The evolution of Inthekoots continues

Posted on 29. Nov, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Opinion

You may have noticed a decided lack of activity on News in the Kootenays for the last week. I apologize. We were swamped with the final stages of the launch of Inthekoots 2.0 and the massive upgrade to our calendar system.

From the editor’s desk: We have gremlins in the system

Posted on 26. Jul, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Opinion

Some of you may have noticed some glitches in our calendar system over the past week and perhaps even noticed there is no longer a submission form for any of the calendars. We’re sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused. This is a temporary hiccup with Inthekoots, caused in part by a world-wide upgrade [...]

Grow your business with blogging

Posted on 15. Jul, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Opinion

The Inthekoots Network is offering a workshop to business owners who would like to learn how to use blogging, and the network specifically, to increase their business.

Jenna Semenoff, account manager for Inthekoots, and Chris Shepherd, managing editor, will talk about what to write about, how to use the system and how to engage with readers and potential customers.

U.S. tax policy an affront to Canadian sovereignty

Posted on 12. Jul, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Federal Politics, Opinion

B.C. Southern Interior MP Alex Atamanenko is outraged at the proposed U.S. tax crackdown recently announced by the American government.

By law, all individuals holding U.S. citizenship are required to file annual income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In addition, the new U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) obliges Canadian financial institutions starting in 2013 to report to the IRS all accounts held by U.S. citizens.

A year Inthekoots

Posted on 24. Jun, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Opinion

This week is what my Nanna would have called a suspicious occasion: It was a little over a year ago I started News in the Kootenays bringing a brand new service to the region on the Inthekoots Network.

It’s been a year of learning, adjustment and marvelling at the vast potential of working online.

News in the Koots passes 1,500 Facebook likes

Posted on 20. May, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Opinion

I let an important milestone pass a couple weeks ago: News in the Kootenays reached 1,500 Facebook likes. What can I say, it was a busy week then, what with the federal election just ending and all. That many Facebook likes is a big deal, honest. Why? Because that means there are 1,500 Facebook users [...]

The perils of reporting the news

Posted on 11. May, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Opinion

There are times when I hate being a journalist. They’re usually the times when I work on a story that involves legal entanglements and the emotions involved make me want to take sides right away. This happened with the story about the dog dispute that ended up sending a man to hospital with a possible [...]

Share your thoughts and become a Sasquatch

Posted on 10. May, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Opinion

Do you have it in you to become a Sasquatch? Or are you a Huckleberry? The new Inthekoots points system will tell you. Rik Logtenberg, founder of Inthekoots, added the points system to the network as a way to encourage people to get engaged in the network and join the discussions taking place on the [...]

Why vote?

Posted on 02. May, 2011 by Chris Shepherd in Opinion

Election day is a rare opportunity to directly influence our government, to send a message to politicians and political parties, yet this year I toyed with the idea of not voting. I did vote in the end, marking an “X” in the circle, dropping the ballot into the cardboard box, but I have to admit [...]

Stephen Hill peddling a fantasy

Posted on 28. Apr, 2011 by admin in Federal Politics, Opinion

Dear editor: Conservative candidate Stephen Hill has been peddling the fantasy, that singlehanded he would revive the forest industry in this riding. The Prime Minister’s Office would soon disabuse Mr. Hill of that notion, should Harper win a majority. Such a majority would mean ‘sink or swim’ for the local forest industry. Here is why: [...]