Glynn Brothen
“Do you have any idea how much blood there was?”
PROSECUTOR QUESTIONS MAN ON TRIAL FOR MURDER KAMLOOPS – A Kamloops jury watched today as a prosecutor aggressively cross-examined a man who said he bludgeoned his girlfriend to death in self defence. In Kamloops Supreme Court on Tuesday, Crown prosecutor Iain Currie asked question after question, often repeating himself and taking Robert Donald Balbar through...
Prosecutor questions accused on two different testimonies
KAMLOOPS – The pressure continued in a Kamloops Supreme Courtroom Wednesday afternoon as a Crown prosecutor suggested a man accused of second-degree murder lied to a jury in 2009. Robert Donald Balbar told the court earlier he killed his girlfriend Heather Hamill out of self-defence when she threatened him and his son with a machete...
Attempted murder charges change for man accused of shooting police officer
KAMLOOPS - New information has come forward that alleges a man accused of shooting Cpl. Jean-Rene Michaud committed the offense in relation to a criminal organization. In a brief court appearance in Kamloops Provincial Court Thursday morning, Kenneth Michael Knutson, 36, asked to put his bail hearing off for a month while he seeks legal...
Hockey coach who ‘pursued’ young player sentenced to prison
'WE GOT WHAT WE ASKED FOR' KAMLOOPS - A hockey coach convicted of sexual interference and sexual exploitation of a 15-year-old player was sentenced today to 12 months in jail. Kamloops Supreme Court Justice Hope Hyslop said Heidi Ferber, 43, “pursued (Chanelle) Petrie under the guise of their mutual interest in hockey" and took advantage of anyone who...
Battling Ebola: A nurse’s story
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - As her family and friends prepare to have a white Christmas back home, Patrice Gordon will don a "spacesuit" in extreme heat and help patients infected with Ebola in Sierra Leone. The nurse practicioner with the Interior Health Authority, who hails from Nakusp, signed up as a volunteer with the Red Cross and...
Christmas grinch steals holiday display from senior couple
KAMLOOPS - Brenda Leblanc and her family will celebrate Christmas this year without their favourite holiday decoration because someone stole their inflatable snow globe from their front yard in Brock Estates last Sunday. “It was one of a kind,” Leblanc says. “We’ve never seen another one like it.” The six-foot tall inflatable display has Santa,...
Provinces join to fight wildfires
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Three provincial wildfire teams from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec arrived this Sunday, July 20. The teams will help B.C. Wildfire members continue their battle against several fires across the province. Out-of-province teams will also help provide rest and recovery for British Columbia members. They will join Ontario team members who arrived...
Kamloops food bank raises nearly $40K for holiday season
KAMLOOPS - Hundreds flocked to catch a glimpse of the Canadian Pacific holiday train to watch Jim Cuddy and Tracey Brown perform, drink some hot chocolate and cheer on Santa Claus, but the holiday spirit didn't end there. The Tuesday evening event, set up to collect food and cash donations for the Kamloops food bank,...
Property damaged by flood to be fixed following report submission
KAMLOOPS – Numbers are still being crunched as city officials and consultants prepare a damage report to seek a provincial government grant to help pay for repairs. The deadline to submit the report is October. “We have to take our time in order to get the proper funding,” Manager with the city Mike Firlotte says....
Second suspect charged after investigation into Mountie shooting
KAMLOOPS - A second suspect was charged Thursday afternoon in relation to a shooting that left a Mountie in intensive care earlier this week. Marquee Jasmin Klim, 28, has been charged with willfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer on Dec. 3. Police say during their investigation and hunt in search of the man who...
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...
Public to have another chance at comment on Ajax
KAMLOOPS – Following proposed changes to the Ajax mine, members of the public will get a second chance to comment this November. Members of the public and Kamloops city council have been requesting more information since a series of open houses held by KGHM Ajax last June. In addition to public comment forums, the Environmental...
Police crack down on drunk drivers this holiday season
KAMLOOPS - Local RCMP members are out in full force to take drunk drivers off the road during the holiday party season. Last weekend, officers set up nine different road blocks on Friday and Saturday nights. Five drivers were issued driving sanctions for alcohol. The penalties ranged from 24-hour driving suspensions to 90-day immediate roadside...
Homeless in Kamloops need blankets
KAMLOOPS – When Barbara Lundstrom heard there were 77 people tallied in the 2014 homeless count, she knew she had to do something — especially when her idea about what to do woke her up at 4:30 a.m. “I phoned my daughter,” Lundstrom says with a laugh. “She told me to phone her back in...
IN PHOTOS: Flood damage at Peterson Creek Park
KAMLOOPS - The rainfall from Tuesday night may have assisted in soaking surrounding wildfires, but didn’t help much with the flood damage at Peterson Creek Park. Staff with the Parks and Recreation department from the City is still assessing the damage caused by the July 23 flash flood. The black-diamond Billy Miner trail has been...