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Kelowna news

Pick up your dog’s poop or pay $150

KELOWNA – Nobody wants to step in dog droppings while trying to enjoy a public park in Kelowna. In an effort to get the message “if they poop, you must scoop” out there, the city has recently put up new signs in some of the parks. “While most owners are responsible and pick up after...

Heavy rain on the way; flash flooding risk

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A system of heavy rain is on the way to the Thompson-Okanagan with the potential to cause flash flooding. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement covering the South and North Thompson, Nicola, Shuswap and Okanagan. An area of rain embedded in thunderstorms is expected to develop over the Similkameen tomorrow afternoon,...

Vernon tree removal ‘another straw in the demise of the herons’

VERNON - A North Okanagan city is standing by its decision to allow a stand of trees to be chopped down despite concerns within the community it could impact an at-risk species of bird. With a tree removal permit in hand from the City of Vernon, a housing developer removed the tall Cottonwood and poplar...

Help locate this missing Kelowna man

KELOWNA – The family of a missing Kelowna man is concerned about his well-being after he missed a number of appointments. Andrew Sorensen, 26, has missed a number of his scheduled medical appointments and as a result his family contacted the RCMP. Police are now asking for your help to find Sorensen. He is Caucasian,...

Gas prices going up in the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - Gas prices are rising throughout Canada and the Okanagan is no exception. According to GasBuddy, an online tracking system for gas prices, only about a dozen stations remain below 130 cents per litre this afternoon, Aug. 13, in Kelowna while about seven stations sit at 129.9 cents per litre. Many stations have jumped...

Lightning strikes keep crews hopping dousing wildfires

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Thunderstorms moving through the region ignited several new fires in the Kamloops Fire Centre. The fire danger rating for the Kamloops Fire Centre is high to extreme, with more lightning in the forecast for today, Aug. 13. “We did see lightning move through the area, followed by reports of fires yesterday, so we...

ELECTION 2015: New federal electoral boundaries in place

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Boundary changes for ridings in the Thompson, Okanagan and Similkameen regions are in place for the upcoming federal election. The redistribution process of the most recent review, which is required every 10 years, began in 2012 and new federal electoral districts were approved for the first general election to be called after May...

Two people injured in Lake Country ATV crash

LAKE COUNTRY - A Vernon teenager is in hospital with potentially life-threatening injuries after an all terrain vehicle crash in Lake Country Wednesday evening. The 18-year-old was driving a mini-ATV on Williams Road around 7:45 p.m., Aug. 12, when both the driver and passenger, an 18-year-old Vernon woman, were ejected. RCMP believe the vehicle experienced...

Why you’ll want to reserve your Okanagan red wines this year

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - All through the Okanagan region, winemakers are getting excited about prospects for this year’s grape crop. Hot, sunny days that have been relatively constant since early June have brought this year’s vintage along at blazing speed, and Okanagan winemakers believe the conditions are right for one of the best vintages ever. “It’s definitely...

Housing starts make double-digit jump in Kelowna

CENTRAL OKANAGAN - New house construction is climbing in the Central Okanagan, underscoring the strength in the local resale market. "Demand for new homes has matched supply, keeping inventories of completed and unabsorbed homes in check," Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation regional economist Carol Frketich says in a press release. In its preliminary housing starts...

Police looking for senior who may have broken up attempted abduction in Peachland

PEACHLAND - Police are looking to speak to an older woman who they say broke up an odd occurrence in Peachland Saturday. RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Joe Duncan said earlier this week police were called to a report of two men who tried to grab a 15-year-old girl and push her into the pedestrian tunnel connecting...

Man injured while free diving in Okanagan Lake has died

KELOWNA - A man who was critically injured while free diving near Paul’s Tomb on Sunday has died. The B.C. Coroners Service says 27-year-old Kevin John Stephens was free diving in Okanagan Lake and had submerged for several minutes before his girlfriend, also a free diver, brought him to the surface. “After several minutes she...

Roots and Blues Festival takes over Salmon Arm this weekend

SALMON ARM - The Shuswap will be filled with the sounds of brass and bluegrass as the 'summer destination spot for fans and lovers of music' takes over Salmon Arm this weekend. Now in its 23rd year, the Roots and Blues Festival features an eclectic mix of music from Blues to Bluegrass, Celtic to Cuban...

Kelowna councillor seeks change to council meeting schedule

KELOWNA - City councillor Charlie Hodge needs more homework time and wants to move council meetings to another day. “This is what I get Friday morning in my agenda package,” Hodge says, brandishing a three-inch thick stack of reports. “I’m supposed to know all this by Monday morning or at least have an understanding of...

City cuts off tax incentives for part of downtown Kelowna

KELOWNA - A property tax break meant to encourage new development in part of downtown Kelowna has done what it was designed to do and there’s no need to extend the program. However, results in two other revitalization areas downtown and one in Rutland have not generated the hoped-for increase in residential development and may...

Feast of Fields has new location for farm to table festival

KELOWNA – The 7th annual festival celebrating locally grown food is happening in Kelowna this weekend. Okanagan Feast of Fields is one of three chapters started by FarmFolk CityFolk, a Vancouver organization dedicated to celebrating sustainable, local foods. Feast of Fields, which also takes place in Vancouver and on Vancouver Island, is a four-hour wandering gourmet...

Premier meteor shower to light up the sky this week

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - One of the best meteor showers of the year is set to peak this week, sending up to 60 shooting stars through the sky every hour. The Perseids meteor shower is visible from July 17 to Aug. 24 every year and is set to peak overnight Wednesday, Aug. 12 this year. Environment Canada...

Double dipping developers get go-ahead from city council

KELOWNA - A pair of micro suite developers have managed to “double dip” taking advantage of two different rental housing incentive programs for the same development. And while some Kelowna city councillors grumbled about the property tax and development cost charge revenue lost to the city, they were reminded staff are already working to close...

Police tail prolific offender across Okanagan Lake, into the bush

VERNON - A police chase by both land and water ended with the arrest of a prolific offender in Vernon this morning. The pursuit began just after 6:15 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, after police received a report of a suspect on Okanagan Lake near Lakeshore Road. The man had commandeered a Zodiac boat and was...