News Leader News for April 14, 2009
FORMER RESIDENT CHARGED WITH MURDER
On April 8th, RCMP arrested a 41-year old male in Merritt and a 45-year old male in Princeton.
Both men were interviewed by police in connection with the murder of Willard Bruce McInroy in Princeton in December of 2008.
As a result of the continued investigation, charges of 2nd degree murder have now been laid against 41-year old William Harvey Green of Merritt in relation to McInroy's death.
Green was a resident of Princeton at the time of the homicide but has since moved to Merritt.
Green appeared in Penticton court last week. The second male was released without charge on April 8th and investigators do not anticipate further charges in this investigation.
This investigation involved resources from various RCMP investigative Units from across the Province.
PRINCETON RECEIVES $1-MILLION
The Town of Princeton is receiving $1 million in federal and provincial funding to plant trees, enhance local infrastructure and provide important community services.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to join with the Province in providing Towns for Tomorrow funding for Princeton, which helps to both build local infrastructure and create jobs," said Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway.
"This is another example of how the federal government is committed to strengthening B.C.'s economy and keeping British Columbians working."
The April 6th announcement includes:
- - $400,000 in federal and provincial funding from the Towns for Tomorrow program for the relocation of the library to a newly renovated site in the heart of the downtown core adjacent to a revitalized town square. The project will renovate a former restaurant into a 3,000-square foot regional library that involves the complete refurbishment of the entire space.
- - $561,856 from the Strategic Community Investment Fund, a restructuring of provincial grant programs to give communities more funding sooner, including Small Community Grants to support Princeton in providing basic services.
- - $28,000 to Princeton from the Trees for Tomorrow program for the expansion of the Town/Veteran's Square.
- - $1,079 from the Climate Action Revenue Incentive Program - equal to 100 per cent of the carbon tax paid as part of direct expenditures on fossil fuels.
Princeton is one of 174 communities to sign the Climate Action Charter committing to becoming carbon neutral by 2012.
"Maintaining, enhancing and developing new infrastructure is a constant challenge for communities, made even harder for smaller communities with limited tax bases," said Rick Thorpe, MLA for Okanagan-Westside on behalf of Community Development Minister Kevin Krueger.
"The library relocation project is a great way for Princeton to move towards green buildings for cultural, social and tourism uses."
"We are excited about today's strategic investment in the Princeton Regional Library and our Town/Veteran's Square project," said Mayor Randy McLean.
"Providing a modern expanded library facility will enhance and enrich the lives of our community residents. Adjacent to the new Town/Veteran's Square the new library will also contribute to the revitalization of our downtown core."
The Towns for Tomorrow project is part of an overall $14-billion capital infrastructure program supported by the Province that will create up to 88,000 jobs and help build vital public infrastructure in every region of B.C.
Beyond this funding announcement, the Government of Canada is taking important steps to support economic growth. Canada's Economic Action Plan, announced in Budget 2009, is a balanced stimulus plan that includes massive investments in infrastructure, tax relief and transfers. This plan will provide close to $12 billion in new infrastructure stimulus funding over two years which will address needs in communities across Canada, as well as contributing to long-term economic growth through investments in public infrastructure, such as roads, water treatment, green energy and transit.
ROCKRIDGE CANYON CELEBRATES (YOUNG) LIFE
It's an outreach program that can be described with only five words: "We go where kids are."
It's how Young Life introduces Jesus Christ to young people and over 100 Princeton area residents chose to 'go to where they are' to learn more about the program April 7th at a Dessert Night held at RockRidge Canyon.
Young Life of Princeton Area Director Scott Musgrove is probably best known to local youth as the guy they hang around with at weekly meetings referred to as 'Club.'
The Club meetings are basically gatherings planned with your typical teenager in mind. The evening is fun, social and energetic. Club is a specifically designed event for teens hosted by Christians and meant for teens who have not yet committed themselves to Christ.
Musgrove was involved in organizing a regional trip to West Edmonton Mall last October. The event joined together other Young Life clubs of which Princeton had the largest group with 84 teens.
Eventually Club participants will attend a week at RockRidge Canyon referred to as 'Camp.'
The week is described by many who have attended as being the greatest week of their lives. Young Life provides exciting recreational opportunities partnered with energetic and humourous programs.
A weeklong Young Life camp will give teen participants a chance to hear and respond to the love of God in Christ.
The entire summer schedule at RockRidge Canyon is filled with youth groups from throughout Young Life's world coming to Princeton one week at a time.
Grant Diener of the Young Life National Office in Vancouver explained that there are over 45 Young Life areas across Canada just like the one operating in Princeton.
"The heart of Young Life is relationships." Diener says the biggest fear young people have today is the fear of being rejected.
"There's something inside us that wants to know that life matters," and Diener says the Young Life program addresses that issue by showing young people they are valued.
RockRidge Canyon Property Manager Peter Van Genne presented a snapshot into the business part of the program.
"RockRidge is all about Young Life," he stated saying the whole purpose of the over $30-million facility is to fulfill the mission of Young Life.
"RockRidge is 100-percent for that reason."
Although Princeton is the smallest community Young Life is established in, Van Genne sees the high volume of Princeton-area young people involved as a good thing.
"They have a huge impact on the kids in the community."
There are currently 16 full-time equivalent staff members working at RockRidge with a full complement of volunteer assistants. The facility also continued to grow with the addition of an $8-million lodge expected to be open in June.
"We're very transparent about what we do here," Van Genne stated and pointed out the level of local involvement in the community.
"We want to do that to be a good corporate member of the community." For example, the facility has hosted weddings, dry grad functions, hockey awards banquets and most recently, the RCMP Regimental Ball.
"What's really exciting to me is there will be over two-thousand kids here this summer to hear some very good news and what they do with it is up to them," Van Genne said.
"Plus, another one-thousand people through other functions. That's a lot of people coming through Princeton."
That's a lot of people going to where Young Life leads them.
NOTES FROM TOWN COUNCIL
Council approves Airport Day funds
July 18 will be the second annual airport appreciation day in Princeton. At the April 6 Town Council meeting, Council approved $2,000 worth of Town crew time for the event, along with $1,200 cash.
The Airport Committee asked for $8,400 from the UBCM Tourism Fund, and received approval.
The Airport Committee asked Council to put $16,000 into the budget for siding for the new terminal building.
Council okays new grader
Town Council approved the purchase of a new grader for the works department. The old grader was purchased in 1976.
Mayor Randy McLean said the Town made a good deal on the new grader.
Total cost is $159,264 including GST. The Town will be able to claim back around $9,000 in GST and the deal includes $5,000 credit for parts. The grader is a 2004 140H Caterpillar.
BC Transit okays two new buses
Town Council has agreed to the new contract for busing, although there is a $17,000 increase in cost. The paratransit buses provide service to Princeton area through an agreement between BC Transit, Town of Princeton, and the operator, Princeton and District Community Services Society.
BC Transit informed the Town they will be supplying two brand-new buses to Princeton this year.
Council awards campsite contract
The municipal campground located two kilometres east of Princeton on Highway 3 is operated under a management contract. This year, the Town received four bids for the contract.
The winning bid went to Jim and Karen Manion, dba JAKA Associates. The contract gives the Town 50 percent of gross revenues. Mayor Randy McLean said this bid offered the best deal for the Town.
