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Glynn Brothen
Stealing fund raising money is thirsty work and it cost him seven months
KAMLOOPS - A minor indulgence at the crime scene led to the arrest of a man who eventually pleaded guilty to robbing the Kamloops Curling Club of fundraising money, cash floats and alcohol. Kamloops Provincial Court Judge Chris Cleaveley sentenced Jeffrey Mark Balmes, 47, today, May 19, after the accused pleaded guilty to stealing more...
Police asking for public’s help in missing person case
KAMLOOPS - Police are asking for the public’s assistance in the search for a man reported missing May 18. Cpl. Cheryl Bush, a spokesperson for the Kamloops RCMP detachment, says the police helicopter, the dog unit and Kamloops Search and Rescue spent the evening searching the area where the man’s truck was located. Agency members...
Kamloops Search and Rescue on standby in search of missing man
KAMLOOPS - Victoria Day was a busy one for Kamloops Search and Rescue as members assisted an injured hiker and remain on standby in search of a missing man. Alan Hobler with the service said the team rescued an injured woman on a trail near Paul Lake. Hobler said the woman slipped on small pebbles...
Man with handgun arrested
KAMLOOPS - Police took three people into custody Monday afternoon in response to reports of two males fighting involving a handgun. Investigators responded to the 100 block of Columbia Street for the fight when they were told about a third man who may have a handgun used a possible threat, said Staff Sgt. Dave Lucas...
WASELENKOFF ACQUITTED: Why police sometimes fail to get fingerprints
KAMLOOPS — When he acquitted a retired Kamloops school teacher of possession of child pornography, a Kamloops Supreme Court justice said the Crown provided no direct link between Jerry Waselenkoff and a stack of compact discs stashed in the floorboards below his apartment. Police managed to get fingerprints off the CDs but unlike typical crime...
Norovirus complaints traced back to Kamloops restaurant
KAMLOOPS - Fourteen people fell sick with norovirus after eating at a North Shore restaurant earlier this month, but Interior Health Authority says restaurant staff followed corrective measures suggested by investigators to prevent a re-occurence. After eating at Minos Greek Restaurant the weekend of May 1 and 2, three groups of diners came forward to...
WASELENKOFF TRIAL: Retired teacher not guilty of possessing child porn
KAMLOOPS - While a Kamloops Supreme Court Justice acknowledged the testimony of a retired teacher was "carefully woven" in his trial for possession of child pornography, he delivered an acquittal today, May 14. Jerry Waselenkoff was charged with one count of possessing child porn after a downstairs neighbour, Frans Van Der Woning, located four cases...
REMINDER: Mock-emergency event at TRU today
KAMLOOPS - The Thompson Rivers University campus is hosting a mock full-scale live emergency scenario from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. today, May 14. Over 400 emergency personnel and volunteers are expected to participate in the event, which will close some access roads and portions of the campus. Summit Road and McGill Road access points...
WASELENKOFF TRIAL: Porn sites redirected him to child porn, accused says
"I DON'T WANT PEOPLE THINKING I'M A PERVERT HERE. I'M QUITE WITHIN THE NORM." KAMLOOPS - A Crown prosecutor accused a retired teacher of lying to a Kamloops Supreme Court Justice May 13, after interrogating him on how four disk cases with child pornography ended up underneath the floor of his McGill Road apartment. Jerry...
WASELENKOFF TRIAL UPDATE: Accused challenges neighbour’s accusations
KAMLOOPS - The relationship between a man charged with possessing child pornography and a neighbour who testified against him was far different than what court heard, according to the accused. Retired teacher Jerry Waselenkoff took the stand as a defence witness Tuesday, May 12 to say he and his neighbour Frans Van Der Woning had...
WASELENKOFF TRIAL: UPDATE: Computer expert recovered deleted child porn links
KAMLOOPS – Two investigators who examined compact disks and a laptop allegedly belonging to a retired teacher found elements of child pornography on both, according to testimony in Kamloops Supreme Court today, May 11. Cpl. Barry Salt searched Jerry Waselenkoff’s laptop for child pornography after police seized it from the accused's apartment on McGill road...
Mom’s lessons helping daughters cope with her loss
KAMLOOPS - When Valerie Brook passed on to her daughters her love of music, it was a gift they would never be without. She would listen for hours, take them to music lessons, attend their concerts, encourage them. Loralie Loewen, 30, played the violin and Crystal Greffard, 31, the piano since they were children. Music...
Ashcroft doctor shortage impacting other communities
ASHCROFT - A doctor shortage in Ashcroft is diminishing emergency room hours, leaving patients no choice but to either call 9-1-1 or travel over an hour to Kamloops or Merritt in the event of an emergency. Administrators at Interior Health Authority cut hours this week after one of the two doctors in town quit last...
New lane closure impacts traffic flow during Overlanders Bridge construction
KAMLOOPS - While construction is moving forward on the Overlanders Bridge, the latest lane closure will add to the traffic delays over the next four weeks. Starting at 6 a.m. Friday morning, crews closed the Fortune Drive overpass and the northbound off ramp. Crews have also adjusted the Leigh Road and Fortune Drive traffic signal....
POLICE WEEK: A look at what police and partner agencies do for Kamloops
KAMLOOPS - Local RCMP along with partner agencies plan to tell the public more about the work they do at this weekend's event to celebrate National Police Week. On Saturday, May 9, the public is invited to join local agencies in the Sahali Mall parking lot from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to see educational...
UPDATE: Kamloops police find missing 13-year-old
KAMLOOPS - Officers found a missing teenager who was last heard from yesterday, Wednesday, May 6. Shyla Billy is 13 years old, aboriginal, 5'3" and weighs 130 pounds. She has brown hair with blonde highlights and brown eyes. Cpl. Cheryl Bush, a spokesperson for the Kamloops RCMP, said police were concerned for Billy's well-being and...
Worker in critical condition after shooting self with nail gun
KAMLOOPS - It is believed a worker shot himself in the chest with a nail gun at a construction site on Columbia Street West Wednesday morning. A WorkSafe B.C. investigator was dispatched to inspect a construction site at 275 Columbia St. West May 6, after a worker allegedly shot himself in the chest with a...
First Nation protests as highway widening moves forward
CHASE - Despite support from First Nation leadership, not all band members are in favour of the second phase of construction the widening of the Trans-Canada Highway near Chase. Robin Billy, chief of the Adams Lake First Nation in Chase, says he’s not aware of how many people are standing in protest of the provincial...
Kamloops pub treats patrons for making the right choice
KAMLOOPS - Management at a local pub is taking a stand against impaired driving by providing gift certificates to those who make smart choices after too many drinks. Duffy’s Pub is the talk of the town after a customer posted a picture of the letter left with his car, which was left at the pub...
Kamloops chief to pursue provincial leadership role
KAMLOOPS - The chief of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc band will not seek re-election at the local level, but did announce his bid for regional chief of British Columbia this week. “I think there’s definitely a need for a change in British Columbia and I think my 12 years experience of being a chief of...
UPDATE: Police chase down two separate runaway drivers
KAMLOOPS - Police are investigating two separate incidents of drivers fleeing their vehicles on Tuesday, May 5. Around 2:15 p.m. several marked and unmarked police vehicles along with an RCMP dog handler unit were on scene at Ord Road near the dog park and Tranquille Road. Cpl. Cheryl Bush, a spokesperson for the Kamloops RCMP,...
Adams Lake drowning victim saved grandson after boat capsized
KAMLOOPS - Michael Treseng died doing what he loved most at Adams Lake, spending time with his family camping and fishing. His wife, Debby Carr, said he was always teaching his grandchildren gardening and fishing once the 56-year-old Clearwater man retired from a life’s work with Canadian National Railway. “He was probably the biggest-hearted man...
No need to worry, the emergency you see is just a test
KAMLOOPS - RCMP and administrators at Thompson Rivers University are advising students, staff members and the public there will be a full-scale live emergency operation scenario on campus Thursday, May 14. Cpl. Cheryl Bush, a spokesperson for the Kamloops RCMP, said university staff and police spent two years planning the 13-hour exercise scenario which will...
Roadblocks catch several impaired drivers last weekend in Kamloops
KAMLOOPS - Alexa’s Bus was in Kamloops for a second round and this time roadblocks with the mobile safety unit yielded 13 arrests. Police stationed the bus, named for Alexa Middlelaer, a four-year-old killed by a drunk driver, at various locations throughout the city this past weekend, May 1 to 2, to check for impaired...