The Kinsmen Centre reborn
A historic building in downtown Nakusp has been revitalized with the help of Options for Sexual Health (OSH). The building, which was built by the Kinsmen in 1969, was donated to the village under the terms of a 40-year contract. This contract stipulated the building was to be used as a health centre. That contract ended in 2010, and the building drifted into limbo. OSH was looking for a space of their own in the area, and saw potential in the building. After getting a facelift and a new name, Kinship Connection, it officially opened in June of 2015.
“Today is a celebration of volunteerism,” said Teresa Weatherhead, Master of Ceremonies, and staff member at OSH. “ It’s about taking something and re-purposing the space. I want to thank all of the volunteers who put in countless hours to make this happen.”
The Kinsmen were pleased as well.
“I want to thank you for taking into consideration, and moving this building onto bigger and better things,” said Chuck Dinning, an active member of the Kinsmen.
“It was a space that was going to waste, but you fixed that.”
Random acts of vandalism make no sense
Recent acts of vandalism have left residents of Nakusp scratching their heads trying to figure out a reason for the crime.
An individual or individuals took it upon themselves to remove 17 sprinkler heads off sprinklers along the waterfront walkway, with a repair cost of $1,500, to be paid for by taxpayer money.
Another baffling incident involved two people digging plants out of the public waterfront gardens.
When confronted, the pair responded by telling people to mind their own business, and continued to deface public property.
“This is a cost to our taxpayers, and digging up flowers is stealing- no question about it.” said Karen Hamling, mayor of Nakusp.
While Hamling is disheartened by the recent destructive acts, she acknowledges the majority of the community members are responsible and respectful, and the actions of a few do not represent the whole.
Woman dies in Hills house fire
RCMP say a woman’s remains have been discovered following a house fire on Purdy Rd. in Hills. Police, the BC Coroner’s Service, and the BC Fore Commissioner’s Office conducted a thorough scene examination in an attempt to determine the cause.
“At this point, there is little to no evidence of foul play,” said Sgt. Darryl Little. “It appears that the fire may have been caused from a wood burning cook stove.”
Little said there is evidence to suggest the woman re-entered the home to save her belongings, but was overcome by the fire, which destroyed the home.
A positive identification of the remains has not been made. Slocan Lake RCMP arrived at the home just after midnight to find it fully engulfed in flames, and the homeowner, a 44-year-old woman, unaccounted for.
Local residents, with help from the Hills Volunteer Fire Department, extinguished the blaze before it could spread to the nearby forest.
