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Kelowna
Vet opens heart, clinic to evacuated pets
WEST KELOWNA - Evacuations can be a high stress situtation but one local vet is trying to make it easier on people and their pets by offering free kennelling for all pets displaced by the wildfire burning in West Kelowna right now. Dr. Moshe Oz , a vet with Rose Valley Veterinary Clinic, says they’ve...
Support for firefighters heats up on social media
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Firefighters have been working hard to battle blazes across the province. Many residents have taken the time to thank the B.C. Forest Service and municipal fire crews for fighting day and night. Below are some helpful lines of support and thank you's from the public. Did you know? B.C. Wildfire has a specific...
Date set for Snelson retrial
KAMLOOPS – After several delays and a successful bail, a date has been set for Neil George Snelson’s re-trial. Snelson, 47, was already tried and convicted of manslaughter in the death of Jennifer Cusworth in 2011. He appealed his conviction and won a second trial set to take place in Kamloops Supreme Court next year....
Fires rage across province
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Firefighting resources are being juggled and reassigned as British Columbia's Wildfire Management Branch handles several blazes, including one that forced about 2,500 people from their homes. The Smith Creek fire near West Kelowna raged to an estimated 400 hectares by Friday morning, only a day after an evacuation order was issued for the...
Evacuation information: What you need to know
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - During fire season, it’s always best to keep an emergency plan in place in case you are under evacuation alert. An alert doesn’t mean you have to leave your home right away, but it’s time to get personal items at the ready in case the alert becomes an evacuation order. DURING AN EVACUATION...
UPDATE: Aggressive Murray Lake fire partially contained
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - An aggressive fire south of Merritt near Murray Lake is now 30 per cent contained, though an evacuation order for all properties adjacent to the lake remains. The Thompson Nicola Regional District issued the state of emergency and evacuation order around 9 p.m. Wednesday due to the potential threat. The evacuation order covers...
Eyesore motel blasted by Kelowna city council
KELOWNA – A boarded up motel on Harvey Avenue is getting some negative attention from Kelowna city council for its shabby appearance. The derelict Ponderosa Motel sits just east of Parkinson Recreation Centre at 1864 Harvey Ave. Coun. Robert Hobson says the motel, which closed in 2011, has become an eyesore. “It is incredibly ugly,”...
More weather records fall, rain finally in forecast
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - While most of the Interior saw temperatures soar above the mid-30s Wednesday only a few communities actually saw old records broken. Penticton, Osoyoos and Clinton all set new records for July 16 but Osoyoos saw the biggest jump with a temperature of 39.6 Celsius, up nearly three degrees from the previous record set...
VIDEO: What an Okanagan Rail Trail could look like
VERNON - A new video showcases the merits of converting the rail bed between Vernon and Kelowna into a multi-purpose trail. The 50 km stretch runs along Kalamalka Lake, Wood Lake and Duck Lake and past 22 parks. Canadian National has begun the process of selling off the line, whose former operator Kelowna Pacific Railway...
Smoky skies advisory for Interior
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Fires to the north of us are causing smoky conditions and the Ministry of Environment is now warning people to take additional precautions because of the smoke. A smoky skies advisory was issued today for the Thompson, Shuswap, Okanagan, Similkameen, Nicola, Boundary and Fraser Canyon areas. Similar advisories have also been issued for...
Canada’s oldest swim event takes place this weekend
KELOWNA – Canada’s biggest and longest running swim event is back in Kelowna for the 66th year in a row. This Across the Lake Swim will be the biggest yet with 900 participants signed-up to swim 2 km from the Old Ferry Wharf in West Kelowna to City Park. Participants leave the shores of West Kelowna...
Fire closes Mt. Boucherie Park
KELOWNA - An interface fire Tuesday afternoon has prompted closure of Mt. Boucherie Park until fire crews finish putting out hot spots and the district can assess the risk. The fire began around 3 p.m. Tuesday and quickly grew to just over four hectares. West Kelowna fire crews were aided by B.C. Wildfire air tankers...
Boil water advisory for residents on Southeast Kelowna Irrigation District
KELOWNA – Kelowna residents under the Southeast Kelowna Irrigation District must boil their water before drinking until further notice. According to a release today, the main power to the facility was disconnected earlier today for routine line maintenance. A backup generator used to power the chlorination system then failed and stopped the supply of chlorine...
Fires becoming more aggressive
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - There have been more than 25 wildfires in the Kamloops Fire Centre in the past two days but most of the smoke in the air is coming from the more than 36,000 hectares burning in northern B.C. Just yesterday crews battled fires at Apex Mountain in Penticton, Mt. Boucherie in West Kelowna and...
Sniffing out a new sport
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - There’s a new sport gaining popularity in the Interior and as long as you have a dog, you can do it. Nosework is gaining popularity as a sport that can be done competitively or for fun with any dog, and it’s the ‘any’ part that keeps a lot of dog owners coming back...
UPDATE: Aggressive fire near Coquihalla toll booth prompts evacuation alert
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - An evacuation alert has been issued and B.C. Wildfire is keeping crews off of a fire three kilometres west of the old toll booth along the Coquihalla Highway because it's just too dangerous. “It’s displaying aggressive behaviour, a rank five. It has an organized flame front and is spreading quickly,” Fire Information Officer...
Playground approved for Mission Recreation Park
KELOWNA – Councillors approved funding Monday for a new children’s playground in Mission Recreation Park. “Over the past few years, regular users have expressed a desire to install a playground to provide children of the participants a fun and safe play option when at the ball park,” says community recreation coordinator Chris Babcock. “After raising...
Council signs off on election restrictions
KELOWNA – A bylaw passed by councillors Monday caps the number of election signs you can legally display on your property. Effective immediately, no private or public places can display more than two signs for any single candidate. According to Karen Needham, the changes have been made as a result of concerns raised by council...
This popular city road might be up for a name change
KELOWNA – One of the Mission’s most used roads could be in line for a name change. Swamp Road is a major, two-lane road connecting Casorso with DeHart. On Monday, Coun. Andre Blanleil said he has heard complaints from several area residents who feel the name is less than attractive. “Some of the neighbours in...
Campfire bans begin Wednesday
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - B.C. Wildfire is issuing a campfire ban beginning Wednesday, July 16 following a perfect storm of hot, dry and stormy weather. The ban, which begins at noon Wednesday, covers the entire fire centre and is in place until further notice. The majority of the fire centre is sitting at a high to extreme...
UPDATE: Man dead after leap from moving vehicle
KELOWNA – There are more questions than answers following the death of a Kelowna man who jumped from a moving car on Saturday morning. Victor John Doyle, 23, of Kelowna was riding in the passenger side when, according to the RCMP, he “unexpectedly” leapt from the vehicle on Glenmore Road near Union Road. Doyle was...
Man killed trying to stop vehicle rolling off cliff
KELOWNA – An attempt to stop a vehicle from rolling off a cliff near Big White had tragic consequences for a 67-year-old Cawston man Sunday. The man, whose identity is being withheld pending notification of family, had parked his Jeep on a narrow forest service road close to a cliff. When the vehicle started rolling...
Temperature records fall over weekend, heat to continue
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - There is no doubt summer is officially here as record high temperatures fell like sweat droplets in 40 Celsius heat on the weekend. Environment Canada says several communities broke weather records on Saturday, including Lillooet which had a high temperature of 39.7 C passing the 39.4 C recorded in 1926. Sunday also saw...
Music and fans sizzle in the heat at Keloha
KELOWNA – It was the third year for the Keloha Music and Arts Festival in Kelowna with the hot weather and hot acts. The festival on the shores of Okanagan Lake provided music fans plenty of chances to cool off in the water. The three day event is produced by Wet Ape Productions and included...