What possible cause would bring St. John Ambulance, Castlegar and District Health Watch, the Rebels and Robusters together in one room? The second annual Parade of Programs at the Castlegar Complex, of course... an event that drew roughly 500 people last year, according to recreation supervisor Verona Walker.   “This year ...

The Castlegar and District Community Harvest Food Bank is about more than just food – in fact, food bank volunteers are currently finding their days filled with school supplies. Food bank coordinator Deb McIntosh said the venue is kind of a one-stop shop for local families in need, as they try to help whomever they can; however...

Fifty-nine bears have been destroyed in the region so far this year; a year Conservation Officer Ben Beetlestone says has been a record-breaking one for bears in Castlegar (15 have been destroyed in the greater Castlegar area). “There’s no increase in the bear population, I don’t think, but there have been more issues with (bear/human […]

 Castlegar fire chief and airport manager Gerry Rempel is just drinking in all the community support – literally. Rempel now has a special drink named after him at Joey's Only restaurant, where patrons can order the Gerry Special iced coffee (iced, of course, because it would be wrong to name something hot after the fire...

 I talked to someone yesterday who came in with her son and a list of specifications for a new back-to-school computer. I started running through it and realized that we were talking about a HIGH end computer. I warned her that she was looking at a $5,000-6,000 and asked what it was for. Her son […]

RCMP are again calling for the public’s assistance in locating Owen Kiernan Rooney last seen in Grand Forks, B.C. Rooney has been missing since Saturday, Aug. 14, and his family has added their plea for help. Family members have flown in from Australia to assist in the search. Rooney, a 24-year-old Australian, is 5-feet-9-inches (175 […]

For 3,794 people who are linked into the ‘Help save the B.C. Black bears’ Facebook site, and Allen Piche, the man responsible for feeding them, word that the bears at Christina Lake are not facing imminent destruction will be a relief. Barry Penner, Minister of the Environment for B.C., said the suspects who were feeding […]

 It's that time of year again, and back-to-school can be made more enjoyable if you help set your kids up for success. Here are some tips for a productive school year:  Advice for all parents:   * Be interested in what your children are learning. Help relate what they are learning to the real world; * Stay involved. Be sure...

 Word that the Waneta Expansion Project will go ahead is great news for residents of the Kootenays, providing many jobs and a boost to the local economy, but the B.C. Liberals made a bad deal for the long-term health of the region, say New Democrats.  “I’ve been saying for a long time that this project […]

 When Florio Vassilakakis of the Element Night Club called me, upset about a story we ran (Brawl involves 40 to 50 people outside Element Saturday night), my initial response was deep annoyance.   Oh God, I thought, Another prima donna businessman cheesed off at me for doing my job – not because my coverage was […]