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Kelowna news
What the Supreme Court decision on marijuana means to a three-year-old Summerland girl
KELOWNA – Kyla Williams' family is breathing a sigh of relief this week — they…
Be prepared for emergency wildfire evacuations
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – With an unusually dry and hot summer forecast for the Thompson-Okanagan this summer, regional districts are urging residents to get prepared in case emergency evacuations become necessary. Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre spokesperson Bruce Smith says the best time to make an emergency plan is long before something happens. He recommends residents understand...
Here’s what a Vernon man said to Christy Clark about invasive mussels
“IS B.C. NOT WORTH IT TO YOU?” THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A frustrated Vernon man has sent an open letter to Premier Christy Clark about invasive mussels, and he didn’t hold back. Brynne Morrice, a filmmaker who recently debuted a short documentary about the imminent threat of zebra and quagga mussels, is calling on the province to...
Give wheelchair rugby a try at Kelowna KOs Roll n’ Bowl fundraiser this weekend
KELOWNA – It’s fun, safe and it benefits a worthy cause. And it might just give you a new appreciation for what many Kelowna residents live with every day. The Kelowna KOs wheelchair rugby team are holding a fundraiser this weekend where kids and adults can try out their sport while raising money for the...
BREAKING NEWS: Surprise twist in Snelson manslaughter trial
KAMLOOPS - Evidence in the Neil Snelson manslaughter trial came to an abrupt end yesterday when the defence called no evidence, essentially ending that portion of the trial. The Crown completed its case Thursday, June 11 after a week-and-a-half and Snelson’s lawyer, Richard Fowler, opted not to put his client, or anyone else, on the...
Naked Kelowna cyclists plan to ride with respect
KELOWNA - Responding to rumours of possible interference in their event, and concerns about conflict with the Fat Cat Children’s Festival, organizers of Nake Bike Ride Kelowna say they will respond with civil obedience. “If police or bylaw were to show up, if they demand we cover up, we will comply. We’re not there to...
Free-to-play pianos now at five locations around Kelowna
KELOWNA – An idea that started as a simple Facebook post one year ago is now a reality for tourists and residents alike to enjoy. Last spring Festivals Kelowna posted to their Facebook page a video called The People’s Piano from South London. It shows a man playing a piano that the local government set...
VIDEO: U.S. mountain bike champ takes on Kelowna trails
KELOWNA – A four-time U.S. mountain biking champion, who splits her time between living in the Okanagan and travelling the world, posted a video online recently of her training in Kelowna for one of the toughest races in the world. Sonya Looney, 31, was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico but went to school in Boulder,...
ELECTION 2015: Would-be Conservative-killers already campaigning in Kelowna-Lake Country
KELOWNA - Official campaigning for the federal election is still months away, but in the Kelowna-Lake Country riding, the parties with the best chance of upsetting the federal Conservatives, are knocking on doors like the writ has already been dropped. “I don’t know about the other parties but I’m certainly campaigning,” the NDP candidate Norah...
Get used to higher prices: Fruit Growers’ president
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Fred Steele’s day starts before 5 a.m. As the president of the B.C. Fruit Growers' Association, and with 7.5 acres of apple trees to manage, he’s used to an early start, but the early spring across the province has him waking the roosters most days. “I do most of the work myself,” the...
Kelowna officer on trial for alleged assault faces new charge after cruiser crash
KELOWNA – An RCMP officer already on trial for allegedly assaulting a bar patron has made a court appearance on an unrelated charge of running a red light and hitting a vehicle in Kelowna, B.C.
New airline promises cheap flights out of Kelowna
KELOWNA – A new airline from Manitoba is partnering with Kelowna-based Flair Airlines to bring what it calls 'basic air transportation' to the Okanagan. NewLeaf Travel Company has not released all of its destinations yet, but airline spokesperson Bob Jones confirms they will start service from Kelowna to Hamilton and Winnipeg by the end of...
Three suspects in custody following Kelowna carjacking
KELOWNA - A trio of carjackers are cooling their heels in the Kelowna lock-up after police spotted them in downtown Kelowna Tuesday evening and then tracked them down to West Kelowna. Members were called to the 100-block of Nickel Road yesterday after a man and woman produced a weapon and ordered the victim out of...
Norm Macdonald bringing stand up routine to Kelowna
OKANAGAN - Canadian comic Norm Macdonald is bringing his stand-up routine to Kelowna this fall. Best known as a former Saturday Night Live cast member, Macdonald will be taking to the stage at the Kelowna Community Theatre this September. Macdonald has an impressive resume in the comedy world which includes anchoring the popular Weekend Update...
Local elementary students fight the heat during divisional track meet
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - Rain or shine, the end-of-year track meet for grades 4 to 6 elementary students must go on. This year, the heat was the obvious enemy at Kelowna’s Apple Bowl. “I’ve never seen it quite this hot though I’ve seen days where it was pretty warm and I’ve seen days when there was...
Armed robbery at downtown Kelowna drugstore caught on camera
KELOWNA – An armed robbery near downtown Kelowna Tuesday evening has police asking the public for help in locating a lone male suspect. The suspect, a dark-skinned male in his mid-20s, entered the Peoples Drug Mart off Harvey Avenue just before 6 p.m. on June 9, Const. Jesse O'Donaghey says in a release. The man...
VIDEO: What a drive through the Okanagan looked like in 1966
OKANAGAN – The drive from the U.S. border in the south Okanagan to Vernon is one of the most scenic in the province, but has it changed much in the last 49 years? A three part series released by the Ministry of Transportation this week shows footage taken from the dash of a car driving...
B.C. Dragoons set to expand with new signals squadron
KELOWNA - The B.C. Dragoons, a Kelowna-based reserve unit, is planning an expansion with the formation of a new signals squadron. “This is an excellent opportunity for young and old to join the Canadian Armed Forces on a part-time basis,” Capt. Jeff Daley, a senior member of the Dragoons, said in a press release. Daley said...
Valley athletes do well at crossfit regional games
OKANAGAN - Crossfit athletes from the North and Central Okanagan recently posted some stellar results during the gruelling West Crossfit Regionals in Tacoma, Wash. Crossfit, a type of workout that combines Olympic weight-lifting with elements of gymnastics and interval cardio, emerged out of California in 2002. Participants in the regional games must complete seven different...
Interior Health CEO Rob Halpenny to resign
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - After more than five years as chief executive officer, Dr. Robert Halpenny is resigning from the Interior Health Authority. The announcement that Halpenny will resign from his position, effective this fall, came today, June 9. “Over the five and a half years that Dr. Halpenny has served as CEO, he has driven transformative...
Suspect at large following attempted robbery in Kelowna
KELOWNA - One man is in custody and another at large following an attempted robbery in Kelowna Monday afternoon. According to the RCMP two men entered a store in the 1500 block of Highway 33 around 3 p.m., Monday, June 8. One man had his face covered and was carrying a can of mace. Employees...
Early spring, California drought has Okanagan grocery stores picking local
KELOWNA – The severe drought in California coupled with an unusually warm and early spring in B.C. has local grocery stores stocking their shelves with fruits and vegetables grown right here at home instead of importing from the south. Chris Holmes is the owner of Quality Greens on Spall Road. With stores in Kelowna, West...
Emergency crews respond to incident at Kelowna airport
KELOWNA - Emergency crews responded to an incident involving a small plane Monday afternoon at the Kelowna airport. The pilot of a private, two-seater aircraft experienced issues while on takeoff and veered off the runway, airport spokesperson Jenelle Hynes says in a release. The runway was closed for approximately 40 minutes causing delays for two...
Side order of mental health from local coffee clubs
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - You can find one in just about every fast food joint or greasy spoon restaurant; A bunch of men, sometimes women, sitting around drinking coffee, shooting the bull — a coffee club for lack of a better name. If they don’t look like they’re in a hurry to be anywhere, it’s because they...