Merritt Herald May 9, 2024

photo gallery

the MMIWG2S+ awareness walk hosted by Lower Nicola Indian Band. Page 14. Photo/Kenneth Wong.

Health minister says he won’t reimburse hospital closures

Mayor Mike Goetz sends bill to provincial government, hoping to get reimbursed on hospital closures. Photo/Castanet

B.C.’s health minister says he will not reimburse the City of Merritt $90,000 to compensate for 19 closures of the Nicola Valley Hospital’s emergency room, but the mayor says he’s sending the bill regardless.

“While we won’t be paying the bill, we will be continuing to work with Mayor [Mike] Goetz to continue a successful effort to fill physician positions,” Adrian Dix said in the legislature last week during question period.

Meanwhile, Goetz said he hadn’t planned to send the bill out for about another week when Dix made his comment on April 23, but he still intends to follow through.

Merritt city council passed a motion earlier in the month asking the province to credit the municipality $34,000 from the $650,000 it pays in hospital district taxes — accounting for the 19 days in 2023 the Merritt ER was inadvertently closed due to staffing issues.

Merritt is also requesting $55,000 from the

province to cover the costs of the fire department covering medical calls while ambulances were transporting people out of town to other hospitals while the emergency room was closed during those 19 days.

Goetz said the bill is to go to Premier David Eby, but Dix will receive a copy.

“I’m not going to be asking him [Dix]. I’ll be asking the B.C. government to return it,” Goetz said.

Dix said his ministry is focused on filling physician vacancies at Nicola Valley Hospital, an initiative he has worked on with Goetz.

Goetz told Castanet he knows the minister is working toward filling the positions at the hospital, but this request is about a separate issue.

“Services that weren’t rendered, for services that were paid for and we would just like to be reimbursed,” Goetz said. “This is a moral issue. I really need an explanation why you think it’s okay to take money for something you didn’t deliver.”

Goetz said the closures are not fair to RCMP and firefighters who have to cover on days when the emergency room at NVH is closed. He said it’s unfortunate when doctors and nurses cannot make shifts, but it happens.

“There’s got to be a fix to this thing. It just can’t be considered normal the status quo,” Goetz said.

Goetz said he also plans to ask the province that hospital taxes be collected at the end of the year as opposed to the beginning so the city has the option to withhold funds for days NVH is closed rather than having to ask for a reimbursement.

He said withholding the funds without a tax policy change would lead to a fine.

Goetz noted NVH has been closed for two days so far in 2024, and while he understands the province isn’t likely to pay this bill, he plans to send one again next year anyways in the hopes of getting the government to address the issue.

will be issuing a test emergency notice on May 10 to voyent alert users.

Michael Potestio CASTANET

Good turnout at the open house

email: merr itthospice@shaw.ca, website: www.merr itthospice.orgorvisit us on Facebook: Merr ittHospice

The City of Merritt hosted an open house at the local civic centre.

The open house gave the residents an opportunity to learn and engage on various projects and topics that concern the public.

“(The event went) really well, we were very happy with the turn out and how engaged people were,” said Chief Administrative Officer Cynthia White. “I think probably the biggest thing, I was just really glad to see so many community members come out and be interested in learning more about what the city is doing.”

Approximately 150 residents attended the open house. The City provided information panels covering various city operations such as public works, roads, development, planning, geographic information systems (GIS) mapping, permitting, FireSmart, emergency preparedness, recreation, finance, careers, and more.

“There were certainly discussions about budget, and planning for bigger projects and how we were going to fund those, quite a bit of discussion around our water restrictions, and our upcoming water meter projects, and some questions about the water and sewer services going out to the 286 exit,” said White.

Director of Finance Kevin Natkinniemi presented the 2024-2028 financial plan which breaks down the sources of operational funds for the City and how resources are being invested in the community.

The city will be investing $39 million into the community with 51 per cent of that investment going into flood recovery projects – such as the rebuilding of the

Middlesboro Bridge and the building of dikes.

“We should have a significant portion of the diking on one side of the river by the end of 2025, maybe early into 2026,” said White.

Additionally, out of the $39 million of community investment, 23 per cent will go into public works and 20 per cent will go into water and sewer.

“We have some other places where we’ve identified there is need for underground work, pieces of maintenance work that has to be done at the sewage treatment plant. Ultimately, you’re gonna see most of that from interruptions in traffic because people are doing underground work, obviously you have to dig up roadways,” said White.

“And that if we’re doing underground services, that we’re making sure that we’ve got our roads right with all of the best standards for elevation, sidewalk, active transportation paths, that sort of stuff, so trying to bundle a lot of that work together to make sure we get the best product for the best price that we can,” continued White.

“I think the biggest part of this is for the community to understand that, because of the age of the infrastructure in the community, there is a lot of work to be done and it is not going to be easy work,” said White. “People’s daily commutes might be impacted, taxes are what they are because we have to have money in the bank to be able to do all these projects, and when I think when people start to see the number of projects that have to happen in order to keep up functioning and sustainable into the future, I think they start to see why it costs so much to individual taxpayers.”

Kenneth Wong REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

City of Merritt hosted an open house on May 1 with senior staff. Photo/Laísa Condé

By Thanumi Thasanga Jayasinghe

OPINION

MITRA: Mothers, the foundation and pillars of a nation

The origin of modern-day Mother’s Day had a disconcerting start many years ago in the U.S. Anna Jarvis, considered the first campaigner of Mother’s Day, set out tirelessly to get a proclamation passed for establishing an official National Mother’s Day. But before her death, she would call for its abrogation.

As the ninth of 11 children, Jarvis got the inspiration to begin the annual tradition from a prayer she learned from her mother. Upon the death of her mother, she could not shake the small prayer out of her head.

Starting with the Mother’s Day celebration in her own city of Philadelphia, Jarvis laboured hard and ultimately managed to get the day observed in some U.S. states before President Woodrow Wilson declared the second Sunday of May as a national holiday in honour of all American mothers.

But before her death, Jarvis turned out to be upset and disappointed with the sham commercialization of the special day for mothers she had envisioned when she initiated it.

In the Bible, mothers were counted higher in the family by the Israelites.

Jesus also placed his mother on a higher level in his own family. On the cross, in spite of his pain and suffering, he showed his respect for his mother and made provision for her care.

Among the many functions performed daily by mothers for which they are to be honoured are:

- Mothers protect their children on all sides as seen in 2 Kings 4:1. In this passage, a mother loved her two sons so much that she did not want them to go into slavery under a creditor. She cried loudly to a

man of God for help.

Today, many young people are under the slavery of Satan, sin, evil habits, and addictions of various types. God has given the mothers the important responsibility of loving their children not only by providing their physical/material needs, but by crying to the Lord for their spiritual health so they would be free from their internal and external enemies.

Mothers, pray for your children if you love them so that God will have mercy upon them.

In Mark 7:24-30, we read of a mother who came to Jesus asking him to heal her daughter. Jesus, in turn, gave her some reason for not immediately healing the girl. But the mother insisted. She humbled herself so much that Jesus, sensing her great lover for her daughter, healed the girl at last.

If we humble ourselves and pray continually, Jesus would heal our generation of children from their waywardness and addictions.

- Mothers comfort their children (Isaiah 66:13). In the Bible, God says: “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you.

Children need their mothers even more as they grow up and face changes In their lives. As they leave home, they develop various types of emotional problems.

They need a friend to share their problems with openly and honestly. Mother can be their best friend, understanding and comforting them when they are discouraged, when they cannot cope with their studies, when they are not successful and when they can’t keep other friendships.

God has given special quality to mothers to win the confidence of their children, listen to them, and counsel them so that they would be comforted.

If mothers don’t carry out their responsibilities, they may lose their children. The children will go to find comfort in other questionable people, things, and places. Mothers need to give time to their children. They need your presence and upliftment.

- Mothers are a teacher’s teacher (Proverbs 31:1). In this passage, the writer mentioned is King Lemuel, reciting what his mother taught him in his childhood. A mother is the first teacher in the family. She

teaches obedience and discipline. She should teach the Word of God as well right from childhood days of her children.

I am sure that before taking Samuel to the house of God, Hannah, his mother, taught her son to work hard, to obey the elderly and to listen when someone shared his wisdom with them. A mother gave these lessons to Samuel to whom God Himself spoke. With these kind of qualities, God chose Samuel to be the priest in place of Eli.

Hannah did not have to pay any money to get a higher position for her son. She taught him herself, disciplined him, and prepared him for his vocation.

Our nation of Canada needs godly mothers. In the Bible, God gives high importance to mothers. Mothers themselves need to realize their important responsibilities and duties.

It is said that Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte was once asked: “What is the greatest need of the French nation?” To that the Emperor replied: “The greatest need of France is a nation of mothers.”

Narayan Mitra is the Pastor of Merritt Baptist Church which meets at 2499 Coutlee Avenue, Merritt. merrittbaptist@gmail.com.

Speak up

From the Herald archives: May, 1964

Coutlee home destroyed by fire

Last Saturday, May 8, fire destroyed the home of David and Joanne Coutlee on the Quilchena Indian Reserve.

The RCMP reporter that the residence was completely burned during the fire that occurred in late afternoon. Cause of the blaze is suspected to have been a faulty space heater left on while the Coutlees were away for the day.

LETTERS POLICY

The Merritt Herald welcomes your letters, on any subject, addressed to the editor. Letters may be edited for length, taste and clarity. Please keep letters to 300 words or less. Email letters to: newsroom@ merrittherald. com.

BC V1K1B8

NARAYAN MITRA You Gotta Have FAITH

City-sponsored resolution requesting decriminalization data adopted by SILGA delegates

The City of Merritt would like to see the province create a dashboard to report statistics related to its drug decriminalization pilot — a proposal now backed by other Southern Interior local government representatives.

Merritt Mayor Mike Goetz told elected officials at the Southern Interior Local Government Association convention last Wednesday that communities haven’t been able to view any statistics or reports about how the decriminalization pilot is progressing.

“We have absolutely nothing in the middle, nothing to carry us through,” Goetz said.

“We’ve been left completely hanging, and this affects our communities. …[We’re] just looking for some guidance and some numbers that we can all have in our community to see if this pilot program is working.”

The Merritt-sponsored resolution recommends the Union of B.C. Municipalities ask the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions to create a dashboard which reports statistics of the impact of decriminalization, and “demonstrates whether the continuation of the pilot program is of benefit to communities.”

The resolution notes no reporting dashboard has yet been provided to support the continuation of the pilot program or demonstrate a decrease in harm associated with decriminalization.

SILGA representatives voted to adopt the resolution. It will go before UBCM representatives for further discussion and debate in the fall.

The elected officials also voted in favour of a Kamloops-sponsored resolution which calls for a response to the toxic drug crisis that equally considers prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery, and enforcement.

Kristen Holliday CASTANET

City of Merritt wants the provincial government to create a dashboard to report on drug decriminalization stats. Photo/ Herald file.

Auditor general to examine province’s role in slow Lytton rebuild

Colin Dacre CASTANET

B.C.’s auditor general’s office has announced it will be examining the provincial government’s role in the rebuilding of Lytton.

The village was destroyed by fire in June 2021 and remains a burnedout shell of a community. It took until October 2023 for the first building permit to be issued for a single-family home, despite promises from politicians that residents would be supported in their recovery.

“The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness coordinates the provincial response to emergencies and disasters by working with other ministries to help local governments repair and restore affected communities,” said auditor general Michael Pickup on Wednesday.

“For example, recovery efforts may support environmental rehabilitation, infrastructure repairs, the return of evacuees, or the reopening of businesses and services.”

Pickup says his office’s examination will focus on three areas:

- The Province of B.C.’s roles and responsibilities for disaster recovery.

- The Province of B.C.’s support for Lytton, including the funding it contributed.

- The challenges faced in rebuilding Lytton, and the Province of B.C.’s opportunities for improvement.

The auditor general’s report is expected to be issued early next year.

BC United MLA for Fraser-Nicola Jackie Tegart called the investigation “promising.”

“For three years, Lytton residents have been forced to live outside of their community with no clear timeline for when they will be able to return to their homes,” she said in a statement.

“On July 5, 2023, after the NDP government voted against an audit, I sent a letter formally requesting the Auditor General launch a full and transparent investigation into the delayed recovery efforts and it is encouraging that this investigation is now underway.

“It is deeply disappointing that the NDP government has not prioritized the return of residents to Lytton.”

While some homes in the surrounding areas have been rebuilt, Tegart said not a single home has been reconstructed within municipal limits.

“This investigation must be a turning point. I hope it sheds light on the delays from this government and provides a clear path forward. I will continue to press for accountability to ensure that the community of Lytton can return home,” she concluded.

PLUMBING &HEATING

An aerial photo of the Lytton townsite in October 2023. Photo/Village of Lytton.

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

New moth discovered

K’en T’em Limited Parternship and Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly announce discovery and naming of new moth species.

The latest addition to the tridentaforma genus has been dubbed skʷúnkʷl̓itkax̣n̓i, pronounced shkwoon-kwleet-kaxh-nee, literally translating to “brown copper moth.”

Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly (CNA) Nłeʔkepmxcín manager Madelynn Albert worked with Nłeʔképmx elders, knowledge keepers, and several CNA and K’en T’em departments over the course of five weeks to come to a conclusion on the name.

“Within Nlaka’pamux territory, there are several different dialects of Nłeʔkepmxcín so I do try to reach out to different language keepers within different areas of the territory so that I can get their opinion or their history,” said Albert. “It’s usually like a couple hours each visit. Because they’re very open with their knowledge, and they’re very open to sharing.”

Albert was advised by a language keeper that she needed at least five language keepers in agreement with the name of the moth species before it was acknowledged as a new word.

In a press release announcing the naming and discovery of the moth, Amelia Washington shared the phrase “qwəcqwecúym̓ x tk nkikax̣n̓ í,” loosely translating to warm climate moth, providing insight into the moth’s origin.

“So if we’re thinking in the traditional sense, if I were to introduce myself to you, I would say ‘hello, my name is Madelynn Albert, I’m from Cook’s Ferry,” said Albert. “It’s part of our introductory thing where we’re from, and kind of our family

lineage, and it helps all individuals, place community members within certain family trees or certain family circles, and then they have a broader understanding of who you are.”

Albert explains that many traditional names are based on personality or behaviour, however, the team naming the moth was not able to be seen it in its natural habitat, thus choosing a more descriptive name. “We weren’t able to see moth or see kind of how it interacts, or moves about, they kind of moved away from that and we went towards a more descriptor,” said Albert.

Albert believes this is a good step forward for the Nlaka’pamux People.

“I think it is a really great and positive indicator to the collaborations and relations that we’re having as a community as a whole,” said Albert. “We see a lot of work and words spoken around truth and reconciliation but when there’s actions brought forward, where they’re like, ‘what if we named this mark in the language,’ and there is no hesitation towards doing that, I think it’s really great and a real point of pride for our communication between different parties that we work with.”

“I think in working together with other language groups, connecting with NVIT and UBC and their language fluency certificate, and the language nest, and the elementary schools and how we can kind of work together to connect with what we have, so that we’re not tiring out or language keepers,” said Albert. And in doing that for the past year, I feel a lot more positive and optimistic in the light, kind of a light at the end of the tunnel, and our learning and bringing back and revitalizing our language.”

Kenneth Wong REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

A picture of skʷúnkʷl̓itkax̣n̓i, or brown copper moth. Photo/Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly

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Photos/Kenneth Wong

How to ensure a relaxing day for Mom this Mother’s Day

The unconditional love and undying patience moms exhibit as they raise their children is worthy of more than just a single day of appreciation in May. Moms do a lot for their families, and though that’s something to celebrate every day, Mother’s Day merits upping the ante in regard to showing Mom how much she’s loved and appreciated.

This year, families can work together to ensure this Mother’s Day is a day for Mom to relax and bask in all the extra attention she deserves.

• Serve breakfast in bed. Mom might be on breakfast detail on hectic weekday mornings, but Mother’s Day marks the perfect time for spouses and kids to take over those responsibilities. This year, keep the cereal in the pantry and go the extra

mile by preparing a homemade breakfast and serving it to Mom in bed. Present the meal with a small bouquet of flowers and some reading material and then let Mom eat in peace and quiet if she so prefers.

• Turn the en suite into a spa. Nothing complements a relaxing breakfast in bed better than a subsequent dip in Mom’s own private spa. Transform the en suite or another bathroom into Mom’s personal soaking space. Clean the bathtub, light some candles around the tub and bathroom, turn on some relaxing music, dim the lights, and then invite Mom in to soak in a freshly drawn hot bubble bath.

• Keep Mom out of the kitchen. Keep the relaxing vibe going by making sure Mom doesn’t have to lift a finger in the kitchen. Make sure all the dishes are washed before Mom comes downstairs for the day and let her know you’ve already ordered lunch from a local restaurant. Even if Mom loves to cook, a day off from kitchen detail can make Mother’s Day that much more relaxing.

• Book some time in the great outdoors. If the weather allows, visit a nearby park as a family and go for a walk. Nature has its own way of helping people relax, so some time outdoors in the spring air can keep the peaceful vibe going into the afternoon. If the family includes young children, choose a park with a playground so Mom can relax and watch the kids play from a nearby bench.

• Book a dinner reservation. It might require some advance booking, as Mother’s Day reservations can be hard to come by, but a night at Mom’s favorite restaurant can be the perfect conclusion to a relaxing day. If Mom’s more of a homebody, whip up a homemade meal and let Mom relax with a glass of wine as you prepare a feast.

Mother’s Day is the perfect time to plan a day of relaxation for mothers who do so much for their families throughout the year. Some simple planning can ensure Mom gets the R&R she deserves.

Crafts lead the way for Mother’s Day gifts

Mother’s Day is a special time for children to show their appreciation for their mothers, grandmothers and the other special women in their lives. Older children typically are capable of designing their own Mother’s Day crafts or even shopping for gifts for Mom, while younger children will likely need some help from an adult.

Youngsters may not be able to take charge of Mother’s Day festivities alone, but they certainly have the energy and enthusiasm to chip in. Handmade craft gifts are a thoughtful way for young kids to show their love for Mom. Here are a few ideas that can occupy even the youngest of hands.

Handprint butterfly photo card

All that is necessary for this craft is a printed photograph of the child’s face, paper, scissors, glue, and finger paints. The child should dip hands into the paint and make four handprints on paper in some preferred colors. When dry, cut around the perimeter of the handprints. These will serve as the “wings” of the butterfly. Glue the picture of the child’s face in the middle of a piece of paper or card stock. Draw a butterfly body underneath it (or print out a stock image to use). Draw antennae sticking out of the child’s head and attach the handprints around the head and butterfly body to make the wings.

Heartfelt masterpiece

Children can draw and color all over a large sheet of construction paper or another durable paper. An adult can then use another sheet of paper to make a frame mat of sorts, cutting out a heart shape from the middle. Both pieces of paper are then trimmed to the dimensions of a photo frame. The artwork is placed first and then the heart matting on top so that the artwork will show through the heart shape. Frame everything together for a lasting memento.

Fuzzy flowers

Kids can make Mom a bouquet of flowers that will never wilt. Print a photo of the child’s face and attach it to a piece of circular card stock that is roughly six inches in diameter. Have the child paint a popsicle stick green, and then attach that to the back of the round card stock. The child then glues small fuzzy pom poms to the card stock surrounding the picture to make a flower. If desired, attach a magnet to the back of the flower so it can be secured to the refrigerator.

Crafts are a great gift option for young children looking to give something special to Mom on Mother’s Day.

Exploring the depths of Nlaka’pamux medicine

Wong REPORTER@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Traditional Nlaka’pamux medicine goes beyond herbs and concoctions.

Scw’exmx Child & Family Services Society Resident Elder Cathy Jameson and traditional counselor Daniel Jager, as well as Crysta Johnson, a herbology student at the Wild Rose College of Natural Healing sat down and brought the Herald into the world of traditional medicine.

In the Western world, the concept of “medicine” refers to the concoctions that create remedies for ailments whilst the Nlaka’pamux concept of medicine refers to the healing process of the body, mind and spirit.

“We have different types of medicine… there is our traditional medicines that we gather upon the land, which we utilize a lot more now for healing purposes and remedies for our people because there’s no side effects,” said Jager. “And then like I say, there’s another type of medicine that I utilize more, is my knowledge of bringing the teachings of the culture, and that coincides with what we’re working with here is to create that balance between our traditional medicines that we gather and our knowledge of our culture, bringing both in balance.”

Crysta Johnson, herbology student at the Wild Rose College, sat down with the Herald to explore the depths of traditional medicine. Photo/Kenneth Wong

Picked and harvested in the Nicola Valley

From Page 18

Traditional Nlaka’pamux medicine can be picked and harvested throughout the Nicola Valley.

“I feel that I myself, when I’m out there gathering medicines, I feel more at peace, calm, where as when you go to the drugstore, there’s different things that are in the medicines that they give you that sometimes either get you drowsy or gives you a headache, aftereffects, whereas natural medicines are better, they’re calming and they don’t give you an aftereffect.”

Elder Jameson shares a concoction good for treating COVID or other bad flus. Remove the stinging nettle from the devil’s club, cut it into small pieces and let it sit in a jar of ribena juice for 60 days. Shake the jar everyday.

After 60 days, strain with a cheesecloth and seal it in a can or leave it in a refrigerator. “So what you do is you take a teaspoon in the morning and a teaspoon at night. It’s real good for COVID or when you get a real bad sickness or flu and you can’t seem to kick it or you know, get rid of it. That is really good,” explained Jameson.

Johnson recommends tea made of rose buds and rose hips. “That’s a really nice kind of relaxing, pleasant tasting tea, and it’s high in vitamin C so it’s a really nice way to enjoy medicine mildly, you can drink it every day, there’s no ill side effects.”

For those with more serious sickness with a chest cough, Johnson recommends the more potent juniper tea.

“We go out to the land to gather the medicine, and even in that process alone, you’re already beginning your healing,” said Jager. “You have to be in a good frame of mind, because if you’re suffering or you’re angry or something, you grab that medicine, it’s going into the medicine, and you think you’re going to be helping somebody actually, you’re going to hurt somebody.”

“It takes time, Cathy says it’s the time piece, because you have to have that connection to it because you’re always in that thought process of ‘this is going to help me’ the whole time you’re preparing that medicine,” said Jager. “And that’s the way we do our traditional medicines, it’s not just about us, we know others are out there that are suffering with this, so we make this in a good medicine that it’s going to help us, but it’s also we can help them.”

Photo/Kenneth Wong

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Nurses on the front line of Spanish Flu

We are more than just aPharmacy

•MedicationReminderPacks

•SigvarisCompression Stockings

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•Gifts,and so much more!

Black’s Pharmacyis proud to be par toft he front line workersprovidingmedical ser vices to people in need. We wouldliket ogiveaspecial shout outt oour local nurses who continue to provide caret oour community when we need it most. Proud to be par tof N at ional Nurses Week THANK YOUTOOUR HEROES

As the horrors of the First World War were coming to an end, another new horror was brewing back home.

Believed to have started on a pig farm in Kansas, the Spanish Flu is presumed to have been a variant of H1N1 or Swine Flu that rapidly became a worldwide pandemic, reaching both the trenches of France and the people at home waiting for their sons, fathers, brothers, and cousins to return home.

Merritt wasn’t immune to this disease and it rapidly spread itself around the community and the surrounding areas in the fall of 1918.

Just as the most recent pandemic, the Spanish Flu heavily taxed the medical personnel of the Nicola Valley,

including of course the nursing staff.

On October 22, 1918, at the recommendation of local health officials, an Order-In-Council was passed by the Merritt city council.

The order was that all public buildings, including churches, pools, theatres, and schools, as well as any public gatherings were to be shut down to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Unfortunately, the order came a bit too late as the epidemic overwhelmed the city.

The hospital soon became overwhelmed with patients, and so to help prevent Spanish Flu victims from spreading to other patients in the hospital, a temporary isolation hospital was set up in city hall.

The supervision of this hospital was placed under the care of Nurse Glen with assistance from Nurse Bond with

Cameron Bridge

NICOLA VALLEY MUSEUM & ARCHIVES

Nurse Gladys Batton, the Matreon and nurse Soffie Steffens by Nicola Valley Hospital circa 1916.

Photo/Nicola Valley Museum & Archives

Virus swept Indigenous communities

From Page 18

Nurse Batton volunteering the overwhelmed nurses. Nurse Glen had only just graduated from Winnipeg General Hospital a couple of weeks before she came to Merritt and was placed in charge of the emergency hospital.

The Spanish Flu heavily effected the Indigenous Peoples of Canada and the US. Due to the racial policies of the Nicola Valley General Hospital, First Nations people could not be treated at the hospital in Merritt and so Shulus had a small hospital that was operated by Dr. Tutill.

As the virus swept the Indigenous communities of the Nicola Valley, the hospital soon became overwhelmed and couple of nurses were sent to help manage and operate the hospital, as Dr. Tutill was needed all across the valley at the time and would often sleep in the car that was sent to drive him between the different places he was needed.

The nurses that were sent were Nurse Sophie Steffens and Nurse Mary (born Bresnik) Ovington, and later after Nurse Bresnik fell ill, Nurse Dunnigan was called to help in Shulus.

Nurses and medical personnel are not immune to the diseases that they help treat, and thus especially during epidemics such as the Spanish Flu and recently with Covid, they place their health on the line by continuing to provide the care that the patients need.

A number of nurses fell ill due to the Spanish Flu during the couple months it ravaged the Nicola Valley. Nurses Mary Bresnik, Berentzen, Ritchie, Ruby Howes, Menzies, and Edmonds all fell ill while trying to help sick patients.

HE ALTHCARE IS THELIFEBLOOD OF OURCOMMUNITY. As thelargest segmentofour healthcare work force, nurses carr ythe weight of much of ourcommunity care.

Thanks to theirdesiretomakea difference, alongwith many otherhealthc areworkers,Merrittisblessed with multiplehealthc arefacilities,including theNicolaValley Hospital andHealthCentreand Laboratory,MerrittPublic Health,MerrittMentalHealth& SubstanceAbuse,Merritt Diabetes Clinic ,NicolaMeadows Assisted Living,Gillis Houselong-term care,and theMerrittAdult DayCentre.

Photo/Nicola Valley Museum & Archives

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

Province to provide $155.7 million to recruit and retain health workers

exam fees.

The British Columbia government is spending more money to recruit and retain health-science workers, especially those in rural and remote communities.

Health Minister Adrian Dix says $155.7 million has been set aside at a time when B.C. has a “significantly increasing population” and more skilled health-care staff are needed, particularly in remote communities.

There are dozens of health occupations that will benefit from the funding, including audiologists, dietitians, lab technologists and radiation therapists.

Dix says $73.1 million will go toward keeping health and clinical support workers in rural areas and giving signing bonuses for those who fill high-priority health vacancies, while another $60 million will be set aside for professional development supports and mental health and wellness services for workers.

Dix says $15 million will be spent on peer support and mentorship for new health-care graduates and internationally-educated health professionals, and $7.6 million is slated for training, bursaries, and offsetting licensing and

Norah Miner, labour relations coordinator of the Health Sciences Association of BC, lauded the spending, saying it will go toward about 20,000 specialized health professionals across 70 different disciplines working in the province.

She said more health-science workers are needed.

“Like the doctors and nurses, these health science professionals have been facing critical shortages and crushing workloads as a result of things like the COVID-19 pandemic and the opioid crisis,” Miner said.

She said the funding will allow for the recruitment of “desperately needed” professionals to rural communities.

“These shortages of health-science professionals have built up within the system for a really, really long time and these shortages are made worse by provincial governments who fail to act on warnings that we’ve founded in the past,” she said.

“It will take some years to undo that neglect to the specialized services within the health-care system. These initiatives will make a real difference and will move us further in the right direction.”

provides funding for crucial patient programs and equipment currently not funded by Interior Health

Nicola Valley Health Care Endowment Foundation would like to salute the NURSES whose tireless efforts and sacri ce continue to support all patients.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE, CARING AND INCREDIBLE WORK.

The major focus of the NVHCEF is to support Gillis House, Berta Fraser Adult Centre and the Nicola Valley Hospital & Health Centre. Money raised stays in the community helping you, your loved ones and others in need of health care.

IF YOU’D LIKE TO DONATE

Donations can be made on-line at Nicola Valley Health Care Endowment Foundation https://nvhcef.com or by cheque, mail to Box 1423, Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 Information: 250-315-1832

The Canadian Press

B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix speaks during a health-care funding announcement, in Vancouver on February 12, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

NICOLA VALLEY NEWS

BC Nurses’ Union calls for safer working conditions

Laísa Condé NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Nurses across B.C. are calling for safer working environment.

BC Nurses’ Union representatives have met with MLAs of all political stripes last week to call on the government to hold the province’s health employers accountable when it comes to keeping nurses and health-care staff safe.

The union ran a survey among its members, which exposed alarming numbers around the regularity and frequency of workplace incidents, including the experience of physical violence and verbal or emotional abuse, and exposure to illicit substances.

According to the survey, on a monthly basis, 81 per cent of nurses say they experience verbal and/ or emotional abuse, 61 per cent say their units are exposed to illicit substances and 39 per cent report being exposed to weapons.

In addition to those alarming numbers, nearly half of the nurses report working short-staffed every day and more than a third say they are seriously considering leaving the profession or are already making plans to do so.

“The findings should serve as a wake-up call to health authorities that without immediate action, we will not be able to retain the nurses we have now and recruit the nurses we need in the future,” Adriane Gear, BCNU president said. “We look forward to working with the government to help establish a better understanding that employers must do better.”

Gear also said that it’s time employers realize it’s their legal moral obligation to set a safe health-care setting for both patients and nurses.

“The personal experiences that have been shared with us clearly show how health employers are failing to make safety a priority,” she said in the release.

According to the latest data collected by Statistics Canada, the nursing shortage in British Columbia continues with 5,080 current vacancies.

“BCNU has pushed hard to make this province the first jurisdiction in Canada to implement minimum nurse-to-patient ratios – a policy solution proven to save lives and support safe working conditions for nurses, ultimately transforming the health-care system,” Gear added. “However, to make that happen, health authorities need to start listening.”

I would like to announce my resignation from my practice in Merritt, BC effective August 6, 2024.

Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to my patients for entrusting me to look after your health. This has been an immense privilege that I am very grateful for.

I understand that this news may come as a surprise and raise questions about your ongoing care. Unless otherwise notified, your care and records will be transferred to Dr Watts or Dr McNiven, who will both continue to practice at The Medical Clinic.

I kindly ask for your patience during this transition period. The clinic will be reaching out to you in due course to assist with any appointments or concer ns you may have. If you require an appointment before August 6, 2024, please request to see me. After this date, simply ask for “Dr. Goetz’s replacement.” Please do not call to request a specific physician as this request cannot be accommodated.

Lastly, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the dedicated staff and colleagues who have supported me throughout my time in Merritt. I am grateful for the privilege of working alongside each of you. Thank you once again for your understanding.

Sincerely, Dr Patrick Goetz

Nurses and Merritt residents protesting outside the Nicola Valley Hospital last month for better work conditions. Photo/Kenneth Wong

Merritt Mis ts leave their mark at volleyball provincials

Laísa Condé

Merritt Misfits left their mark in provincial volleyball debut during the last weekend of April.

The local U13 girls team participated for the first time at the Volleyball BC Provincials on April 26 to 28, which were hosted in Abbotsford.

Over 200 teams competed at the volleyball provincials, which hosted U13 boys and girls teams as well as U14 boys and girls teams over the weekend.

Gian Cavaliere, coach of the Merritt Misfits, sums up their first time participating in the provincial tournament as exciting.

“I think at the beginning, the girls were definitely, you know, a little bit in shock, you could say and it’s a bit exciting to be a part of such a big tournament,” he said. “For the club volleyball season, especially our youth 13 level, this is the pinnacle. This is what you play towards, this is where you want to be.”

At the end of the tournament, Merritt Misfits placed eighth out of 18 teams within their division, meeting the goal they set for themselves.

“We were playing in Division 3, which was the right division for our team in our first year. And, you know what, we were competitive. We hung in there,” Cavaliere added. “There were so many spectators who had never heard of us before, because there’s no team from Merritt that has played club in over 25 years, so they were excited to have a very small town playing in these provincials.”

Cavaliere added that the Misfits were the team representing

the smallest town with a club team in the competition.

“We’re pretty happy with how we played. The girls really have come a long way,” the coach added. “We’ve had spectators who have seen us play before this tournament come to us and see how much we’ve improved. The parents were really impressed with how we’ve improved, so it’s been a really great experience, not only coach them, but get to know these girls at a more personal level and share in that experience with them.”

Last weekend, on May 4, the club hosted a volleyball clinic in partnership with athletes from UBC Okanagan to instruct kids from grade four to grade nine.

“The club is gonna go ahead and run a camp in the summer, a two- or three-day camp for all youth,” Cavaliere said.

The coach added that the goal is to keep on expanding the Misfits brand, following the U13 girls team success this first year.

“My goal is to build the program more. The first year was a success, I feel like the Misfits brand, people are trying to get to know about. So now my goal is to get more coaches on board,” Cavaliere said. “Next year, I want to offer more teams, whether it’s a U12 girls team or U14 girls team. I want to also add boys teams, so if we can get some coaches, I would love to have at least two Misfits team next year or even three.”

“Hopefully, we build a full fledged program where we have boys and girls teams for almost every age group and have them out competing and just building that fun Misfits brand.”

The Merritt Misfits will participate in a one-day tournament in Chilliwack on May 12 to wrap up their volleyball season.

High school rodeo back in Merritt

Photo/Jamie Antonenko

Photos/Kenneth Wong

Van Rensburg snags 11 awards in dance competition

Laísa Condé NEWSROOM@MERRITTHERALD.COM

Kate van Rensburg keeps excelling in every dance competition and cements her reputation as a rising star in the world of dance.

The Merrittonian dancer stole the spotlight and captivated the audience and judges at Shine Dance Festival in Mission, which occurred between April 24 and 27.

The 10-year-old has competed at the Shine Dance Festival in four solo categories – contemporary, ballet, contemporary ballet, tap and jazz – for dances aged between 10 and 12, and in another four group categories – ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap and lyrical –for dancers aged between 13 and 15.

Van Rensburg thinks that the Shine Dance Festival is “probably the best dance festival there is.”

“It is really fun and it also has very many good dancers,” she said. “It is also different in a way that they customize the special awards based on what they see on the day.”

After performing at the Shine Dance Festival, van Rensburg brought home 11 awards – one silver award, nine gold awards and one platinum award.

“Dancing brings me joy,” van Rensburg said. “The harder you dance, the more, and better awards you will receive.”

She also competed at the Kamloops Festival of the Performing Arts (KFPA) earlier this year, from March 10 to 15. In the festival, Van Rensburg competed with her five solos – ballet, ballet contemporary, contemporary and jazz & trapp – and received three first places, one second place and one third place with scores ranging from 89 per cent to 91.5 percent.

Due to her remarkable accomplishments in the competition, van Rensburg received the KFPA Junior Ballet Scholarship.

Adding to her list of accomplishments, van Rensburg’s outstanding performances caught the attention of a KFPA judge, leading to a recommendation for her to compete at the Performing Arts BC Provincial Festival in Fort Saint John, between June 2 and 6.

Van Rensburg will be competing at the Performing Arts BC Provincial Festival with her ballet solo, a variation from the ballet “Paquita”, and also her contemporary ballet solo.

The next competition for van Rensburg is Versastyle and is set to take place in Kelowna from May 13 to 16.

As she continues to pursue her passion for dance, she serves as a shining example of the extraordinary talent nurtured within Merritt.

“Every day I don’t dance, it makes me want to dance more. I don’t know how to not dance.”

Merritt Speedway gearing up for new season

faces in the dirt track as well.

Race aficionados will soon hear engines roaring and tires screeching as the racing season is near.

On May 18 and 19, Merrittonians are invited to come by the Merritt Speedway to check the 2024 season opener.

As the speedway gears up for its 2024 season, Dale Calder, president of the Merritt Stock Car Association, said that fans can expect an exciting year.

“We’ve got new classes coming out, faster classes than we’ve ever had,” she said. “There’s been lots of inprovement out there this year, especially for the fans and we want them all to come out and check them out and enjoy the family fun entertainment.”

Calder said that we might see some new

“Definitely have some contacts with new people wanting to get into racing, nothing confirmed yet,” she added. “A lot of them are still working on their cars, but they are hoping to have them ready for the first weekend.”

“There’ll be new racers, there’ll be longtime racers, there’ll be races that have only been there a few years and some have been there for over 30. So a great big difference in age ranges versus abilities.”

Calder said that the enthusiasm is something that catches her by surprise every season.

“It never seems to die and it’s still growing, you know? I’ve been in the sport for 47 years now and we’re always evolving,” she added. “There’s older tracks that were closed for a number of years and we’ve been working to reopen and seeing the sport starting to

come back again, so that’s really great.”

She hopes to see a lot of Merrittonians in the stands for the season opener.

“It’s gonna be exciting and it’s one of those sports that you don’t think you might enjoy but it’s very exciting.”

Laísa Condé

The Merritt Speedway racing season is set to begin on May 18 and 19. Photo/Matthias Wiegand

Photos/TMMDance

Art council hosts tribute to Opie Oppenheim

Kenneth Wong

Nicola Valley Community Arts Council presenting The Opie Show: A Tribute to Opie Oppenheim from May 2 to June 2.

Phillip Raymond “Opie” Oppenheim was born in 1945 on the Coldwater Indian Band reserve.

Oppenheim was drawn to art since he was a child, excelling in art throughout school. Upon returning to the Nicola Valley from Vancouver in the 1980s, Oppenheim began doing art professionally.

Oppenheim worked in many various mediums including painting, sculpture, printmaking, poetry and metal work. He also apprenticed under renowned Nisga’a carver Norman Tait.

Unfortunately, Oppenheim passed away on May 15, 2021. He is remembered as a well known and respected artist in the Nicola valley and a pillar of the local Indigenous community.

The Opie Show exhibits over 30 pieces of artwork made by Opie Oppenheim, known for his art, flute

music, carvings, and silver jewellery.

Prints and lithographs of Oppenheim’s paintings and other pieces will be for sale.

“It’s my pleasure to bring this show to the Nicola Valley community. This popular, knowledgeable, and friendly local artist worked at a wonderful variety of art over many years, bringing a unique and Indigenous perspective of our valley,” said NVCAC curator Jano Howarth.

“His love of nature is evident in his many pieces. Opie’s art was known and appreciated far and wide, from logos for well-known organizations to colourful and sophisticated pieces acquired by a variety of art collectors and fans,” continued Howarth, thanking David.

On September 11, 2018, Opie Oppenheim posted the following on Facebook. “My purpose in life is (to) continue to take care of myself with all your help. So I can reach out and help my fellow warriors in need of healing, forgiveness, joy, peace.”

Crossroads Community Church 2990 Voght St. • 250-378-2911

Service Time: Sundays 10:00 a.m.

Merritt Baptist Church

2499 Coutlee Avenue (at Orme)

Sunday service 10 am, Phone (250)378-2464

Merritt Lutheran Fellowship in St. Michael's Anglican Hall • 250-378-9899

Service Time: 3rd Sunday each month 1:00 p.m.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church Corner of Jackson & Blair • 250-378-2919

Mass Time: Sundays 9:00 a.m.

St. Michael’s Anglican Church 1990 Chapman St. • 250-378-3772

Service Times: 2nd and 4th Sundays only - 10:00 a.m.

Trinity United Church Corner of Quilchena & Chapman • 250-378-5735

Service Time every Sunday - 10 am

Somang Mission Community Church (SMC) 1755 Coldwater Ave. (The Cadet Hall)

Sunday Service Time: 4:00 pm • 250-280-1268

Nicola Valley Evangelical Free Church 1950 Maxwell St. • 250-378-9502 Service Times: Sunday 10 am

FURNACE DUCT CLEANING

The Merritt Speedway racing season is set to begin on May 18 and 19. Photo/Matthias Wiegand

When

CLASSIFIEDS

To

George Harrison

September13, 1950 -April 24, 2024

Stephen(Steve)Turchak

January

Leavingbehind, to love him from afar, his partnerMelba andhis boys Jarretand Tanner

Fora second youwereflying likeyou always wanted to Nowyou’ll fly foreverinskies of azureblue

We’ll seeyour smile in everyray of sunshine afterrain And hear theechoofyour laughter over allthe pain

Theworld’s alittlequieter now Thecolourshavelosttheir hue

We’ll thinkofyou and gently wipe atear from oureye. www.merritthospice.org

Thebirds aresinging softly Andour hearts aremissing you, eachtimewesee alittlecloud or arainbow soaringhigh.

Bernard“George”Harrisonwas ahusband of 50 yearstoBobbie, proud father to Katie [Grant] Hamilton, Bruce[Trina] Harrison, andMary-Beth Harrison, andgrandpa to Ollie,Elle,Bria, Robbi Elizabeth, William,and Tavares. George passe theyoung ageof73inKamloops,BC, on April24, 2024, surroundedbyhis family.Georgeisnow able to reconnect with hisparents,aunts anduncles, andcousinsDavid andDickGibbons

Atruestoryteller,Georgelovedtoknow people’sstories andwould spin ayarn toany captiveear

Born in Kaslo, BC, theonlychild of Bernard“Buzz” andDoreen Harrison, George grew up in Riondel,BC, until age11, then movedtoPortMcNeill and becamethe first valedictorianofNorth Island Secondary School.The early years sawhim, andBobbie raisetheir family insomeofBC’ssmallestand most unique resource towns.

George hadsap in hisveins anda love forbeing in thewoods that never waned. He startedlogging as ateenager on thewestcoast,working in Port McNeill,Holberg,Zeballos, andSewellInlet.At38, he went back to school at BCITand starteda newcareer sawmilling in Merritt andKamloops.His last 18 yearswerespent brokering logs as theowner of Thompson Okanagan Logand Lumber.Hewas atruelumberjack with an unmatched love of theforestindustry. Hetook great prideinevery phase of hiscareer andenjoyedthe many peoplehe workedwith.Georgebelievedhecouldlog anything with aVolkswagenand a piece of strawline.

He wasknownfor hislove of music, woodworking, andhis garden Afterheretired hisdrumsticks playingmusic with Norm Jonesand theHat TrickBand, he wasoften found tapping hisfoot to livemusic.Hewas amaster gardenerproducinganannualharvest that he lovedtoshare andenjoyed experimentingwith newspecies andtechniques. George inheriteda knack for woodworking fromhis dad, spending countless hoursinhis workshop crafting woodenhearts, whirligigs, andbeautiful furniture,including afamily tablefor each of hiskids.

OneofGeorge’sfavourite pastimeswas watching andtalking hockey. Although along-time Canucks season ticket holder, hisfavourite teamswerethe oneshis kids andgrandkidsplayedon. TheKelowna Rockets, UofS Huskies, Saskatoon Minor Hockey teams, andthe RedDeerRebelsweredear to hisheart. In George’s last year,heand Bobbiejourneyed to Czechia/Slovakiawith Robbie andElizabethtocheer on Ollie playinghockeyfor Team Canada.

Above allelse, George cherishedhis family. They were hisgreatestsource of pride, andeveryone knewit. He talkedfondlyofhis andBobbie’ssmalltown yearsand theirtrips to Europe.Georgehad asmallextendedfamily but remained closewith hisHarrisonand Long cousins. He hada soft spot forhis “blondes”,dogs,Tsuga,Ginger, Bella andDuke, andgrand-dogs Paisleyand Tilley.

Hisgreatestlegacy is thestrong work ethic, prideina jobwelldone,and spirit of generosity he left hiskids. Over theyears, George quietly supportedthe Blue HouseRecovery Society, Outofthe Cold Shelter, Mealsfor TruckDrivers, and many minor lacrosse andhockeyteams.Instead of flowers,pleaseconsider donatingtoa causenear to your heart.

George’s timewas fartoo shortand thereweremanystories yettotell. We will celebrate hislifeonFriday, June 14,2024, at 1p.m.atthe KiaLounge in theSandman Centre Arena. Pleasejoinusinraising atoast to George,wishing him unlimitedaccess to thebesthockeyseatsinthe house, abountiful summer harvest, anda community of peoplewho have yettoexperience “the world accordingtoGeorge.”RestinpeaceGeorge/Dad/Grandpa.Welove you.

JOB POSTINGS

2EARLY CHILDHOODEDUCATORPOSITIONS

Full Time PermanentPosition

BridgeRiver Head Start/ Daycareprogram is seeking an individual to commit to providing high qualitycaretoChildren aged0-6 yearswith interest in working in aunique programand ensuringthatthereisuse of best practiceprovided during the programdelivery.ECE Workers only need to apply.

XWISTENHEALTH RECEPTION

Full-time (35hours per week)

Thehealth reception will report to the HealthManager, thesuccessful candidate will provide supporttoall theXwisten-Bridge RiverIndian Band Health Departments

Please submit your CoverLetter and Resumeto:

Gary Forsyth, Administrator

Bridge RiverIndianBand,P.O.Box 190, LillooetBC, V0K 1V0

Fax: 250-256-7999

Whilewewelcomeall candidates,only those selectedfor an interview will be contacted

Steady

• Students welcome to apply • No experience necessary

Nlaka’pamux Health Services Society

Employment Opportunity

Part-timeLicensedPractical Nurse “withPotential SigningBonus”

Nlaka’pamux Health Services Society is currentlylookingfor aPart-time LPNNurse to work in collaboration with our ElderHomeCareTeam supportingcommunities within theNlaka’pamux Nation,asa one-year term contract

Ourideal candidates arethose whohavea wholisticapproach to team assignments andvalue maintaininga supportiveworkenvironment with theorganizationasa whole.

REQUIREMENTS: LPNDiploma from aCanadianuniversitywithregistrationwiththe BC College of Nursingingood standing,withminimum 2years’experienceworking in Home Care servicedelivery, preferably with experience in FirstNations Health.Class 5 DL andFirst Aid/CPRLevel 1.

Forfulldetailedlisting send requesttothe HR Managerat: elliott.a@nlxfn.com or phone: (250) 378-9772 /Fax:(250) 315-0283

This postingwill remain open untilthe position is filled; please applyearly.Preference will be giventopersons of Aboriginal ancestry as perSection 16(1) of theCanadian HumanRightsAct

Coldwater Indian Band Job Posting ACCOUNTS

PAYABLE/CLERK

The Coldwater Indian Band is seeking a dynamic and outgoing individual to ll permanent/ fulltime, the Accounts Payable/Clerk position. This position is responsible for the administration and processing of accounts payable, payroll, standards, and procedures, and assisting in the general accounting affairs of the Coldwater Indian Band.

Job Summary

Performs all duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Coldwater Indian Band policies, standards and procedures, and as directed by the Finance Coordinator. Maintains con dentiality in all matters to the affairs of the Coldwater Indian Band.

• Processes Accounts Payable, to include; reviewing invoices for accuracy and supporting documentation to include con rming with Program Managers

Reconciling and reviewing of invoice batches and preliminary cheque runs to ensure accuracy of payments

• Preparing of cheques and obtaining appropriate signatures before distribution Filing all related documents and invoices

• Assist in maintaining the accounts sub-ledger and reconcile balances to the general ledger

• Payroll; Ensures con dentiality of all payroll information and records

Receives and processes timesheets, including review of hours worked, review for appropriate immediate supervisor signature, review authorized leaves and holidays, including the matching of authorized leave forms, and payroll cheques

• Enters all authorized hours on the payroll program; reconciles and processes employee leave management forms, con rms accuracy of all payroll deductions for each employee, including rent payments, bene t premiums and pension contributions, etc.

• Prepares and processes monthly invoices for of ce rentals, social housing rent, facility rentals and other receivables, and other work as authorized by the Finance Coordinator

Prepares and reconciles bank deposits, etc.

Position Quali cations

• Prefer a Post-Secondary Accounting Diploma/Degree

• Completion of Canadian Payroll Association Level one

• Minimum 2 to 3 years job related experience administering payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable

Experience with related computer software (Xyntax)

• Good communication skills

• Good analytical and problem-solving skills

Excellent computer skills

• Knowledge and understanding of Coldwater community, language, culture, values and customs

• Criminal Record Check

• Bondable

Valid class 4 Driver’s License and Driver’s Abstract

• Reliable vehicle

Salary: Relevant experience and quali cations will be evaluated.

Attn: COLDWATER INDIAN BAND Human Resource Committee

c/o Band Administrator (lantoine@coldwaterband.org.)

PO BOX 4600, MERRITT, BC, V1K 1B8

Deadline for resumes: May 29, 2024. Only successful applicants will be contacted for an interview.

SUDOKU

Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a Sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must ll each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can gure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.

PUZZLE ANSWERS ON SEPARATE PAGE

It wakes you up

A place to sleep

Czech village

Appetizer

African country

Dark brown or black

Parent-teacher

Saturates

ESPN personality Kimes

Songs to a lover

Cavalry-sword

Begat

Resembling a wing or wings

23. Patriotic women 24. Famed Princess 25. One who does not conform 28. Neither 29. Nigerian monetary unit 31. Body parts 33. Hit Dave Matthews Band song 36. Depicts with pencil

Alias

Fingers do it

More dried-up

Clod

Senior o cer

A way to listen to music

e bill in a restaurant

Historic center of Artois region

38. Make into leather without tannin 39. Plants grow from them

Cyprinid shes

56. Poisonous perennial plant

60. Scottish Loch 61. Heads

62. Extra seedcovering 63. Wings 64. Britpop band 65. Forearm bones

66. Small immature herring 67. Female sibling 68. Hymn

One who monitors

18-year

period

Trent Reznor’s

Vipers

Not on time

Closes tightly

It’s mined in

Cli (Hawaii)

Ribosomal ribonucleic acid