Local News

To celebrate finishing his first round of chemotherapy, Addison Johnston (left) and his younger brother Ryland were taken to a Japanese restaurant in Vancouver by parents Kristin and Shane Johnston. But lots of treatment remains for the teenager, and his family has learned some hard lessons about the healthcare system. (submitted photo)

Chilliwack parents discover gaps in health care as teenage son battles leukemia

Though he’s 17-years-old, Addison Johnston couldn’t access treatment at B.C. Children’s Hospital

Seven Save-On-Foods locations in the Kootenays raised $21,279 for Angel Flight East Kootenay, a volunteer medical transport service that takes regional patients to Kelowna. Pictured, left to right: Brent Bidston, Ted Murrell, Todd Weselake, Jon Stammers, Peter Burke and Dr. Shayne Soetaert.

Kootenay Save-On-Foods stores raise $21,279 for Angel Flight East Kootenay

Volunteer medical transport service flies patients from Kootenays to Kelowna for medical appointments

(Twitter/BC Conservation Officer Service)

COS asking those responsible to come forward after grizzly bear, 5 point elk illegally shot and left

A sow grizzly and two five point elk were recently killed and left in the bush near Elkford

A region-wide Limited Entry Hunt for the Kootenay Boundary Region option was determined to be most likely to meet the harvest management objectives specified in the province’s regional management plan. (Corey Bullock/Cranbrook Townsman file)

Wild Sheep Society of BC asks Kootenay residents to weigh in on proposed bighorn sheep draw

The province has proposed a Limited Entry Hunt bighorn sheep season in the Kootenay Boundary Region

A region-wide Limited Entry Hunt for the Kootenay Boundary Region option was determined to be most likely to meet the harvest management objectives specified in the province’s regional management plan. (Corey Bullock/Cranbrook Townsman file)
A house is displayed for sale on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Kootenay real estate market emerging from grip of pandemic, says KAR president

Out of region interest still strong; prices continue to rise

A house is displayed for sale on Tuesday, July 14, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
Pictured is Area F Volunteer of the Year, Doug Charlton, with Susan Clovechok. (RDEK file)

RDEK announces 2021 volunteers of the year

The 2021 award recipients have contributed to RDEK rural communities in so many ways

Pictured is Area F Volunteer of the Year, Doug Charlton, with Susan Clovechok. (RDEK file)
Video
A car heads to the U.S. border crossing, Monday, August 9, 2021 in Lacolle, Que., south of Montreal. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Canadians cheer, Freeland urges caution as U.S. unveils land border travel plan
A vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is shown at a clinic in Toronto on Thursday, January 7, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Kids as young as 5 could get COVID vaccine next month, must wear masks: Dr. Henry
Retired astronaut Col. Chris Hadfield talks about his own extraordinary stories of leadership as one of the keynote speakers at the Greatness in Leadership business management event in Lethbridge, Alberta on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Rossiter
Chris Hadfield to Captain Kirk: Astronaut urges William Shatner to ‘soak up’ space
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks with Obaidullah Rahimi, right, his wife Arezoo, and daughter Hawa, 2 months, after assembling care packages for the recently resettled Afghan family for Thanksgiving in Ottawa, on Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. Obaidullah Rahimi worked at the Canadian Embassy in Afghanistan; his family is one of 22 resettled Afghan families in the Ottawa area. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Prime minister marks start of Thanksgiving holiday by meeting Afghan refugee family
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Mount Baker Secondary School welcomes students back for 2021/22 this week. Barry Coulter photo

SD5 board holding off on COVID-19 vaccine mandate decision

No template has been made available to help guide trustee decision-making, says board chair

Mount Baker Secondary School welcomes students back for 2021/22 this week. Barry Coulter photo
ʔaq̓am and Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’I communities are receiving grant funding from the First Nations Well Being Fund. File photo.

Grant funding awarded to local First Nation communities

Two local First Nation bands are receiving just under $100,000 in funding…

ʔaq̓am and Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’I communities are receiving grant funding from the First Nations Well Being Fund. File photo.
Pictured is a screen shot of the What3Words app website. The app uses a unique three-word address for locations across the globe, as opposed to longitude and latitude coordinates. ‘///pines.patches.nano’ is one of the locations on Elizabeth Lake in Cranbrook. BC Search and Rescue groups are warning against the use of this app, stating it can cause confusion. (Cranbrook Townsman file)

BC Search and Rescue groups warning against use of What3Words app

UK-based app uses three words, instead of longitude and latitude, to locate someone

Pictured is a screen shot of the What3Words app website. The app uses a unique three-word address for locations across the globe, as opposed to longitude and latitude coordinates. ‘///pines.patches.nano’ is one of the locations on Elizabeth Lake in Cranbrook. BC Search and Rescue groups are warning against the use of this app, stating it can cause confusion. (Cranbrook Townsman file)
Fernie SAR assisted an injured mountain biker on Monday. (Photo Submitted)

Two missing women found safe and well in Bull River area: Fernie SAR

Two missing women were found safe and well out in the Bull…

Fernie SAR assisted an injured mountain biker on Monday. (Photo Submitted)
Highway 5, 61 kilometres south of Merritt looking north (elevation 1,193 metres) Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. (DriveBC image)

Special weather statement in effect for B.C. Interior over long weekend

Rain and snow are expected on most southern highway passes

Highway 5, 61 kilometres south of Merritt looking north (elevation 1,193 metres) Friday, Nov. 13, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. (DriveBC image)
East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook. Google maps photo

Interior Health officials update RDEK board on regional operations, pandemic response

As COVID-19 cases surge in the Cranbrook area, Interior Health officials provided…

East Kootenay Regional Hospital in Cranbrook. Google maps photo
A bull moose is wandering around the woods in the Fernie area with an arrow in its back hump. (Pixabay file)

Moose near Fernie wandering around with arrow in back hump

Unfortunate but complicated situation, says COS

A bull moose is wandering around the woods in the Fernie area with an arrow in its back hump. (Pixabay file)
The BC CDC COVID-19 map for LHA data between Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2021.

Cranbrook hits pandemic high of 90 cases in one reporting week: BC CDC

Cranbrook hit a new pandemic high since localized case data became publicly…

The BC CDC COVID-19 map for LHA data between Sept. 26-Oct. 2, 2021.
Snow is right around the corner and highway maintenance vehicles will be out. Above, snow removal equipment near Jaffray in the East Kootenay. Mainroad file

Focus on your winter driving skills as snowy weather approaches

Tips on winter driving from Shift Into Winter

Snow is right around the corner and highway maintenance vehicles will be out. Above, snow removal equipment near Jaffray in the East Kootenay. Mainroad file
Police, Search and Rescue working to locate an overdue hunter who may be in the Bull River drainage area. Photo courtesy RCMP.

UPDATE: Hunter reported missing has been found safe and well

Danny Fijila, 35, went out for a hunt Tuesday morning, possibly in the Bull River drainage area, per RCMP

Police, Search and Rescue working to locate an overdue hunter who may be in the Bull River drainage area. Photo courtesy RCMP.
Black Press file

RDEK seeks resident input on Regional Evacuation Plan

Residents ask to take part in survey

Black Press file
The Creston RCMP are seeking a missing person. (Black Press Media stock photo)

Missing person: Creston RCMP seeking Jesse Markwart

The 21-year-old was last seen on Sept. 21

The Creston RCMP are seeking a missing person. (Black Press Media stock photo)
A new, harsh strain of Kennel cough is making its rounds through the Cranbrook and Kimberley area. Back in August, the BC SPCA warned of a similar situation in the Kamloops area. (BC SCPA file)

New strain of kennel cough making its rounds through East Kootenay region

Even dogs who have been vaccinated against kennel cough can still be infected with this strain

A new, harsh strain of Kennel cough is making its rounds through the Cranbrook and Kimberley area. Back in August, the BC SPCA warned of a similar situation in the Kamloops area. (BC SCPA file)
A group of supporters pictured at the encampment located just before the RCMP access control checkpoint at kilometre 27 of the Morice West Forest Service Road from Feb. 5, 2020 show their support for the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs in their fight against CGL. (File photo/Houston Today)

Protests renewed along CGL pipeline near Houston

Two people have been arrested; protesters continue to block construction work

A group of supporters pictured at the encampment located just before the RCMP access control checkpoint at kilometre 27 of the Morice West Forest Service Road from Feb. 5, 2020 show their support for the Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs in their fight against CGL. (File photo/Houston Today)