Kelowna

Avalanche risk increases on heels of windy, wet weekend
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With spring break officially underway for students and spring-like temperatures throughout the region it may feel like spring in the valleys but this past weekend proved winter is not over just yet. On Saturday a wind storm ripped through the region, leaving thousands without power, and while B.C. Hydro crews raced to fix...

Windstorm slams BC interior knocking power out to 39,000
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – A major wind storm blew through the B.C. interior Saturday afternoon, March 14, knocking down trees and breaking branches which in turn hit hydro lines cutting the power to about 39,000. In the Thompson-Okanagan area just under 1,000 B.C. Hydro customers are still without power as of 1 p.m., Sunday, March 15 due...

Future of iconic downtown buildings in question as city considers civic area’s future
KELOWNA - It’s time to focus on the 10,000-foot view of Kelowna’s civic area and how residents see it developing over time - that’s the thrust of a report city councillors will consider Monday. “The city owns a large majority of the land within the study area,” said Ross Soward, a planning specialist with the...

Protest against high power bills
WEST KELOWNA – A group of moms and concerned citizens gathered in front of Premier Christy Clark’s West Kelowna riding office today to protest what they say are exorbitant power bills. Shannon Christensen, one of the speakers at the rally, Saturday, March 14 said hundreds of women in her non-profit group Mamas for Mamas have...

Local Jammery will air on Food Network next month
KELOWNA - A local restaurant that has the spirit of a winery with their on location jam factory will make it's debut on the Food Network April 10. The Jammery, located on Highway 97 between Kelowna and Lake Country, is not only a great local restaurant with a lot of homey appeal, but is also...

Another record day in the Interior
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - This will probably come as little surprise, but it was another record day in the Southern Interior, with a handful of communities setting new records Thursday. At 19.6 Celsius Penticton just surpassed a century-old record Thursday while Summerland hit 19 C, well above the previous high temperature record of 16.7 C also set...

Suspect wanted in Kelowna 7-Eleven robbery turns himself in
KELOWNA - A 17-year-old Kelowna boy turned himself in to police Wednesday in connection with the robbery at the 7-Eleven at Bernard Avenue and Gordon Drive. The robbery in progress was reported March 9 at 1:55 a.m. According to a media release, a suspect entered the store alone wearing a mask and brandishing a knife....

Watch out! Cars back on Knox Mountain road
KELOWNA - Another sign that spring is coming early — the road to the top of Knox Mountain Park has reopened to vehicles, a week ahead of last year. “We’re definitely a bit early this year,” says Blair Stewart, urban forestry supervisor with the City of Kelowna. While the upper portion remains closed to vehicles...

Kelowna and Penticton derby girls ready to roll
KELOWNA - The junior hockey season may be over soon, but don't dispair, the roller derby season in the Okanagan is just getting started. The Okanagan Roller Derby Association kicks off the season Saturday, March 14 at the Central Sports Club at 1155 Ellis St. with the Kelowna's Bad Apple Betties taking on the Penticton Pisterolas....

Don’t forget to book your camping sites this weekend
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you decide to sleep in this Sunday you might miss out on the summer you’ve been dreaming of. The online and call centre reservation system for provincial campgrounds officially opens Sunday, March 15 at 9 a.m. Reservable sites tend to book up quickly, especially at the more popular campgrounds and for long...

Increased power bills protest planned for this weekend
KELOWNA – A group of moms and concerned citizens are gathering in front of Premier Christy Clark’s West Kelowna office Saturday to protest what they say are exhorbant power bills. Shannon Christensen is one of the speakers at the rally. She says hundreds of women in her non-profit group Mamas for Mamas have been hit...

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...

High temperature records continue to fall
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Though the spring equinox is still just over a week away the spring-like weather has resulted in temperatures reaching the mid- to high-teens most days this past week, warm enough for several new records. On Wednesday, March 11, Kamloops hit 19.9 Celsius, shattering previous weather records of 17.8 C last recorded back in...

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,...