“Castlegar has taken the cake this year,” – that from BC Assessment’s deputy assessor, Dennis Hickson, in regard to residential property values in the region for 2010. He said the average increase in assessed value for single family dwellings in Castlegar is 4.66 per cent, compared with Nelson’s 1.92 per cent, Creston at 2.61 per […]

A further measure of relief from residential property taxes for rural West Kootenay homeowners takes effect in 2011, with the start of the Northern and Rural Area Homeowner Benefit. This benefit provides up to $200 for homeowners living outside of the Capital, Greater Vancouver and Fraser Valley regional districts, such as those residing in the […]

Marley Bassett of Nelson was joined by a few friends to officially open the Glory Ridge triple chair at the Whitewater Ski Resort. Bassett won the raffle draw hosted by Whitewater Ski Team, the Avalanche Awareness Beyond the Boundaris, and the Nelson Food Cupboard. Rising 2,042 vertical-feet in 11 minutes, the new Glory Ridge Chair, […]

Choosing the best music of the year is always difficult when there are so many interesting bands to choose from and narrowing the field to say that one is the best of all is impossible. Here’s my take on the top albums of the year, in no specific order because, well, there just isn’t one […]

The Year in Review story for 2009 was so easy to write – I could be glib and tongue-in-cheek while lampooning a maniacal pot lobby (not the sane, reasonable proponents, just the nutbars who penned missives offering to find out where I live and “knock some sense into that fat, empty head of yours.” Yikes!). […]

PART II: This past year, my staff and I had the privilege of assisting constituents faced with federal bureaucratic problems – unfair treatment, misinterpretations or just plain despair at not seeing any hope in their particular plight.  For the most part, I find the federal public service is exceptionally professional, knowledgeable and helpful, and should not be […]

 Well – they don't give you a gun or a badge or even a taser, but it might be a cool way to spend some time, just the same. Castlegar Citizens On Patrol (COP) is looking for volunteers, according to Castlegar RCMP Cpl. Deb Postnikoff.   “Citizens on Patrol are volunteers that act as extra "eyes and ears" for law enforcement...

Rescue efforts are underway to free more than 200 skiers trapped Tuesday at Maine’s Sugarloaf ski resort, which is located 120 miles north of Portland. Several injuries were reported after a ski lift broke down; an employee at the resort said this caused several people to fall to the ground. The Spillway East lift reportedly came to a halt during […]

Police responded to two serious snowmobile crashes in the region in as many days, perhaps offering a cautionary tale to local snowmobile enthusiasts. The Fernie RCMP responded to a report of a fatal snowmobile collision in the Burton Lake Rd area off of Hwy 3 on Dec. 27 at around 4 p.m., accordign to RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk....

By The Nelson Daily SportsWhitewater Ski Resort is slowly, but surely, moving up on the Big Dogs.For the first time in more than 15 years the Nelson-based ski resort is opening a new lift. “It’s awesome,” said Whitewater General Manager Brian Cusack in a written press release.“I kinda hate that word,” Cusack adds with a […]