Grace Kennedy April 25
My daughter’s kindergarten class has been learning history through artifacts found in each of their homes
and share what it could tell them about the past
I was very excited for this particular homework assignment
Would my daughter want to take the full set of encyclopedias
The adding machine hidden somewhere in the basement
she chose the typewriter: a 1946 Smith-Corona I received as a gift sometime in my teen years
and my daughter got a crash course in how to use it before demonstrating her knowledge to the class
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Signs downed on Sumas Prairie after the devastating 2021 flood
Federal parties have not promised to spend money to prevent another disaster in the region
Less than four years after one of Canada’s most devastating natural disasters
none of the country’s federal parties have promised to spend money to prevent another Sumas Prairie flood
Local candidates say they’ll advocate for infrastructure that could address the regular flooding of the Nooksack River into Canada
But none could promise that their party would act
That is consistent with each party’s platform
none of which suggest investing money in Sumas Prairie flood management would be a priority—or even on the radar of a future government
Today, Tyler reports on what the election campaign says about the potential for federal action to avoid or mitigate the damage from a future Nooksack River flood.
and the historic roots of a 21st Century disaster
From 2021: Sumas Lake once covered much of the Fraser Valley's fertile farmland
🚀 Gain skills that get you hired! KPU’s practical programs prepare you for the workforce with the confidence to thrive. Make your next career move.*
The federal election campaign continues until election day on Monday
Find everything you need to know—including where to vote—by visiting one of our local election hubs:
👉 Elections Canada explains how it keeps your votes secure on Election Day [CBC]
Become an Insider member and help keep local journalism and storytelling alive in the Fraser Valley
Ready for occupancy and just one minute from Highway 1 in Abbotsford
Xchange Business Park at Mount Lehman offers brand new industrial space for lease
Offering $19 PSF shell with 32’ clear ceilings
Developed by QuadReal and Hungerford Properties
currently has three baseball diamonds and a sandlot
The township is looking at potentially adding more
The Township of Langley is planning to add more baseball diamonds to Walnut Grove Community Park in an effort to keep some games and practices away from Fort Langley
North Langley Diamond Sports has been running youth programs for baseball and softball in Langley since the 2000s
Its baseball programs are largely based out of parks near local schools: Dorothy Peacock Park
residents near Fort Langley Community Park began to complain about the noise and conduct of the baseball players
Field times at the park were reduced in 2024
with the number of weekend games going from four to three
Township staff purchased two portable baseball mounds so the teams could move some games and practices to Dorothy Peacock instead
the Township is looking at options to expand field capacity at Walnut Grove Community Park
Design work for the reimagined park and additional diamonds is currently underway
it will be brought forward to council for discussion
more than 120,500 Fraser Valley voters submitted their ballot for the upcoming federal election
show nearly a third of all voters in the Fraser Valley cast their ballot ahead of time
The riding with the highest proportion of early voters was Langley Township-Fraser Heights
where nearly 34% of all electors submitted their ballot
only 20% of voters took advantage of the early polling opportunities
roughly 7.3 million people participated in advance voting
(You can bookmark these pages and come back to them on election night; we’ll be updating them with local results as they come in.)
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Clean-up day: Residents in the Township of Langley can participate in garbage cleanups across the region on Saturday. Details online
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After what appears to be a blue sweep of Langley
NDP candidates were unavailable for in-person comment election night
That included the Langley-Walnut Grove riding
where incumbent NDP candidate Megan Dykeman was unseated by Conservative Misty Van Popta.
With all four of the advance ballot boxes counted
and all 15 ballot boxes from election day tallied
while Dykeman had 10,592 votes or 44.62 per cent
A post shared by Megan Dykeman (@meganmdykeman)
Conservative candidates running for the party in the Langley area when the election began
Van Popta won election to Langley Township council with the Contract With Langley slate in 2022
Van Popta has worked as a project management professional on development projects
Van Popta told the Langley AdvanceTimes she intends to continue as a councillor
rather than step down and force a byelection.
"I don't think that that's in the best interest of Langley," Van Popta said
"I had conversations with John Rustad when I became a candidate
And there's other candidates within the Conservative party that have municipal positions
they're school board trustees or they're councillors or mayors."
is her day job in the construction industry
She spent election night at home with her family
and delayed celebrating until the results were definite
Housing will be at the top of her list of priorities
Van Popta said she decided to run for MLA after the provincial NDP government brought in legislation which forces local governments to permit small-scale multi-unit housing
"Bill 44 is kind of what put me over the edge in terms of limiting my ability as a municipal councillor
Density and growth is a massive concern within the Township of Langley."
Based on what she was hearing during door-to-door campaigning
Van Popta was cautiously optimistic about Conservative chances
I just paid attention to the conversations at the door that I had
every single day for the last couple of months
a farmer and former chair of the Langley Board of Education was elected in 2020 as the NDP MLA for Langley East
Dykeman served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Community Developments and Non-Profits while in the Legislature
Along with Andrew Mercier in the Langley riding
she was the first NDP member to represent Langley in Victoria since the early 1960s
Rylee MacLean was the Green Party candidate for Langley-Walnut Grove had 1,215 votes
Carlos Suarez Rubio ran as an independent candidate
and had previously run for Langley Township council
and also said he was running to protect children from “leftist and globalist agendas.” He had 130 votes
Plenty of Langley voters wanted to cast their ballots early. According to Elections BC, more than 25 per cent of registered voters cast their ballots in each of the three local ridings during advance voting days
there were 10,353 early votes with 41,360 registered voters
In 2020, 45,181 votes were cast in the old Langley riding
Langley's rapid population growth has meant a re-drawing of the two old Langley ridings into three new ones
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How to watch Texas high school baseball: Walnut Grove vs
Whitehouse High School is away from home against Walnut Grove High School
How to watch Whitehouse vs. Walnut Grove baseballWhitehouse and Walnut Grove will face off on Saturday, May 3, at 4 p.m. CT. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network
The NFHS Network gives you access to live high school sports around the country
Follow your favorite team and never miss a game
Want to track your alma mater, local team or family member's school throughout the playoffs? NFHS Network has high school baseball streaming live
plus on-demand replays and highlights of all the action from thousands of schools across America
Watch Walnut Grove vs. Whitehouse on NFHS Network!
All NFHS Network events are available to watch online at NFHS Network and through the NFHS Network Mobile Apps for iOS and Android and TV Apps for ROKU
Two youths and a couple of dogs escaped unharmed when a fire broke out on the back deck of a Walnut Grove house Friday afternoon
just west of 216 Street and south of 88 Avenue.
Langley Township Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Snowdon said crews arrived on the scene around 1:30 p.m
"The fire started out on the back deck
extended up the exterior into the eaves and into the attic," Snowdon said
Most of the fire damage was confined to the attic
"Our crews did have to go in and pull the ceiling on the second floor [to get at the attic]
So there's definitely some water damage and insulation that was pulled down
Cause of the fire remains under investigation
Five fire department vehicles responded to the call
"Our guys did a great job on their initial attack from the exterior," Snowdon remarked
A crew from the second arriving truck went inside and completed extinguishment
The fire sent a plume of smoke into the air over the neighbourhood.
Fire crews and police temporarily blocked 216 Street southbound to traffic
An atmospheric river has hit parts of the Fraser Valley and Metro Vancouver
leaving low lying roads and other areas flooded.
Several catch basins in the Langley Township have already flooded
including one in Walnut Grove located alongside 214B Street.
One resident told Black Press Media that it is the fullest they'd seen in 17 years.
the tennis courts off Walnut Grove Drive are completely flooded
Submit them with the location to editor@langleyadvancetimes.com and editor@aldergrovestar.com.
READ MORE: Langley roads closed due to heavy rainfall
RELATED: Langley RCMP share safety tips for navigating heavy rainfall
will escort Santa on a wandering route through Walnut Grove on Sunday
at the Fire Hall on 208 Street and 96 Avenue
The carolers will travel past Gordon Greenwood Elementary
Walnut Grove Community Centre and then across 88 Avenue
past Alex Hope Elementary School and wind back through the neighbourhoods between 212 Street
up Yeoman’s and then through Derby Hills and home
Donations of non-perishable food items will be gratefully accepted
For more information contact Jhim Burwell at 778-808-3429 or jhim@prolifix.ca
One of Langley's former BC United candidates is weighing her options after her party was essentially shut down by its leader earlier this summer
She had expected a three-way race against NDP MLA Megan Dykeman and BC Conservative candidate
United leader Kevin Falcon stunned the province by announcing on Aug
28 that BC United would suspend its campaign
in an attempt to unite the centre-right behind the BC Conservatives
A few BC United candidates were chosen to switch over to the Conservatives
only seven BC United members had been chosen by Sept
Other BC United candidates have bowed out of their races
and Tom Shypitka – have announced they will run as independents
Martens told the Langley Advance Times she has not yet decided what to do
"It's the community's best interests that will determine the outcome," said Martens
She noted that as she's already been approved as a candidate
if she does nothing before nominations close on Sept
who was selected as a candidate several months ago
has already put in time speaking to community members and knocking on doors in support of her candidacy
She said that she's not interested in political opportunism
As far as resurrecting some form of BC United
Martens said it's too late for the now-independent candidates to form a new political party
but there could be a crew of "free agents" vying for seats in the B.C
She chose not to participate in this forum
Walnut Grove Community Centre's pool closes for a month-long annual maintenance period starting Sunday
The annual maintenance will close all the pool amenities
underwent their annual maintenance earlier in the year and will still be open
For those hoping to sign up for swim lessons at any of the pools
the Township is reminding people to confirm their residential addresses so they can get priority sign up
the Township council voted to create priority access for swimming lessons for local residents
as the local pools have always drawn people from other nearby communities
Many towns in the Lower Mainland have priority access programs for their residents
To ensure they are eligible for priority access
They can do that in person at a rec facility
or utility bill with their full name and address
Locals can also confirm their residence online, by finding 'registration help' in the parks and recreation page of the Township's website
Registration for non-locals for the next round of swimming lessons opens up on Tuesday
Langley is made up of a series of neighbourhoods or "communities," some that were developed in the past few decades
some reaching back to the mid to late 1800s
the Langley Advance Times introduces its readers to a few individuals who call these various areas of town home
and address a little history about their neighbourhoods
Therese and Jonathan Moorhouse live on the quintessential Walnut Grove street – in the loop of a cul-de-sac
with young children who needed a bit more space
and with her own parents having just made the move to a nearby housing development themselves
close to school and groceries but far off enough major roads that there was very little traffic
Jonathan joined the family a few years later and moved in with Therese in 2012
The neighbourhood is Langley's second newest – before 1980
it was mostly rural farmland sitting north of the Trans Canada Highway
In early 1979 the Township formalized plans to create a new "high density" neighbourhood in northwest Langley
the community would take shape as rapid development took place on the model of suburban living then most popular in Metro Vancouver – single-family homes on quiet
many of which terminated in cul-de-sacs.
The neighbourhood came into existence for a prosaic reason – a new sewage plant to serve Langley had excess capacity
and Walnut Grove was the closest neighburhood to the site
who served in the Township's planning department from the early 1980s to the mid 1990s
and then as mayor from 1999 to 2008 as mayor
recalled that the first couple of neighbourhoods went up quickly
Vacant lots that had been going for $70,000 in late 1980 were selling for $27,000 a few years later
and there wasn't a house on the street!" Alberts remembered
Although most of the community was single-family homes
From quarter-acre lots in the first subdivisions
Townhomes and gated communities were also built in some areas
the single-family home remained the standard
though two different versions of it – Therese was living just west of Langley
his Surrey was surrounded by manor houses and farmland
Walnut Grove's closeness to the country and the Fraser River – Jonathan spends some time kayaking – is one of the draws of the area.
"The recreation is an absolute wonderland," he said
The couple have explored the trail network that winds through the community
and Jonathan mentions that they sometimes find the spots where a local black bear has bedded down for the night
But what really made them love living in Walnut Grove was the people and the local amenities
the Walnut Grove Community Centre was open
and it was simple to sign up her children for swimming lessons.
with the growth of the community and Langley in general
she noted that people sign up six months in advance
They were blessed to be able to have easy access to such programs
Jonathan noted that Langley felt really far out into the suburbs
but the actual drive back to Vancouver was not that big a deal
"We really couldn't picture anywhere else in the Lower Mainland we'd end up moving," Therese said
Although it's busier and more crowded than when they first moved to the area
the Moorhouse's say they'd still not live anywhere else in the Lower Mainland
Ravines and rivers run through Walnut Grove
and Langley Township took advantage of that fact as the neighbourhood began to grow
from the very beginning there were plans to place public trails alongside the ravines
That policy got a little pushback at the beginning – not everyone was happy with a trail running behind their back yard – but the trails quickly became popular
The trail network now extends east of 216 Street and as far west as 196 Street
It runs from Highway One all the way north to the community's outer edge
where determined hikers can connect up with the Golden Ears Bridge's pedestrian/bike paths and cross over into Pitt Meadows
including one east of the Walnut Grove Secondary
• 1979 – Langley Township council approves the plans that will transform the area then known as "Area E" or "West Langley" into Walnut Grove
• 1981 – West Langley Elementary re-opens after a fire that burned the original building to the ground
Only West Langley and Topham Elementary schools served the area before development – there are now six elementary schools
• 1994 – The first phase of the Walnut Grove Community Centre opened its doors
opened in time to screen Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
Two candidates contending for the Langley-Walnut Grove riding fielded questions at an event hosted by Langley Seniors in Action at West Langley Hall on Monday
Independent Carlos Suarez Rubio and NDP candidate Megan Dykeman both spoke on a variety of senior-focused areas
starting with a question about support for hospice programs locally
Dykeman noted the impact local hospice care has had on her own family
Conservatives want to cut $4 billion from the health care budget
and compared that to money her party has invested in programs like long term care and a commitment to aging in place
Rubio said he recognized what Dykeman had done
saying that in addition to a recently-announced 300-bed long term care facility
there should be 200 more beds and another 10 hospice beds
"That will help to ensure there is more support for the Langley community," Rubio said
which sends small buses to transport people with physical disabilities around Langley and Metro Vancouver
was the subject of a question over whether the candidates support ending its contracting out to a private operator
"That doesn't make sense," Rubio said of the contracting out
He said Canadians were at risk of losing culture
Dykeman said the NDP have committed to bringing the HandyDART program back into the government fold
She accused the Conservatives of intending to keep the program contracted out
The candidates were asked about affordability for seniors
The supplement ranges from $1 to $99 for single seniors and $2 to 220 for couples
Rubio said that seniors would continue to face higher costs and inflation "unless we get rid of this NDP government."
He said he would work to help seniors and single mothers
Dykeman said the NDP would continue with its poverty reduction plan
"This is not the time for austerity," she said.
She said that when the government invests in people
both the Walnut Grove Secondary School (WGSS) Gators senior boys and senior girls volleyball teams won the Eastern Valley Athletics Association (EVAA) zone championships on Nov
who coached the girls team, said it was the first time that the girls or the boys have won since the former Fraser Valley championships were separated into two parts
with it being a back-to-back sweep [by both teams]
that's also a first time for our school as well," Loo told the Langey Advance Times
a former Gator who won a volleyball scholarship to SFU
then returned to coach at Walnut Grove 14 years ago
the boys' side wasn't wasn't as strong for a few years," Payne commented
"They're like my little children at this point," she said
"My son [Isaiah Williams] went into grade 8 at Walnut Grove
so then I was able to start with his team in grade 8. This year
and he actually played the game of his life."
Gators senior boys won the championship even though setter Bennett Loeppke broke his finger
forcing Payne to move Ayden Kim back into that position.
So that was amazing that he was able to come into his old position."
coach Loo said they began the season as a group of grade 11s and 12s who hadn't had "very much success leading up to this year."
"It was definitely a rocky road for us to start
but the girls kind of persevered through that and have overcome a lot of adversity
and definitely were able to peak at the right time and have a very successful end of our season," Loo said
Loo credits a change of attitude to a tougher
more resilient mindset for the win by the senior girls
"Children of this kind of age category and this grade
they haven't really experienced mental and emotional adversity and overcoming [it]
They've been taught if the going gets tough
it's okay to quit or give up. With my coaching style
[it meant] me wanting them to be the best that they possibly can be
having to teach them that mentality is not okay in life
to push through things and persevere when the going gets tough
"I think it took approximately two months for them to kind of get that attitude adjustment or that attitude change
and they finally did get it within the last two weeks."
Standouts identified by Loo on the boys team were Bennett Loeppke and Luke Schroeder – who are both on Team B.C
Girls team notables included Chloe Rutquist, Lyla McKay
"I specifically chose Walnut Grove Secondary School because I've been coaching in British Columbia since the early 90's
then I left for Japan for 12 years and came back. When I decided where I wanted to end up
Walnut Grove was actually where I wanted to end up
because I knew I could build a volleyball program here."
while others don’t want it to ruin the original series
you might remember the TV movie that served as the show’s series finale
that whole experience from reading the script until the last day was the longest funeral I’d ever attended
As far as the reason Landon decided to go with such a divisive finale, Gilbert explained, “I knew that he wanted to demolish everything because he was so angry that NBC never called him to tell him the show was officially canceled. We just weren’t on the fall schedule after not just 10 years of Little House, but years of Bonanza
It was just such a disrespectful thing to do to him
I do remember reading the script and going
“One of the things we talked about was his desire to not have anyone else use our sets — like to have some porn out there shooting [on old Little House sets]
I had so many major life experiences in and around all of those buildings
That place was sacred to us in a big way.”
the cast wasn’t actually on set for the explosions but arrived on the final day with the town already destroyed
She admitted that it was “just painful” and compared it to natural disasters that destroyed people’s homes and famous buildings
The tears that you see onscreen were actual tears
since the cast was so emotional about the finale and seeing the town demolished
'People will be watching this long after we're all gone.''
Take a trip back to the ’70s by looking at the TV Guide Magazine Fall Preview primetime lineups
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A fire broke out Tuesday afternoon at a house in the Walnut Grove neighbourhood of Langley
The Langley Township Fire Department tells CityNews that crews arrived at the scene of a fire near 216th Avenue and Telegraph Trail around 12:50 p.m
there was heavy smoke and flames showing from the second floor of the residence,” said deputy fire chief Russ Jenkins
Jenkins says there were four people and some pets in the residence at the time the fire broke out
He says the occupants were able to escape with “no reported injuries.”
Jenkins says the fire spread from the second floor into the attic
but was contained to only the one house in the area
“It’s significant damage to the house
so I would imagine that these folks are going to be out of their residence for a period of time,” he said
Craig van Herk of the Langley RCMP pleaded with drivers to avoid the area while crews are at work
—With files from Michael Williams and Maria Vinca
Jendhel May Sico is described as a person who lived her life to the fullest
she was celebrating the Lapu-Lapu Day festival with those she loved most -- her cousin
Advocates in Vancouver are demanding answers and justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls on the national day of action and awareness
Police say a man was arrested after allegedly threatening staff with a machete in a New Westminster restaurant last month
The accused person in the deadly car attack at the Lapu-Lapu Day block party in Vancouver on April 26th appeared at the provincial Court of British Columbia
30-year-old Kai Ji Adam Lo appeared via video in court
The Chilliwack RCMP says it has found a young girl who was reported missing Thursday afternoon
Four people remain in critical condition in hospital and another two remain in serious condition
five days after the deadly attack at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival in Vancouver on April 26
Jack Rabb has more on the efforts to support the victims
11 high school lacrosse players in New York have been charged over an alleged hazing incident involving five younger teammates
Laura Aguierre looks at the disturbing allegations and the role the suspects' ages might play in what happens next
Legislature Thursday preceded a scheduled court appearance Friday for the man suspected of the deadly vehicle-ramming attack in Vancouver that left 11 people dead and dozens more injured
Listen to NewsRadio Vancouver live anytime and get up-to-the-minute breaking-news alerts
weather and video from CityNews Vancouver anywhere you are – across all Android and iOS devices
large-scale hardware store in Walnut Grove
the two Ts behind T&T Hardware have rebranded and re-opened a 5,500-square-foot store in the centre of the North Langley neighbourhood
Owners Michael Trentalance and Al Tsuchiya
the latter who owned an Ace store in Port Coquitlam when he initially expanded under the Ace brand into the Walnut Grove marketplace
conducted a board-cutting ceremony last Thursday
June 27 on the newest RONA operation for Langley
RONA currently operates one location on the Langley Bypass
And the company has now joined T&T Hardware to open the RONA Walnut Grove Urban store
is one of Canada’s largest home improvement retailers with some 425 corporate and affiliated stores
is a wholly owned Lowe’s subsidiary and has the master licence agreement for the Ace brand
the T&T duo added 2,200 square feet to their Walnut Grove Drive location
which will allow them to display a wide variety of bathroom and kitchen products
they have also increased their selection of building materials and plumbing products
“We listened to our customers and innovated to provide them with a shopping experience that meets their needs
especially in Vancouver’s highly competitive market
where it’s important to stand out,” Tsuchiya said
noting their outlet also offers a battery and bulb recycling service
Listing them both as former RONA employees with ambition
senior vice-president Alain Menard said the pair are now fulfilling their dream of operating their own store
"We are delighted to count them among our RONA-affiliated dealers and to support them with their future growth projects,” Menard said
he and Tsuchiya have more than 50 years of experience in home improvement retail industry
“We know first hand the strength of the RONA brand and its efficient distribution network
so it’s the perfect banner to bring our vision to life,” he concluded
About the Author: Langley Advance Times Staff
May 1Data SkriveWalnut Grove High School hosts Whitehouse High School at 7 p.m
How to watch Whitehouse vs. Walnut Grove baseballWhitehouse and Walnut Grove will match up on Thursday, May 1, at 7 p.m. CT. Don't miss out on any of the action with NFHS Network
Watch Whitehouse High School all season long on NFHS Network!
Walnut Grove High School baseball scheduleMay 1 vs. Whitehouse High School: 7 p.m. CT | TBA, TX | NFHS NetworkMay 3 vs. Whitehouse High School: 4 p.m. CT | TBA, TX | NFHS NetworkWatch Walnut Grove High School all season long on NFHS Network!
Team schedules reflect available data from NFHS and may not include every upcoming game
Township staff have completed design work on a new 43-car parking lot for the Walnut Grove Community Centre
Township recreation facilities and service manager James Marvel advised in an email reply to a resident that was copied to Township council
Marvel was responding to a complaint about a shortage of parking at the facility
“I agree with you that there is a shortage of parking at the centre
particularly at peak times on weekdays around [9 a.m.] and then again once school gets out in the afternoon,” Marvel wrote
The centre has staggered start times of classes and programs to avoid having people arriving and departing all at the same time
and centre staff are asked to park at the “far ends” of the centre parking lot or the school parking lot
Because there is a shortage of available land close to the centre to create more parking
staff “have concluded that the only reasonable option that we have is to build on a small section of land on the west side of the building
among them the location on the “dark” side of the building near a ravine and the distance people would have to from the lot to the front entrance
“We are unsure that people would feel comfortable leaving their vehicles around the back of the facility where there are not as many “eyes on the property,” Marvel said
The design work on the 43 parking spaces has been completed and the project has been included in the Township five-year capital plan
would be “extremely costly” and were not considered
The actress says Landon wrote "Little House: The Last Farewell," which aired 41 years ago today
because "he was so angry that NBC never called him to tell him the show was officially canceled."
The suspect in the alleged armed robbery in Walnut Grove has been identified as Austin Michael Hammonds
He is currently housed at Walton County jail charged with armed robbery; robbery by intimidation
(Editor’s Note: Please note an arrest or charge does not constitute a conviction)
2025) – Walton County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that a suspect is in custody and the items recovered following an armed robbery in Walnut Grove this afternoon
the Walton County Sheriff’s Office received a report of an armed robbery at the Sparkwell Variety Store in Walnut Grove
The vehicle used in the robbery was soon located in the Cannon Farm road area,” WCSO reported on social media
the primary suspect was located and arrested without incident.”
All items taken in the robbery have been recovered
“A tremendous job by Deputy Calloway and Savage
We are also very grateful for the assistance of Sheriff Brown and Deputies of the Newton County Sheriffs Office who helped tremendously,” WCSO reported
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Video released Wednesday by the Vancouver Police Department shows officers inside an armored vehicle duck when gunshots hit the windshield, eventually shattering it, during a standoff last month that left a Vancouver man dead
Investigators also identified Vancouver police Officer Cameron McAnally
McAnally has been with the police department for five years and works on the regional SWAT team
He responded to the incident as a part of SWAT’s sniper team
according to the Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team
According to the video compilation of the incident
was armed with a handgun and threatening to harm another neighbor
The caller reported Williams had fired at least one round into the air
Clark County sheriff’s deputies responded about 11 p.m. Sept. 26 to the 5400 block of Northeast 71st Street in the Walnut Grove area
Vancouver police members of the SWAT team later responded at 1:24 a.m
A police drone was able to get a view of Williams moving around his property and arming himself with a rifle
Williams can also be seen outside of his front door putting on ear protection
the drone footage shows a rifle on a shooting tripod aimed out the front door
Wednesday’s update states Williams was shooting at police throughout the incident with a high-powered rifle
and multiple rounds struck a SWAT armored vehicle
The Lower Columbia Major Crimes Team said six officers were inside the rig
One round struck the windshield of the vehicle
nearly penetrating the windshield to where a Vancouver police crisis negotiator sat inside
Video from the body camera worn by an officer in the armored vehicle’s front passenger seat captured the moments the round struck the windshield
The officer is heard saying over the vehicle’s loud speaker
You need to come to the front door with nothing in your hands.” A second later
the officer ducks as the round strikes the windshield
The officer is then heard saying “shots fired” and “he’s shooting at us.”
Another officer inside the armored vehicle is heard telling the others
the video shows officers again calling for Williams to come out the front door
“Show us you don’t want to hurt anyone out here
Show us that you can be safe,” before another gunshot is heard
As the armored vehicle then backs out of the driveway
Officers can be heard exhaling deep breaths and assuring each other that they are OK
Wednesday’s video also included footage from McAnally’s body camera
and the update states he was positioned in a low-lit area
McAnally is heard on the video saying he can see Williams wearing a helmet and a gas mask
Video from a drone as it approached the rear sliding door showed Williams dead inside
Drone footage of an upstairs bedroom also shows multiple boxes of ammunition and several rifles and handguns
A rifle with a scope was also on a shooting tripod and aimed out of the upstairs
Investigators said neighbors reported during interviews ongoing problems with Williams
They said Williams had made derogatory comments to neighbors about their ethnicities and had slashed tires on vehicles
Lufkin Lady Panthers celebrate teammate Akira Smallwood’s grand slam against Jacksonville at Lufkin High School
Lufkin opens the Class 5A Division I bi-district playoffs tonight against Walnut Grove in Athens
After capturing their first district title since 2016
the Lufkin Lady Panthers begin the postseason tonight with a Class 5A Division I bi-district matchup with Prosper Walnut Grove
Lufkin (22-4) closed out its district schedule Friday with a 10-6 win over Texas High
giving the Lady Panthers a share of the District 10-5A title with Hallsville as both teams finished league play at 13-1 and split the two games they faced each other
Walnut Grove finished second in District 9-5A
who was part of last year’s team that made it two rounds in the playoffs
is excited about the team’s chances this postseason
I feel like we have a stronger connection with our relationships
how we are together on the field and we talk so much better,” Dean said
but this year I feel like we have such a strong senior group and we have a junior group behind us that can pick us up
We have a lineup that’s good top to bottom
it’s a special thing for all the seniors to be together again and keep going.”
the Lady Panthers had a chance to clinch a district title at home
but came up short in a 3-0 loss to Hallsville
Lufkin rebounded on Friday to win at Texas High
and clinch a share of the district title with Hallsville
“They set this goal of a district title in the beginning and they battled for it,” Lufkin head coach Ashley Bryant said
“Every game they’ve done the little things and they have pushed through
They had the goal and they didn’t let down
I think the loss to Hallsville fueled them
Sometimes you can get a little complacent and Hallsville is a great team
but we won’t lay down and we’ll give them everything we’ve got
I’m behind them and it’s going to be a fun ride.”
Lufkin third baseman Marleigh McClendon talked about bouncing back from the loss and getting the share of the district title
“The games leading up to winning the championship were tough
and that loss really made us push harder to be clutch in the win against Texas High,” McClendon said
“That feeling when we beat Texas High was great because that’s what we’ve been working for all season.”
The Lady Panthers started the season with six straight wins but lost three straight games in a tournament at Port Neches
“We’ve been growing as a team through the season
We had our little troubles early in the season but now we’ve been really getting along well,” Lufkin rightfielder Ava Mendez said
“We’ve definitely progressed on the field defensively
We’ve been limiting our errors and relaying the ball a lot better
Our offense all season has just been great
We’ve been hitting well nearly every game and our hitting always keeps us in the games.”
Bryant talked about how the team has improved through the season
and I told them not to worry about everything else
just work on what you can fix,” Bryant said
“They’ve all done that and it’s all pieced together beautifully
it’s everybody has given everything they’ve had
It’s been fun and it’s a blessing to coach them.”
Edwin Quarles’ email address is edwin.quarles@lufkindailynews.com
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Tuesday | May 06 2025 |
JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove Resort & Spa has welcomed Arti Kukreti as Director of Rooms
bringing with her a signature blend of passion
With years of experience in elevating operational efficiencies across prominent hotel brands
Kukreti joins the Mussoorie team after her role as Rooms Division Manager at Accor
where she drove key improvements across guest satisfaction
“The essence of JW Marriott Mussoorie lies in how it makes people feel—from the lightness in the mountain air to the warmth in every interaction
I’m here to build on that foundation—quietly enhancing
thoughtfully evolving and engaging all the senses,” she said
Her goals in this new role are both strategic and soulful: to streamline operational excellence while infusing each guest journey with deeper personalisation and intention
From optimising seasonal service flows to introducing elevated digital touch points and intuitive guest offerings
her approach is centred on designing experiences that feel authentic
Her journey in hospitality has been shaped by a quiet mastery—of details
or building personalised rituals that guests return for
Kukreti brings a refined understanding of how the everyday becomes memorable
Her approach is less about quick wins and more about creating systems that breathe—where efficiency serves emotion
“Kukreti’s arrival brings a new dimension of creativity
heart and way of thinking to our ecosystem,” said Anoop Pandey
JW Marriott Mussoorie Walnut Grove & Spa
“She understands that behind every great experience is a system of thoughtful care
and innate guest-first mindset make her a natural fit for our award winning resort—and a true custodian of our culture.”
A firm believer in the evolving nature of luxury travel
Kukreti sees today’s guests as seekers of connection
Her vision is to integrate that understanding into every operational detail
from warm welcomes and immersive activities to the thoughtful integration of nature into the guest journey
inspiring guests to view luxury through a renewed lens
JW Marriott Mussoorie continues its journey not just as a five-star resort—but as a home in the hills
vivek.mittal@businessworld.in, amit.bhasin@businessworld.in
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Walnut Grove Library is expanding its services to the community with a little help from its friends – Friends of Walnut Grove Library that is
Friend of the library Andrea Raphael was recently able to obtain a grant through the United Libraries and Penguin Random House for a $500 in-kind book donation to purchase Penguin Random House titles
“We plan to use the $500 books to support the summer reading program (with) easy readers
board books and juvenile books,” Raphael said
noting this was her first attempt at obtaining a grant
“When kids and adults signed up for reading program after they read a certain amount of library books during the designated summer times they can earn free books to have forever at home from our selections of titles
There will be more options and titles for the summer program
Color Our World is this summer’s theme.”
Raphael said this is just one of the ways that Friends of the Walnut Grant Library are able to boost the services it provides
“We have partnered with Master Gardeners of Walton too for Free seeds Seed library
Monroe library also has one,” Raphael said
adding that other projects ince facilitating a partnership with the Matthew Talbot chapter of the DAR to donate two separate Lego walls to the library and hosted a recent event with Master Gardeners and and has an upcoming flag pole collaboration with Woodmen Life
If you are interested in joining Friends of Walnut Grove Library you can attend a meeting at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 5 at the library, located at 1050 Walnut Grove Pkwy, Loganville, GA 30052. Click or tap on this link to find out more information on Friends of Walnut Grove Library on Facebook.
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A workshop aimed at preserving the history and cultural legacy of the Walnut Grove community will be 6 to 8 p.m
The Walnut Grove Community Engagement Session is being hosted by the OKC Black Alumni Coalition
The classic is a celebration of Black community
Event organizers said Walnut Grove was once a thriving Black community along the North Canadian/Oklahoma River but was displaced due to redevelopment in the area
The River Bowl Classic brings members of the Black community back to the Walnut Grove site for a reunion-style event
organizers of the coming event began collecting oral histories of individuals with connections to Walnut Grove
Those interested in attending the March 13 community engagement session are encouraged to bring photos
stories and artifacts from Walnut Grove to help preserve its history
More: Remember Sand Town and other Black settlements along Canadian River? Share your memories
The event is being held in partnership with the Metropolitan Library System
Riversport and the Institute for Quality Communities
a community engagement program in the University of Oklahoma Christopher C
For more information, go to https://www.okcbac.com/
Grace Kennedy October 19
Want to stay up to date on the provincial election in Langley. Subscribe for free to get the Fraser Valley Current in your email every weekday morning
British Columbian voters will head to the polls to select their new provincial government
we’ve collected everything voters in Langley will want to know about the election
Don’t know which riding you are in? Find out here
Langley has changed a lot since the last election
with the ultra-populous Langley and Langley East ridings redistributed into three new ridings
Langley-Willowbrook is centered around Langley City
and includes the rapidly growing Willowbrook neighbourhood
The riding goes as far south as Brookswood
For information on each of the three major parties, check out our general election hub here
You can find our Langley-Willowbrook results page below
where you can keep up to date on the local outcome in real-time after polls close at 8pm on Saturday
The page also includes an overview of what’s happening across BC
and who is winning in the Fraser Valley’s other ridings
Your provincial election results for Langley-Willowbrook
Three candidates are running for Langley-Willowbrook: former Langley Township councillor Petrina Arnason
The candidates are listed in alphabetical order below
You can find their responses to our election questionnaire here.
Petrina Arnason was a long-time fixture on Langley Township’s council
Arnason is now running with the BC Green Party
Andrew Mercier is a labour lawyer and former executive director of the BC Building Trades Council
He was first elected to the legislature with the NDP in 2020
Mercier is the Minister of State for Sustainable Forestry Innovation
and served as both the Minister of State for Workforce Development and Parliamentary Secretary for Skills Training
Jody Toor is a holistic healthcare practitioner in Langley
and runs a integrative holistic clinic in the community
Toor is also a breast cancer survivor and mother
and has worked with local food banks and charity groups
Find upcoming all-candidates meetings and townhalls here
Find our stories about the provincial election here
(The most recent stories will be at the top of the list.)
What the parties are promising in the Fraser Valley - Oct
Fundraising comes first: Why BC Conservatives are skipping debates - Oct
Langley candidate questionnaire: 2024 BC Election - Oct
Should climate change be factored into infrastructure planning? Fraser Valley election candidates answer - Oct
Should farmland ever be removed from the Agriculture Land Reserve? Fraser Valley election candidates answer - Oct
What local transportation upgrades should be prioritized? Fraser Valley election candidates answer - Oct
Should the province spend billions to protect Sumas Prairie? Fraser Valley election candidates answer - Oct
Bridal Veil Resort or Cascade Skyline? Fraser Valley election candidates answer - Oct
What the Fraser Valley's mayors want from the provincial election - Oct
Three Greens leave Fraser Valley races, several independents start campaigns - Oct
Rustad says mandatory drug treatment would only be rarely used - Sept
David Eby hopes 'heartbreaking' decriminalization reversal can win voters' trust - Sept
I personally couldn't do it': Falcon said principles would stop him from supporting BC Conservatives - Aug
The election to come: Langley - April 2
If you are a Canadian citizen over the age of 18
and have lived in British Columbia since April 18
you are eligible to vote in the upcoming provincial election
There are four ways to vote: at a district electoral office
Voting by mail is available to all voters in BC—there are no special requirements to get a mail-in ballot
The ballots are issued with step-by-step instructions
People can request a mail-in voting package online or by phone before 8pm on Sunday
This is to ensure there is enough time for the ballot to be mailed to you
Elections BC must receive your mail-in vote no later than 8pm on Saturday
Voters can return their package in the postage-paid return envelope
by dropping it off at their local district electoral office
or by dropping it off at an advance voting or general polling station
If you do not register in advance
you will need to prove your identify and residential address by either uploading acceptable ID to Elections BC’s secure upload system or including photocopies in your voting package
(Details on how to register in advance at below.)
Advance voting will take place over the Thanksgiving long weekend
(Advance voting is closed on Thanksgiving Monday.) Voting is open between 8am and 8pm each day
advance voters will need to bring ID with them to the polling station
Bring a government-issued photo ID that has your name and address
Bring two pieces of ID that both show your name (one must also show your current address
A full list of acceptable ID is available on the Elections BC website
All voters can submit their ballot at any polling station in British Columbia. Preliminary polling stations are shown in Where to vote
General voting will take place on Saturday
Voters will need to bring ID with them to the polling station
People who don’t want to wait in line during advance voting or on election day
and don’t want to register to vote by mail can go in person to one of Elections BC’s district electoral offices
Offices are open from 9am to 5pm on weekdays
They are open longer during advance voting
There is one district electoral office for each riding. Their locations are available online
People who did not register in advance are still able to vote
They simply won’t receive a Where to Vote card in the mail
any voter can vote at any polling station for the provincial election
Elections BC has released a list of advance voting locations
These polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm from Thursday
Best Western Plus Langley (5978 Glover Rd.
Timms Community Centre (20399 Douglas Cres.
Elections BC has released a list of election day voting locations
These polling stations will be open from 8am to 8pm on Saturday
Alice Brown Elementary School (20011 44 Ave.
Blacklock Fine Arts Elementary (5100 206 St.
Douglas Park Community School (5409 206 St.
Langley Meadows Community School (2244 Willoughby Way Langley)
Nicomekl Elementary School (20050 53 Ave.
Garnett Demonstration School (7096 201 St.
Are we missing something? Send us an email
Langley-Walnut Grove is centered on the northern Langley Township communities of Willoughby
You can find our Langley-Walnut Grove results page below
Four candidates are running for Langley-Walnut Grove: NDP incumbent Megan Dykeman
and Langley Township councillor Misty Van Popta
You can find their responses to our questionnaire here.
Megan Dykeman is a former Langley school board trustee and an agriculture advocate in Langley
She was elected to the legislature with the NDP in 2020 with 42.6% of the vote
Dykeman served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Community Development and Non-Profits before the election
Website
Rylee Mac Lean is an entrepreneur with a background in financial services
and aims to bring financial independence to people in underserved communities
Carlos Suarez Rubio is a Trinity Western University alumni and is against the SOGI-123 resource
He ran for Langley Township council in 2022 and lost with the lowest vote share of anyone on the ballot
He is currently a greenskeeper at Newlands Country Golf Club in Langley
Misty Van Popta is a current Langley Township councillor
elected with Eric Woodward’s Contract with Langley in 2022 with 36.3% of the vote
She is currently on Metro Vancouver’s Water Committee and previously served on its Climate Action Committee
She is also a project management professional and small business owner
and Carlos Suarez Rubio did not participate.
All voters can submit their ballot at any polling station in British Columbia. Preliminary polling stations are shown in Where to vote
These are the ones in Langley-Walnut Grove
Alex Hope Elementary School (21150 85 Ave.
Donna Gabriel Robins Elementary School (7844 204B St.
Walnut Grove Dorothy Peacock Elementary School (20292 91A Ave.
Fort Langley Elementary School (8877 Bartlett St.
Gordon Greenwood Elementary School (9175 206 St.
Langley Fine Arts School (9096 Trattle St.
Lynn Fripps Elementary School (21020 83 Ave.
Richard Bulpitt Elementary School (20965 77A Ave.
Walnut Grove Secondary School (8919 Walnut Grove Dr.
West Langley Elementary School (9403 212 St.
Yorkson Creek Middle School (20686 84 Ave.
Are we missing something? Send us an email
Langley-Abbotsford is composed of portions of the former Langley East riding
as well as significant parts of Abbotsford South
Langley-Abbotsford covers most of the rural parts of Langley Township
Its Abbotsford component is relatively small
including only rural properties west of Bradner Road
You can find our Langley-Abbotsford results page below
Five candidates have announced they are running for Langley-Abbotsford: former MP John Aldag
You can find their responses to our questionnaire here.
first elected to the House of Commons in 2015 with the federal Liberal Party
and elected again in 2021 with 39.2% of the vote
He resigned his seat in May to run for the provincial election with the NDP
he was the administrator of the Fort Langley National Historic Site
Harman Bhangu is a first-generation Canadian
while managing operations and contract bids
Bhangu initially began his campaign in Surrey South
Shelly Jan has withdrawn from the election
As she withdrew after Elections BC’s candidate deadline
Signs will be posted at local polling stations indicating that she is no longer running for election
Alex Joehl is the leader of the BC Libertarian Party
He has run both federally and provincially
as well as for both council and school board
The BC Libertarian Party focuses on private property rights
Karen Long - Independent (former BC United)
Karen Long began her campaign as a BC United candidate
and decided to run as an independent when the BC United campaign was suspended
She is a former accountant and recipient of numerous community service awards
Website
Melissa Snazell is a pharmacy technician in Aldergrove
She is currently pursuing a degree in public policy
2: The Greater Langley Chamber of Commerce and Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce hosted an all-candidates meeting for the Langley-Abbotsford riding at Aldergrove Heritage Hall on Oct
The forum discussed business-related issues
Wednesday, Oct. 9: Langley Seniors in Action hosted an all-candidates meeting for the Langley-Abbotsford riding on Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 2 to 4pm. Details online
All voters can submit their ballot at any polling station in British Columbia. Preliminary polling stations are shown in Where to vote
Royal Canadian Legion Branch (265 26607 Fraser Hwy.
United Churches of Langley - Murrayville (21562 Old Yale Rd.
Aberdeen Elementary School (2975 Bradner Rd.
Aldergrove Community Secondary School (26850 29 Ave.
Betty Gilbert Middle School (26845 27 Ave.
Brookswood Secondary School (20902 37A Ave.
Coghlan Fundamental Elementary School (4452 256 St.
Glenwood Elementary School (20785 24 Ave.
James Hill Elementary School (22144 Old Yale Rd.
Khalsa School of the Fraser Valley (26345 62 Ave.
Langley Fundamental Elementary School (21789 50 Ave.
North Otter Elementary School (5370 248 St.
Parkside Centennial Elementary School (3300 270 St.
Pioneer Park Cooperative Housing Association (27111 0 Ave.
Shortreed Community Elementary School (27330 28 Ave.
Wix-Brown Elementary School (23851 24 Ave.
Are we missing something? Send us an email
Want to stay up to date on the provincial election in Langley. Subscribe for free to get the Fraser Valley Current in your email every weekday morning.
A trio of Lady Greyhounds embrace after last week’s postseason loss
It was the Lady Hounds’ best record in four seasons
The Lady Hounds close in to slow down Walnut Grove’s offensive advance during last Tuesday’s state tournament match
Cari Green (24) steadies possession of the ball near the sideline against the Warriors
Senior goalie Wendy Ramirez-Perez and head coach Mikayla Coley share a moment late in last week’s postseason match
The Lady Greyhounds have plenty to look ahead to next season
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© 2025 The Jones County News
A man in his early 20s died when he was hit by a freight train early Friday morning (Jan
near the CN Rail crossing at 216 Street and 96 Avenue in Walnut Grove
Amrik Virk said it appeared the victim was lying down on the tracks when he was hit
"We don't believe he slipped or fell," Virk said
The train remained halted on the tracks near the 96 Avenue crossing for several hours while RCMP
Transport Canada and the coroner's office inspected the crash scene
Below: A train rumbles past the scene of a fatal collision on the tracks near 216 St
in Langley's Walnut Grove Friday morning (Jan
Walton County Fire Rescue Deputy Chief announced that the brush fire on Paul Smith Road in Walnut Grove is contained
He said that Forestry is going to be plowing a fire break around the fire perimeter
2025) – Walton County Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Craig League is asking people to avoid the area of Paul Smith and Jersey-Walnut Grove roads due to a large brush fire
“Multiple WCFR personnel and units are on the scene of a large brush fire on Paul Smith Road in Walnut Grove
A live power line fell igniting brush and spreading to adjacent woods,” League said
“Georgia Forestry has been requested to respond with a fire plow.”
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