Archives for May 11, 2020

Scooter operator dies in collision outside Oliver on Sunday
says RCMP Traffic Services

2020-05-11 14:46 PDT

File # SOTS 2020-2129

A man in his 70’s dies in a collision on Sunday, May 10, 2020, on Highway 97 outside Oliver, BC.

On Sunday, May 10, 2020 at approximately 1:30 PM, Oliver RCMP and Emergency Services responded to a collision on Highway 97 near Tuc El Nuit Drive in Oliver, BC.

Upon arrival, it was determined that a collision had occurred between a Nissan Murano and a scooter.

The scooter operator, a man in his 70’s, was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The driver of the vehicle involved was not injured, remained at the scene and was cooperative. Speed and impairment are not being considered as contributing factors to this fatal collision.

South Okanagan Traffic Services (Keremeos) has conduct of the investigation and is appealing for witnesses to come forward. In particular, video surveillance captured two motorcycles traveling northbound in a side-by-side fashion just prior to the collision. Police would like to speak with those two motorcycle operators as they may have observations that could aid the investigation.

Anyone with information regarding this collision, including the two potential witnesses described, are asked to call South Okanagan Traffic Services in Keremeos at 250-499-2250 and cite file 2020-2129.

Okanagan Forest Task Force teams up with off-road group to clean back country road

Kane Blake of Okanagan Forest Task Force said 8,311 pounds of garbage and a whopping 29,100 pounds of metal was removed from our local forest on Saturdays cleanup.

Since the task force started in September of 2016 the group has removed 232,828 pounds of both illegally dumped garbage and metal from the bush. “why people continue to think it’s ok to dump there garbage in the bush is beyond me” Kane says. Throughout the day many people including families could be seen along the trails and shooting range picking up trash left behind and dumped. A photo posted in the group shows 6 kids that picked up 50+ pounds of brass casings and look angry that people would leave such a big mess in our forests.

Founder of the task force says “This wouldn’t have been possible without the help from many amazing people and businesses who all pulled together to get this area clean yet again.” He would like to give a special thank you to O.T.B. 4×4 unoffendable, GFL environmental, K-town customs, ABC recycling, Sunbelt rentals and the RDCO.

Blake said “This might be our biggest year yet with all the garbage along many backroads and we hope to team up with these groups again”.
Okanagan Forest Task Force will continue to travel the back roads looking for and document “hot spots” that are known for dumping.

35 pad trailer park within 20 feet of lakeshore will have severe consequences for Vaseux Lake environment

The Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association (VLSA) and 98% of Vaseux Lake homeowners are appalled by the proposal at 3500 Highway 97.

An application has been submitted requesting the exclusion from the Agricultural Land Reserve of land at 1.2 hectares of Lot 1, sections 16 & 21; township 85 SDYD plan 1340 located at 3500 Highway 97 to create a large commercial trailer park with sewage, water and electricity.

The Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association has identified the following environmental concerns which have been articulated to the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen:

1) A trailer park with cement pads for 35 trailers within 20 feet of the shoreline will result in destruction of the sensitive shoreline ecosystem. Anywhere from 50 to over 100 individuals can be expected at the trailer park year-round and they will have access to the shoreline which is presently a bird habitat.

2) In 2010, the Agricultural Land Commission turned down a 12-unit complex on the same property. The Association believes a 35-pad trailer park would have an even more serious environmental impact, especially when considering sewage treatment and the dangers of sewage seeping into Vaseux Lake.

3) In both 2017 and 2018, flooding occurred on Highway 97, originating from a creek just north of where the septic field is being planned. An independent study needs to be done to assess how future flooding will affect any wastewater treatment system on the property.

4) Public access onto and off Highway 97 at the property is dangerous. Entrance from the south has
limited line-of-sight and pulling onto Highway 97 with slow-moving vehicles towing trailers where some vehicles are travelling over 100 km/hr has the potential to cause serious collisions.

5) It is the Association’s position that the property in question is zoned within the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR) and that this designation is there to protect agricultural land. The owner as per the Electoral Area “D” OCP bylaw 9.2.13 must provide a report by a qualified Professional Agrologist stating the property is incorrectly designated. As the land had orchards in the past and presently has a vineyard, the Association questions the legitimacy of this request to change the designation of the land out of the ALR.

The Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association strongly believes that Vaseux Lake bird and wildlife
conservation should take precedence over allowing large commercial trailer parks in a bird sanctuary surrounded by lands protected for wildlife. If you agree go to Vaseuxlake.com and sign the petition.

Norm Gaumont (Chair)
Vaseux Lake Stewardship Association

Oliver – Officers response to domestic assault result in search warrant.

On May 6th, 2020, officers in Oliver, BC, responded to a report of a domestic assault at a residence.

During the investigation, officers applied for a warrant to search the residence.

The search of the residence resulted in police seizing a loaded hand gun, brass knuckles, illicit drugs and a substantial amount of cash.

A 21 year old Oliver man is facing a number of charges. The circumstances of which will be forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service of Canada for consideration.

 

 

Hummer – resting in the shade