Julie Whittet

By Julie Whittet A potential invasion of zebra mussels into Okanagan waters is getting more media buzz these day as the concern grows. The finger-nail size mollusk is being described as a kind of waterborne disease that could plague Kelowna's drinking water, fisheries, tourism and real estate market. While the mussels have not yet been...

A Kelowna man stopped for speeding by Canmore RCMP on Saturday was arrested for having over eight pounds of marijuana hidden in his vehicle.  On a routine traffic check police stopped 46-year-old Kirk Reed driving 22 kilometers over the speed limit on Highway 1, near the Banff Park Gates. Once stopped, RCMP found traces of...

Fans of legendary rock stars Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley have something to get excited about this summer On July 8, KISS will be in town performing at Kelowna's Prospera Place as part of the 2013 Monster Tour. Tickets go on sale this Friday, April 5 to see musicians Simmons, Stanley, Tommy Thayer and Eric...

By Julie Whittet Cash registers in Kelowna's shops and restaurants were printing their first HST-free bills this morning, as part of B.C.'s switch back to the Provincial Sales Tax (PST). After more than two years of paying a Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) many are happy to see the former GST and PST tax structure back...

RCMP recovered $3,000 worth of sporting equipment this week. The equipment belongs to the Kelowna Minor Baseball league and was reported stolen earlier this month. Police found the equipment in the abandoned locker of a suspect well-known to them. On March 1, Kelowna RCMP responded to a break and enter at Elk's Stadium on 663...

By Julie Whittet The stretch of highway 97 from Highway 33 to Edwards Road will soon be expanded from four to six lanes. Funding of $50.2 million was announced this afternoon to pay for the expansion and upgrades to 4.5 kilometres of Highway 97. The expansion plans were unveiled today at a public event in...

By Julie Whittet If you're deciding what to do for the long weekend, you'll want to head outdoors. Temperatures are expected to rise over the next few days, with more clear skies ahead. Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist says, “what we have is strong ridge of high pressure that will keep skies sunny for the...

By Julie Whittet Those enjoying the sun while walking along Kelowna's downtown waterfront this afternoon had to make a few unexpected detours. The stretch of walkway at the end of Bernard Avenue was dug up and construction workers were regulating foot traffic through the area. The construction crew was in the process of  laying in...

By Julie Whittet As we welcome the first warm days of spring in the Valley, up in the mountains, the snow will soon begin to melt.  This spring the Okanagan is facing a higher than usual flood risk, according to the latest survey of the region's snowpack. The B.C. Snow Basin Indice shows the Okanagan-Kettle...

By Julie Whittet The girl charged with manslaughter in the death of Ashlee Hyatt is being charged with breaching her bail conditions. Ashlee Hyatt was found dead after a fatal stabbing at a Peachland House Party in 2010. A teenage girl from West Kelowna was found guilty of manslaughter in 2012. The girl is now...

By Julie Whittet The robust tourist-commercial development proposed for the Hiawatha RV Park may be too ambitious for its own good – and for the residents of Kelowna. Nearly three hours of public input at last night's public hearing revealed overwhelming opposition to Westcorp's mega-development. All but one of the 32 speakers who came forward...

UPDATE: March 27, 2013 - 11:33 a.m. DISGRUNTLED PASSENGER BOOTED OFF GREYHOUND BUS Kelowna RCMP are investigating allegations of assault after a conflict broke out on a Greyhound bus last Saturday. The bus was making a scheduled rest stop in Penticton, while on its way from Vancouver to Kelowna, when an argument broke out between...

By Julie Whittet In the wake of World Water Day, Kelowna is embracing a new plan to update the city's water utility. Council approved yesterday a plan to get the provincial funding necessary to provide citizens in Kelowna with a modernized water supply system. Kelowna faces a unique challenge with its water utility, which was...

The RCMP are looking for new information in an ongoing search for a 34-year-old Kelowna woman, last spotted in 2008. Andria Lucille Meise was last seen by her family in 2006, after she left Kelowna to move to Fort St. John. Meise was apparently living in a residence on the 8500 block of 85th Avenue...

By Julie Whittet With construction moving along swiftly, it shouldn't be too much longer before you're able to sit outdoors and enjoy a drink at any number of new patios on the revitalized Bernard Avenue. City Council finalized a new fee structure today that encourages the street's restaurants to get their outdoor seating up and...

By Julie Whittet It may soon be the end of the road for Cycle Logic, a motorcycle service and repair business in West Kelowna. District councillors will decide tomorrow whether they will cancel the business licence for the shop, which was raided by police last August. RCMP seized a number of stolen vehicles from the...

By Julie Whittet Kelowna RCMP Superintendent, Bill McKinnon, seems to have saved his goodbyes for this afternoon's city council meeting. He spoke publicly today, for the first time since notice of his retirement caught wind last week. After receiving a small token of appreciation from Mayor Walter Gray, on behalf of the City, McKinnon paused...

By Julie Whittet In the semi-arid Okanagan Valley, water is a precious commodity. Local politicians and environment officials gathered at Manteo Resort Friday to celebrate new solutions to manage water use in the Valley.  Steve Thomson, Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resources, presented a new Excellence in Water Stewardship Award to the Okanagan Water...

By Julie Whittet A 49-year-old man is now in hospital for treatment after barricading himself inside his residence on Sunday afternoon. Const. Kris Clark said at today's RCMP press conference the man was known to police, and is a resident in a transitional housing building in downtown Kelowna. At 2:50 p.m. on Sunday, March 24...

By Julie Whittet While many were shocked to hear of Supt. Bill McKinnon's plans to leave the Kelowna RCMP Wednesday, City Hall knew it was coming. “It wasn't unexpected,” said Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray. “We knew it was likely he would retire sometime this year, I've know that for a number of months.” McKinnon will...

By Julie Whittet Letting your canine companion roam the great outdoors could land you a steep fine. Pet owners who are caught with their dogs off-leash in municipal parks could face a $345 penalty for violating a bylaw. After a complaint Wednesday of a dog chasing down a deer on Knox Mountain, the city is...

The Kelowna RCMP Target Team were led on a brazen chase yesterday afternoon after conducting a traffic stop. They arrested a 27-year-old Kelowna man driving down Saucier Avenue and charged two passengers after finding a loaded handgun and supply of cocaine and methamphetamine in the car. The cops pulled the man over when they found...

By Julie Whittet One of Kelowna's local firefighters will be packing his bags next month to give enhanced training to firefighters in South America.    Glenn Paley of the Kelowna Fire Department will join other B.C. firefighters to deliver Canada's Firefighters Without Borders (FWB) two-week intensive training program to Peru's National Fire Service. “I am very...

By Julie Whittet Search and rescue crews were in full emergency response this afternoon at the Kelowna International airport. Thankfully, it was all part of a well-planned exercise, organized by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as they conduct their training week that ends this Friday. “This is an exercise designed to expose our members...