OWNER SAYS SUMMER BEACH ACCESS LIMITED BY HIGH WATER

Editor:

I'm hoping you'll print one more letter re: beach access “ from a property owner.
On lakefront property, the landowner owns to his surveyed lot line “ which would have been established at the high water mark.
In the winter, the water line is well below the survey pin, producing a beach that the public can walk across. In the summer, our survey pin is submerged due to the artificial lake level created by Zosel dam.
Therefore, the public may wade, swim and boat in front of our property in the summer, but any exposed beach area is our private property.
This information can be verified by the Land Title and Survey Authority.

Deb SherwoodrnOsoyoos

[b]WOMAN HAS MESSAGE FOR SPEEDING, RECKLESS DRIVER[/b]

Editor:

I am writing this letter in the hopes that the right people read it.
On Sunday, March 26th at approximately 3:45 p.m., I was coming home to Osoyoos from working in Cawston. I was about five minutes west of Osoyoos; I had just come up the hill with the double lane, went by the scale site entrance at the top of the hill and was headed down the straight stretch after the corner. I looked into my rear view mirror and saw a burgundy medium-size car coming very fast.
About all I had time to think to myself was 'Where did you come from, and you're going very fast'. When I had come up the hill there wasn't a car in sight behind me.
The next thing I said was something I can't print here because I was being passed on the right by this car and in the oncoming lane I was about to meet a freight truck loaded with lumber. The car didn't stay behind me for one second. I would estimate it was going well over 130 km/h when it passed, as I was doing at least the speed limit of 100 km.
The rocks flew and I hoped the car didn't lose control, and it was gone as fast as it came.
I didn't get the licence plate number. I did see at least three people in the car. The backseat passenger was wearing a white baseball cap “ I know because I had seen his head fly around when they pulled back into the lane. Also on the back of the car was an 'N' sticker, for new driver.
I was shaken up to say the least. So, as I said, I write this hoping the right people read it.
To the driver I would like to say: As a mother to 2- and 4-year-old boys, what you did scares me and I hope my sons never drive like that or with a person who drives like you did.
To the driver I also want to say: As a mother to two- and four-year-old boys, my boys need me to come home alive much more than you need to impress your friends. It's a wonder we weren't all killed for a moment of thrill on your part. You rely pretty heavily on others' driving and reaction not to panic, you knew what you were going to do, but I had no clue. Had I moved over a few inches I would have hit you as you passed me on the right and you definitely had no room to move, nor did I with the truck coming towards us. I have no idea what your name is, where you live or anything else about you, but I am grateful our names aren't linked together in this paper for having had a terrible accident.
To the driver's friends I say: You are lucky to be here and I hope you learned a lesson.
To the driver's parents (if applicable) I would like to say: If you or your kid owns a burgundy mid-size mid-'90s model car with an 'N' sticker on the back and you find out this is the car I am talking about, I hope you read this and take their licence away because they are an accident waiting to happen “ and it will happen.

Tammy SvendsenrnOsoyoos

[b]LACK OF PARKING AT RATTLESNAKE CANYON STILL CAUSES PROBLEM[/b]

Editor:

It seems outrageously costly to spend $5,000 to switch five parking spaces from angle to parallel parking on Tamarack where one parking sign would have sufficed.
Clearly Rattlesnake Canyon, otherwise known as the 'neighbours from hell' are the beneficiaries and one wonders why. The failed effective handling by Mayor and Council of the noise created by RSC is costing the tax payers another $34,000 “ for going to court. Possibly this money may be returned. That corner is a real sink hole for tax money.
This location used to be a campground and campgrounds in Osoyoos are respectfully managed in consideration of others “ and so it is in any strata where rules and bylaws are enforced better than the town has managed so far.
The noise from RSC can be heard three kilometres away on Anarchist Lookout. The entire industrial park operations do not so rudely intrude upon the lives of others.
It is ironic that a sign posted by the town on the fence of the adjacent Kiwanis playground reads: 'By-law 861 “ No person shall operate any amplifying system or loudspeaker'. Yet this area is permeated with noise from RSC.
It is also puzzling why this business was allowed to develop while providing such minimal parking for itself. The hotel next door has plenty of parking, the Dairy Queen and all the other fast food and take out facilities in town provide more parking for their customers than RSC.
Tamarack is heavily used for parking to the detriment of those who would like to use free-of-charge the Kiwanis park for social purposes and the play equipment provided by the town.
The west side of the block along the Canyon fence, the black top parking and the newly planted trees surrounded by landscape gravel looks quite nice. The trees appear to be on the town's property; one might assume then the town paid for that embellishment as well, but then may be not.
The proposed closing off the north end of this block will create the much needed parking for this business and greatly impede the coming and going of the folks who live in that area … the year around. Expect some opposition to that one.
With no valid noise bylaw in place courtesy the courts, the town and anyone else troubled by noise should not hesitate to call the police.

Luke KurversrnOsoyoos