COMMENT: A timeline on the arena issue—What did council know, and when?
As we look back at how the arena scandal unfolded, Coun. Jill Spearn said that she felt “blindsided” by the recent surge of public resentment over the scandal and the way council dealt with the situation as they became aware of problems over the last year.Was council blindsided?The big question of 'who knew what and when'...
Council votes 4-3 against an apology to Rosslanders
Council has refused to offer an apology for the manner in which they handled the Jason Ward affair since information about $185,000 in untendered contracts given by the former building inspector to his own, possibly fraudulent company came to the mayor's attention in September of 2011, to council's attention in January of...
OP/ED: Out of left field: Firing Drex an insult to women AND media
Ed. Note: A quote in this editorial alludes to a vulgar cuss-word. If a reader finds that troublesome, please read no further. I’m guessing lots of people in the tri-city area remember Australian deejay Drex, of the Drex and Johnson morning radio show on Mountain FM. Drex, whose real name is Justin Wilcomes, left our […]
COMMENT: From Constitution Bylaw to Delegation Bylaw--a short history of democracy in the Mountain Kingdom
The City of Rossland’s response to a public clamouring to learn who did what, with which, and to whom in a matter concerning arena renovations was a reassurance from the mayor that, notwithstanding a few unfortunate and regrettable miscues, all is well, on time, and on budget. Vague references to a Constitution Bylaw were...
ANALYSIS: Economist Aaron Cosbey finds SD20 options for Rossland result in financial losses for SD20, not savings
Many arguments have countered claims made in School District No. 20's (SD20) recent facilities report that recommends closing MacLean and reducing RSS to a K-9 facility, but we feel the most cogent is Aaron Cosbey’s analysis, summarized here and attached below.Another document that succinctly reviews the errors, omissions, ...
Rossland council supports Neighbourhoods of Learning as school closure crunch fast approaches
As the School District No. 20 (SD20) board approaches it’s February, 2013, decision on school closures in Rossland, council decided on Jan. 4 to inject $5000 into the Neighbourhoods of Learning Committee (NOL) prior to adopting the 2013 budget. The deadline for written public submissions to SD20’s facilities process ended on Jan. 4, but the […]
Canada Wages a 'Low Level War' Against Iran
Yves Engler: Harper government at forefront of supporting “killer sanctions” against Iran amidst deepening ties with Israel.
North Shore Citizens Protest Alberta Summer Resident Dock
A Calgary couple plans to build a large wharf that will bisect a popular family swimming area at Willow Point Beach on the north shore of Kootenay Lake. Jane and Mark Andreychuk occupy their recently built beachfront house as a summer holiday residence and are absent for the other ten months of the year. A […]
COMMENT: He said, she said: A blow-by-blow of the Rossland Arena Scandal townhall meeting on Jan. 3
The Seniors’ Hall fire code was likely violated as more than 70 Rosslanders packed into its conference room on Jan. 3—along with reporters from CBC news and Mountain FM—to get answers from Mayor Granstrom regarding ethical breaches to city policy and an employee’s contract during major renovations to the arena. Former building inspector Jason Ward […]
Emcon answers uproar after record snowfalls
After a record snowfall in December, The Castlegar Source/Trail Champion received several phone calls from professional drivers, first responders and other area motorists expressing concern, and even outrage, over the condition of regional thoroughfares. A reader poll posted to both sites asking “Do you feel Emcon (the regional road maintenance contractor) is doing a good […]
