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The Year in Review for 2012in the Barriere area

Taking a look at what made the news in our area during the 12 months of 2012

January 2012

Barriere’s new lady doctor, Ilke Marais, was ready to start on March 26 at the Barriere Medical Clinic.

The Thompson-Nicola Regional District announced they will benefit from $2.1 million from Canada’s Gas Tax Fund for an innovative project to reduce methane emissions from small landfills.  The initiative involved the placement of compost beds on the landfill surface over areas where landfill gas is venting.  The beds metabolize methane produced by the landfill, and immediately reduce its global warming impact by 21 times.

Ten brave souls took the plunge to herald in the new year with a splash at the Little Fort Ferry Slip on January 1, 2012, during the 26th Annual Polar Bear Dip into the North Thompson River.  The participants were from Little Fort, Clearwater and Chu Chua.

Barriere area residents who are interested in photography joined together to form a camera club.  One of the first items on their agenda was to make quality photography instruction available within the area through facilitated workshops.  Their first two day workshop was held for  those with digital SLR cameras.

The 2012 Investors Group Walk for Memories in support of the Alzheimer Society of B.C. in Barriere was held on Sunday, January 29.  Every year the Alzheimer Society of B.C. chooses a local individual or family that has been touched by this disease to be especially honoured in each community’s Walk.  The 2012 Walk in Barriere was dedicated to Mackenzie Livingstone and his family.

Barriere and area residents experienced a power and phone outage in the very early hours of Tuesday morning, Jan. 17, after a single vehicle traffic accident that involved an Argo Road Maintenance plow truck and a power pole.  Fortunately no one was hurt in the incident, which took down the power and phone lines across from the Esso station. BC Hydro had the power back on after approximately three to four hours for most of their customers, but TELUS crews worked throughout the day and into the evening, replacing poles and wiring to get everyone’s telephones back online.

The North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Association was publicly congratulated for the fantastic evaluation (an overall of 94 per cent) that they received from the BC Agricultural Fairs and Exhibitions Association for their 2011 fair.  Their overall site presentation scored 97 per cent, the agricultural and non-agricultural displays both scored 100 per cent, with the livestock sections total being 96 per cent and 4-H came through with a 96 per cent.

Chris Newton and Sandra Burkolder converted their 1994 Delica Mitsubishi van to run on waste vegetable oil, and acted on a plan being to drive to Ontario to spend Christmas with family.  They started their trip on December 15, leaving Darfield with a tankful of french fry oil, (about 75 litres) and a cargo basket on the hitch holding another 170 litres, thanks to the Barriere A&W.

They had asked several friend across Canada to collect oil for them.  Much to their surprise, their oil stocks took them 3,100 kms from Darfield to Sault Ste. Marie.  From Ontario they headed south to Mobile Alabama and will be coming home at the end of January.

Barriere’s Nordic skier, Alex McDonald, brought home a bronze medal from the Haywood Norams Under 23 World Junior Trials at Whistler Olympic Park.

The District of Barriere received a grant from Canada’s Gas Tax Fund of $6.7 million to install a waste water system for the downtown core.  In preparation for the project, the district held an information session that was open to the public on January 24.  A solar aquatics system treats raw sewage and other wastewater with biological methods using plant and bacterial life.  The process produces no foul odour, uses no chemicals, and treats everything that comes into the facility, both liquids and solids.  There is no waste.  Nothing needs to be trucked away, whereas conventional treatment is smelly, uses chemicals, and often requires trucking solids to landfill or composting.

On Jan. 23, a police officer with the Southeast District Traffic Unit seized a radio jammer and a Beretta Semi Automatic pistol during a traffic stop on Highway 6 near McLure when the vehicle was initially stopped for speeding.  During interaction with the driver, the officer noted several indicators that caused him to enter into an investigation under the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act.  Police service dog was deployed, and subsequent to that the driver was arrested.

Local youth skier, Sara Smith, wins a gold medal  with a time of 106.38, and two silvers at Sun Peaks, qualifying her as a member of the Okanagan team selected to compete at the BC Winter Games in February.

It’s noted that winning skier Kate Cartwright has family in Little Fort; both the Cartwrights and the Jims.

February 2012

Four people, two of them children, died in a horrific motor vehicle crash on the Yellowhead on Feb. 1, at approximately 8:30 p.m.  Police noted their investigation indicated that the SUV traveling southbound on Highway 5, lost control on the icy road and slid across the highway directly into the path of an oncoming tractor pulling a loaded B-train.  The family of four in the SUV was en-route from Edmonton to California.  all four occupants of the vehicle, a 47 year-old maile, 37 year-old female, a seven year-old boy and three year-old girl, died as a result of the crash.  The driver of the trailer suffered minor injuries.

The Lower North Thompson Community Forest Society provided $5,000 in student bursaries, and an additional $5,750 in grants to local non-profit organizations.  The grants went to: the North Thompson Volunteer & Information Centre, $1,000; the North Thompson Fall Fair & Rodeo Association, $1,000; the Barriere Curling Club, $1,000; the Little Fort Recreation Society, $1,000; the North Thompson Communities Foundation, $750; and the Barriere Lions Club, $1,000.

Barriere’s 2011 Citizen of the Year, Carol Patton was officially awarded with that honour at a banquet held for her on Jan. 28, at the Lions Hall.  Friends, family, supporters, and dignitaries turned out to toast Patton, and enjoy a little good natured roasting from those who know her best.

Census figures released show that Barriere had a whopping growth jump of 23.8 per cent.  From a population of 1,432 in 2006 to a population of 1,773 in 2011.  The census showed the municipality with a total of 876 private dwellings, and having a population density of 164.7 per square kilometer in a land area of 10.77 square kilometers.

The Barriere Secondary School senior girls team received new basketball jerseys, generously donated by the Barriere Lions Club.

When Sofia Kennedy arrived on January 16, 2012, her parents and six siblings were delighted to welcome her.  At the time, they were not aware that she was also the first baby to be born into 2012 within the area, and were surprised to learn she is our New Year’s baby.

An enthusiastic group of parents and young people in the Barriere area met to discuss and form a branch of the Canadian Pony Club.  It is for young people up to the age of 21 who want to learn more about horses, riding and horse care.

Barriere’s girls netball team girls headed off to Competitions at the BC Winter Games in Vernon to participate in a three day tournament from Feb. 23-26.

March 2012

The B.C. Teacher’s Federation served strike notice after teachers across the province endorsed the option in a province-wide vote.

The North Thompson Volunteer Centre After School Program in Barriere ran Monday to Wednesday, in an effort to help working parents on days the teachers were out on strike. However, there were no school buses running Monday through Wednesday, and no teachers at schools.

Traffic traveling the Yellowhead Highway were detoured along Barriere Town Road on Feb. 29 and Mar. 1 from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., due to maintenance work being done on the bridge over the Barriere River.

The Barriere RCMP Detachment reported they had another armed standoff with a Barriere resident.  On Monday, Feb. 26, an 18-year-old male was arrested by police after he was seen walking around the community brandishing a large kitchen knife.  Police negotiated with the male for approximately one and a half hours, after which the male was taken into custody without any injury to those involved or to the public.

The 15th annual Blue River Elementary School Cross Country Ski Race took place on Thursday, Feb. 23, under sunny skies and great snow conditions.  Barriere Elementary students Lauren Tremblay, grade 6, and Halle Smith,grade 4, both triumphed in their races and returned home with gold medals.

On Mar. 7, at approximately 2:36 a.m., the Barriere Volunteer Fire Department were called to a residential structure fire on Spruce Crescent.  On arrival they were able to determine that the lone female occupant of the residence had been able to get out of the building without injury and call 911. Emergency services personnel, including Barriere RCMP and BC Ambulance, were on scene within 10 to 15 minutes of the callout, but the residence was already fully engulfed.

The North Thompson Agriplex phase two received $238.680 grant in provincial funding from the province’s Community Recreation Project. The Agriplex’s phase two was set to see the construction of an addition to the new 2,787 square-metre (30,000 sq. ft.) building.  The addition was planned to house washrooms, change rooms with showers, office space and public lobby space.

During the early morning hours on Mar. 3, a witness observed two males wearing dark clothing with a drill attempting to break into the Barrire BC Liquor Store by drilling the front door lock to gain entry.  The witness observing the crime disrupted the break-in and the culprits fled on foot behind the building.  Barriere RCMP and Kamloops Police Dog Services attended and tracked the males to a nearby road, where fresh tire marks were located.  It is believed the males entered the vehicle and fled the area away from the scene.

The North Thompson Fish and Game Club held their third annual Game Dinner and Dance at the Barriere Lion’s Hall on March 24.  The event was a sellout.  All 150 tickets were pre-sold well in advance due to the popularity of the event, leaving many area residents scrabbling to find the odd ticket here or there that they could purchase.

Barriere teen, Marlene Fortin, became one of over 7,000 medal-bearers across Canada who had the honour of carrying one singular medal in relay fashion over 12,000km as they made their way across Canada during the silver anniversary of the Rick Hansen Man in Motion Tour, which was raising awareness about people living with disabilities. The anniversary tour Fortin was one of 20 medal-bearers who carried the route through Kamloops on Mar. 29, and was presented with her own replica medal to remember the way in which she personally added to the momentum of the 25th Anniversary.

April 2012

Within a few short days the North Thompson Valley Hospice House Society learned that it had achieved two important goals. 100 members, and their application to become a registered charity had been accepted.

Ground work started for the Louis Creek Eco Depot, after the Thompson-Nicola Regional District awarded the site work contract to Rivermist Holdings Ltd. for a completion amount of $311,727.  The work was scheduled to include earthworks, road construction, grading and drainage installation for the approximate three hectare site.

Dr. Barnard left the Barriere Medical Centre, and returned to South Africa.  Barnard said he would be returning to the Kamloops area, and planned to do locum work before continuing his studies in a specialized medical field.

On Apr. 4, the Barriere RCMP executed a search warrant on a Glengrove road property for theft of electricity and possession of stolen property.  during the execution of the warrant, three adult males and one adult female where taken into custody.  The members searched the residence and located stolen BC Hydro meters, drug paraphernalia, dry marijuana, hash and 1157 marijuana plants growing within the residence.Six candidates to represent the TN Valley

One year of accomplishment for 2011 babies was celebrated at the Barriere Seniors Hall on Friday, April 13, with 17 babies attending their first birthday party. Sponsored by Yellowhead Community Services, the event provided lunch, games, crafts, and a giant birthday cake served up with ice cream. Parents, caregivers, relatives, and siblings joined in the fun, as did members of Success By Six and the Barriere Senior’s Society.

Six young ladies came together during the North Thompson Fall Fair and Rodeo Association’s Banner Night to join the NTFFRA’s Ambassador Program as candidates for the 2012 season. The new 2012 candidates were: Kaylee Patterson (Clearwater) sponsored by Fraser Ventures Ltd.; Kaitlain Chantler (Barriere) sponsored by Sam’s Pizza and Rib House; Alisha Gotro (Barriere) sponsored by Baillie’s Towing; Aliya Bieber (Clearwater) sponsored by Wells Gray Info Centre; Kennedy Ash (Clearwater) sponsored by Jim’s Food Market; and Alesha Kaduk (Barriere) sponsored by the Barriere Lions Club.

In an effort to improved local food security, the North Thompson Food Action Network created a new food security website for the North Thompson our valley: www.bcfoodactionnetwork.com.  It’s purpose is to create awareness of local foods available to the residents of the North Thompson Valley by connecting consumers with local food producers; teach consumers why and how to eat locally; and provide helpful links, publications, and how to’s.

The Annual Heritage Fair at Barriere Secondary School held on Apr. 26 was up in the number of entries from past years.

Little Fort Herefords and the Jim family were once again in the winners circle at the annual Williams Lake Bull Show and Sale, where they received the trophy for reserve grand champion bull with their entry.

Barriere RCMP Cst. Evan Cadwallader reported that a backhoe was stolen from the Argo Road Maintenance yard at Louis Creek earlier in the month. The backhoe, with an estimated value of $100,000, was taken from the yard sometime between Sunday and Monday morning. The officer said that while he was investigating in the surrounding area, at approximately five kilometres up Agate Bay Road, he noted a property with an aluminum farm gate that had been driven through. Further investigation found the stolen backhoe some distance from the roadway and hidden in the bush.

Find more of the 2012 Year in Review in our next issue.