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Kamloops
Mothers Day continues when mom has passed on
VERNON - Every May, Brenda Gilchrist-Sword changes her profile picture. The black and white portrait isn’t her, but her mom Grace, who passed away in 2002. Gilchrist-Sword, of Vernon, lives in a different province from where her mom is buried, so the profile picture is her way of honouring her mom around Mother’s Day. She...
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...
Robbery at Westsyde pharmacy
KAMLOOPS - Police are looking for a man who demanded money and prescription medications at a Westsyde pharmacy Saturday afternoon. Sgt. Joe Morrissey says a man wearing a black motorcycle helmet demanded money and drugs from an employee at Cooper’s Foods pharmacy and then took off on a motorcycle around 1:30 p.m., Saturday, May 9....
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 wildfire recruits put through paces
MERRITT - More than 200 seasonal firefighter applicants have made the cut and this month they are being put through a ‘rigorous’ bootcamp near Merritt. About 1,000 people, many of which are post-secondary students, apply for the positions every year. Provincial Fire Information Officer Kevin Skrepnek says the job is "very in demand" and the...
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....
Summer watering restrictions likely as province records average lowest snowpack levels in 31 years
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The lastest snowpack measurements from the provincial government’s river forecast centre are showing record low levels in some areas including the Okanagan and Similkameen regions. Without substantial rain in the next couple of months, reservoirs across the region will also be lower than normal, likely leading to water use restrictions in many communities...
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...
Ways to treat Mom to a wonderful Mother’s Day in Kamloops
KAMLOOPS - Yes, Mother’s Day is the weekend. And yes, you should probably do something to celebrate your mom. If you’re stuck on just how to do that, take a look at some of the events taking part around Kamloops this weekend. The Cirque de la Symphonie at Sagebrush Theatre May 8 to 9 is...
New pet registry promotes microchip implants
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The SPCA is promoting a new province-wide pet identification registry where animals with microchip implants can have their information stored in a centralized database. "We’ve created a first for British Columbia — a centralized database for pets who receive permanent identification at any B.C. SPCA shelter, veterinarian or microchip clinic across the province,”...
Chyzowski goes in first round of WHL bantam draft
BLAZERS PICK UP TWO PLAYERS IN SECOND ROUND KAMLOOPS – The Western Hockey League bantam draft is underway and Ryan Chyzowski of Kamloops was one of only 21 players to be picked up in the first round. The 6’ forward was picked up by Medicine Hat 17th overall after Portland passed on their pick. Chyzowski's...
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...
UPDATE: Truck involved in hit and run found abandoned
KAMLOOPS - Police say a truck that struck another vehicle, sending one person to hospital, before taking off early this morning has been found abandoned. RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Cheryl Bush says a 2008 grey Dodge Ram struck another vehicle at the intersection of Ord Road and Westsyde Road just before 6:30 a.m. The truck then...
Arts groups make a case for the performing arts centre
KAMLOOPS – Those against the proposed performing arts centre say the price is too high but members of Kamloops’ arts community say this space is sorely needed and this is the price of a vibrant community. Kamloops Arts Council Excutive Director Kathy Sinclair, Western Canada Theatre General Manager Lori Marchand and Kim Enns, artistic director...
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...
Council prepares for likely performing arts centre referendum
KAMLOOPS – The results of the performing arts centre open house have been collated and based on discussion at City Hall Tuesday it looks like a referendum will, most likely, happen by late fall. While the topic of the centre produced a lively question and answer session in council chambers Tuesday, May 5, the big...
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...
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...
City council to decide what’s next for performing arts centre
KAMLOOPS – The people have spoken, the comments have been sorted and now city council members will review them and decide what the next steps should be on the proposed performing arts centre. The city received public feedback regarding the proposed performing arts centre at an open house April 18. City staff have continued to...
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...
VIDEO: 20,000 young fish pumped into lake
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Moving more than 20,000 young fish from a hatchery into a lake isn't easy, unless you have the right tools for the job. On Sunday, May 3, Go Fish B.C., a nonprofit program organized by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of Canada, released a behind-the-scenes video of the restocking of rainbow trout in Paul Lake...