Local News
New penalties for excessive speeding
Fri, 2010-09-03 09:47.
Gavin Day--Fort St. Johngday@astral.com
The B.C. government will begin cracking down on speeders.
Starting Sept. 20, drivers caught going 40km over any posted speed limit can expect higher fines and could even see their vehicles impounded.
After a first offence, vehicles are impounded for seven days, 30 days after a second, and 60 days for any subsequent violations.
In addition to impounding vehicles, drivers face fines of up to $483, three demerit points will be charged and ICBC will be able to charge an additional $320 'risky driver' premium on top of any insurance premiums. The law follows similar such laws in Ontario and B.C. is only the second province to seize vehicles for excessive speeding.
Clearing burn Friday in Fort St. John
Fri, 2010-09-03 09:42.
Gavin Day--Fort St. Johngday@astral.com
With the recent lifting of the open fire ban in the Prince George fire area, the Fort St. John fire department is alerting residents that a clearing fire is planned for the northwest part of the city.
A land developer will be using bulldozers to push land clearing debris into large drums, where they will then be burned. The developer has obtained all the permits needed from the Ministry of the Environment to conduct the burn.
It will take place on the West Bypass between 102 and 106 Ave. and 108 and 116 St. The contractor will feed the drums with as much air as the can to make the burn go as quickly as possible and the developer, planners, and the ministry of the environment will monitor the fires, but there will still likely be smoke in those areas.
Province invests in cycling trail
Fri, 2010-09-03 09:18.
Gavin Day, Fort St. John
gday@astral.com
The Provincial Government has announced they are investing more than $700-thousand which will go towards replacing the Swan Lake Bridge on Gundy Road No. 20 which is about 35km south of Pouce Coupe.
The work needed on the bridge includes work on the alignment of steel pipe piles and improvements to the timber superstructure.
There will also be safety upgrades to the bridge which improved access and safety for cyclists. Repairs are schedule to go from the middle of September to the middle of December.
Storm Defeat Rage in Back and Forth Affair
Wed, 2010-09-01 22:17.
The Grande Prairie Storm opened up Faceoff Fever 2 with a 5-4 victory over the Dawson Creek Rage.
Rage Fall to Storm
Wed, 2010-09-01 11:22.
The Dawson Creek Rage lost 4-1 Tuesday night against the AJHL's Grande Prairie Storm.
Grow op busted near Arras
Wed, 2010-09-01 07:16.
Gavin Day, Fort St. Johngday@astral.com
Dawson Creek RCMP busted a marijuana grow op Wednesday near Arras.
Police arrested a 35-year old man and a 30-year old woman, both from Dawson Creek at a rural house on the 245 road.
When police arrived, they discovered a sophisticated grow op with 37 marijuana plants, $30-thousand worth of bud and a few firearms in a bunker built out of a sea-can under a large shop on the property.
Both the people arrested were released from custody with strict bail conditions. They will appear in court on Sept. 21 and are charged with production of marijuana, possession for the purpose of trafficking, possession of stolen property and a number of firearms offences.
Winter sports season is fast approaching
Tue, 2010-08-31 08:20.
Gavin Day, Fort St. Johngday@astral.com
With sliding temperatures comes the realization that winter and especially winter sports season is on its way.
Hockey players, figure skaters and speedskaters all started various camps at the Enerplex in Fort St. John on Monday.
Among the people taking to the ice for the first time was local Olympic Champion speedskater Denny Morrison. He says the oval at the Enerplex has caught the eye of some big names in the sport.
"Sometimes it comes from people in Quebec City. They've been wanting a covered oval for 20 years," laughed Morrison. "I hope that the people are in charge look at this oval as an example of how you can do an oval on a budget."
Morrison is coaching the youth speedskating camp at the facility which runs over the course of the week.
August natural gas and petroleum sale brings in $98-million
Thu, 2010-08-26 10:19.
Gavin Day--Fort St. Johngday@astral.com
Wednesday's natural gas and petroleum rights sale netted $98-million for B.C. with the majority of the going to land in the Fort Nelson area.
Fort Nelson mayor Bill Streeper says his town will play a central role in the exploration of natural gas in the northeast as most of the companies will be based there.
"Fort Nelson will be the town where the service people will be located and the production people will be located for these facilities," said Streeper. "That statement's come from the people involved in Horn River (exploration) and we're planning for it and we're getting ready for it."
Two licenses in the Kiwagana River area, around 70km northeast of Fort Nelson, sold for more than $64-million. Another 22 leases in the Blueberry area, north of Fort St. John, went for over $27-million.
The August sale brings the total amount of bonus bids on the province to over $760-million.
Grande Prairie RCMP capture man wanted in Dawson Creek
Thu, 2010-08-26 06:28.
Gavin Day--Fort St. Johngday@astral.com
Early Thursday morning, RCMP in Grande Prairie arrested a man wanted in Dawson Creek. The man had escaped from the Dawson Creek RCMP psychiatric ward Wednesday night.
Police made the arrest at a home in Grande Prairie without incident. The man had escaped the ward wearing a hospital gown and a baseball cap and was considered to be very dangerous.
More charges could be pending in his escape from the ward.
Province and McLeod Lake band sign mining revenue agreement
Wed, 2010-08-25 17:26.
It's a deal that will create jobs and generate money for the McLeod Lake First Nation.The province and the band are calling the signing of Wednesday's mining revenue-sharing agreement, historic.
