Kelowna

Second supermoon lights up the sky

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Full moons often catch a photographers eye but supermoons seem to bring out the photographer in everyone. Sunday night the second of three consecutive supermoons filled the sky. A supermoon also made an appearance in July and another is set for Sept. 9. A supermoon occurs when the full moon is about 50,000...

Heat, rain in forecast

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Have both your sunscreen and umbrella on standby, we are expecting two more days of high heat but then we are heading to below normal temperatures and rain later in the week. Monday we are looking at temperatures of 34 to 36 Celsius across the region and while Tuesday's temperatures for most of...

Grant could ease rural patients’ access to health care

KELOWNA – A $20,000 grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research will help an interdisciplinary team from UBC and Interior Health continue research and development of 'telehealth' communications. The pilot is set to help patients with atrial fibrillation – a common heart condition – in rural areas. “Often the only option for older adults...

ICBC to mail letters and refunds to users following database error

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – ICBC is ready to pay-up after over-charging some car insurance users over the past six years based on incorrect vehicle descriptions. The investigation has concluded after two external reviews. They checked 24 million individual optional insurance transactions and now the company will mail 441,000 letters and applicable refunds to its customers. The average refund...

Australia to send support for B.C. Wildfire

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Several wildfire specialist management teams from Australia will touch down in Vancouver this weekend to help respond to several wildfires across the province. “The high number of active wildfires in the province is stretching our firefighting resources,” said Minister of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Steve Thomson. “In addition to the support...

Residency program launches for new doctors at Royal Inland Hospital

KAMLOOPS - New doctors in Kamloops can complete their entire post-grad training in Kamloops, since the new family practice residency site has launched at Royal Inland Hospital. “Training family practitioners here in Kamloops gives them an opportunity to discover this great region and they will hopefully return for their practice careers,” said Health Minster Terry...

Cyclist on sidewalk collides with car

KELOWNA – A female cyclist was taken to KGH with minor injuries Tuesday after she collided with a car at the entrance to Future Shop. Kelowna Fire Capt. Steve Roshinsky says the woman, estimated to be in her 40’s, was travelling eastbound along Harvey Ave. Roshinsky says after the impact, she went over the hood...

Drowsy drivers do have options

THOMPSON - OKANAGAN - July and August are peak months for driver fatigue-related incidents. While you may be bumper to bumper with everyone else rushing for the best beach spot, it’s important to recognize the signs of tired driving. “Living in Kamloops, I know how hot B.C. summers can get,” says B.C. Minister of Transportation...

Heading for the hills this weekend? Here are 11 ways to keep it safe

THOMPSON - OKANAGAN - If you're looking to dodge the tourists and get a more peaceful outing on your long weekend, a hike or a campout in the backcountry may be the best way of achieving a relaxing getaway. To keep it safe, members of the Central Okanagan Search and Rescue team have some tips...

Former Kelowna gangster busted in Red Deer

KELOWNA – The arrest of a known gang member from B.C. shows the Red Scorpions are moving into Alberta. Cory James Lesperance, 29, was arrested in Red Deer last week after a long investigation by RCMP and police from several jurisdictions. “The investigation focused on the Red Scorpions drug trafficking operation and their infiltration of...

Talks break down between City of Kelowna and CUPE

KELOWNA – There are no plans for job action just yet as talks between the City of Kelowna and its unionized workers have broken off. “After five days of mediation we were unable to come to agreement,” a Thursday posting on the CUPE Local 338 website says. “Talks were progressing but both sides were unable to...

STAHN: The view from up here

You may think I’m wrong to admit this, but I am actually really excited about this fire season. I have been since murmurs of another active season began. The opportunity to see our guys and gals in action, putting themselves in harms way to save our homes, the air tankers and helicopters constantly buzzing above:...

VIDEO: Band features Kelowna bookstore, model in latest music video

KELOWNA - Any booklover in Kelowna would know the first location in band PRTY H3RO’s latest music video is Ted’s Paperbacks on Sutherland Avenue. As for the man walking through the used bookstore, those who recognize him might remember his face from somewhere a little more posh. Justin Sterling is a model and can be...

A look at your long weekend weather, dry lightning expected

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Make sure to keep a watchful eye under those sunshades this weekend; despite sunny forecasts, B.C. Wildfire is expecting dry lightning to hit the area. “We’re heading into a period now where we’re seeing the potential for more naturally occurring wildfires to pop up, but with lightning tracking in the region it’s common...

VIDEO: Smith Creek fire from above and by the numbers

KELOWNA - Take a guess: How much water have fire crews dropped on the Smith Creek fire over the past week and a half? Would you believe more than 1.2 million litres? As of Monday morning helicopters had flown more than 100 hours, skimmers had dropped more than 300 loads of water and foam and...

Missing Kelowna teenager

KELOWNA – RCMP are asking for your help to find a missing teenager. Angeline Lepine, 14, of Kelowna was last seen on July 22. She is caucasian, about 5’ 5” and 120 lbs with a slender build, long brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information about Lepine or her whereabouts are asked to contact...

Meteor shower to peak early next week

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Grab a date, a blanket and a bottle of wine and prepare to spend a night gazing up at the sky during the peak of a month-long meteor shower early next week. The Delta Aquarids meteor shower runs annually from July 12 to Aug. 23 and this year the peak will occur in...

House on Knox Mountain is a model for wildfire prevention

KELOWNA – The city would like to see more houses just like the one at the top of Knox Mountain. The house, which is in a potential wildfire zone, is surrounded by a gravel perimeter, the roof is covered in fire retardant shingles and all the vents have been covered with mesh. The land around...

Mother Nature bringing the heat

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - This week brought stormy skies but next week will once again bring the heat as temperatures are set to soar into the mid-30s. “The good news is it’s over,” Environment Canada Meteorologist Doug Lundquist says of the heavy rains and thunderstorms that passed through this week. “And then the ridge builds next week...

Snow greets Ironman Triathletes in Whistler

WHISTLER - Residents and tourists woke to snow in Whistler Thursday morning after a cool, wet system moved through overnight. The snow came just in time for the Ironman Triathlon, which kicks off this weekend, though it will likely be gone before the athletes compete on Sunday. More rain and cool temperatures are expected through...

New weekend and more competition means COG not yet sold out

KELOWNA – One of Canada’s hottest beach festivals is back again this year, but Center of Gravity founder Scott Emslie says ticket sales are down compared with last year. “We sold out by May last year,” he says. “We’re 90 per cent sold out right now so tickets will be available at the gate.” The...

Intense storm dropped record rain at rapid rate

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Several rainfall records were broken Wednesday but a local meteorologist says it is the rate of the rainfall that is the big story. “A record rain doesn’t really tell the story, the real story is the speed which it came out of the clouds,” Doug Lundquist of Environment Canada says. “You can have...

UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm warnings end

UPDATE: A severe thunderstorm warning reissued for the Okanagan Valley has now ended. Twice today, Environment Canada has warned the storms could produce strong wind gusts, dime to nickel sized hail and heavy rain. All weather warnings have now ended for the South Thompson, Nicola, Shuswap and North Thompson regions that were under warnings earlier...

Campfire ban lifted in Clearwater area

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you want to have a fire while camping this weekend you may be fighting off the masses heading north to the Clearwater region thanks to the campfire ban being rescinded as of noon Wednesday for that fire zone. B.C. Wildfire is now allowing campfires in the area thanks to rain reducing the...