Country 107.1

-Over 40,000 valley residents turn out for the Olympic Torch Relay at various locations on Sunday and Monday.  Torch makes its way to Surrey for a celebration tonight.  Opening Ceremonies in Vancouver this Friday.
-Premier Gordon Campbell was on hand for the Mission Torch Relay, and spoke about Jack Poole, the businessman responsible for bringing the games, but sadly, passed away last year after a battle with cancer.
-Cypress Mountain says they are almost prepared for the Olympics, after having to truck in snow from as far away as Manning Park. 
-New Orleans Saints win Superbowl 44, with a 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

 

FEB5

 

-31 yr old Brian Racher arrested and charged in connection to a violent sexual assault on a 19 yr old sex trade worker in the Cultus Lake area on Monday.
-Abbotsford Mayor George Peary says Matsqui Pool will remain open another year, while they try to encourage people to use it more often.
-Abbotsford School District to hold public consultation regarding closure of Dunach Elementary on Tuesday night at 7 at the school.

 

OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY ON SUNDAY:  full interactive map

 

Agassiz - (start time approx 11:27am @ Lougheed Hwy near McCaffery)
Left on Pioneer, Right on Hwy 9, ending at Tuyttens Rd.

 

Rosedale - (start time approx 12:00pm @ Yale Rd near Sussex)
Route goes west down Yale Rd ending near Chapman Rd

 

Chilliwack - (start time approx 1:00pm @ Yale Rd near Chapman)
(1:17 Dorothy Kosztrewa carries torch on a motorcycle)  Route goes down Yale, Right on Young, Left on Victoria, Left on College, Left on Wellington, Right on Main, Right on Spadina, Left on Ashwell, Right on Hodgins (OLYMPIC CAULDRON LIGHTING AND CELEBRATION approx 2:10pm @ Chilliwack Landing Leisure Centre)
Route then continues up Hodgins to Cheam, to Young Rd, Right on Young, Right on Airport, Left on Yale, ending at Parr Rd.

 

Abbotsford - (start time approx 4:08pm @ Whatcom Rd freeway exit)
Route goes down Lower Sumas Mtn and Old Yale Rd, Left on Marshall, Right on McMillan, Left on Old Yale to Essendene, up South Fraser Way, Right on Clearbrook, Right on Maclure, Left on Trethewey, around Haida Drive ending at Rotary Stadium  (OLYMPIC CAULDRON LIGHTING AND CELEBRATION approx 7pm @ Rotary Stadium)

 

Mission - (start time approx 5:45am on Feb 8th @ Stave Lake St near Cherry)
Route goes down Stave Lake St, Left on Lougheed Hwy to First Ave  (OLYMPIC CELEBRATION on First Ave approx 6:15am)  Route carries on down First Ave, ending on Lougheed Hwy at Wren.

 

FEB4

 

-Chilliwack spent almost $100,000 less on repairing vandalism damage in 2009, but they still spent $132,000.
-Chilliwack RCMP arrest 67 yr old L. Wayne Carlson, who was wanted on a Canada wide warrant, and said to be violent.  Carlson, a Victoria parolee, has managed to escape from prison 13 times.
-Abbotsford Rec Centre dealing with long lines of people wanting to see the Russian Figure Skating Team train for the Olympics.
-11 terminally ill children with the Make-A-Wish Foundation will get to see the Olympics, after a business stepped up and found them accomodation.  They were without a place to stay, after plans to host people on a cruise ship were scrapped this week.
-Earlybird RV Show and Sale on at Tradex, from today, through Sunday.

 

FEB3

 

-Abbotsford Mayor George Peary returns from his historic trip to India.  They're looking to form a sister city partnership with a community over there.
-55 yr old Chilliwack man facing charges after chasing and threatning to attack an off duty RCMP officer while she was running on the Vedder Rotary Trail on Tuesday.
-Abbotsford Police say enforcement will be stepped up this Sunday, as the Olympic torch relay comes through town.  This will be in addition to the VANOC security people who will accompany the relay.  Any demonstrations are expected to be peaceful.
-Sports Illustrated predicts Canada will finish 2nd in the medal count at the Olympics, with 30 medals, 5 behind Germany.  US is predicted to finish 3rd.

 

FEB2

 

-Fraser Valley Integrated Road Safety Unit, since 2005, has been able to help reduce injuries and fatalities on the road, and they've handed out more tickets, meaning more money for municipalities in traffic fine revenue.
-Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz says she refused free Olympic tickets because its illegal for municipal politicians to accept gifts not related to their official duties.
-Slim turnout for an anti-olympic protest in Chilliwack raising awareness about poverty.
-Aaron Pritchett, Johnny Reid, Ridley Bent and Crystal Shawanda on the bill for this years Rockin River Country Music Festival at Mission Raceway in August.
-New study shows that certain prepared toddler food is extremely high in sodium content.
-Avatar and The Hurt Locker lead the Oscar nomination list with 9 each.

 

FEB1

 

-Abbotsford Police say their gang supression task force should be up and running by the spring.
Sgt. Brett Crosby-Jones selected to lead the 15 member force.
-Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz commended for refusing to accept a gift basket including free Olympic tickets from BCLC  ARTICLE
-Starting today, drivers not using hands-free devices will be fined $167 and get points on their license. 
-Variety Show of Hearts Telethon raises $7.4 million for BC children this weekend.
-Class action lawsuit launched against Toyota on behalf of 270,000 Canadians who own a car involved in a massive recall.  Toyota says gas pedal repairs will be available by Friday.

 

JAN29

 

-Testimony in Chelsea Acorn trial this week reveals that forensic investigators searched the area where the Abbotsford teens body was found for more victims, after a tip.  No evidence turned up.
56 yr old Jesse Blue West and his son are charged with Acorn's murder in 2006.
-Speedskater Clara Hughes to be named 2010 Canadian Flagbearer for the Opening Ceremonies.  Hughes is the only Canadian athlete to medal at both the summer and winter Olympics.
-Chilliwack School District proposes adding 8 minutes to each school day, and taking off an extra week for spring break.  Move would cut $161,000 off their $4.7 million deficit, but more cuts will be needed.
-Federal and Provincial governments announce "Growing Forward" program, designed to help local farmers become safety certified, and improve food safety standards.
-Toyota says it has sent out parts to repair faulty gas pedals after a massive recall earlier this week, but can't say how long it will be before they start selling the models again.  2.5 million vehicles affected by the recall in North Amercia.

 

JAN27

 

-Investigator on the Surrey Six massacre tossed off the case for allegedly having a relationship with an ex-girlfriend of one of those charged in the crime.
-Chilliwack RCMP alert the public about a missing girl.  13 yr old Kaela Marie Pascoe was last seen Monday night after having a fight with her parents.  She is 5'6, 125lbs with short brown hair and brown eyes.
-Chilliwack torch relay to come through Rosedale, into historic downtown, and over to the Landing Leisure Centre between 1-3pm on February 7th.
-Abbotsford torch relay to begin at the Whatcom Rd exit at 4pm on Feb 7th, appear at the Rec Centre around 5, and arrive at Rotary Stadium at 7pm. 
-Mission torch relay to come down First Ave, to be met by the Mayor at 5:30am on Feb 8th.   There will be free breakfast and live entertainment, including Carly Rae Jepsen.
-Abbotsford Police unveil 7th poster in their Operation Tarnish campaign to deter kids from the gang lifestyle.
-Abbotsford Heat forward Mikael Backlund recalled by the Calgary Flames for tonights game.

 

JAN26

 

-Chilliwack City Council writes letter to BC Solicitor General, after the cost of the PRIME system, a province wide records management system for the RCMP, doubles.  It leaves the city on the hook for an extra $50,000, and they would like to phase the cost in, instead of paying it all at once.
-Olympic flags now flying at city hall in Abbotsford and Chilliwack.  Abbotsford finalizes its torch relay route, which will end at Rotary Stadium at 7pm on February 7th.  Jerry Swan will be the final torchbearer in Abbotsford.
-Japanese speedskating team arrives in Abbotsford, where they will train until the Olympics. 
ABBY LIVE SITE
-2 men arrested by Chilliwack RCMP for a string of armed robberies.  More suspects may be involved.
-5400 Abbotsford students given questionaire regarding developmental assets.  RESULTS
-Official Canadian flagbearer for the 2010 Olympics to be named on Friday.

 

JAN25

 

-Abbotsford couple still waiting to find out if the 2 young girls theyre adopting from Haiti will be allowed to leave the country.  86 adopted Haitian children arrived in Ottawa yesterday.
-Rogers has raised $250,000 so far for the relief effort, through their text-a-donation program, and has matched the donations by its customers.
-Chilliwack raising the Olympic flag at City Hall today, and unveiling the torchbearers.  Torch relay comes through the valley on February 7th.
-UFV criminology department allowed access to RCMP data, and will research potential ways to improve policing in the province.
-Abbotsford Police arrest 2 men, caught trying to load a 52 inch TV into a truck.  Both men have a history of property crime offences.

 

JAN22

 

-Man in his 20s dies in hospital after being found with stab wounds on Ross Rd in Abbotsford Thursday.  Integrated Homicide team brought in to investigate.
-Abbotsford Police arrest 22 yr old man after a significant drugs and weapons bust at a home on Martens St Wednesday.
-Chilliwack RCMP bust a man breaking into cars with a crowbar this week.  They say he was after loose change that was left in the vehicles.
-Final arguments in the first degree murder trial of Allan Schoenborn are today.  Now the judge must decide if Schoenborn murdered his 3 kids in cold blood, or was mentally ill at the time.
-City of Langley to discuss banning or regulating pet stores that sell puppies, after a number of complaints from people who bought puppies who were sick or died.  SPCA says stores should at least have documentation for the animals.
-Chilliwack is prepared for a massive celebration during the torch relay when it comes through the valley on Sunday, February 7th between 1-3pm.

 

JAN21

 

-Abbotsford Police warning drivers to prepare to be ticketed if theyre talking on their cell phones without a hands-free device as of February 1st.  This month, theyve been giving out warnings to drivers instead of tickets.
-Chilliwack School District planning a number of public forums to discuss how theyre going to deal with budget cuts, including a proposal to add time to the school day, so they can cut other days throughout the year.  First forum is next Thursday.
-Abbotsford couple awaiting anxiously to find out if the 2 little girls theyre adopting from Haiti will be allowed to come to Canada.  The paperwork they filed was lost in the rubble in last weeks earthquake, and they fear for the girls health and safety.
-Abbotsford Fire Rescue and Abbotsford Police will be collecting donations to the relief effort at Seven Oaks Mall this Saturday from 10-4 in the parking lot.
-Donations can also be made at UFV during this weekends mens and womens basketball and volleyball games.
-Olympic torch enters BC today.  Will be in Chilliwack and Abbotsford on February 7th.

 

JAN20

 

-Abbotsford School District looking for students to bring in bags of rice to send down to Haiti, as part of their Heart to Heart program;  Along with the rice, bring a $2 coin to cover the cost of shipping.
-Magnitude 6.1 aftershock strikes Haiti on Wednesday.
-38 yr old Thomas Leslie Armstrong of Chilliwack deemed a dangerous offender by a judge this week and sentenced to an indefinate jail term for past assaults and threats against parole officers.
-Willow Dental Care in Chilliwack hosting the BC Cancer Agency's mobile mammogram unit next week for women between 40-79 yrs old.  Call 1-800-663-9203 to book a free appointment.  Willow Dental is also offering oral cancer scans on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday next week.
-Harrison Hot Springs Resort trying to drum up business by going after Vancouverites who want to get away from the Olympic crowds.
-Tourism Chilliwack says there are plenty of rooms available during the Olympics.  They dont expect to see a great economic impact from the games until after the event is over.
-Abbotsford Heat forward Jason Jaffray nets a goal and an assist in a 10-9 Canada win over Planet USA at the AHL All Star Game.

 

JAN19

 

-Chilliwack woman back home after surviving the Haiti earthquake; says a delay at the airport prevented them from getting to their hotel, which ended up collapsing, killing hundreds.
-Abbotsford-Sumas Rotary Club asking local businesses to purchase a "shelter box", at a cost of $1,000, which contains basic neccessities for people in Haiti.
-Group of students at UFV have over 4,000 names on a petition to get bus service between the Chilliwack and Abbotsford campuses.
-A crown psychiatrist testifies that in a meeting with Allan Schoenborn after his arrest, he displayed no signs of mental illness.  Schoenborn is charged with the first degree murder of his 3 kids, but claims he was mentally unstable at the time.
-BC government gives $2 million to 58 communites, including 3 in the valley, for ESL training.
-Abbotsford Heat forward Jason Jaffray to compete in tonight's AHL All-Star Game in Portland.  Game can be seen on TSN @ 6:30.

 

JAN18

 

-Abbotsford Police investigating allegations of extortion, threats and forcible confinement from a man who came forward on Saturday, fearing for his safety.  Police say so far his story checks out, and the incident looks to be gang related.
-Homicide investigators still looking for tips in connection to the murder of a Chilliwack man last week.  32 yr old Sheldon Floyd Herrling, known to police, was found dead at his Spadina apartment last Thursday.  IHIT tip line is 1-877-551-IHIT
-17 highschool students from the Kootenays are home safe after being trapped in Haiti for almost a week after the earthquake. 
-Canadian Red Cross says Canadians have donated over $23 million to the relief effort so far.
-International Trailways launching luxury bus service from the valley to the King George skytrain in February.  All the info is at fraservalleyconnector.ca

 

JAN 15

 

-The new freeway interchange at McCallum road in Abbotsford will include a four lane bridge crossing over the freeway with a roundabout at each end. The roundabouts are designed to be safer than signalled intersections for getting people on and off the freeway. The design was presented to Abbotsford Council earlier this week.

-Abbotsford Mayor George Peary is about to embark on a historic visit to India. He's going to be part of trade mission with the BC Government. They're hoping to lay the ground work for some deals between the valley and Northern India.

-A homicide investigation is underway after a man was found in a Chilliwack apartment. Police aren't saying what lead to his death. The victim is known to Mounties.

 

JAN 14

 

-Abby Police are looking into a couple of fires that happened early Wednesday morning. The fire department was called in just before 2 o'clock to a fire on Mouat Drive and then Trethewey Street. Both were in townhouse complexes.

-The president of the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association says Abbotsford Council's decision to move ahead with lane reduction on Essendene is awesome. Association president Bob Bos says Essendene is hurting right now and the goal is to make the road more attractive for businesses to come in.

-You will be able to get a number of chances to see some world class athletes training in Abbotsford.
Both the Japanese speed skaters and the Russian Figure skaters will be using the recreation centre as a training base for the upcoming Olympics.

 

JAN 13

 

-Chilliwack RCMP are hunting two men who robbed the Wells Road Grocery on Monday afternoon.

The two men, one of which had a long barreled firearm, went in around 4:15 and took some money, lottery tickets, and cigarettes.

-Despite reservations from the city's engineering department, Abbotsford Council approved a propoal from the Downtown Business Association to take Essendene down to one lane each way, with a third lane for left turns.

The project is dependent on getting funding from other levels of government as well as the Business Association.

-Yesterday's incident involving an unknown article at Abbotsford Airport, despite being a false alarm, highlighted the upcoming extra security precautions that will be happening during the Olympics. Abbotsford Police will be providing some officers for the Vancouver Games and will have extra enforcement at the airport and borders.

 

JAN 12

 

-Chilliwack is one of the cities duking it out for the honour of being in the next Canadian edition of Monopoly.
 its currently sitting in 16th spot. You can vote online at monopoly vote dot ca.

-Abbotsford Council gave second and third reading to a budget that includes a 4.5% tax hike next year - and no Matsqui Village pool. However all is not lost for the community. If the city can find the cash to keep the pool going the budget can still be changed before final adoption.

-A one year old baby from Langley has head injuries after falling from the second story window of a Walnut Grove townhouse. Langley RCMP say the boy's mother had opened the window and there was a screen and the one year old boy was leaning on the screen before he fell through.

 

JAN 11

 

-Abbotsford City Council will once again try to find a balance between how much city services you can cut and how much you can raise the tax rate for next year. The issue will be discussed at the three o'clock executive meeting this afternoon. In order to minimize the tax increase the finance department is proposing making cuts to city services like mowing and street sweeping, reducing bylaw enforcement, and closing the Matsqui Village Pool.

-Matsqui Elementary principal Kathy Fladager will be at Abbotsford Council to speak against closing the Matsqui Village Pool. She says the pool is important to give families in the community a local option for their kids swimming lessons.

-A big auctioneer of industrial equipment has moved in to their new digs in Chilliwack. Richie Brothers are set to hold their first auction at their new location in March.

-Chilliwack's Operation Red Nose had their best ever Christmas holidays. Thanks to higher numbers of volunteers they were able to give out nearly 500 rides, 135 more than last year.

 

JAN 8

 

-After a five hour effort a 14 year old Abbotsford student was rescued out of a ravine on Sumas Mountain yesterday. The teen, a student from Bakerview Centre for Learning, was on a field trip when he got seperated from the other students around midday.

-It's not exactly what she had in mind but Kelly Vanderbeek will get to play a part in the Olympic festivities.
The Montreal Gazette reports the injured Chilliwack downhill skiier will be taking part in the torch relay.

-Those against the Metro Vancouver's plans to build garbage incinerators in the Fraser Valley are welcoming the environmental assessment for the expansion of the Cache Creek Landfill. Ross calls the landfill expansion a bridging option and says the approval gives everyone more time for careful evaluation of our options.

 

JAN 7

 

-Chilliwack Salvation Army were pleasantly surprised at meeting all of their donation goals over the holidays.

Despite the poor economy lots of people displayed their generosity in donating food and gifts to the Christmas campaign.

-The Abbotsford Fire Rescue service wants you. They're looking to add to the auxillary fire fighter roster in the Aberdeen and Mount Lehman fire halls and are holding an information session tonight.

-Most Canadians would rather have airport security see their naked image than submit to a hands on approach.

According to an Angus Reid poll about two thirds of Canadians surveyed said they'd rather submit to the full body scanner than a pat down search.

-It could mean the end of Metro Vancouver's garbage woes - for now. The Ministry of the Environment says they've approved an environmental assessment for the Cache Creek Landfill. The company that runs the dump and the village are hoping to extend the facility for another 17 to 25 years.

 

JAN 6

 

-The BC Centre for Disease Control have issued a warning about unpasteurized dairy products from a Chilliwack Farm that could make you sick. They say tests from two health authorities have shown contamination in five products from the Home on the Range Dairy.

-John Kuipers from the UFV Pride Society says Peter Corren will be remembered for achieving a number of victories for gay and lesbian rights, especially in the areas of education, same sex marriage, and child adoption.
Peter Corren passed away from cancer on December 30th. Peter's husband Murray says the ongoing battle with the Abbotsford School District over the Social Justice 12 course will be heard at the BC Human Rights Tribunal this fall.

-And Abbotsford Police have released their latest poster in the Operation Tarnish campaign aimed at discouraging youth from criminal behaviour.  The poster says "we'll catch you riding dirty". Riding dirty is a reference to being in a stolen car, or taking part in illegal activities in a vehicle.

 

JAN 5

 

-The Abbotsford Fire Rescue Service Christmas wreath ended up with seven red lights for the month of December. Each light represents a day of the month where there was at least one residential fire. In all there were 8 residential fires last month causing over 400 thousand dollars in damage.

-Peter Corren, a gay rights activists who launched a human rights complaint against the Abbotsford Board of Education has passed away from cancer. Corren and his husband Murray fought many battles for gay rights including protesting the Abbotsford board's decision to withdraw the Social Justice 12 course from W.J. Mouat in 2008.

-A Surrey man who went missing from Abbotsford Regional Hospital on December 30th has been located.....in Ontario.  45 yr old Mark McGrath actually walked in and out of 2 other Fraser Valley hospitals before finally ending up in Abbotsford.

 

JAN 4

 

-A family dog in Boston Bar is being hailed a hero.
The pooch managed to fend off a cougar about to attack an 11-year-old boy.
As the cat slowly approached the boy in the family's backyard, the White Golden Retriever jumped in, distracting the cougar from attacking long enough for an RCMP officer to kill it.

-Three different surrey men went missing over the space of a couple of days.
Mark McGrath, Jae Hyung KIM, and Wlliam Jim Peter haven't been seen since New Years Day.
Surrey RCMP are asking you to call them if you see them

-With January here it might be finally time to get rid of that Christmas tree.
If you're in Chilliwack you can put your tree at the curb for pickup for composting until January 9th.

Also Valley Tank and Container, along with Urban Tree Care, is offering Christmas Tree Recycling at their transfer station on Aitken Rd. It is by donation and all proceeds are going to Ruth and Naomi's Mission.

In Abbotsford you can leave your tree at the curb during normal greenwaste collection days.