To the seasons of life
A fuel truck delivers gasoline to a service station
File Photo KDG
Regular gas is going for a dollar eleven point nine a litter in Merritt .A quick survey confirms Petro Canada and Extra Foods selling for that price. Gas buddy.com reports the national average a full nickel above a dollar six . nine.
Summer driving season starts in May, heating season here is coming to a end gradually. Prices in BC are reported as stable.
On this Day: March 3rd 1938
Oil is discovered in Saudi Arabia.
Pipe for oil field
File:Photo KDG
Drilling equipment for dewatering
File Photo KDG
The Canadian Energy Pipeline Assc. has been working to see better conditions for pipeline activities. The self governing body has as a member the Trans Mountain pipeline group and they have reported on successful lobbying to provide assurance to concerned people that delivery of oil from Alberta is well regulated and safe.Yesterday the CBC reported that BC is satisfied with the environmental provisions of the approved expansion.
Pipeline professionals, engineers and scientists gathered to talk about leadership and innovation and to share insights into the future of the industry. Among other things, we saw that the importance of communication and sustainability is a key focus for our industry.
CEPA has been working with the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) and the INGAA Foundation, to develop a pipeline inspector certification program. The program will give a consistent framework for inspector training programs across North America. Source: Trans Mountain Pipeline.
The CEPA has also been involved in local fire chief certification and the using their members mandate to get legislation that makes polluter pay the law on right of way properties along pipelines.
Its been four and a half decades since we first saw locals here in the interior of BC take up jobs exploring for tar sands in northern Alberta some of them have passed on after spending a good part of their life in the exploration and development of a resource for future generations. Companies like Tonto Drilling and Connors Drilling, and the engineering supervision that gave that first drive for a better life have been absorbed and fractured into a different lifestyle today.
Wages for a stand up citizenry were more the focus then . A global corporate structure demands more today.It is still desirable that a big share go to the individuals that command a wage reflecting the status of working people who will live here and contribute time and talent to the future of the community.
Pipe
File photo KDG
You can learn more : http://www.cepa.com/en/
On this Day: January 12th 1998
Nineteen European nations agree to ban human cloning.
Canoe quest to north-west coast of BC
No pipeline through the Great Bear Rainforest, a definitive decision. Success to many.
The Burnaby from Edmonton approved expansion will see one medium tanker a day every day. One tanker a day should be safer then the possibility of collision. Some diligent people will need to secure the confidence of Vancouver people.
One hundred and fifty seven conditions came out of consultations on the approval of Trans Mountain’s expansion and some conditions by the province need to be met.
The Government is probably interested in carbon schemes .(to help pay for the fiduciary duty to people)
Editors note: Bad faith must be avoided!
When permits are let there must be a reasonable expectation of completion for the risk taken. Permits were let and a 63 year operation with a proven track record and a good community record is not valued enough.We lose something in this.
Trans Mountain’s operation effects us all; what did they expect to happen when permiting the original development. What do you expect when hiring someone…. This is Us not Them!
Keep up the scrutiny….
That’s it KDG
On this Day: November 30th 1829
The first Welland Canal opens for a trial after 5 years of construction.
Merritt has a walk of stars and a hall of fame.
File photo KDG
The City, Chamber, mainstream press and businesses have cooperated once again to have a Christmas week before and after Black Friday the day that starts the Christmas shopping season. Meaning there is no big observance day per say in the way of an advent to the 25th of December and Christmas celebrations.
The big one is on Friday a evening parade with Santa Claus and midnight madness of the downtown shopping area of Merritt. Coming this Friday there is hot chocolate in the Canadian Country Hall of Fame in the 2000 block of Quilchena avenue during and after the parade as well as other interested offerings of escape and diversion.
Any day this week can find some activity marrying the commercial and the spiritual to the countdown to Christmas 2016.
Schedules are published in the Merritt Herald
Editors note: Stay out of unmanageable debt as January can be hell…
On this Day: November 23rd 2015
Blue Horizon’s space craft New Shepard makes a vertical landing after returning from space.
Cladding going on new power plant.
Photo KDG
The co gen plant is having its cladding up and moving to completion.
The plant is quite a presence on the hillside south east of Merritt, lighting gives a pronounced signature. Once cladding is on and it is started up it should have less light pollution as visibility is a safety concern at this time. source.
On this Day: November 10th 1989
The Germans begin to tear down the Berlin wall.
Paving Nicola Ave
Merritt BC
Photo KDG
Paving is about a third done on the Nicola avenue redo in Merritt. Curbing is also well under way as well as new sidewalks to replace the ones taken out to for new water lines for the City.
A crew of quality control from the concrete supplier were testing batch’s on site on the 19th, ” MPH 32 desired strength” a worker said.
On this Day: October 2oth 1781
The patent of toleration is given by the Hapsburgs.
23 thousand dollars
photo KDG
This rig gave a pipeline supervisor an option to transverse a recent maintenance job here to the natural gas line. The line built in the 195os takes gas to the lower mainland through the Coqihalla .
The supervisor said that he had replaced three valves for his part and had a week to go to complete the job. Surerus Pipeline the contractor is from fort St John. He will be returning to work in Ft.St.John.
Crews have been staying in the downtown In Town Motel from the green energy project, the pipeline maintenance ,railway upgrade and other projects. 
The motel is owned by 5 partners, Chin, one of them enjoys the diversity of Merritt. Chin has recently redecorated his 44 rooms
On this Day: October 18th 1979
Home satellite earth stations are deregulated from federal licensing in the US.
A huge bin made from pipe driven into the ground forms a bin for green wood waste at the new sustainable 40 mergawatt steam powered electric generator in Merritt BC. the plant is planned to begin operations in December.
The next door neighbour Tolko industries is permanently closing its modern high production mill on December 16th displacing 200 workers. Tolko produced 1 million board feet of lumber a day.
The new plant will have 25 permanent workers for its 30 year life span. Tolko is said to be a supplier of chips for fuel…
On this Day: October 7th 1996
The Fox News Channel begins broadcast.
Machine parts, File Photo KDG
Pipeline politics are in the news again, after a visit from the Chinese there is talk of the Northern Gateway project again about parliament. With Vancouver’s opposition to medium size tankers increasing traffic in their neighbourhood it seems a shift is occurring in the flow of activity. Foreign owner ship of expensive properties subject to a new tax have dropped off .06 % and pressure has moved to Toronto.
We hold that it is in the national interest that one pipeline should be built, that’s the twining of the trans mountain line to Burnaby tankers and all. In fairness to foreign nations and their investments in the Petro industry and the dynamic we have in law here for private property rights we need to show sovereignty before we don’t have the skills to do a project of that scope and will need development help to do it.
This is the national interest not coast to coast but by pipe but control of our resources and the ability to manage them as a country. PP
On this Day: September 23rd 1641
The Merchant Royal sinks at Lands End, Cornwall England…
Heritage gas pump, it was water that was dear…
File Photo KDG
The price of gas has been stable here of some weeks at 111.9 a liter, including through the Labour Day long weekend. Today the Petro Canada at Voght and Nicola is selling for a dollar 10 .9 per liter down a penny. That’s probably it for the summer driving season. However personal thrift and conservation could well spill over into lower prices for food at harvest and necessary trucking from southern states of produce.
Lets hope every one gives a little and gets a little in the way of quality of life this coming fall and winter…
There are no pumps at the local Canadian Tire .
The average price in BC is $115.9 per liter lowest is $98.9. Price trend is stable….
At this writing all five competitors are at $110.9 per liter, that’s Shell. Petro Canada, Extra Foods , Super Save and Chevron.
WWW.gasbuddy.com
Leaf has direct connection to 500 volt quick charger in Merritt. Photo KDG
On this Day: September 8th 2012
Jimmy Carter former US president becomes the longest retired civil servant(office holder) at 11,553 days. He beats the record of Herbert Hoover held for 54 years.
Grinding stone abandoned
but still working in a river dike
File photo KDG
On this Day: August 17th 1907
Pikes Place Market opens in Seattle.
Photo KDG
The British Columbia Youth Ambassadors had their event on the weekend giving title to three new youth for a year. The 2016/17 Ambassadors came from Lake Cowichan, Ladysmith and Quesnel.
More info is available at their website bcambassador.com
On this Day: August 16th 2008
The Trump international hotel and residence is topped at 423 meters in Chicago.
Hey Merit what do you say?
Kevin Griffiths
percypaschal
The Proprietor Review 