Podunk Below the Masthead (Tuesday, June 15, 2010)

More coverage of the passing of Mike Tarr, CEO of Northern Savings Credit Union, the city details its salary and financial information and the Fraser Institute's high school rankings are released, some of the items of the Tuesday news file.

Daily News, front page headline story
"SEAFEST IS NOT FOR SISSIES"-- A review of the damp Seafest experience from the weekend just past.

The passing of Mike Tarr, CEO of the Northern Savings Credit Union is observed by the Daily News with details on the celebration of life to take place at the Lester Centre of the Arts on June 20th, the paper also features a look back at Mr. Tarr's life and his careers in education and finance in Prince Rupert.

DFO announces the fishing forecast for this summer's commercial season and it looks rather familiar to those of the recent past.

The Sports section features a review of the Seafest slo pitch tournament.

(Daily News Archives for Tuesday, June 15, 2010)

"Seafest is not for sissies"
A sad and sudden loss for Rupert
DFO announces marginal fishing for Skeena and Nass 
World’s first bio-coal facility set for Terrace
Hold the phone

The Northern View
Northern Savings Credit Union CEO passes away -- The Northern View provides its report on the passing of Mike Tarr the long time Rupert resident and CEO of Northern Savings Credit Union (see article here)

The Northern Veiw
Council wants on museum board -- The City of Prince Rupert seeks to have more input into the matters of the Museum of Northern British Columbia (see article here)

The Northern View
Council reacts to payroll, taxation in financial statements -- Details of some financial disclosure from city hall (see article here)

The Northern View
District schools outline improvement goals for next year -- A look at some of the planning for the next school year currently under study by School District 52 (see article here)

The Northern View
Tax exemption bylaw tabled for more info -- It's back to the discussion table for the city's tax exemption bylaw (see article here)

CFTK TV 7 News
Employees dealt Low blow from Loblaws -- With the doors closed and the employees on the outside on picket lines, CFTK joins in on the local coverage and examines the situation at Prince Rupert's now locked Extra Foods location (see article here) (TV 7's Sahar Nassimdoost also provides this video report on the labour dispute and subsequent store closure)

CBC News Northern BC, Daybreak North 
Daybreak North is only posting selected items on their website now. 

The most recently posted items can be found on the archive page for Daybreak North click here

Daily News, front page, headline story
“Seafest is not for sissies” 
 By Monica Lamb-Yorski
Staff Writer
Prince Rupert Daily News
Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The long-range forecast proved to be accurate. It was a rainy Seafest weekend.

According to Environment Canada, 52.5 mm of rain fell on Saturday, June 12, beating the previous 49.5 mm record.

Early Saturday morning, as the rain and wind pummeled young, happy street hockey players and slightly hassled spectators, it was confirmed Prince Rupert was in for a wet day.

After watching his son play the first street hockey game early Saturday morning Ian Harris declared,

“Seafest is not for sissies.”

By mid afternoon, his comment was circulating the streets. Everyone agreed it was the wettest parade ever.

The night before, Blockstock and the Jim Ciccone 3 on 3 Basketball were relocated to the Civic Centre because the wind and rain had begun their tug-of-war. As viewers huddled under awnings and umbrellas, the next morning, many were amazed at the enthusiasm of the parade participants.

 “Do you love Prince Rupert?” members of the Fellowship Baptist Church community called out as they walked alongside their float. Two small boys huddled under an umbrella on the Dance Academy of Prince Rupert float, looked out rather wide-eyed.

Captain Nancy Sheils clarified the Salvation Army float had started out as an eagle, but now looked like a deflated brown balloon wrapped around a van.

Five blocks down his trek of Second Avenue West, Sean Carberry gave up handing out paper invitations to CityWest’s 100th birthday celebration. They were falling apart in his hands.

 “The water’s coming in and going out,” said a member of the Sons of Norway as she pointed to her sandals and socks.

 “I don’t ever remember it being this wet,” said City employee Dick St. Louis as he walked behind the CUPE Float. 

Yet despite the rain, the pipers piped, the dancers, many clad in clear garbage bags, danced, and float dwellers of all ages waved and smiled.

 Carol Hadland’s five-year-old granddaughter Allie Dudoward never complained as she and her grandmother walked in period costumes through the entire parade for the Archives float.

“Afterwards she apologized for getting my car seat wet as we drove home,” said Hadland.

No one could believe it when the rain stopped as the parade came to an end, but no one was going to complain.

By noon the sun was breaking up the clouds and within an hour people were out soaking up the sun and enjoying the events.

It was hard to choose because there were so many things going on. At one end of Third Avenue women were playing street hockey at the other end kids were taking turns with the soapbox derby. In between there was music, food, sports, demonstrations and a host of fun activities.

When it came time for the Chamber of Commerce duck race, the sun was shining so the main concern for organizers was catching the rubber ducks as they raced down a roaring Hays Creek.

Clad in hip waders and wet suits, Nathan Lauer and Maynard Angus held a large net and boards across the creek, hoping for the best.

“Last year the creek was a trickle and it took forever for the ducks to float downstream,” said Angus.

Saturday evening’s Fleetwood Mac Tribute Concert, comedy at Chances and the PR Lions Club beer garden were all well attended. Luckily they were held indoors because the rain was back.

Sunday it was hit and miss as the rain came in and out. Families who braved the Cow Bay docks for the Bullhead Derby had rain for the first couple of hours, while those who arrived later enjoyed sunshine.

Some musicians played to rain-soaked listeners, others had an audience sitting in the bleachers.

There were crowds at the waterfront, but not as large as sunnier years, but those that came out were a testimony to the endurance of those who call the North Coast home.

During both the Swim for Survival and the Quick & Daring, the weather added emphasis.

 When it came time for the Free Swim for Children, one had to wonder if people hadn’t had enough of swimming already.