The following is a list of the top 10 stories of 2014, as selected by the Abbotsford News' newsroom:
Heat shortfall for 2012-13 season is $1.66 million, Jan. 6
The Abbotsford Heat’s operating deficit for the 2012-13 season will cost local taxpayers $1.66 million.
A 10-year supply fee agreement between the American Hockey League team guarantees the Heat an annual break-even budget of $5.7 million to play out of the Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre. The total payout from the city to the hockey team now stands at $5.24 million, including $450,000 during the inaugural 2009-10 season, and $1.37 million and $1.76 million the next two years, respectively.
www.abbynews.com/news/238948641.html
Former mayor and MLA Harry DeJong passes, Feb. 7
DeJong, 81, passes away on Feb. 6 – a significant loss to the community he served for decades.
After four years serving on Matsqui council, DeJong served on council for four years, and beginning in 1975 as mayor for 12 years.
He won a seat in the legislature in 1987, spending eight years with the Social Credit party as an MLA for Abbotsford.
http://www.abbynews.com/news/244440031.html
Council denies housing proposal for homeless men, Feb. 17
A controversial proposal for a 20-bed housing facility for homeless men fails, following a tie vote at council. Abbotsford Community Services’ rezoning application that would have paved the way for a low-barrier housing project at 2408 Montvue Ave. was denied after passionate debate from both sides.
www.abbynews.com/news/245918701.html
Game over: Heat hockey team to leave Abbotsford, April 15
The Abbotsford Heat’s financially challenged five-season tenure comes to a close.
At a press conference at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre, Mayor Bruce Banman announces the City of Abbotsford will pay the Calgary Flames $5.5 million to terminate the remaining five years of the 10-year supply fee agreement signed in 2009 to bring the Flames’ American Hockey League affiliate here.
www.abbynews.com/news/255348601.html
School term ends with full-scale teacher walkout, June 13
More than 1,200 teachers in Abbotsford are set to join their counterparts across the province for a study session followed by a full-scale walkout. This means that the last school day for Abbotsford students is Thursday, June 13, as local teachers’ participated in a third week of province-wide one-day rotating strikes.
www.abbynews.com/news/262919841.html
Homeless camps cleared out, July 31
Gladys Avenue is busy during the eviction of homeless camps along the street. Many residents of the camps move items out of the area, following an eviction notice set for July 31 from BC Hydro, which owns the land. The main camp affected is located across from the Salvation Army. A camp farther west, where a teepee is situated, is not on BC Hydro land and is not impacted.
www.abbynews.com/news/269396961.html
Fall classes closed as teachers strike, Sept. 3
The ongoing teachers’ strike forces the cancellation of the first day of classes at public schools across Abbotsford.
With exploratory negotiations having broken down between the British Columbia Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) and the province, teachers picketed local schools. While the province says the BCTF’s demands are unaffordable, local teachers say they’re sacrificing their wages to demand smaller classes for students.
www.abbynews.com/news/273785961.html
Guilty verdicts in Surrey Six killings, Oct. 2
Cody Haevischer and Matthew Johnston are found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and six counts of first-degree murder in the Surrey Six killings. Six people were killed in suite 1505 of the Balmoral Tower in Surrey on Oct. 19, 2007, including two innocent victims – fireplace repairman Ed Schellenberg, 55, of Abbotsford and Christopher Mohan, 22, who lived across the hall from suite 1505.
The Crown said the accused were members of the Red Scorpions at the time of the killings and participated in a plan to kill rival drug dealer Corey Lal.
www.abbynews.com/news/277907931.html
Another first-term mayor replaced, Nov. 15
Abbotsford voters change mayors for the fifth consecutive election, sending Coun. Henry Braun into the top seat with just 577 votes more than incumbent Bruce Banman on Nov. 15. Other than George Ferguson, each recent mayor has only served one term. Coun. Bill MacGregor also lost his seat, as the Abbotsford First party put four people on council.
www.abbynews.com/news/283264631.html
Charges in decades-old murders, Dec. 1
A 67-year-old Ontario man is charged with the murders of two young girls more than 30 years ago, including one from the former municipality of Matsqui.
At a press conference in Surrey, police said Garry Taylor Handlen, 67, was arrested Nov. 28 in Surrey and charged with the first-degree murders of Kathryn-Mary Herbert, 11, of Matsqui, in 1975 and Monica Jack, 12, of Merritt in 1978.