Dear editor, I am appalled by the decision of the Federal Election Boundaries Commission to separate Nelson from Trail and Castlegar with whom we have community, geographical and economic links. Nelson has been moved into a new riding called Kootenay Columbia which includes Cranbrook. I attended the public meeting held by the...

Are bats really blind? Do they want to suck your blood? These are some of the questions that Educators around the Columbia Basin are answering. Just in time for Halloween, dynamic and skilled Educators from the Kootenay Community Bat Project (KCBP) are providing programs on bats for youth. “Bats are actually very shy, clean...

Selkirk College’s 2013 fall enrolment numbers are showing an increase in the number of students. Final semester calculations will be compiled for the end of October, but the annual September headcount reveals a 3.6 per cent increase in domestic students and a 21 per cent increase in international students. “Although we are ...

 There are some online stories that seem to have a life of their own. Several versions are making the rounds by email – some got their start well before I took office in 2006. Most seem to have a kernel of truth that has been distorted over time, just like the old game of telephone. After being passed along through a number...

It’s that time of year – the leaves are changing, that snow itch is getting painful and downtown Nelson once again plays host to costume-clad shenanigans in the form of the SROAMazing Race. Organized by students enrolled in the Ski Resort Operations and Management Program (SROAM) at Selkirk College, the event is now in its ...

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) started their curbside green bin collection program a year ago. During that time they have diverted 20 tonnes of organic material per month from the Grand Forks landfill, says Tim Dueck, RDKB solid waste program coordinator. As part of the new collection program, the RDKB...

Bears have been making their presence known in Grand Forks over the last few weeks and local conservation officer, Dave Webster, says it’s becoming a real issue. “We have been having higher than normal call volumes with problem bears,” he said. Webster has had to destroy three “garbage bears” in the last week and a total of...

Colonial rule raises its ugly head again. The failure of the US government to continue to operate is yet another example of how screwed up our colonial style governments really are: While we have democratic elections, we do not have democratic governments. Our politicians do not want democracy and arrogantly insist on forming...

Grand Forks city councillor Gary Smith is hoping for high energy savings after taking part in the Kootenay Energy Diet earlier this summer. A certified energy auditor came to his home in July to check for leaks and find out where he was losing the most energy. Smith said the process was quick and interesting. After the...

The month of September was the tale of two different weather patterns for the West Kootenay according to Ron Lakeman meteorologist at the Southeast Fire Centre in Castlegar. The past few weeks is remains the nightmare West Kootenay residents, used to experiencing an Indian Summer, would like to forget. Lakeman said the last...