Podunk Below the Masthead, Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Once again the pulp mill is on our minds, Marine Rescue looks for some help, Terrace celebrates Hockeyville and ferry traffic sees a slight decline in the summer of 2009, some of the items of the news cycle for Tuesday.

DAILY NEWS, HEADLINE STORY
MARINE RESCUE IS LOOKING FOR A FEW ABLE BODIES-- A Recruiting campaign by the local Marine Rescue society gets underway, as Prince Rupert Marine Rescue begins the quest for more volunteers to help out. They will be offering an information session on October 16th for those that may be interested in helping out (See story here PG Citizen Link) (Daily News Archives) Item is provided at the bottom of this post as well

With the clock ticking on the latest installment of the great pulp mill soap opera, the City is sending out signs that it's not particularly interested in becoming the owner of the Watson Island site. What they would like is to recover some of the eight million dollars in back taxes and interest owed on the site, a situation that has been ongoing ever since the mill shut down and changed hands, with current owner Sun Wave apparently still seeking to sell the property (see story here PG Citizen Link) (Daily News Archives)

The fate of the Northwest's bears comes up for discussion over concerns that with the state of fishing stocks, a particular concern it appears is the bears near Bella Bella who may face some lean times in the harvesting of food department this year (see story here PG Citizen Link) (Daily News Archives)

School District 52 makes plans to discuss the introduction of the Haida language into the Prince Rupert school curriculum, a topic requested earlier this year and one which has sparked a bit of debate locally as to which and how many of the various local languages should be introduced into the schools (see story here PG Citizen Link ) (Daily News Archives)

The Sports section featured recaps of the weekend action in the city's slowpitch league playoffs.

NORTHERN VIEW, WEB EXTRA
Fewer ferry passengers on northern routes this summer-- BC Ferries sees a slight reduction on their passenger load for the season just past, with less than one percent less walking or driving on compared to last tourist season (see story here)

CFTK NEWS
Terrace Is the Centre of the Hockey World-- CFTK reviews the events of Monday nights Hockeyville celebration(see story here)

DAILY NEWS, FRONT PAGE HEADLINE STORY:

Marine Rescue is looking for a few able bodies
By George T. Baker
Prince Rupert Daily News
Tuesday, September 15, 2009

The Prince Rupert Marine Rescue team is on a drive - recruiting drive that is.

The volunteer group is looking for some strapping able bodied teammates to join their clique of community service minded people. And anyone can join.

“It’s a fun group that serves our community on the water and at the same time we save lives,” said president Marko Kessler.

The affable Kessler will host an information session on October 16 beginning at 6 p.m. behind the Peter Lester Centre for those who are interested.

Those who come out to hear what Kessler has to say will get more details on how the team trains to provide rescue services on the North Coast waters, how to improve your own life through community service and other benefits such as meeting new friends and contacts through the group.

“We are at this point basically looking for members to join and we need to build up our crew for 2009-10,” said Kessler.

Many examples are available on just how vital the group is to the local area.

An incident back in 2007 showed that even after fierce winds claimed a fishing vessel within sight of Prince Rupert, the fast work of rescuers ensured all members of the crew made it off alive.

Marine search and rescue crews were called out at 9:20 a.m. Sunday to assist the 12.22-metre prawn vessel Dandee An.

The Dandee An had sent out a frantic mayday call moments earlier stating that the vessel, with three people on board, was going down in Prince Rupert harbour. Numerous vessels in the harbour responded including the C.G. Point Henry, Point Henry two, Miss Fraser, C.G. Auxiliary Rainbow Responder and the Kaprino Wind.

It goes to show how much experience can be gained from Rupertites involving themselves in the service.

Those who do sign up will be pleased to hear that the group has a new vessel that will soon be in operation, says Kessler.

The Society has purchased a brand new 33-foot Falcon class vessel that will provide the team with a cabin space and larger engines for operation out on the water.

“And it is made specifically for the North Coast waters,” said Kessler

The still unnamed vessel will replace the Rainbow Responder, a 12-foot vessel whose time has passed.

Titan Inflatables, the company that supplies Canadian Coast Guard certified vessels along the West Coast, manufactured the new boat. The Society raised $70,000 before the $300,000 vessel could be launched in local waters. Additional funding was secured through corporate and private donations.

It will include state of the art electronic search and rescue equipment, and can achieve an estimated top speed of 40 knots (75 km/h). The addition of this new vessel will allow the Society to continue the work it has been doing since its formation in 1986.

As Prince Rupert is one of the most northern and remote locations on the B.C. coastline, the local unit is a particularly valuable resource in time of crisis. This unit is on standby year round, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and responds within minutes to assist people in distress.