ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

Multiple search warrants were executed on January 23, stretching between Fort St. John, Cecil Lake, Charlie Lake resulting in eight arrests being made and their seizure of more than 50 firearms. Photo credit: Fort St. John RCMP Local RCMP were busy conducting search warrants in northern BC on January 23, including five in Fort St. John, one in Charlie and one in Cecil Lake. An investigation regarding local organized crime and

British Columbia’s 2025 Winter Impaired Driving Campaign resulted in fewer impaired drivers being taken off BC’s highways than last year’s initiative but results varied greatly throughout the province. Photo of a checkstop from the BC Highway Patrol media release BC Highway Patrol reported that 240 drivers were removed from BC roadways in December 2025 for alcohol and drug related driving prohibitions according to a media release , a decrease from the 267 prohibitions served

A Fort St. John man will now face multiple criminal charges relating to a double fatal collision in Chetwynd, which occurred in 2024. Crime scene markers and debris scattered across Highway 97 from the multi-vehicle collision - (RCMP Media Release) 21-year-old Jaden Christopher Cardinal  will now face four criminal charges including two counts of impaired operation of a motor vehicle causing death, and two counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death. The ch

The snowmobiling and backcountry community near Tumbler Ridge are grieving the death of one of their own after Avalanche Canada announced that one person was killed by an avalanche while riding near Tumbler Ridge in the Bullmoose area. Photo of right hand side of the avalanche taken the day after the incident - Photo credit Avalanche Canada One individual has lost their life to an avalanche in northeastern British Columbia, about 35km southwest of Tumbler Ridge, which was tri

Where did 2025 go? As I look back, I am truly celebrating all of the wins much like new parents do with their child’s first few years.  This past year I passed some great milestones that included: *First solo 5 km walk *First solo trip to mall and nail spa *First participation as a speaker  in a panel at a  UBC Conference *First time making all my own travel arrangements. *First solo trip via plane complete with gate changes to connecting flights *Taught a winter solstice kun

Bear Flat Dispatch.  January 1, 2026 "There have been a lot of changes in the Peace River Valley in the last decade.  Here is an opinion piece that I wrote on January 1, 2016 about our New Year’s Eve celebration on the banks of the Peace River at historic Rocky Mountain Fort" - Ken Boon Supplied Photo On the south bank of the Peace River, just a short distance upstream from the mouth of the Moberly River, is the site of historic Rocky Mountain Fort in Northeast BC.  It was es

With winter weather conditions worsening across the Peace Region, Fort St. John RCMP are reminding drivers to slow down and be prepared. Police say the combination of snowfall, blowing snow and colder temperatures has already seen an increase in weather-related collisions across the detachment area. With much more winter weather in the forecast, officers including Police Service Dog Mako and his handler are patrolling and responding to incidents. December is one of the most d

The days are getting shorter and for some people that might mean sinking deeper into winter blues, but for the rest of us in Fort St. John it means outdoor ice rinks are back. A number of outdoor rinks around town opened over the last couple of weeks and with that came the familiar sounds of sticks clacking on boards, skates on ice, and kids wrapped from head to toe, learning how to not fall over.  This sort of energy and activity can make even the coldest weather feel a litt

A familiar face around the council table in Taylor is being celebrated for a big milestone. - Photo from the District of Taylor's Facebook Councillor Ponto has reached 20 years of service on council, marking two decades on the municipal stage which included participating in important discussions, decisions, and events that have made up life in the District of Taylor over that time.  From local issues and concerns to long-term plans as the community has evolved, she has had a

Bear Flat Dispatch November 13, 2025 I am pleased to hear that the BC Government has essentially shut down any opportunity for future cryptocurrency mining operations from connecting to the BC Hydro grid. There has been a temporary halt to new projects for the last few years, but now that has been made permanent. I have previously ranted on the madness of anything to do with crypto, so I will spare you those details now. Suffice to say that thankfully, not one more additional

Houston, we have a model. You don't need the northern lights to find artistic 'space ...the final frontier' in Mile Zero, Dawson Creek. Nick Proach with Alan Bean at his residence in Houston, Texas with the actual hammer Alan used on his pair of moon walks during the Apollo 12 mission in November, 1969 - Proach Models Open the pod bay doors HAL, because a love for the discovery and wonder of the space program has led Dawson Creek's Nick Proach to become a full-time business

The SPARK Women’s conference held in Fort St. John in October is something to be very proud of.  The organizers have truly brought a sustainable world class women’s leadership conference to the north! I was very privileged to be the recipient of a gift of attendance by Sharron Hammond. Sharron is the local Seniors Community Connector. She had a scheduling conflict and graciously gifted her tickets to me! This gift sparked my courage to say yes to the opportunities put before

Dawson Creek Fire Crews were responding to a single motor vehicle incident just before      8 am near the Groundbirch area on Highway 97 South in bad weather, when Captain Brooks Gower was struck by a passing vehicle. Photo from media release Gower was immediately transported to the Chetwynd Hospital before needing to be flown to Prince George to receive further treatment according to a Dawson Creek Fire Fighters Association’s Facebook post. “Brooks is currently stable, had a

In a time of grief and growing concern across the Peace Region, one mother’s pain speaks to the heart of a community seeking peace and healing. The 29 year old Jesse Twain from Edmonton, Alberta, has been identified as the victim in a recent homicide close to Dawson Creek, amidst a spike in gang related crime in the Peace Region. Twain’s mother told Alaska Highway News that police asked for her DNA after a body was found in a burned car in the Kiskatinaw area earlier this mon

Dr. Bron Finkelstein, who practices family medicine in the South Peace and is a familiar face to Chetwynd residents, was recently awarded the 2025 UBC Faculty of Medicine Clinical Faculty Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching. Supplied photo This honor recognizes Dr. Finkelstein’s outstanding dedication and contributions to teaching and mentorship throughout UBC’s province-wide medical programs according to the post. His ongoing commitment to guiding and inspiring student

Fort St. John RCMP and the public continue to look for James Joseph Edmund Barnes who was reported missing to Fort St. John RCMP on the evening of Friday, October 18, 2024, after failing to return home from a hunting trip. Photos from media release In a media release, Police stated that they believe James may have been hunting grouse in the Chetwynd area and Chetwynd RCMP were also notified of the file just after midnight on October 19, as search areas were expanded.   James

Bear Flat Dispatch October 9, 2025 I find it difficult to become motivated enough to sit down and write during the summer, but I do feel more compelled to punch out a missive on the old keypad now that fall is firmly here.  Perhaps if my livelihood depended upon writing I would not be so lazy, but fortunately that is not the case.  I believe it was springtime when I last checked in, and like a child returning to school, I now feel rusty putting my brain back into writing mode

The disappearance of Jesse Twain in the North Peace has left police searching for clues and residents wondering what might have happened. Photo from Jesse Twain's Facebook. Police in the region confirmed on Friday that they are looking for 29-year-old Jesse Thompson Twain, whose mother told Alaska Highway News that she has given her DNA to police. Twain was last seen on or around October 10 and was reported missing to Fort St. John RCMP on October 12.   In a news release, the

Two Indigenous comedians are using laughter to spread a serious message throughout October, as they bring the Bad Apples Comedy Tour to...

The Dawson Creek RCMP are investigating the death of Arron Linklater, who was found deceased on September 9, 2025, at a residence on 107 Avenue.   Following an initial investigation, police have deemed the circumstances surrounding Linklater’s death to be suspicious. The North District Major Crime Unit has now taken over the case.   Investigators are asking anyone with information, or with video or dash camera footage from the area of 1513 107 Avenue, to contact the Dawson Cr