Martin Van Dale’s young son is distraught because his cat, ‘Coco’ has been stranded at the top of a nearly 80-foot tall tree in their Williams Lake yard for eight nights now.

“We first noticed when the cat was half-way up the tree,” said Martin’s neighbour, Andy Hutton. “We got a 12-foot ladder and tried to get close to coax him down, but he just went up higher We’ve tried placing food where he can see and smell it, we’ve tried cooking food that would entice him, we’ve even tried some of the things we’ve been told by specialists in this field, like spraying the feline with water – all that did was make him go even higher.”

Roadkill is never pretty – but tracking the grisly results of animal versus vehicle collisions is the basis of reducing such future accidents.

This is the rationale behind the Wildlife Accident Reporting System, which has been maintained by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure since 1978. It’s hard to talk about the ministry’s wildlife accident mitigation efforts on BC’s highways, without referring to the system which contains more than 109,000 records collected over 35 years.

Information in the system is provided mostly by our road maintenance contractors, who clean up after wildlife collisions. These people identify and record the species and location of the animal, and the estimated time of its death – dawn, day, dusk or dark. They are assisted by the ministry’s Wildlife Roadkill Identification Pocket Guide which has photos and detailed descriptions of species ranging from badgers to bison.

Safeway Inc. today announced that it has entered into an agreement to sell its Canadian operations through a sale of the net assets of Canada Safeway Limited to Sobeys Inc., a Canadian food retailer and wholly-owned subsidiary of Empire Company Limited, for C$5.8 billion in cash (about C$4.0 billion after taxes and expenses), plus the assumption of certain liabilities.

A manager at the local Canada Safeway acknowledged the announcement, however, was unable to comment on what this change-in-ownership might mean for the Williams Lake store.

The proceeds from this transaction are expected to be used to pay down $2.0 billion of debt, with the majority of the remainder to be used to buy back stock. In addition, some of the proceeds may be used to invest in growth opportunities.

'Looking Ahead' conference on food security and sustainable food systems

Experts in local food production techniques, food security issues and community organizing will be sharing their knowledge at a one day conference held at Martin Exeter Hall in 100 Mile House on June 15th from 9:00am until 5:00pm. A lunch made from locally grown organic produce and foodstuffs, lovingly prepared by volunteers, is included in the ticket price of $25.00. The conference will be conducted under the auspices of CEEDS (The Community Enhancement and Economic Development Society.) All proceeds will go to Loves & Fishes Outreach and the Women’s Centre Food Cupboard.

Thompson River University undergraduate science student Mitchell Johnson is preparing specimens of the European fire ant and related species in British Columbia that will be added to a pre-existing collection at Harvard University.

Mitchell will be pinning and labeling ant specimens for the collection, work that would not usually be offered to an undergraduate student. Johnson, a Williams Lake resident, is working towards his Bachelor of Science Degree from TRU. He enjoys working in the biology field and has plans to pursue a career in Zoology in the future.

** Updated on June 12, 2013 at 3:16pm:  The Williams Lake RCMP advise that this woman has been located.

The Williams Lake RCMP are seeking the public's assistance regarding a compassionate request to locate a local woman.

The Williams Lake RCMP are looking to speak with Amanda Sandy-Dennis to ensure her safety. Amanda was last seen in the early morning hours on June 11th. Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Amanda Sandy-Dennis are asked to call Williams Lake RCMP immediately.

For further inquiries, please contact Corporal John Rosario at 250-392-6211.

At approximately 3:45pm on Tuesday, June 11, a dust storm started in the area of Cariboo Memorial Complex and blasted through the back alley of 5th Avenue North towards the Memory Garden on Carson.

People tending to plants in their community garden took cover behind the wooden boxes and shielded their eyes as a whirlwhind that was approximately 30 feet wide by 30 feet tall carried sand and other debris along.

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Last night and in the early morning hours, six more vehicles were broken into in Williams Lake.

Police were called shortly after midnight to a residence on Pigeon Avenue where a witness observed two males breaking into a vehicle. Both males fled the scenem but a short while later, two suspects matching this description were observed breaking into vehicles at the Coast Fraser Inn on Donald Road.

A 21 year old male was arrested at the scene while the second male suspect escaped.

The investigation is continuing and it is not yet known if the theft from autos the previous night is connected to this rash of criminal activity.

The Kamloops/Cariboo office of the Heart and Stroke hosting the Williams Lake’s annual Big Bike event, presented by Dairy Farmers of Canada, in Williams Lake today. Local organizations have created teams to take part in the 2km route around the community on Canada’s only 30 seat bike.

Last year Williams Lake’s Big Bike raised over $16,000. Since its community debut in 1994, Williams Lake’s Big Bike events have raised over $210,000. These funds have helped support life-saving research here in BC, by researchers like Dr. Karin Humphries. Dr. Humphries is investigating gender-based differences in cardiovascular disease, to build understanding and ultimately help improve the outcomes that women with heart disease face.

(Photo: The Curves BC team has raised $2,745.95 this year, according to Miranda Broomfield, who submitted this photo of the Curves Williams Lake team who ride the big red bike at 1:00 this afternoon.)