News Leader News
FIRE DESTROYS LOCAL LANDMARK
The first members of Princeton Volunteer Fire Department arrived at the scene of the Princeton Hotel fire at 6:45 AM last Saturday. It was obvious at the time that they would need extra help and Keremeos Volunteer Fire Department got the call for help at 6:55 AM. Crews from Hedley's Volunteer Fire Department were also called to the scene.
The first brick building to be built downtown, Princeton Hotel was constructed in 1910 by owners Swanson and Broomfield. It was also noted as the first place in Princeton to have hot and cold running water in the washrooms.
The hotel, built for the arrival of the railway to Princeton, burned for most of the day and firemen worked continually to contain the fire and protect surrounding structures.
Downtown Princeton businesses stayed closed for the day to aid firemen in keeping people a block away from the scene.
About 10 residents in apartments in the second floor lost their homes. They were placed in temporary housing through efforts of Emergency Social Services.
Living Water Church provided meals for them on Saturday.
(Watch for a Special Feature on Princeton Hotel in next week's News Leader).)
DISCOVERY OF ASHES ADDS TO INVESTIGATION
In what RCMP are calling an "ongoing investigation into fraudulent activity" another piece of the puzzle surrounding the former Princeton-Similkameen Funeral Services has surfaced, thanks to Babs Williams of Princeton.
Williams buried what she believed to be her late husband's cremated ashes - following his death on June 3, 2002 - in a plot at Princeton Cemetery.
Then last week she received a call from an employee of the current funeral home company servicing Princeton - and not RCMP, as had been reported in other media - which Williams at first thought was a prank.
"I got a phone call from a woman who said, 'We have your husband's ashes and we're wondering what you would like us to do with them.'"
As part of the investigation into the previous funeral home business, which lost its licence to operate in 2004, RCMP discovered a total of almost 60 unclaimed remains at the facility, now a vacant building on Bridge Street.
Police are appealing to the public in hopes that family members will come and claim the packages.
The box that Williams had buried was exhumed last week and police couldn't determine whose ashes were in the box because the metal disk required by law to be placed in an urn with the ashes was missing.
Williams also told the News Leader - in great detail - that the final resting place of what was supposed to be her late husband's ashes was not even close to the condition it was in when she original placed the ashes there.
Princeton-Similkameen Funeral Services was first licensed in September 1995 and closed March 15, 2004. Cst. Annie Linteau of Kelowna RCMP says police have been investigating alleged "fraudulent bookkeeping" at the funeral home for several months.
Local residents have also shared similar stories with the News Leader in recent months about issues concerning financial concerns that occurred at the funeral home.
Linteau says details could not be revealed as to not affect the investigation but did say charges could be laid.
As for Ed's remains, which Williams said were verified by the requisite metal disk, she's not sure what she'll do with them once RCMP release them later this week.
"He probably won't leave the property," she said.
She also told the News Leader she probably would not be returning them to Princeton Cemetery.
She also expressed concern for the family members connected to the ashes that were originally believed to be Ed's and hoped they could be returned to the correct family.
CO MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS
The deer issue in the Town of Princeton continues to consume time at Town Hall.A letter from Conservation Officer Al Lay focused on the deer feeding at the landfill site and was discussed at the April 3rd meeting of Town Council.
In the letter Lay points out, it is unhealthy for any wildlife to be feeding on unnatural feed. Certainly feed located within a landfill is not only unnatural but very poor quality as well. Also, anytime a group of animals are situated on this type of ground in close proximity to one another, the transfer of diseases is always possible.²
Lay says it is not a good idea for deer to have access to the landfill.
"I would recommend having the Princeton landfill fenced in such a way to prevent not only deer access but black bears and other wildlife as well. A well-constructed fence would also solve other problems such as paper material being blown out of the landfill."
The Princeton landfill is one of the few left in BC that has not been fenced.
Councillor Ray Jarvis made a motion to refer the matter to Town staff to investigate the cost of fencing before a final decision is made. Councillor Jim Manion seconded the motion.
TOWN PUTS BITE IN BYLAW
Mayor Randy McLean has issued a challenge to residents of Princeton. At the April 3rd meeting of Town Council McLean vowed to solve the deer feeding within town limits problem."I would like us to make a motion that we, at this point, give notice to the Town of Princeton that we intend to back up our bylaws regarding deer feeding with a ticketing system."
McLean is fed up with the feeding and the problems residents have encountered with aggressive deer.
"It is really a negative in our community and it's getting worse." Although McLean wants to solve the problem, he admitted it won't be easy.
"This isn't a solution by any means but it's a start and we need to get serious about it."
Town Council also looked to local media to help get the message 'Don't Feed The Deer' out in whatever format possible.
The motion to put some teeth into the do not feed the deer bylaw was made by Councillor Jim Manion and seconded by Councillor Maria Sadegur.
