Julie Whittet
Weekend heat too hot to handle for some festival goers
While no records were broken over the long weekend it was hot enough to keep crowd numbers down in the afternoon during Canada Day festivities. Festivals Kelowna executive director Renata Mills says attendance was down during midday events yesterday, with bigger crowds coming out in the evening to cool off for the fireworks. Yesterday's temperature...
Police crack down on motorists speeding into Kelowna
The temperature is not the only thing to soar during summer holidays. A number of motorists travelling on Highway 97 last Friday were caught speeding well above the limit and police were there to catch them. On their June 28 pre-long weekend enforcement the Central Okanagan Traffic Service handed out 74 speeding tickets to motorists...
Canada Day crowds eagerly wait until sunset for fireworks finale
KELOWNA - Sporadic drizzle may have rained on Saturday's Westside Daze Parade, but yesterday the sun was out in full force on Kelowna's downtown waterfront with temperatures climbing up to 33.5 degrees Celsius - well above the seasonal average. Crowds snaking along the boardwalk at Tugboat Bay waited patiently for the sun's last rays to...
Jam-packed celebrations for Canada Day in Kelowna
KELOWNA - The city is going all out for this year's kick-off to summer - Canada Day celebrations - and they're free for all to attend. Kelowna's downtown cultural district will transform into carnival grounds today. From Prospera Place to Waterfront Park a range of festivities are scheduled throughout the day, for all ages and...
City Park designs call for more traffic to deter shady actvity
More traffic, be it on wheels or by foot, is what city planners think will create a safer park space for Kelowna residents. After an online forum for public input closed last April, the City unveiled it's first park re-design concept. Rather than cutting through large spaces of grass, new roadways, cycling routes and pedestrian...
Dog owners deserve treats for good behaviour: RDCO
KELOWNA - Your dog may love roaming free in the outdoors, but he won't be the one picking up the bill. The Regional District for the Central Okanagan is currently beefing up penalties for dog bylaw violations and throwing in some rewards to ensure Kelowna's pet owners are on their best behaviour. District spokesperson Bruce...
OK Mission Secondary to get $8.7 million expansion
Overcrowded Kelowna grade school students will be getting a bit more room to grow. The B.C. government is spending just over $8.7 million on a much needed expansion of Okanagan Mission Secondary School and School District 23 announced Wednesday construction on the project will begin right away. There are two incentives for the expansion: giving...
Daring river rescue earns constable and civilian medals for bravery
A daring rescue operation back in February 2012 earned a Keremeos Constable and Princeton man special recognition from the RCMP Southeast district today. Const. Mike Leiding and civilian Dave Groff were both pinned with bronze medals for bravery today for their joint efforts in saving the lives of two girls from the Similkameen River. Const....
Eight years prison for Kelowna crime spree
"IT IS DISTURBING TO ME THAT YOU HAVE GLORIFIED CRIMINAL CONDUCT:" JUDGE KELOWNA - Robbing a jewelry store, shooting at police and kidnapping a driver will fetch a 20-year-old Surrey man eight years in jail. Devan Marckus Wong pleaded guilty to multiple offences stemming from a 2011 robbery of Kelowna's Premier Pawn shop and was...
Weekend vacations to Kelowna cancelled for some Albertans
After major flooding hit areas of southern Alberta a couple weeks ago, communities devastated by the disaster are now facing the task of rebuilding their lives and homes. For some, summer vacations will not be going ahead as planned. Tourism Kelowna communications manager Catherine Frechette says the priorities have changed for many of the Albertans...
Christy Clark to debate with byelection opponents
KELOWNA - After yesterday's challenge put forth by the NDP, Christy Clark has now confirmed she will be participating in a public debate with byelection opponents. On July 4, all eight candidates are invited to discuss key issues in the Westside-Kelowna riding. Liberal Party campaign manager Don MacLachlan says Clark has never dismissed the opportunity...
Kelowna shop owner has a special delivery for Alberta
KELOWNA - A local shoe store owner has an unusually big shipment of footwear on the way. Shoe company Keen Canada has somewhere between 2,000 and 3,000 pairs of new shoes to donate and they are asking Jim Belshaw of Roy's Shoes to help get them to Alberta. Devastating flooding of the Elbow and Bow...
Record rainfall last week but summer on the horizon
KELOWNA - An unexpected deluge of rainfall had Kelowna residents on edge last week. Both June 19 and June 20 saw record breaking rainfall. A total of 10.5 mm fell on Wednesday - the previous record was 2.5 mm back in 2005 - and another 23.4 mm on Thursday for a two-day total of more...
Kelowna bus system needs $4.4 million to keep on rolling
Over the next three years Kelowna's transit system is expected to grow as much as the city itself. To expand the system and keep it running smoothly will take more money from taxpayers. Regional programs manager Jerry Dombowski says Kelowna is entering a new phase of growth which will translate into a larger base of...
An uncertain future for addiction services in wine country
"MORE MONEY IS NOT NECESSARILY WHAT WE NEED." In a city where wineries and distilleries are the lifeblood of its culture and tourism, the closure of its detox centre and an uncertain future for addiction treatment services in Kelowna stands out like a red wine stain. When Kelowna's main addiction services centre announced its...