Kelowna

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...

Website brings farm to table and also to your smartphone

KELOWNA – A Kelowna-based website is making it easier for people interested in supporting local businesses to find their soil mate. Soil Mates is a website that, using the GPS on your phone, displays nearby breweries, farms, markets and wineries. “Local farmers, raisers and producers are central to this and Soil Mate is working with...

You’ve been saying ‘MOVE THE F&#@ OVER!’ and the government listened

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Signs telling drivers to stay right except when passing have graced B.C. highways for years but after community feedback suggested slow drivers were still dawdling in the passing lane the province has opted to give RCMP officers more ways to crack down. Following a study and public survey, the Ministry of Transportation announced...

Child luring warning issued for Central Okanagan

WEST KELOWNA - Two incidents similar to one in Kelowna last month have led the RCMP to issue a child luring warning for the entire Central Okanagan area. The incident happened just before noon on Tuesday, March 3, when two 15-year-old boys were walking in the area of Westlake Road and Stevens Road. The man...

Great Okanagan Beer Festival a first for Kelowna

KELOWNA - There's more than just wine to the Okanagan and as proof another popular fermented drink will be celebrated at the Great Okanagan Beer Festival for three whole days this May. More than 40 breweries from across the country and around the world will be offering more than 90 beers to try at sampling...

Kelowna gas prices climbing

KELOWNA – If you’re from Kelowna but driving through West Kelowna or Lake Country today, you might want to consider filling up your gas tank. According to bcgasprices.com, the average price per litre of regular gas at most Kelowna stations has gone up to 115.9 recently. That’s around 8 cents more than the national average...

Kelowna coalition to tackle growing feral cat problem

ESTIMATED 13,000 FERAL CATS IN THE OKANAGAN KELOWNA – Five years after struggling to get control over a wild rabbit problem, Kelowna now faces a population explosion of another feral species. “There’s definitely a feral cat problem in Kelowna,” says Cheryll Gillespie, an animal welfare advocate and one of the founders of a new group...

Lake Country council will decide tonight on referendum recommendation by district staff

LAKE COUNTRY - Mayor and council will tonight decide whether Lake Country voters will have their say on the CN Rail corridor purchase through a district-wide referendum. Staff are recommending the referendum be held April 25 and will ask the simple question of whether qualified voters agree that the district should borrow $2,615,000 to buy...

Missing Kelowna man found

UPDATE: RCMP say a man reported missing Feb. 26 has been found. As per our…

Micro suite exemptions from development charges prompts policy review by city staff

KELOWNA - It’s the third micro suite project to come before Kelowna city council in the last month and there’s already concerns about the latest housing trend. Councillor Luke Stack says micro suites are exempt from development cost charges under a provincial policy. It means the city can't collect money from the developers to help...

Another showing of northern lights possible Monday

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The adventurous and the lucky were able to get a glimpse of the northern lights this weekend but there is still a chance of seeing them again tonight and this time Mother Nature might be a bit more cooperative. With Environment Canada calling for clear skies and Space Weather Canada calling for unsettled...

Changes will ensure prisoners’ privacy during strip searches: RCMP

KELOWNA – Local RCMP Supt. Nick Romanchuk says after being chastised by a provincial judge for illegally broadcasting images of strip searches to a guard room at his detachment, changes have been made that will ensure privacy for prisoners. “I’m not going to get into the intricate details of what’s in there but suffice it...

Okanagan entrepreneurs kick butt at awards show

OKANAGAN – A win at the B.C. Small Business Awards is no small feat, so having two businesses from Kelowna and one from Enderby honoured at the ceremony in Vancouver was a pretty big deal. Soil Mate from Kelowna grabbed the Best Concept award, Kelowna’s Float Space won for Best Emerging Entrepreneur and Mel’s Main...

’80s themed psychic ski race returns to Big White

KELOWNA – After a 20 year hiatus, the Kelowna Cup ski race is coming back to Big White. The '80s themed race is a kind of psychic slalom where racers, some wearing costumes from the '80s, make a timed run down a course and then predict what their time will be for the second run....

Money isn’t everything as West Kelowna councillor Rosalind Neis found out during 2014 election

WEST KELOWNA - It seems candidates in elections everywhere are spending ever more to get elected, which makes West Kelowna councillor Rosalind Neis’ 2014 campaign war chest that much more impressive. There was nothing in it. Neis’ campaign contribution disclosure form, released Monday by Elections B.C., is full of zeroes — no corporate or developer...

Here’s what the City of Kelowna is doing about climate change

KELOWNA - The city is turning climate change into revenue, some $235,000, according to a report Kelowna councillors will receive on Monday. Sustainability coordinator Tracy Guidi will update councillors on the city’s efforts to meet the goals of the Climate Action Revenue Incentive program. It helps fund local initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in...

Inn from the Cold won’t have to close early

KELOWNA – Inn from the Cold will not have to close early, thanks to a funding boost from the province. The temporary winter shelter recently announced it would be closing due to a lack of operating funds. On Friday the provincial government stepped up with a one-time funding of $22,000, which will allow the shelter...

Westside Road shooter not guilty of attempted murder

KELOWNA – Michael Ellis, the man accused of shooting at police as he and two others tried to escape along Westside Road in 2012, was found not guilty of attempted murder but could still face a lengthy jail term after he was found guilty of more than a dozen other related charges. Justice Ian Josephson...