Regional News

Interior Health coordinating COVID-19 second shot clinics throughout region

by Lone Sheep Publishing on Monday May 31 2021

Effective May 27, people who received the Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will be notified to book their second dose eight weeks after their initial immunization.

Interior Health’s #journey2immunity campaign continues to accelerate a media release said Monday.

Interior Health said approximately 518,000 doses of vaccine have been administered and more are on the way as Interior Health continues to deliver immunization clinics throughout the region.

“People are beginning to receive notifications telling them it’s time to book their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine,” said Interior Health president and CEO Susan Brown.

Nelson Fire Rescue responds to early morning fire, explosion near Gyro Park

by Nelson Daily Staff on Monday May 31 2021

Nelson Fire Rescue & Services said a distraught person with no fixed address was found near the fire.

Nelson Fire Rescue & Services responded to the report of a fire and minor explosion early Monday morning in the area between Vernon Street and the top of Gyro Park. 

Nelson Fire Rescue said both on duty members responded immediately as well as two additional members responding from home to the 2:37 a.m. call.

“Upon arrival, a brush fire was observed in a wooded area, mid-slope, covering an area 10 meters by 5 meters, with flames extending 3 meters into the air and trees,” Nelson Fire Rescue said in a media release.

Foul play not suspected after human remains of missing man found in West Arm Provincial Park

by Nelson Daily Staff on Monday May 31 2021

DNA analysis undertaken by the Coroners Service confirmed the remains have been identified as belonging to Mr. Darwen Greyeyes, who was reported missing on June 23, 2017.

In a media release Monday, Nelson Police Department said foul play is not suspected after missing remains were found in the West Arm Provincial Park, north-east of Nelson, in April of this year.

In the release Nelson Police said on April 30, 2021 the Nelson RCMP received a report of possible human remains being found in the West Arm Provincial Park.

“An investigation conducted by the BC Coroners Service and RCMP confirmed that the remains were indeed human,” the Nelson Police media release said.

Greening Up — The Month When Everything Changed

by Michael Jessen on Sunday May 30 2021

No matter how it is categorizes, the fossil fuel industry has been handed a handful of rebukes in the month of May.

“If you want to keep the temperature low enough that civilisation will survive, you have to keep coal and oil and gas in the ground. That sounded radical a decade ago. Now it sounds like the law.” – Bill McKibben

Call it what you will: a setback; a rude awakening; a kick in the behind; a stumbling block; or just a bad few days at the office.

However you categorize it, the fossil fuel industry has been handed a handful of rebukes in the month of May.

'Log Jam' protest interrupts traffic Friday in Nelson

by Nelson Daily Staff on Friday May 28 2021

The group, consisting of high school students and community members, gathered to raise awareness of logging practices in the industry and to immediately halt the logging of Old Growth forests in BC. — Submitted photo

A group of logging activists staged a peaceful protest called a “Log Jam” Friday morning outside the Provincial Courthouse in Nelson.

The group, consisting of high school students and community members, gathered at approximately 7:30 a.m. Friday to raise awareness of logging practices in the industry, by pressing pause and holding space in silence and also stopping traffic on the busy Highway 3A access though Nelson.

Air Canada Set to Return to the West Kootenay

by City of Castlegar on Thursday May 27 2021

Air Canada is returning to the West Kootenay Regional Airport in Castlegar with flights to and from Vancouver beginning June 28, 2021.

Air Canada will return to the West Kootenay Regional Airport with flights to and from Vancouver starting June 28, 2021.

Travellers can now book the Air Canada Express flights, which are operated by Jazz Aviation LP, at aircanada.com for Monday, Thursday and Friday afternoon travel on upgraded Dash 8-Q400 aircraft which seats 78 passengers.

“Air Canada’s return is promising news for West Kootenay travellers planning to get where they need to go now and where they want to go once restrictions are eased,” says Mayor, Kirk Duff.

Extinction Rebellion West Kootenay stages rally outside office of Forestry Minister

by Lone Sheep Publishing on Wednesday May 26 2021

More than 70 high school students, grandparents, mums and babies, youth, health care workers, forestry workers and many other concerned citizens, gathered outside the Castlegar office before staging a march that disrupted traffic in the downtown core. — Facebook photo

More than seventy concern citizens from Extinction Rebellion West Kootenay staged a rally outside the office of Kootenay West MLA Katrine Conroy Tuesday in Castlegar to show solidarity with the blockade at Fairy Creek on southern Vancouver Island.

Protestors are upset with the decisions by the Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development to harvest old growth forests in the Fairy Creek watershed.

KAST, Selkirk College Release Kootenay Technology Sector Assessment 2020

by KAST on Monday May 24 2021

This report provides vital information on the economic impact analysis and outlook, which will help guide future economic and community development strategies that strengthen and expand the regional tech sector.

The Kootenay Association for Science and Technology (KAST) and Selkirk College’s Applied Research and Innovation Centre (ARIC) have been working together to measure the tech sector’s impact and its economic health within the region. KAST is thrilled to present the Kootenay Technology Sector Assessment 2020, the first of its kind in the region.

Public assistance required to count bats and find roosts

by Lone Sheep Publishing on Monday May 24 2021

A bat is seen emerging from a bat box. — Photo courtesy J Saremba, BMN.

Spring is here and bats are returning to summer roost sites.

Which is why the BC Community Bat Program is requesting colony reports and volunteer assistance for this citizen-science initiative that encourages residents to count bats at local roost sites.

“The counts are a wonderful way for people to get outside, respect social distancing guidelines, and be involved in collecting important scientific information,” says biologist Elodie Kuhnert, coordinator of the Kootenay Community Bat Program. 

Pages

more