General

For the third weekend in a row, the Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) is issuing a special public avalanche warning for large sections of B.C. The warning includes the backcountry areas of the North Rockies and the Columbia Mountains, from Mackenzie south to the US border and east of Prince George, Kamloops and Osoyoos. Also included are the South Chilcotin Mountains, north of Pemberton. The warning is in effect immediately, through to Monday March 8.

Is radon gas putting you or your family at risk of lung cancer?

That's the question Dana Schmidt is trying to get all Castlegar residents to ask, as he continues to promote radon-gas testing in this, the second-worst radon hot-spot in the province.

Castlegar mayor Lawrence Chernoff has thrown down the gauntlet to mayors of Nelson, Trail and Grand Forks, as reigning champion of Fortis B.C.'s EarthHour Challenge.

Chernoff (pictured here with 2009's trophy for Castlegar besting the participation rates of all other communities in the region) said he hopes residents will once again turn off their lights for a single hour to reduce energy consumption and bring attention to conservation issues – this time on March 27 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m.

City council heard, in its regular meeting Monday night, that resident water consumption increased by three per cent in 2009, compared to 2008's numbers – and that's a problem.

Councillor Gord Turner pointed out that the city is currently missing out on granting opportunities that depend on more-controlled water consumption.

A press conference held at Castlegar's Zellstoff Celgar pulp mill last Thursday announced old news – but putting a new face on the story.

Tory MP for Okanagan-Shuswap Colin Mayes trumpeted a $42 million federal grant through the Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program to support Celgar's bio-energy project, which has seen construction under way for months now.

Celgar manager Al Hitzroth confirmed, back in October of 2009, the funding was in place, but no federal minister was able to schedule a Castlegar appearance at that time.

The Health and Hospital Committee (HHC) of the Lower Columbia Community Development Team are planning a groundbreaking ceremony for the new heliport at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital.

The project has been made possible by the generous donations of a number of different groups:

$100,000            Signature Sponsor Kootenay Savings Credit Union Foundation

$100,000            West Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital Board

Eaters and producers are joining the Kettle Valley Food Co-operative around the Boundary region over the next few weeks. With funding support from the Co-operative Development Initiative, a granting program of the federal government delivered by the Canadian Co-operative Association, the newly formed Co-op is recruiting members and developing their initiatives for 2010. Information sessions being hosted as outreach by the Co-op, are assisting them to reach their goal of signing up 60 members by the end of March.

The Canadian Avalanche Centre (CAC) is issuing a special public avalanche warning for a widespread area of the province’s backcountry. The warning includes the mountainous areas of the North Coast, the South Coast, the North Rockies, the Columbia Mountains and the Kootenay Boundary. The warning is in effect from Friday, Feb. 26 through to Monday, March 1.

A red letter day for Rossland's recreation infrastructure today. This afternoon, Jim Abbott, MP for Kootenay-Columbia, announced two grants designed to strengthen the local economy. Red Resorts will receive repayable funding to the tune of $670 000 through the community Adjustment Fund to upgrade and expand the lodge into a “fully accessible four season conference centre”. The project will begin as soon as the ski season ends and, according to Don Thompson of Red Resort, will be completed nine months from today.

The City of Castlegar and Zellstoff Celgar will finally have their day in court as the B.C. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear their case on March 22 and 23 of this year.

The case began in summer of last year, when Celgar declined to pay a $3.6-million municipal tax bill, filing suit instead and arguing the city taxes are "unfair and unreasonable".