News Leader News
WHEN SHOULD YOU SEEK POLICE INVOLVEMENT?
I have spoken to a number of people lately who are concerned with the amount of police presence they are receiving in the smaller communities such as Tulameen, Missezula Lake and Osprey Lake areas.
It is unfortunate that we just do not have enough members stationed here to provide a police presence in these communities all the time, especially during the busy summer months.
The reality is that people in these communities are going to have to get more involved and become our eyes and ears. There is a mis-conception that we the police have to observe something in order to issue a ticket or charge someone. As long as the person is willing to come to Court, identify those responsible and the issue is criminal in nature; members will make every
effort to charge those responsible.
However, most often than not we are finding that when a person calls the police they refuse to provide their name or provide very little details.
I appreciate people are concerned with retaliation but at some point the community must band together to help us deal with situations. I am not advocating vigilantism; however I strongly encourage and support Citizens on Patrol and Block Watch groups and would be willing to provide assistance for these groups.
So I pose the question again: "When to phone the police?" - if the matter is important to you then it is important to us. If we don't know about something then we can not do anything about it.
Again I encourage everyone to get involved in making their community better and assist us with providing the information we need to deal with matters.
LOZINSKI REVIEWS DETACHMENT PRIORITIES
With the busy summer months now behind us I just want to take this time to re-affirm the priorities of this detachment.
The following are areas in which this detachment has placed its priorities.
A. Preventions of Youth Crime and Victimization with the concern in the areas of drug use/abuse, mischief and vandalism and focus on the involvement of the RCMP members with the youth of the community.
B. To reduce/prevent the threat and impact of Organized Crime with a focus in the area of drug use, abuse and production.
C. To reduce and prevent the number of impaired drivers (by alcohol or drug).
D. To reduce the average number of road users killed and seriously injured on the Hope-Princeton highway.
In order for us to effectively and efficiently deal with these priorities we need commitment and involvement from everyone. Combating these areas is not just a police problem. The old saying is "it takes a community to raise a child" also holds true that "it takes a community to tackle a problem."
With the transfer in and out of the regular members of the detachment, often people within the community feel somewhat removed from the detachment.
Often the result is that people stop providing the members those valuable pieces of information that are vital for the police to enter into an investigation and charge those responsible.
I am encouraging everyone who has information pertaining to any type of drug activity within our community to come forward. You have the commitment from me and every officer in this detachment that any information provided to this detachment will remain confidential and we will use every lawful means available to us to deal with the problem.
By not getting involved you are making the informed decision that what is happening is acceptable. For me that is not good enough.
SPECIAL BAKING OR CANNING CONTESTS
A number of major companies have contributed ribbons and other items for winners of baking or jam and jelly making at the Fall Fair.To win any of these special ribbons and value-added items, a proof of purchase must accompany the exhibit. The product label is satisfactory proof.
For baked products: Rogers flour for the bread entries and Fleischmann's yeast, for pies Tenderflake non-hydrogenated shortening and Robin Hood flour, for other baked goods, Crisco shortening, or Robin Hood Flour.
For any baking using Dr. Oetker products, attach the label.
All baked goods must be accompanied by a recipe.
For jams and jellies, if Certo is used, attach a Certo label. In jams and jellies, the use of a Bernardin lid will qualify you for Bernardin prizes.
If you do not attach these labels, you will still qualify for the regular Fall Fair prize.
The special ribbons and other items are a bonus on top of the regular prize.
OLD TANKS GO TO LANDFILL
Want to know what to do with those old propane tanks? Take them to the landfill.The Town of Princeton has made a contract with Viper Fuels, a company engaged in recycling used propane tanks.
Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen organized the initiative to contract with one company throughout the district.
Viper Fuels will service 16 landfills and 13 waste transfer stations. The contract will run three years. There will be no charge for collection.
