Thom Barker

A black bear eats club cherries in southeastern Alaska. (Taal Levi, Oregon State University/Wikimedia Commons)

UPDATE: Smithers bear attack leaves woman, 79, with substantial injuries

Conservation Officer Service says it was a defensive attack, warns public to be cautious

A black bear eats club cherries in southeastern Alaska. (Taal Levi, Oregon State University/Wikimedia Commons)
Video image of seals being fed dockside at Cow Bay Marina on Aug. 12, 2020. (Provided image)

Prince Rupert fishing charter owner fined $10K for feeding seals

Curtis Ireland was sentenced in June after pleading guilty to violating marine mammal regulations

Video image of seals being fed dockside at Cow Bay Marina on Aug. 12, 2020. (Provided image)
Photo courtesy of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

Wolf attacks dog at Butze Rapids in Prince Rupert

Attempt to scare the wolf off with bear-bangers fails, but the family pet escapes with no injuries

Photo courtesy of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
Don, left, and Janie Olson shot a two-round, two-under-par 142 July 15 and 16 to win the Smithers Mr. and Mrs tournament. (Thom Barker/Smithers Interior News)

Local couple dominates Smithers Mr. and Mrs. golf tourney

48 Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Prince George and Smithers couples participated July 15 and 16

Don, left, and Janie Olson shot a two-round, two-under-par 142 July 15 and 16 to win the Smithers Mr. and Mrs tournament. (Thom Barker/Smithers Interior News)
One of 12 abandoned puppies found sheltering under an uninhabited trailer and turned over to the SPCA by a good Samaritan. (B.C. SPCA photo)

Prince Rupert animal shelter seeks support for 12 abandoned puppies

A good Samaritan found the dogs sheltering under an uninhabited trailer and rescued them

One of 12 abandoned puppies found sheltering under an uninhabited trailer and turned over to the SPCA by a good Samaritan. (B.C. SPCA photo)
A lynx got up close and personal with visitors to the Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter during its annual open house July 1. (Thom Barker/Black Press Media)

Wildlife shelter open house thrills visitors despite weather

Current residents include 8 black bears, a mountain goat and a rare white porcupine

A lynx got up close and personal with visitors to the Northern Lights Wildlife Shelter during its annual open house July 1. (Thom Barker/Black Press Media)
Alex Cuba, shown here with twin brother Adonis Puentes on bongos, headlined the Saturday night show during the 40th Midsummer Music Festival in Smithers June 30 to July 2. (Thom Barker/Black Press Media)

Generations celebrate Midsummer Festival’s 40th anniversary

Alex Cuba headlines 2023 edition in rare hometown performance

Alex Cuba, shown here with twin brother Adonis Puentes on bongos, headlined the Saturday night show during the 40th Midsummer Music Festival in Smithers June 30 to July 2. (Thom Barker/Black Press Media)
Ciro Panessa takes over as president and CEO of Northern Health on Sept. 5. (Contributed photo)
Ciro Panessa takes over as president and CEO of Northern Health on Sept. 5. (Contributed photo)

Northern Health names one of its own as new president

Ciro Panessa has served as northwest chief operating officer in Terrace since 2017

Ciro Panessa takes over as president and CEO of Northern Health on Sept. 5. (Contributed photo)
Ciro Panessa takes over as president and CEO of Northern Health on Sept. 5. (Contributed photo)
Aerial view of a formerly protected area of the Bulkley Valley environmentalists say was cancelled by the province without consultation. (Screenshot from SkeenaWild video)

Environmentalists raise alarm over Northwest conservation lands cancellations

SkeenaWild says government cancelled 1.35 million acres of protection without consultation

Aerial view of a formerly protected area of the Bulkley Valley environmentalists say was cancelled by the province without consultation. (Screenshot from SkeenaWild video)
A community pole in honour of carver Larry Hnidan is transported to the place it will be raised in Sik-e-dakh on April 21. (Elizabeth Larsen photo)

A first for Sik-e-dakh; a legacy for artist Larry Hnidan

The Gitxsan village raises a community pole in honour of the late carver

A community pole in honour of carver Larry Hnidan is transported to the place it will be raised in Sik-e-dakh on April 21. (Elizabeth Larsen photo)
Aerial photo indicating entry and exit points of Coastal GasLink’s tunnel under the Morice River near Houston. (Coastal GasLink)

Coastal GasLink completes micro-tunneling under Morice River near Houston

It is the 10th and final river crossing for the 670-kilometre natural gas pipeline

Aerial photo indicating entry and exit points of Coastal GasLink’s tunnel under the Morice River near Houston. (Coastal GasLink)
The Bulkley River at Ebenezer Flats near Smithers is already exceeding its banks and is expected to reach a 10-year high May 17 or 18. (Marisca Bakker/Smithers Interior News)

UPDATE: Smithers, Telkwa and regional district issue hazard notice following flood warning

Bulkley expected to exceed flood level and reach 10-year high this week

The Bulkley River at Ebenezer Flats near Smithers is already exceeding its banks and is expected to reach a 10-year high May 17 or 18. (Marisca Bakker/Smithers Interior News)
Workcamp at Seabridge Gold’s KSM project in northwest B.C. (Seabridge Gold photo)

Seabridge Gold secures CA$200 million investment to advance gold mine project

It is the second investment by Sprott Resource Streaming in the KSM project

Workcamp at Seabridge Gold’s KSM project in northwest B.C. (Seabridge Gold photo)
One person is dead and another seriously injured in a helicopter incident at Smithers airport May 6. (File photo)

One maintenance worker dead, another seriously injured in helicopter incident at Smithers airport

The Transportation Safety Board is conducting a Class 4 investigation into the occurrence

One person is dead and another seriously injured in a helicopter incident at Smithers airport May 6. (File photo)
Screenshot from Netflix trailer for the film “The Mother” with Jennifer Lopez. (Netflix)

Advance screening of Netflix movie filmed in Smithers planned for town

Smithers Tourism offers chance to win tickets to invitation-only event

Screenshot from Netflix trailer for the film “The Mother” with Jennifer Lopez. (Netflix)
View of the existing AltaGas propane export terminal on Ridley Island from the water. A new bulk liquids export facility is proposed to go up adjacent to this one following an announcement April 26 of a joint venture between AltaGas and Vopak. (Thom Barker/Black Press Media)

Vopak and AltaGas combine to evaluate new bulk liquids terminal at Prince Rupert port

New facility would be built adjacent to AltaGas’s existing propane export facility on Ridley Island

View of the existing AltaGas propane export terminal on Ridley Island from the water. A new bulk liquids export facility is proposed to go up adjacent to this one following an announcement April 26 of a joint venture between AltaGas and Vopak. (Thom Barker/Black Press Media)
Prince Rupert Port Authority CEO Shaun Stevenson speaks to reporters on Friday, April 21, 2023, at the port for a green expansion announcement with the provincial government. (Thom Barker/Black Press Media)

B.C. expands green innovation initiative to Prince Rupert port

The green initiative was first launched at Vancouver International Airport in December 2022

Prince Rupert Port Authority CEO Shaun Stevenson speaks to reporters on Friday, April 21, 2023, at the port for a green expansion announcement with the provincial government. (Thom Barker/Black Press Media)
Left: The aftermath of a rock truck driving through town, including through the Chandler Park soccer fields. (Marisca Bakker)

Smithers man charged following rampage in rock truck

Zachary Apperloo faces nine charges and is undergoing an in-custody psychiatric assessment

Left: The aftermath of a rock truck driving through town, including through the Chandler Park soccer fields. (Marisca Bakker)
An allegedly stolen rock truck still sits in town after a suspect was arrested on April 2. (Marisca Bakker)

Shots fired by Smithers police to stop rampaging rock truck

Social media reports indicate extensive damage caused in town

An allegedly stolen rock truck still sits in town after a suspect was arrested on April 2. (Marisca Bakker)
RCMP arrive at the 44.5 kilometre point of the Morice West Forest Service Road on March 29 to execute a warrant obtained following an incident in which a Coastal GasLink worker was allegedly swarmed by a group of masked individuals on March 26. (Yintah Access video screen capture)

5 people arrested as police investigate alleged swarming of Coastal GasLink worker

Search warrant had ‘no clear relation to the Gidimt’en village site’: Yintah Access

RCMP arrive at the 44.5 kilometre point of the Morice West Forest Service Road on March 29 to execute a warrant obtained following an incident in which a Coastal GasLink worker was allegedly swarmed by a group of masked individuals on March 26. (Yintah Access video screen capture)