Models needed for back-to-school fashion show at Aberdeen Mall – Kamloops News

Photo: Alertable.ca

This map shows the area included in a severe thunderstorm watch on Monday.

UPDATE 5:50 p.m.

Environment Canada has now lifted its thunderstorm warning, as the system has moved through the region.

ORIGINAL 5:10 p.m.

A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for a large area south of Kamloops and west of the Okanagan Valley.

Environment Canada issued the warningA storm capable of producing extremely strong wind gusts and nickel-sized hail is being tracked through the Nicola region just before 5 p.m.

“The severe thunderstorm is located 25 km southeast of Aspen Grove, and is moving northwest at 10 km/h. Areas east of Highway 5A near Allison Creek, Mystery Lake, Summer Creek and Rampart Creek will be affected in the next hour,” Environment Canada said.

Merritt is not the only municipality in the warning area. However, it extends close to Kamloops in Canada’s north, to the Brenda Mines region in the east, and to Princeton in the South.

Photo: Contributed

BC Wildfire Service crews are responding to a new fire burning northwest of Cache Creek.

The Robertson Creek fire is burning an estimated 22 kilometres northwest of Cache Creek, the agency said. The fire is burning less than five kilometres from the Maria Creek fire, which was classified as under controlLast week.

The blaze is approximately two hectares in area. a BCWS updateIt was reported that it is burning out-of-control, producing smoke visible from Highway 99, Highway 97, as well as nearby communities.

“It is burning Rank 2 and 3, displaying an organized flame front with occasional candling in inaccessible terrain and dense timber,”The update was.

“Personnel will work to establish access to the fire with support from helicopters and air tankers.”

Photo: Kristen Holliday

The wildfire at East Meadows Plateau, north of Kamloops on Wednesday, August 17th, sent smoke into the air. According to the BC Wildfire Service, the blaze is currently being held.

The East Meadows Plateau wildfire which produced plumes visible from Kamloops last Thursday is now being classified as being held.

According to the BC Wildfire Service, a wildfire’s classification will change from out of control to being held once crews have determined the fire isn’t likely to spread past predetermined boundaries under the current conditions.

Shaelee Stewart, BCWS’s fire information officer, stated Monday morning that the blaze was still at 10 hectares. It was located about 20 km north of Kamloops.

“We have 17 people on it today, and there will also once again be a helicopter whenever they might need it on standby for support if necessary,”Stearns stated that two water tenders were also available in the area.

Stearns indicated that crews would be working to reinforce the fireproofing.

Lightning was believed to have sparked the East Meadows Plateau wildfire just over a week earlier.

Photo: Castanet Staff

The City of Kamloops was awarded a $1.5million grant. It says it will help to fund outreach services and community security initiatives for those who are experiencing homelessness.

Ty Helgason, the city’s social and community development supervisor, told Castanet Kamloops part of the funding will be used to hire approximately three additional Community Service Officers, who will work in tandem with outreach workers from ASK Wellness and Canadian Mental Health Association’s Kamloops Branch.

This pilot program for CSO Outreach and Response was estimated to have a cost of approximately $468,000 council approved the grant application in the springThis website is designed to provide information and access to care for those who are not sheltered.

Helgason stated in a press release that all programs funded by the $1.5 million grant will be funded. “address urgent and immediate community needs related to homelessness in Kamloops.”

“It will allow us to continue to work collaboratively with local service providers to increase public safety and provide direct services, such as transportation, peer support and employment, to those experiencing homelessness,”Helgason stated in a statement.

Other initiatives that will receive funding include the Sharps Recovery Peer Program. This program continues a shuttle to shelters and provides community security services.

According to the city officials, the funds will also be used to facilitate community meetings between social services agencies, Indigenous groups and representatives of neighbourhood and business, government officials, and representatives from the city.

The city announced that part of the grant would be used to create educational videos featuring people who have been homeless or are currently without shelter. This will help reduce stigma.

Mayor Ken Christian stated that funding for the activities will help address homelessness. “are designed to be able to wind down or transition to other funding sources over time.”

“They have been prioritized based on consultation with social and safety service providers, businesses, community representatives and frontline staff,”Christian said.

The $1.5 million grant was made possible by the Strengthening Community Services Program, administered by the Union of BC Municipalities for the federal and provincial governments.

Sydney Chisholm

A Kamloops distillery owner is anticipating an increase in sales as local liquor makers continue to picket BC Liquor Distribution Centres. This could lead to some product shortages in liquor shops.

Since the strike by government workers started on Monday, B.C.’s Liquor Distribution Branch has imposed limitsSome types of alcohol are prohibited from being sold at government-run outlets. The restrictions are expected to continue as long as pickets surround BC Liquor Distribution Branch wholesalers in Delta, Richmond Kamloops and Victoria.

Red Bridge Distilling’s co-owner Richard Bugera stated that the company is making more product in anticipation for sales picking up.

“We’ve already been warned that we can probably expect a rush in the next week or so,” Bugera told Castanet Kamloops.

“Right now, everybody is mostly stocked,” he said.

“But last Friday was the cutoff for new shipments.”

Although imported liquor and major brands of liquor must go through liquor distribution warehouses for clearance, many local distillers or liquor producers can sell their product directly to restaurants or liquor stores.

Customers can also buy directly through the producers. That’s why Bugera said the current strike won’t affect Red Bridge product.

“We were a little bit surprised. But for ourselves, we weren’t overly worried because none of our product actually goes to the liquor warehouse,” Bugera said.

“We do our own direct distribution to all of our vendors and restaurants.”

According to the distillery owner, he believes that more people and businesses will look to local producers for liquor.

“We actually had a restauranteur come to us at the farmers market, where they said that they were not going to be able to get some of their products they would normally get, and were happy that they could buy from us directly — put that on their shelves,” Bugera said.

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He stated that he hopes that people will continue to shop locally even after the strike ends.

“We’re happy that more people may have had a chance to try our products where they normally would just buy what they normally buy,” Bugera explained.

“Especially when it comes to some of the bars and restaurants, and be a way for them to try our products.”

British Columbians have many options when it comes time to purchase local liquor products. There are more than 30 distillers in the province, 180 breweries, and 370 licensed wineries.

Bugera said B.C. may have it a little easier than other provinces that don’t allow direct distribution.

He stated that last year, when supply chains were severed, he noticed more people taking advantage of local production.

Though local distillers aren’t able produce liquor at the same cost as bigger companies, Bugera is hoping people will see the value in a locally crafted product.

“Especially as a craft distiller, we have to do all of our own fermentation and distillation on site, as opposed to some of the larger manufacturers that will actually bring in a pre-made alcohol and then just flavour it, bottle it and send it out,”He said.

Photo by City of Kamloops

A rendering of a proposed eight-unit townhouse community on Eighth Avenue and Nicola Street, downtown Kamloops.

Kamloops city council approved rezoning and a permit for development to make way to a eight-unit townhouse development downtown Kamloops.

The vote took place after a public hearing that was held on August 16.

A spokesperson from BlackOak Developments — a local company contracted to help build the multi-family residential project on behalf of Kamloops-based 3 BBB Group — attended the public hearing, saying the housing developmentKamloops has a growing need for larger rental properties.

“We feel that the three and four bedroom is a huge asset to not only the direct neighbourhood but the city as a whole, to give people that option of rental,”According to the spokesperson.

A report prepared for council states that the three-storey, eight-unit rental townhouse development would span two lots at 565 Eighth Avenue and 585 Eighth Avenue. These lots are located at the northeast corner of Eighth Street and Nicola Street.

The development will consist of two fourplex buildings and replace two single-family houses.

According to the report, the design features pedestrian walkways that lead from the unit front doors to Nicola Street to to the sidewalk.

Two garages will be available for parking at each unit’s ground floor. They can be accessed via a private lane from Eighth Avenue.

Council was informed by the developer that each garage will have an electric car charger and that the building’s design was intended to protect privacy for both direct neighbours as well as building residents.

Coun. Denis Walsh stated that he wanted to “give kudos”Thank you to the developer for designing a project that took into consideration feedback from neighbours who spoke up at other public hearings.

“I think they’ve taken a lot of consideration in this plan in that neighbourhood that we’ve heard in previous public hearings, and they’ve addressed some of those issues. So I just thank them for the design,”Walsh said.

The city received one piece of correspondence expressing concerns about street parking availability and the architecture of the buildings.

During the public hearing another resident spoke up and asked if the units needed two-car garages, especially since this increases the height of the building.

Council voted 8-0 to approve the zoning amendment needed to move forward on the project.

Coun. Mike O’Reilly was not present for the vote, having declared a conflict of interest as he lives near the site of the development.

Photo: Kristen Holliday

Looking east from Thompson Rivers University.

Kamloops is expected to experience more summer heat, with a weather system that could bring clouds and showers to the beginning of the week.

Gregg Walters, meteorologist for Environment Canada, said daytime high temperatures will hover around the low 30’s this week, with overnight lows dipping between 16 C and 19 C.

“Typical summer weather, for the most part. The average high temperature is about five to seven degrees more than normal. It’s not unusual at this time of year to get a late bit of heat in the last part of August,” Walters said.

Environment Canada says that a weather system is expected through Kamloops at week’s beginning.

“We’re also seeing a fair bit of sun, there is some instability in the air,” Walters said.

Walters stated Monday will see more clouds towards the afternoon and a chance for showers Monday night.

Monday’s high temperature is expected to be 32 C during the day and 19 C at night.

“Monday night into Tuesday [there] might be a little bit more cloud coming in. Once again, sort of looking at it, a chance of showers or a risk of a thunderstorm as well. And then once we get into Wednesday and beyond, it looks to be fairly sunny,” Walters said.

Environment Canada says Tuesday will reach 31 C. For the rest of this week, the mercury will rise to 32 C and 33 C.

Walters stated that sunny skies and warm temperatures are expected to continue on Saturday and Sunday.

Photo: RCMP

Darcy Kristopher L’Hirondelle

A Kamloops man has been ordered to spend more than 10 months in prison after pleading guilty to charges stemming from a “truly terrifying” 2021 break-in in Lillooet in which he cut the power to a home, then broke in armed with a baseball bat.

Darcy Kristopher L’Hirondelle, 34, pleaded guilty in Kamloops provincial court on Thursday to three charges stemming from a string of offences last year.

Court heard the burglary took place on April 9, 2021, at a home on Main Street in Lillooet.

Crown prosecutor Evan Goulet said the home’s occupant, a single woman in her 60s, was awoken at about 3 a.m. by her dog barking. She went to investigate and saw a dark figure standing in her house.

“At that point, she realized there was somebody in her house standing by the front door — a tall man dressed in black with a mask on,” Goulet said.

“He looked at her, he had a bat in his hands, and he said, ‘Where are your car keys?’”

Goulet said the woman yelled at the intruder to leave, and he fled on foot.

When the woman went to call police, she realized her house had no power and no phone connection. She had to go to a neighbour’s house to call 911.

“Not only did he break into this woman’s home, he cut the power, he had a mask on and he had a weapon,” Goulet said.

According to Goulet, the woman described the incident as “truly terrifying” and said she has had trouble sleeping ever since.

“She says the image of having a stranger standing inside her home, in the dark, with a bat is one that she will never forget,” he said.

Defence lawyer Courtney McLaughlin said drug addiction cost L’Hirondelle his construction job in 2019.

She said he was in Lillooet last spring helping two friends with a job. When his friends were arrested, she said, L’Hirondelle found himself stranded and was trying desperately to get back to Kamloops.

“He does admit that being around this culture of substance use leads him to poor decision making,” she said.

Court heard L’Hirondelle was granted bail on the Lillooet charges following his arrest with a condition requiring he undergo treatment at Vision Quest. He ran away from staff before making it to the facility and later overdosed.

In addition to the break-in charge, L’Hirondelle also pleaded guilty to one count of possessing an identity document and one count of failure to report to a probation officer.

Goulet was seeking a jail term in the nine- to 12-month range, while McLaughlin pitched a sentence of time served. L’Hirondelle has been in custody since January.

Kamloops provincial court Judge Roy Dickey called the circumstances of the break-in “concerning.”

“There was a significant impact to the victim, as one would expect, when you wake up to find a gentleman in the middle of the night inside your house armed with a bat,” he said.

Dickey sentenced L’Hirondelle to 10.5 months in prison, making it a time-served sentence with two-for-one credit for time served awaiting sentencing. The judge also placed L’Hirondelle on a year-long probation order with conditions requiring he stay away from the victim and attend counselling and treatment as directed by his probation officer.

L’Hirondelle was also ordered to submit a sample of his DNA to a national criminal database.

Photo: Castanet Staff

Kamloops police say they recovered property stolen in a recent burglary in Dufferin last weekend after arresting a man who was found riding a stolen bike.

On Aug. 13, Mounties said they got a report of a break and enter on the 1300-block of Prairie Rose Drive, where a suspect entered an unlocked vehicle then used a key fob to enter a garage.

According to police, a number of items were stolen, including a bike, sunglasses and a backpack. An image of the suspect was captured on video and sent out to other Mounties.

Police said last Sunday, at about 11:15 a.m., an officer found a suspect riding the stolen bike and arrested him.

According to RCMP, the suspect was taken into custody with expected charges following the end of the investigation. The bike, sunglasses and fob were returned to the rightful owner.

Anyone with information on this incident is encouraged to call Kamloops RCMP.