Kamloops

Elementary teacher encourages phones in class

KAMLOOPS - They have them, so why not use them? That is the mentality of one teacher who is trying to show young students how to use smartphones and tablets as more than just an entertainment device. Teacher Jason Sandhu has always loved technology and is constantly looking for ways to bring it into his...

Two green thumbs up for public plant project

KAMLOOPS - Locals are welcome to loan a garden-gloved hand to the MacDonald Park Public Produce Plant Up this Sunday. The Kamloops Public Produce Project is a community organization working with the Kamloops Food Policy Council to grow greenery and healthy food locally. On Sunday, the group plans to plant seedlings and several trees. Anyone...

Heat coming your way this weekend

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — Get your sunscreen ready: the cool, wet week has a reprieve in store for us with higher temperatures for a water park or beach this weekend. Today highs will reach near normals of 21 C to 23 C across the region with a 30-40 per cent chance of thundershowers or storms this afternoon...

River levels receding

KAMLOOPS — A flood watch for the Clearwater River has been downgraded and the high streamflow warning for the North Thompson River has ended after heavy rainfalls did not materialize in most areas Wednesday. A total of 5-10 mm fell throughout the region over the past couple days, significantly less than the 10-20 mm expected...

B.C. Lions invite public to Fanfest

KAMLOOPS - It's time once more for fans of the B.C. Lions to head out to Hillside Stadium for a special day that's all about them. The City of Kamloops and B.C. Lions are holding Fanfest again, from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, June 8. The team will host a practice and clinic, encouraging fans...

Not the first time baby suffered brain trauma, doctor suggests

KAMLOOPS – An infant victim in an assault and neglect case suffered head injuries from “violent forces” and it wasn’t the first time, a B.C. Children’s Hospital pediatrician suggested today. Dr. Margaret Colbourne told Kamloops Supreme Court Justice Hope Hyslop today the baby she examined in early 2012 had symptoms “more in keeping with abusive...

Community, not ore bodies, guided Ajax move

KAMLOOPS - The external affairs manager for KGHM Ajax Mining says they listened to community concerns over placement of the proposed Ajax Mine facilities but at least one group says the move announced earlier today does not fully address their concerns. “It alleviates the concerns somewhat, but it doesn’t come anywhere near meeting all our...

Martial Arts community kicks back at “offensive” remarks by Vernon council

VERNON - The mixed martial arts community is in an uproar over what they feel were offensive and uneducated comments made about their sport earlier this week by Vernon councillors. The City of Vernon wants to ban mixed martial arts (MMA) events because, as Coun. Bob Spiers put it, “the association with the type of...

Water parks open this weekend in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - It may not feel like summer is around the bend with the wet, cool weather lingering over Kamloops these past few days, but the city isn't about to let kids down. They're opening water parks at the end of the month. Starting Saturday, May 31, all City of Kamloops water parks will be...

Two locals to receive Order of B.C.

KAMLOOPS - Two local men will be among the 25 British Columbians to be appointed to the Order of B.C. this year. Roger Barnsley and Hon. Leonard Marchand are among those who will receive the award, given to people who have contributed to the province in extraordinary ways. Barnsley, as president of the University College...

Ajax moving some facilities south, pit to remain

KAMLOOPS — The tailings facility is being moved away from the Coquihalla Highway and the waste rock facility is being moved farther away from the city but the open pit will remain about two kilometres from the closest existing property. “This new plan is an important adjustment to the Ajax Project that address community concerns...

Teacher strikes to continue next week

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — If you have kids, be prepared to find alternate plans next week because the teachers’ union has announced a second week of rotating strikes, set to take place next week. Students in the Central and North Okanagan School Districts (SD23 and SD83) will be home Monday, June 2. On Tuesday, the strikes rotate...

The fishy case of the stolen boat

KAMLOOPS – The buyer and seller of a stolen boat were in Kamloops Supreme Court this afternoon explaining how a vehicle priced well below market value—and without proper registration papers—didn’t raise any red flags. Kevin Peel, born in 1964, of Pinantan Lake, B.C. faces one charge of possessing stolen property over $5,000 and another of...

Rehabbed horse finds new home in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - Autumn, a 14-year-old mare, was rescued in October and after months of rehabilitation has a new home as an ambassador for the therapeutic riding club in Kamloops. When My Little Pony Horse Rescue liberated Autumn from poor conditions last October she had no manners, no guidance, no training and her feet had not...

UPDATE: Mom came home to unresponsive baby, court hears

"I WAS TRYING TO GET ANY REACTION OUT OF HER" KAMLOOPS – A Barnhartvale mother delivered tearful testimony in Kamloops Supreme Court this morning about her husband's alleged assault on their infant daughter. Often pausing to collect herself, Cassandra Gunn, born in 1980, said she and her husband were often challenged by their daughter, who...

Teachers strike in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - Day three of rotating strikes across the province had teachers in Kamloops hitting the pavement in an effort to move along contract negotiations with the provincial government. The B.C. Teachers Federation announced last week it would stage rotating strikes this week after the province refused to negotiate on classroom size and other key...

All council members set to run for reelection

KAMLOOPS - With Coun. Nelly Dever officially announcing to run for council again, only one seat will be vacant heading into the 2014 civic elections. The announcements began a few months ago but Dever waited until the final moment to announce her intention. “I’ve had a fantastic first term,” Dever said Tuesday afternoon. “I was...

Snow on Coquihalla

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Winter has returned to the Coquihalla Highway and the rest of the region can expect heavy rain today. Drive B.C. is reporting slushy sections from the Great Bear Snowshed to the Coquihalla Lakes exit, water pooling north of that section and fog in the section of the Coquihalla Highway between Merritt and Kamloops....

UPDATE: Evacuation alert for Clearwater area rescinded

THOMPSON-NICOLA - Some areas near Clearwater remain on flood watch but the evacuation alert put out last night has been rescinded. The Clearwater River is at a one in 10-year flow level and there was a high risk roads north of Clearwater could flood. While the river went down slightly at the Clearwater Station overnight,...

City seeks clarity on environmental application process

KAMLOOPS - City council is asking those who understand the environmental application process and timelines around it to help ease public confusion by offering an information session for the people. Coun. Arjun Singh says he has been getting a lot of questions from residents about why council has not taken a stand for or against...

Stuart Wood decision left for another day

KAMLOOPS - The board asked several questions and the report was accepted but the decision on what exactly to do with Stuart Wood Elementary School will have to be dealt with at a later date. “No decisions have been made,” School District 73 Trustee Cara McKelvey says. “Some trustees asked questions around heritage status and...

Flooding forces horses to higher ground

KAMLOOPS - The Clearwater River is under a flood warning after having risen to a one in 20 year flow level but forecasters still believe the North Thompson River will not get much higher and that offers at least a little comfort for those with properties currently flooding in Kamloops. “When the feeder came Sunday...

Road safety highlighted during Bike to Work Week

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - This week is Bike to Work Week, a celebration that kicks off a season of more cyclists on the roads, and both cyclists and motorists are being reminded to do their part to help keep everyone safe. ICBC notes an average of nearly 1,000 cyclists are injured during the warmer months of May...

Pulled over outside of the RCMP detachment, arrested on the spot

KAMLOOPS – A man disobeying his bail conditions found himself in Kamloops Supreme Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty and received a three and a half year prison sentence. Daniel Robert Sigmund, 20, was arrested and charged in connection with dial-a-dope type drug deals in Penticton after police set up a sting in 2013. When...