November 4, 2009 The Valley Voice 1 Volume 18, Number 22 November 4, 2009 Delivered to every home between Edgewood, Kaslo & South Slocan. Published bi-weekly. “Your independently owned regional community newspaper serving the Arrow Lakes, Slocan & North Kootenay Lake Valleys.” Fire destroys historic Woodbury Resort building by Jan McMurray Fire Chief Larry Badry reports that The main lodge was originally adding the middle section to join the The steel two-storey safe where A fire at Woodbury Resort on after consulting with Mayor Greg two separate buildings, built by the two buildings together. He planned the King Solomon Mining Company October 29 destroyed the main Lay that morning, Kaslo sent out its King Solomon Mining Company in to make a sanitarium of it. Jones kept the silver from the mines did lodge, one cabin and a trailer, and First Responder truck. RDCK Chair 1897. In 1938, Dr. Lester Besecker finished up the middle section when not burn and remains standing on damaged a three-unit motel building Gary Wright authorized the Balfour bought the property and started he bought it and opened the resort. the property. that is still under construction. There fire department to attend with its was also smoke damage to several secondary engine. Badry reports trailers. Fortunately, no one was hurt. that eight members of the Kaslo Two staff members and some department, two First Responders guests were in the building, but got from Ainsworth and four members out safely when the smoke alarm from the Balfour department went off at about 7 am. responded, as well as the ambulance allan hobden credit: photo “It was a horrible shock, but service and the RCMP. we’re back to business as usual Jones is very grateful for the today,” reported resort owner Terry response. “I want to thank them for Jones the day after the fire. The resort going out of their way and coming office has moved up to an office and fighting it,” he said. “We would space in the JB’s Restaurant and have lost the new three-unit motel if Pub building. they hadn’t come.” Jones says he plans to build a RCMP reports that the cause of smaller office building with some the fire does not seem suspicious. staff accommodation to replace the Jones said the only clues he could main lodge, and will carry on with offer were that the washers and finishing up the three-unit motel dryers in the building had been building. He hopes to have it all done recently rebuilt, and a new photocopy by spring. machine had been installed. The Woodbury has no fire protection, washers, dryers and photocopier but neighbouring emergency were all located in the south end of services came to assist. Kaslo’s the main lodge, where the fire started. a fire at Woodburyr esort on october 29 destroyed the main lodge, one cabin and a trailer, and damaged a three-unit motel building. BC Timber Sales helps to resolve water problems at Crescent Valley residence by Jan McMurray water had drained out of the tank. At this road building site at Mount Sentinel. He Director Popoff. clay-type particles in the soil seeped The water problems that began point, BCTS agreed to pay a plumber to showed and explained to me all of the The ministry told us that the through the filter traps,” reported the at a Crescent Valley residence on replace the hot water tank. preventive measures that were installed preventive measures – rock armouring ministry. October 14, caused by the construction Malekow reports that the plumber after the damage they had caused was with underlined geotextile fabric – were As for the leaky drilling rig, the of a logging road on Mount Sentinel, was at the house for two days, and done, in hopes of protection from any part of the construction prescription ministry stated that the problem with continued for a little more than a week. she took those days off work without further damage. Everything seemed to from the start, not an add-on after the machine is mostly a case of rain BC Timber Sales stepped up to help compensation. She says the plumber be in compliance with the proper road the sedimentation problem. “The water running over oily hoses. “BCTS resolve the problems, but residents Pam repaired the pressure tank, replaced the building codes, except for a drilling rig sedimentation occurred during the has instructed the operator to address and Mike Malekow still have concerns. hot water tank, did minor repairs to the that was leaking substantial oil. If this rig excavation and placement of these the problem and will be following up “My water has still not totally sinks and toilets, and installed a filter remains on the job and starts working, materials. The plan also recommended today [Monday, November 2]. In the cleared up,” reported Pam on October system – with BCTS picking up the bill. the oil will heat up and there will be installation of silt traps. Seven of these meantime, the operator has parked the 30. “I am still concerned about any long- Malekow says she has to clean substantial leaks into the water. This is were established in a sequence, which machine well away from any areas with term damage that may have occurred,” the filter every day. “There was a lot unacceptable and it must be removed at the time was considered more than water and has temporarily placed a tarp commented Mike in a letter to Area H of sand at first, but it’s getting better or fixed,” stated Mike in his email to adequate. Despite this, extremely fine, under the machine to catch any drops.” Director Walter Popoff. now,” she said. The Malekows have a surface, BCTS also arranged to have a water gravity-fed water system and a well. tank truck brought to the property to The surface water is piped down to their provide clean water for Malekow’s property for their horses, and the well horses. Although Malekow appreciates supplies the water for the household. In the effort, she says the water in the tank mid-October, while road construction was full of rust. “It was dirtier than the was occurring in their watershed, their mountain water, so I didn’t use it,” she surface water turned brown and the well said. Instead, she took buckets of well water became discoloured. Mike was water out to the horses. away working at the time. Mike came home on the weekend On October 16, Al Skakun of BC of October 24 and 25. On the 24th, he Timber Sales did a field inspection and and Pam hiked up the mountain and did informed Pam that some extremely a temporary fix to their surface water fine clay had been exposed during the line, so the water for the horses is now work, had gotten through the sediment flowing again. She says the water is traps they had built, and into her water “not bad now” but does not feel entirely system. He told her that more sediment comfortable with her horses drinking it. could enter her system during the work, Mike also met with Skakun while and offered to pay for a filter system. he was home on the weekend, and By October 20, the Malekows’ was assured that BCTS will pay for water had stopped flowing altogether the permanent fix to the water line in – but the basement floor was covered the spring. in water. Pam presumed that her hot “I met with Al Skakun (Area this plaque was unveiled at an event in edgewood on october 24 to commemorate the internment of Ukrainian canadians water tank had been damaged and the Forester) on October 24, 2009 at the during WWi. edgewood was the site of one of the camps. our remembrance day special feature on page 12 tells the story. The Valley Voice is 100% locally owned 2 NEWS The Valley Voice November 4, 2009 Back Road wildfire interface project: public consultation begins by Jan McMurray serves to notify residents of the treatment areas. The first treatment “If our best efforts fail, we will Community Wildfire Protection Plan With the Pineridge wildfire project, and asks for their comments. area is the one closest to residences. make our best efforts to fix your by Blackwell, who recommended interface project well underway, Then, she writes a draft prescription, Strelaeff said there would be hand water. We need to have intimate prioritizing areas for treatment Progressive Forestry is turning its taking the residents’ comments into treatment only in this area, but knowledge about your water,” stated around the community. Because most attention to the Back Road. A public consideration. She starts ground that a small excavator would be Mattes. wildfires start at high elevations, meeting was held October 21 at the development, and invites residents used to create ATV access. She Other concerns included danger Frary wondered why the first projects Kaslo seniors’ hall. on a field tour. Based on input estimated that 10-20 hectares would trees, wildlife trees and leaving in Kaslo were at low elevations. Charlene Strelaeff, forester from the field tour, she revises the be hand treated in this first area. The coarse woody debris for future Strelaeff said she had identified two for the project, described the prescription. second area would essentially be soil nutrients. Strelaeff said there trees in the Back Road area that were consultation process she followed Jeff Mattes of Progressive left untreated, because there is no would be a wildlife tree assessor struck by lightning, and a Ministry for Pineridge and said she expects Forestry assured that the consultation ladder or ground fuel in this hemlock/ and a danger tree assessor on site to of Forests rep pointed out that the to follow the same process for the process was “dynamic” and people cedar forest.