Regional News

Staffing challenges force Interior Health to adjust services at Boundary Hospital

by Lone Sheep Publishing on Wednesday March 23 2022

Interior Health said the remaining staff will support the emergency department so it can remain open 24/7 and anyone requiring emergency care should visit BDH.

In a media release Wednesday, Interior Health said there will be temporarily closing the inpatient unit at the Boundary District Hospital (BDH) due to significant staffing challenges.

“This difficult decision was made in order to maintain safe patient care,” said Interior Health president and CEO, Susan Brown in the media release.

“Our priority is to re-open these beds in Grand Forks as quickly as it is safe to do so and we are actively recruiting to stabilize staffing at the Boundary District Hospital.”

KCA brings latest vision of Cube 2.0 into council’s line of sight with search for location

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Wednesday March 23 2022

The Kootenay Climbing Association is looking for a location to build a new $4.2-million world class indoor climbing facility, such as the Cube 2.0 — city agenda screenshot.

As the city’s climbing club looks to solve its popularity problems with a larger, world-class facility it first has to get a handle on the first tenet of successful business: location.

And it was with location in mind that several members of the Kootenay Climbing Association (KCA) appeared before city council during its committee-of-the-whole meeting Tuesday night in council chambers.

Interior Health sees birthrate baby bump

by Lone Sheep Publishing on Tuesday March 22 2022

Interior Health said in 2021, there were 6,136 newborns in our hospitals, an increase of 489 births or a nine per cent increase over 2020.

Interior Health said in a media release Tuesday that the past year has seen a jump in newborn babies in the region.

Interior Health said in 2021, there were 6,136 newborns in our hospitals, an increase of 489 births or a nine per cent increase over 2020.

“Interior Health is happily welcoming our tiniest patients to the world as communities grow throughout the region,” said Interior Health president and CEO, Susan Brown.

Kootenay Lake District hires new Secretary Treasurer

by The Nelson Daily Staff on Tuesday March 22 2022

Johan Glaudemans, who comes from Manitoba, begins the new position effective April 12, 2022. — Submitted photo

The School District No.8 (Kootenay Lake) Board of Education announced the hiring Tuesday of Johan Glaudemans as the new secretary-treasurer and chief financial officer.

Glaudemans, who replaces Interim Secretary-Treasurer Teri Stoneman, begins the new position effective April 12, 2022.

Stoneman has been doing the job after previous Secretary Treasurer Michael McLellan left to work as secretary-treasurer for School District 10 Arrow Lakes in February.

Low numbers of predicted kokanee ‘spawners’ won’t trigger corresponding rise in re-stocking: FLNR

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Tuesday March 22 2022

Will Warnock with the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources (FLNR) said re-stocking of a collapsed fish species like the kokanee is very necessary in keeping them strong, but it always depends on how many “spawners” there are in the spawning channels — FLNR photo

The survival solution to the lagging kokanee species in Kootenay Lake won’t be simply solved by increasing the re-stock number of eggs, says a provincial aquatic specialist.

Will Warnock with the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources (FLNR) said re-stocking of a collapsed fish species like the kokanee is very necessary in keeping them strong, but it always depends on how many “spawners” there are in the spawning channels.

CBT supported projects improving the lives of seniors, elders

by Lone Sheep Publishing on Monday March 21 2022

The Kaslo Senior Citizens Association, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022, will upgrade its hall with support from the Trust. — Submitted photo

Seniors and Indigenous Elders will have more opportunity to connect with each other, and the buildings they actively use will be more sustainable, safer, accessible and energy-efficien thanks to 25 sponsored projects in 18 Columbia Basin communities.

The projects receiving funds in the West Kootenay region —  Kaslo, Nakusp, Passmore, Harrop- Proctor, Rossland, Wynndel, Balfour, Fruitvale and Trail — are being supported by Columbia Basin Trust.

The total amount of funding throughout the Columbia Basin Trust is $1,028,469.

Kokanee are ‘collapsed’ in main lake but efforts will continue to ramp up in 2022: FLNRORD

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Friday March 18 2022

Speaking after a Kootenay Lake public meeting (online) on March 14, a spokesperson for FLNRORD said the main lake kokanee are collapsed and “spawner” abundance since 2015 is about three per cent of the long-term historic average — FLNRORD photo

The main Kootenay Lake kokanee population is ‘collapsed’ but it is in no danger of disappearing, according to the province’s latest update on the state of the lake’s keystone species.

Speaking after a Kootenay Lake public meeting (online) on March 14, a spokesperson for the B.C. Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) said the main lake kokanee are collapsed — which originally happened from 2012-2015 — and “spawner” abundance since 2015 is about three per cent of the long-term historic average.

Stage setting for continued building boom in city in 2022

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Friday March 18 2022

Building permit statistics for the city for the first two months of the year show an increase over 2021, also considered a very active construction year in the city.

Nelson is in the early stages of another robust year for construction, according to early statistics from the city’s Development Services department.

Building permit statistics for the city for the first two months of the year show an increase over 2021, also considered a very active construction year in the city.

Digging into the numbers there have been 21 building permit applications submitted to the city’s Development Services to date (end of February), just behind the 29 issued in the same time frame in 2021.

City to see Selous Creek watershed area undergo fuel mitigation logging

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Friday March 18 2022

The view downslope looking west from the treatment area, showing the beginnings of the work underway — submitted photo.

A new fuel management project for wildfire mitigation starting west of the city should put a little more certainty and ease into an uncertain time for Nelsonites.

A collaboration between the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) and Kalesnikoff Lumber Co. Ltd., the Selous Creek fuel management project begins this month and is designed to reduce the risk of wildfire adjacent to Nelson and the threat to its secondary source of water, the Selous Creek water intake.

Charges laid in Creston BC February 2022 homicide

by Castlegar Source on Thursday March 17 2022

On February 6, 2022 the Creston RCMP were contacted after a 56 year-old woman was found in her residence deceased, according to RCMP Sgt. Chris Manseau.

"Based on the totality of the information, the investigation evolved from a sudden death investigation into a suspected homicide. Once that determination was made, the RCMP Southeast District Major Crime Unit (SED MCU) took conduct of the investigation," he said.

The investigation continued to develop and on March 16, 2022, 63-year-old Creston resident Mitchell McIntyre was arrested.

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