Category: Public health


Not polluting at crime scene investigation

Filed under: Crime and punishment by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 3, 2016
Well away from crime scene to keep from contamination of evidence.

Well away from crime scene to keep from contamination of evidence. File photo KDG

A news person waits for info and pictures in the public interest, at an alleged murder in Merritt. Voght park in Merritt saw evidence collecting  people in full white coveralls scrutinizing the scene. RCMP constable Collin Brant( a former editor at the Merritt Herald) was on the John Collet Memorial Bridge, in his maroon un-marked car on the other side of the park keeping people out of the marked off area.

The 20 year old victim in this 2002 crime lay off one of the tracks used for school track meets and trace evidence of hundreds of people lay all about. This crime was solved however many are cold and details of the crime are kept secret for interviews and investigation for years.

The fewer  that know the details the better making the  chances of finding the guilty party who also knows the exact details.

Chief justice of the BC Court, Thomas Crabtree and entourage were in Merritt on Tuesday and met with local First Nations elders and had a public conversation with students and those interested in aboriginal engagement with the court. Topics that came up were restorative justice and culture.

Bigger pools of people making for a bigger circle of those that might pollute a serious crime investigation with numbers of people! Leaving their trace evidence and muddling of details.

In our view restorative justice  may have some value for those already convicted of lessor crimes but the involvement of the unprofessional and those not in the justice system is can be counter productive.

The justice heads the Student Journalism Education Program for the court and there was little interest coming up at the meeting, publication bands and restraints of criminal evidence collection by journalists and the public is important to not polluting the case however it remains that anything in public view can be openly commented on even to the end of being a case public.

The disposition of evidence remains on the professionals….

Investigation should be an exact science as liberty is really all free people have and needs to be safeguarded. Debacles with chains of custody  and information are intolerable.PP

A vehicle used by palin clothes Mounties at a 2002 murder. File Photo KDG

A vehicle used by plain clothes Mounties at a 2002 murder.
File Photo KDG

On this Day: March 3rd 2005
An around the world airplane navigation is accomplished by Steve Fossett, the trip was solo and nonstop.

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Sign of spring call for input nuisance control

Filed under: Environment, Public health, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
March 2, 2016
Notice of an application of herbicide

Notice of an application of herbicide,applicator said it included mosquito resolve. File Photo: KDG

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File Photo: KDG

There is an advertised opportunity for input into mosquito /nuisance control coming up.
Lower Nicola:
Place Lower Nicola Hall,382 Aberdeen Road
Day: March 7th 2016
Time 6:30 to 8:30, presentation 7:00 to 7:30
Place: Nicola Lake Area, Quilchena Hotel highway 5A
Day: March 8th 2016
Time 6:30 to 8:30 Presentation 7:00 to 7:30
The open house and presentation is hosted by the TNRD Thompson Nicola Regional District.

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File Photo: KDG                             

Helicopters doing work can be an overhead hazard File photo KDG

Helicopters doing work can be an overhead hazard, applying spray from above.
File photo KDG

On this Day: March 2nd 1995
Researchers at Fermi Lab discover the Top Quark.

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Dance for Heart

Filed under: Public health, Social Activism by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
February 10, 2016
DR, Snee and company, Merritt BC 2010 File Photo: KDG

DR, Snee and company, Merritt BC 2010
File Photo: KDG eye exams may help with other conditions…*

February is Heart Month and the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation is organizing for awareness and proactive action on Heart Health Making more Survivors Together  is its theme once again this year .

Dance Party:

One of the activities in Merritt is a Dance at the Merritt Seniors complex .”Dance your Heart Out” is on Thursday February 25th from 9:30 – 11:30 tickets are 5 dollars apiece  for 1 and 2 guests.

The event is endorsed by Love to Dance Studios

Contact janebartle@gmail.com

*

Medical is personal and second opinions are a good thing in our view.

On this day February 10th 2009

Two  communications satellites collide in space, one American,named Iridium 33 and Kosmos 2251 a Russian are destroyed in low earth orbit.

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Budget discussions

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January 26, 2016

Budget discussions are coming up for Merritt. Policing ,is a number one cost and results matter.
The City has in the past taken retreats for discussions. There is a drop in session at the city with the Mayor on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month they are advertised for times in the city page of the local Newspaper The Merritt Herald.

Mayor Neil Menard says he’s available for inputs…

low tech,

Old technology is heavy ! A nighttime attempted heist ended with the goods abandoned on the sidewalk. Coldwater Hotel, Merritt. File Photo KDG

 

Old technology is heavy !
A night time heist ended with the goods abandoned on the sidewalk.

Coldwater Hotel, Merritt.
File Photo KDG

On this Day: January 26th 1911

Glenn Curtiss has the first successful flight of a seaplane.

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Be safe on either side of the glass

Filed under: First Nations People, Nicola Naturalists, Vegtable soup, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
January 12, 2016

The Nicola Naturalists are having their January presentation meeting on the 21st of the month. Frank Ritcey of Wild Safe BC will talk about safety about wildlife and in particular bears.

Frank Ritcey is the Provincial Coordinator for WildSafeBC, based in Kamloops. Run by the BC Conservation Foundation this program focuses on how we can minimize our impact on the wildlife we observe and keep ourselves safe at the same time. Frank was raised in the wilds of Wells Gray Park by his pioneering mother, Clara Ritcey, and Park Biologist father Ralph Ritcey. Frank’s love of nature has been with him his whole life and he still spends much time filming and studying nature. Frank often contributes to CBC’s popular North by Northwest show.

The meeting starts at 7PM and is open to the public (membership or donation requested) , no food or drinks allowed in the NVIT lecture theater, however there is free parking. NVIT is a local community college founded in part by Grand Chief  Gordon Antoine ( deceased) , Gordon was a member of the Coldwater Indian Band and promoted education for his people, he is survived by his wife Janice a principal of the Coldwater Indian Band K -12 school.

The Nicola Naturalists use the lecture theater at NVIT as a non profit and provide a bursary to natural resource students as a matter of consideration for its use.

On this day: January 12th 1959

The Caves of Nerja are rediscovered.

 

 

 

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Wild Tales

Filed under: Crime and punishment, War and conflict by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
December 30, 2015

The Toronto International Film Circuit and the Nicola Valley Film Society will be starting up for the second half of their season on Monday January 18th with the film Wild ones. According to Terry Frizzel the societies Vice President posters will be up soon for the film, a full poster is usually displayed in the public library.
Screening time is 7PM at the NVIT lecture theater,free parking and no food or drink in the theater. 5 dollar admission at the door for members
Membership available at the door.
For a look at the trailer and trailers for the rest of the season go to:https://nicolavalleyfilmsociety.wordpress.com/
On this Day: December 30th 2006
Iraq leader Saddam Hussein loses his life for crimes against humanity.

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Stolen car

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Vegtable soup by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
November 26, 2015

 

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Culture Day at Baillie House Constable T Dunsmore File photo KDG

 

 

CFJC News is reporting that there was a standoff in Merritt this afternoon. According to CFJC in an interview with Merritt’s Constable Tracy Dunsmore two men were taken into custody from the proximity of Funks Road Runner Motel on the east end of Merritt leaving town. A weapon is said to be being searched for. A stolen car is alleged to be at the center of the trouble.
Editors Note: This is a rare occurrence in this town and is not our normal expectation.
On this Day: November 26th 1476
Vlad the Impale r ( Dracula) defeats Basarab Laiota and becomes the ruler of Wallachia for the 3rd time.

Today in History November 26th 1789
Thanksgiving made an national observance in the US by the Congress.

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Snow

Filed under: Environment, Workers Safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
November 3, 2015
When it comes it can be something to manage file photo KDG

When it comes it can be something to manage
file photo KDG

The Nicola Valley has its first snow fall of the year Sunday and Monday. There was no snow at the city level it could be seen on the mountains to the west.

Most snow removal by individuals is clearance of driveways and walkways. After heavy snowfalls, snow may be removed from roofs to reduce the risk of structural damage due to the weight.

In places with light snow, brooms or other light instruments can be used to brush off snow from walks and other surfaces. In regions with more precipitation, snow is commonly removed with snow shovels, a large lightweight shovel used to push snow and lift it, and snow scoops or sleigh shovels, a large and deep hopper-like implement fitted with a wide handle and designed to scoop up a load of snow and slide it on any slippery surface to another location without lifting. Other tools include snow pushers and shovels with one or more wheels.

Shovelling entails a considerable amount of physical effort and can strain the back and the heart. Each year many senior citizens and middle aged persons die from heart attacks while shovelling snow: source Wikipedia

On this Day: November 3rd 1817

The Bank of Montreal begins business in Montreal Canada.

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Oh Deer

Filed under: Crime and punishment, Environment, Fauna by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
October 22, 2015
Deer on Garcia street Merritt Photo KDG

Deer on Garcia Street Merritt
Photo KDG

There were 10 deer on the lawns of Garcia Street, Tuesday morning. Deer seem to know that there are no firearms to be used in the city.

On this day: October 22 1836

Sam Houston becomes the first president of the Republic of Texas.

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Vandals

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September 9, 2015
Carpets being cleaned of glass after an alleged break in Photo KDG

Carpets being cleaned of glass after an alleged break in
Photo KDG

Vandalism at the Merritt Public library on the weekend caused a delayed opening on Tuesday. The library that is normally open at 10 Pm every Tuesday morning stayed closed for most of the morning to accommodate a clean up of broken glass and removal of remaining glass in the window frame on the north side of the building. The Vandalism also resulted in a theft with the front door of a video player being broken open and electronic games taken. A source says that the electronics were recovered.
A source with a glass company attending the scene said calls to the library are down since they removed landscape rocks from the property. “we must have been here about 8 times in the past.” The library was built in the 1990s taking the area of the out of service train station, and moving from a building in the 2000 block of Granite avenue.
The library just received new carpet a few months ago.

Update: Electronics taken, a play station 3 and an I pad for children’s use are said to be in the hands of the Mounties, the I pad was said to have been found outside the building and the play station in custody is presumed to have left the property. The I pad is talked about having had blood on it.

On this day: September 9th AD
The battle of Teutoburg forest sees Arminius engage the 17th,18th,and19th Roman legion to their complete destruction.

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Intermission :watch for choking

Filed under: Crime and punishment by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 29, 2015

Dangerous toys
Common sense says that some things may be less then safe when not used in suitable applications. A small detachable piece, or a piece that can break off easily like a helmet could choke an infant.

The Product Safety Laboratory Method M01.1 push/pull test procedure specifies that a push or pull force of 44.5 newtons (10 pound-force) be gradually applied over a 5-second period and then maintained for 10 seconds. The procedure is completed on any part of a toy that is likely to become detached or damaged by the application of such a force. Following each push or pull the toy is inspected for relevant safety hazards such as detached small components, sharp points and sharp edges. More severe push/pull tests are mandatory in two instances:

for the eyes and noses of dolls, plush and other soft toys, a load of 9 kilograms (20 pounds) is suspended from the eye or nose for 5 minutes (see the “Other mechanical hazards” section of this guide). (Section 31 of the Toys Regulations)
for rattles a push/pull force of 50 newtons (11.2 pound-force) is applied (see the “Rattles” section of this guide). (Paragraph 40(c) of the Toys Regulations)The Product Safety Laboratory Method M01.1 push/pull test procedure specifies that a push or pull force of 44.5 newtons (10 pound-force) be gradually applied over a 5-second period and then maintained for 10 seconds. The procedure is completed on any part of a toy that is likely to become detached or damaged by the application of such a force. Following each push or pull the toy is inspected for relevant safety hazards such as detached small components, sharp points and sharp edges. More severe push/pull tests are mandatory in two instances:

for the eyes and noses of dolls, plush and other soft toys, a load of 9 kilograms (20 pounds) is suspended from the eye or nose for 5 minutes (see the “Other mechanical hazards” section of this guide). (Section 31 of the Toys Regulations)
for rattles a push/pull force of 50 newtons (11.2 pound-force) is applied (see the “Rattles” section of this guide). (Paragraph 40(c) of the Toys Regulations)

PSA intermission see you Tuesday.

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TGIF Medical Marijuana

Filed under: Crime and punishment by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment
August 28, 2015

Dropped by someone on a cart File photo KDG

Dropped by someone on a cart
File photo KDG


Some one dropped this packet from a scooter some time ago. There is a legal application for it according to some. An expert Dr.Zackery Walsh of the University of British Columbia psychology dept is going to present on its use and legality at the Merritt Public library on the 10th of October at 6PM.
Editors Note: while some people may need mood altering substance for medical reasons we feel that there is no place for either this or liquors anywhere around the work place, in particular equipment usage or heavy construction.
On this day August 28th 1996
Charles and Diana end their marriage with Divorce

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