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Kelowna
Cool, wet week in store for the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - The mercury has dropped and rain is expected to fall as summer break wraps up this week. With Environment Canada calling for high temperatures to only reach the mid- to high-teens all week, you can expect temperatures to remain quite a bit below seasonal normals of 23 Celsius for a high and 11...
Scotch and fine spirits society takes off in Kelowna
KELOWNA - Born of shared interest and gap in the market, the Kelowna Scotch and Fine Spirits Society held its inaugural meeting this week at a local restaurant. “They have a group on the Westside but there’s nothing over here,” Claude Hurtubise says. “The club format is the perfect venue. People may be reluctant to...
Naked yoga now an option in Kelowna
KELOWNA - It might never become a thing, but naked yoga has made its debut in Kelowna. Instructor Chandra Lokah says she recently held the inaugural naked yoga class in a rented space with just four participants, but now that she's held the first one, Lokar believes more people will soon follow. “There were more...
Gusty wind a concern for wildfire crews battling blaze near Kelowna
KELOWNA – The 194-hectare fire burning southeast of Kelowna is completed surrounded by a fire guard, but strong winds in the forecast could change that. The weather system moving through the Okanagan today, Aug. 29, is bringing rain, but also very strong winds. Fire information officer Melissa Klassen says there is a machine guard around...
Laundry worker seriously injured at Kelowna General Hospital
KELOWNA - WorkSafe BC is investigating a serious workplace accident where a laundry worker was caught up in machinery at Kelowna General Hospital. In an emailed statement, Alan Davies, director of support services for the Interior Health Authority, confirmed the accident happened last Friday, Aug. 21. "Our thoughts are with our employee and their family...
Stand up paddle boarders to race around Rattlesnake Island
KELOWNA – A Peachland café and board shop is organizing a first ever stand up paddle board race across Okanagan Lake. The Rattlesnake Island SUP Classic is a seven kilometre race which starts at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19. Experienced racers will paddle from 2Street and Beach Avenue in Peachland across the lake to...
Drink and learn: A new kind of art class
KELOWNA – A unique new kind of art class that combines painting with alcohol is coming to Kelowna, West Kelowna and Penticton next month. Paint Nite is not your average art class, says administrator Jacqueline Wong. “This is more than just painting,” she says. “It’s socializing with family and friends and anytime you include alcohol...
Man arrested for groping store employee found not criminally responsible
KELOWNA – A 61-year-old man arrested for groping a female clerk at a downtown clothing store earlier this year won’t face any jail time as a judge ruled him not criminally responsible because of a mental disorder. Brian Edmund Spence was charged with two counts of sexual assault stemming from an incident which happened March...
RCMP marine unit focus is saving lives not writing tickets
OKANAGAN - With just one boat covering lakes throughout the southern Interior, there’s plenty of times when the long arm of the law simply ends at the lakeshore. But if you do run into the RCMP marine enforcement unit and you’re boat’s not up to snuff, they’ll be on your case, either writing you a...
Cool, wet weather helping crews battle four wildfires in Central Okanagan; forecast wind a worry
KELOWNA – Wildfire crews have been busy the last 24 hours with four wildfires burning around Kelowna but the wet weather today is helping control the largest fire on Little White Mountain. The Little White Mountain fire is approximately 120 hectares in size and not yet fully contained, according to B.C. Wildfire fire information officer...
Rainy weather and thunderstorms for Okanagan
OKANAGAN - In the wake of the extended period of hot, dry weather, the Okanagan is about to receive several days of rain. Environment Canada is calling for clouds and showers beginning today, Aug. 28, and continuing through to Wednesday. Thundershowers are forecast for Saturday. And it will be cool with highs of 19 Celsius and...
Lakeshore Road paving finally set to begin
KELOWNA – The stretch of Lakeshore Road between DeHart Road and McClure Road will get even slower in the coming weeks as crews finally begin paving the busy Mission corridor. Up until Labour Day weekend, only one lane will be open from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. and motorists are urged to give themselves extra...
Okanagan Lake water level not bad, next year could be the problem
OKANAGAN - Despite sitting smack dab in a region beset by a level four drought, Okanagan Lake is not doing too badly when it comes to water level, at least at first glance. Estimates from the natural resources ministry predict the lake won’t go down as far as it has in previous drought years. It's...
VOTE FOR STUART PARK! Downtown Kelowna feature named finalist in national contest
KELOWNA – Stuart Park in downtown Kelowna has been named a finalist for a national contest that highlights the best public places in Canada. With its winter skating rink, public promenade, 300 metres of waterfront, urban orchard and iconic 'Bear' statue, Stuart Park is one of 12 public spaces showcased by the 5th annual Great...
Bystanders tackle armed jewelry store robber
KELOWNA – Two suspects remain at large in Kelowna after an armed robbery at a downtown jewelry store Tuesday evening. The robbery happened just after 5 p.m. when police were called to the 1200 block of Cannery Lane. According to a release sent by Cpl. Joe Duncan, two men entered the store, locked the doors...
Top antique and art appraiser makes stop in the Southern Interior
KELOWNA - Here’s your chance to find out if that old painting hanging in the bathroom is really a Picasso or not. Professional antique and art appraiser Peter Blundell is making a one-day stop in Kelowna where he will appraise those uncertain antiques, collectibles and art pieces and tell you whether they are treasure or...
Daily non-stop flights announced between Kelowna and Victoria
KELOWNA – Travelers to Vancouver Island now have a non-stop flight to Victoria out of Kelowna International Airport. Pacific Coastal Airlines announced the seven day a week service Tuesday, Aug. 15, saying it will benefit communities on the island as well as the Okanagan. Effective Oct. 27, the Saab 340 aircraft will depart YLW at...
So You Think You Can Dance coming to Kelowna
KELOWNA – The top ten finalists from this year’s So You Think You Can Dance will be performing in Kelowna in January. The show is part of a North America tour that features the best dancers from the twelfth season of the 13-time Emmy Award-winning show on Fox and CTV. Judge, executive director and co-creator...
Abusive husband sentenced to jail for assaulting, injuring wife
"I'M GOING TO KILL YOU AND I'M GOING TO BE SMILING AS YOU TAKE YOUR LAST BREATH." KELOWNA – A local man with a history of physically abusing his wife was sentenced to 15 months in jail for an assault that left her with a cut lip, bruises and abrasions on her body. On March...
Dancing cowboy to get permanent memorial at local nightclub
KELOWNA – A local nightclub is honouring one of their beloved regulars who passed away from cancer last year. Arnie Davis was 80 years old when he lost his fight against lung cancer in July 2013. He was a popular fixture at many nightclubs for more than 20 years, with his positive attitude and love...
This one simple thing might have prevented one-third of stolen vehicles in the Central Okanagan
SHAPING UP TO BE A RECORD YEAR FOR VEHICLE THEFTS KELOWNA – RCMP are warning vehicle owners not to leave keys in their ignition after incidents of vehicle theft has spiked in the last year. Cpl. Joe Duncan of the Kelowna RCMP says in a release 23 vehicle were reported stolen between Aug. 1 and...
Missing woman with health concerns found
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - A missing Kelowna woman with health concerns has been located, according to RCMP. Brittany Nelson, 30, has been located and is safe and sound," Cpl. Joe Duncan says in a release sent one day after friends reported her absence. To contact the reporter for this story, email John McDonald at jmcdonald@infonews.ca or...
Smoky skies continue, no end in sight to fire season
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With smoke-filled skies and reports of new fires almost every day, it begs the question that’s on everyone’s mind: When will this end? “It’s a good question. There is no hard and fast measure that tells us when things are done. Every season is its own animal,” Kevin Skrepnek says. And B.C. Wildfire’s...
Carriage houses may be coming soon to West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA - Residents in the Westbank centre and other select parts of West Kelowna could soon see carriage houses popping up in a nearby laneway. Council is due to give third reading to the draft regulations governing the new category of residential developments, the latest step in a lengthy process that began in 2012....