COMMENT: As municipal elections approach, what's the cause of voter apathy?
Taken aback by complete strangers walking up to you this summer to shake hands? Well, that's because they're back. Candidates on the hustings for a city hall near you. And despite their enthusiasm, it's not a passion shared by most voters if past elections are any indication. Even though local governments in B.C. oversee more...
LETTER: Trail pedestrian bridge has million dollar implications for Rossland
It appears that in the recent referendum about 27% of Trail’s eligible voters voted in favour of a combined pedestrian / pipe-bridge. It also appears that 64% didn’t bother to vote at all, maybe because they had been told by their Council that it would not cost them anything in additional taxes… so why bother. But what about...
Heck of a bathtub to clean — Kootenay Canal gets 'dewatered'
It’s a heck of a bathtub to clean. BC Hydro will be draining the Kootenay Canal, west of Nelson, from early September to the end of October to upgrade the canal’s lining. It’s a $10 million project that will utilize 70 workers — including engineers, safety experts, construction workers and environment workers — to complete,...
Councillor opposes arbitrary process in policing equipment
A city councillor is speaking out against a process that sees the city making massive expenditures without having any say in the decision-making behind those expenditures. Councillor Kevin Chernoff said he has no problem with getting closed circuit TV surveillance for the local RCMP detachment – but he’s not okay with the...
City and CUPE 2262 reach accord, but no contract yet
The City of Castlegar and its union workers from CUPE Local 2262 have not yet hammered out a contract, but have arrived at a mutual accord in terms of proceeding. Castlegar mayor Lawrence Chernoff says the two parties have agreed on a publication ban, meaning neither side will speak to the press until a settlement has been ...
Suspicious fire causes roughly $10,000 damage
Police are investigating a suspicious fire found in the Toyota parking lot Friday evening. Deputy fire chief Sam Lattanzio, who was first on scene, said the call came in at about 10:12 p.m., advising authorities there was what appeared to be a brush or dumpster fire. "There was a brush fire in the northwest corner of the lot,...
Castlegar Selkirk grad wins $5,000 scholarship
Making the leap from the comfort of hometown Castlegar and the familiar classrooms of Selkirk College to complete a degree 450 kilometres away can be daunting for any undergraduate student, but $5,000 in financial assistance can go a long way to easing the transition. That eased transition is the experience for Christina...
Local cultural venues offer education alternatives in light of strike
An African proverb says, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Let us come together and educate them too. As BC teachers and the Provincial Government work towards settling their labour dispute, the Kootenay Doukhobor Historical Society is offering free admission at the Doukhobor Discovery Centre (across from the Castlegar...
Ktunaxa Nation Proceeding With Appeal
Today the Ktunaxa Nation announced that its lawyers have completed the next step in the process for appealing the BC Supreme Court’s decision regarding Qat’muk by filing the factum and accompanying appeal books at the British Columbia Court of Appeal Registry. The Ktunaxa Nation is appealing the Court’s April 3rd, 2014...
Nelson Search and Rescue hosts inter-regional competition this weekend at Kokanee Park
If anyone plans on getting hurt this weekend, Kokanee Park 15 kilometers east of Nelson on the North Shore would be a prime place to receive instant rescue assistance. That is where Nelson Search and Rescue is hosting a a large inter-regional SAR exercise, beginning Friday and ending Sunday (September 5-7). More than 100 SAR...
