Julie Whittet

By Julie Whittet The stretch of highway 97 from Highway 33 to Edwards Road will soon be expanded from four to six lanes. Funding of $50.2 million was announced this afternoon to pay for the expansion and upgrades to 4.5 kilometres of Highway 97. The expansion plans were unveiled today at a public event in...

By Julie Whittet Those enjoying the sun while walking along Kelowna's downtown waterfront this afternoon had to make a few unexpected detours. The stretch of walkway at the end of Bernard Avenue was dug up and construction workers were regulating foot traffic through the area. The construction crew was in the process of  laying in...

By Julie Whittet The girl charged with manslaughter in the death of Ashlee Hyatt is being charged with breaching her bail conditions. Ashlee Hyatt was found dead after a fatal stabbing at a Peachland House Party in 2010. A teenage girl from West Kelowna was found guilty of manslaughter in 2012. The girl is now...

By Julie Whittet As we welcome the first warm days of spring in the Valley, up in the mountains, the snow will soon begin to melt.  This spring the Okanagan is facing a higher than usual flood risk, according to the latest survey of the region's snowpack. The B.C. Snow Basin Indice shows the Okanagan-Kettle...

UPDATE: March 27, 2013 - 11:33 a.m. DISGRUNTLED PASSENGER BOOTED OFF GREYHOUND BUS Kelowna RCMP are investigating allegations of assault after a conflict broke out on a Greyhound bus last Saturday. The bus was making a scheduled rest stop in Penticton, while on its way from Vancouver to Kelowna, when an argument broke out between...

By Julie Whittet The robust tourist-commercial development proposed for the Hiawatha RV Park may be too ambitious for its own good – and for the residents of Kelowna. Nearly three hours of public input at last night's public hearing revealed overwhelming opposition to Westcorp's mega-development. All but one of the 32 speakers who came forward...

By Julie Whittet In the wake of World Water Day, Kelowna is embracing a new plan to update the city's water utility. Council approved yesterday a plan to get the provincial funding necessary to provide citizens in Kelowna with a modernized water supply system. Kelowna faces a unique challenge with its water utility, which was...

The RCMP are looking for new information in an ongoing search for a 34-year-old Kelowna woman, last spotted in 2008. Andria Lucille Meise was last seen by her family in 2006, after she left Kelowna to move to Fort St. John. Meise was apparently living in a residence on the 8500 block of 85th Avenue...

By Julie Whittet Kelowna RCMP Superintendent, Bill McKinnon, seems to have saved his goodbyes for this afternoon's city council meeting. He spoke publicly today, for the first time since notice of his retirement caught wind last week. After receiving a small token of appreciation from Mayor Walter Gray, on behalf of the City, McKinnon paused...

By Julie Whittet With construction moving along swiftly, it shouldn't be too much longer before you're able to sit outdoors and enjoy a drink at any number of new patios on the revitalized Bernard Avenue. City Council finalized a new fee structure today that encourages the street's restaurants to get their outdoor seating up and...

By Julie Whittet It may soon be the end of the road for Cycle Logic, a motorcycle service and repair business in West Kelowna. District councillors will decide tomorrow whether they will cancel the business licence for the shop, which was raided by police last August. RCMP seized a number of stolen vehicles from the...

By Julie Whittet While many were shocked to hear of Supt. Bill McKinnon's plans to leave the Kelowna RCMP Wednesday, City Hall knew it was coming. “It wasn't unexpected,” said Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray. “We knew it was likely he would retire sometime this year, I've know that for a number of months.” McKinnon will...

By Julie Whittet A 49-year-old man is now in hospital for treatment after barricading himself inside his residence on Sunday afternoon. Const. Kris Clark said at today's RCMP press conference the man was known to police, and is a resident in a transitional housing building in downtown Kelowna. At 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, March 24...

By Julie Whittet In the semi-arid Okanagan Valley, water is a precious commodity. Local politicians and environment officials gathered at Manteo Resort Friday to celebrate new solutions to manage water use in the Valley.  Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources, presented a new Excellence in Water Stewardship Award to the Okanagan Water...

By Julie Whittet Letting your canine companion roam the great outdoors could land you a steep fine. Pet owners who are caught with their dogs off-leash in municipal parks could face a $345 penalty for violating a bylaw. After a complaint Wednesday of a dog chasing down a deer on Knox Mountain, the city is...