Loader catches fire at Elko Canfor yard
The Elko and Baynes Lake fire departments were called out Wednesday evening after a piece of equipment caught fire at the Canfor mill yard in Elko. Fire chief Michael Hockley reported a loader on the property was in flames when they arrived. They were able to knock it down in short order before it was able to spread to...
May 09, 2024
Fire ignites in landfill container bin
A fire crew from the Columbia Valley were called out Wednesday night at around 9:30 for a bin fire at the landfill. Chief Drew Sinclair confirming that material inside one of the 50-yard collection containers was burning when they arrived. Fortunately, it was confined to just the bin and put out quickly. The chief said...
May 09, 2024
Vehicle theft spike in Columbia Valley
RCMP in the Columbia Valley are seeing an uptick in the number of reported cases of thefts from vehicles in the past week or so. According to police, many of items are stolen are from unlocked vehicles, allowing crooks easy access. It's strongly suggested you never leave valuables inside your vehicle, even if it's in y...
May 08, 2024
Invemere students engaged in public transit
(Photo courtesy of BC Transit) A group of students at Invermere's David Thompson Secondary are learning the value of civic engagement. The 18, which include members of the school's climate club and drama class, have already put out survey to their fellow classmates and the community gauging their thoughts on the Columb...
May 08, 2024
June fundraiser set for East Kootenay NICU
It's being billed as A Night for NICU - a collaborative effort between the Province of BC, Kootenay East Regional Hospital District, East Kootenay Foundation for Health, and Bearspaw Community First. Organizers of the event are hoping to create a Tier 3 Neonatal Intensive Care unit at the East Kootenay Regional Hospita...
May 08, 2024
Fire department discourages residential burning
Last week's grass fire in the Fairmont neighbourhood of Columere Park is prompting a warning from Rural Fire & Rescue in the Columbia Valley. Fire department officials are indicating that a burn back on Thursday could have easily gotten out of hand. Deputy Chief Joss Advocaat said it came dangerously close to a hea...
May 07, 2024
Building bylaws to change with new rules
Provincial legislation introduced by the BC government back in the Fall will change the look for some smaller towns and cities across the province. The biggest change: to allow for a secondary suite or laneway home, also known as an accessory dwelling unit, to be built on a property that might be otherwise zoned single...
May 07, 2024
Housing Task Force making progress
A member of Cranbrook`s recently established Housing Task Force says the committee has worked hard to come up with some solutions to the city`s ongoing housing crunch. However, Councillor Ron Popoff adds that doesn't mean reinventing the wheel perse - solutions might already exist... A recently commissioned study found...
May 07, 2024
FireSmart bin events planned for Kragmont
(Firesmart Fox courtesy of FireSmart Canada) The Regional District of East Kootenay and FireSmart program is holding two bin events in Kragmont. The first will be on Saturday, May 18; the other, from May 31 to June 10. The bins will be set up for residents on the Conroy Road cul-de-sac. It's intended to give the subdiv...
May 07, 2024
Weird April weather normal
The weather in the East Kootenay for April can probably be best described as ever-changing - from downpours of rain to hail and thundersnow, we likely experienced everything on the chart including heat and cold. But, as much as the weather shifted, it really was a normal month for places like Cranbrook, according to En...
May 06, 2024