Cranbrook needs bio-energy, investment department: mayor

Posted on 30. Sep, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Cranbrook

Scott Manjak, Cranbrook’s retiring mayor, says the city needs to court the “bio-energy” industry and create an investment department in order to secure the city’s financial future, reports Sally MacDonald for the Cranbrook Daily Townsman.

Manjak made the statements to the city’s chamber of commerce earlier this month as he talked about how Cranbrook should try to avoid the turmoil in the global economy, especially as jobs move to Asia’s cheaper labour force.

Nelson has quality air, according to WHO report

Posted on 28. Sep, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Environment, Nelson

Nelson’s air quality is some of the best in the world’s cities, according to a World Health Organization report released earlier this week, reports the Toronto Star.

While Nelson, BC wasn’t the focus of the report, the Kootenay town was listed as being in the top 10 of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) report on air quality across the world.

Arson trial moves ahead for hotel fire

Posted on 27. Sep, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Crime

Last year the Silver Ledge Hotel in Ainsworth burned to the ground and this week the judge hearing the case allowed incriminating statements to be used as evidence, reports Greg Nesteroff for the Nelson Star.

Randy Hanoski is charged with setting the June 2010 fire. His defence lawyer challenged the admissibility of statements Hanoski made in the back of a police cruiser.

Atamanenko supports Julian for federal NDP leadership

Posted on 27. Sep, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Federal Politics

Alex Atamanenko, MP (BC Southern Interior) is encouraging Peter Julian MP for Burnaby New Westminster, to run for the federal NDP leadership.

“I have worked with Peter for the past five years and feel that he is more than qualified to lead our party. Although he is from British Columbia, he has lived in Quebec and other parts of Canada and has a distinct vision for our country. He would make an excellent Prime Minister,” stated Atamanenko.

Eyes on Kimberley’s deer solutions

Posted on 26. Sep, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Kimberley

Cities across the province are watching how Kimberley’s cull works out, reports Carolyn Grant for the Kimberley Bulletin.

Cranbrook, Invermere and Penticton are all struggling with aggressive deer, says Kimberley’s mayor, Mayor Jim Ogilvie.

“We are looking at January or February and there will be another count before that. We want to be sure of our numbers.

La Niña, and snow, return!

Posted on 26. Sep, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Environment, Regions

Environment canada predicts La Niña will return to the Kootenays this winter, reports Annalee Grant for the Cranbrook Daily Townsman.

David Phillips, senior climatologist for Environment Canada told the Townsman it won’t likely be as severe as the “winter from hell” Cranbrook experienced last year.

Man fights bear to protect dog

Posted on 22. Sep, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in New Denver

A New Denver man fought off a black bear when it attacked his dog near New Denver, reports Jenna McMurray for the Calgary Sun.

Ralph Wilson and Jolene Popil were hiking up Carpenter Creek near the town when the bear rushed Wilson’s border collie Kato and Popil’s Shar Pei.

Invermere council approves public needle dropsites

Posted on 22. Sep, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Invermere

Invermere’s council has decided the best solution to the problem of used needles left around their community is to provide more safe locations to leave them, reports Andrea Klassen for the Invermere Valley Echo.

Syringes and glass pipes used to smoke crack are found in public washrooms and even some hiking trails and the district and Interior Health have partnered to try and fix the problem.

Few grow ops in the Kootenays, apparently

Posted on 22. Sep, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Crime

According to a new page on the RCMP’s website, they’ve busted all of two grow ops in the Kootenays over the past two years.

The RCMP launched the Marijuana Grow Initiative page yesterday, Wednesday, Sept. 21, and provide the addresses of grow ops they’ve dismantled under the authority of a search warrant. The page is broken down by province and under B.C. two grow ops, one in Wyndell and the other in Salmo, are listed.

Mungall casts support for federal NDP leadership candidate

Posted on 21. Sep, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Federal Politics, Provincial Politics

Michelle Mungall has thrown her support behind Brian Topp, president of the federal NDP, reports Megan Cole for the Nelson Star.

Topp was one of the first to declare his intention to replace former leader Jack Layton as the federal party’s leader. Mungall got to know Topp when he worked with the provincial NDP this summer.