WRITERS CAMP Grist Mill will host a young writers camp See page 11
PROSPECTS IN THE SIMILKAMEEN PT 3
HOT TIME IN TOWN
Mineral wealth of area’s small mines add up See page 10
Sizzlefest returns in mid September See page 4
E H T PM Agreement #40012521
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Vol.15 Number 33
www.keremeosreview.com
Serving the communities of Keremeos, Cawston, Okanagan Falls and Kaleden
$1.15 including HST
Boil water advisory issued for Olalla Poor water quality tests result in boil advisory until further notice RDOS press release
Photo by Steve Arstad
Keremeos RCMP recently disposed of 580 bottles of liquor seized last November in Keremeos. The police are going to return the empty bottles and donate the deposit money to Friends of the Keremeos Skating Rink. In photo is Donna Bartlett (left), Mark Peron, Yan Peron, and Constable James Laton.
The Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen in consultation with the Interior Health Authority has placed a Water Quality Advisory on the Olalla Water System. This is in response to recent adverse water quality test results. The advisory will remain in effect until further notice. The elderly, young children/infants and anyone with ongoing health issues or compromised immune systems are advised to use a safe
alternative water source or to boil water for all drinking, oral hygiene and food preparation/ cooking purposes. Water should be brought to a rolling boil and continued to boil for at least one minute prior to use. Also, chlorine has been added to the system on a temporary basis which may result in a distinct chlorine odour or taste in the water. RDOS staff will be flushing the chlorine through the system and taking samples for testing. Once these testing results are approved by the Interior Health Authority, the Water Quality Advisory will be lifted. More Info: RDOS (250)4904135 Interior Health Authority (250) 770-3530
Risk of West Nile Virus increasing due to warm weather Provincial funding cuts means no West Nile spray program in the regional district Contributed Higher temperatures mean more mosquitoes, and the BC Centre for Disease Control is warning that some of them may carry West Nile Virus. Increasing numbers of mosquitoes have been particularly noticeable in the Okanagan and the Fraser Valley, and people in those regions and elsewhere should take appropriate precautions to prevent mosquito bites. West Nile Virus (WNV) is transmitted from birds to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. So far this year there have been no positive test results in BC from human, animal, or mosquito samples. However,
there have been reports of positive samples in Washington, Oregon, Manitoba and Ontario. About 20 per cent of people who are bitten by a mosquito and infected with WNV may develop some symptoms, including fever, fatigue, headaches and swollen lymph glands. In rare cases (one in 150), the virus can cause severe illness, such as inflammation in or around the brain (encephalitis or meningitis), or poliolike paralysis, that can occasionally result in death. To reduce the risk of being bitten by mosquitoes: If possible, avoid being out from dusk to dawn as mosquitoes that carry WNV tend to be active at these times. Wear protective clothing, especially outside in the early evening and at dawn. This includes long-sleeve shirts or jackets and long pants that mosquitoes cannot bite through. Tuck your pants into socks for extra
protection. Avoid dark-coloured clothing as it can attract mosquitoes. Use mosquito netting for babies and toddlers in cribs and strollers. Use mosquito repellent. Putting on personal insect repellents that are federally registered, such as those that contain DEET (N,N-Dethyl-m-toluamide) or PMD (lemon-eucalyptus oil) is an effective way to protect yourself from mosquito bites. There are also many repellents that have been shown NOT to protect against mosquito bites, including bug zappers, devices that give off sound waves and Citrosa plants. The public can help monitor for West Nile Virus by reporting dead corvid birds (crows, ravens, magpies and jays) by using the form at http://westnile.bccdc.org.