Spences Bridge

(Photo - Rosie Ann Peters/Facebook)

Highway 1 remains closed due to mudslide outside Lytton

The highway is closed until further notice; an assessment is taking place

 

This year’s Desert Daze in Spences Bridge will offer on-site camping for festival-goers for the first time. (Photo credit: Desert Daze)

Desert Daze now offering on-site camping for festival-goers

Camping spots will be available on the festival grounds for RVs, campers, and tents

 

(from l) Ava Rose Krantz, Kathleen Kinasewich, Suzanna Lee Krantx, and Lilly Krantz at the Lookout in Spences Bridge. (Photo credit: Submitted)

Spences Bridge artist creates public art for all to enjoy

Kathleen Kinasewich planned vibrant new artwork now on display at the Lookout in Spences Bridge

 

(B.C. Wildfire Service/Screenshot)

Wildfire between Merritt and Spences Bridge ‘moving at moderate rate’

Wildfire currently marked as 0.6 hectares

(B.C. Wildfire Service/Screenshot)
Preparations are being made for work at Site 11 on Highway 8, one of five sites where temporary reconstruction work has yet to be completed. (Photo credit: Geoff Bannoff)

Public gets look at Highway 8 progress during open house

Ministry of Transportation staff were in Spences Bridge and Merritt to answer questions

Preparations are being made for work at Site 11 on Highway 8, one of five sites where temporary reconstruction work has yet to be completed. (Photo credit: Geoff Bannoff)
(from l) 2021 Rotary Citizens of the Year Paulet Rice, Al Stott, Marijke Stott, Michaela Aie, Jacob Aie, and Pat Moyer. (Photo credit: Barbara Roden)

Rotary Club of Ashcroft/Cache Creek recognizes Citizens of the Year

Banquet on June 2 honoured recipients from the past three years

(from l) 2021 Rotary Citizens of the Year Paulet Rice, Al Stott, Marijke Stott, Michaela Aie, Jacob Aie, and Pat Moyer. (Photo credit: Barbara Roden)
(from l) Desert Daze Festival volunteers Ilanna Fortin, Wanda Dickenson, and Arnie Oram were part of a painting party working on the beer garden area of the Improvement District building in October 2021. (Photo credit: Desert Daze Festival)

Desert Daze volunteers hard at work organzing this year’s festival

Celebration of live music is ‘a time to put things behind us for a couple of days and have a party’

(from l) Desert Daze Festival volunteers Ilanna Fortin, Wanda Dickenson, and Arnie Oram were part of a painting party working on the beer garden area of the Improvement District building in October 2021. (Photo credit: Desert Daze Festival)
Ashcroft resident Michaela Aie (seated) raising money in July 2021 to assist people who were evacuated from Lytton following the June 30 fire. She is one of the Rotary Club of Ashcroft-Cache Creek’s Citizens of the Year for 2021. (Photo credit: Barbara Roden)

Rotary Club of Ashcroft-Cache Creek to honour Citizens of the Year at public banquet

First awards dinner since 2019 will honour the 2019, 2020, and 2021 recipients

Ashcroft resident Michaela Aie (seated) raising money in July 2021 to assist people who were evacuated from Lytton following the June 30 fire. She is one of the Rotary Club of Ashcroft-Cache Creek’s Citizens of the Year for 2021. (Photo credit: Barbara Roden)
A helicopter carrying a water bucket flies past a pyrocumulus cloud, also known as a fire cloud, produced by the Lytton Creek wildfire burning in the mountains above Lytton, B.C., on August 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Spences Bridge plans emergency reception centre

Community Hall has been outfitted with cots, bedding, food in event of disaster

A helicopter carrying a water bucket flies past a pyrocumulus cloud, also known as a fire cloud, produced by the Lytton Creek wildfire burning in the mountains above Lytton, B.C., on August 15, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Interactive butterfly artwork created by Kathleen Kinasewich and Andrea Ardiles in Spences Bridge in October 2021 with funding from the Neighbourhood Small Grants program. (Photo credit: Submitted)

Small Neighbourhood Grants available to help communities connect

Applicants can receive up to $500 for a community project that brings people together

Interactive butterfly artwork created by Kathleen Kinasewich and Andrea Ardiles in Spences Bridge in October 2021 with funding from the Neighbourhood Small Grants program. (Photo credit: Submitted)
The Easter Egg hunt — pictured here in 2019 — returns to Reg Conn Park in Clinton on April 17. (Photo credit: Raven Nyman)

Easter eggs-citement coming to local communities on Sunday

Get ready for a hippity-hoppity good time with Easter Egg hunts, barbecues, and more

The Easter Egg hunt — pictured here in 2019 — returns to Reg Conn Park in Clinton on April 17. (Photo credit: Raven Nyman)
‘Laurie Webster Will Manage Jay Ray Store’ (Feb. 24, 1972): ‘Pictured are (l to r) Brian Blundell, manager for 4½ years of Jay-Ray Clothing store of Ashcroft, who is being transferred to Kelowna to manage a new store opening there; Laurie Webster, who has been promoted to manager to take Brian’s place; and Art Fry, Jr., who has been recently employed, to take Laurie’s place. Congratulations to all! Brian has been active in local affairs and president of Ashcroft and District Chamber of Commerce. Noel Hunt was the first manager of the store when it opened 10½ years ago in Ashcroft, up until the time Brian took over, Noel being transferred to a new Jay-Ray store in North Kamloops North Hills Shopping Centre.’ (Photo credit: <em>Journal</em> archives)

In 1922, Spences Bridge pioneer Archie Clemes passes away

In 1947, liquor store sales in Ashcroft show that the town ‘has kept up a fairly high level of thirst’

‘Laurie Webster Will Manage Jay Ray Store’ (Feb. 24, 1972): ‘Pictured are (l to r) Brian Blundell, manager for 4½ years of Jay-Ray Clothing store of Ashcroft, who is being transferred to Kelowna to manage a new store opening there; Laurie Webster, who has been promoted to manager to take Brian’s place; and Art Fry, Jr., who has been recently employed, to take Laurie’s place. Congratulations to all! Brian has been active in local affairs and president of Ashcroft and District Chamber of Commerce. Noel Hunt was the first manager of the store when it opened 10½ years ago in Ashcroft, up until the time Brian took over, Noel being transferred to a new Jay-Ray store in North Kamloops North Hills Shopping Centre.’ (Photo credit: <em>Journal</em> archives)
(from l) Rotary Club of Ashcroft/Cache Creek members members Barb Hood, David Dubois, Theresa Takacs, Cami Lindseth, and Ron Hood. The club is now seeking nominations for its 2021 Citizens of the Year. (Photo credit: Barbara Roden)

Rotary Club seeking nominations for its Citizens of the Year

Nominations can be submitted until Feb. 28, to recognize those who went above and beyond in 2021

(from l) Rotary Club of Ashcroft/Cache Creek members members Barb Hood, David Dubois, Theresa Takacs, Cami Lindseth, and Ron Hood. The club is now seeking nominations for its 2021 Citizens of the Year. (Photo credit: Barbara Roden)
The first train crosses the new controlled, temporary at-grade level crossing of Highway 1 at Tank Hill north of Lytton on Jan. 14. (Photo credit: MOTI)

Highway 1 reopened to traffic between Lytton and Spences Bridge

Highway still closed between Lytton and Hope, due to record snowfall and avalanche risk

The first train crosses the new controlled, temporary at-grade level crossing of Highway 1 at Tank Hill north of Lytton on Jan. 14. (Photo credit: MOTI)
Route taken by a BC Hydro pole washed away west of Merritt by flooding in November 2021. (Photo credit: BC Hydro)

Hydro pole travels hundreds of kilometres from Nicola River to Boundary Bay

Broken pole found after being washed away following flooding on Highway 8 east of Merritt

Route taken by a BC Hydro pole washed away west of Merritt by flooding in November 2021. (Photo credit: BC Hydro)
Residents gather around the Christmas tree in Spences Bridge. (Photo credit: Kim Cardinal)

Spences Bridge residents come together in spirit of resilience

Despite the summer’s fires and recent flooding, the town is still very much alive

Residents gather around the Christmas tree in Spences Bridge. (Photo credit: Kim Cardinal)
The Ashcroft HUB Society board celebrates the news that School District No. 74 voted to sell them the HUB property for a nominal fee. (Photo credit: River Winwood)

Year in Review: School district announces plans to dispose of Ashcroft HUB property

Spences Bridge loses its EV charging station, a Paw Patrol helmet foils an eagle attack, and more

The Ashcroft HUB Society board celebrates the news that School District No. 74 voted to sell them the HUB property for a nominal fee. (Photo credit: River Winwood)
One of the many damaged sections along Highway 1 between Spences Bridge and Merritt. (Photo credit: Ministry of Transportation)

Province committed to rebuilding Highway 8 after massive damage

Temporary roads are being pushed through so residents can regain access to properties

One of the many damaged sections along Highway 1 between Spences Bridge and Merritt. (Photo credit: Ministry of Transportation)
The photograph shows where a new CP line has been established to the east (right) of the washed-out overpass and rail line at Tank Hill on Highway 1 near Nicomen. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says the hope is to have the highway through the canyon reopened by mid-January, 2022. (Photo credit: Facebook)

Work continues to reopen highways as extent of damage is revealed

Highway 1 through the Fraser Canyon has an estimated reopening of mid-January 2022

The photograph shows where a new CP line has been established to the east (right) of the washed-out overpass and rail line at Tank Hill on Highway 1 near Nicomen. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says the hope is to have the highway through the canyon reopened by mid-January, 2022. (Photo credit: Facebook)
The TNRD has issued an evacuation order for 37 properties along Highway 8 east of Spences Bridge. (Photo credit: TNRD)

Evacuation order issued for 37 properties along Highway 8 east of Spences Bridge

Floodwaters threaten several properties and have severely damaged infrastructure along highway

The TNRD has issued an evacuation order for 37 properties along Highway 8 east of Spences Bridge. (Photo credit: TNRD)