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Jennifer Stahn
$45K temporary tax office a ‘failure’
KAMLOOPS — One of the councillors who spoke out against spending $45,000 on a temporary tax office says the pilot project was a 'failed experiment' after only about 2,600 people used the alternative office. About a quarter of city property owners still pay in person instead of online but only seven per cent of property...
Blazers use import draft to pick up Slovakian, Swiss players
KAMLOOPS - The Kamloops Blazers' coaching staff hope two picks in the import draft this week will help to bolster the d-line going forward. Both picks were used to grab eligible European defenseman in the draft. Patrik Maier of Slovakia went sixth overall to the Blazers during the 2014 Canadian Hockey League Import Draft while...
City salaries remain steady
KAMLOOPS - With the number of city employees making more than $100,000 remaining steady at 62 and the amount spent on salaries only increasing by two per cent there wasn’t a lot of surprises in the financial statements this year. In total the city paid out nearly $54 million in salaries in 2013, up $1.17...
Downtown Kamloops offers additional visitor services
Kamloops - A new tourist information outlet has opened in downtown Kamloops, a partnership project of Tourism Kamloops, the KCBIA and the B.C. Wildlife Park. With increasing visitor traffic throughout the city, the additional outlet looks to further compliment current welcome services to visitors enjoying the downtown core. “We are thrilled to have put together...
UPDATE: Fire burning near Sicamous smaller than originally thought
KAMLOOPS - A fire burning in a cut block east of Shuswap Lake that is ‘quite visible’ from Sicamous was likely started by lightning last night and B.C. Wildfire crews expect more of these types of fires could pop up over the next week. “There was quite a bit last night and we’re forecasting lightning...
Bike camp gives new lease on life
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A young man says a mountain bike camp aimed at helping those affected by substance abuse came at just the right time to save him from himself. “The past two years have been really hard for me, I got suicidal…. I was on lots of pills,” Cameron Model, 25, says. “This camp is...
Teachers union, province too far apart for mediation
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The teacher’s union and the province are too far apart for mediation to be productive, a potential mediator has decided, and the union is blaming the province. B.C. Teacher’s Federation President Jim Iker says exploratory discussions with B.C. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Kelleher and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association saw the government...
Higher speeds coming to a highway near you
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Three highways will see speed limits increase to 120 km/h today and another 1,300 km of highways will see the increase later this summer. Over 9,100 km of highways were surveyed during a Rural Highway Safety and Speed Review and Minister Todd Stone says several key points are now being addressed — speed...
Fun and fireworks in Kamloops
KAMLOOPS - Riverside Park was buzzing with activity Tuesday during the annual Canada Day festivities. Temperatures soared into the mid-30s during the afternoon as tens of thousands of people descended on Riverside Park, many deciding to hang out at the waterpark or beach in an effort to cool down. The evening brought the annual fireworks...
Fire destroys old downtown buildings in Merritt
MERRITT - A fire that broke out Monday night in downtown Merritt destroyed two old buildings and left another block of buildings with smoke damage. Mayor Susan Roline says there were no significant injuries but the fire did displace several businesses and residents. She notes the ‘very old buildings’ did not have a firewall separating...
Canada Day in Kamloops
KAMLOOPS - The weather may not be great this weekend but come Canada Day, Tuesday, the sun will be hot and the parks busy as patriotic activities take over the city. The official Canada Day activities, which attract about 30,000 people every year, will kick off at Riverside Park at 7 a.m. Tuesday with a...
Only some summer programs affected by strike
KAMLOOPS - While school district summer school programs have been cancelled third party summer programs will not be subject to picketing, according to the local teacher’s union president. “There won’t be any third party picketing… where they just rent the facility,” Jason Karpuk says. “They rent, they do the hiring, the board doesn’t provide any...
New Gold air emission reports ‘significantly overestimated’
KAMLOOPS - New Afton officials say estimates of air pollution emissions from its New Gold mine near Kamloops are wrong—the victim of bad data. If emissions reported to national authorities are accurate, it would make the mine among the top air polluters in the country. Its pollution levels were seized on by the Kamloops Physicians...
Bear spray used in robbery
KAMLOOPS - RCMP were called to Dynasty Garden Restaurant at Tranquille Road and Palm Street around 12:20 p.m. today after a man used bear spray on several workers after demanding money. Police say a male suspect demanded money from an employee and then sprayed multiple workers before fleeing on foot. An ambulance was seen leaving...
Expect a hot Canada Day
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - After a mix of rain and cloud much of the weekend Mother Nature has decided to smile down on Canada Day with a lot of sun and heat. The entire Interior will be drenched in temperatures between 32-35 C on July 1 and then Wednesday will also be around 34 C but neither...
Ajax open houses bring pro and anti under same roof
KAMLOOPS - A series of open houses this week allowed residents to get a closer look at the new footprint of the proposed Ajax Mine. They also gave those for, against and unsure about the project an opportunity to ask questions. Hundreds of people took that opportunity, with an average of about 130 people attending...
Local teen putting her beauty and brains on stage
KAMLOOPS - Natasha Trudell is a recent high school grad with a lot of confidence and a charitable heart and she is hoping those will help propel her to a win at the Miss B.C. pageant this weekend. Trudell graduated from South Kamloops Secondary School this year and is also a dancer with the Academy...
Summer programs at risk
KAMLOOPS - Not only are summer school programs at risk due to the ongoing teacher strike action but now summer programs held on school property are also at risk. The B.C. Teacher’s Federation announced this week teachers would picket outside of schools hosting summer school programs if a deal is not reached by June 30....
Canada wide warrant for Stanley Ameralik
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The RCMP is asking for help from the public locating a man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant. Stanley Ameralik, 32, is wanted for breach of a recognizance. Kamloops RCMP issued the release asking for help Friday after recent information led officers to believe he may have left the community. Ameralik is a native...
VIDEO: ‘Our Voice Our Teachers’
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Two independent film makers under the name TNT Creation have joined the political battle in support of teachers this week with a video showcasing why and how Kamloops residents support B.C. teachers. The video, shot over two days, features Timo Sargent in front of the camera and Tim Unaegbu behind it. In a...
Kesler traded to Ducks
VANCOUVER - Everyone expected change after yet another rough season for the Vancouver Canucks and today months of speculation ended with the trade of Ryan Kesler to the Anaheim Ducks. The Canucks picked up centre Nick Bonino, 26, defenceman Luca Sbisa, 24, and the 24 and 85 picks in the 2014 NHL Draft, which begins...
New OR project moving ahead at Royal Inland Hospital
KAMLOOPS - Enhanced access to surgical services is now one step closer to reality, as Interior Health has named Delnor Construction Ltd. as the successful proponent for Construction Management Services for the creation of a new operating room at Royal Inland Hospital. “This is a major renovation that, once complete, will allow Interior Health to...
Former Canuck Gino Odjick battling rare terminal illness
VANCOUVER – Former Vancouver Canucks enforcer Gino Odjick says he has a rare terminal illness.
Quebec cheese pulled form B.C. shelves
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A cheese possibly containing a toxin produced by Staphylococcus bacteria has been pulled from the shelves of B.C. retailers this week as a food recall warning is expanded. The original recall was issued on June 20 for Le Moutier Goat Cheese out of Quebec and Thursday the recall was expanded to include the...