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Youth owns up to act; praised by RCMP
Columbia Valley RCMP Report
By S/Sgt. Marko Shehovac and Cpl. Brent Ayers
On October 9, Columbia Valley RCMP received a complaint of theft from the Edgewater Outdoor Rink, which occurred sometime over the summer. The Recreation Society of Edgewater has reported that a long rubber mat, which was used at the outdoor rink, was stolen. Suspects’ names have been provided and it has been suggested that the mat was used as a slip and slide into the river in Edgewater. It has been brought to the knowledge of the RCMP that at least one of the youth have come forward and has taken responsibility and will be reimbursing the Recreation Society for the theft. This is greatly appreciated by all and shows strong moral character in the teen! Thank You!
Bear sightings
The Columbia Valley RCMP Detachment is receiving a number of calls in regard to a large black bear hanging in the area of David Thompson Secondary School. Many of the sightings are in the early morning. Concern is the amount of foot traffic in the area during school. Schools and parents seem to be well aware. Patrols by police and conservation have been negative.
Calls for service down slightly
Starting the long weekend in May up to mid September, Columbia Valley Detachment responded to 1,290 calls for service. In 2012 during this same period of time the detachment responded to 1,317 calls for service. It was a steady summer for the detachment. Between the dates of October 6 and October 11, Columbia Valley Detachment responded to 24 calls for service, not including the Thanksgiving weekend.
Visitor hits bear near Edgewater
Police responded to a single vehicle collision on Highway 95 near Edgewater at 1:51 a.m. on Oct. 5, after a vehicle struck and and killed a bear as it ran across the highway. The driver from Vancouver was taken to the Invermere and District Hospital due to the air bag deploying. There were no injuries to the driver.
Sleepwalker mystery solved
At 10:59 a.m. on Oct. 5, Columbia Valley Detachment received a call from a confused adult female who appeared to be somewhat confused. The female stated that she was staying at the Best Western and woke up in a room that was not hers. The room was being refurnished. By the time the police attended the manager had got involved and it was determined that the female may have been sleep walking. The female’s correct room was determined and she was reunited with friends.
Health concern
At 10:15 p.m. on Oct. 5, as a result of a phone call from a relative concerning the well being of a family member living in Invermere, police attended a residence and spoke with an adult female. Given the concern related to the police and from speaking to the female it was agreed that the female should attend the hospital and speak to a doctor.
Damage complaint
At 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 5, Columbia Valley Detachment responded to a complaint of damage done to a residence on Kootenay Rd # 3. A number of items were thrown around in the house that damaged a window. The owners of the residence were not home at the time the damage was done. The owners were able to provide information to the police that will require follow-up.
Domestic assault in Canal Flats
At 10:40 p.m. on Oct. 6, Columbia Valley Detachment were called to a complaint of domestic assault and disturbance in the 4000 block of Cedar Crescent in Canal Flats. =Police attended and learned that a verbal argument resulted in minor physical altercation. The adult male involved in the argument had departed the residence by the time police arrived. This investigation is continuing.
Kayak reported lost
An 8-foot Yellow/green Pelican Kayak was reported lost over the weekend.
Weekend checks on hunters
Over the week end the Columbia Valley Range Patrol with representation from the BC Conservation Service and the Columbia Valley RCMP conducted roadchecks on hunters specifically. However liquor and drug possession checks, as well as other Motor Vehicle Act infractions were to be looked at. Hunters out there please be reminded to have your firearm unloaded and easily proven as safe to all enforcement officers. Game that has been hunted and in transport must be able to show species and sex to an enforcement officer.
Vehicle damaged after hitting rock on Highway 93
On October 8, it was reported that there had been a single vehicle collision on October 7, at approximately 3:30 p.m. on Highway 93 in Kootenay National Park. The operator was traveling southbound on Hwy. 93, approximately 87 km north of the Radium Hot Springs gate, and drove over a large white rock damaging the undercarriage of the vehicle and causing the air bags to be deployed. No injuries were sustained.
There are large trucks hauling rock and product along this route and it is expected from the shape and size of rock that it had fallen off of a haul truck and not as a result of a natural slide. There were no independent witnesses to the rock falling off the truck nor was the truck observed or able to be identified. Columbia Valley RCMP wish to remind all motorists to be wary as the highways are a shared road way and precautions are taken by the commercial vehicle operators; however, accidents can still occur and the majority of all new vehicles will not stand up well to a strike from the underside as in this situation. It is a plastic world out there!
Young, speeding quad riders cause concern
On October 9, Columbia Valley RCMP received a complaint of quads driving on the roadway in Edgewater. It was reported that there were two youth who had been driving a red quad throughout the town and that they were not wearing helmets, that they driving fast and that citizens were concerned for their safety. It was requested that patrols be made of the area as the youth and owner of the quad are known.
I decided to put this one file in as a friendly reminder that especially in smaller communities we are easily recognized and are subject to criticism based on our actions or the actions of our children. I am almost certain that in most instances it is not that people are being nosey, more that they genuinely care, especially in the case of youth and their use of recreational vehicles. Recreational vehicles must be respected! Insurance and laws regarding driving on public roads aside, because we all no the laws on that!
There are hundreds of thousands of cases each year in North America where a recreational vehicle accident has occurred and the operator, young or old, become injured, paralyzed, or died as a result of not wearing a helmet. Please at the very least consider that, especially as a parent, we have the right to deactivate a vehicle!
Laying down the law
By S/Sgt. Marko Shehovac
There are times when you just have to put your foot down and as they say, lay down the law. Many are aware that when I took on the position here in the valley, Bev and I kept our home in Golden. Bev works in Golden and for the last four years we have made it work. With our present situation I would describe myself as a married man living in a very nice dog house with our condo in Radium. Monday-Friday I have my bachelor pad and over the years developed my own routine. Then, all hell breaks loose.
Bev decides to renovate our place in Golden and moves in to my (our) pad until the completion of the renovations. The routine is at risk and it’s time to lay down the law.
My chair, my TV, my NHL, CFL , NFL Sunday afternoon on the sofa and on the road with the Rockies. As well I had to explain to her that I meet with a new bunch of friends on Thursdays that rely on me to feed their children and pay their mortgage. (Legion poker night.) After I explain this situation to her in a firm manner just to show you I’m not stupid, I follow up with, “is that okay with you?”
She is fine with that but asked me to pass on to my Thursday evening friends, if they don’t let me win once in a while, I can’t come out to play.
