Rick Stiebel

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Investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating missing 38-year-old Melissa McDevitt, after she failed to board a flight from Victoria to Vancouver on Saturday (Dec. 10). (Courtesy Victoria Police Department)

Search for missing Victoria woman suspended

Melissa McDevitt was last seen in Sooke on Dec. 10

Investigators are asking for the public’s help in locating missing 38-year-old Melissa McDevitt, after she failed to board a flight from Victoria to Vancouver on Saturday (Dec. 10). (Courtesy Victoria Police Department)
A black bear lumbers along the banks of the Sooke River. A wildlife advocate says that weather impacts bears’ behaviour because it affects their food source. (Contributed - Gary Schroyen)

Bears need personal space as they prepare for winter, says B.C. wildlife advocate

Spring and summer weather affecting black bear hibernation schedule

A black bear lumbers along the banks of the Sooke River. A wildlife advocate says that weather impacts bears’ behaviour because it affects their food source. (Contributed - Gary Schroyen)
Robert Owsianyk and Madison Fotheringham died just days apart this summer. (Supplied by family)

Island family rocked by tragic losses of father and daughter within 2-week span

Woman loses husband and daughter to cancer within two weeks

Robert Owsianyk and Madison Fotheringham died just days apart this summer. (Supplied by family)
Lynn Lodge, who won the doll house as part of a fundraiser for Megan Gallant in 2001, says her cat found refuge in the doll house as well. (Courtesy - Lynn Lodge)

Vancouver Island fundraiser dollhouse finds new home in Ontario

Miniature home built 20 years ago

Lynn Lodge, who won the doll house as part of a fundraiser for Megan Gallant in 2001, says her cat found refuge in the doll house as well. (Courtesy - Lynn Lodge)
The Sooke Harbour House has undergone extensive renovations since its sale two years ago. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke’s iconic Harbour House is up for sale again

Sooke Harbour House re-listed by developer in the midst of renovation

The Sooke Harbour House has undergone extensive renovations since its sale two years ago. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
View Upon Neah Bay by Dallas Duobaitisw earned the People’s Choice award at the Sooke Fine Arts Show. (Photo - Sooke Fine Arts Society)

Audiences welcome return of Vancouver Island’s biggest juried art show

Annual Sooke Fine Arts Show exhibition draws more than 7,000 people

View Upon Neah Bay by Dallas Duobaitisw earned the People’s Choice award at the Sooke Fine Arts Show. (Photo - Sooke Fine Arts Society)
The investigation into a fatal crash on Sept. 7, 2021 continues.

Investigation continues into 2 a.m. 2021 crash that killed child in Sooke

It has been 11 months since officials released any additional information

The investigation into a fatal crash on Sept. 7, 2021 continues.
Peter Pauwels, a retired conservation officer, says the job offers many interesting and rewarding moments, but there are many challenges. “We have to do many unpleasant things in this job. The amount of animals I’ve had to kill is staggering. (Contrtibuted - Peter Pauwels)

We don’t enjoy ‘killing animals,’ says former B.C. conservation officer

Peter Pauwels discusses the challenges and rewards of 30 years on the job

Peter Pauwels, a retired conservation officer, says the job offers many interesting and rewarding moments, but there are many challenges. “We have to do many unpleasant things in this job. The amount of animals I’ve had to kill is staggering. (Contrtibuted - Peter Pauwels)
Conservation officer Peter Pauwels recently retired after 30 years of service, the vast majority of which was spent working in the Capital Region and southern Vancouver Island. (Courtesy Peter Pauwels)

The inconvenient truths about black bears in Greater Victoria

Think again if you believe development drives bears away, says former conservation officer

Conservation officer Peter Pauwels recently retired after 30 years of service, the vast majority of which was spent working in the Capital Region and southern Vancouver Island. (Courtesy Peter Pauwels)
B.C. Premier John Horgan and T’Sou-ke Nation Chief Gordie Planes listen to an explanation from Synergraze founder and CEO Tamara Loiselle on how the spore tank works at a demonstration project in a greenhouse that’s home to an innovative project aimed at reducing methane gas emissions from livestock. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)

B.C. premier pitches plan for less gas from cattle

Innovative technology could drastically reduce cattle methane emissions

B.C. Premier John Horgan and T’Sou-ke Nation Chief Gordie Planes listen to an explanation from Synergraze founder and CEO Tamara Loiselle on how the spore tank works at a demonstration project in a greenhouse that’s home to an innovative project aimed at reducing methane gas emissions from livestock. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)
A team jumped to the rescue of a baby porpoise in distress at Whiffin Spit. (Submitted)

Stranded baby porpoise rescued after Vancouver Island hiker splashes into action

Sooke residents start rescue before professional reinforcements arrive by air

A team jumped to the rescue of a baby porpoise in distress at Whiffin Spit. (Submitted)
Singer Maggie Martin has taken social media by storm with more than 3.5 million likes on TikTok. Her latest release Never Blue has been picked up by Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. (Contributed - Maggie Martin)

Vancouver Island singer Maggie Martin racks up 3.5 million likes on TikTok

Langford resident didn’t let the grass grow under her feet during pandemic

Singer Maggie Martin has taken social media by storm with more than 3.5 million likes on TikTok. Her latest release Never Blue has been picked up by Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music. (Contributed - Maggie Martin)
A CRD master plan proposed to secure the future of water in the region is pegged at $2 billion. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Greater Victoria waterworks improvement plan could top $2 billion

New filtration plant at Sooke Reservoir front and centre

A CRD master plan proposed to secure the future of water in the region is pegged at $2 billion. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Work on renovations continues at Sooke Harbour House. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)

No timeline for completion of historic Sooke Harbour House renovations

Iconic south Island restaurant undergoing a makeover aimed to add 30 or 40 years

Work on renovations continues at Sooke Harbour House. (Rick Stiebel - Sooke News Mirror)
Megan Radatzke, an eduction assistant at Ecole Poirier Elementary, says the addition of a sensory room has been well received by all of the students at the school. (Rick Stiebel- Sooke News Mirror)

Special Vancouver Island schoolroom helps kids escape anxiety

Sooke school has sensory room that ‘allows the brain to reboot’

Megan Radatzke, an eduction assistant at Ecole Poirier Elementary, says the addition of a sensory room has been well received by all of the students at the school. (Rick Stiebel- Sooke News Mirror)
Mia Golden, a child, youth and family counsellor at Pacific Centre Family Services Association coordinates the Mobile Youth Service Team with Victoria Police Const. Gord Magee. (File - Black Press Media)

Concerns over youth violence growing on south Vancouver Island

Increase in kids heading to downtown Victoria has led to random violence, mischief and assault

Mia Golden, a child, youth and family counsellor at Pacific Centre Family Services Association coordinates the Mobile Youth Service Team with Victoria Police Const. Gord Magee. (File - Black Press Media)
A treehouse-style home in East Sooke has been selected as the top new host in Canada by Airbnb.

Vancouver Island treetop retreat tops Airbnb list of Canada’s best new hosts

East Sooke treehouse vacation property earns accolades for a desirable destination

A treehouse-style home in East Sooke has been selected as the top new host in Canada by Airbnb.
The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit is investigating a homicide that occurred over the weekend in Sooke. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Police have ‘person of interest’ in Sooke murder probe

Parties involved known to each other, police say

The Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit is investigating a homicide that occurred over the weekend in Sooke. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
The family of Iris McNeil, who was murdered in 1997, has launched a petition to deny parole for the man who murdered her in 1997. James Shortreed’s hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6. (Photos courtesy of the McNeil family)

Family continues fight to block killer’s release from Vancouver Island prison

James Shortreed at William Head In Metchosin, parole hearing scheduled for Oct. 6

The family of Iris McNeil, who was murdered in 1997, has launched a petition to deny parole for the man who murdered her in 1997. James Shortreed’s hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6. (Photos courtesy of the McNeil family)
An adult long-eared Myotis rests on a building. (Photo courtesy of P. Millar/Community Bat program)

Summer can be a batty time as young start to roam, says B.C. biologist

Bats may fly into homes, be found on the ground or appear roosting in unusual locations

An adult long-eared Myotis rests on a building. (Photo courtesy of P. Millar/Community Bat program)