HEARTLESS THIEVES

For the second time in less than a year, the good people of Habitat
for Humanity have been the victims of theft.

Overnight on Oct. 11 and 12, thieves broke into the Habitat
construction site on North Road in Gibsons. They cut the locks on the
gate, cut the lock on the construction container used for storage and
stole a chop saw and a drywall screwdriver. About eight months ago,
about $500 worth of lumber was stolen during the first theft.

Habitat construction manager Bill Robinson pledged this week that
Habitat would beef up security around the site. While we applaud them
for that thought, should Habitat have to worry about beefing up
security? Shouldn't their full efforts, time and energy be devoted to
finishing their first housing project?

Is Habitat going to have to start hiring armed guards with dogs to
secure their work sites?

Habitat is a wonderful organization that is doing so much in this
community. Besides the North Road home, this Sunday, Habitat will
officially break ground on their second project, in Sechelt on Reef Road.

Those responsible for these thefts are heartless. Stealing is bad
enough, but stealing from a non-profit organization working hard to
make this community a better place is just sad.

COURTS GETTING TOUGHER?

Could the Court System Actually Be Getting Tougher on Drug Dealers?

That would appear to be the case, at least with one recent court
decision. Sunshine Coast RCMP released information this week about a
local woman who pled guilty to a drug charge. Despite having no
criminal record, the Supreme Court judge handed her a four-month jail
sentence. RCMP is applauding this decision, and so are we.

On many occasions we've chastised the courts in this space for not
taking tougher stances when rendering their decisions. In the past,
the courts have been pretty lax on handing out any jail time to
convicted drug dealers and handed out a fine -- basically a slap on the wrist.

Now maybe the tide is turning. If you do the crime, be prepared to do some time.