COLUMN: AstroTurfing -- fake grassroots campaigns should be uprooted
AstroTurf looks and feels like grass — in an all-too-perfect way. But it’s not grass. Now the well-known artificial turf’s brand name has taken on a new meaning, referring to purported “grassroots” efforts that are actually funded and supported by industry and political entities. Some people, organizations and campaigns around...
Editorial: Our Choice of Voting Systems -- Part Six
Life is never simple, and one decision is generally followed by more decisions. If a majority of voters choose a change to a proportional representation system for BC, more decisions must be made. Here, we explain how the referendum will be held and what decisions may follow – depending on the outcome – and who will make them....
Rossland's Museum and the community -- the next phase
A new feature is in the works to replace the old mine tunnel tour at the Rossland Museum and Discovery Centre. Fundraising has begun with a major donation. Teck, the company that forms the basis of much of the economic life in our area, has donated a large portion of the amount needed to build Phase II of the Rossland Museum’s...
Category 2 Burns Prohibited Throughout Southeast Fire Centre Area
Please pay attention -- help prevent wildfires. Here's a press release from the Southeast Fire Centre: Effective at noon (Pacific time) on Friday, July 6, 2018, Category 2 open burning will be prohibited throughout the Southeast Fire Centre's jurisdiction. This is in addition to the Category 3 open burning prohibition that ...
Editorial: Our Choice of Voting Systems -- Part Five
Last week, I promised to summarize in this part the differences between our current voting system, called First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) and Proportional Representation systems. Most people understand how we vote now, with FPTP: We put a check or an X on the ballot beside the name of the person we’d most like to see...
New Water Meter Tech for Rossland
Special Meeting of Rossland City Council, July 4, 2018, at Rossland Public Library: 10:00 am Present: Mayor Kathy Moore, and Councillors Aaron Cosbey, Andrew Zwicker, Marten Kruysse, John Greene; Andy Morel by telephone; absent – Lloyd McLellan. A dozen members of the public crowded into the small meeting room at the library...
Review: the 2018 Gold Fever Follies
Rossland’s Gold Fever Follies is a community summertime tradition, enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. This year’s version does not disappoint. Romance, song and dance – the can-can – skiing and hockey; who could ask for more? On the well-attended opening night, the cast was short-handed by one actor – Molly Jamin -- who...
COLUMN: From the Hill -- and home, by train.
When the House of Commons rose in late June, my wife and I decided to take the train home from Ottawa instead of flying straight back. It’s always been on my bucket list and I thought the trip would be a good way to unwind after a hectic June on Parliament Hill. I had some trepidation—things can always go awry when you’re...
Initiative Petition: 90 Days to sign against Site C
A BC voter has begun the next stage of an initiative petition process seeking to have the BC government cancel the Site C dam project; see this May 3 article first announcing the petition. The petition sheets were issued on July 3, so the proponent has 90 days to collect signatures. To move to the next stage of the process,...
RDKB encourages public to watch for debris, changes to waterways after floods
Flood debris and changes to river channels and lakeshores could pose navigational hazards to recreational boaters and others who float or swim in Boundary area waterways this summer, said the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB) in a recent media release. The RDKB said anyone near or on lakes or rivers should be aware...
