August
Blue River held its opening for its Community Garden. The day of celebration included guided visits of the garden, activities for kids, food and beverages, music, and fresh produce on display harvested from the garden.
M.P. Cathy McLeod announced $300,000 in funding for North Thompson communities. Nearly $140,000 of the funds had be allocated from the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program for a children's splashpark to be located in Weyerhaeuser Park.
District of Clearwater had committed to provide land, water and sewer for the project.
A film produced by novelist/writer MJ Politis and Glen Pickering “Henry and the Wolf Doctor” a movie/seven part episodic series was offering its first public screening at the Blackpool Community Hall. The movie was shot entirely in Clearwater.
Birch Island celebrated its 100th anniversary on Aug. 8 and 9 at the Birch Island Community Park.
Water users in the North Thompson region were being urged to reduce water consumption. The Government of B.C. announced a Level 3 drought rating for the area.
A number of Little Fort residents were stating their displeasure regarding a recent notice from Thompson-Nicola Regional District regarding solid waste removal. The Little Fort Transfer Station hours of operation was to be reduced to eight hours per week, a reduction of 16 hours per week in the winter and 22 in the summer. The reduction was due to low customer usage.
Kamloops Mounties released photos of a credit-card skimmer that was installed in a gas-pump payment slot in Valleyview.
The photos were being released to make the public aware of the type of card skimmer used to capture credit-card information.
Blue River Improvement District was planning to ask property owners for permission to borrow up to $385,000 to purchase a new fire truck and apparatus.
The borrowing would result in a tax increase of 69 per cent per year for the average property.
“The current fire truck is a 1980 GMC and is very outdated and no longer certified to be operating as our first responding truck,” wrote Dustin Deuling in a letter sent out to residents.
The head of Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing was expressing frustration with what he said is a lack of detail on the proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
The current Trans Mountain line runs directly through Wiegele's resort beside the Yellowhead Highway in Blue River. He said guests who come for the experience – and can spend tens of thousands of dollars doing so – don't want to see a construction site on their dream vacation.
Former Simpcw chief Nathan Matthew supported a call by a national group calling for aboriginal Canadians to vote in the October federal election.
The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples was urging the nation's 1.4 million aboriginal people to vote on Oct. 19.
Forest fire hazard remained on high in the Clearwater Fire Zone.
Multiple fires near the Azure River east of Azure Lake in Wells Gray Park were being left to burn themselves out.
One exception was a fire on the north side of Azure Lake that was actioned by a rappel crew..
During an aerial siliviculture survey a fire was spotted in the Thunder River drainage northwest of Blue River.
Quick action by local men prevented a possible forest fire approximate 20 km up Clearwater Valley Road.
A vehicle from Alberta being driven by a woman with two small children collided with a vehicle being driven by a local resident. One of the vehicles was on fire when a tow-truck that had been in the area arrived on scene. The tow-truck driver with help from two other local men separated the vehicles and pulled the burning vehicle to an open gravel area where the fire could burn itself out safely.
A decision was made to withhold the grant-in-aid for Upper Clearwater Community Hall following a request from Carol Schaffer, TNRD director for Wells Gray Country (Area A) during the July 16 regional district board meeting. The request was made due to possible limitations on the use of the hall by all community members.
Acting-chief of Simpcw First Nation, Tina Donald cancelled the 11th annual First Fish ceremony, scheduled to be held on Aug. 26. The event had been cancelled due to the passing away of a young band member.
Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital Auxiliary contributed $11,000 to purchase a Prime X Imaging Stretcher for the hospital.
The unit has hydraulic controls for ease of use and patient comfort and can be adjusted to whatever height or position needed.
