Government Works | The Proprietor Review

Category: Government Works

Kiosk for education

Filed under: Environment, Government Works, Sports and Leisure, Technology by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

January 7, 2016

Broken sign no contract….File Photo KDG

There is a kiosk at a sensitive grasslands area here in Merritt. It is dedicated to a local, Laurie Guichion , a rancher and the former chair of the Nicola Valley Community Round table. Laurie lost his life in a motorcycle accident years ago, however his legacy remains as the grasslands he loved is somewhat guarded by the awareness to the sensitive area. The published information isat the kiosk at the entrance of the Lundbom Lake grasslands area at he top of Hamilton Hill leaving Merritt on the connector east of town.
The Trans Mountain Pipeline company owned by Kinder Morgan is reporting that another such facility is installed through a contribution to a Kamloops social action group.

The project was completed on a sunny day in early October. Constructed off-site, the structure transported to the Lac Du Bois Grasslands in two parts. KBRA volunteers worked to prepare the site by digging two holes to hold the kiosk posts. Once on-site, the kiosk frame was pieced together, placed in the holes and reinforced with concrete footings. After placing a roof on the structure, the map panel was incorporated.

The Kamloops Bike Riders Association has placed it at the head of its Lac Du Bois trail.
It is said to give awareness of the combined value of recreation and grasslands sensitivity and the ability to co exist.
Trans mountain is nearing the end of a process to get permission to twin its 60 year old line to Edmonton that passes north east of Merritt’s airstrip.

Editors note: Trans Mountain has operated here for 60 years without any serious trouble we think that the twinning will bring scrutiny to the aging infrastructure here producing a net security benefit.

http://www.transmountain.com/updates/lac-du-bois-grasslands-trailhead-kiosk-successfully-installed?utm_source=Trans+Mountain+Today+December+31&utm_campaign=TM+Today+12%2F31%2F15&utm_medium=email

On this Day: January 7th 1990

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is closed to the public for safety concerns

Tags: Trans mountain

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Snow tires,8 degrees of frost.

Filed under: Government Works, road safety by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

November 19, 2015

Cold conditions can still result in Black ice: File photo KDG

The highways system makes winter tires required from October 1st to March 31st , this is to even be on some roads ( high altitude subject to changing conditions). These roads are posted with signs and there is a fine no matter what the present conditions are as you travel . The fine:($121.00) for unmarked proper tires of 3.5 mm of tread.

VICTORIA – With winter quickly approaching, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure would like to remind motorists that beginning today, Oct. 1, 2014, winter tires are required on many highways throughout the province.

Signs are posted on each of the designated highways to advise motorists where winter tires are required. These are generally located approaching high mountain passes and interior highways where conditions can change from rain to snow very quickly.

Maps showing which roads require winter tires can be found on the ministry’s web page at:
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/driving-and-cycling/driving/traveller-information/seasonal/winter-driving/winter-tires-and-chains/winter-tire-and-chain-up-routes

As a result of the technical analysis completed during the Rural Highway Safety and Speed Review, winter tires have been defined as those labelled with either the winter mountain/snowflake symbol or the mud and snow (M+S) designation. Winter tires must also be in good condition with a minimum tread depth of 3.5 mm.

There is also a new time frame that winter tires are required on the high mountain passes. The new time frame is October 1 to March 31 (it previously was October 1 to April 30).

The ministry encourages drivers to always drive to the road conditions and choose the best tires possible. Tires with the winter mountain/snowflake symbol provide the best level of traction and safety in severe snow and ice conditions. Source BC govt.

So what about where it is not posted as required at all times? In our opinion from time and experience if you are driving in your small town and have an accident and conditions contribute to it then you will be held responsible perhaps as seriously as not having used required care and attention.
This can make you at fault and hurt severely. Here’s the rule accidents happen for a reason and someone will apply it to any use of a motor vehicle, to a fault. You may have good all season radials and they work, however over night lows are going below -8 Celsius this week and next and our subjective experience tells us that snow is solid as compact and black ice can be a problem. These conditions are different then slushy watery snow.
All these weather conditions are a challenge to be addressed, good luck and be aware… Watch and beeeeeee winter smart….

On this Day: November 19th 1847
The second Canadian rail line, is opened, the Montreal to La-chine line.

Tags: Merritt British Columbia, weather

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November 11th

Filed under: Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

November 11, 2015

Historical Military vehicles
File photo KDG

Have a good remembrance day… From the Proprietor Review.

On this day: November 11th 1918

An armistice is signed ending combat in the great war.

Tags: military vehicles

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Election done, onwards and upwards

Filed under: Academics, debates, elections, Enterprize by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

October 20, 2015

Its been more then 5 years since stock markets had so much trouble, good luck to the newly elected and those running for office.

Animation of the blood moon September 28th
photo KDG

Oil

On this day: October 20th 1970

The Nepal Stock exchange collapses.

Tags: Business and Economy

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One local paper

Filed under: Politics and Politicians by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

October 7, 2015

Local paper reports on strike !
File photo KDG

The Merritt Herald is the only local paper in this small interior BC town. We were served by the Merritt News until a few years ago. when city policy changed and advertising was directed to one paper instead of two. We also had the Kamloops Daily News with delivery here the paper was in a city of 80,000 and had correspondence from Merritt.

A shift to industrial rather then celebrity has in part contributed to the change. Highland Valley Copper and BC hydro expansions have had an effect on the personality of Merritt.
There is an all candidates forum coming up, Thursday Oct 8th ,7PM at the Merritt Civic Center, hosted by the local chamber and reporting will be limited most probably to the Herald and a small local radio station Q 101 FM. Merritt was privileged to have the three papers here their community involvement had zenith with the Merritt Mountain Music festival and boundary expansion.
Social media is a good thing but journalism that is well-edited is a tremendous value especially at election time.

The Merritt Herald is older than the City of Merritt and has won national awards its editorial bend is conservative.

Both the Vancouver Province and Sun papers are available here as well as nationals but correspondence with them is unknown at this writing.

On this Day: October 7th 1912
The Helsinki Stock exchange opens

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Federal election

Filed under: Merit and Malice, Politics and Politicians by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

October 6, 2015

The federal election is coming on Monday , October 19th, 2015. It is from 7 am to 7 pm and the local polling stations in the Nicola Valley (here) are the Merritt Civic Center and the Lower Nicola Community Hall.

The advanced polls are :

Friday, October 9th- noon to 8pm
Saturday, October 10th-noon to 8pm
Sunday, October 11-noon to 8pm
Monday, October 12-noon to 8pm

There is a mail in ballot opportunity if you are not in the riding on any of these days, you can vote by special ballot, to obtain the ballot contact the returning officer. The ballot must reach the riding by 7PM on October 13th 2015 .

Disclaimer: this information comes from published material from Elections Canada distributed by E. Salmon-De- Friedberg, please refer to a second source for certainty in this important event.

elections canada.gc.ca

On this Day: October 6th 2007
A human powered complete navigation of the globe is done by Jason Lewis.

Have a great weekend!

Tags: Elections

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Poles

Filed under: Enterprize, Environment, Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

September 30, 2015

Pole installation and work on Voght street Merritt
Photo KDG

The work continues for the Merritt Green energy and new substation power project. Poles on Voght to transmit power from the substation and generator.
A worker on site says that they are putting pipes in the road to bring three phase power to some business’s for after they move the poles to the other side of the road.

On this day: September 30th 1955
Popular entertainer James Dean dies at 24 in a car crash.

Tags: BC Hydro

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A thousand tagged salmon

Filed under: Environment, Government Works by Kevin Griffiths — Leave a comment

September 3, 2015

Looking for tagged fish.
Photo KDG

On Wednesday a pair of observers of First Nation origin were rowing down the Nicola River in a rubber raft.When challenged by the PR they said “we are looking for Chinook Salmon” .”We tagged a thousand of them last year and they should be here anytime” They run every year, said the person in control of the boat.
Merritt has two small rivers that join in the city. The Coldwater and the Nicola they continue as the Nicola to the Thompson at Spence’s Bridge and then on to the the Fraser and the Pacific ocean.There is a fish hatchery at Spious creek west of Merritt that is open to the public for tours. A serious fish tagging program is undertaken and a cabled intervention point is on the Coldwater River off the Voght park walking trail.
The Coldwater river was visibly seen to be suffering during the drought this summer but on viewing the this morning looks healthy and well due to rains in the Coldwater river valley high into the Coquihalla area to the south. The river is however void of fish at this point from a layman’s perspective and access. Chinnok Salmon are on the UNC red list for endangered species.
According to the local newspaper of record the city has announced plans to purchase three city lots on Charters street (* one is in the Nicola river) for a preserve.the lots are said to have access problems which may make them suitable for the preserve.

Chinook are anadromous fish native to the North Pacific Ocean and the river systems of western North America, ranging from California to Alaska, as well as Asian rivers ranging from northern Japan to the Palyavaam River in the Arctic north-east Siberia. They have been introduced to other parts of the world, including New Zealand and the Great Lakes of North America. A large Chinook is a prized and sought-after catch for a sporting angler. The flesh of the salmon is also highly valued for its dietary nutritional content, which includes high levels of important omega-3 fatty acids. Some populations are endangered, however many are healthy. The Chinook salmon has not been assessed for the UCN Red List.

Source: Wikipedia

On this Day: September 3rd 1976

The Viking 2 spacecraft lands on the Utopia Planitia,Mars.