Corrections
Deal signed for Okanagan rail line
OKANAGAN – A deal between the consortium of municipalities and CN Rail to buy the decommissioned rail corridor between Kelowna and Coldstream has been reached. The consortium, made up of Kelowna, Lake Country, Coldstream, along with the North Okanagan and Central Okanagan Regional Districts, have agreed to buy the 47.5 kilometre long stretch of railway...
Retired teacher charged with possession of child pornography to stand trial next year
KAMLOOPS – The trial for a retired special education teacher charged with possession of child pornography won’t take place until next year. Jerry Waselenkoff was scheduled for a preliminary hearing by Provincial Court Judge this week. On Tuesday, he elected to be tried by a Supreme Court judge alone. He has pleaded not guilty to...
An Armstrong resident invited a homeless man back home for a shower, meal, and shelter
HERE'S WHAT HE SHOULD HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY VERNON - A stabbing incident in Armstrong could have been prevented if the assailant had been connected with appropriate support services, according to Vernon’s homeless shelter. Police say the assault happened when a Spallumcheen resident invited a homeless man to his house for a hot shower, a meal,...
ELECTION 2014: Vote recount not necessary, according to city
PENTICTON - Members of the community are asking for a recount after voter turnout was lower than anticipated, however the city is not planning a recount request. Only 8,424 of the 26,806 eligible voters submitted their ballots for the 2014 election— almost two per cent fewer voters than in 2011. The community had high expectations...
ELECTION 2014: Jakubeit new mayor of Penticton
PENTICTON - The votes are in and Andrew Jakubeit is the new mayor of Penticton, beating out former councillor and colleague John Vassilaki and local businessman Jukka Laurio. Jakubeit won by more than 2,000 votes with a total of 5,126 votes. “I just want to say thank you,” he said after the win. “The whole...
UBCO hosts WFN art forum Friday
KELOWNA – A public forum examining the impact Westbank First Nations art has had on the revitalized downtown is taking place at the Alternator Centre this Friday. The hour long forum, part of a monthly series called Alterknowledge that looks at social issues in the Okanagan, is organized by faculty at UBCO in partnership with the...
Coroner’s inquest begins for man who died in holding cells
PENTICTON - A B.C. Coroners inquest into the death of a Penticton man who died in RCMP cells two years ago heard this morning the man had diabetes. The inquest, which began Monday at the Penticton law courts before coroner Larry Marzinzik will likely take the remainder of the week. Steven Joseph Scott, 30, died...
Penticton remembers those who have fallen
PENTICTON - Remember all those who have fallen for our country at the Remembrance Day ceremonies this Tuesday, November 11. The ceremony will be held at the Trade and Convention Centre and doors open at 10 a.m. The ceremonies will start around 10:30 a.m. as police, veterans, boy scouts and other protective service agents march...
Local innovators create educational kids app
OKANAGAN - Local innovators are putting the Okanagan on the map by creating educational apps that will help kids develop reading skills. Technology expert Tarik Sayeed and veteran educator Brenda Larson have put their knowledge together to create five educational games for kids available on Android tablets. The games are based on a line of...
Judge throws cold water on this short cut police use to get warrants
LAKE COUNTRY - Police in B.C. may find it a little tougher to obtain a search warrant after a B.C. Supreme Court justice in the Okanagan put a roadblock on a common short cut used by police for years. Justice Gary Weatherill tossed out a search warrant in a Lake Country pot case Oct. 23,...
Police need help solving five-year-old murder
KELOWNA – Five years after Kelowna resident Christopher Daniel Hetu died from multiple gunshots at a park in Kelowna, police are still looking for clues about what happened. Hetu, an unemployed construction worker who was 20 at the time of his death, was found in Millbridge Park suffering from three to five gunshot wounds in...
Alberta man charged with threatening WestJet flight in Kelowna
KELOWNA – A 35-year-old Alberta man, who is living in Summerland, is facing a number of charges in connection with a threat made to a WestJet flight in Kelowna on Saturday. At about 12:24 p.m., someone phoned in a threat regarding the flight scheduled to depart Kelowna for Calgary. Police still refuse to say what...
The altruism of Facebook: How a rescue of two bear cubs was aided by strangers
REVELSTOKE – Angelika Langren and her husband Peter have rescued so many bear cubs through the years, it's become a regular routine. But their planned trip to Golden had several hangups last Thanksgiving weekend when they picked up two grizzly bear cubs. Despite the challenges, the couple learned a few lessons about the kindness of...
Body found near Okanagan College in Kelowna
KELOWNA - Mounties are investigating a report of a body found in a parking lot in Kelowna this morning. The body was discovered inside a maroon coloured mini van parked in the staff parking lot behind the Mission View medical building Oct. 17. Police are releasing few details, but say the death does not appear to...
The race is on for the mayor’s seat in West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA - Stephen Johnston officially registered yesterday to challenge Doug Findlater for the mayor's seat in the District of West Kelowna. There are three people registered as candidates for mayor. "I'm looking forward to a great campaign and getting our message out," Johnston said in a media release. "I'm excited about promoting a vision...