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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - JUNE 14, 2005
To The Editor;
Last year the joint entities of the BC Government joined forces and created a pool of money with which to upgrade and develop the recreational trail system in the Province of British Columbia.
Premier Campbell held a photo op in Penticton to formally announce the placement of the funding to the various sections of the KVR right-of-way and other sections of abandoned railway.
To this end it was announced that the Penticton area would receive 1.4-million dollars to proceed with our portion of this project. While it makes very good copy and is soothing to the locals to think that we might finally enjoy the fruits of some of our tax monies, it isnšt necessarily so.
Firstly, we shared the announced amount with the Summerland section of the trail. This area ultimately received the lionšs share of this fund as they had several bridges to reinstall to make their portion a continuous trail.
This left a smaller portion for the Princeton area to utilize. To proceed with this portion of the contract, tenders were called and a local contractor was the successful bidder. This contract covers approximately 113 kilometres of the trail on which there were two major problems to address.
On one, a major wash out approximately 10-kilometres West of Princeton and the other being an upgrade of the surface of the trail in areas which suffered the ravages of Mother Nature.
Another major absorption of the funding came with the necessary costs of the project coordinators, the project manager to oversee the progress of the work and the necessary engineers to address and approve the environmental concerns involved.
The tendered contract was handled through the project coordination office and the Vermilion Trails Society was not given control of any of those expenditures. To put some numbers on this, it is estimated that the Princeton area received approximately $500,000 for the overall effort and the contractor received approximately $350,000 for his efforts and the Vermilion Trails Society received $10,000 of which we received $8,060 after our administration fees were deducted.
With this $8,000 we had the kiosk at the trailhead at Irly Bird built. We had the surrounding area seeded and landscaped to improve the site and scenery as visitors pass through Princeton.
There will be a mural to attract the visitoršs eye here, also paid for by part of our share of this money.
Many, many volunteer hours and generous donations by merchants have helped as well. That will be another information letter at another time!
So all in all, the hoopla and hype about receiving 1.4-million dollars is just that, hoopla and hype. In reality we are able to enjoy approximately $350,000 to the enhancement of the trail.
There are two positive outcomes from all this. First, the contractor was a local using local labour and spending his money in local settings and we at the Vermilion Trails Society take the attitude that any amount of money spent in our area is money we did not have to approach anyone for and it did and will improve what we hope to see as a World Class recreational facility.
In closing, we wish to thank any and all those who had a part in seeing this project to fruition. To those folks who endured any upset during this time, and to those who enjoy and will continue to increase the usage of a facility which will help to make Princeton a destination of choice.
- Yours truly,
Judy Short, President
Vermilion Trails Society
To The Editor;
Once again today , on TV. I was told that June 3, 1989 was the anniversary of the massacre at Tiananmen Square. Every reader knows exactly what I'm writing about because the media won't let us forget. According to information I've gathered on the internet, Chinese student protesters were shot as they were on their way to a demonstration (no one knows how many, some say thirty, others say hundreds).
It was a black day for China to be sure, but it's also a convenient diversion---by never reminding us of America's suppression of free speech, freedom of assembly and student massacres. Why is it that our media never reminds us of human rights violations closer to home? And why is it that American and Canadian diplomats constantly tell other countries to clean up their act?
For those of us who were horrified by China's actions of sixteen years ago (as was I) and would like to believe (as would I) that similar events could never take place in a democratic country such as ours, here is a timely reminder.
After a speech by President Nixon calling American students "bums" for protesting US involvement in an unjust war in Vietnam, on May 4/70 the National Guard opened fire on students at Kent State University, leaving 4 dead. Just ten days later, hundreds of rounds were fired at Jackson State University leaving 2 more student protesters dead. Kinda makes me wonder why we don't see student protests against the illegal takeover of Iraq.
On sober reflection, this is just a reminder that regardless of the number killed, our country, as well as other countries that profess to be democratic, also place limits on freedom of speech.
- Sincerely,
HP Toews, Princeton
Dear Editor:
By now all your readers would have received a report from our MP Jim Gouk, member for Southern Interior.
This report is a pre-election campaign leaflet paid for by the tax-payers of the southern interior.
Instead of bashing the government Gouk goes after the NDP. I wonder why?
The answer is simple, Editor.
Mr. Gouk now has the pleasure of representing a riding that he won by less then 300 votes a year ago.
This riding now consists of 3 New Democratic Party members in the Provincial Legislature.
Corky Evans in Nelson Creston (which includes the Crescent Valley and Nelson). Katrina Conroy who led all elected MLA's with over 60% of the popular vote in Kootenay Boundary consisting of Castlegar, Gouk's home town, Trail, Rossland, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Midway, and Rock Creek.
Harry Lali, in Cawston, Ollala, Keremeos, Princeton, Coalmont, and Tulameen.
The only Areas in Goukšs riding that did not support the NDP are Oliver and Osoyoos. No wonder he is asking his constituents who they voted for. I wonder if everyone who returns his questionnaire said NDP will he do the "Laundry" and resign?
Why didn't he mention Malinda Straunikšs departure to the Liberals, or Grumal's and Dosanjh's little Ottawa-gate scandal?
As far as the NDP supporting the budget, Layton got 4-billion in social programs that a Conservative Government would never have supported. In this budget BC gets back Federal gas tax money that would not have come under a Conservative government.
As far as guns go Gouk what responsible person needs a gun for their Business? I don't!
- Gary Gattrell, Keremeos
Dear Editor;
I have been impressed with the comments of the EDO regarding items related to the economy of the Similkameen Valley and the challenge it faces in the coming years.
Prior to moving to the area a few years ago, our family always enjoyed it's natural and pristine beauty while driving through it. It was a main reason for relocating here from an urban setting. Unfortunately, the past economy of the Valley and it's sister valley, the Tulameen, has been for the most part centered on non renewable resources like coal, copper or gold mining and all have a finite life.
The lumber industry has undergone many changes and is subject to decisions made far away from here. Farming as we have seen can be severely affected by international pressures and the whims of foreign governments.
It is therefore the job of the EDO and specific organizations like the Chamber of Commerce to help us develop a renewable economic base without sacrificing the natural beauty of the area.
This will require a plan of action and a coordinated effort from all the localities within the Valley. The appointment of an EDO and the creation of the SVPS is an excellent point of departure.
- John Akerley, Princeton
Dear Editor:
Two and half years ago Mayor Olsen stood in our front yard with us and a couple of our neighbours and promised that the heavy truck traffic on Similkameen Avenue would be diverted to Dyke Road. One more promise not kept.
For the cost of a sign on Burton Avenue, directing which way the traffic should travel, so we could enjoy our yard.
To date that has not happened. One more promise not kept.
We put up with dust, dirt and noise starting early in the morning until late at night. One more promise not kept.
Thank You Mr. Mayor.
- Yours truly, Don & Julie Fleming
Dear Editor:
To The Ambassador Candidates
I would like the girls to know I am a mother, grandmother and a great-grandmother.
I have watched my kids grow, my grand kids grow and I am watching my great-grand kids grow.
I saw my grand-daughters become Ambassadors. They struggled to have the right speech, have the right dress, not to make a mistake.
But you will not know how perfect just being an Ambassador is until you leave school and go out into the world. Then have to make a perfect speech for a job, have the perfect dress for that job.
Only then will you know how much the training to become an Ambassador has helped.
You may not be the chosen winner of this group, but out in the real world you will have the confidence to all be winners.
- Elaine Lay
