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Glynn Brothen
Man allegedly points crossbow, demands gun
KAMLOOPS – Police members have a 31-year-old man in custody after an alleged armed robbery at Powder Keg Shooters Supply store on Tranquille Road Monday morning. A man entered the store, pointed a crossbow at an employee and demanded a firearm, according to an RCMP press release. He then fled the store before obtaining any...
Peachland’s Drought Hill fire now 100% contained
PEACHLAND – B.C. Wildfire crews along with the Peachland and West Kelowna fire departments are currently mopping up the scene of the Drought Hill fire, which has already burned for four days but is now 100 per cent contained. “It’s still 40 hectares in size. There will be 50 personnel on site today,” says Kelsey...
Grant could ease rural patients’ access to health care
KELOWNA – A $20,000 grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research will help an interdisciplinary team from UBC and Interior Health continue research and development of 'telehealth' communications. The pilot is set to help patients with atrial fibrillation – a common heart condition – in rural areas. “Often the only option for older adults...
ICBC to mail letters and refunds to users following database error
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – ICBC is ready to pay-up after over-charging some car insurance users over the past six years based on incorrect vehicle descriptions. The investigation has concluded after two external reviews. They checked 24 million individual optional insurance transactions and now the company will mail 441,000 letters and applicable refunds to its customers. The average refund...
Sundhu to represent federal New Democrats in Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding
KAMLOOPS – This Saturday, New Democrats will welcome Bill Sundhu as the party’s Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo candidate for the 2015 federal general election. Sundhu announced his candidacy on July 11 after hearing concerns from Kamloops community members and deciding to change the current government's "cynicism and coarseness" which he says is diminishing Parliament. After previous experiences as a...
Police still investigating shooting in Fortune Drive home
KAMLOOPS – So far no charges have been laid after a Kamloops man was shot in the face August 2. Around midnight last Saturday, officers discovered the 23-year-old male on the front steps of a house on the 300 block of Fortune Drive. He was still breathing and conscious after suffering a gunshot wound to his...
Ontario and Quebec sending more crews to help B.C. Wildfire
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – More than 220 personnel will arrive from Ontario and Quebec Friday and Saturday to help B.C. Wildfire staff in their efforts to battle blazes across the province. The incident management team and sustained action firefighting personnel will help over 1,600 provincial staff, 930 contractors and roughly 100 other out-of-province staff. An additional 80...
Train accident a “sad reminder” of trespassing risks
KAMLOOPS – A representative from the Canadian Pacific Railway is calling the incident which left one man dead and another injured a “sad reminder” of the dangers of trespassing. On Aug. 6 around midnight the two men were walking along the tracks at the intersection of East Trans Canada Highway and Comazzetto Road, near Valleyview when they...
Police need more information to find missing 17-year-old
KAMLOOPS - Officers are asking the public to submit any information which could help their search for Hayley Haines, 17, who was last seen on August 4. The First Nations teenager is described as 5' 4", 110 pounds with long brown hair and brown eyes. Police are very concerned as the teen has left for...
BROTHEN: Waiting for facts is hard, but probably best
We demand answers when we see the damage at Mount Polley but inevitably those answers take longer than we like as they test and measure and study. And while we wait to understand the full scope of the carnage created when the tailings pond at the mine near Likely, B.C. failed, flooding forests and rivers...
Social media queries on Ajax following Mount Polley mine incident
KAMLOOPS – The announcement of Mount Polley’s mine tailings pond flood has raised concerns for residents of the Thompson-Okanagan leading to opinions from both supporters and those opposing the proposed Ajax Mine. The dam at Mount Polley Mining Corporation’s site near Likely, B.C. failed on Monday sending 10 million cubic metres of water and 4.5...
Owner of Dallas Stars found guilty of environmental charges
KAMLOOPS – Tom Gaglardi, owner of the NHL's Dallas Stars, and his company Northland Properties Corporation, were convicted Thursday morning of harmfully altering a fish habitat while constructing their family vacation home. “There was an element of wilfulness and a desire to get the job done and if necessary, seek forgiveness later,” Provincial Court Judge...
“Hot Nite in the City” will show the cars of the future
KAMLOOPS – The B.C. Sustainable Energy Association is offering Kamloops residents the chance to look at the cars of the future at this year’s Hot Nite in the City event. This weekend, visitors can expect to see three electric vehicles – a Nissan Leaf, a Smart Electric Drive and a Tesla Model S. All three...
Woman awarded over $366K after vehicle incident
KAMLOOPS – A Kamloops woman was awarded over $366,000 in Kamloops Supreme Court after a truck pulling a U-Haul struck the side of a car on a busy highway. The woman was driving 90 km/hr on the highway approaching Peterson Creek bridge when the truck pulling the U-Haul hit the left side of the woman’s...
Local business owner to run for city council position
KAMLOOPS – Local resident Bob Dieno announced he is “throwing his hat into the political ring” by running for a spot on Kamloops city council. Dieno is the owner of Nutech Fire and Safety, a business which specializes in protection equipment. To focus on his political run, he has taken a leave of absence from...
Australia to send support for B.C. Wildfire
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Several wildfire specialist management teams from Australia will touch down in Vancouver this weekend to help respond to several wildfires across the province. “The high number of active wildfires in the province is stretching our firefighting resources,” said Minister of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Steve Thomson. “In addition to the support...
Paul Lake fire hall given the go-ahead
PAUL LAKE – Paul Lake will get its fire hall after receiving support from 60 per cent of residents during the petition process. Following project approval from the province, the Thompson Nicola Regional District will borrow $260,000 on behalf of Paul Lake Fire Protection to build the hall. Petition forms were sent to owners of...
Smokey skies from fires in United States, northern B.C.
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Kamloops and Vernon residents woke up to the sight, smell and taste of smoke on Wednesday morning. Fire information officer Kayla Pepper says the smoke is coming from wildfires in the northern part of the United States and from the Prince George and Cariboo fire centres. Pepper says the smoke is currently trapped...
Residency program launches for new doctors at Royal Inland Hospital
KAMLOOPS - New doctors in Kamloops can complete their entire post-grad training in Kamloops, since the new family practice residency site has launched at Royal Inland Hospital. “Training family practitioners here in Kamloops gives them an opportunity to discover this great region and they will hopefully return for their practice careers,” said Health Minster Terry...
Kamloops woman’s remains found at White Lake
KAMLOOPS - Police say the human skull found June 1 near White Lake belongs to Samantha Paul, a 26-year-old woman who went missing last year. While police received dozens of tips, Samantha’s reason for disappearance was not resolved. The remains do not indicate foul play, however it has not been ruled out RCMP stated in a press...
UPDATE: Police find missing boy, last seen at Kamloopa Pow Wow
KAMLOOPS – Kamloops RCMP have found Nathaniel Alexander Harry, a 13-year-old boy who went missing from the pow wow grounds on August 4. Nathaniel went missing at approximately 3:30 p.m. His parents say he has never taken off in the past. Officers were hoping to find Harry and take him home to Alkali Lake –...
B.C. Wildfire pilot forced to land with one engine
KAMLOOPS – A pilot flying a B.C. Wildfire plane carrying a load of retardant had to make an emergency landing at Kamloops Airport this morning. The pilot reported a mechanical issue, turned off the damaged engine and returned to the airport where the plane landed safely. The plane, a Convair 580, landed with one functioning...
UPDATE: Downtown cordoned off, evacuated due to gas leak
KAMLOOPS - Part of Victoria Street was evacuated by RCMP Tuesday afternoon after a natural gas line broke on Lansdowne Street. Traffic RCMP continue to block traffic between 1 to 2 Avenues on Lansdowne while Victoria Street businesses have re-opened. Business owners are advised to keep windows open. While the gas leak has been stopped,...
UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm warning north of Kamloops ended
NORTH THOMPSON – Environment Canada has ended a severe thunderstorm watch for the North Thompson area. The alerted areas included Williams Lake and 100 Mile House. Weather conditions were favourable for the development of wind gusts and large hail. Hail has the potential to damage property or cause injury. Strong winds could damage buildings, overturn...