Could ships bypass B.C?
Inmate charged with murder
'People's tribunal' launched
Hudson's Bay to liquidate
Carney kills carbon tax
Germany voices support
Democratic Party fractures
South African envoy booted
VOA dumps wire services
TikTok deal on the way?
Stock markets rally
Sale of 2 plants approved
Blazers playoff hopes alive
Accolades for local player
Silverbacks playoff bound
Hackman's dog starved
Diddy pleads not guilty
Estate seeks to block release
In A Pickle
Farewell from In A Pickle - musings from a former Okanaganite.
Jarred awake, I gasped as my heart threatened to punch its way through my chest. Sounds from Jurassic Park broke the silence of my first night on our West...
Farm helps horses rescued from the wilds of Alberta
Queasiness gripped me as I entered the paddock. These weren’t ordinary horses but wild, orphaned foals sharing pastures with their adoptive mothers and...
Re-baptism as an adult brings new meaning to the ritual
I nervously stepped into the pond, and the unstable sandy ground shifted under my feet as I walked. I felt like I was going down, down, down. “Oh no, I...
The impact of war lasts long after the fighting stops
My father, Jake Hagel, was part of the Canadian forces cleanup crew during WW2 in Europe. It was a horrific job that haunted the man for the rest of his life....
Scary camping sounds and things that go bump in the night
Eerie voices, creepy crawlies, predators and the elements couldn't keep me away. Buried under my sleeping bag during my first camping trip as an adult, I...
Spotting the games narcissists play
The narcissist cunningly manipulates the victim’s mind to gain control. In order to spot their strategies, let’s look at the 11 tactics they use to...
Remembering a friend who took his own life
My friend was funny, intelligent and outgoing, not someone you’d think would end his own life. His wife and stepson found him on the garage floor. Many...
Memorial marks second anniversary of young woman's mysterious death
Austyn Godfrey was the light of her mom, Michelle’s, life until someone extinguished her light Jan. 16, 2022. The culprit(s) publicly disposed of...
Finding religion after 'haunted' childhood
Sometimes I gave myself the creeps. The disgusting odour of an ice-breathing entity chased me up the basement stairs. I gasped for air while my heart tried to...
Lack of information adds to pain for those who lost loved ones to homicide
How horrifying it must be to receive a visit from the police, where they break the awful news of your child’s suspicious death. Your life, as you know it,...
Jesus talks to believers in many languages
The words of a mere boy amazed the Jewish teachers. Although these weren’t just any words and the child was anything but ordinary. At 12, Jesus conversed...
Care aides wear many hats while helping those with Alzheimer's disease
“Get away from me or I’ll scream”, she bellowed. I felt like a lowlife. The problem started minutes earlier when Rose announced she was going...
Visiting Alberta's 'Buckets of Blood Hotel'
“Did you see the curtains move?” I asked. Crystal snickered and rolled her eyes. “Oh Mom, you're hilarious!” she replied....
Avian rescue is for the birds
A sickening thud echoed throughout the room. It was sound I recognize well, when a bird hits a window. It was Aug. 3, in mid-afternoon. Reluctantly, I walked...
Hard decisions made in the face of an oncoming wildfire
I was terrified, feeling like a sitting duck when the authorities shut down the highways. On Aug. 18, we stayed glued to CBC radio, listening for updates and...
It's woman v. worms in battle for the tomato plant
The puny monster hissed a warning, lunged at me and spat green goo. That would teach me for nudging it with plastic tongs. It had been playing dead on the...
Time for women to embrace their inner Amazon
I served up a humiliating kick in the pants to a perverted middle-aged man. It amazed me that my Kung Fu fighting skills awoke after a 15-year hiatus. The creep...
Whenever a baby is born, so is a grandmother
With great anticipation, we drove to Alberta to meet our new grandsons. Both our daughters from previous marriages gave birth nine days apart. Being an...
In sickness and health, seniors are best at marital commitment
I heard the elderly man’s heart break from across the room. Every day, Ben faithfully came to visit his wife, Shirley, in the nursing home. Shirley had...
Mischievous mutt's ghostly encounter
Nala braced herself, refusing to enter the shower house at a campground near Tumbler Ridge. She had the same response to the downtown core. “I’m not...
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