INITIATIVES PRINCE GEORGE by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff The former executive director of the B.C. Progress Board was named Monday as the new president of the city's economic development agency. Tim McEwan replaces Gerry Offet, who is retiring after six years at the helm of Initiatives Prince George. David George, chairman of Initiatives Prince George, said he believes New economic officer appointed Citizen photo by Brent Braaten Tim McEwan, new president of Initiatives Prince George, faces cameras Monday morning at a news conference naming him to the job. they hit a home run by hiring McEwan, who has a proven track record in economic development and established contacts in the provincial and federal government, particularly through the B.C. Progress Board. The board was established by Premier Gordon Campbell to provide strategic advice on the province's performance in a number of areas including the economy, education, en- vironment and health. Mayor Colin Kinsley said McEwan is respected within B.C. and across Western Canada. "He has tremendous vision for growing the Prince George economy, and is the perfect choice to lead our community as we ensure our economy remains strong through these transition times," said Kinsley. -- See ECONOMIC on page 3 MICHENER AWARD WINNER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE JOURNALISM TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2008 www.princegeorgecitizen.com $1.00 (HOME DELIVERED: 61 CENTS A DAY) Pit bulls blamed for cat deaths by BERNICE TRICK Citizen staff A local resident is devastated by the loss of two pet cats, who were killed by neighbouring pit bulls within a few months of each other. Kyra Guest said she lost her "big, strong tabby" named Johnny on Friday night at her home in the 2600 block of Oak Street following an attack by two pit bulls whose owner lives in the same block. "These two pit bulls have killed three cats -- two of mine and one belonging to a neighbour ---- and still the owner doesn't keep them confined. This is a disaster waiting to happen," Guest said. "These dogs are free to roam in an area where there are small children attending Carney Hill school. I just hope none of them are ever holding a puppy or a kitten, because that's what these pit bulls like to kill." On Friday evening, Guest said she heard "an awful sounding squeal" and when she investigated she found the two pit bulls attacking her cat in her yard. "One dog dragged the cat from under the car and ran with him." Guest followed, and in the middle of the street she jumped on the dogs, snatched her cat and tried to protect him with her body. "I was lying on the ground, and the dogs just kept circling and coming at me, trying to get the cat," said Guest, whose face, hands and arms were nipped, bitten and scratched and her knees and feet skinned. -- See RESIDENT on page 3 Citizen photo by Brent Braaten A moose tries to keep its head up after being hit by a tranquilizer in a front yard of a home on the corner of Lacoma Street and Otter Crescent Monday morning, top. Conservation officers Gary Van Spengen, left, and Mike Richardson tag the moose, above, after it collapsed. Council approves University Heights by MARK NIELSEN Citizen staff The first phase of the massive University Heights development won city council's unanimous approval Monday night after just two people spoke during a public hearing on the proposal. Starting with 63 homes overlooking a green space and trail system to the south, the proposal calls for developing a mixed residential subdivision over 56.3 hectares north of the Tyner and Ospika Boulevard intersection. It would consist of 300 single-family homes and two multi-residential complexes, one at the east and west ends of the subdivision, totaling 271 units, with an elementary school and neighbourhood park in the middle. The project is part of a much larger plan to build enough homes for nearly 10,700 over 674 hectares straddling Tyner Boulevard in five phases over 20 years. By the end of that time, there should be 2,440 single-family homes over 244 hectares and a further 1,410 multiplefamily units over 47 hectares -- enough housing for 10,692 people. Council members had accolades for the proposal. "It's a desirable area, it puts more development lots on the market which contributes to the affordability of housing, it includes multi-family, it has a great deal of appeal," Coun. Don Zurowski said. -- See VILLAGE on page 3 Wildlife descend into city by GORDON HOEKSTRA Citizen staff The provincial conservation office in Prince George continues to be kept busy dealing with wildlife in the city area, including a troublesome cougar. Conservation officers have also had to deal with several moose that wandered into residential areas in the Bowl. Residents in the Willow Cale Road and Highway 97 South area are being asked to keep an eye out for a cougar, which has attacked domestic animals. Last week, a dog escaped a cougar attack, but this week a goat was killed, conservation officer Gary Van Spengen said Monday. Conservation officers and a cougar tracker have tried to locate the cat in the Willow Cale Road and Highway 97 area, said Van Spengen. He said residents in the area should keep a close eye on their pets, livestock and ensure their children are safe. If anyone spots the cougar they are asked to call the conservation office's 24-hour hotline at 1-877-952-7277. Conservation officers have had to destroy a pair of cougars in the last several weeks. One cougar had killed a dog on a property at McGuire Road off Chief Lake Road, and another killed a dog at an Upper Mud River Road residence in Beaverly. Conservation officers were also called out to a pair of moose sightings on Monday. They managed to chase a mother and calf -- spotted in the Peden Hill elementary school area -- back up into the Cranbrook Hill area. In the other incident, where a moose was spotted near Foothills elementary school, conservation officers had to tranquilize the animal and move it out of town. Van Spengen said if people see a moose to leave it alone. If the moose are not spooked, they will usually move out of the residential areas on their own, he said. Van Spengen said it's not uncommon to see moose drift into town during late winter as they look for food. He noted it has been a tough winter with lots of snow. INDEX 0 E-Mail address: Horoscope . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7,14 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8-12 World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 58307 00100 8 Annie's Mailbox . . . . . . . .16 Bridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Business. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .22 City, B.C. . . . . . . . . . . 3,5-7,13 Classified . . . . . . . . . . .18-20 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Entertainment . . . . . . . . . . 15 High : 2 Low : -8 page 2 news@princegeorgecitizen.com Our website: http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com 00631273 SWITCHBOARD: 562-2441 CLASSIFIED: 562-6666 READER SALES: 562-3301