Elevate your local knowledge
Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!
Kamloops
Evidence at Ashcroft man’s murder trial includes bloody shovel and shallow grave for uncle
KAMLOOPS — What happened in a one-hour period last summer in Ashcroft is the centre of discussion in the latest murder trial taking place in Kamloops Supreme Court. Shane Takeshi Gyoba, 28, is accused of second-degree murder in the death of his uncle, Ed Gyoba, 66, whom he was living with in Ashcroft. In the...
UPDATE: Kamloops boy located
UPDATE: 7:09 P.M., AUG. 10, 2015 RCMP say Bryston Krug has been located unharmed and has been reunited with his family. 2:01 P.M., AUG. 10, 2015 KAMLOOPS - A 12-year-old boy has once again gone missing and Kamloops RCMP are hoping the public will help locate him. Bryston Krug was reported missing Sunday evening, Aug....
Big fires down but not out in Kamloops Fire Centre
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The only two wildfires of note in the Kamloops Fire Centre have been downgraded to patrol status. Shelter Cove fire off Westside Road near Kelowna and Bolean Lake fire near Falkland were downgraded August 5 and will now be monitored by crews of five firefighters. “Patrol status means they are done active fire...
Whooping cough on the rise across Interior Health region
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - An increase in cases of whooping cough across the Interior Health Authority, but primarily in the Central Okanagan, has prompted a warning from public health officials. Medical health officer Dr. Kamran Golmohammadi says in 2015 there has already been 58 confirmed cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, with 36 of them...
Province treads lightly enforcing drought rules
OKANAGAN – The province has added to the regions under a level four drought advisory,…
Drought levels worsen in Okanagan and North Thompson
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Drought conditions are worsening in the region, enough according to the government to increase the drought rating for both the Okanagan and North Thompson regions by one level. The Okanagan Region is now enduring level four drought conditions while the North Thompson is facing level three, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources....
Judge to decide on guilty plea after accused says he killed his ‘possessed’ ex-girlfriend
KAMLOOPS - The accused in Kamloops’ only murder of 2014 pleaded guilty to killing his ex-girlfriend but now a judge will have to decide whether to accept it after hearing the accused's belief he killed a 'demon' to protect himself. Christopher Frank Butler, born 1973, pleaded guilty in Kamloops Supreme Court today, Aug. 5 after...
Coroners service names man killed in collision with tour bus
CHASE - The B.C. Coroners Service has released the name of a young man killed in a vehicle collision with a bus on Friday, July 31. He was Sascha Dieter Hedrich, 19, of Pritchard. Hedrich was the driver of a vehicle travelling west just outside of Chase Friday. He struck a tour bus around 4 p.m....
Missing Chase teen last seen in Kamloops
KAMLOOPS – RCMP are asking for the public’s help to find a missing teenager. Skyler Sampolio, 18, of Chase was reported missing by his family on Saturday, Aug. 1 and was last seen in the Kamloops area, according to a media release from the RCMP. Sampolio is described as a Native male, 5’8” tall and...
Dancers and drummers shine at Kamloopa Pow Wow
KAMLOOPS - The 36th annual Kamloopa Pow Wow is wrapping up today at the Tk'emlups Indian Band Pow Wow grounds. Tk’emlups Chief Shane Gottfriedson, who will be stepping down after four consecutive terms to take on the role of B.C. Regional Chief, hosted the men’s fancy Saturday evening, one of the most athletic of all the...
Run away from your smoking addiction
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A new program is popping up around the country which will help you run away from your problems. The Running Room is launching a Run To Quit program, which will be backed by federal funding and support from the Canadian Cancer Society. The program is designed to help smokers quit by incorporating running...
ELECTION 2015: MP’s brag about accomplishments as early election expectations mount
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – With a federal election less than three months away, local MP’s are ramping up their push to promote their accomplishments over the past year. It’s not unusual for politicians to send releases to the media to show the work they do and the money they’ve secured for their areas, but a breakdown of...
Westbank First Nation’s $7.9 million debt: Following the money trail
WESTBANK – The company that partnered with Westbank First Nation on its first failed attempt…
Urgent dredging at busy boat launch put off until fall
KELOWNA - A mechanical failure in specialized equipment has forced the City of Kelowna to reschedule urgent dredging at the Cook Road boat launch. The city announced just two days ago it’s largest boat launch would close for a week at the height of the boating season, but now says the work will have to...
Province pulls plug on Coldwater River water use
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - In a bid to help struggling salmon populations, water use reduction measures have been imposed on the Coldwater River. The province issued the restriction today, July 31, banning all water use or diversion from the Coldwater River and its tributaries from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. effective immediately. The restriction escalates to a...
Stolen food, car, identification lands jail time
KAMLOOPS – A man arrested for a raft of charges in several different cities will…
Fire risk high and heading higher into B.C. Day long weekend
DON'T BE STUPID WITH FIRE THIS LONG WEEKEND THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - There are currently two fires of note and more than a dozen active fires burning in the Kamloops Fire Centre and with yet another hot, dry week ahead of us the fire danger rating is quickly heading into the extreme level throughout the region once...
Family hopes inquest will dispel mystery surrounding death of Kamloops inmate
KAMLOOPS - This winter an east coast family hopes to get answers on what caused the death of Dylan Levi Judd — an inmate found dead in a Kamloops jail cell last year. The B.C. Coroners service will hold an inquest on the deceased this November. Twenty-year-old Judd was found unresponsive in his cell during...
Kelowna to retain control over YLW until 2054
KELOWNA – The City of Kelowna will remain in charge of the Kelowna International Airport until 2054 thanks to a 20-year lease extension by the federal government. Until that time, Kelowna will remain responsible for management, operation and development of the largest airport in the B.C. Interior. Kelowna mayor Colin Basran says the extension is...
Why you found out about the card skimmer found at a Kamloops gas station two weeks later
KAMLOOPS - Local RCMP say it’s unclear whether any card information was compromised at the skimmer found in Valleyview nearly two weeks ago, but decided to inform the public of it yesterday, July 28, as a 'heads up.' Const. Jason Epp, a spokesperson for the Kamloops detachment, says this type of fraud is ‘pretty rare’...
Formula 1 tunnel boat race team joins fight against mussel infestation
KELOWNA – The Okanagan Basin Water Board is teaming up with Formula 1 Tunnel Boat racer Mike McLellan to raise awareness for their Don’t Move a Mussel campaign. The announcement was made Tuesday, July 28, at the Water Street boat launch in downtown Kelowna. The Don’t Move A Mussel campaign is attempting to raise awareness...
Want quick attention to Fortis over-billing? Go to the media
WORKED FOR THIS GUY KELOWNA – Media attention got an almost immediate result for a local celebrity who went to the news with a $4,500 power bill for a cabin that wasn’t even there. Gary Fong, a world-famous photographer and inventor made headlines last week when he went public with a massive bill for his...
Westjet adds extra non-stop flight between Kelowna and Edmonton
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - People in the Southern Interior will soon have another option when it comes to choosing a flight to Edmonton. Calling it a vote of confidence in the Edmonton metro region, Westjet has announced increased non-stop service to the Prairie city from B.C. and Saskatchewan. Starting Dec. 15 Kelowna will see one extra flight...
Kamloops jail ordered to flag inmates with a history of violence: WorkSafe B.C.
KAMLOOPS - WorkSafe B.C. ordered administrators at the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre to flag or identify violent offenders after an inspector discovered there wasn't a proper system in place to warn corrections officers of a potential assault. Inspector Vincent Strain prepared his report and order to create a new flagging system after an inmate assaulted...