Kelowna

Mosquitoes having a ‘perfect’ year

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — No, you are not imagining things, the mosquitoes are actually worse this year, thanks to high water, cooler temperatures and wet weather. If you’ve ventured outside at all over the last month you have swatted at mosquitoes or came away with a bunch of itchy welts. Or maybe you donned your DEET and...

Kelowna chamber to press government on Okanagan corridor

VERNON - Another force is joining the fight to preserve the railway between Vernon and Kelowna for public use. The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce has passed a motion to encourage federal, provincial and municipal governments to preserve the railway in a way that benefits the Okanagan. “The concept of a public access use of the...

Teachers and government ‘not even close’ to a deal

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — There is still a major gap between the teachers' union and the government when it comes to a new collective agreement and the education minister says as it sits the union’s proposal simply is not affordable. “We are not even close to where we need to be to get a negotiated agreement,” Peter...

Million dollar Lotto ticket bought in Kelowna

KELOWNA – Someone in Kelowna is $1 million richer after winning the Lotto 6/49 Guaranteed Prize Draw Wednesday. The winner did not have to choose any numbers or scratch any cards, instead their 10-digit number, unique to every $3 ticket, was chosen at random. According to the B.C. Lottery website, everyone who purchases at least...

Arrrr you coming to Boat for Hope this weekend?

KELOWNA – Batten down the hatches and hoist the mainsail, the 8th annual Boat for Hope pirate adventure is just over the horizon. Sponsored by several local charities, Boat for Hope is a day of fun and adventure for kids with special needs. Volunteer captains dressed like pirates will decorate their boats and take 200...

Teachers unpaid during strike

FUND HAS BEEN EXHAUSTED THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With salaries cut back during the strike and a fund normally used to cover teachers during strike action exhausted, local teacher associations are now setting up hardship funds for those needing help. “There is a slight fund but it’s exhausted. It’s the same fund we used to fight class...

SD23 provincial exams will continue as planned

KELOWNA – For students in School District 23, the teacher’s strike has cast a cloud of uncertainty over how their year will end. SD23 Superintendant Hugh Gloster says regardless of whether or not the dispute is resolved, provincial final exams will go ahead as planned and all students will likely receive some form of report...

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...