Regional News

Low dose rate in Nelson LHA, high geographic distribution of cases: B.C. Centre for Disease Control

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Friday May 27 2022

As of May 23, 75 per cent of people living in the Nelson local health area (LHA) have the second dose, the fifth lowest rate out of 31 LHAs in the Interior Health Authority.

Nelson’s low second dose vaccination rate may be tied to the overall cases of COVID-19 infection, according to the latest B.C. Centre for Disease Control data.

As of May 23, 75 per cent of people living in the Nelson local health area (LHA) have the second dose, the fifth lowest rate out of 31 LHAs in the Interior Health Authority — across the province, out of 85 LHAs the Nelson LHA ranked 72nd for the second dose.

Suspect pleads guilty in stabbing of two Castlegar teens

by Castlegar Source on Wednesday May 25 2022

Thirty-year-old Sasha Margaret Prokaski entered a guilty plea in response to two assault charges (aggravated assault and assault with a weapon) in Castlegar court yesterday.

The charges stemmed from an incident on Feb 21, 2021 in which the defendant entered a Castlegar home and repeatedly stabbed two teenaged girls in the house.

The next step in Prokaski's case is a psychiatric report, scheduled to be brought before the court Aug. 24.

Previous coverage:

VIFF launches Pop-Up festival in Nelson

by Contributor on Wednesday May 25 2022

All My Puny Sorrows by Michael McGowan is one of the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) films set for Nelson.

The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is delighted to announce the launch of the VIFF Pop-Up Festival.

This new initiative delivers festival favorites to audiences across British Columbia, with the inaugural events taking place in partnership with the Kamloops Film Society at the Paramount Theatre (May 20-21) and Nelson Civic Theatre (May 27–31).

ALERT issued for Nelson area following drug poisoning event

by The Nelson Daily Staff on Wednesday May 25 2022

The media release said the overdose occurred last Wednesday.

Interior Health has issued a DRUG ALERT for the Nelson area after a drug poisoning event occurred at ANKORS OPS a media release said Wednesday.

The media release said the sample was tested by the ANKORS drug checking technician and the same was sent for further testing at UVIC’s Substance drug checking site.

The release added the UVIC checking site includes paper spray mass spectrometry (PS-MS).

“The sample contained just under 5% fentanyl, 0.6% carfentanil, 2% flualprazolam, caffeine, and erythritol,” the media release said.

Interior Health region benefits from heart monitor upgrade

by Interior Health Authority on Wednesday May 25 2022

Kelowna General Hospital cardio tech supervisor, Heidi Walwyn, demonstrates applying a heart monitor on Interior Health cardiac manager Mack Cheyne. — Submitted photo

Interior Health (IH) is upgrading heart monitors across the region, improving patient access to important diagnostic testing, and enhancing timely access for physicians and nurse practitioners to these reports.

A heart (or Holter) monitor is a diagnostic test that monitors cardiac rhythms via continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing over 24 hours or more. This service is offered at 31 sites across IH.

Compassion in Action Community Conference coming to Boundary City

by Contributor on Wednesday May 25 2022

The conference will provide education about substance use treatment, mental health care, public healthcare, and local supports for families. — Photo courtesy of Paul Archer

The Compassion in Action Community Conference is coming up on Friday, June 24th and Saturday, June 25th in Grand Forks.

This two-day educational conference event will be an opportunity to learn from experts about the provincial overdose crisis and the healthcare response.

The conference will provide education about substance use treatment, mental health care, public healthcare, and local supports for families. The conference will focus on how to keep families safer and reduce harms due to substance use.

Grand Forks police kept busy during May long weekend

by Boundary Sentinel on Tuesday May 24 2022

RCMP officers checked more than 140 vehicles Saturday afternoon in the Christina Lake area.

May long weekend is typically a busy weekend on the roads as people emerge from a long winter enjoying the warmer and drier conditions.

Grand Forks officers were also kept busy this weekend investigating a wide variety of different matters.

Some of the investigations from this weekend include:

May 21

Waterfront public pool highlights capital work plan for the year

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Tuesday May 24 2022

The city is planning to construct a public outdoor pool for a “new dimension of recreational activity at the pier” when the Hall Street Pier project is launched this summer — photo illustration.

A waterfront outdoor public pool will be the main feature added to the city’s arsenal of recreational amenities this year as the capital plan for 2022 takes shape.

The city is planning to construct a public outdoor pool for a “new dimension of recreational activity at the pier” when the Hall Street Pier project is launched this summer.

Called a key project by city chief financial officer Colin McClure, the city is undertaking the capstone of the “Stores to Shores” vision culminating pier overhaul, the public pool and the Ladybird installation along the waterfront.

Cone Zone campaign calls on West Kootenay/Boundary drivers to slow down to keep roadside workers safe

by Contributor on Monday May 23 2022

WorkSafeBC statistics show two roadside workers in the province were killed last year and 31 were injured and had to miss work after being hit by a vehicle. — Submitted photo

Spring and summer are busy times for construction and other road-related activity, which brings an increased safety risk for roadside workers in the West Kootenay/Boundary region.

To help reduce the risk, the 12th annual province-wide B.C. Cone Zone campaign launches today with a call for drivers, employers, and workers to do their part to prevent injuries and deaths of roadside workers.

Volunteers needed to help protect Kootenay Lake from Aquatic Invasive Species

by Contributor on Monday May 23 2022

CKISS will offer training, resources and equipment for all the volunteers, all they ask is that you sign up by visiting www.ckiss.ca/action/volunteer. — Submitted

The Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) is seeking volunteers to join the fight against aquatic invasive species in the Central Kootenay region.

A new community science monitoring initiative has been launched by CKISS with support from the Living Lakes Canada’s National Lake Blitz program in 2022 with the goal to prevent the introduction and spread of invasive mussels, clams and plants into Kootenay Lake and beyond.

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