BC forests have been turned orange by the mountain pine beetle (Courtesy Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations)

The Special Committee on Timber Supply was formed by Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson.

Committee members will be asking for the public’s input work this summer, before they deliver their recommendations on August 15.

They’ll be looking for ways to make use of the pine beetle-ravaged wood while it’s still salvageable.

“Given the importance of forestry as a key economic driver, ” said Minister Steve Thomson, “the issue of mid-term timber supply is of vital importance to not only the communities in the mountain pine beetle infested area, but to the province as a whole.”

According to the Ministry of Forests’ stats, the latest computer-modeling projections indicate about 58% of the pine volume in the province may be killed by 2021.

The current mountain pine beetle infestation is the largest in North America’s recorded history.

The new committee starts work on the project this week.

Lexus Whitmee (centre) and her mom Heather plead for information in dad Christopher's murder

“I just wish that everyone would know that I think of him every single day. I miss him every single day,” Lexus says. She wants “to know that the person who stole my dad from me is locked away.”

Lexus is upset that the person who killed her father is still out there, enjoying life with his family, when he took her father away from her forever.

Her father Christopher Whitmee was killed in 2009, and it still isn’t clear exactly what happened.

He was shot in a liquor store bathroom, and investigators still don’t know if he was a witness to a crime or just happened to be caught in the crossfire.

IHIT urges anyone with information to call 1-877-551-4448, or Crimestoppers.

The alleged incidents happened at Dragonfly Daycare, a licensed daycare operated out of the accused’s home.

48-year-old Edgar Hernandez has been released on bail, with conditions.

Corporal Alanna Dunlop of Ridge Meadows RCMP feels it “is important that the public are advised of this incident due to the environment in which the alleged offence occurred.”

Details of the allegations are not being released, while the case is in the courts.

Courtesy of citytv.com

The Toronto Blue Jays blew a 3-0 lead last night against the Tampa Bay Rays to fall 4-3. The game wasn’t without drama as star third-basemen Brett Lawrie and Manager John Farrell were ejected from the game.

With the Jays down by a run in the bottom of the ninth inning, Lawrie came to the plate with one out. With a count of 3-1, Lawrie was pitched what he thought was the fourth ball of the at-bat, and started to take his base. Home plate umpire Bill Miller however, saw the pitch differently and called it a strike.

With a full-count, Lawrie was then pitched a ball that seemed to look high and out of the strike zone, so he took to first base again. But like the last pitch, Miller called the pitch a strike again and Lawrie was called out.

Enraged, Lawrie then through his helmet onto the ground, where it bounced up and hit Miller in the hip. Jays manager John Farrell then came out of the dugout, standing between Miller and the screaming Lawrie.

Both Farrell and Lawrie were ejected from the game. “I felt like the bat was taken completely out of Brett’s hand,” Farrell explained. “Not only the 3-1 pitch, but the 3-2 pitch as well. Those are not strikes. Evident by the reaction of obviously Brett and myself.”

After the game, Lawrie went on to say, “I’ve never, ever, done anything to go at an umpire before in my life, and I didn’t mean to tonight. I apologize for that. It just kind of took an unlucky bounce and I think it got him, so my apologies for that.”

Lawrie is likely to get a suspension for the incident, due to throwing his equipment and it hitting the umpire.

Courtesy stock.xchng

The 26-year-old was kayaking with a friend when his boat tipped. He became pinned under a fallen log.

His friend found him and tried to resuscitate him, but was unsuccessful.

With no cell phone service in the area, the man hiked several kilometers until he reached an area where he was able to call Port Alberni RCMP for help.

Rescue crews had the challenging task of recovering the victim, who was located 300 feet above the river bank.

Crews had to wait until Wednesday morning to make the recovery, using a technical rope rescue.

Both men were experienced kayakers, with a lot of experience on the water.

The victim’s name has not been released, as RCMP is still contacting next of kin.

Courtesy Province of BC

Soon restaurant-goers in BC will know exactly what’s in their meals.

A new program called ‘Informed Dining’ was unveiled by the province, in the hopes of helping British Columbians make healthier choices when dining.

Restaurants participating in the program will display calorie and sodium information on their menus.

“This information is what our customers have been telling us they want, and it is our responsibility to provide it,” says Ian Tostenson, President of the BC Restaurant and Foodservices Association.

The program is voluntary, with 300 BC restaurants now participating.

Informed Dining is part of Healthy Families BC, the provincial government’s campaign to promote healthy lifestyles and prevent chronic disease.

Originating in Toronto, SlutWalk is a protest march against the comments made by Toronto police officer, Constable Michael Sanguinetti in relation to sexual assaults against women including rape.  Sanguinetti said to remain safe, women “should stop dressing like sluts.”  Participants across the world marched in an attempt to redirect the blame from the victims of rape, to the perpetrators.

The audience of approximately 40 people (yes, the majority of which were women) watched various clips from YouTube, ‘NO!: The Rape Documentary,’ and ‘Sluts: The Documentary.’

During the discussion one audience member said, “Rape is caused by rapists.  Not by women’s clothing or makeup.  Not the way she talks or walks.  Not by her drinking.  Certainly not by her being a slut.”

SlutWalk Vancouver has another event coming up on May 26 called “The (Un)Conference.”

Courtesy of bettor.com

The Phoenix Coyotes are in a must-win situation tonight versus Los Angeles. The Coyotes are coming off a Game 1 loss to the Kings, and going down 0-2 in the series would be a difficult hole to climb out of heading back to L.A. on Thursday.

After falling to the Kings 4-2 on Sunday, tonight’s matchup will play a crucial role in the outcome of the series. The Kings are yet to lose on the road in the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs, a streak the Coyotes are hoping to break.

“We recognize the situation,” said Phoenix coach Dave Tippet. “We have to jump back if we’re going to get ourselves back in the series. This is a game that we have to find a way to win.”

Puck drops tonight at 6pm Pacific time in the desert.

Courtesy of Bleacher Report

Major League Baseball is in a frenzy right now over one player, Josh Hamilton. The Texas Rangers slugger has had a week for the record books, and it doesn’t look like he’s going to let up any time soon.

From May 7^th to 13^th, Hamilton hit a stunning .467 which included nine homeruns and 18 RBI. Last Tuesday in Baltimore he became only the 16^th player in Major League Baseball history to hit four homers in a single game. The last player to do so was Carlos Delgado for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003.

After that record breaking night, Hamilton went on to hit five more homeruns that week going 14 for 30 overall in the short time span.

The last player to have remotely the same stats dates back to 2002 when Shawn Green had almost the exact same numbers with the L.A. Dodgers. He batted .531 with 10 homers and 18 RBI in seven days.

Josh Hamilton is a soon-to-be free agent, and clearly he wants to show the Rangers organization and Major League Baseball just how valuable an asset he is.

Crosby joins Stevenson to declare 'Drinking Water Week'

The week’s aim is to see Vancouverites and other residents of British Columbia conserve their water instead of wasting it.

The average amount of water used daily per person in British Colombia is 429 liters, that is one hundred liters more than the national average, and double the amount used per person in Europe.

Deputy Mayor Tim Stevenson talked about the importance of saving water before introducing the President of the B.C. Water and Waste Association Jennifer Crosby.

Crosby talked about many of the ways her group hoped to promote water week, including a button campaign, the use of social media and a website.

For more information on Drinking Water Week visit http://www.drinkingwaterweek.org/

-Nathan Tennant