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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 14:03 |
28 year old Jason Patrick Foster has been identified as the man killed in a beating at a concert in Dawson Creek Valentine's Day. Police say Foster and a friend were attacked by three others. The fight ended in a washroom when a bystander stepped in. Foster was found unconscious on the floor and died in hospital. Three suspects were arrested and released. However police say charges are pending. Foster is originally from Manitoba but was living in the Fort St. John area.
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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 11:20 |
 Two Rivers Gallery will be hosting a guest lecturer from Vancouver, to discuss the project eatART: energy alternatives through art. As the pieces are large-scale and quite heavy, they haven't been able to make the journey, but artist and engineer Leigh Christie will be representing them. The pieces themselves are large mechanized sculptures, including the 'Mondo Spider' and a giant snake. Gallery Managing Director Peter Thompson says it shows a different way to think about energy, combining engineering with mother nature. He says the lecture will bring up many relevant issues, as it looks at the relationship between creativity and innovation, adding that more often now art and engineering are not categorized separately. The lecture takes place Thursday, February 23rd at 7:30pm at the Two Rivers Gallery. Admission is free.
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Wednesday, 22 February 2012 11:03 |
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There were no injuries and no environmental damage after a CN coal train derailed just west of Houston, BC yesterday . According to CN Rail spokesperson Kelli Svendson , 46 loaded cars derailed on a westbound train around 2 yesterday afternoon. Svendson says the cleanup is continuing ,and expects the rail line to re-open around midnight tonight . The cause of the derailment remains under investigation .
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Tuesday, 21 February 2012 23:06 |
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A new high school course was approved for Mackenzie Secondary School. Called Trades, Mining and the Environment, it is an introductory course to educate students about mining as an industry. It also includes skills training. The course was developed by the school in conjunction with Mount Milligan Mine. The Grade 11 course would offer students 4 course credits upon completion.
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Tuesday, 21 February 2012 22:57 |
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The school board reviewed our district's anti-bullying policy last night, placing special empasis on bullying towards gay and lesbian students. Presenters during the public input section of January's meeting and last night's meeting urged the board to create a standalone policy to protect LGBTQ students. The board did not choose this, instead adopting a motion to updateand redistribute the SAFER Schools manual which focusses on anti-bullying and discrimination. Trustee Tim Bennett says the manual can be effective for educating staff, parents and students about the seriousness of this issue. PGSS Teacher Greg Laing disagrees, saying the manual has been in place for years, but many do not use it or follow it. He doesn't believe updating it will change much, and that a standalone policy on LGBTQ bullying needs to be implemented. 15 other school districts in British Columbia already have a policy like this.
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Tuesday, 21 February 2012 17:42 |
The MLA for Prince George-Valemount says there a couple of nuggets in the budget for Northern BC. Shirley Bond says the carbon tax review will put a smile of many faces in the region, especially those in the resource sector. As well, she says eliminating the provincial jet fuel tax on international flights has the potential to help the Prince George Airport.
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Tuesday, 21 February 2012 17:28 |
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The City of Prince George is considered the hub of the north, a connecting point for many smaller communities, alive with industry and culture. But a suggestion was made this week that perhaps the name is no longer a match for what the city has become. And it has sparked a lot of discussion.
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Tuesday, 21 February 2012 17:27 |
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Sixteen firefighters from three halls responded to a call of a fire in the 400 block of Beech Crescent shortly after midnight.
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Tuesday, 21 February 2012 17:25 |
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Council has decided to proceed with plans for off-leash dog parks at Ginter's Field and Moore's Meadow, but not for a piloted area near Domano Boulvard until more information is gathered.
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Tuesday, 21 February 2012 17:22 |
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The local business community got a chance to evaluate City Hall.
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Tuesday, 21 February 2012 17:20 |
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Council is moving forward with a plan to borrow money for a permanent dike along River Road. The project was put back on the radar last month, when the federal and provincial governments suddenly came forward with funding. But even with that funding, it wasn't an easy sell for Council.
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Tuesday, 21 February 2012 17:12 |
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BC health care premiums are going up and corporate taxes may also rise under the new provincial budget. But Finance Minister Kevin Falcon promises the budget will be balanced by this time next year.
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Tuesday, 21 February 2012 16:53 |
It's Budget Day in British Columbia. Our province's Finance Minister Kevin Falcon promised to balance the books by next year. The government is predicted steady growth in BC's over the next three years, rising from 1.8 percent this year to 2.5 percent in two years. The growth in the economy, combined with the province's direction will result in a deficit of nearly 970 million dollars this year. But it's predicted to be balanced next year and provide a surplus of nearly 250 million dollars in 2014-2015.
The budget includes a 4 percent increase to Medical Service Premiums (MSPs). Corporate tax rates may also be on the rise. Falcon promises to balance the budget next year and will increase corporate taxes by one percent if he needs to.
As far as breaks are concerned, there will be an income tax credit worth 10 thousand dollars for first-time home buyers purchasing newly built homes. Seniors will qualify for a tax credit worth up to one thousand dollars a year to renovate their homes.
The carbon tax will be reviewed, and there will be no further increases. Also included in the budget is the removal of international jet fuel tax, which Prince George Mackenzie MLA Pat Bell says will have benefits for our region by bringing more cargo flights into Prince George.
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Tuesday, 21 February 2012 12:56 |
Our city's name has a hotly contested history. Recent reports suggesting Prince George change it's name sparked debate in the city. Local historians say the name was a source of controversy from the very beginning. Bob Campbell of the Fraser-Fort George Regional Museum says originally Fort George was named after King George the third by Simon Fraser. He says it's a common misconception that the name Prince George was a means of continuing that history. Instead he says it's a bit more complicated. At the beginning of the 20th century, a company from Boston was designing the city. There was much discussion about the name at the time, including the Attorney General who favored the name George, while others preferred the First Nations name Lheidli, which means the meeting of the two rivers. The name George was decided on, to retain the connection to the neighbouring trading posts of Central Fort George and South Fort George. The Prince was added by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway company, because it sounded more 'musical'. Cambell disagrees with the idea that the name should change, adding "Lots of people would have wondered about Prince George as a grand name back in the rough and tumble years of the city maybe. But it's no worse than Vancouver."
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Tuesday, 21 February 2012 10:23 |
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There were no life-threatening injuries and minimal damage following a fire at a home in the 400 block of Beach Crescent just after midnight . Sixteen firefighters from three halls were quick to contain the fire. One person was taken to hospital to be treated ,while the other occupants were uninjured. Damage is pegged at about 15 thousand dollars and was confined to the kitchen .
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Tuesday, 21 February 2012 05:35 |
Local mounties are appealing to the public for their help in locating a 23 year old man believed to be in the area,and who may have information that can help them in an on going investigation. Paul Frank Alec Junior, formerly of Burns Lake, is believed to be living in Prince George. Police are requesting that Mr. Alec attend the Prince George Detachment. Paul Frank Alec Junior is described as First Nations ,5-foot-9 ,140 pounds ,with brown eyes and black hair. Anyone with information on Paul Frank Alec Junior or where he may ,be is asked to call Prince George RCMP or Crime Stoppers.
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Monday, 20 February 2012 21:36 |
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Council has given first two readings to a loan authorization bylaw. That would get the ball rolling on the City borrowing $3.5 million dollars to build a permanent dike along River Road. There was a lot of hesitation from Council, who had plenty of questions about repayment plans, should the City come into some sudden financial windfall. Council also voted to gauge public appetite for borrowing that money through an alternative approval process, rather than a referendum. Council learned a referendum could cost anywhere between $55,000 and $65,000. With some reluctance, the alternate approval process was passed. Under that process, 10 percent of eligible voters, or roughly 5,217 people, would have to fill out a response form opposing the loan application. Council also directed staff to look at ways to make that process easier. As it currently stands, a response form can be picked up at City Hall or found on-line, but the form has to be returned to City Hall.
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Monday, 20 February 2012 21:35 |
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The Mayor's Standing Committee on Business reported its findings to Council last night. The Committee was struck to look at where the City is succeeding in being more business-friendly and ways to improve current practices. The Committee's final report contained six areas where City Hall is doing well. Specifically at looked at a fresh focus on being "open for business" and some of the incentive programs to attract investment. However, the report also contained 16 recommendations for improvement. Some of them include a review of the current portfolio of City-owned vacant land and developing an action plan for those properties, ensuring fiscal responsibility and addressing service levels around development approval. Council has directed the report to staff to consider which recommendations are already underway, where work needs to be done and what timelines exist for addressing the report.
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Monday, 20 February 2012 17:43 |
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This season high heels are reaching new heights but that's not stopping masses of stiletto loving women who are disregarding the pain and peril for the sake of fashion. Today on to Your Health, Sherry Ogasawara answers the question, can you have your heels and wear them too?
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Monday, 20 February 2012 17:41 |
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On New Year’s a fire destroyed the gymnasium at Ness Lake Bible Camp. No one was hurt but the blaze cancelled the annual polar bear dip. Yesterday, the yearly event finally went ahead.
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