item dealing with development/variance permits for a new Shoppers Drug Mart during the district council meeting of May 10.
Part and parcel to the process is a commitment by store developers to look after certain redesigns to Highway 14 and accesses to the Evergreen Centre where the new store is to be situated.
Councillor David Bennett said he’s noticed the high volume of traffic going to and from the row of Evergreen Centre addresses.
“To lose any parking spaces in that area would be critical,” he said.
Mayor Evans and Councillors Beech and Dumont all had issues relating to crosswalk alignment.
May 17, 2006
Park plans
forthcoming
The committee charged with gathering information on how best to use the former John Phillips Memorial Golf Course hopes to bring a plan forward to the public within the next two months.
Struck last September, the committee has been busy canvassing community groups and other interested parties, trying to find out what the community wants.
Councillor Jen Smith, district representative on the committee, said studies on how best to protect the riparian areas in the 17-acre park will need to be completed, as will drainage issues that exist on the property. Bids for the work will be going out this week.
May 16, 2001
Threat keeps many Journey students home
Journey Middle School was nearly empty last Friday in response to a threat written on the wall of the school’s back stairwell two days earlier.
Journey principal Sandy Stewart said each class, usually filled with 28 students, only had about six or seven on May 11.
Stewart said the threat had been written in crayon or eyeliner some time before 9 a.m. on May 9.
The message included something to the effect of, ‘…if you thought Columbine was bad, wait until Friday.”
Sooke School Superintendent Dave Drummond said this type of incident recently occurred at Belmont and at schools in Victoria and Saanich.
“It looks like someone trying to get Friday off,” said Drummond.
May 15, 1996
Dead fish sound alarm
More than 37,000 salmon fry at a Sooke Basin fish farm were recently killed by toxins in the water, according to the farm’s owner.
Harry Hammer said high levels of nickel, aluminum and boron are responsible for the loss of 70 per cent of his salmon sotck.
Hammer said tests have shown that the toxins were up to 130 times the level naturally found in sea water. But to Hammer the loss is not the big issue, he is more concerned with the potential dangers to public health. And he’s angered by the lack of interest expressed by the government agencies responsible for the environment.
“At the very least this could be a major public health hazard,” Hammer said.
“But not one sample has been taken by any public office, it’s a disgrace.”
Environment Ministry regional director Earl Warnock said the ministry, in conjunction with federal fisheries and the Ministry of Agriculture are investigating the incident.
May 15, 1991
East Sooke group wants summer vote
A delegation of East Sooke residents will meet with Municipal Affairs Minister Graham Bruce next week to urge him to call a referendum this summer on incorporation for the community.
Ted Bowers, who has chaired the local East Sooke incorporation study committee for the past three years, said the delegation wants the minister to call for a vote before the end of the summer to ensure that if the municipality of East Sooke is voted in it can be done before the end of the year for tax advantages.
Bowers said he’s confident if the minister approves a referendum, village incorporation would result.
May 16, 1984
Lions will ask for change
Sooke Lions Club president Peter Hotton says representations will be made to Victoria to have lottery legislation changed in the wake of the “busting” of the Lions’ annual Leechtown Night last Saturday.
An official of the provincial lottery branch ordered the Lions to close down some card tables and a dice game, claiming the club was exceeding the six tables permitted under the permit. Six is the maximum number of tables allowed under any permit.
The official also closed down the popular ‘over and under’ dice game, claiming it was illegal.
According to Hotten the only losers in the closing of the tables were the poor, the handicapped, the underprivileged and the children helped by the Lions.
“Every cent of profit we make goes to the many organizations and people the Lions help,” he said.
