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Kelowna

Cool and sunny weekend ahead in the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - Temperatures are expected to be slightly below seasonal normals with just a few clouds in the sky this weekend in the Okanagan. Environment Canada is calling for highs of just -1 Celsius to 2 C throughout the weekend, a bit below seasonal normals of 3 C. An overnight low of -8 C is...

Okanagan growers debate marketing future of Ambrosia apple

OKANAGAN - Producers of the Ambrosia apple are considering whether to extend a levy used to market the new varietal. Ambrosia producers have paid a $.25 per lb. levy since 2001, shortly after the new apple was introduced, used to promote the fruit to consumers and further its research. The levy was renewed in 2006...

Creatique offers incubator to Kelowna artists

KELOWNA - A Kelowna artist is trying to establish a drop-in place for those with a creative flair to have a monthly meeting of minds. Liam Danger Park says he was inspired to start Creatique as an outlet and incubator for local artists. "It's a social gathering for all kinds of creatives to come together...

Student apartment proposed for Rutland raises concerns about parking, not parties

KELOWNA - Concerns from city councillors about a student housing complex proposed for the Rutland town centre are focused not on the party potential of the 72 college students who might live there, but on potential parking problems. The 4.5-storey 23-unit apartment building proposed for Dundas Road and Highway 33 would provide students housing in...

Buying local, without leaving home, a popular choice for Okanagan holiday shoppers

OKANAGAN - It’s already well known that online shopping has taken over a large piece of the Christmas retail pie, but that doesn’t mean people are giving up on buying local to fill the stockings this Christmas. You don’t have to go out to a farmer’s market or holiday craft fair to buy local, you...

City announces new beachfront park for Kelowna

KELOWNA - The City of Kelowna has announced the purchase of a piece of lakeshore property that will allow for the creation of a new beachfront park. Mayor Colin Basran says the city has spent $12 million acquiring the property located on Lakeshore Drive near Lexington Road. "This will create a legacy for our community...

Future of Kelowna farm divides city council

KELOWNA - The owners of a former strawberry patch looking for support in removing their property from the Agricultural Land Reserve saw the request die on the vine Monday with council split down the middle. The trigger for the lengthy debate was application to the Agricultural Land Commission by Gabriel and Linda Coupal to pull...

Heavy snow and rain expected on Southern Interior highways today

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you’re heading out on the highways be prepared for winter driving conditions; heavy snow and rain, along with strong winds, are expected today. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for many highways in the Southern Interior warning of heavy snow, heavy rain and strong winds today, Nov. 17. Among the...

Highway 1 closed east of Revelstoke

REVELSTOKE - An early morning crash has closed the Trans-Canada Highway in both directions east of Revelstoke. Drive B.C. is reporting both directions closed 32 kilometres east of Revelstoke due to a vehicle incident just after 6 a.m. No detours are available. Compact snow with slippery sections and limited visibility with blowing snow is being...

CARMA Project provides wheels for those in need

CENTRAL OKANAGAN - Life just got a little easier for a pair of single moms in Kelowna who each picked up the keys to new car. Lena Jung and Kalista Copes where chosen by the CARMA Project, as the recipients of two refurbished vehicles, a 1999 Toyrotal RAV4 and a 1996 Chevy Lumina. Jung and...

Parking to get pricier in Kelowna

KELOWNA - Parking your car in Kelowna may get more expensive, and the penalties for those who violate the parking rules might go up as well. City parking manager Dave Duncan, in a report to council, says the recommendation for rate increases comes as a result of an rise in transit fares this September, which...

Leonid Meteor Shower could light up the Southern Interior sky this week

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If the clouds part and the rain stays away, we could be in for a great showing of the Leonid Meteor Shower early Wednesday morning. The moon, currently in the waning crescent phase, is not expected to interfere with viewing the storm, but cloudy skies and a chance of rain overnight could dampen...

Two separate crashes close Coquihalla south of Merritt

MERRITT - Two separate crashes on the Coquihalla Highway have shut down the route this morning from Merritt to Hope. The first crash occurred around 9:45 a.m. at the Coldwater Interchange, exit 286, at the south end of Merritt, closing down the southbound lanes. No detours are listed by Drive B.C. and an estimated time...

Wet and windy start to the week in the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - On the heels of a wet and windy Sunday, a mix of rain and snow will kick off the week in the Okanagan, along with strong winds. Environment Canada recorded precipitation throughout the region on Sunday, with the Vernon area receiving the most, 13.8 millimetres, and more rain and snow is expected this...

Hot weather, wildfires and changes in agriculture mean less Okanagan honey in the pot

OKANAGAN - An abnormally hot and dry summer appears to have had an unwelcome impact on Okanagan honey production. Helen Kennedy, who runs Arlo’s Honey Farm in Kelowna with her husband Rick Appel, says the season started off with an unusually early honey flow in May, likely due to above average spring temperatures. A productive...

Local agencies preparing for Syrian refugees, awaiting government direction

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - It's unknown how many Syrian refugees will be arriving in the souther Interior, but in the meantime, officials with the Immigrant Service Society of B.C. are looking for housing to place those escaping the conflict in the Middle East. Director of settlment services Chris Friesen says the are awaiting to receive further direction...

Increasing conflicts convince West Kelowna to get bear help

WEST KELOWNA - Increasing bear conflicts on the fringes of West Kelowna has convinced the city to sign on with WildSafe B.C. to provide a seasonal bear awareness worker. The city will pay as much as $8,350 next year - depending if other partners sign on - for a medium level service contract with the...

Okanagan theft ring targeting Ford trucks broken up

THOMSON-OKANAGAN - An Okanagan-based theft ring with a taste for Ford F-350 pickup trucks has been busted by police. Seven people have been charged with multiple offences after a seven-week investigation by the Kelowna RCMP street enforcement unit, RCMP spokesman Const. Jesse O’Donaghey said during a press conference today, Nov. 13. An upswing in Ford...

Elderly woman fends off violent home invader in West Kelowna

WEST KELOWNA - An 85-year-old woman is doing okay after struggling with an attacker for 20 minutes during a violent home invasion in the early hours, Sunday, Oct. 25. West Kelowna RCMP aren’t naming the woman, who managed to escape and call 911 at her neighbour’s house in the 2300-block of Butt Road. The suspect...