Published: August 27, 2010

On September 4 and 5, Merritt will be hosting the 52nd Annual Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo.

The Pro Rodeo is expecting nearly 200 professional cowboys this year with $2500 payouts for each event. According to Brent Kynoch, president of the Pro Rodeo Association, bull riding is the most popular event.

“The most cowboys usually come from Alberta,” said Kynoch. “There have always been a few Americans and a few from BC, but Alberta is most common.”

Many of these cowboys are trying to get points to qualify for the Canadian Finals Rodeo in Edmonton in November.

Kynoch would like to thank all sponsors in town for their support and the people who help the rodeo continue. “We get a lot of diversity at the rodeo,” said Kynoch.

“There is some great western heritage in town and also many people who have never been to a rodeo.”

“It’s a great mix of an audience and should make for a great rodeo.”

The rodeo is not just for professionals, the association is currently trying to put together a local cowboy bronc riding event.

“We’re also going to have a Wild Cow Milking contest, there are two guys on each team and about five or six teams,” said Kynoch.

“They have to milk into beer bottles. That’s always a laugh and entertaining for everyone.”

The rodeo is sure to be a guaranteed good time for everyone, including children.

“We’ll have a shoe scrambler for the kids,” said Kynoch.

“They get to go in the middle of the arena, take off their shoes, and then run around trying to find them.”

Start time on both days will be 1 p.m. Tickets are cash only and $15 for adults. Seniors and children under twelve pay $12, and children under six are free.

The rodeo will feature the following events: Bareback Riding, Steer Wrestling, Tie Down Roping, Ladies Barrel Racing, Bull Riding, and Team Roping.

There will be a beer garden, acts by Bert Davis and the Muttley Crew, and acts from the Langley Riders Drill Team.

Elaine Gillis of The Pro Rodeo Association says that they are expecting over 2000 people this year.

“We’re hoping for a good turnout,” said Gillis.

“The rodeo brings in a good crowd every year, and we’re hoping that this year will be the best yet.”

The Lions Club will be hosting the concession.

The Nicola Valley Pro Rodeo is one of the last in the Pro Circuit and the livestock will be provided by C+ Rodeo stock contactors.

These contractors will also provide livestock for the Canadian Finals Rodeo.

“I hope the town can come out and enjoy,” said Kynoch.

“Good luck to all the cowboys who make the rodeo possible.”

Published: August 25, 2010

Spending an afternoon a week with an underprivileged youth could mean the difference between that child having low self-esteem or having a strong sense of self-confidence.

There are many children and teens ages six to 16 in Merritt who could benefit from having an adult mentor, and now the chance to make this happen has arrived.

The Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Kamloops has recently expanded into smaller neighbouring communities, and is actively seeking fun, outgoing adults to get involved.

Spending some time doing fun activities with a kid who could use an older buddy in his or her life, adult volunteers can have fun sharing some of their leisure time in a number of ways.

“It’s hanging out,” said RCMP Const. Tracy Dunsmore. “They can go fishing, bowling, hiking, go to a movie, play video games; there’s all kinds of things that they can do.”

So far, there are already a handful of adults who have signed up to be a “Big,” as adult volunteers are called.

The “Littles” will be matched with their adult friends as soon as possible.

Big Brothers are paired up with boys and Big Sisters are paired up with girls, and the youth usually come from a single-parent home.

The parent and child are interviewed to see what kind of “Big” they would most benefit from spending time with.

Making sure the pair has similar interests is an important part of the matching process, said Dunsmore.

The first step for interested adults age 18 or older to become a Big Brother or Sister is to fill out an application form, available at the Community Policing Office (CPO) on Quilchena Ave

A background check, including criminal record check will be necessary, as well as an interview with a coordinator in Kamloops.

Dunsmore said she does not think there will be a problem finding children and teens in Merritt who will want to be matched with whatever number of adults sign up to volunteer.

“Just from my daughter’s school, I can think of a few kids who it would be really good for.”

There is a significant number of impoverished youth in the Merritt area, said Dunsmore, as well as a high number of single parents and students dropping out of school between Grades 8 and 10.

Having a “Big” in their lives can help a “Little” have a positive role model to help them out simply by listening to them, respecting them, and being a friend.

“We thought it was important to have a program like that in Merritt,” said Dunsmore.

“I was a Big Sister when I was in university, so I love the program and I think it would really, really help Merritt.”

For more information, call the CPO at 250-378-3955, or drop in to apply.

More information can also be found through the Big Brothers and Big Sisters website:

www.bbbskamloops.ca, or call 250-374-6134.

August 27, 2010

With just over a week left before the first ever Electric Mountain Music Festival, slated for the Labour Day long weekend, the performing acts have been lined up.

The Tito Deville Band will open up the festival at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 4. The festival had originally been planed to begin on Sept. 3 at the Active Mountain festival grounds, but early this month promoters announced the show would be reduced to just two days.

Because of the change, promoters say ticket prices will be frozen at the early bird rate of $120 and will not go up as the start date approaches

The reduced festival is not the only setback that has plagued the promotion. Earlier this summer, headliners Gorillaz Sound System cancelled, and festival publicist Meghan Edmondson resigned. Organizers were also waiting on the approval for a permit from the TNRD, which has now been granted, according to Electric Festival promoters.

Promoters say ticket sales have been slow, but an influx of walkups is expected.

www.electricmountainmusicfest.com

The most recent additions to the festival lineup are Vancouver's Swollen Members and Excision.

The two-day festival lineup looks like this:

Saturday Night – PK Soundstage (6 p.m. - 8 a.m.)

6 p.m. – Siavash

7 p.m. – Sage

8 p.m. – Woodhead

9 p.m. – Myshell

10 p.m. – Timeline

11:30 p.m. – Kissed with a Noise

1 a.m. – Lazy Rich

3 a.m. – Hyperfunk

4 a.m. – Gatringer

5 a.m. – Korina Bliss

6 a.m. – Kearce

7 a.m. – Nemesis

8 a.m. – James E

Saturday Night – Stage Molly (2 p.m. - 8 a.m.)

1 p.m. – Tito Deville Band

2 p.m. – The Kids

3 p.m. – Special K

4 p.m. – B-Funk & Dizze Miss

5:30 p.m. – BZ Black

6 p.m. – Boom Box Saints

6:30 p.m. – Autokrat

7 p.m. – Sticky Buds

8:30 p.m. – The Rascalz

9:15 p.m. – The Funk Hunters

10:15 – Dope Tito

11:45 p.m. – Tre Funk

12:30 am – Hot Pink Delorean

2:30 a.m. – Matt the Alien

4 a.m. – Lt Dan

5 a.m. – Kit Kat

5:30 a.m. – J-Lau

6 a.m. – Dr Jones

6:15 a.m. – Stylust

7 a.m. – Elbow Kickin

Sunday Night (PK Sound stage)

5 p.m. – DJ Leo

6 p.m. – Ryan Seven

7 p.m. – Eddie Santini

8 p.m. – Lando

9 p.m. – Dirty Politics

10 p.m. – Sync Fyller

11 p.m. – Dave Amrstrong vs. Norrie Taylor

1 a.m. – Junior Sanchez

2 a.m. – Hirshee

4:30 a.m.- Ollie Ple

5:30 a.m. – Destineak

6 a.m. – Jeff Daniels

7 a.m. – Shaun Gregory

8 a.m. – Maurer

Sunday (Molly Stage)

12 p.m. – Scale Breakers

12:30 p.m. – DJ Hubs

1:45 p.m. – Little T

2 p.m. – C-Styles

2:45 p.m. – Freshest Kids

3:30 p.m. – Tragic n Hydro

3:45 p.m. – Pro Fresh n Ill

4 p.m. – Stim J

5 p.m. Flipout

6 p.m. Bry

x7 p.m. – Headspin

8 p.m. – Flipout (House set)

8:30 p.m. – Kraig

10 p.m. – NoMayo featuring Kahlla

11 p.m. – Downlink s. Mark Instinct

1 a.m. – Excision

3 a.m. – Max Ulis vs. Self Evident

4:30 a.m. DJ Brukout

6 a.m. – Uknown Duck

7 a.m. to close – Chemical DJs

INFORMATION BULLETIN

Aug. 30, 2010

Ministry of Forests and Range - Kamloops Fire Centre

KAMLOOPS - Effective immediately, campfires will be permitted across the Kamloops Fire Centre's jurisdiction due to a decreased risk of wildfires.

Campfires must not be larger than 0.5 metres wide or 0.5 metres tall. Anyone who lights a campfire must have a hand tool such as a shovel, or at least eight litres of water, nearby to fully extinguish it. Never leave a campfire unattended, and make sure ashes are completely cold to the touch before leaving the area.

Although small, contained campfires are now permitted, open fires of any other description remain prohibited. This prohibition includes fireworks and burning barrels.

The rescinding of this prohibition applies to all BC Parks, Crown and private lands, but does not apply within the boundaries of local governments that have forest fire prevention bylaws and are serviced by a fire department. Please check with civic authorities for any restrictions before lighting a fire.

Anyone found in violation of an open fire ban may be issued a ticket for $345. Should a wildfire occur as a result of recklessness, a person can be fined up to $1 million or spend three years in prison and be ordered to pay all firefighting and associated costs.

The Kamloops Fire Centre extends from the northern border of Wells Gray Park, north of Blue River to the U.S. border in the south, and from the Bridge River Glacier west of Goldbridge to the Monashee Mountains east of Lumby.

To report a wildfire or unattended campfire please call *5555 on your cellphone, or toll- free to 1 800 663-5555.

For more information on open fire prohibitions, area restrictions or for updates on current wildfire activity, visit www.bcwildfire.ca.

Contact:

Michaela Swan, Fire Information Officer
250 554-5532 (office)
250 318-7456 (cell)

Kayla PepperFire, Information Officer
250 554-5964 (office)
250 376-5439 (cell)