Sarah Simpson

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Sunfest is set to go on without Billy Currington. (Citizen file)

Billy Currington cancels B.C. Sunfest country music festival appearance

Classic rock legend Randy Bachman tapped to replace him at annual Vancouver Island bash

Sunfest is set to go on without Billy Currington. (Citizen file)
RCMP appeared to be investigating a serious crime on Jubilee Street near the intersection with Kenneth Street on the morning of July 16. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

UPDATE: RCMP investigating homicide in downtown Duncan

One man dead after overnight stabbing

RCMP appeared to be investigating a serious crime on Jubilee Street near the intersection with Kenneth Street on the morning of July 16. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
Police officers forming outside the protest camp on the forestry road. (RCMP handout)

Vancouver Island Mounties dismantle Fairy Creek old growth protest camp, arrest 5

RCMP say that of the five arrested, two were repeat offenders

Police officers forming outside the protest camp on the forestry road. (RCMP handout)
Police square off with protesters during enforcement at the Fairy Creek watershed on the morning of Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. Protesters have returned to the Haddon Main and Carrmanah Mainline Forest Service Road camp despite opposition from area First Nations. (ONE DAY to Save the Old Growth Facebook group)

RCMP to arrest Fairy Creek protesters at reoccupied camp

Indigenous leaders from three nations have asked protesters to leave

Police square off with protesters during enforcement at the Fairy Creek watershed on the morning of Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. Protesters have returned to the Haddon Main and Carrmanah Mainline Forest Service Road camp despite opposition from area First Nations. (ONE DAY to Save the Old Growth Facebook group)
A logging truck lost its load on top of a pickup truck Tuesday, May 24 afternoon in the Comox Valley on the on-ramp to Highway 19. The incident killed Lake Cowichan husband and father Andrew Linklater. (Photo by Pamela Tessmann)

Help wanted for devastated family after B.C. dad killed by logs falling from truck

Lake Cowichan’s Andrew Linklater was killed when a load of logs fell from a truck and onto him

A logging truck lost its load on top of a pickup truck Tuesday, May 24 afternoon in the Comox Valley on the on-ramp to Highway 19. The incident killed Lake Cowichan husband and father Andrew Linklater. (Photo by Pamela Tessmann)
Wildlife group The Fur-Bearers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that will assist the BC Conservation Officer Service in its investigation of two poached cougar kittens. (Black Press file photo)

Reward offered for information on Vancouver Island cougar kitten poaching case

The wildlife charity Fur-Bearers is offering a $1,000 reward

Wildlife group The Fur-Bearers is offering a $1,000 reward for information that will assist the BC Conservation Officer Service in its investigation of two poached cougar kittens. (Black Press file photo)
The highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza has been avoided on Vancouver Island thus far. (File photo)

Vancouver Island flock cleared of worrisome bird flu strain

Backyard hens in Cowichan had a less contagious illness

The highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza has been avoided on Vancouver Island thus far. (File photo)
Avian influenza has struck a south Cowichan flock. (Citizen file)

Second B.C. case of avian influenza suspected on Vancouver Island

Mill Bay bird owner warned of possible bird flu in nearby backyard flock

Avian influenza has struck a south Cowichan flock. (Citizen file)
Jacqueline Nelson and her infant son Kane were last seen by family on January 4, 2022. (RCMP Handout)

Search for missing B.C. mother and her infant son reaches across western Canada

Vancouver Island pair last seen by family on Jan. 4 may have gone to Manitoba

Jacqueline Nelson and her infant son Kane were last seen by family on January 4, 2022. (RCMP Handout)
A stock photo of a 2005 grey Honda Civic, similar to the type Jesse and Violet Bennett may be travelling in. (RCMP Handout)

Police looking for a 2005 grey Honda Civic in case of missing B.C. father and daughter

Man believed to be evading contact may be driving a 2005 grey Honda Civic, according to police

A stock photo of a 2005 grey Honda Civic, similar to the type Jesse and Violet Bennett may be travelling in. (RCMP Handout)
The SPCA has seized more than 200 cattle from a farm in Shawnigan Lake. (File photo)

SPCA seizes 216 beef cattle from Vancouver Island property

BC SPCA calls the animals ‘neglected’ and ‘distressed’

The SPCA has seized more than 200 cattle from a farm in Shawnigan Lake. (File photo)
Beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend to all, Cowichan farmer Josh Mellor has died after a battle with COVID-19. He was 39. (Submitted by Miranda Mellor)

COVID-19 Delta variant claims young B.C. dad and farmer

Josh Mellor’s fight against the virus inspired many to get vaccinated

Beloved husband, father, son, brother, and friend to all, Cowichan farmer Josh Mellor has died after a battle with COVID-19. He was 39. (Submitted by Miranda Mellor)
Honeymoon Bay Fire Chief Raymond Wear. (Gazette file)

Float plane crashes into Cowichan Lake

The pilot was “very lucky from the sounds of it”

Honeymoon Bay Fire Chief Raymond Wear. (Gazette file)
Police are at Ecole Mount Prevost Elementary but the students have been evacuated. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)

Gardener finds buried explosives, sparking evacuation of Cowichan school

Students removed from school in an ‘abundance of caution’

Police are at Ecole Mount Prevost Elementary but the students have been evacuated. (Kevin Rothbauer/Citizen)
The site of Sunfest, Laketown Ranch, will be open for camping this summer. (Citizen file)

Sunfest country music bash won’t be shining on B.C. in 2021

Annual Vancouver Island Festival cancelled due to COVID-19, along with Laketown Shakedown

The site of Sunfest, Laketown Ranch, will be open for camping this summer. (Citizen file)
RCMP crest. (Black Press Media files)

UPDATE: RCMP investigating after child, 6, dies at motel in Duncan, B.C.

The BC Coroners Service is conducting its own investigation into the circumstances around the child’s death

RCMP crest. (Black Press Media files)
Providence Health Care has teamed up with partners, including Island Health, to launch the first remote cochlear implant (CI) mapping program for adults in British Columbia. Duncan’s Alan Holt was one of the first to test it out. (Submitted)

Road to hearing again takes an experimental detour for Vancouver Island man

Remote cochlear clinic offers shorter commute for patients like Duncan’s Alan Holt

Providence Health Care has teamed up with partners, including Island Health, to launch the first remote cochlear implant (CI) mapping program for adults in British Columbia. Duncan’s Alan Holt was one of the first to test it out. (Submitted)
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Happy New Year: Keep coming back with love in 2021

Sarah Simpson column: Keep coming back with love

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RiverQuest Charters owner Dave Gunn had no idea he was creating a viral video when he scaled down an embankment with his chainsaw on Dec. 16 to cut away a tree blocking the river. (Screenshot)

Video of hazard tree removal from Cowichan River on Vancouver Island goes viral

Total number of views has surpassed 24 million in just a few weeks.

RiverQuest Charters owner Dave Gunn had no idea he was creating a viral video when he scaled down an embankment with his chainsaw on Dec. 16 to cut away a tree blocking the river. (Screenshot)
Blue Grouse’s winemaker led the initiative, but it would not have been possible without the enthusiastic co-operation of every winery and grape grower in the valley (Citizen file)

‘Made in the Cowichan Valley’ coming to a wine bottle near you

Cowichan Valley has the honour of being the first sub-GI outside of the Okanagan

Blue Grouse’s winemaker led the initiative, but it would not have been possible without the enthusiastic co-operation of every winery and grape grower in the valley (Citizen file)