August 25, 2009 - News Leader
RCMP
BUST TWO GROW-OPS NEAR HEDLEY
Princeton RCMP spent two days harvesting a total of 475 pot plants from two locations near Hedley last week. Sgt. Mike Savage put it this way in a news release: “On August 18th Princeton RCMP attended to
Crown land near Hedley where they harvested 250 marihuana plants from one site. On August 19th Princeton RCMP returned to the same area and located and harvested yet another 225 plants from another illegal grow operation site.” What tipped off the RCMP? Alert residents in the area who reported “unusual vehicle activity.” Police say they are continuing their investigation into the illegal grow-ops. “Total value of drug seized is in excess of $450-thousand,” Sgt. Savage adds. RCMP remind you that if you see unusual vehicle activity in the backcountry you are requested to contact either the Princeton Detachment or CrimeStoppers.
FAIR OFFERS BIG VARIETY
From heavy equipment to having your tarot cards read, this year’s Fall Fair offers a little something for everyone, courtesy of a big group of vendors. There is a booth for Herbal Life, special Olympics, western items for sale, and flooring and carvings from Thailand. Shirley’s Arts and Crafts has a booth, and Shirley is giving painting demonstrations for youngsters. Whisper Ridge Country Store is doing sales, along with Le Barn Crafts and two other vendors feature western and general merchandise. Douglas Lake Equipment is on site for those who like to look at big machines. FortisBC is doing a demonstration, there is an air conditioning vendor, and a horse therapy booth. A vendor offers handmade soap, another sells jewellery, another sells ice cream, and another sells mini donuts. If you like ATV’s, you will see some of those at the fair, along with many information booths, such as Vermilion Trails, the weed information booth, and the local sawmill union offers raffles and prizes in their special booth. Vendors give those attending the fair a bigger variety of things to see and do. There are more signing up for space every day, so this is just a partial list of vendors. The Fall Fair has its own special vendor booth at the end of the fair. The Fall Fair will feature a lot of fruit and vegetables this year thanks to the generosity of Keremeos fruit stands. They have donated three times as much this year as last year, so the auction at the end of the fair should be really outstanding. The auction is held after 3:30 PM on Sunday and is another fundraising activity of the Fall Fair.
Princeton RCMP spent two days harvesting a total of 475 pot plants from two locations near Hedley last week. Sgt. Mike Savage put it this way in a news release: “On August 18th Princeton RCMP attended to
Crown land near Hedley where they harvested 250 marihuana plants from one site. On August 19th Princeton RCMP returned to the same area and located and harvested yet another 225 plants from another illegal grow operation site.” What tipped off the RCMP? Alert residents in the area who reported “unusual vehicle activity.” Police say they are continuing their investigation into the illegal grow-ops. “Total value of drug seized is in excess of $450-thousand,” Sgt. Savage adds. RCMP remind you that if you see unusual vehicle activity in the backcountry you are requested to contact either the Princeton Detachment or CrimeStoppers.
FAIR OFFERS BIG VARIETY
From heavy equipment to having your tarot cards read, this year’s Fall Fair offers a little something for everyone, courtesy of a big group of vendors. There is a booth for Herbal Life, special Olympics, western items for sale, and flooring and carvings from Thailand. Shirley’s Arts and Crafts has a booth, and Shirley is giving painting demonstrations for youngsters. Whisper Ridge Country Store is doing sales, along with Le Barn Crafts and two other vendors feature western and general merchandise. Douglas Lake Equipment is on site for those who like to look at big machines. FortisBC is doing a demonstration, there is an air conditioning vendor, and a horse therapy booth. A vendor offers handmade soap, another sells jewellery, another sells ice cream, and another sells mini donuts. If you like ATV’s, you will see some of those at the fair, along with many information booths, such as Vermilion Trails, the weed information booth, and the local sawmill union offers raffles and prizes in their special booth. Vendors give those attending the fair a bigger variety of things to see and do. There are more signing up for space every day, so this is just a partial list of vendors. The Fall Fair has its own special vendor booth at the end of the fair. The Fall Fair will feature a lot of fruit and vegetables this year thanks to the generosity of Keremeos fruit stands. They have donated three times as much this year as last year, so the auction at the end of the fair should be really outstanding. The auction is held after 3:30 PM on Sunday and is another fundraising activity of the Fall Fair.
August 18, 2009 - News Leader
WHEELS
TURN ON POSSE BUS PLAN
After weeks of following many leads the Princeton Posse Junior B Hockey Club has decided it will purchase a team bus. “Bussing the team on road games was one of our biggest costs last year,” explains Posse Marketing Director George Elliott. “The club spent 35-thousand dollars last year in road trips.” The board of directors passed a motion at the August 11 bi-weekly meeting to set a budget of $50,000 and to send a delegation to the lower mainland to follow up on leads on potential busses for sale. The team executive is confident the expense will prove to be a valuable asset and investment in the future of the community-owned hockey team. “First off the cost of bussing our own team to road games will cost far less than the 35-thousand spent last year and secondly there is potential revenue generation through charter services,” Elliott explains. “There are other teams in this league who have turned bus chartering into their largest fundraising activity and we see that as a very real possibility here.” The club plans to have a bus in
place in time for the start of the 2009/10 KIJHL hockey season. “We are trying to turn this into a self sufficient organization.”
HEDLEY PARTY ENDS IN COURT
Gregory D. Sykes, a Hedley resident, stood trial in Provincial Court in Princeton on August 13 and 14. He defended himself on a charge of an assault causing bodily harm to another Hedley resident, Daniel Michael Orlowski. Orlowski testified that he had gone to the home of Barb Donnelly on the morning of November 29, 2008, to look at some art work she had done. On the way, he had bought a six pack of beer, which he shared with others at Donnelly’s home. Orlowski stated he had one beer, then Sykes had punched him in the eye for no reason. Photographs shown to the court depicted damage to Orlowski’s right eye. Orlowski said Tony Heinrich had pulled Sykes off him. Orlowski had then gone home, where his brother had phoned the police and ambulance. The next witness, Tony Heinrich stated the group had been drinking beer in the late afternoon. He said people were coming and going, but among the group were Orlowski and Sykes. Heinrich said he had known Sykes less than a year, but had known Orlowski for 20 to 25 years. Heinrich said Orlowski was intoxicated and was belligerent toward Sykes, taunting him about being a “city boy”. Sykes had told Orlowski to “drop it”. Heinrich said Orlowski gets into a mood when he’s drinking and wants to fight. Heinrich said he told Orlowski to calm down. Heinrich went to the bathroom, and when he came out he said he heard “some kind of commotion”. He saw Orlowski on the floor with Sykes on top of him and it looked like they were “kind of wrestling around”. A coffee table had been pushed three or four feet out of place. Heinrich pulled Sykes to his feet, and Sykes returned to his seat and continued drinking his beer. Orlowski got up, sat down again, and drank more beer. Heinrich said Orlowski had stayed on for another hour, during which Heinrich noted Orlowski’s eye was swollen. Orlowski left peacefully. Cst. P. Bolt, who responded to the 911 call, stated he went to Orlowski’s residence at about 5:30 PM. He found Orlowski was drunk, loud, belligerent and uncooperative. Orlowski claimed he had internal injuries, and the ambulance came to take him to Penticton Hospital, but it took a lot of persuasion to get him to go. The police followed the ambulance to Penticton, then returned to Hedley. At approximately 8:30 PM, Cst. Bolt interviewed Sykes, and stated it was apparent Sykes had been drinking, but was polite, cooperative, and did not appear to be drunk. Sykes had no injuries. At some point during the investigation, Cst. Bolt spoke to Barb Donnelly, who told him Orlowski had started the fight. Sykes called no witnesses on his behalf, saying Barb Donnelly had been his only witness, but she had passed away. Judge Smith thoroughly reviewed the testimony, noting the inconsistencies between Orlowski’s testimony and that of the other witnesses. In conclusion, Judge Smith said he could not find Sykes guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and acquitted him.
After weeks of following many leads the Princeton Posse Junior B Hockey Club has decided it will purchase a team bus. “Bussing the team on road games was one of our biggest costs last year,” explains Posse Marketing Director George Elliott. “The club spent 35-thousand dollars last year in road trips.” The board of directors passed a motion at the August 11 bi-weekly meeting to set a budget of $50,000 and to send a delegation to the lower mainland to follow up on leads on potential busses for sale. The team executive is confident the expense will prove to be a valuable asset and investment in the future of the community-owned hockey team. “First off the cost of bussing our own team to road games will cost far less than the 35-thousand spent last year and secondly there is potential revenue generation through charter services,” Elliott explains. “There are other teams in this league who have turned bus chartering into their largest fundraising activity and we see that as a very real possibility here.” The club plans to have a bus in
place in time for the start of the 2009/10 KIJHL hockey season. “We are trying to turn this into a self sufficient organization.”
HEDLEY PARTY ENDS IN COURT
Gregory D. Sykes, a Hedley resident, stood trial in Provincial Court in Princeton on August 13 and 14. He defended himself on a charge of an assault causing bodily harm to another Hedley resident, Daniel Michael Orlowski. Orlowski testified that he had gone to the home of Barb Donnelly on the morning of November 29, 2008, to look at some art work she had done. On the way, he had bought a six pack of beer, which he shared with others at Donnelly’s home. Orlowski stated he had one beer, then Sykes had punched him in the eye for no reason. Photographs shown to the court depicted damage to Orlowski’s right eye. Orlowski said Tony Heinrich had pulled Sykes off him. Orlowski had then gone home, where his brother had phoned the police and ambulance. The next witness, Tony Heinrich stated the group had been drinking beer in the late afternoon. He said people were coming and going, but among the group were Orlowski and Sykes. Heinrich said he had known Sykes less than a year, but had known Orlowski for 20 to 25 years. Heinrich said Orlowski was intoxicated and was belligerent toward Sykes, taunting him about being a “city boy”. Sykes had told Orlowski to “drop it”. Heinrich said Orlowski gets into a mood when he’s drinking and wants to fight. Heinrich said he told Orlowski to calm down. Heinrich went to the bathroom, and when he came out he said he heard “some kind of commotion”. He saw Orlowski on the floor with Sykes on top of him and it looked like they were “kind of wrestling around”. A coffee table had been pushed three or four feet out of place. Heinrich pulled Sykes to his feet, and Sykes returned to his seat and continued drinking his beer. Orlowski got up, sat down again, and drank more beer. Heinrich said Orlowski had stayed on for another hour, during which Heinrich noted Orlowski’s eye was swollen. Orlowski left peacefully. Cst. P. Bolt, who responded to the 911 call, stated he went to Orlowski’s residence at about 5:30 PM. He found Orlowski was drunk, loud, belligerent and uncooperative. Orlowski claimed he had internal injuries, and the ambulance came to take him to Penticton Hospital, but it took a lot of persuasion to get him to go. The police followed the ambulance to Penticton, then returned to Hedley. At approximately 8:30 PM, Cst. Bolt interviewed Sykes, and stated it was apparent Sykes had been drinking, but was polite, cooperative, and did not appear to be drunk. Sykes had no injuries. At some point during the investigation, Cst. Bolt spoke to Barb Donnelly, who told him Orlowski had started the fight. Sykes called no witnesses on his behalf, saying Barb Donnelly had been his only witness, but she had passed away. Judge Smith thoroughly reviewed the testimony, noting the inconsistencies between Orlowski’s testimony and that of the other witnesses. In conclusion, Judge Smith said he could not find Sykes guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, and acquitted him.
August 11, 2009 - News Leader
COUNCIL
AWARDS LIBRARY, PAVING CONTRACTS
Library contract details
The tender for what is being called the Library Tenant Improvement project was awarded to Meszaros Construction Ltd. at the August 4th regular meeting of Town Council. The motion was made by Councillor Frank Armitage and seconded by Councillor Jason Earle to award the primary contract for the renovation of the former Goldion Restaurant on Vermilion Avenue. The contractor has stated they are prepared to start work on the project within a week of being awarded the contract with a projected completion date of November 9, 2009. The project, which attracted a total of eleven bids, will see the former restaurant renovated into a 2,500 square foot ‘renewed and expanded community library.’ The current Okanagan Regional Library is 1,350 square feet in a building shared with Princeton Museum, which will expand once the library is moved. The project tender is valued at $482,700 with an addition of $39,700 for roofing for a total of $521,700. Funding for the project will come from a provincial Towns for Tomorrow grant, Community Forest Corporation and municipal reserves. “Although the tendered amounts are over budget by $13,021 it is recommended that the project proceed,” explained CAO Patrick Robins in his report to Town Council. “The shortfall will be financed through the additional appropriation of municipal reserves.”
Paving contract details
In a motion made by Councillor Ray Jarvis and seconded by Councillor Frank Armitage Cantex-Okanagan Construction Ltd. was awarded the 2009 Road Pavement Works. The contract, awarded at the August 4th regular meeting of Town Council, is valued at $137,635 and is based on work prepared by True Consulting Group. Work will begin immediately and is expected to be completed by August 31, 2009 and will focus on five main areas: Fenchurch Avenue (2nd Bench), Vernon Avenue at Highway 3, Dollie Street, Auburn Crescent and Allison Avenue.
PRINCETON’S LISA COULTER TAKES SECOND
Canadian Reining Team member, Lisa Coulter of Princeton, finished in second place on July 23 at the 2009 Reining Kentucky Cup CRI 4 held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. As the only woman in the competition, Coulter’s goal was to go fast and accurate during the Individual competition to make it to the podium. She expertly guided Hollywood Aces, a six-year-old Quarter Horse gelding owned by Robert Thompson, to score 219.5 securing the silver medal. “My horse felt tired in the team event, so I stayed off him for the next day and just warmed him up lightly and went and showed. Ace responded beautifully and we had a great run. I had a lot of confidence going in to the individual competition,” said Coulter. “Bob Thompson has always believed in me. He bought this cool horse and allowed me the chance to go for it. The crowd was amazing and I had over 2,500 people rooting for me. It was one ride I won't ever forget.”
Library contract details
The tender for what is being called the Library Tenant Improvement project was awarded to Meszaros Construction Ltd. at the August 4th regular meeting of Town Council. The motion was made by Councillor Frank Armitage and seconded by Councillor Jason Earle to award the primary contract for the renovation of the former Goldion Restaurant on Vermilion Avenue. The contractor has stated they are prepared to start work on the project within a week of being awarded the contract with a projected completion date of November 9, 2009. The project, which attracted a total of eleven bids, will see the former restaurant renovated into a 2,500 square foot ‘renewed and expanded community library.’ The current Okanagan Regional Library is 1,350 square feet in a building shared with Princeton Museum, which will expand once the library is moved. The project tender is valued at $482,700 with an addition of $39,700 for roofing for a total of $521,700. Funding for the project will come from a provincial Towns for Tomorrow grant, Community Forest Corporation and municipal reserves. “Although the tendered amounts are over budget by $13,021 it is recommended that the project proceed,” explained CAO Patrick Robins in his report to Town Council. “The shortfall will be financed through the additional appropriation of municipal reserves.”
Paving contract details
In a motion made by Councillor Ray Jarvis and seconded by Councillor Frank Armitage Cantex-Okanagan Construction Ltd. was awarded the 2009 Road Pavement Works. The contract, awarded at the August 4th regular meeting of Town Council, is valued at $137,635 and is based on work prepared by True Consulting Group. Work will begin immediately and is expected to be completed by August 31, 2009 and will focus on five main areas: Fenchurch Avenue (2nd Bench), Vernon Avenue at Highway 3, Dollie Street, Auburn Crescent and Allison Avenue.
PRINCETON’S LISA COULTER TAKES SECOND
Canadian Reining Team member, Lisa Coulter of Princeton, finished in second place on July 23 at the 2009 Reining Kentucky Cup CRI 4 held at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY. As the only woman in the competition, Coulter’s goal was to go fast and accurate during the Individual competition to make it to the podium. She expertly guided Hollywood Aces, a six-year-old Quarter Horse gelding owned by Robert Thompson, to score 219.5 securing the silver medal. “My horse felt tired in the team event, so I stayed off him for the next day and just warmed him up lightly and went and showed. Ace responded beautifully and we had a great run. I had a lot of confidence going in to the individual competition,” said Coulter. “Bob Thompson has always believed in me. He bought this cool horse and allowed me the chance to go for it. The crowd was amazing and I had over 2,500 people rooting for me. It was one ride I won't ever forget.”
August 05, 2009 - News Leader
PRINCETON
AND BASKETBALL IN HIS VEINS
Former Princeton Secondary School graduate Jesse McLean loves his hometown and favourite sport so much that he has combined the two into a teaching and learning experience. McLean, who lives in Edmonton, along with partner Chad Pidhaicuk of Drumheller, Alberta put together the Badlands Basketball Camp which stops each summer in Princeton. The camps also take place in Alberta and will expand next year to other communities. What makes the camp unique? “Our goal has always been to be affordable, fun and to provide a lot of instruction,” McLean told the News Leader. McLean says some camps have college players teaching with little interaction with the actual coaching staff. “We have always been very hands on, and Chad and I handle most of the instruction when it comes to core skill sessions and the more difficult station work.” He also says the Badland Basketball coaches are always on site and enjoy working with the participants. “We also limit our camps to no more than eight kids per coach. This year we actually had six coaches and thirty-six kids so the players get a lot of interaction with the coaches and hopefully that translates into improvement on the floor.” McLean says the Princeton camp is favoured by his team out of twenty camps and clinics held over the past six years. “The Princeton kids are so eager to learn and willing to work hard to improve.” Bringing his program ‘home’ also means something else to McLean. “I am always personally pleased to come home and work in the gym I played in, with the kids that go to my old school.” The former Princeton Rebel also recognizes the dedication of local coaches in teaching the game and coaching successful teams. “Dean Johnston, Richard White, Rob Marshall and all of the other coaches in Princeton have dedicated their time to help the game improve in the community. When we first brought our camp to Princeton we had to really start with the basics and now we can jump right into the meat of coaching because these kids have been coached well and they are hungry for more learning.” Make no mistake about it, McLean knows his game. He spends nine months of the year coaching basketball during the school season as well as in spring leagues, club ball and various camps and clinics. He coached a grade 9 boys team at the Stoney Plain school he teaches at as well as an under-17 girls team in Edmonton, a developmental spring league for grades 4 to 7 in Stoney Plain and then hits the road in July for camps. You’d think with that kind of schedule and seeing so many different players at different skill levels he’d know talent when he sees it. “People may not know it, but you have some immensely talented basketball players in Princeton. There are some that have real potential to play at the next level.” Award winners from the Princeton camp were: Most Improved Camper – Rebekah Salway (Junior Camp) and Morgan Reichert (Elite Camp), MVP - Kris Krenn (Junior) and Kelcy Banks (Elite), Heart & Hustle - Carver Carret (Junior) and Courtney Hassell (Elite), All Stars: Mort Johnston, Michael White and Samantha Simons (Junior) and Makenzie Johnston, Nathan Garton and Angie Marshall (Elite).
MITSUBISHI JOINS COPPER MOUNTAIN PROJECT
Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (“CMMC” or the “Company”) reported July 30 that the Company and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (“Mitsubishi”) have signed definitive agreements, namely Shareholders’ Agreement, Share Subscription Agreement, Concentrates Sales and Purchase Agreement, and Secondment Agreement whereby Mitsubishi will acquire a 25% interest in the Copper Mountain Project (“Project”), located near Princeton. In addition to purchasing a 25% equity interest in the Project for $28.75 million, Mitsubishi agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to arrange a $250 million project loan, and has agreed to purchase all of the copper concentrate from the mine. The Project is an open pit porphyry copper mine that operated from 1972 to 1996 and over its life produced 1.74 billion pounds of copper, 9.1 million ounces of silver and 730 thousand ounces of gold. The current resource is estimated at 5 billion pounds of copper at a 0.15 % Cu cut-off. The resource estimate incorporates data from over 4,400 historical drill holes totaling approximately 400,000 metres, and 370 new drill holes, totaling 107,000 metres from the Company’s 2007 and 2008 exploration programs. John O’Rourke, Chief Executive Officer of the Company stated: “In October 2008 the Company’s Board of Directors authorized management to proceed with the development of the Copper Mountain Project subject to the Company finalizing its financing arrangements as well as obtaining the required operating permit amendments for the Project. I am extremely pleased to have such a strong partner as Mitsubishi join the Project which brings the financial clout of a major behind the Project, which is scheduled to commence production by mid 2011,” O’Rourke adds. To date, site activities have been funded by the Company’s equity contributions and a $28.75 million line of credit from Mitsubishi, which together have totalled almost $40 million. Long lead items have been ordered with the SAG and ball mill manufacturing well underway to maintain the target production schedule for mid 2011. Detailed engineering is progressing and site geotechnical excavation for the concentrator is now complete. The office and warehouse complex is now fully functional with power, heat, water, telephones, internet, and sewerage. The Company currently has approximately 20 employees currently engaged at the site on construction activities. It is estimated that the project will provide employment for 200 construction workers at its peak and the ongoing operations will create 257 full time positions. Over the 17 year life of the project, it is estimated that the mine will produce 1.47 billion pounds of Copper, 452,000 ounces of gold, and 4.5 million ounces of silver.
Former Princeton Secondary School graduate Jesse McLean loves his hometown and favourite sport so much that he has combined the two into a teaching and learning experience. McLean, who lives in Edmonton, along with partner Chad Pidhaicuk of Drumheller, Alberta put together the Badlands Basketball Camp which stops each summer in Princeton. The camps also take place in Alberta and will expand next year to other communities. What makes the camp unique? “Our goal has always been to be affordable, fun and to provide a lot of instruction,” McLean told the News Leader. McLean says some camps have college players teaching with little interaction with the actual coaching staff. “We have always been very hands on, and Chad and I handle most of the instruction when it comes to core skill sessions and the more difficult station work.” He also says the Badland Basketball coaches are always on site and enjoy working with the participants. “We also limit our camps to no more than eight kids per coach. This year we actually had six coaches and thirty-six kids so the players get a lot of interaction with the coaches and hopefully that translates into improvement on the floor.” McLean says the Princeton camp is favoured by his team out of twenty camps and clinics held over the past six years. “The Princeton kids are so eager to learn and willing to work hard to improve.” Bringing his program ‘home’ also means something else to McLean. “I am always personally pleased to come home and work in the gym I played in, with the kids that go to my old school.” The former Princeton Rebel also recognizes the dedication of local coaches in teaching the game and coaching successful teams. “Dean Johnston, Richard White, Rob Marshall and all of the other coaches in Princeton have dedicated their time to help the game improve in the community. When we first brought our camp to Princeton we had to really start with the basics and now we can jump right into the meat of coaching because these kids have been coached well and they are hungry for more learning.” Make no mistake about it, McLean knows his game. He spends nine months of the year coaching basketball during the school season as well as in spring leagues, club ball and various camps and clinics. He coached a grade 9 boys team at the Stoney Plain school he teaches at as well as an under-17 girls team in Edmonton, a developmental spring league for grades 4 to 7 in Stoney Plain and then hits the road in July for camps. You’d think with that kind of schedule and seeing so many different players at different skill levels he’d know talent when he sees it. “People may not know it, but you have some immensely talented basketball players in Princeton. There are some that have real potential to play at the next level.” Award winners from the Princeton camp were: Most Improved Camper – Rebekah Salway (Junior Camp) and Morgan Reichert (Elite Camp), MVP - Kris Krenn (Junior) and Kelcy Banks (Elite), Heart & Hustle - Carver Carret (Junior) and Courtney Hassell (Elite), All Stars: Mort Johnston, Michael White and Samantha Simons (Junior) and Makenzie Johnston, Nathan Garton and Angie Marshall (Elite).
MITSUBISHI JOINS COPPER MOUNTAIN PROJECT
Copper Mountain Mining Corporation (“CMMC” or the “Company”) reported July 30 that the Company and Mitsubishi Materials Corporation (“Mitsubishi”) have signed definitive agreements, namely Shareholders’ Agreement, Share Subscription Agreement, Concentrates Sales and Purchase Agreement, and Secondment Agreement whereby Mitsubishi will acquire a 25% interest in the Copper Mountain Project (“Project”), located near Princeton. In addition to purchasing a 25% equity interest in the Project for $28.75 million, Mitsubishi agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to arrange a $250 million project loan, and has agreed to purchase all of the copper concentrate from the mine. The Project is an open pit porphyry copper mine that operated from 1972 to 1996 and over its life produced 1.74 billion pounds of copper, 9.1 million ounces of silver and 730 thousand ounces of gold. The current resource is estimated at 5 billion pounds of copper at a 0.15 % Cu cut-off. The resource estimate incorporates data from over 4,400 historical drill holes totaling approximately 400,000 metres, and 370 new drill holes, totaling 107,000 metres from the Company’s 2007 and 2008 exploration programs. John O’Rourke, Chief Executive Officer of the Company stated: “In October 2008 the Company’s Board of Directors authorized management to proceed with the development of the Copper Mountain Project subject to the Company finalizing its financing arrangements as well as obtaining the required operating permit amendments for the Project. I am extremely pleased to have such a strong partner as Mitsubishi join the Project which brings the financial clout of a major behind the Project, which is scheduled to commence production by mid 2011,” O’Rourke adds. To date, site activities have been funded by the Company’s equity contributions and a $28.75 million line of credit from Mitsubishi, which together have totalled almost $40 million. Long lead items have been ordered with the SAG and ball mill manufacturing well underway to maintain the target production schedule for mid 2011. Detailed engineering is progressing and site geotechnical excavation for the concentrator is now complete. The office and warehouse complex is now fully functional with power, heat, water, telephones, internet, and sewerage. The Company currently has approximately 20 employees currently engaged at the site on construction activities. It is estimated that the project will provide employment for 200 construction workers at its peak and the ongoing operations will create 257 full time positions. Over the 17 year life of the project, it is estimated that the mine will produce 1.47 billion pounds of Copper, 452,000 ounces of gold, and 4.5 million ounces of silver.