Susie Quinn

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Kenn Whiteman takes a trip down memory lane sorting through his collection of 263 nutcrackers in his dining room. The collection takes up three rooms in his home. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Fine craftsmanship in a nutcracker leads to 45-year obsession for Port Alberni man

‘Nutcracker king’ hopes to find new home for his expansive collection

Kenn Whiteman takes a trip down memory lane sorting through his collection of 263 nutcrackers in his dining room. The collection takes up three rooms in his home. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Alberni Pacific Division (APD) Sawmill, owned by Western Forest Products, is located on Port Alberni’s waterfront. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)

Western Forest Products shuts Port Alberni sawmill for six months

Extended curtailment was unexpected, says Steelworkers Union rep

Alberni Pacific Division (APD) Sawmill, owned by Western Forest Products, is located on Port Alberni’s waterfront. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)
The sun sets behind the Somass River at Victoria Quay in Port Alberni. (Elena Rardon / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)

Port Alberni continues to lead B.C’s October heat parade and shatter many records

Century-old records fall away as mid-Island city sees temperatures in upper 20s Celsius

The sun sets behind the Somass River at Victoria Quay in Port Alberni. (Elena Rardon / ALBERNI VALLEY NEWS)
Robbie Jai, left, unit chief for the Parksville Ambulance Station, presents Ed Francoeur, centre, and Tyler Ruel of Port Alberni with Vital Links awards for saving golfer Fred Fredrickson after he collapsed at Alberni Golf Course on Sept. 13, 2020. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Island golfers honoured saving man who went into cardiac arrest on the course

Ed Francoeur, Tyler Ruel saved fellow golfer after he went into cardiac arrest in 2020

Robbie Jai, left, unit chief for the Parksville Ambulance Station, presents Ed Francoeur, centre, and Tyler Ruel of Port Alberni with Vital Links awards for saving golfer Fred Fredrickson after he collapsed at Alberni Golf Course on Sept. 13, 2020. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
The ‘Every child matters’ barricade painted at the entrance to the ‘Orange Bridge’ (Riverbend Bridge) was vandalized sometime in the evening of Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Vandals paint racial slur on Port Alberni’s ‘Orange Bridge’ hours after reconciliation walk

Tseshaht First Nation denounces act, says there is ‘zero tolerance’ for racism in community

The ‘Every child matters’ barricade painted at the entrance to the ‘Orange Bridge’ (Riverbend Bridge) was vandalized sometime in the evening of Friday, Sept. 30, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
Students from Tammi Greenwood’s Grade 5/6 class at Haahuupayak School wave to drivers from the newly painted portion of the Orange Bridge (Riverbend Bridge) over the Somass River, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2002. (PHOTO COURTESY TAMMI GREENWOOD)

Port Alberni’s iconic ‘Orange Bridge’ turns orange again for Truth and Reconciliation

Tseshaht First Nation hopes bright orange accents will change narrative of bridge

Students from Tammi Greenwood’s Grade 5/6 class at Haahuupayak School wave to drivers from the newly painted portion of the Orange Bridge (Riverbend Bridge) over the Somass River, Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2002. (PHOTO COURTESY TAMMI GREENWOOD)
Brandon Cairney was declared missing in October 2017. He was found alive in September 2022 in Burnaby, B.C., but claims he is not Cairney. (RCMP PHOTO)

Port Alberni man missing for five years resurfaces, but denies he is Brandon Cairney

Mystery unfolds in Island Crime podcast update on men missing from Vancouver Island

Brandon Cairney was declared missing in October 2017. He was found alive in September 2022 in Burnaby, B.C., but claims he is not Cairney. (RCMP PHOTO)
A stream of water from the Harbour Chieftain fireboat can be seen as crews fight a fire aboard a 35-foot aluminum work vessel in the Alberni Harbour on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. (PHOTO COURTESY JOANNA STANGOWITZ)

Man forced to jump into Alberni Harbour after boat explodes

Black smoke, flames were visible for kilometres

A stream of water from the Harbour Chieftain fireboat can be seen as crews fight a fire aboard a 35-foot aluminum work vessel in the Alberni Harbour on Sunday, Sept. 18, 2022. (PHOTO COURTESY JOANNA STANGOWITZ)
First responders from BC EHS, Port Alberni Fire Department and Alberni Valley Rescue Squad retrieve a woman who had fallen around 30 metres at Stamp River Provincial Park on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. (ALBERNI VALLEY RESCUE SQUAD PHOTO)

Tourist airlifted to hospital after falling 40 feet down embankment at Stamp River Provincial Park

Rope rescue teams from Port Alberni, Qualicum Beach extricate woman from bank by Stamp Falls

First responders from BC EHS, Port Alberni Fire Department and Alberni Valley Rescue Squad retrieve a woman who had fallen around 30 metres at Stamp River Provincial Park on Monday, Sept. 5, 2022. (ALBERNI VALLEY RESCUE SQUAD PHOTO)
Ted Eeftink of Ucluelet gazes out the window of Angel Flight pilot Bruce Burley’s Cessna C210) on the way to Boundary Bay Airport and cancer treatment in Vancouver. (PHOTO COURTESY BRUCE BURLEY)

Angels take flight over Vancouver Island

Angel Flight BC has made more than 2,000 special flights for patients needing medical treatment

Ted Eeftink of Ucluelet gazes out the window of Angel Flight pilot Bruce Burley’s Cessna C210) on the way to Boundary Bay Airport and cancer treatment in Vancouver. (PHOTO COURTESY BRUCE BURLEY)
Tour de Rock rider Rick Geddes of Ucluelet arrives at the top of Mount Washington Alpine Resort during a practice ride in July. (PHOTO COURTESY RICK GEDDES)

Tour de Rock fundraising ramps up for 2022 team member Rick Geddes

He may be Ucluelet’s fire chief but his hometown Port Alberni is embracing Geddes’ tour appearance

Tour de Rock rider Rick Geddes of Ucluelet arrives at the top of Mount Washington Alpine Resort during a practice ride in July. (PHOTO COURTESY RICK GEDDES)
Ben Jeffery of the Sproat Lake Watersports Association gets some air during competition at the BC Summer Games in Prince George. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

B.C. wakeboard, wakeskate championships return to Vancouver Island

Wakesurf competition happening on Sproat Lake near Port Alberni Aug. 12-14

Ben Jeffery of the Sproat Lake Watersports Association gets some air during competition at the BC Summer Games in Prince George. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
The King Edward Liquor Store is located in the 3600-block of Third Avenue in Port Alberni, B.C. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)

One person injured in robbery at Port Alberni liquor store

Suspect has been arrested by Port Alberni RCMP

The King Edward Liquor Store is located in the 3600-block of Third Avenue in Port Alberni, B.C. (AV NEWS FILE PHOTO)
British Columbia NDP leadership candidate David Eby plays a marimba with Susan Sigurdson, left, and Heather Shobe of Marim Bam Buzz, Saturday, Aug. 6 during a visit with farmers at the Spirit Square Farmers Market. Eby was on a tour of central Vancouver Island. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)

B.C. NDP leadership candidate makes campaign stops on Vancouver Island

David Eby was in Port Alberni, Qualicum Beach and the Comox Valley over the weekend

British Columbia NDP leadership candidate David Eby plays a marimba with Susan Sigurdson, left, and Heather Shobe of Marim Bam Buzz, Saturday, Aug. 6 during a visit with farmers at the Spirit Square Farmers Market. Eby was on a tour of central Vancouver Island. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
Season 4 of Island Crime podcast is ‘Finding Amber.’ Podcast host Laura Palmer delves into the July 2022 disappearance of Amber Manthorne from Great Central Lake near Port Alberni. (SUBMITTED ARTWORK)

Disappearance of Port Alberni woman featured in Island Crime podcast

Host Laura Palmer said disappearance of Amber Manthorne hits home

Season 4 of Island Crime podcast is ‘Finding Amber.’ Podcast host Laura Palmer delves into the July 2022 disappearance of Amber Manthorne from Great Central Lake near Port Alberni. (SUBMITTED ARTWORK)
‘Amber’s Army’ was out again July 23-24, searching the backroads of Nanaimo and Port Alberni for Amber Manthorne, who has not been seen since July 7, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)

Large-scale public searches for missing Port Alberni woman wrap up

Amber Manthorne’s friends, family will still keep looking for woman not seen since July 7

‘Amber’s Army’ was out again July 23-24, searching the backroads of Nanaimo and Port Alberni for Amber Manthorne, who has not been seen since July 7, 2022. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News)
RCMP-GRC crest

Police pursuit for man with stolen BC Ambulance vehicle ends in Port Alberni

Emergency Response Team, RCMP helicopter called after armed man steals vehicle from Ucluelet

RCMP-GRC crest
Two hikers stranded in a gully on Mt. Arrowsmith had to be airlifted to safety early on July 18, 2022. Alberni Valley Rescue, North Shore Rescue and Talon Helicopters collaborated to bring the hikers to safety. (AVRS PHOTO)

Two hikers rescued from steep gully at Mt. Arrowsmith

Alberni Valley Rescue Squad calls in helicopter hoist team for assistance

Two hikers stranded in a gully on Mt. Arrowsmith had to be airlifted to safety early on July 18, 2022. Alberni Valley Rescue, North Shore Rescue and Talon Helicopters collaborated to bring the hikers to safety. (AVRS PHOTO)
Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions, left, Janis Joseph, centre, on behalf of the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce, presents Greg Willmon of Lady Rose Marine Services with a 2022 Business Investment award. Willmon purchased the business nearly a year ago. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News

Lady Rose Marine Services adds Sunday run to Bamfield

Business is approaching pre-pandemic levels after nine months with new owners

Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions, left, Janis Joseph, centre, on behalf of the Alberni Valley Chamber of Commerce, presents Greg Willmon of Lady Rose Marine Services with a 2022 Business Investment award. Willmon purchased the business nearly a year ago. (SUSAN QUINN/ Alberni Valley News
Darah Pointon and daughter Taylor, 8, hold up a missing poster for Amber Manthorne at the Tseshaht Market. The market has becone a mustering point for friends, family and community searchers who are looking for the Port Alberni woman who hasn’t been seen since July 7, 2022. (SONJA DRINKWATER/ Special to the AV News)

Hundreds of volunteers spend weekend searching for Amber Manthorne

‘Amber’s Army’ mobilizes to comb highway corridor, backroads for missing Port Alberni woman

Darah Pointon and daughter Taylor, 8, hold up a missing poster for Amber Manthorne at the Tseshaht Market. The market has becone a mustering point for friends, family and community searchers who are looking for the Port Alberni woman who hasn’t been seen since July 7, 2022. (SONJA DRINKWATER/ Special to the AV News)