Julie Whittet
International leaders in water conservation stop in Kelowna
International leaders in water conservation gathered at the Kelowna Yacht Club early this morning to raise funds for the Water for People charity which helps bring safe drinking water to communities in the developing world. The B.C. Water and Waste Association hosted the charity and will speak to Kelowna City Councillors later today about the...
Casorso Road blocked: a false alarm over suspicious object
Police blocked off a stretch of Casorso Road earlier this morning and put a nearby elementary school on lock down in what they thought was a potential bomb threat. It turned out to be a false alarm and police were called off. Kelowna RCMP received a report shortly before 10 a.m. this morning from a...
Kelowna residents get a sneak peek at Lakeshore re-design
Lakeshore Road is being designed to be visually appealing for all users, with spacious sidewalks and bike lanes - not another Highway 33. At an open house last night at Manteo Resort last night, the public got a sneak peek at designs for the road and an opportunity to sound their questions with city officials. Project Manager...
Weather heats up for the end of April
Warm weather is on the way as we near the end of a damp, breezy April. According to the latest Environment Canada forecast, temperatures should rise to seasonal averages by next Thursday. “We're definitely expecting a warming trend,” says Environment Canada meteorologist Doug Lundquist. “We expect temperatures to go to a high of 18 degrees...
Okanagan RCMP provide support for victims of crime
As part of the 8th Annual National Victims of Crime Awareness Week (April 21 to 27) Kelowna RCMP commend their Vicitms Services division. The staff and volunteers play a supportive role assisting those impacted by crime and trauma. "Our RCMP Victim Services personnel often deal with emotionally charged situations and families in crisis," said acting...
RCMP pilot spots thief on the run
A Kelowna man had nowhere to run this morning after robbing a residence on Hall Road. With an RCMP helicopter overhead and police in pursuit with a search dog, the thief only made it as far as Fisher Road before being arrested. Police seized the loot in the man's backpack and returned it to its...
Downtown Kelowna to get $13 million parkade
Kelowna's downtown core will get a new parkade, to help accomodate the expected onslaught of increased traffic in the next few years. The City announced yesterday a new 430-stall parkade to fit in between Memorial Arena and the Okanagan Heritage Museum on Ellis Street. It is one of many city construction projects expected for 2013....
Teen guilty in the death of Ashlee Hyatt facing max sentence of 3 years jail time
UPDATE: Defence requests community sentence for teen guilty of Hyatt manslaughter 5:00 p.m. April 16 Defence counsel for the girl responsible for the death of Ashlee Hyatt has requested a community-based sentence for the accused. Defence lawyer Donna Turko says a sentence served in jail would do her client more harm than good and says...
RCMP investigate two unsolved robberies in West Kelowna
Early yesterday morning an employee at Husky Gas Station on Ross Road arrived to work to find their shop vandalized and the ATM machine stolen. West Kelowna RCMP received the report just before 6:00 a.m.when the employee found shattered glass and damaged shutters on the store front. Police say the suspect(s) had dismantled the alarm...
Sprawling development proposed for North Glenmore
A massive development proposed for Northern Glenmore would be three times bigger than the city plan allows for. The 1,400-unit Diamond Mountain project, proposed by Troika Developments, raised some eyebrows at City Hall yesterday. Council said the developer will have to provide a lot more detail before they consider amending the area plan, which calls...
Flood risk closes Priest Creek Trail
A portion of trail along Priest Creek will be temporarily closed to the public for maintenance. A public service announcement says rising water levels and flood mitigation prompted the closure of 350 meters of the trail, from Balldock Road. Maintenance work will keep the trail closed for one week. Signs have been posted at the...
Sidewalk paving brings Bernard Avenue one step closer to completion
Cutting through Bernard Avenue on your way to work this morning, you'll notice things are a little rough around the edges. Construction crews are now laying in new, spacious sidewalks to complete Phase 2 of the Bernard Avenue Revitalization. The Revitalization project is one of 25 initiatives of Kelowna's 2012 Downtown Plan which aims to...
Missing your rifles?
If you lost a couple rifles last month, the Kelowna RCMP might have what you're looking for. The RCMP found two abandoned rifles last month and are looking to return them to their rightful owners. One military rifle and another mountain rifle turned up on the 1500 block of Rosewood Drive, hidden in a makeshift...
RCMP arrest two dangerous men in one night
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...
Lakeshore: the road to Kelowna’s tourism district
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...