Metchosin

The body of Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. Two escaped inmates from William Head Institution have been charged with his murder. (Martin Payne/Facebook)

Trial gets underway for B.C. prison escapees accused of murdering Metchosin man

Zachary Armitage and James Lee Busch are charged with killing 60-year-old Martin Payne

The body of Metchosin man Martin Payne was discovered July 12, 2019. Two escaped inmates from William Head Institution have been charged with his murder. (Martin Payne/Facebook)
Metchosin Mayor John Ranns reflects on 35 years in municipal office in the Moralea Milne Garry Oak Restoration Project forest outside Metchosin’s municipal hall. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Committed to the rural: retiring Island mayor stayed true to his values over 35 years

Metchosin’s John Ranns reflects on 35 years in office as he prepares to step away from local politics

Metchosin Mayor John Ranns reflects on 35 years in municipal office in the Moralea Milne Garry Oak Restoration Project forest outside Metchosin’s municipal hall. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage escaped from the William Head institution on July 7, 2019 and were subsequently charged with first-degree murder in the death of martin Payne of Metchosin. A civil case launched by Payne’s daughters blames the correctional system for their escape and the death of their father. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Daughters suing prison system over B.C. man’s death following prison break

Civil suit alleges Correctional Service of Canada staff failed repeatedly in death of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage escaped from the William Head institution on July 7, 2019 and were subsequently charged with first-degree murder in the death of martin Payne of Metchosin. A civil case launched by Payne’s daughters blames the correctional system for their escape and the death of their father. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
Bella competing with Alicia Gadban. The pair's performances this year earned Bella a national award for best Canadian bred horse of the year. (Courtesy of Paula Leweke)

Greater Victoria horse heroine celebrates Canadian equestrian breeding award

Breeder Paula Leweke knew ‘Bella’ was special from an early age

Bella competing with Alicia Gadban. The pair's performances this year earned Bella a national award for best Canadian bred horse of the year. (Courtesy of Paula Leweke)
Mrs. Morran said the ant hill has become something of a highlight for walkers who travel along the road. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

There’s a Metchosin ant hill so large, it has its own sign – and has existed for 20 years

The Morran’s put up a sign to warn walkers around 20 years ago

Mrs. Morran said the ant hill has become something of a highlight for walkers who travel along the road. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is warning residents of East Sooke and Metchosin after a recent string of cougar attacks on pets left one dog dead. (Black Press Media file photo)

Warning issued after dog killed in string of Vancouver Island cougar attacks

Three attacks on large dogs in East Sooke/Metchosin area have been confirmed in the past two weeks

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is warning residents of East Sooke and Metchosin after a recent string of cougar attacks on pets left one dog dead. (Black Press Media file photo)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage will be tried for the murder of a Metchosin man, starting in November in Vancouver Law Courts. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Trial date set for escaped inmates accused of murdering Vancouver Island man

William Head escapees trial moved to Vancouver Law Courts, set to begin Nov. 14

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage will be tried for the murder of a Metchosin man, starting in November in Vancouver Law Courts. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage will be tried for the murder of a Metchosin man in Vancouver Law Courts. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)

Trial for prison escapees accused of murdering Greater Victoria man moved to Vancouver

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage charged with 2019 murder of Martin Payne

James Lee Busch and Zachary Armitage will be tried for the murder of a Metchosin man in Vancouver Law Courts. (Correctional Service of Canada/Facebook)
Flooding and bank instability has closed the northbound lane of the Malahat past Westshore Parkway Nov. 15, according to Emcon highway services. (Courtesy Emcon)

VIDEO: Flooding, mudslide hampering travel through southern Vancouver Island

Rainfall warning in effect for majority Vancouver Island

Flooding and bank instability has closed the northbound lane of the Malahat past Westshore Parkway Nov. 15, according to Emcon highway services. (Courtesy Emcon)
Kristy Sivorot and her son Griffin with Juniper, a lame, pregnant cow she bought from a large dairy operation to nurse back to health. Juniper gave birth to Junior, a bull calf, on July 21 and is doing well. (Zoe Ducklow - Sooke News Mirror)

Vancouver Island’s women hobby farmers part of a growing food revolution

Raising livestock and families: the young women farmers of Sooke share their stories

Kristy Sivorot and her son Griffin with Juniper, a lame, pregnant cow she bought from a large dairy operation to nurse back to health. Juniper gave birth to Junior, a bull calf, on July 21 and is doing well. (Zoe Ducklow - Sooke News Mirror)
Metchosin ecologist Andy MacKinnon is raising alarm bells for arbutus trees, as many are falling victim to a fungus called leaf blights. The leaves and branches of the trees are turning brown or black and then dropping off, eventually killing them. (Dawn Gibson/News Staff)

Vancouver Island arbutus trees fighting for survival against parasites

Many trees weakened, turning black or brown and dying, says local ecologist

  • Apr 24, 2021
Metchosin ecologist Andy MacKinnon is raising alarm bells for arbutus trees, as many are falling victim to a fungus called leaf blights. The leaves and branches of the trees are turning brown or black and then dropping off, eventually killing them. (Dawn Gibson/News Staff)
In the Facebook group, Field Naturalists of Vancouver Island, a special sighting was recently shared of some swimming polychaetes in the waters of East Sooke. Louise Page, who teaches invertebrate biology and marine biology at the University of Victoria, identified the giant swimming worms to likely be Nereis brandti, also known as “the giant piling worm.” They typically live buried in the sand during the year, but when triggered by a lunar cue, will swim up in the water column to mate. (Photo courtesy of Louise Page)

Giant marine worms rising from burrows along Vancouver Island coast

Triggered by a lunar cue, the shallow water marine worms wiggle up into water column to mate

In the Facebook group, Field Naturalists of Vancouver Island, a special sighting was recently shared of some swimming polychaetes in the waters of East Sooke. Louise Page, who teaches invertebrate biology and marine biology at the University of Victoria, identified the giant swimming worms to likely be Nereis brandti, also known as “the giant piling worm.” They typically live buried in the sand during the year, but when triggered by a lunar cue, will swim up in the water column to mate. (Photo courtesy of Louise Page)
Gary Fletcher (right) and Brenda Costanzo, a senior vegetation specialist for the B.C. environment ministry, stand by a Malaise trap set up on Fletcher’s Metchosin property. The trap is collecting flying insects that will help Neville Winchester, a University of Victoria professor, see what’s happening to local insect populations. (Photo courtesy Neville Winchester)

Island study explores whether local insect populations follow global trends

A 2017 study found a 70 per cent decline in insect biomass over 27-year period in Germany

Gary Fletcher (right) and Brenda Costanzo, a senior vegetation specialist for the B.C. environment ministry, stand by a Malaise trap set up on Fletcher’s Metchosin property. The trap is collecting flying insects that will help Neville Winchester, a University of Victoria professor, see what’s happening to local insect populations. (Photo courtesy Neville Winchester)
Inmates at Metchosin’s William Head Institution are being given COVID-19 vaccines as part of the first phase. Around 600 inmates will be vaccinated in the coming days. (Black Press Media file photo)

William Head prison inmates in receive first doses of COVID vaccine

Priority set for older inmates and those with underlying medical conditions

Inmates at Metchosin’s William Head Institution are being given COVID-19 vaccines as part of the first phase. Around 600 inmates will be vaccinated in the coming days. (Black Press Media file photo)
Metchosin Mayor John Ranns said he has no plans to relieve Coun. Kyara Kahakauwila as deputy mayor. Kahakauwila has come under public scrutiny after travelling to Mexico for a wedding in December. (Submitted file photo)

Residents fuming, calling for Metchosin councillor to resign following ‘fiesta fiasco’

Mayor John Ranns has no plans to remove Kahakauwila as deputy mayor

Metchosin Mayor John Ranns said he has no plans to relieve Coun. Kyara Kahakauwila as deputy mayor. Kahakauwila has come under public scrutiny after travelling to Mexico for a wedding in December. (Submitted file photo)

Plastic band removed from neck of Greater Victoria sea lion

Entanglement injuries in seals and sea lions a regular occurrence at Race Rocks Ecological Reserve

Baby otter recovering in Greater Victoria after mom killed by motorist

Wild ARC opens emergency fund for young pup

Metchosin prison reclassified nine offenders to medium security after July escape

New security measures, notification procedures in place at William Head Institution

Happy at Home on the Farm

Violane Mitchell and Tom Henry at Stillmeadow Farm

  • Feb 1, 2019

Cat On The Prowl, 1976 Mercury Cougar XR-7 Turns Heads

Jody Dick’s groovy classic car is a rebuilt ride

  • Jan 28, 2019