Regional News

Interior Health dealing with COVID-19 community cluster in Fernie

by Nelson Daily Staff on Wednesday January 27 2021

Interior Health urges all residents to maintain their efforts to prevent community transmission of COVID-19 following an outbreak. — City of Fernie

Interior Health is dealing with another COVID-19 community cluster, this time in the East Kootenay.

Interior Health declared Wednesday a COVID-19 cluster in the Fernie region and urges all residents to maintain their efforts to prevent community transmission of COVID-19.

“This week contact tracing confirms new cases of COVID-19 where people are reporting higher numbers of close contacts which contributes to increased community spread and heightened concern,” said Dr. Albert De Villiers, Interior Health chief medical health officer.

Nelson's Lynda Cavanaugh named Interim BCLC President & CEO

by Contributor on Friday January 22 2021

A graduate of L.V. Rogers in Nelson, Lynda Cavanaugh served as Assistant Deputy Minister in the Ministries of Attorney General and Public Safety and Solicitor General between 2011 and 2020.

Effective January 22, 2021, Nelson native Lynda Cavanaugh will assume the role of BCLC’s Interim President & CEO while Jim Lightbody continues his medical leave to undergo cancer treatment and recovery a BC Lottery Corporation media release said Wednesday. 

In November 2020, Greg Moore, serving Interim President and CEO, provided notice of resignation to pursue a new opportunity in the private sector.

Kid sport advocate stages one-person protest outside Civic Centre Arena

by Nelson Daily Sports on Wednesday January 20 2021

Bill McDonnell staged his one-person protest outside the Civic Centre Arena entrance on Vernon Street Tuesday, protesting closure later this month of the ice facilities. — Submitted photo

A former senior hockey player and long-time advocate for kid sports began conducting his own one-person protest outside the Civic Centre Arena after the Regional District of Central Kootenay announced it was closing the ice facility at the end of January.

Purcell Wilderness Area benefits from BC Government land acquisition near Argenta

by Nelson Daily Staff on Monday January 18 2021

The Purcell Wilderness Conservancy is the largest park in southeast BC and provides critical habitat for wildlife like grizzlies, mountain goats and wolverines, while at the same time protecting diverse ecosystems, from the high alpine to the old growth inland temperate rainforest. — Photo courtesy John Bergenske

Recently, the BC government announced the acquisition of more than 650 hectares of land intended to be added to 16 provincial parks and two protected areas.

Buried on Page 7 of the BC Parks Land Acquisition Program Report PDF is an 18-hectare parcel of land on north end of Kootenay Lake across from Kaslo and south of Argenta that will be added to the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Protect Area.

River Talk — Movement grows to build weir/dam across Koocanusa Reservoir

by Eileen Delehanty Pearkes on Sunday January 17 2021

It was thought to be a good idea at the time, but the Libby dam was, indeed, a giveaway of local control.

Eileen Delehanty Pearkes has been researching and writing about the history and politics of water in the upper Columbia Basin since 2005. 

Her book on the Columbia River Treaty, A River Captured, was released in 2016. Recently, her travelling exhibit on the Columbia River Treaty, curated for Touchstones Nelson, won a national award from the Canadian Museum Association.

Pearkes has agreed to help readers understand the importance of the Columbia River Treaty to the region with another edition of River Talk.

Kootenay Lake Fishing Report

by Contributor on Tuesday January 12 2021

Dean Fancy holds a giant Bull Trout caught in Kootenay Lake during the Christmas holiday season. — Photo courtesy Reel Adventures Sportfishing

Happy New Year Everyone.

And welcome to a better year to come.

In looking at back at 2020, we can reflect and focus on the positive.  While we didn’t have much work during the first half of the year, we made up for it in the second half.  We’d like to thank our locals for supporting our company and helping to keep us in business.

Update: Death of woman on New Year’s Day now considered a hit-and-run homicide

by Castlegar Source on Monday January 11 2021

Sicamous RCMP and the BC Coroners Service continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the unexpected death of a woman early on New Year’s Day.

The victim, who was previously reported to be 65 years of age, has been positively identified as a 64-year-old woman. She was found at approximately 2:30 a.m., suffering from significant injuries, on a private roadway within the Cedars RV and Resort on Luoma Road in Sicamous, BC.

KI remains committed to resuming play this hockey season

by Nelson Daily Sports on Sunday January 10 2021

KIJHL Commissioner Jeff Dubois said the league remains hopeful of resuming regular season play at that time and will continue with preparations to award the Teck Cup to our league champion in the spring.

The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League remains committed to its goal for providing a season despite of the recent Provincial Health Order extension to February 5, 2021 limiting sports activities and travel.

KIJHL Commissioner Jeff Dubois said the league remains hopeful of resuming regular season play at that time and will continue with preparations to award the Teck Cup to our league champion in the spring.

Interior Health adds seven additional cases to Big White COVID-19 community cluster

by Nelson Daily Staff on Saturday January 09 2021

The total number of COVID-19 cases at Big White Mountain identified by Interior Health is to date 143.

Friday, during a media update, Interior Health has identified an additional seven cases of COVID-19 linked to the Big White Mountain community cluster.

The total number of cases identified to date is 143.

Of the 143 known COVID-19 cases linked to this cluster, 91 reside on Big White Mountain. There are currently 22 cases active and on isolation and 121 individuals have recovered.

Two arrested in New Denver following search of business

by Nelson Daily Staff on Thursday January 07 2021

RCMP said a 47-year-old female and a 51-year-old male were located at the scene who were operators of the business were arrested.

Slocan Lake RCMP said Thursday that on Monday, January 4, 2021 police executed a Controlled Drug and Substance Act (CDSA) search warrant at a business located in the 800 block of Kildare Street, New Denver.

RCMP said a 47-year-old female and a 51-year-old male were located at the scene who were operators of the business were arrested. 

“Slocan Lake RCMP seized a quantity of Contraband Tobacco and Controlled substances under the CDSA and the Cannabis Act,” RCMP said.

“There was items seized that were indicative of trafficking of CDSA from the business as well.”

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