GenevaLunch

Le Matin, Fre - A long-simmering argument over F/A-18 fighter jets noisily flying over the Valais appears to be heating up. A Valaisan deputy is scheduled to raise questions in the cantonal parliament Tuesday about the growing number of flights in the area. Residents complain that Samuel Schmid, the minister for military affairs, refuses to meet with them to discuss the noise problem. Given that the number of flights is expected to triple by 2010, Valais residents fear the noise can only increase. (continue reading)→

TSR, Fre - Seven Valais communes, including Verbier, will not be able to sell property to foreigners in 2007, the canton has decided. The announcement comes in the wake of growing concern about the number of "cold" beds in shuttered chalets that are second homes, rarely used. The communes affected are: Bagnes (Verbier), Grimentz, Hérémence, Nendaz, Riddes, Val d'Illiez and Veysonnaz.

The Valais has one of the highest rates of second homes, some 35% of all property according to Pro Natura (pdf). The canton's decision to temporarily halt sales was made because of a growing and unmanageable backlog of authorizations for sales to foreigners, now at 1,000 versus the 300 or so the canton considers acceptable. During 2007 the canton will review how the communes process property sales to foreigners. The review will help ensure that the canton's goal of reducing the number of cold beds is respected, said Michel Cina, head of the cantonal finance office. (continue reading)→

24 heures, Fre - Thomas Burgener, head of the Valais health department, escaped without injuries but was stopped for driving under the influence when he had an accident over the weekend near Paudex, Vaud. The cantonal counseler was driving towards Geneva late Friday when he hit a bin and roadworks barriers before his car came to a halt. His alcohol level was measured at 1.5 per thousand. In 2005 the drinking and driving law was tightened and the limit is 0.5 per 1,000. (continue reading)→

Le Matin, Fre - Five to 10 wolves are in four parts of canton Valais, says expert Raphaël Arlettaz. A wolf killed some 30 sheep when it attacked a herd at the end of September in Chablais, Valais. The canton will decide by the end of this week if it is going to authorize hunters and farmers to shoot wolves in the area. An authorization is currently out to shoot another wolf in the Conches region at the end of the Rhone Valley, where a herd was attacked earlier this year. DNA studies recently enabled expert (continue reading)→