The Police Beat has been pretty slow of late - but that doesn't mean cops aren't hard at work in our community.Castlegar RCMP Const. Rob Gardner, for example, has spent the last several weeks at local elementary schools, delivering the DARE program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education)."We give kids the tools and information they...

Australian native, Owen Kiernan Rooney, disappeared six months ago today but his family and police are not giving up hope. We are once again asking for the public’s help in locating Owen. Efforts to date have garnered many tips, however, all plausible leads have now been exhausted. Owen was last seen at the Grand Forks […]

A court in Pakistan has issued an arrest warrant for exiled former President Pervez Musharraf. He is accused of involvement in the 2007 assassination of rival and ex-Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto while in power.   Currently in Dubai and residing in London, UK, Musharraf has been given until February 19 to appear before Rawalpindi’s anti-terror court. If he does not, the court says […]

Projects that enhance grasslands and rangelands will soon be able to apply for funding support from a new Grassland and Rangeland Enhancement Fund. Supported by Columbia Basin Trust (CBT), the pilot program will be delivered by the Kootenay Livestock Association (KLA).   CBT’s contribution of $150,000 is the first year of a potential three-year commitment, […]

The tragic story of the Whistler sled dog deaths sparked an emotional response around the world. Canadians were stunned by the senseless loss of life; many were angry enough to post fiery comments on Facebook, some were angry enough to make death threats against the perpetrators, but how many are angry enough to do something […]

There are varying opinions as to the origin of Valentine's Day. Some experts state that it originated from St. Valentine, a Roman who was martyred for refusing to give up Christianity. He died on February 14, 269 A.D., the same day that had been devoted to love lotteries. Legend also says that St. Valentine left a farewell ...

I just have to be honest. I’m a total sucker for buttery, brown sugary goodness, like butter tarts, and pecan squares. I mean, really, who isn’t? If you say you aren’t you’re a liar, and you know it. Well you no longer have to live a lie-filled, deprived life as you try to make healthier […]

On February 11th, the community of Nelson held a rally to support the Egyptian people in their struggle for democracy and freedom from tyranny.  The protestors were determined to make their voices loud enough so that Canadian leaders would hear and pressure Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to step down as President. Before the news of […]

 In watching the live streaming coverage of the Egyptian revolution on Aljazeera I am awe-struck by the incredible humanity of what is unfolding in that country. I imagine Jean Jacques Rousseau wandering amongst the throngs of people and being equally amazed and delighted. For the character of this uprising, this outpouring of frustration and joy, of kindness […]

 picture by Ali Farzat He copies phrases from foreign newspapers into a notebook. Then he copies his notes into a larger notebook with a flag and a band of gold on the front. His mouth imitates the words of the state TV channel, and the words of undead clerics, and the words of puff-eyed men […]