Regional News

Selkirk College Instructor Builds on Rwanda Relationship

by Bob Hall on Thursday March 23 2017

The Selkirk College Contemporary Music & Technology Program and Rwanda’s Nyundo School of Music continue to build an important relationship that is shrinking the world. Earlier this month, Selkirk College keyboard instructor Gilles Parenteau spent a week teaching in the African nation.— Photo courtesy Selkirk College

The next chapter in the growing relationship between Selkirk College and Rwanda’s Nyundo School for Music has been written.

Earlier this month, Selkirk College Contemporary Music & Technology Program instructor Gilles Parenteau traveled to the African nation to spend seven days in the classroom with Nyundo students. It’s the second time in a year that the veteran faculty member has made the trip to strengthen the bond between to the two institutions.

Village of Salmo receives $1.85 million for core infrastructure upgrades and improvements

by Nelson Daily Staff on Tuesday March 21 2017

The grant of $1,736,775 is for a total renewal of the 45-year old wastewater system with an additional grant of $104,580 for a comprehensive asset inventory. — Submitted photo

The Village of Salmo is one of several communities in the region benefiting from the Clean Water and Wastewater Fund (CWWF).

Salmo joins Balfour, Nakusp, Castlegar, Rossland, Fruitvale, Grand Forks, Greenwood, Kaslo, Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, Trail and Ymir a communities receiving part of the $373.2 million for 144 new projects in British Columbia.

The federal government is providing up to 50 per cent of funding — more than $186.6 million — and the Province is investing nearly $123.2 million.

RCMP target drivers in Distracted Driving, Occupant Restraint Campaign

by Nelson Daily Staff on Monday March 20 2017

Current stats for 2017 show a whopping 98 cell phone tickets have been handed out by police. — Photo courtesy RCMP

Almost 100 drivers in the West Kootenay still are not getting the message that cellphone distraction has a similar effect on driving as alcohol.

Sergeant Chad Badry of the RCMP West Kootenay Traffic Services said in a media release Monday that during March West Kootenay Traffic and West Kootenay Integrated Road Safety Unit have been working with Traffic Services across the province to conduct a month long campaign combating distracted driving and ensuring occupant restraint compliance.

UPDATED: Mudslides slow traffic on Highways 3, 6, & 31

by Nelson Daily Staff on Sunday March 19 2017

Highway 3 west of Creston is now open to single-lane traffic. — Photo courtesy WK District MOTI

DriveBC is now reporting a mudslide on Highway 6 south of New Denver Sunday afternoon.

Traffic has been reduced to single alternating with information that motorists can expect delays.

Mudslides slow traffic on Highways 3, 31

DriveBC reporting that Highway 3, 10 kilometers west of Creston, is now open to single lane alternating traffic following a mudslide Saturday.

The mudslide happened three kilometers west of Kootenay Pass east gate.

The deluge of precipitation during the past 48 hours also caused a mudslide 12 kilometers north of Coffee Creek Bridge.

West Kootenay Fly Fishing Symposium goes this weekend

by Contributor on Sunday March 19 2017

Pictured, L-R, John Jenner of Columbia Power, symposium organizer and West Kootenay Fly Fishing Club president, Rod Zavaduk and club vice-president, Steve Sandesky. — Submitted photo

Columbia Power is a sponsor of the 18th annual West Kootenay Fly Fishing Symposium taking place Saturday and Sunday (March 25-26), at the Castlegar Recreation Complex.

The event is free to the public and includes a variety of activities for young and old including casting demos, kids’ fly tying, a speaker series and displays including the Ministry of Environment’s mobile inspection and decontamination unit for invasive mussels.

Selkirk College students launch campaign to mobilize youth vote

by Nelson Daily Staff on Sunday March 19 2017

The main entrance at Selkirk College in Castlegar was a beehive of activity as students signed up in the Students Are Voting provincial campaign. —Submitted photo

The pending provincial election in BC has college students taking a firm interest in who will form the next government.

Selkirk College students are part of the movement, joining the Students Are Voting provincial campaign.

This initiative, being implemented on campuses, including Selkirk College, across the province, aims to educate and empower youth to get to the polls May 9.

Snowfall Alert for Highway 3 Paulson Summit, Kootenay Pass

by Nelson Daily Staff on Thursday March 16 2017

Environment Canada is calling for between 10-15 cms for Kootenay Pass Saturday. — DriveBC photo

Anyone planning to travel highway passes in the Kootenay/Boundary region has better be prepared for winter driving.

Environment Canada has issued a Snowfall Alert for Highway 3 from Christina Lake to Creston, including the Paulson and Kootenay Pass highways.

Spring brings increasing interest in bat health and public reports of bats

by Contributor on Wednesday March 15 2017

A bat flying at the entrance of a cave in Vermont. — Photo courtesy Ann Froschauer/USFWS

Fortunately for the bats of BC, it has been a quiet winter.

The Kootenay Community Bat Project (KCBP), in collaboration with the Province of BC, is on the lookout for signs of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS).

WNS is a fungal disease harmless to humans but responsible for the deaths of millions of insect-eating bats in eastern North America. WNS was first detected in Washington State in March 2016.

Avalanche Canada issues 'High' risk in backcountry

by Nelson Daily Staff on Tuesday March 14 2017

Avalanche Canada is asking the public to be extremely careful.

Avalanche Canada is asking the public to be extremely careful when venturing into the backcountry over the next few days as recent high elevation rain has created very dangerous avalanche conditions.

"Very large natural avalanches are expected on Wednesday," said the Avalanche Canada website warning.

"Now is an appropriate time to avoid all avalanche terrain including the run out zones of large avalanches paths."

New province-wide campaign reveals dangerous side of nursing

by Contributor on Tuesday March 14 2017

According to WorkSafeBC’s 2015 annual report, the overall injury rate due to workplace violence has increased over 50 percent since 2006.

Virna Bation, a nurse who’s worked in elder care for 17 years, never expected that her attempt to help a patient would turn violent. A 75-year-old resident suddenly became agitated while Bation was providing care and bit Bation’s thumb so badly that it sent her to the emergency department and kept her off work for three months.

“The pain was excruciating,” she says. “Emotionally and physically, I was really distraught. When I remember what happened, I feel shaky.”

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