A report indicating development in Joe Rich should be stopped due to concerns over a lack of water is no cause for panic in the District of Westside.

The report, prepared by Remi Allard from Golder Associates, will be the subject of a town hall meeting in Joe Rich Wednesday, July 16.

It says in part that development in Joe Rich should be halted immediately because groundwater is being used faster than it can be replaced.

Westside Mayor, Rosalind Neis, says she believes Joe Rich is in a different situation that that of the Westside.

"We have the benefit of the reserve lakes. I think we are in a little different situation than in Joe Rich," says Neis.

"If I am correct, they rely a lot on groundwater."

Neis says a number of reports and experts have indicated that the limiting factor for development in the Okanagan will be water.

"I'm not surprised to hear what is said in the report. In this day and age, I've often thought water is going to be a more valuable resource than fuel in years to come."

She adds the report is no reason to slow down development in the District of Westside at this point, saying there have been no indications from their experts of imminent shortages or problems on the Westside.

"Who knows what will happen in 10 or 20 years or what a couple of years of drought will do. We can't control Mother Nature."

Westbank First Nation Chief, Robert Louie, will unveil two much anticipated pieces of art Monday at the Campbell Road Interchange.

The pieces will sit atop 25 foot columns being erected on either side of Highway 97 in the centre of each of the roundabouts at Campbell Road.

The artworks, designed by Smoker Marchand, feature Okanagan elements of Coyote and Bear in the design.

Both were on display during a ceremony in May at the opening of the Campbell Road Interchange.

The pieces have since been painted and completed.

The unveiling will take place at 10 a.m. Monday.

Within a couple of years, the firefighters working the business end of a fire hose may be the product of a new course at Mount Boucherie Senior Secondary.

The Westside high school is introducing Fire Academy for the 2008-2009 school year.

The course, offered in conjunction with Westside Fire and Rescue, is one of six academy style programs at Mount Boucherie.

Others include Culinary Arts, Hairdressing, Outdoor Power Equipment Technician, Golf and Hockey academies.

"I think it's the school systems way of making education very relevant by giving students some good hands-on experiences that leads them towards a future career," says Shona Becker, the teacher in charge of the Fire Academy.

"The idea is that even though they won't get their professional certification, they will start working towards it."

Becker says the Westside Fire Department contacted the school about the possibility of offering the course.

"Chief Wayne Schnitzler had this idea. They contacted us in January and it's been an idea that has kind of snowballed."

The 17 students who will participate starting in September went through a lengthy screening progress.

"The students went through a physical fitness test to make sure they could handle the pressures of the course. Once they handed in their application, they had a one-on-one interview with myself and a second interview with Assistant Chief Darren Lee and myself."

Becker says students were chosen based on their application, teacher recommendations and the two interviews.

She says some students had to be turned away.

Becker adds the students taking part will take theory, weights and fitness in class, with the balance of the course outside normal school hours.

"They will participate in Tuesday night training outside the regular school day. Some of the certifications, including first-aid and CPR will be done on weekends."

She says the students have already been out in the field and came away very excited.

"They did their first volunteer session with the Westside Fire Department at Crystal Springs Mobile Home Park doing some fire alarm education. They just raved about how much fun they had and what a really neat experience it was."

Becker says the goal of the course is to get students passionate about a career in firefighting and give them some relevant, hands-on experience.

Westside Fire Rescue was kept busy with Friday afternoon's storm, handling a number of different emergencies on land and water.

Crews responded to a report of an injured Para-Sailor near Bear Creek Park at 3:38 pm and an overturned boat near Old Ferry Wharf Road at 3:49 pm. A 4:38 pm they responded to a call of a boater who had been knocked off a sailboat near the Cove Resort. The Para-Sailor was transported to Kelowna General Hospital by BC Ambulance with undisclosed injuries.

At 3:49 pm Westside Fire Rescue also responded to a head-on collision in the 3600 block of Glencoe Road involving a car and a truck. Crews rescued two persons trapped in the car. Both were removed and transported to Kelowna General Hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the truck was not injured.