Local news feed from the prince george citizen. http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:07:58 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/images/M_images/citizen.png http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com Local news feed from the prince george citizen. http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=999916287&Itemid=557 In a land where most country music artists are independent, there is still a star system, and one of the brightest of those stars shines like Christmas over the Prince George Playhouse on Dec. 1. Sean Hogan has been getting radio and video play for years in Canada, without the benefit of a rich record label fronting all the money. He does it himself, as so many others do, and when he headlines his annual charity Christmas concert this year, as always, he brings along some of his talented indie friends. One of the biggest names to ever accompany Hogan (this is his sixth annual seasonal fundraiser) will be along for the sleigh ride this time. Sue Medley, Juno winner and former big-label darling, will be riding shotgun, with longtime country indie artist Jamie Warren, plus newcomer Codie Prevost (he just cleaned up at the Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards), and Prince George's own indie outlaw Rick Stavely. With three or four annual trips to Nashville, and a brand new album to promote on both... Local - News Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0100 http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=999916300&Itemid=557 The two men arrested in the most recent weapons bust by the Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit have been formally charged. Justin Lewis Chamberlain, 29, and Christopher Andrew Hornby, 18 face a combined total of 17 offenses related to the alleged possession of an assortment of guns, ammunition, and marijuana. A third person was also arrested in the Nov. 6 raid on Queens Crescent, but so far the investigation has not led to formal charges against that individual. The RCMP provided more details regarding the large cache of weaponry collected in a trio of organized crime busts in the city since Oct. 22 when the new unit was launched, with a mandate to focus on organized crime.(Note: the specific items below may or may not be associated to Chamberlain and Hornby, that information is reserved for presentation in court.)Some highlights of the three busts include :- Ruger .223 mini-14 semi-automatic rifle with illegal modifications (Prohibited)- Beretta CX4 Storm 9mm semi-automatic rifle (Found in vehicle)- Winchester model 140 12-gauge shotgun with illegal modifications. (Prohibited)- AR-15 .223... Local - News Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0100 http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=999916301&Itemid=557 Prince George residents are requested to gather up donations of blankets, adult winter wear, children's clothing and accessories like mittens and hats for the annual Chili Blanket VII protest rally Dec. 5.The rally by The Northern Women's Forum is a protest against poverty, homelessness and government cuts which affect the most vulnerable population, said Dawn Hemingway, with the UNBC School of Social Work.The rally, from noon to 2 p.m. in front of the Prince George Courthouse,"unfortunately has become an annual event due to the dire situation that continues to face so many people," said Hemingway.Chili, buns and hot chocolate will be served during the event that will feature speakers and signs with such messages as "No Olympic flame will keep us warm this winter: Stop giving B.C.'s poor the cold shoulder" or simply "Homeless and Cold. Please help."Hemingway invites the public to drop off "new or gently used" donations at the CNC library, UNBC Northern Women's Centre, St. Michael's Church Thrift Shop or at the rally.Donations will be distributed during the event to those in... Local - News Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0100 http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=999916304&Itemid=557 The safety of inmates and staff in provincial jails is sufficient, Kash Heed, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General told The Citizen on Thursday.Despite the recent assault of a guard by an inmate at Prince George Regional Correctional Centre, Heed said he doesn’t see the attack as a sign of a growing problem.“Certainly, there are capacity concerns, which the province is working to address through the largest investment in corrections infrastructure in half a century,” said Kash Heed. “But despite a provincewide increase of 620 inmates in the past four years, the number of inmate-on-inmate violent incidents has declined, and there has been no upward trend in the rate of inmate-on-staff assaults. Furthermore, the Workers’ Compensation Board has found our workplaces safe and our staffing levels adequate.”Heed said there are mitigation measures in place to reduce guard-inmate conflicts, including training programs teaching conflict resolution/prevention and management of hostile offenders, an internal classification system for maximizing positive inmate interaction, occupational health and safety committees at every B.C. provincial jail to address concerns within... Local - News Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0100 http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=999916305&Itemid=557 A corrections officer was attacked by an inmate at Prince George Regional Correctional Centre last week, and his colleagues are outraged. The officer (his name has not been disclosed) got the support of his union, the B.C. Government Employees Union, right to the ear of the Solicitor General. BCGEU spokesman Dean Purdy said the Prince George incident is not uncommon, and that is just the point. "Since 2002 the violence level has risen significantly in B.C. jails, which is when the government removed mandatory caps for staff-to-inmate ratios," Purdy told The Citizen. "Since then, staff-to-inmate ratios rose above 1 to 20. Currently at the PGRCC the staff-to-inmate ratio is as high as 1 to 40, every day. It has created a pressure cooker situation. It puts our staff in the middle of violent situations on a daily basis."According to a study commissioned by the BCGEU, corrections officers have 50 per cent more workplace compensation cases due to workplace violence than the next highest profession: police officers, said Purdy. The study also showed that the character... Local - News Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0100 http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=999916307&Itemid=557 Prince George Symphony Orchestra took an initial step Thursday to taking its show on the road when it made a proposal to Fraser-Fort George Regional District directors.PGSO manager Elizabeth Aman-Hume made a pitch for a "Music in Transit" program that would see ensembles put on performances in smaller surrounding communities beginning as soon as next season, depending on how directors respond to the proposal.The idea is to strike a five-year agreement based on a fee-for-service or outright grant from the regional district to help finance the program. PGSO currently receives $60,000 a year from the City of Prince George to cover operating costs of concerts within city limits.Directors made no commitment Thursday beyond referring the matter to staff for further exploration, but Prince George municipal director Debora Munoz said she did see the PGSO's proposal fitting into the regional district's arts, culture and heritage plan.Eight cultural facilities in the regional district - a mixture of museums and art galleries - currently receive funding from the FFGRD and the PGSO's proposal would require a "lift" to... Local - News Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:00:00 +0100