Julie Whittet

Kelowna RCMP had their hands full last night, tracking down two dangerous men wanted for multiple offences.  The first man, linked to an assault earlier this month, was arrested yesterday around 8 p.m. in Glenmore on the 1800 block of High Road. The RCMP Street Enforcement team, with the help of their dog service and...

“ECONOMICS BEYOND OUR CONTROL INFLUENCE THESE PROJECTS” As two mega developments worth nearly $300 million are approved for the Mission, a third major development in the area appears to have stalled. And while residents and businesses in the area of SOPA Square are looking for action, the City of Kelowna is taking a wait and...

A busker was singing the blues for shoppers at the first weekend farmers' market of the year. Now in its 18th outdoor season, vendors at the Kelowna Farmers' & Crafters' Market set up stands on the corner of Springfield Road and Dilworth Drive last Saturday offering up the first spring crops of the Okanagan Valley. ...

Sports enthusiasts in Kelowna will get to use their skis, bikes, running shoes and canoes all in a row this Sunday. The 33rd annual Ski2Sea Race will kick off at 9:30 a.m. on April 14th as participants race down the mountain to reach the finish line on the shores of Okanagan Lake. Since its launch...

Over 800 acres of land beside Cedar Mountain will become new park space in the Central Okanagan. The generous land donation was announced yesterday by the Regional District for the Central Okanagan and is said to be the largest donation of its kind for the Okanagan - possibly the province - with an estimated $7.8...

If Bernard Avenue is the heartbeat of downtown Kelowna, then Lakeshore Road is fast becoming the major artery of the city's urban tourism. Within a few city blocks Manteo Resort, Playa del Sol and the Hotel Eldorado form a hotspot for vacationers. With a $130 million expansion coming for Manteo resort, and a $150 development...

Early this morning a woman crossing Pandosy street in downtown Kelowna was knocked to the ground by a large bus making a left turn from Lawrence Avenue. The 69-year-old woman was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and the driver of the charter bus was handed a violation ticket, with a fine of $167....

If you're living at a low elevation in the Okanagan Valley, have supplies ready to combat flooding. While freshet activity appears normal this year, the right weather conditions can bring on a sudden rise in the flow of local rivers and creeks. “Weather is the variable,” Regional District for the Central Okanagan spokesperson, Bruce Smith...

The downtown office of Westcorp Properties Inc. was targeted by vandals over the Easter long weekend. Kelowna RCMP received a report of the damage on March 31 but do not have a description of the suspect. Edmonton-based Westcorp is the developer for Kelowna's new downtown marina, and won City approval yesterday to build a controversial...

UPDATE: 6 p.m. April 8, 2013 Three times may have been the charm for the Monaco tower development before Kelowna city council today. Councillors praised the new highrise designs proposed this afternoon for a third time. After sorting through council's previous complaints, the project was described as just what the city wants. “They're very handsome,...

By Julie Whittet The city says the high-density development on Lakeshore Drive will work out in the long run. Despite harsh criticisms and vocal opposition, the site of the Hiawatha RV Park is set to become the next big hotel destination on Lakeshore Drive. Construction of the $150 million dollar, 900-unit tourist-commercial development will be...

By Julie Whittet You might be surprised one of Kelowna's top green initiatives means destroying plants. Exactly 10,064 marijuana plants, to be precise, were seized by Kelowna RCMP in a large-scale bust on grow operations in the valley. Kelowna RCMP were able to land 16 search warrants on residences in February and March this year,...

Simply opening an email and clicking a link gave one Kelowna resident a run for his money. An unknown hacker was able to obtain the man's private online banking information by sending him a cleverly disguised friendly email. Kelowna RCMP received the hacking report on March 20th when the victim was contacted by his bank...

In a carefully planned covert operation, West Kelowna and Kelowna RCMP teamed up to crack down on ski-hill drug deals at Big White. Police arrested two people and laid another seven charges last month for illicit drug trafficking at the resort. Undercover police agents were able to intercept a number of powder cocaine deals on...

"A JAIL SENTENCE OF ANY AMOUNT OF TIME WOULD BE A DEATH SENTENCE." A Kelowna AIDS and medical marijuana activist was sentenced to two years in jail today for shooting a friend in the leg with a shotgun while on cocaine. Richard Allen Babcock, 53, was involved with The Living Positive Resource Centre and wrote...

If you lost a wedding ring sometime before June of last year, Kelowna RCMP may have what you're looking for. The RCMP Exhibit Section still have possession of a wedding ring found last June. The woman's wedding ring turned up at a Canadian Tire Store in Kelowna and was then turned over to police. If...

By Julie Whittet An earlier than usual snow melt means some Kelowna residents will find something a little extra in their drinking water. This morning the South East Kelowna Irrigation District issued a boil notice to its residents as a precautionary safety measure. Hydraulic Creek is rising with melt water and is washing debris downstream,...

The Kelowna RCMP received a call from staff at an Electronics Boutique store this afternoon reporting a man who appeared to be armed with a gun. The employees said they recognized the handle of a gun in the suspect's pocket as he was browsing their shop. The man did not draw any weapon or make...

Early this morning Kelowna RCMP stumbled upon a half-naked man in the entrance of their detachment. Police say the 26-year-old man was heavily intoxicated and had taken off his pants to relieve himself in the RCMP lobby. The man was taken into custody after being examined by medical staff. Police say they requested a biohazard...

By Julie Whittet Don't bother feeding the meter this Saturday when visiting downtown Kelowna. If you're out meeting friends for brunch, browsing the shops or checking out the newly paved Bernard Avenue, parking is on the City. As part of the Small Shop Saturdays initiative, April 6th will be the first of three free-parking Saturdays...

By Julie Whittet It's a proud day for Kelowna after last night's game seven in the Western Hockey League playoffs. The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Seattle Thunderbirds in a nail-biting 3-2 overtime win when star player Tyson Baillie scored his third goal of the night. The Rockets will now go on to face the Kamloops...

By Julie Whittet The necessary killing of a wild animal venturing too far from home can be upsetting news for some. Incidents like last Wednesday's shooting of two cougars in Lake Country touch on the delicate balance between wildlife conservation and public safety. Mike Badry, Wildlife Conflicts Prevention coordinator for B.C., says any decision to...

A Kelowna man was arrested late last night after stabbing a resident on Bernard Avenue. The victim only suffered minored injuries and was treated at Kelowna General Hospital. The 24-year-old attacker is now in custody and facing assault charges. The RCMP received the report just after 12 p.m. last night when someone complained about a...