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Kelowna
Bring on the summer
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Saturday is the official start of summer and so far Mother Nature looks like she will cooperate in allowing us to celebrate in style. Highs of 28-29 C are forecast across the region for Saturday and by Monday we should be seeing highs of 32 C or 33 C. Meteorologist David Jones says...
Liquor store robbery licked by fate
KELOWNA - A Kelowna man's robbery of a liquor store was thwarted by bad timing when an officer investigating a different incident happened to see him as he fled the scene last week. At about 11 a.m. June 9, a Kelowna RCMP officer was in the parking lot of Berezan Liquor Store located on Highway...
Another local fighter signed by UFC
KELOWNA – We’ve already got the most popular female MMA fighter in Canada calling Kelowna home and superstar welterweight Rory MacDonald is also from Kelowna, now add another local name to the list of UFC fighters representing the Okanagan Valley. Matt Dwyer, 24, has lived in Kelowna since he was two-years-old. A few weeks ago...
City gives green thumbs up to Benvoulin farmers market
KELOWNA – Kelowna is one step closer to having a new farmers and crafters market, but not downtown or on Springfield Road. City councillors voted unanimously Monday to waive several conditions it set out on July 2012, including requiring a 25-year lease and a development plan for a company that seeks to use two properties...
Government responds to BCTF accusations with proposal details
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — The teacher’s union had its turn this morning to voice displeasure with the government but this afternoon the government put exact details of proposals by both parties up for inspection. B.C. Teacher’s Federation President Jim Iker said this morning the union tabled a ‘fair, reasonable and balanced’ proposal and said it was ignored for...
Arrests made in three year old drive-by murder case
KELOWNA – A pair of arrests have been made in a drive-by shooting that left a Shuswap man dead in 2011. Jeremy Wayne Davis, 24, of Williams Lake and Jordan Larry Barnes, 27, of Mission, have both been charged with second degree murder for the killing of Nicholas Larsen, 24, who was shot while driving...
No deal reached over weekend, teacher strike imminent
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Though the teachers union presented a revised list of demands to the provincial bargaining group over the weekend, a deal was not reached and the union is prepared to wage a full scale strike starting tomorrow. However, there is still hope on both sides that a deal can be reached before the end...
Website reveals secrets of Okanagan residents
OKANAGAN – A Penticton woman has started a web page that makes public many Okanagan residents' deepest, darkest secrets. Okanagan Confessions attracted more than 3,000 members in its first two weeks and warning—this site is not safe for work. The page's lone administrator, known as Admin, says the only advertising she has done is post the link...
Kelowna camps and clubs expand offerings during strike
KELOWNA – With teacher job action escalating to full strike next week, several local organizations have added programs and extended hours to help parents out. The H2O Centre will open their slides and other attractions at noon instead of 4 p.m. starting Monday, and general manager Cory Krist says they have also instituted morning and...
Superstitious day off to inconspicuous start
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Friday the 13th is a day revelled by the superstitious and often considered unlucky. But this year the full moon, also a key event in the world of superstitions, also falls on Friday, June 13, making the day even more important in the world of supernatural beliefs. In B.C. the full moon technically...
UPDATE: Snow hits Interior highways
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — Yes, summer is technically only nine days away and yes, it seems like a cruel joke, but there was snow on the Interior highways tonight. Environment Canada ended a severe thunderstorm watch for the Okanagan earlier this evening, but not before issuing a special weather statement warning of up to five centimetres of...
Reactions to full teacher strike vary
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Earlier this week teachers voted to move to a full strike if necessary and Thursday morning the teachers' union gave the necessary 72 hours notice. If an agreement is not reached by the end of the day Monday teachers will begin a full strike Tuesday, June 17. Monday was declared a study session....
20 events to share with Dad this Father’s Day
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Rather than spending Father’s Day at home, there are many events to take Dad to this weekend. No matter what his hobby is – from fishing, to antique cars, rodeos, football and more – there’s an event for each Dad on Sunday, June 15. Weather throughout the region is set to be rainy...
Snatch and dash robbers on the loose in Kelowna
KELOWNA - Police are urging retailers to watch their registers closely after three reports of men snatching cash out of the til during purchases. Local retailers began telling RCMP of the thefts June 9 and each report is similar. An unknown suspect enters the store, selects an item for purchase and hands the cashier more...
City says low apartment availability no cause for alarm
“IT’S JUST THE MARKET DOING WHAT THE MARKET DOES.” KELOWNA – A recent survey on Canadian rental markets lists Kelowna as being among the worst for finding an apartment, but Kelowna’s long range planning department is not worried. Planning manager Gary Stephen says although there hasn’t been a lot of rentals built in the last...
Okanagan routes hit top spots in worst roads survey
OKANAGAN - The Okanagan has some of the worst roads in the province. That’s the message voters in BCAA’s Worst Roads survey are sending this year. Silver Star Road in Vernon hit first, Westside Road near Attenborough Road second, and Cosens Bay Road in Coldstream third. Two other portions of Westside Road in West Kelowna...
UPDATE: Thunderstorm watch today, wet weather this weekend
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you were hoping for a warm, sunny weekend so you could fish or golf with dad, you may be a bit disappointed about the wet weather forecast in store for the next few days — though there should be a reprieve from those wet skies on Father’s Day. To get the forecast...
Full strike could begin Tuesday, no school Monday
OKANAGAN - This week could be the last week of school for many students, the teachers’ union announced this morning it will be moving to a full strike beginning Tuesday unless a deal can be reached on the collective agreement. An email was sent to teachers Thursday night and quickly news spread on social media....
Kelowna’s vacancy rate among lowest in Canada
KELOWNA – Kelowna is one of the hardest cities in the country to find apartments to rent, according to a national rental market survey. The 2014 study compares vacancy rates and average rent in cities across the country. It lists Kelowna as one of the bottom three in terms of availability. While the average vacancy rate of rental...
Kelowna man faces the judge following armed robbery
KELOWNA - A 22-year-old Kelowna man was arrested after a Subway restaurant was robbed at knife-point Monday. Mounties headed to the Subway Restaurant at 1100 Lawrence Ave. just after 6:45 June 9 when the hold-up alarm was triggered. When they arrived, they were told an unknown man came into the restaurant with a knife in...
What parents need to know about the teacher strike
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Teachers in B.C. voted overwhelmingly in favour of moving to a full strike if contract negotiations continue to stall and that could mean an early summer break for some students and limited report cards for others. The history of non-agreement between the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and the B.C. Public School Employers’ Association, the...
Teachers agree to full strike
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — More than 28,000 B.C. teachers voted in support of moving to a full strike, a move that could come as early as next week. In total more than 33,000 teachers took part in the vote Monday and Tuesday, with 86 per cent voting in support of stage three action. “Thank you for standing...
National BMX series bunnyhops through Kelowna this weekend
KELOWNA – Even if you don't know the difference between a barspin and a bunnyhop, organizers of the Kelowna Firestorm BMX Nationals say this weekends event has something for everyone. The third in a series of six nationals will be held in Kelowna June 13-15 and Kelowna BMX Club president Jeff Ingram says more than...
Pedestrian hit on highway
KELOWNA – A man was questioned by police Tuesday morning after the vehicle he was driving struck a pedestrian on Harvey Ave. According to a report by Global Okanagan, witnesses say the woman was injured near the Gordon Dr. intersection. The driver of the truck remained at the scene and spoke with police while the...