Regional News

Nelson-based dock for Grohman residents a necessity, but too costly: report

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Monday June 27 2022

The gap between what the owners of 57 parcels of land in the Grohman Creek neighbourhood can afford to pay annually compared to what the $1.73-million project could cost per year is wide — Creative Commons photo.

Capital cost considerations could outstrip the reach of a project to construct a docking facility for a North Shore, largely boat access community, a regional district feasibility study revealed.

The gap between what the owners of 57 parcels of land in the Grohman Creek neighbourhood — located on the north side of the West Arm of Kootenay Lake in Electoral Area F — can afford to pay annually compared to what the $1.73-million project could cost per year is wide.

Unsettled weather forecast could bring heavy rain to heavy snowpack

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Sunday June 26 2022

The snow survey and water supply bulletin has assessed the progression of spring snowmelt as delayed in the region — Creative Commons.

The upcoming weather forecast is predicting continued unsettled conditions throughout the province while a significant risk builds over the short-term for a potential heavy rain to fall on a melting snow pack.

According to the latest B.C. River Forecast Centre Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin, an unsettled weather forecast and more rain could combine with the region’s snowpack — 215 per cent of normal — to create flooding conditions as the spring melt continues to build.

Nelson Ed-tech start-up brings place-based online education to schools

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Saturday June 25 2022

Students engage with Live It Earth STEM Challenge, counting and measuring tree rings on a cross-section — Melissa Welsh photo.

A recent online educational start-up from Nelson has brought their content into the free realm.

Thanks to an agreement between the Government of Canada and the Ministry of Education, all students in Focused ED in B.C. public schools will be able to access Live It Earth’s bilingual — place-based online education programming.

Navigational performance solution has Castlegar airport poised for air travel return

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Friday June 24 2022

The region’s main airport has found a partial solution to erasing the moniker that has dogged the airport for years: Cancel-gar — TND file photo.

Call it Cancel-gar no more.

The region’s main airport has found a partial solution to erasing the moniker that has dogged the airport for years — and cancelled countless flights — since it was established.

In a bid the City of Castlegar-owned facility is applying to the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) Strategic Priorities Fund, hoping to implement a navigational performance solution expected to reduce the number of cancellations — due to river and valley fog — and expand the terminal for the arrival of larger aircraft.

Business owner impatient on why ICI recycling material still going into landfill

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Wednesday June 22 2022

The owner and operator of Ace Building Supplies in Kaslo wrote a letter to the RDCK board of directors to express concern over the lack of recycling options for remote businesses — TND file photo.

The province’s adoption of stricter recycling guidelines for businesses has negatively impacted the rural B.C. areas and one business is finally speaking out.

The owner and operator of Ace Building Supplies in Kaslo — Jeff Davie — wrote a letter to the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) board of directors to express concern over the lack of recycling options for remote businesses.

For some time, Davie and other businesses have been taking their mixed fibre and plastics to the transfer station in Kaslo. But that changed recently.

Nature Conservancy of Canada looks to restore whitebark pine

by CBT on Monday June 20 2022

The project is to restore whitebark pine in the Darkwoods Conservation Area, a 63,000-hectare protected space between Nelson and Creston that the organization owns and manages. – Submitted photo

Imagine that chocolate was an essential food.

Now imagine that chocolate was getting scarce.

That’s what it’s like for grizzly bears when it comes to the seeds of whitebark pine trees.

“The seeds are quite large and nutritious and they’ve got more energy than chocolate, apparently,” says Adrian Leslie, West Kootenay Project Manager of the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Unfortunately, in the Columbia Basin and many other North American areas, a fungus is decimating these trees.

Medical clinic doctors speak on lack of support, resources and the failing of the province in delivering healthcare services

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Monday June 20 2022

Citing numerous reasons the Ancron Medical Clinic deemed it no longer had the ability to service the growing demand of walk-in patients on top of its own family practices — website screenshot.

One of the city’s walk-in medical clinics has elected to reduce its hours after suffering from staff burn-out, the crippling effect of limited resources and chronic under staffing.

The Ancron Walk-In Clinic has been operating seven days a week for the last 10 years, but as of March 31 it has curtailed its weekday walk-in traffic, operating only on the weekend (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) on a first come, first served basis.

Nelson set to come online in fall with limited organics waste diversion through RDCK

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Sunday June 19 2022

Nelson will be receiving an upgrade to its Grohman Narrows transfer area to accept organic waste — photo courtesy RDCK.

Although the first phase of the regional district organic waste diversion strategy has launched it will be later this year before a limited version settles in to serve the Heritage city.

The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) will open its first composting facility this week, completing the construction of a new facility in the Creston landfill to handle the collection of curbside organics in the town of Creston.

The RDCK is still developing a similar program for Nelson to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Snowpack in West Kootenay backcountry climbs to 215 per cent of normal

by Timothy Schafer Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on Saturday June 18 2022

Since May 15 the region’s average snowpack has risen from 128 per cent of normal to 215 per cent, well above normal snow basin indices — Creative Commons photo.

The region’s snowpack has climbed to 215 per cent of normal as the spring melt continues to build.

Since May 15 the region’s average snowpack has risen from 128 per cent of normal to 215 per cent, well above normal snow basin indices.

“It is important to note the total snow depth is not increasing,” noted the B.C. River Forecast Centre in its Snow Survey and Water Supply Bulletin.

“Instead, this high anomaly happens in June during years of delayed snowmelt when current snow levels are compared to normal values that are small due to advanced snow melt.”

Creston retiree lands Grand Prize in Kootenay Lake Angler Incentive Program year end draw

by Contributor on Friday June 17 2022

Allan Mather is presented with his prize at Jones Boy's Boats. Left to right in photo, Dale Williams (BCWF), Karl Luedtke (West Arm Outdoors Club), Gordie Grunerud (West Arm outdoors Club), Allan Mather (Grand Prize winner), Molly Teather (Ministry of Forests), Casey McKinnon (Jones Boys Boats), Chad Jones (Jones Boys Boats), Lex Jones (Jones Boys Boats). — Submitted

Creston resident Allan Mather has won a $15,000 Marlon Boat package from Jones Boys Boats of Woodbury, B.C., the Grand Prize awarded annually by the Kootenay Lake Angler Incentive Program.

The latest winner of the $1,000 monthly prize draw, Scott Girdwood of Kaslo, was also announced.

Mather is a retired farmer and passionate angler who fishes almost weekly with friends in a large boat. Some of his fishing companions have been monthly KLAIP draw winners, based on fish they caught from Alan’s boat 

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