An observant driver may have saved Castlegar a world of hassle by spotting a lightning-caused fire Tuesday afternoon and calling it in before it could get out of control, according to Ootischenia Fire Department deputy chief Len Coates. He said it was about half-a-kilometre up the hill and in the woods, behind the storage...

The BC Wildfire Service is reminding the public that the use of fireworks is banned in the Southeast Fire Centre, as part of the Category 2 and Category 3 open burning prohibitions implemented earlier this year to help reduce wildfire risks. Setting off fireworks is considered to be a high-risk activity, since they can easily...

A car submerged in Arrow Lake about 10 km past Syringa Park caused local first responders great concern Sunday, according to Castlegar RCMP Cpl. Brett Turner. Turner said a call came at at roughly 2 p.m., with the complainant alerting police to some odd debris along a steep embankment and down into the lake, including a license...

Environment Canada has called off the thunderstorm watch for the West Kootenay. Thunderstorm watch back on for West Kootenay The on-again, off-again thunderstorm watch for the West Kootenay is back on again as Environment Canada said early Wednesday morning thunderstorms could develop across the Kootenay and Columbia regions...

The building located at 1537 Bay Avenue* (near the corner of Helena Street and Bay Avenue) is scheduled for demolition by Impact Equipment Ltd. starting July 27. The demolition process will take approximately two weeks and will occur during the hours of 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. During this time, large machinery...

The Province has strengthened regulations to ensure that hunters do not use flying drones to help them track wildlife, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson announced Friday. The Province amended the Wildlife Act hunting regulation, making it illegal for people to operate or possess a drone,...

A dramatic smash-and-grab gun robbery at the Trail Canadian Tire early Thursday morning has no relationship to a seizure of guns in Merritt the following day, according to RCMP Cpl. Dan Moskaluk. (For full coverage of Trail incident, click here). Moskaluk indicated that, while 12 guns are still missing after the Trail robbery,...

Thanks to a report from a concerned citizen, the Central Kootenay Invasive Species Society (CKISS) has identified and commenced control efforts on an infestation of invasive fragrant water lily (Nymphaea odorata) in Champion ponds near Castlegar. CKISS has listed fragrant water lily as a priority action species in the Castlegar...

Community Futures Central Kootenay (CFCK) is pleased to announce that two new members have joined their Board of Directors. Robert Bleier of Sutco Transportation and Peter LeCouffe of Harrier Aerial Surveys joined the board the CFCK's Annual General Meeting (AGM) on June 20. Bleier MBA, is VP Finance for Sutco Transportation,...

The BC Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a man who died after a motor vehicle incident near Fruitvale on July 14. He is Michael Joseph McIsaac, aged 26, of Fruitvale, a small community about 16 kilometres east of Trail. McIsaac was driving his vehicle on Highway 3B just outside the town about 2 p.m. on July 14,...