Local News

Budget holds another concern for local NDP MP

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:19:00 GMT

As the Conservatives continue to push the Budget through Parliament, our local NDP MP has expressed another concern.

Alex Atamenenko says the Omnibus bill contains proposed changes to meat inspection regulations, which may allow private inspectors, who may not be qualified, to inspect meat...instead of Federal Meat Inspectors.

Atamanenko says the NDP has started public consultations to engage residents in a democratic process, which hasn't been done to date, and they're hearing from public civil servants who are overworked, and overwhelmed.

Local residents can also have their say www.budget 2012.ndp.ca

Jayne Garry - EZ Rock News

Check out new youth centre during New Denver May Days

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:54:00 GMT

The New Denver and Area Youth Centre will be a feature during May Days in New Denver this weekend.

Society President Beth Corven says residents can come through on Saturday and see what's been done..the youth centre is on Main Street in New Denver.

The group's been working on the project since the Fall, when the CBT asked for expressions of interest for community directed youth funds.

Meanwhile Corven says as a parent, it's important to have a place for youth to go.

The youth centre has a ping pong table, computers, and video games, along with a Youth Centre Supervisor.

Meanwhile May Days events are on all weekend in New Denver...head to www.newdenvermaydays.com for more information.

Jayne Garry - EZ Rock News

Local residents continue to push for WestJet service

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:53:00 GMT

The Quest to bring WestJet to Castlegar has now made it's way to Facebook.

There's a page called WestJet to Castlegar BC, which has over 260 likes.

WestJet says it has plans to create a regional carrier next year to combat Air Canada, placing a bet that lower fares will lure passengers in smaller markets.

Meanwhile there's also another online petition at www.change.org that's gathering steam.

The petition was started by a Nelson man, show says people of the West Kootenay are tired of paying high fares to one dominant airline that services the Castlegar airport.

Jayne Garry - EZ Rock News

More enforcement on local highways for long weekend

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:51:00 GMT

It's the first big weekend of the Spring/Summer season...a time when traffic increases around the region.

West Kootenay Integrated Road Safety Unit Constable Dave Smith says they're going to be out, watching for speeders and distracted drivers.

Smith says you can also expect road checks at all hours of the day, recently they pulled someone over for impaired driving at 7 in the morning.

Meanwhile Smith says another concern this time of year is the amount of animals getting hit with bear, deer, elk and sheep feeding alongside local roadways.

Jayne Garry - EZ Rock News

Hospital delay concerns go to the Legislature

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:49:00 GMT

Kootenay Lake Hospital Delays have been brought up in the Provincial Legislature.

Nelson Creston MLA Michelle Mungall says since the announcement of the expansion project, there have been 4 announcements putting off the official grand opening of the ER...the latest because the floor has to be replaced...that after officials discovered flaws in the installation of the floors in the ER and Diagnostic imaging room.

Mungall wants assurances that taxpayers won't be footing the bill for ongoing delays.

The Minister said that Interior Health has primary responsibility for this project.

While he said that the cost overrun will be covered through a combination of the project's contingency fund and warranty, he was not able to give an exact figure of what the total cost would be.

Jayne Garry - EZ Rock News

Kootenay Savings Community Foundation grants

Thu, 17 May 2012 18:00:00 GMT

The Kootenay Savings Community Foundation has announced the latest installment of Grants and Donations.

To read the full story, including a list of the recent grant recipients and information on their projects or initiatives, please click on the link below:

Announcing New Community Foundation Grants & Donations

Fugitive emissions on the radar for Teck Trail

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:57:00 GMT

Teck Trail has done some work in the past when it comes to fugitive emissions...now they've initiated a multi year project to bring everything under one umbrella to reduce the fugitive dust at Trail Operations.

Manager of Energy and Public Affairs Richard Deane says they're going to focus on a number of areas ...one is open mixing and storage of concentrate and process material...the other is transportation of materials on site.

Mayor Dieter Bogs says it's great news.

He says the fugitive dust is the remaining issue as far as emissions and effect on the community is concerned.

A team has been set up that's dedicated to the project.

Meanwhile Trail has adopted their 5 year financial plan, with a 2.16 percent increase for taxpayers.

That means an extra 43-dollars this year on the average 185-thousand dollar home.

Jayne Garry - EZ Rock News

RCMP getting ready for season at Christina Lake

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:56:00 GMT

The population of Christina Lake can more than triple in the Summer...so Boundary RCMP are happy to have the reserve officer coming back for a 3rd year starting at the end of June.

Staff Sergeant Jim Harrison says the officer focuses on education and enforcement on the water, thefts from vehicles, and disturbances related to alcohol consumption...and they've had a lot of positive feedback about having the officer at the lake.

This is the 3rd year for the reserve officer...and in that time Harrison says they haven't had a fatality on Christina Lake.

Meanwhile Harrison says they also get a seasonal policing budget to do more patrols starting this long weekend.

And the Citizens on Patrol Group are also getting back up and running...they're going to be at the Christina Lake Community Hall May 28th, looking for more volunteers.

Jayne Garry - EZ Rock News

SD 20 Kindergarten numbers expected to go up

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:54:00 GMT

The Kootenay Columbia School District is expecting final Kindergarten numbers for next school year to reach 285...slightly more than last years numbers.

Superintendent Greg Luterbach says so far they have 261 kids registered....He says it's good news that enrolment is going up compared to say 5 years ago..but the number of people graduating is still in the high 3 hundreds...so declining enrolment continues.

Meanwhile Luterbach says they've had a very successful 1st year of Full Day Kindergarten.

Parents who haven't registered their kids yet are encouraged to do so as soon as possible.

Jayne Garry - EZ Rock News

Starry Days in Taghum

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:51:00 GMT

Taghum's Starry nights, will turn into starry days for a couple of events.

Star Guy Wayne Holmes says there's going to be a solar eclipse on Sunday.

To protect your eyes, you'll need special glasses..you could also go to a welders supply place and get a number 14 welders plate...or Holmes can help you view the partial eclipse at Taghum Hall, starting at 5.

They're also getting ready for a once in a lifetime transit of the Sun by Venus Tuesday June 5th at 3...they'll have both solar telescopes set up..

The next Venus transit will be in 2117.

As for starry nights, there's an event at Taghum Hall this Friday night...all of the events are weather dependent.

Jayne Garry - EZ Rock News