Washington

At press time, the fight over Columbia Ready Mix’s mine expansion was set to be heard in court. According to the Yakima Herald-Republic, a resident who lives 900 feet from the mining operation appealed the county commissioners’ approval of the expansion to the Yakima County Superior Court. The dispute began in 2005 when Columbia Ready Mix got approval to open its 78-acre mine. The county limited operations to nine months a year and prohibited crushing. Last year, the company requested that the county lift those restrictions, and the county agreed to allow crushing nine months a year, with operations year-round.

Province News

Larry Bochurka, owner of a Gimli-area quarry, was killed May 4 when he was thrown from a vehicle at his quarry. The Winnipeg Free Press reports that Bochurka, 57, was riding through the quarry in a jeep and apparently driving over a scale when the jeep tipped over and he was thrown. A contractor working at the site saw the abandoned vehicle and searched for Bochurka. Authorities say the accident doesn’t appear to be work-related, but staff members from Manitoba Workplace Safety and Health are investigating the incident.