Remembering KnodelB次元官网网址 legacy
Dear Editor:
Anyone who knew Rick Knodel would undeniably agree that he was Electoral Area CB次元官网网址 biggest champion, its Robin Hood, protector of the realm, and everything in between.
If residents wanted something done, and he believed in it, he was on it like a junkyard dog on a two-pound beef bone. If your property was flooding, he was there. If wildfire was getting too close for comfort, he was there. If government regulations were a pain in the backside, well, you knew who was on the phone the next morning.
That was Rick, the hitter who always went to bat for you, and thatB次元官网网址 why he was so respected.
He put his money where his mouth was.
Not everyone loved his approach, but they loved his spirit, his mettle, his determination. Sometimes you just wanted to hug him, other times, well . . . letB次元官网网址 just say that if you were a politician standing in the way of a solution, you would never see the lovable teddy bear that he was.
He gave the best interviews with the most succulent quotes. He rarely said 鈥渙ff the record,鈥 but you always knew what not to print after he said something in the heat of the moment.
Sometimes he shot from the hip, but he always had the research (ammunition) to back it up. He never went into a conflict blind.
Yep, Rick was a force to be reckoned with, a true diamond in the rough who never lost his luster. He had many dedicated irons in the fire that he hammered into shape for the common good.
OliverB次元官网网址 rural director will be long remembered for being the staunch supporter he was of local youth, the RCMP, farm workers, and firefighters. He had all of their backs.
When it came to justice, his passion was unmatched. Rick often expounded on legal reform with ideas and solutions that made sense. His crusade for victims鈥 rights never waned.
Most will recall his fact-filled speeches at public meetings where he received much applause, and his kind heart in removing obstacles to help the less fortunate or those mired in bureaucracy.
Yes, the region has suffered a great loss with the passing of Rick Knodel. What else can you say?
鈥淪o long, Rick, we鈥檙e going to miss the hell out of you.鈥
Lyonel Doherty
Penticton
No volunteers,
so we have to pay
Dear Editor:
The lake-to-lake bike-path project has had its ups and downs in recent times. Bicycle enthusiasts were gung ho for the project and after lobbying, got the City on board.
The public was given information as to how this project would be implemented and how it would be paid for. The project supposedly would cost about $8 million. We are told that through provincial and federal grants, the City realized $5.3 million. Using simple math, this leaves a shortfall of approximately $2.7 million.
Guess where this came from? On second thought, don鈥檛 guess, find out for yourself.
Not too long ago, Matt Hopkins, urban director Penticton Area Cycling Association, doing a good impression of the childrenB次元官网网址 storybook character, Christopher Robin with his chest arched out when he made a statement 鈥淧ACA鈥 has approximately 2,000 members, plus or minus.鈥
ThatB次元官网网址 impressive, or is it? Where are they? Haven鈥檛 seen too much activity by these members this past summer and up to now. Are they hiding?
Is cycling a seasonal thing? Oh, and by the way, a recent snowfall showed us that the $200,000 mini plow works when some bike lanes were cleared but, for some reason, the sidewalks were not. Cyclists have a sweet deal and yet that does not seem to be enough for them.
In the past two summers. the cyclists had some volunteers to act as bike valets at the downtown markets for parking bikes, act as city ambassadors and make people aware of the need for environmental protection. Wow, with 2,000 members that shouldn鈥檛 seem to be a problem. So, for the past couple of summers volunteers have filled this need鈥 until now.
It would seem, that after a couple of summers, volunteering has dwindled. Keep in mind that Matt Hopkins gave a number of 2,000 plus or minus not too long ago. I am guessing that they are bored with things and want the City to pick up the tab.
As a consequence, the City has advertised for two individuals to work 40 hours/week at an hourly rate between$23.23-$25.17 for 17 weeks May 5-Aug. 29.
Simple math means that the City will pay out tax dollars at the lower rate of $23.23 the amount of $929.20/week or $15,796 for 17 weeks. Your tax dollars for what? At the $25.17 rate it equates to $17,115.60.
I don鈥檛 know about you as a taxpayer, but I find that a waste when there should be volunteers.
Ron Barillaro
Penticton
WhatB次元官网网址 it all about, Alfie?
Dear Editor:
The majority of Canadians are flummoxed by Justin TrudeauB次元官网网址 decision to step down as prime minister. Are we punishing him for not being feminists enough?
Justin, unlike his father, is certainly guilty of being too 鈥渨oke,鈥 - one of the most
insidious social curses of our current time. But even still, who could replace him? Almost all senior Liberal ministers are avoiding the job.
Mark Carney is outside the government with no government experience, no political machinery behind him which means he will come with a steep learning curve, Chrystia Freeland has a dark family heritage that colours her backstory and truth be told, she was very much a part of the same Trudeau polities she ended up criticizing in her stinging letter of resignation.
As for the NDP, Canada is not ready for a Jagmeet Singh as prime minister. And I hope Canadians don鈥檛 think Pierre Poilievre qualifies as prime minister material. If you think the weight of office will mold the man all you have to do is to watch one of his YouTube videos and see what the weight of the opposition office has done.
You will sense little intellectual substance or gravitas; unlike we were lucky enough to get with Stephen Harper.
So would someone please explain why we pushed Trudeau out.
Jon Peter Christoff
West B次元官网网址
Stop proposal by B次元官网网址 Timber Sales
Dear Editor:
On Jan. 10, I wrote to the BC Minister of Forests and the Premier of B次元官网网址 about our watersheds being at risk.
As a resident of B次元官网网址, I am deeply concerned about B次元官网网址 Timber Sales proposed clearcut logging of Chum Creek Watershed in the Shuswap. These old growth and mature trees must be preserved for the local residents and farmers.
There has been no hydrologic assessment to ensure safety of our precious water. We cannot underestimate the huge risks to wildlife, increased fire hazards and impacts on cultural use by the Secw茅pemc people. Destruction of the environment by putting in kilometers of logging road will further damage the watershed.
As lawyer Ben Isitt said in a media release. 鈥淏C Timber Sales is recklessly proposing large-scale clearcut logging 450 metres uphill from the Adderson and McNolty farms and drinking water sources. The Minister of Forests and the court need to step in, do the right thing, and protect these licensed water sources.鈥
There is abundant knowledge of the importance of protecting our forests and watersheds. Scientists are fighting for our future. Visit: .
Herb Hammond, forest ecologist and nature-directed stewardship planner with 40 years of experience in research, industry, teaching and consulting, has told us of the huge risks BC takes by not managing our forests.
Our province is losing millions of hectares of trees due to fires each year. (Look at the devastation of Lytton, Los Angeles and Jasper).
You have the great and important responsibility to care for our provinceB次元官网网址 and residents鈥 health, well-being, and safety. B次元官网网址 residents are looking to you to halt the sales and halt the wholesale destruction of B次元官网网址B次元官网网址 precious trees.
Stop this proposal by BC Timber Sales.
Lori Goldman
Penticton
HereB次元官网网址 an idea
for Elon Musk
Dear Editor:
Since Elon Musk feels it his right to inject himself into our Federal elections, I think the appropriate response is a minimum 50 percent tariff on all Tesla cars, no matter where assembled.
In fact, a 100 percent tariff would be fine by me. This won鈥檛 hurt Canadians as there are numerous electric cars they can buy in place of Tesla.
I wish I could take credit for this idea but something similar was proposed by a Globe and Mail letter writer.
Robert Handfield
Kaleden
Will Americans change thinking?
Dear Editor:
Isn鈥檛 it nice that Canadian and Mexican assets are being sent to help with the fires in California even after the spiteful and boorish attitude of the president-elect recently directed toward these two countries?
I wonder if this neighbourly assistance will make any difference in the attitudes of some south of our border?
Mike Wilkinson
Duncan
