Bill Metcalfe

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The Akokli Creek fire on the east shore of the south arm of Kootenay Lake on July 17. Photo: BC Wildfire Service

UPDATE: West Kootenay fires grow, with evacuation alerts and two evacuation orders

Details on Trozzo Creek, Akokli Creek, Octopus Creek and Michaud Creek, plus six others

The Akokli Creek fire on the east shore of the south arm of Kootenay Lake on July 17. Photo: BC Wildfire Service
The Trozzo Creek fire on July 16. Photo: B.C. Wildfire Service

Trozzo Creek wildfire grows to 670 hectares

Other fires in the region have also grown significantly

The Trozzo Creek fire on July 16. Photo: B.C. Wildfire Service
The Trozzo Creek fire near Winlaw. Photo: BC Wildfire Service

Trozzo Creek wildfire near Winlaw grows to 125 hectares

Six other out-of-control wildfires are burning in the northern West Kootenay

The Trozzo Creek fire near Winlaw. Photo: BC Wildfire Service
The four out of control fires listed in this article are indicated by red dots. Screenshot: B.C. Wildfire Service website

Four out-of-control fires in Nelson region

Three are far from settlements, one is near Winlaw

The four out of control fires listed in this article are indicated by red dots. Screenshot: B.C. Wildfire Service website
Avie Waterfall in her father’s metalwork shop, working on a product for her artisan business, which is just one of many activities that won her a dozen scholarships as she leaves Grade 12 at L.V. Rogers Secondary. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

‘She makes big things happen’: Nelson student Avie Waterfall wins multiple scholarships

17-year-old scholar and blacksmith plans to study affordable housing

Avie Waterfall in her father’s metalwork shop, working on a product for her artisan business, which is just one of many activities that won her a dozen scholarships as she leaves Grade 12 at L.V. Rogers Secondary. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Discussing what pet supplies should go in a wildfire evacuation grab-and-go bag, Nelson fire chief and emergency management director Len MacCharles (left) and emergency management coordinator Lindsay Eastwood. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Wildfire evacuation: plan to be self-sufficient says Nelson’s fire chief

Prepare a grab-and-go bag for three days on the road

Discussing what pet supplies should go in a wildfire evacuation grab-and-go bag, Nelson fire chief and emergency management director Len MacCharles (left) and emergency management coordinator Lindsay Eastwood. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
At the St. Saviours Anglican Food Pantry, (L-R) volunteer food bank manager Nora Nitz with volunteers Cindy Gimness and Susan Warren. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Surviving the pandemic at Nelson’s food banks

Numbers stayed the same but clientele changed

At the St. Saviours Anglican Food Pantry, (L-R) volunteer food bank manager Nora Nitz with volunteers Cindy Gimness and Susan Warren. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Mel Reasoner (left) and Greg Utzig. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

How to think about the Kootenay heatwave

Two local scientists discuss the weather and the climate

Mel Reasoner (left) and Greg Utzig. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Bat researcher Emily de Freitas in the forest near Nelson. In the background, arborist Dylan Neilson installs an artificial bat roost. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

In a West Kootenay forest, scientists create habitat for bats

Bat habitats are threatened by logging and agriculture worldwide

Bat researcher Emily de Freitas in the forest near Nelson. In the background, arborist Dylan Neilson installs an artificial bat roost. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Rachel Holt of Nelson is one of five members of a technical panel that will advise the provincial government on its decisions about old growth logging. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Nelson ecologist named to provincial old growth technical panel

Rachel Holt will provide maps, analysis and detailed information on the status of B.C.’s old growth

Rachel Holt of Nelson is one of five members of a technical panel that will advise the provincial government on its decisions about old growth logging. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Brittny Anderson, MLA for Nelson-Creston. File photo

COLUMN: Forestry, reconciliation and more work to be done

From Nelson-Creston MLA Brittny Anderson

Brittny Anderson, MLA for Nelson-Creston. File photo
Trees blown over by a windstorm in forest owned by Anderson Creek Timber. Photo: Anderson Creek Timber

Timber company logging near Nelson raises local concerns

Anderson Creek Timber owns 600 hectares of forest adjacent to the city

Trees blown over by a windstorm in forest owned by Anderson Creek Timber. Photo: Anderson Creek Timber
Daryl Jolly, his wife Kerry Pagdin, their sons Cole Jolly (left) and Graeme Jolly, and their dogs Gracie and Clover. Photo: Submitted

Selkirk College arts chair diagnosed with lung cancer, family launches fund drive

Daryl Jolly co-founded the college’s digital arts program

Daryl Jolly, his wife Kerry Pagdin, their sons Cole Jolly (left) and Graeme Jolly, and their dogs Gracie and Clover. Photo: Submitted
Empire Coffee, part of the Adventure Hotel, was the scene of an incident in November in which a man reportedly spat on an employee after yelling at staff about masks. File photo

Arrest warrant issued for man charged with spitting on Nelson hotel employee after COVID tirade

Jeremy Undershute has left Nelson and his whereabouts are unknown, police say

Empire Coffee, part of the Adventure Hotel, was the scene of an incident in November in which a man reportedly spat on an employee after yelling at staff about masks. File photo
Members of the group Extinction Rebellion and their supporters dipped their hands in green paint and covered MLA Brittny Anderson’s door and windows with handprints on June 5, calling the display “green hands for Mother Nature.” Photo: Bill Metcalfe

Green handprints on MLA’s Nelson office call for NDP to stop old growth logging

14-year-old activist calls the handprints ‘green hands for Mother Nature’

Members of the group Extinction Rebellion and their supporters dipped their hands in green paint and covered MLA Brittny Anderson’s door and windows with handprints on June 5, calling the display “green hands for Mother Nature.” Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Conceptual drawing of the proposed New Denver affordable housing project: Illustration: Zigloo Studio Inc.

Kaslo and New Denver get $1 million each for affordable housing projects from BC Housing

The housing projects will each cost a total of $3.5 million

Conceptual drawing of the proposed New Denver affordable housing project: Illustration: Zigloo Studio Inc.
“Our previous (waste plans) have focused on improving our disposal system. This one focuses more on zero waste initiatives – reducing what we send to the landfill. In particular, the plan targets food waste, which is roughly one-quarter of what we landfill.” – Todd Johnson, RDCK. Photo: File photo

RDCK conducts online survey about waste management

Residents’ opinions are wanted on a organics, recycling, landfills, and funding

“Our previous (waste plans) have focused on improving our disposal system. This one focuses more on zero waste initiatives – reducing what we send to the landfill. In particular, the plan targets food waste, which is roughly one-quarter of what we landfill.” – Todd Johnson, RDCK. Photo: File photo
Nakusp and Area Community Forest intends to do selective logging on Box Mountain as part of wildfire mitigation work. Photo: Nakusp and Area Community Forest

Nakusp community forest answers citizen concerns about wildfire mitigation

Residents of Box Mountain watershed are concerned about planned selective logging

Nakusp and Area Community Forest intends to do selective logging on Box Mountain as part of wildfire mitigation work. Photo: Nakusp and Area Community Forest
Ryall Giuliano at the corner of Baker and Hall Streets. He is one of Nelson’s street outreach workers employed by Nelson Community Services. Photo: Bill Metcalfe

People who use Nelson public washrooms say city needs more

At-risk people on the street are most affected

Ryall Giuliano at the corner of Baker and Hall Streets. He is one of Nelson’s street outreach workers employed by Nelson Community Services. Photo: Bill Metcalfe
Old growth in the Lardeau Valley. “There is basically nothing left like this anywhere, but most valley bottoms in the Kootenays were once like this,” says Rachel Holt of Veridian Ecological Consulting. Photo: Rachel Holt

Nelson scientists release maps of old growth forests, urge province to stop cutting

The report contains detailed maps of 2.6 per cent of the forested land in B.C.

Old growth in the Lardeau Valley. “There is basically nothing left like this anywhere, but most valley bottoms in the Kootenays were once like this,” says Rachel Holt of Veridian Ecological Consulting. Photo: Rachel Holt