Editor:
I am writing in response to the article, “Passing lanes coming to Hwy. 97 between Graveyard Hill and Dead Man’s Lake,” written on Wednesday, November 25, 2009.
I am truly disappointed that the public is being misled regarding the “passing lanes.”
The $8 million going towards a “passing lane” on Hwy. 97, just north of Osoyoos, is actually not a passing lane.
It is in fact a brand new four-lane highway being built adjacent to the existing highway.
In the article, John Slater stated that, “the passing lanes will be upgraded and straightened,” but if you look at the existing highway it is already straight!
He also states “the passing lane project is going ahead because of a ‘safety issue’ regarding traffic concerns such as slow drivers and congestions.”
The proposed four-lane highway is only going to be 2.8 kilometres and is going to cost $8 million.
This is our tax dollars going to waste when they could be adding on to the existing highway.
I would like John Slater to justify his reasoning to the community as to why they are not adding lanes to the existing highway and are instead willing to spend $8 million on a brand new four-lane highway!
They need to look at the statistics and upgrade parts of the highway where more accidents occur (such as Dead Man’s Lake and Graveyard Hill) and where there are actual safety concerns.
Being a small business owner, this new four-lane highway will impose an immense negative impact on my business.
Approximately 70 per cent of my business relies on drive-in business, and with this new highway, that business will experience a huge decline as motorists will not be able to have direct access to my cidery/fruit market.
Just this past year, my business experienced a huge expansion, and our cider is now featured in numerous restaurants in the Lower Mainland.
All we ask is that the Ministry of Transportation work with us, and help us as we continue to expand our business!
As an elected MLA, John Slater needs to take into consideration the concerns of his constituents and help save our small community!
Gian Dhaliwal,
Orchard Hill Estate Cidery Ltd. and Fruit Market, Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-January 20, 2010

FOUR-LANE ROAD UNNECESSARY

Editor:
Re: Four lanes on Hwy. 97 near Dead Man’s Lake
The way I see it, the increase to four lanes in a farm area on an 80 km/h highway with fruit markets and wineries makes little or no sense at all.
People on holiday are sightseeing and could be interested in a winery or fruit market.
People who are in a hurry will have to learn to slow down.
This is a farm area tractors, wildlife, forbid loose farm animals on the road.
If passing lanes are put in place, the next thing someone will want is a higher speed limit which is not needed.
We live in a beautiful country atmosphere.
Let’s keep it that way as long as possible.
If anything, a couple of roadside pullouts.
Let’s keep it country for as long as possible.
Alan Workun,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-January 20, 2010

RV PARK WOULD BE GOOD FOR OSOYOOS

Editor:
Holiday Trails RV Resort is proposing a new RV park in Osoyoos.
One would think this would be a no brainer for the area since it is the resort capital of B.C.
Having worked all over B.C. for BC TEL in just about every town and city, I have vacationed in no better place in North America than Osoyoos.
Being born and raised in B.C., I have an RV and a membership with Holiday Trails so I’m interested in returning to B.C. to stay in the new park whenever it gets off the ground.
The land used as an RV park really doesn’t impact the land too much at all.
Tourist dollars are always needed in the towns of B.C., winter and summer; delays in such ventures like this and loss of revenue for the town are just a big dent in everyone’s pocket book and every time jobs aren’t created in a town like Osoyoos, that is another young person heading out to the big city for lack of work and tax base.
Lots of RVers out east are just waiting to drop in.
I’m one.
Wayne Robertson,
Stoney Creek,
Ontario

OSOYOOS TIMES-January 20, 2010

HARASSMENT INCIDENT CONCERNS WRITER

Editor:
I am new to town, having moved here just four months ago.
I have been a Canadian citizen, and a proud one, for 30 years now…until this past Christmas Eve, when something happened in the town of Osoyoos which left me feeling ashamed and deeply disturbed.
A number of young people from Oliver and Osoyoos were having a “good time,” when, from the first-hand account of an eyewitness, a group of these young people set upon another woman walking along the pavement (unrelated to the group of partiers) and proceeded to name-call, insult, shout judgmental criticisms and profanities and throw rocks at this fellow citizen.
At one point she was being kicked by another local young woman.
She was weeping and begging the young people to stop… apparently throwing money at them in a desperate act of trying to get reprieve from their violence.
I am from South Africa, where I grew up surrounded by racism, violence and genocide.
Hearing this account of such brutality in a Canadian town leaves me shocked and ashamed.
I value a community and a world where we include all members of society in a gentle, compassionate way.
Although I did not bear direct witness to this event, I completely trust the similar accounts of two of the youth who wish not to be revealed.
My request to you, the reader, is to give me this opportunity to express my profound sadness at this event.
How ironic to have had this play out on the Eve of Christ’s birth.
Not in Afghanistan or Iran, but right here in Osoyoos…
Karin Steytler-Greeff,
Osoyoos

OSOYOOS TIMES-January 20, 2010