Gas disaster averted
On Feb. 5 at 4 pm police were called to the Cache Creek Chevron to assist the Fire Dept. with a possible evacuation of the area due to fuel overflow from one of the pumps.
A 27 year old Spanish tourist began filling his vehicle and then headed for a restroom. Before leaving, he jammed a cigarette lighter under the gas pump’s trigger to keep it going. When he returned, the parking lot was abuzz with activity and gasoline was spilling from the nozzle still positioned in the full gas tank. It is suspected that some of the gas went into the nearby storm drain.
The Ministry of Environment was informed of the incident, the man received a tongue lashing from several people on hand, and he had to pay $113 for his “fill up” before continuing on his way to Vancouver.
Ashcroft and Cache Creek Citizens of the Year
The Ashcroft & District Rotary Club held its annual Citizens of the Year Awards and Dinner, with this year’s honours going to Kitty Murray from Ashcroft for her volunteer work with the Ashcroft Health Care Auxiliary, and to Bill Elliott from Cache Creek for his volunteer work in the community that included Graffiti Days and nearly four decades on the Cache Creek Fire Dept.
Move means no rodeo this year
The Rodeo Association cancelled this year’s rodeo after being told they could no longer continue on the property owned by Desert Hills Ranch because of insurance concerns.
“It’s not a matter of having enough insurance,” said David Porter of Desert Hills. “They couldn’t find the proper insurance. Contestants aren’t covered by insurance.”
Rodeos are a very risky event, he said, and property owners are a target for lawsuits.
“It’s not totally dead yet,” said Association president Bob Sidwell.
“We have liability insurance to cover spectators,” said Sidwell. “Contestants have no insurance. They sign a waiver with BCRA to compete.
“In a way I can see their point,” he said, “but we’ve been here 53 years and never had one incident where anyone has sued. We’re still crossing our fingers that something can come up.”
Clinton Citizen of the Year
At its annual volunteer appreciation supper, the Village of Clinton presented Jim and Lois Thompson with 2014 Citizen of the Year. The Thompson have lived in Clinton for 40 years and volunteered for and/or supported just about every group and function in town.
Biosolids become a regional issue
Although the protests took place just outside Merritt, local governments began discussing the issue of biosolids and the need for local consultation and governance over them.
Ashcroft Council, at the Feb. 23 meeting, passed a resolution calling on the province to form a committee that included local politicians to examine and make recommendations for changes to the provincial biosolid review process, and changes to the content in the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation and Agricultural Land Commission Act that govern the biosolid regulatory process in BC.
“Biosolids are being moved from the Okanagan to Fraser Nicola without consultation,” said Ashcroft Mayor Jack Jeyes, who also sits as a TNRD Director.
A group of activists set up a road blockade on Hwy 8, 10 km west of Merritt earlier this month to prevent trucks from bringing more biosolids to the Sunshine Valley facility. They were concerned about contamination of their drinking water.
