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Lafarge has a point: Industrial taxes in Kamloops far higher than Okanagan, other cities
KAMLOOPS – Tax rates in the City of Kamloops came under fire again last week…
Heavy industry in Kamloops looking for lower city tax rate
KAMLOOPS – Three heavy industrial businesses in Kamloops are asking city councillors to lower tax…
Lavington residents skeptical of pellet plant testing
VERNON - Some local residents continue to ask questions about a wood pellet plant in Lavington. The group Lavington is for Everyone (LIFE) issued a media release earlier this week stating there is still no scientific evidence of air quality improvement at the plant. That’s at odds with the results of a mandatory test conducted...
Kamloops boundary extension takes another baby step forward with minister visit
KAMLOOPS - The possible annexation of New Afton Mine brought Community Minister Peter Fassbender to Kamloops earlier this week. As the minister responsible for boundary extension queries, Fassbender joined Mayor Peter Milobar Monday, Nov. 9, to meet with those potentially impacted by the proposed change, including First Nations and mining industry officials. “He was quite accommodating...
Minister Fassbender coming to Kamloops to discuss New Afton options
KAMLOOPS - Discussions around extending the city boundaries to include the New Afton mine will continue next month with the Minister of Community set to visit the area. Minister of Community Peter Fassbender will be in Kamloops Nov. 9 to discuss plans to include the New Afton mine within city limits, which will include meeting...
Attention job seekers: Kamloops employers to participate in hiring fair
KAMLOOPS - Over 45 of the city’s largest employers will participate in the Kamloops Hiring Fall Fair later this month. The Monday, Oct. 26 event will run from 12p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Coast Hotel and Conference Centre and is free. The purpose of the hiring fair is to give job seekers the opportunity...
City still looking at adding New Afton Mine to Kamloops tax roll
KAMLOOPS - Plans to include the New Afton mine within Kamloops city limits are still in the discussion phase but the city is also looking at other options. Mayor Peter Milobar met recently with Minister of Mines Bill Bennett and Minister of Community Peter Fassbender at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention. “He’s committed to...
Tolko’s mountain of ash plagues Spallumcheen residents
SPALLUMCHEEN - Palisades Mobile Home Park resident Beverly Anderson first experienced what she calls a “soot storm” shortly after she moved in last year. “My first mistake was we went out and left all the windows open. When I came back in it was like a dust storm all over my floor, and my cupboards,”...
Lavington pellet plant opposers push politicians to stall project
COLDSTREAM - Now that the Ministry of Environment has granted a permit to the operators of a proposed wood pellet plant in Lavington, opponents of the project are increasing pressure on local politicians to stall construction. Representatives of Lavington Is For Everyone (LIFE) will go before Coldstream council tonight, Jan. 12, to ask the municipality...
Coroner identifies two women killed in Highway 6 car crash
LUMBY – The B.C. Coroners Service has identified two women who died in a two-car crash on Highway 6 in the North Okanagan near Lumby December 6. They were Diedre Naomi-Ann Hughes, 57, from Vernon and her daughter Emma Maria Danielle Froh, 22, from Lumby. RCMP say the crash, between a Pontiac Sunfire and a...
Inquest into death of Lumby mill worker ends with recommendations to prevent future tragedies
VERNON - The jury in a B.C. Coroners inquest into the death of a teen employee at Tolko’s Lavington mill made seven recommendations in the hopes of preventing future tragedies. Bradley Haslam, 18, died after getting entangled in a conveyer belt at the mill in June 2013. The grade 12 Charles Bloom Secondary student had...
Machinery running on graveyard shift the night teen worker died was an anomaly
VERNON - A Tolko employee knew two days in advance machines would be running during the ordinarily quiet graveyard clean-up shift to accommodate extra production, a coroner’s inquiry into the death of a Lumby teen heard Thursday. Bradley Haslam, 18, became entangled in a conveyer belt at Tolko’s Lavington mill in June 2013 and died....
Buddy system now in place at Tolko mill after death of teen, inquiry hears
VERNON - Changes have been made at Tolko’s Lavington mill since the death of a teenage worker, a coroner’s inquest heard Tuesday. Roger Marshall was the supervisor the night Bradley Haslam, 18, became entangled in a conveyer belt and died. Bradley, whose family asked that he be referred to by his first name during the...
Inquest hears of chaos at mill after Lumby teen found caught in conveyor belt
VERNON - A coroner’s inquest into the death of a Lumby teen began Monday with tearful testimony from the mill worker’s mother, who described him as kind, determined and full of life. Bradley Haslam, 18, died June 15 after getting caught in a conveyer belt at Tolko’s planer mill in Lavington. The Charles Bloom Secondary...
Ministry of Environment won’t research proposed Lavington pellet plant
VERNON - The only public consultation and technical information the Ministry of Environment will review as part of its approval process for a pellet plant in Lavington will come from the proponent of the project itself. According to the Ministry, it conducts no further research or discussion with stakeholders in cases such as this, but...
Vernon school board won’t support Lavington pellet plant
VERNON - A proposed pellet plant in Lavington doesn’t have the support of the Vernon school district. In a letter to the Ministry of Environment, board chair Bill Turanski said the board received conflicting information about the project. “The board’s primary concern must, in every case, be the health and welfare of the students and...
Vernon school board to hear community concerns over controversial pellet plant
VERNON - Parents will be given an opportunity to voice their concerns to the Vernon School District regarding a proposed pellet plant. The district called another meeting on Pinnacle Renewable Energy and Tolko’s plans to build a pellet plant near Lavington Elementary at a special board meeting Wednesday night. Residents asked the board to hold...
Proposed Lavington pellet plant moves forward
COLDSTREAM - A controversial pellet plant has overcome a significant hurdle. Pinnacle Renewable Energy and Tolko Industries have the go ahead to rezone the land intended for the plant though it wasn’t an easy, or unanimous decision for Coldstream council. Third reading of the rezoning bylaw scraped through deliberations with four councillors voting in favour...
New dates for inquest into Lumby teen’s death
VERNON – The inquest into the death of a Lumby teen in an industrial accident at the Lavington planer mill over a year ago will be held this fall. The B.C. Coroners Service had originally planned to hold the inquest into Bradley Haslam’s death this past spring, but new information forced the coroners service to...
Cause of Tolko mill fire likely accidental
KELOWNA – A fire that started at Tolko mill Monday evening was likely set accidentally by transients camping in the area. The fire was contained to a pile of sawdust and bark mulch between the mill and Manhattan St., an area Kelowna Fire Capt. Tim Light says is frequented by transients. “We found some home-made...