Kelowna news

Young gear-heads say they are being unfairly targeted by police

KELOWNA – Several young car enthusiasts in Kelowna say police are forcing them to get vehicle inspections despite passing roadside inspections. Recently, RCMP in the Okanagan have stepped up their enforcement of traffic laws, but Owen Kuipers, 17, is a first year automotive technician apprentice who says he was unfairly targeted by police because he...

What goes down, must come up — city crews begin annual street-sweeping program

KELOWNA - With such a mild winter, city crews put down less sand and salt this winter, but what they put down they still have to pick up. “We’ve been holding back until this week because we’ve still had some temperatures below freezing,” said roadways supervisor Stephen Bryan. “You can’t sweep and do a good...

Kelowna man killed in industrial accident

KELOWNA - A man who died in an industrial accident north of Fort St. John earlier this week has been identified as a 28-year-old Kelowna man. Jack Shawn Eyles of Kelowna was working at the Progress Gas Plant near Mile 126 of the Alaska Highway when he was killed shortly after midnight on March 11....

Suspect wanted on Canada-wide warrant arrested thanks to good neighbour

KELOWNA – A break and enter attempt was thwarted by the quick actions of a local citizen Monday morning. According to a media release from Cpl. Joe Duncan, Kelowna RCMP responded to a report of a break and enter in progress at a home on the 1900 block of Abbott Street on March 9, 2015,...

Profanity spray painted on North Glenmore Elementary

KELOWNA - Police are looking for possible witnesses after "profanity and vulgarity" was spray painted on a school in North Glenmore last month. The incident was reported Feb. 14, 2015 at 8 a.m. at North Glenmore Elementary school. An investigator on the case doesn't think the graffiti was created by an artist but believes it...

Customer injured trying to stop armed robbery

KELOWNA – Police are looking for a teenager who hurt a bystander while trying to rob the clerk at a convenience store on Bernard Avenue early this morning. RCMP Const. Kris Clark says the boy, who appeared to be around 17-years-old, entered the 7-Eleven at 1115 Bernard Ave. at around 1:55 a.m., Monday, March 9...

Speed trap season opens in the Central Okanagan

CENTRAL OKANAGAN - It's getting nice outside and with more drivers leaving their dens for the open road RCMP traffic enforcement operations are ramping up to catch those who drive faster than the posted speed limits. A few hours were spent on the new section of Highway 97 between Oyama and Winfield Sunday afternoon, March...

Strides to End Homelessness exceeds goal

KELOWNA – The annual event to raise money for the Kelowna Gospel Mission was a huge success on the weekend. The organizers of Strides to End Homelessness say the fundraising event on Saturday, March 7 exceed their goal of $25,000. The money will be used to start the Mission’s new men’s program, which will provide...

Central Okanagan school district to find out its share of provincial budget pain

KELOWNA - Central Okanagan school board officials are meeting tomorrow with the Ministry of Education to learn what its share of $29 million provincial budget cuts will be and where they might hit. Secretary treasurer Larry Paul is expecting a budget cut of aproximately $1.1 million, based on similar reductions in the last few years,...

West Kelowna declines request to support breast-feeding initiative

WEST KELOWNA - A delegation from UBC Okanagan seeking support for a breast-feeding initiative got a rough ride from West Kelowna council, despite its support from other local governments. The group was seeking council’s endorsement for the Baby Friendly initiative, plus a pledge to make district facilities breast-feeding friendly and educate employees and local businesses...

Social housing starting to rise on Central Green site

KELOWNA - Ground-breaking on one of the first phases of the long-awaited Central Green development should take place within a few months after city council approved a long-term lease with the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society to develop affordable housing on the site. In a report to council, Graham Hood, strategic land development manager for the city,...

West Kelowna takes aim at medical marijuana dispensaries

WEST KELOWNA - Enquiries about setting up a medical marijuana dispensary on the Westside have prompted the district to close what they describe as a loophole in their business licensing bylaw. “We are adding a sentence into the bylaw that essentially says a business must be in compliance with both the Criminal Code and the...

Okanagan Spirits headed to Denmark for another World Spirit Awards

OKANAGAN – A local distillery has been called to Denmark to hear if they will once again be called out as one of the best in the world. Okanagan Spirits was named World Spirits Award Distillery of the Year in 2013 and Senior distiller Peter von Hahn is on his way to Denmark this week...

Mission Creek Greenway closures until March 31

KELOWNA - Parts of the Mission Creek Greenway will be closed off and on until the end of March as the city conducts pruning and vegetation maintenance. The Regional District of Central Okanagan is asking the public to obey signs, barricades and flag people and to stay out of any closed areas. There'll be temporary...