News Leader News for April 3, 2007
ACTIVITY SPEEDS UP FOR FALL FAIR MEMBERS
The new members of the Fall Fair Association are sparking new ideas and activities. Some are working with Princeton Exhibition Association (PXA) to promote events at the fairgrounds and improve the appearance of the buildings, as well as plan for new structures.
One of the structures which needs to be replaced is the stage. Dan Kastor reported that the PXA is planning a stage like the one at Rock Creek, a horn of plenty design. Fall Fair President Linda Allison said she would contact people she knows at Rock Creek to see if they can provide a copy of the plans for the stage. The PXA hopes to get a grant to cover the cost.
Work continues on the entrance gates. PXA President John Bey asked Fall Fair members how they would like this colour scheme: green posts and yellow gates. People chuckled at the "John Deere" colours being appropriate for an agricultural fair, but agreed those colours would look good.
Work needs to be done in the area in front of the exhibits buildings. The old sidewalk must be replaced and the false fronts need work.
The B.C. Fairs judge said volunteers should be easy to spot during the fair. Lyn Melnechenko suggested cotton vests, and volunteered to make some. John Bey thought they might be a good idea for the other events during the year.
Educational displays are needed in most areas. This is a big project but April Earle has already begun working on a display for her area and would like to see a forestry display in another area. She is going to consult Weyerhaeuser on how such a display could be presented.
New convenors volunteered to take charge of various areas of the fair exhibits. Glow Lemon will convene vegetables and fruit, Lyn Melnechenko will convene leisurecrafts, April Earle will look after eggs, honey and dairy exhibits. Convenors are still needed for the admission gate during the fair, for beer and wine and for home baking.
The prize list booklet is under review and convenors handed in their suggestions for changes.
Princeton Community Band asked to do a bingo again this year. Their offer was happily accepted as they did an excellent job last year.
A major prize has been offered a weekend resort package at Osprey Lake. Glow Lemon asked how this prize could be used. Members decided to award it to the exhibitor who earns the most points at the fair this year. Points are awarded according to the number of prizes. For example, if a person had a second prize on an exhibit of flowers for 2 points, a first in home baking for 3 points, and a third in photography for one point, the total would be six points. The top exhibitor will win a prize worth $600.
The chuckwagon racers will likely be back this year. It should be confirmed at the April 24 meeting. This meeting will be held at the fairgrounds and will begin with an inspection tour. New members will find this very interesting.
WORLD'S LONGEST RUNNING PLAY COMES TO PRINCETON
The Princeton Performing Arts Society is proud to announce their production of Agatha Christie's murder mystery sensation "The Mousetrap," the world's longest running play, which they will be performing from April 19th to 22nd at the Riverside Wellness Center."The Mousetrap" has been running continuously for over fifty-five years in London's West End, making it one of the world's most enduring and popular plays ever written.
The Princeton Performing Arts Society's version features an all local cast of eight, including Monica Kleyn in the role of Mollie Ralston, Jason Earle in the part of Giles Ralston, Britt Fraser as Sergeant Trotter as well as Denis Gutierrez, Deborah Cappos and Darwin Sorenson.
In the play, Mollie and her husband Giles open a country guesthouse, but soon mayhem is unleashed when a snow storm cuts them off from the rest of the world and they discover that one of their guests is a murderer.
Monica says it's a pleasure to finally be able to do theatre at such a professional level in Princeton. She adds that "the play's just fabulous - there's something for everybody."
The Performing Arts Society has converted the retired Riverside gym into a semi-professional theatre facility. The old gym has all but disappeared; the walls are draped entirely in pleated black cloth and the set is outfitted to look like the Great Hall of an Old English manor house, complete with a working fireplace.
Derek Hodgson, who designed the set and stage and also acts in the production, says "the crews have been working very hard and have done a marvelous job. The sets are really coming on well; it looks like a house we could live in!"
"The Mousetrap" production promises to be an exciting cultural landmark for the community. It has been many years since full-scale theatricals were part of Princeton life, but as local actor Maureen Sanderson says "I feel certain Princeton will support the theatre today as they did before."
Tickets are currently available at the Princeton Pharmasave (295-3353). Adult tickets are $12.00, and students and seniors can purchase tickets for $10.00.
RCMP NEWS RELEASES TELL THE TRUE STORY
Cpl. Rick Dellebuur of Penticton RCMP Detachment kept everyone informed of what really went on last week in relation to the incident at Princeton Esso.Below are the three News Releases and the times they were posted on the RCMP Media Relations website.
News Release #1 11:24 AM March 26th
On Sunday, March 25, 2007 at approximately 9:30 PM, RCMP checked a vehicle that was stopped in a pull out on Highway 3 approximately 8 km West of Hedley.
The vehicle was found to be associated to a male wanted on a Canada-Wide Warrant out of Calgary, Alberta. The male was considered armed and dangerous. There were other RCMP Units in the area dealing with an unrelated matter that were alerted. The male driver and lone occupant of the vehicle quickly departed the pull out with the arrival of the first RCMP member. The RCMP member noted the male to have a handgun. The vehicle was followed and refused to stop for police.
RCMP set up a spike belt on Highway 3 approximately 2 km east of Princeton. The suspect vehicle, a late model Chevrolet Blazer drove over the spike belt and continued on into Princeton on flat tires, still refusing to stop. RCMP continued to follow the vehicle and attempted to contain the vehicle on the highway in Princeton at which point the vehicle struck a sign post in front of the Esso on Hwy 3 in Princeton at 10:05 PM.
When the male exited the vehicle, he was seen with a handgun, running towards the Esso. Police officers at the scene were concerned for the safety of the public, fired upon the male, who suffered a non life threatening injury to his arm. The male grabbed a 60-year old male that had come out into the parking lot and took him back inside. Also inside was the 45-year old female employee. The male suspect allowed the female employee to leave at approximately 10:10 PM, but kept the 60-year old male inside.
Highway 3 was closed to traffic to ensure the safety of the public. RCMP successfully negotiated the release of the 60-year old male at 2:45 AM. The suspect male, 26 years of age, peacefully surrendered to RCMP at 5:35 AM and was taken to Princeton Hospital for medical treatment. A 45-year old male customer was also found hiding inside the store at this time.
The male suspect has been since transported to Penticton Regional Hospital for follow up treatment.
News Release #2 1:42 PM March 27th
The 26-year male arrested yesterday will make his first court appearance in Penticton Provincial Court on Wednesday March 28th, at which time he will face charges in relation to the incidents in Princeton on the evening of March 25th and morning of March 26th, 2007.
Further details will be available after his court appearance.
The investigation team are seeking the public's assistance in identifying witnesses who observed the incident in the community of Princeton around 10:00 PM on Sunday night.
Those persons are asked to contact the Princeton RCMP Detachment at (250)295-6911.
News Release #3 12:10 PM March 28th
Jeremy Scott Kroeker, 29 years of age of Calgary, Alberta has been charged with 8 counts of Criminal Code Charges in relation to the hostage incident and police chase in Princeton on March 25/26 2007.
Kroeker has been charged with Count 1: taking a hostage, Count 2: unlawful confinement, Count 3: assault with a weapon, Count 4: evade police and failing to stop, Count 5: carry and possess a weapon for a purpose dangerous to the public peace or for the purpose of committing an offence, Count 6: with intent to prevent the arrest and detention of himself did discharge an air or compressed gas gun or pistol at members of the RCMP, Count 7: did use an imitation firearm while committing or attempting to commit the offence of hostage taking, Count 8: possession of stolen property, a 1997 Cheverolet Blazer. Kroeker has been remanded in custody until April 30th.
Kroeker has also been charged with the robbery of Bob's Mini Mart in Merritt at approximately 1:30 PM on March 25th, 2007. Here Kroeker entered the store, showed the female employee a gun and demanded her cooperation. Kroeker departed the store in a brown Chevrolet Blazer with under $200.00 in cash and some cigarettes.
Kroeker is also the suspect in a gas and dash at the Chevron on the corner of Eckhardt and Railway in Penticton on March 25th, 2007 at approximately 8:12 PM.
Investigation into the incident continues and RCMP ask that anyone who witnessed any of the events on Sunday, March 25th that have not spoken to the RCMP to contact their local RCMP Detachment.
