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Kelowna

West Kelowna declines request to support breast-feeding initiative

WEST KELOWNA - A delegation from UBC Okanagan seeking support for a breast-feeding initiative got a rough ride from West Kelowna council, despite its support from other local governments. The group was seeking council’s endorsement for the Baby Friendly initiative, plus a pledge to make district facilities breast-feeding friendly and educate employees and local businesses...

Social housing starting to rise on Central Green site

KELOWNA - Ground-breaking on one of the first phases of the long-awaited Central Green development should take place within a few months after city council approved a long-term lease with the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society to develop affordable housing on the site. In a report to council, Graham Hood, strategic land development manager for the city,...

More high temperature records in Southern Interior

SNOW FORECAST FOR HIGHWAYS THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - One more day of record weather was had this week before temperatures dropped slightly in the Southern Interior. While the entire region hit temperatures in the mid-teens Tuesday, March 10, at 15.6 Celsius, Vernon was one of the lucky ones in setting a new high temperature record for the...

Seasonal flooding unlikely this year

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If the lack of snow, even at alpine levels, is any indication, we could be in for a very dry year. The River Forecast Centre is reporting all but two snow basins are below normal as of March 1. The North and South Thompson basins are near-normal at 96 per cent and 91...

West Kelowna takes aim at medical marijuana dispensaries

WEST KELOWNA - Enquiries about setting up a medical marijuana dispensary on the Westside have prompted the district to close what they describe as a loophole in their business licensing bylaw. “We are adding a sentence into the bylaw that essentially says a business must be in compliance with both the Criminal Code and the...

Suspect wanted on Canada-wide warrant arrested thanks to good neighbour

KELOWNA – A break and enter attempt was thwarted by the quick actions of a local citizen Monday morning. According to a media release from Cpl. Joe Duncan, Kelowna RCMP responded to a report of a break and enter in progress at a home on the 1900 block of Abbott Street on March 9, 2015,...

Profanity spray painted on North Glenmore Elementary

KELOWNA - Police are looking for possible witnesses after "profanity and vulgarity" was spray painted on a school in North Glenmore last month. The incident was reported Feb. 14, 2015 at 8 a.m. at North Glenmore Elementary school. An investigator on the case doesn't think the graffiti was created by an artist but believes it...

Customer injured trying to stop armed robbery

KELOWNA – Police are looking for a teenager who hurt a bystander while trying to rob the clerk at a convenience store on Bernard Avenue early this morning. RCMP Const. Kris Clark says the boy, who appeared to be around 17-years-old, entered the 7-Eleven at 1115 Bernard Ave. at around 1:55 a.m., Monday, March 9...

New weather records set in Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With temperatures reaching the high teens this week the spring-like weather we have been experiencing is leaving several new records in its wake. According to Environment Canada temperatures of more than 18 Celsius Monday were enough to set new records in several communities including Kelowna, Summerland and Penticton. With a temperature of 18.1...

Okanagan Spirits headed to Denmark for another World Spirit Awards

OKANAGAN – A local distillery has been called to Denmark to hear if they will once again be called out as one of the best in the world. Okanagan Spirits was named World Spirits Award Distillery of the Year in 2013 and Senior distiller Peter von Hahn is on his way to Denmark this week...

Transit fare increases fall hardest on those with the thinnest wallets

KELOWNA - Council has agreed to raise transit fares in most categories in a bid to increase the amount of money recovered from riders. Some councillors expressed reservations about the move, saying fare increases tend to reduce ridership but in the end all voted to approve the increase. The yes vote doesn't automatically mean the...

Kelowna store employee reports sexual assault

KELOWNA – A local man is being held in custody after an alleged sexual assault of a downtown employee last week. Brian Spencer, 61, is being charged with two counts of sexual assault after he entered a store and began a conversation with a female employee at around 6:15 p.m. RCMP Const. Kris Clark says...

Near-record temperatures to continue

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Clocks sprung forward and temperatures soared into the mid-teens this weekend and while the spring-like weather did not result in any record-breaking temperatures the warm weather will continue as we get closer to the official start of spring. For the most part temperatures fell a couple degrees shy of records, though a high...

Local vets step up to help solve feral cat crisis

OKANAGAN – As plans get under way to address Kelowna’s growing feral cat problem, five local veterinarians have volunteered their time and facilities to help ensure the problem gets solved for good. Kelowna SPCA branch manager Suzanne Pugh says the city is facing a cat colony “crisis” and estimates there to be approximately 13,000 feral...

Half marathon combines wine and natural Okanagan beauty

KELOWNA – The Kelowna Wine Country Half Marathon is based on the success of a similar event held in California’s famous Napa Valley. The Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon first combined a marathon with natural beauty and wine over a decade ago. Destination Races brought the idea to the Okanagan Valley for the...

Wildfire risk a concern this weekend

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - People are urged to be cautious with any open burning this weekend as we get set to experience warmer temperatures and a continued early drying trend. With temperatures set to hit the double digits every day over the next week, B.C. Wildfire warns there is an increased 'preventable' wildfire risk heading into the...

Warmer weather on the way

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - We’re back above seasonal normals as temperatures continue to climb into the double digits, though we are unlikely to break any warm weather records this weekend. According to Environment Canada temperatures in Kamloops and Penticton will reach 14 Celsius by Saturday while in Vernon and Kelowna temperatures will hit that mark by Sunday....

Wu-Tang Clan members coming to Kelowna

KELOWNA – Three members of the influential east coast rap group the Wu-Tang Clan are coming to Kelowna this month. Ghostface Killah, GZA and Capadonna are members of the group Rolling Stone called “the best rap group ever.” They burst onto the scene in 1993 and have since released six albums to critical acclaim. They have...

STAHN: Why we need more controlled burns in urban areas

Let me start by stating a simple fact we all need to understand — fire is natural. Not only is it natural, it is a much needed part of the ecological cycle. Regular fire is needed to keep noxious weeds at bay, to help encourage new growth and to keep wildfires from getting out of...

February home sales best in years says real estate board report

KELOWNA – After a disappointing start to 2015, the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board is reporting a 34 per cent improvement in home sales in February compared with the same month in 2014. “After a more than usual slowdown in January, Okanagan-Shuswap home sales rallied along with consumer confidence during February despite weaker economic conditions...