Julie Whittet
RCMP traffic stop leads to arrest and drug bust
The Kelowna RCMP Target Team were led on a brazen chase yesterday afternoon after conducting a traffic stop. They arrested a 27-year-old Kelowna man driving down Saucier Avenue and charged two passengers after finding a loaded handgun and supply of cocaine and methamphetamine in the car. The cops pulled the man over when they found...
Kelowna firefighter on a mission to help train in Peru
By Julie Whittet One of Kelowna's local firefighters will be packing his bags next month to give enhanced training to firefighters in South America. Glenn Paley of the Kelowna Fire Department will join other B.C. firefighters to deliver Canada's Firefighters Without Borders (FWB) two-week intensive training program to Peru's National Fire Service. “I am very...
Kelowna’s food security will need more than tourism
By Julie Whittet New money announced from Kelowna's Farm to Table program may be good news for the city's existing local food scene, but leaves something to be desired for smaller producers outside the spotlight. Tourism Kelowna announced Monday it will match up to $100,000 in funds for restaurants and producers wanting to promote local...
Smoke, flames and casualties at search and rescue exercise
By Julie Whittet Search and rescue crews were in full emergency response this afternoon at the Kelowna International airport. Thankfully, it was all part of a well-planned exercise, organized by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as they conduct their training week that ends this Friday. “This is an exercise designed to expose our members...
Lake Country girl found
UPDATE: March 20, 2013 - 7:48 a.m. The female youth who was reported missing yesterday was located last night and returned home safe and sound. March 19, 2013 - 3:59 p.m. Lake Country RCMP are looking for a young girl who went missing after running away from her home yesterday afternoon. Following a dispute with...
Spring Equinox means longer days ahead
By Julie Whittet No matter how much it rains or snows, today is still officially the first day of Spring, 2013. Also known as the Vernal Equinox, today marks the moment when the Earth's axis is in just the right position to give us near equal hours of daylight and darkness. It also means we...
Bank robbery witnesses get special RCMP recognition
By Julie Whittet Two Kelowna residents got an official nod of recognition from RCMP yesterday, for helping police track down a bank robbery suspect last year. Jane Hahn and Sean Hansson were each presented with a Certificate of Appreciation at a private ceremony held by Superintendant Bill McKinnon yesterday morning. The ceremony commended Hahn and...
More parking freebies for visitors of downtown Kelowna
By Julie Whittet Look out for another three Saturdays of free parking coming soon to downtown Kelowna. City council announced today the incentive aimed to encourage local residents and visitors to eat, shop and hang out downtown – despite the construction. Expect to park for free on April 6th, June 22nd, and a day in...
Door-to-door scammer used hand-held debit machine
By Julie Whittet RCMP are looking at a potentially large list of fraud victims after catching a Kelowna man in a door-to-door card-skimming scheme on Saturday. Police arrested 22-year-old James Alexander Graham, after being tipped off by a local resident who reported a suspicious man claiming to be collecting funds for the Ronald McDonald House...
Surrey man pleads guilty for robbing Kelowna pawn shop, kidnapping driver
By Julie Whittet A Surrey man who fired a gun at police while fleeing a Kelowna jewelry store robbery pleaded guilty to multiple offences in Kelowna Supreme Court this morning. Devan Markcus Wong fired at police on Dec. 6, 2011 while fleeing to West Kelowna after robbing Premier Jewelry and Loan. Wong managed to escape by...
City wants public’s input on Ellis St. truck traffic
By Julie Whittet The City of Kelowna is asking for public feedback on the amount of truck traffic passing through Ellis street. As the downtown core expands with new commercial and residential developments, the city intends to re-direct industrial traffic headed for the North-end. A notice released by the city this week says the amount...
More spending needed to bring Kelowna big events
By Julie Whittet Citizens may soon expect to see bigger events in Kelowna, and more often. The city has recently decided it needs to pursue a more aggressive strategy if it wants to host popular cultural and sporting events. Don Backmeyer, the city's event development manager, says this is a new initiative for Kelowna. Up...
Bigger buildings, more residents a good sign for Mission shop owners
By Julie Whittet New hotels, apartments and upscale condos will mean busy days ahead for local shop owners in the Mission. The tourist-commercial developments planned near South Pandosy and through to the Lakeshore Drive near Rotary Beach are sure to bring new foot traffic to local businesses in Kelowna. From the 11-storey SOPA Square project...
Computer theft reported by downtown Kelowna business
Kelowna RCMP are looking for a robbery suspect or suspects after a business owner found computer equipment missing from his shop in downtown Kelowna. Mounties say on Monday morning the owner of marketing company Roketto, on Bernard Avenue, found the back door of his office ajar and four computers stolen. The owner recently upgraded the...
Armed man driving wrong way, found with airsoft gun
A Kelowna RCMP officer got a scare this morning when she stopped a man driving in the wrong direction on Leon Avenue. The officer asked the man to step out of his vehicle, and pulled out her gun—then she noticed he was in black uniform and appeared to be armed. When police detained the man,...