Zachary Roman

Benny Hanson, who turned 90 on Feb. 1, 2022, is a pump operator with the Celista Fire Department. (Celista Fire Department image)

90-year-old B.C. firefighter has always been one to keep busy

Benny Hanson said his philosophy was ‘change jobs every four years’

Benny Hanson, who turned 90 on Feb. 1, 2022, is a pump operator with the Celista Fire Department. (Celista Fire Department image)
Pokémon GO is an augmented-reality smartphone game. (File photo)

Group of ‘aggressive’ men corner young woman, friend playing Pokémon GO in Shuswap

Chase RCMP said the men accused the friends of criminal activity

Pokémon GO is an augmented-reality smartphone game. (File photo)
Six sets of twins are attending Parkview Elementary School in Sicamous for the 2021-22 school year. From left to right, their names are: Levi and Cody Clark, Kate and Reese Osmundson, Maxx and Maycie-Jean Lane, Dustin and Dillon Hilder, Emily and Nathan Presley, and Aurora and Logan Dawson. (Zachary Roman/Eagle Valley News)

Seeing double: 1 in 17 kids attending Shuswap school are twins

There are six sets of twins at Parkview Elementary in Sicamous

Six sets of twins are attending Parkview Elementary School in Sicamous for the 2021-22 school year. From left to right, their names are: Levi and Cody Clark, Kate and Reese Osmundson, Maxx and Maycie-Jean Lane, Dustin and Dillon Hilder, Emily and Nathan Presley, and Aurora and Logan Dawson. (Zachary Roman/Eagle Valley News)
The remains of a large structure and vehicles destroyed by the Lytton Creek wildfire are seen on the side of the Trans-Canada Highway near Lytton on Aug. 15, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Sicamous to donate $1 per person in district to help Village of Lytton rebuild

Sicamous council received a call to action from the Regional District of Mount Waddington

The remains of a large structure and vehicles destroyed by the Lytton Creek wildfire are seen on the side of the Trans-Canada Highway near Lytton on Aug. 15, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
B.C. Premier John Horgan took to Twitter to condemn protesters who entered Salmon Arm schools on Sept. 17. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

‘Stay away from children!’: Premier denounces protesters who entered Salmon Arm schools

John Horgan said there’s no justification for the actions of the protesters in a Sept. 18 tweet

B.C. Premier John Horgan took to Twitter to condemn protesters who entered Salmon Arm schools on Sept. 17. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
People opposed to vaccinations and masking entered schools in and around Salmon Arm on Sept. 17 They also recently protested at the School District 83 office. (Martha Wickett/Salmon Arm Observer)

‘Unacceptable’: Protesters enter Shuswap schools, forcing hold and secure procedures

Teacher said he didn’t feel safe for students or staff

People opposed to vaccinations and masking entered schools in and around Salmon Arm on Sept. 17 They also recently protested at the School District 83 office. (Martha Wickett/Salmon Arm Observer)
John Planaden (centre, grey shirt) treasured this photo of his family, which he loved dearly. His daughter, Stacey Weiland, said everyone in this photo had spent 10 days in Sicamous with Planaden before he drowned on Aug. 11, 2021. (Photo contributed)

In the heart of Mara Lake: Family and dive team reflect on recovery of drowned Alberta man

John Planaden called Sicamous a second home, was part of community for more than 30 years

John Planaden (centre, grey shirt) treasured this photo of his family, which he loved dearly. His daughter, Stacey Weiland, said everyone in this photo had spent 10 days in Sicamous with Planaden before he drowned on Aug. 11, 2021. (Photo contributed)
Seven-year-old Tonnerre is recovering from burns sustained in a South Okanagan wildfire. (BC SPCA image)

Dog survives burns from South Okanagan wildfire

Seven-year-old Tonnerre was missing for four days after getting spooked by the blaze

Seven-year-old Tonnerre is recovering from burns sustained in a South Okanagan wildfire. (BC SPCA image)
A BC Emergency Health Services ambulance. (File photo)

Full-time paramedics, 24/7 staffing a good start for rural B.C. communities: Union

Former paramedic says $2-an-hour on-call shifts demoralizing

A BC Emergency Health Services ambulance. (File photo)
The fire currently burning above Pottery Road in Vernon. (Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star)

Drone spotted flying near out of control Vernon wildfire

The incident was reported by the BC Wildfire Service on Twitter

The fire currently burning above Pottery Road in Vernon. (Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star)
A helicopter pilot prepares to drop water on a wildfire burning in Lytton, B.C., on Friday, July 2, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

Do you know your B.C. wildfire terminology?

These key terms are important for understanding the news and B.C. Wildfire Dashboard

A helicopter pilot prepares to drop water on a wildfire burning in Lytton, B.C., on Friday, July 2, 2021. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)
Sicamous resident Alysha Wolf wants to make air conditioning mandatory in housing facilities for people ages 55 and up. (Contributed)

Shuswap woman petitions for mandatory air conditioning in seniors housing

Alysha Wolf says it should be illegal to prohibit AC in leases for seniors homes

Sicamous resident Alysha Wolf wants to make air conditioning mandatory in housing facilities for people ages 55 and up. (Contributed)
Hail storm hits Invermere July 2, 2021, amid a hasty wildfire season in the rest of B.C. (Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce)

‘The heavens opened up’: Invermere hit with flash-flooding, hail as southern B.C. burns

The July 2 weather event in Invermere was over as quickly as it started

Hail storm hits Invermere July 2, 2021, amid a hasty wildfire season in the rest of B.C. (Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce)
The location of the fatal motor vehicle crash that shut down Highway 1 between Revelstoke and Golden on June 26, 2021. (Google Maps image)

UPDATE: RCMP confirm Hwy 1 crash near Okanagan was fatal

Highway 1 closed between Revelstoke and Golden until evening

The location of the fatal motor vehicle crash that shut down Highway 1 between Revelstoke and Golden on June 26, 2021. (Google Maps image)
Megan DePew, co-owner of Sequim Bee Farm. (File photo)

B.C. creates buzz by declaring May 29 the day of the honey bee

B.C.’s minister of agriculture, food and fisheries said the insects are an integral part of B.C.

Megan DePew, co-owner of Sequim Bee Farm. (File photo)
The female passenger in a vehicle which crashed near Sicamous on May 20, 2021 was pronounced dead at the scene. (File photo)
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Watchdog probes Shuswap RCMP attempted traffic stop that ends in fatal crash

Female passenger killed, male driver sustains serious injuries in incident near Sicamous

The female passenger in a vehicle which crashed near Sicamous on May 20, 2021 was pronounced dead at the scene. (File photo)
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BC Wildfire Service air tankers and pilots are now stationed at the Penticton Airport, ready at a moment’s notice to fight wildfires. (Western News file photo)

B.C. government wants public to be ‘FireSmart’ this long weekend

British Columbians are encouraged to be careful with campfires, cigarette butts and more

BC Wildfire Service air tankers and pilots are now stationed at the Penticton Airport, ready at a moment’s notice to fight wildfires. (Western News file photo)