A look through the Sooke News Mirror Archives

November 14, 2007

Burn issue draws crowd

Sooke District council’s committee of the whole, chaired by Coun. Rick Armour, met on November 5 and dealt first with the agenda item which had inspired the largest number of citizens to attend.

About 30 people had shown up to display their concern in regard to the District’s Fire Protection Services Bylaw, No. 292.

Fire chief Bob Kelsey agreed some clearer direction from council could be helpful in declaring who could have a permit and who could not.

“It’s not a right to burn,” said Kelsey. “It’s a privilege. Who am I to be swayed by?” asked the chief, “the woman with asthma or the contractor with a lot of stuff to burn?”

November 9, 2005

KidSport comes through for minor hockey

The atmosphere was like that of Christmas morning with four children unwrapping packages while adults scurried around, gathering discarded wrapping and distributing even more packages.

The difference was in the timing – rather than Dec. 25 it was last Saturday at the SEAPARC arena in Sooke.

Gathered around were Riley-Sue Hay, 13; Courtney Rodd, 13; Shaelee Schwede, 11 and Jamie Jones, 12. The four were happily rummaging through their new “toys,” otherwise know as complete sets of hockey equipment courtesy of KidSport Victoria and the National Hockey League Players’ Association.

November 8, 2000

Silver Spray hearing – a marathon

The Capital Regional District board is expected to decide November 22 whether or not Silver Spray developer Michael Thornton will be allowed to proceed with a controversial residential and commercial project in East Sooke.

The Juan de Fuca Land Use Commission heard a half-hour pitch from Thornton and a litany of arguments – both in favour of the development and opposed to it during the public hearing which ran from 7 p.m. Thursday to 3:20 a.m. Friday.

During the hearing 61 people spoke in favour of the application and 49 spoke against.

November 15, 1995

Official complex over budget

The new Sooke fire hall/CRD complex is over budget by an estimated $200,000. But the Sooke Fire Protection District will not raise taxes to make up the difference, according to the district chair.

Maywell Wickheim blamed the cost overrun on the Capital Regional District who “kept requiring more and more goodies and space.”

“Now in the long run we get it all back because it’s reflected in their annual lease payments,” Wickheim said of the deal which sees the CRD lease the lower level of the building. “The drawback from our point of view is we have to come up with more money initially.”

November 9, 1988

Verbal abuse shocks vice-principal

A 19-year-old Sooke man who forced his way into the Edward Milne Community School vice-principal’s office, verbally abused him within the hearing of the office staff, and later threatened to kill him, could face charges of causing a disturbance and using foul language, according to Sooke RCMP.

Vice-principal Mike Dunn, who said he was angry and shocked at the episode, said he too intends to press charges against the man.

“The guy was abusive, not only to me but to the principal Carol Chandler, it was a shocking and very unnerving experience for all of us,” Mr. Dunn said.