Cougar attacks scare Edgewater residents
By Kate Irwin
Pioneer Staff
A series of cougar attacks in the valley that has left several household pets dead and two sheep eaten, has some Edgewater residents scared for their safety.
When multiple cats, a dog and several deer fawns went missing or were spotted in the jaws of cougars in the town, local conservation officers stepped in and successfully trapped and euthanized one big cat in Edgewater and another which killed two sheep in Fairmont.
However the remaining cougar, which is believed to still be on the loose in the northern end …
Forces’ return to royal roots saluted by veterans
By Kate Irwin
Pioneer Staff
It’s a single word — five letters — but for many local veterans the restoration of the Canadian Navy and Air Force’s ‘Royal’ moniker is something to cheer about.
At a Halifax dockside ceremony on Tuesday, August 16th, Defence Minister Peter MacKay officially dropped the Maritime Command, Air Command and Land Force Command titles in favour of the Royal Canadian Navy, Royal Canadian Air Force and Canadian Army, respectively.
The announcement came 100 years, to the day, after the Naval Service of Canada was granted Royal Consent by King …
Valley family experiences Washington quake
By Kelsey Verboom
Pioneer Staff
One valley family got more than they bargained for during a vacation in Washington, D.C., this past week, when an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale shook up their travel plans.
Ryan and Christa Stimming and their son, Isaac, were in the Washington, D.C., area on August 23rd, visiting Christa’s sister Tanya. The Stimmings were staying in Arlington, Virginia, which is a quick 15-minute train ride from downtown D.C.
The trio spent the morning of August 23rd in the downtown area, visiting Capitol Hill and the Smithsonian National …
Big medal haul for local competitors at the 2011 B.C. Seniors’ Games
By Kate Irwin
Pioneer Staff
The 24th annual B.C. Seniors’ Games crossed the finish line on Saturday, August 20th, with participants from the East Kootenay zone picking up more than 60 medals between them, including 28 golds.
The Columbia Valley was well represented with 16 games participants from Edgewater, Radium and Invermere bringing home nine silver medals, five gold and one bronze medal between them.
Events at the games range from athletic competition in track and field, swimming and dragon boat racing, to more leisurely pursuits such as bridge, darts and bocce. Valley residents …
Hydro concludes Brisco investigation
By Joshua Estabrooks
Pioneer Staff
On Thursday, June 30th, a massive power surge hit the community of Brisco, knocking out power in the community and damaging many residents’ electrical equipment.
With many Brisco residents looking for some form of financial compensation for the damage, B.C. Hydro committed to conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, and released their findings publicly on Thursday, August 18th. Affected customers received the findings in the form of a letter on Wednesday, August 17th, which indicated that the cause of the outage was indeed a tree that …
Cheers
to the sweet lady who walked out to the end of her pier while I was long distance swimming in Lake Windermere & asked if I wanted water! What a sweetheart! Thanks so much! Bonnie-Lou.
Read More...
Cheers
to the ladies at Radium Esso for making Tito’s walks so enjoyable with all the treats you give him.
Read More...Royal name belongs with Canada’s forces
Dear Editor:
Defence Minister Peter MacKay’s reinstatement of the ‘Royal’ prefix to the armed services is welcome news indeed.
As a proud retired member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, I fell the ignominious removal of this honourable designation in the 1960s totally unwarranted. It shook the foundation of our military existence and traditions, which were already scarred by earlier unification of the three forces.
I was stationed at the “head shed” in Ottawa (1965) when word came down the pipe from then-defence minister Hellyer’s office announcing the unification of our armed forces. …
Jeers
to the people who use the hill behind the Invermere Community Centre to exercise their dogs and then don’t clean up after them. Stepping in your pet’s mess on the way to work is not a nice way to start the morning!
Read More...Cheers
to Dr. Walsh for your wonderful bedside manner. You were kind, understanding, compassionate and acted in the best interest of our family.
CB & RG.
Cheers
to the nice woman and her daughter for giving my girls her empty bottles at the recycling depot. They had some extra pocket change that they spent at the thrift store!
Read More...Radium intersection in need of roundabout
Dear Editor:
On busy summer days or long weekends, Radium’s Highway 93/95 intersection is far more deserving of the label ‘dysfunction junction’ than Invermere’s CIBC Corner.
Radium’s four-way stop becomes particularly congested on long weekends any time of the year, and weekdays during summer. Just recently I was stuck in a one- kilometre car jam southbound on Highway 95. Other times it is backed up to the tunnel by the hot pools.
The current four-way stop junction is not designed to handle the traffic volumes of several hundred cars per hour at …
Jeers
to the people who feel they have the right to treat the employees of the service industry like dirt. Your arrogance and lack of tact infuriates us. If you cannot be polite and respectful then stay at home!
Read More...Royal prefix has no place in Canada
Dear Editor:
I am writing in regards to your request for thoughts on the return of the ‘Royal’ prefix to the Canadian navy and air force.In an average two-centimetre thick Canadian dictionary, ‘Royal’ is: defined as worthy of, befitting, patronized by King or Queen, splendid.
Ah, the splendid Canadian navy and Canadian air force. Sent to invade Afghanistan by sea only to find 500 kilometres of the Asian continent to be blocking the way. Routine crashes of the Snowbirds containing our most elite pilots. Splendid? Royal? Worthy of? Probably not. Patronized (sponsor …
Province to help local governments find solutions to deer conflicts in their communities
By Joshua Estabrooks
Pioneer Staff
In light of increasing deer human conflicts in communities in the Kootenays and throughout B.C., the Ministry of Environment has made it known they are willing to work with local governments to find a solution.
Micheal Badry, Wildlife Conflicts Coordinator for the Ministry of Environment, said that they have seen deer conflict calls go up recently throughout North America, and are working on ways to mitigate the problems.
“There are lots of residents in these communities that still love the deer,” said Mr. Badry. “That is why …
Tourism is valley’s main economic driver
Dear Editor:
I disagree with the comments regarding Columbia Valley economy made by Mr. Pacey and Mayor Taft in the past weeks’ Letters to the Editor. Here’s why:
1. Tourism is, and for the forseeable future will continue to be, the economic driver of this area. Regardless of whether visitors stay in fractional ownership, a hotel, B&B or a seasonal home, they are drawn here by the scenic and recreation amenities that visitors seek. Construction of the accommodations is tourism-related, not a standalone industry.
2. Tourism is competitive. Other communities actively welcome tourists …
Resident disagrees with Mayor Taft
Dear Editor:
With all due respect to Mayor Taft’s response in the August 19th edition with regards to my thoughts about the valley’s economy, I am not looking for a job as economic development officer for the valley. But I do see the screaming need for one in our communities.
Mayor Taft did a fairly good job describing some of an economic development officer’s tasks: identify, focus and determine strengths and weaknesses. However, these are not the things that a committee or staff or council members should be doing; an …