Feature - Sentinel

After years of farmers protesting regulations developed in 2006 by the B.C. government that prevented farm gate sales of meat without use of a licenced abattoir, the province has sent the industry into confusion with the introduction of two new licences. Local producers are left feeling that they have been chasing their own tails for the last four years, spending time and money trying to build facilities that would provide local meat inspection. Now, it seems that the province is opening up the regulations to allow livestock producers to slaughter their animals again.

There’s no easy answer for School District 51’s Board of Trustees in the case of the possible closure of the Beaverdell Elementary School if the decision is based on the public meeting held on Tuesday, Apr. 27 in Beaverdell. The community came out in full force to support their small school with over 100 people attending the first meeting in the closure consultation process. The board heard their impassioned call to keep the school open, but did not comment or engage in any discussion at the meeting.

George Penfold, regional innovation chair at Selkirk College, doesn’t believe that we have a food security problem. What he does believe is that Canadians have an appetite problem instead. An appetite for inexpensive, convenient foods year round that is also reliant on using a great deal of agricultural land for one purpose – grain. If people are worried about the future of food, Penfold suggests that they start looking at how they eat.

Warm and dry winter months of January and February are causing environmental watchdogs concern over potential water supply problems for watersheds in the Kettle basin and the West Kootenays. Although this means there won’t be any flooding, drought problems which may be even worse than the 2009 conditions that resulted in very low river levels, reduced lake, reservoir, and groundwater storage, are expected and that has the water stewards of the area concerned for fish habitat and water quality.

Cannabis is the word of the week as the premier of the documentary two years in the making hits the airwaves tonight on CBC. The show, Cannabiz, follows the evolution of the marijuana culture and industry in the Grand Forks area from the mom and pop growers to the more criminalized elements evident today. Cannabiz highlights the different factions involved in the industry, the economic dependence of the region on this illegal product, and the conflicts that the police and RCMP face fighting a seemingly futile battle.

A legal precedent decided in Ontario yesterday, Jan. 20, sets the stage for battle in B.C. between the health authorities and raw milk advocates. In Ontario, Michael Schmidt of Glencolton Farms, was acquitted of 19 charges of distributing unpasteurized milk. Meanwhile, in B.C., an illness reported in early January to the Fraser Health Authority has brought a cow-share, Home on the Range, in the Fraser Valley under scrutiny. They are now facing an injunction against them for distributing raw milk.

Several areas within the Interior are experiencing higher than normal temperatures and heavy rainfall, which could lead to local flooding. Flooding may result in several health related concerns, like the contamination of surface and shallow groundwater sources. Interior Health would like to advise everyone, especially those getting their water from a private well, to be aware.

If you are experiencing flooding, here are some guidelines to follow:

Following on the heels of a successful fundraising concert by Harry Manx on the Sunshine Coast last month, long time Grand Forks resident Gary Gilbert and his partner Tani Schwartz are reaching out to their friends in Grand Forks for help. Help to fund another medical trip required for Tani’s daughter, Rose, who grew up in Grand Forks, in her continuing struggle with a little known condition called gastroparesis.

Grand Forks City Council is considering a bylaw that would ban the use of bow and arrows within city limits as a result of complaints received recently from community members. Currently, it is legal to bow hunt within the city limits. Bow hunting has mostly been used as a way to control the deer population and the nuisance they have become.

With a near full gallery at the meeting of Grand Forks city council, people gathered to bring forward different concerns. One of the most pressing topics of the week was medical marijuana. Two motions by Councillor Gene Robert at the Dec.7 meeting forced council to a vote on the issue when it was introduced by an item of correspondence.