Kelowna

UPDATE: Foerster senior sentenced; pleads guilty to accessory in teen’s murder

HELPED SON GET NEW IDENTITY, AVOID POLICE KELOWNA - Stephen Roy Foerster was sentenced to three years in jail for helping his son Matthew Foerster avoid detection by police following the murder of Armstrong teen Taylor Van Diest. Foerster, 60, pleaded guilty to accessory to murder after the fact Wednesday morning in a Kelowna Supreme...

Vernon teen killed in weekend crash identified

VERNON - The boy who died in a crash on Highway 97 near Crystal Waters Road May 4 has been identified. He was Rodney Michael Boring, 14, of Vernon.  Boring was the passenger in a Pontiac Sunfire involved in a collision with a full-sized pickup truck at about 3:45 p.m. Sunday. He died at the...

Marijuana balcony cookery draws drug squad

KELOWNA - An outdoor marijuana cook off on a Sunset Drive balcony drew police from around the province Monday night. Police got a complaint about a possible lab in an 18th floor apartment in the 1000 block of Sunset Drive. They told police the occupants of the unit were cooking something on the balcony that...

Delays in Snelson manslaughter re-trial

KAMLOOPS – A Kelowna man awarded a new trial for manslaughter—scheduled this time in Kamloops—is still waiting to set a re-trial date as he now searches for a new lawyer.  Neil Snelson said his trial lawyer, Wade Jenson—also the lawyer who argued the new trial should be moved to Kamloops—is no longer representing him. Snelson was...

Halley’s Comet debris trail sets the sky aglitter tonight

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A peak at the annual debris trail from Halley’s Comet may be possible tonight and early Tuesday morning if skies clear. Every spring bits of the debris trail burn up resulting in the annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower. This year the peak will occur tonight, Monday, May 5, through Tuesday morning. The bright...

Dental clinic brings more services to those in need

KELOWNA - Poverty can limit access to services many take for granted, but with the help of the Gospel Mission Dental Clinic, there's three new reasons to smile in Kelowna. The dental clinic is expanding from their current two chairs to five so more patients who would typically be excluded from care because of hardship...

Spring cleaning on the Coquihalla

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — If you plan on hitting the highways this week plan for delays as crews clean and fix highways hit hard by a cold, wet winter that left potholes and frost heaves on many roads in the region. Work has already begun on some highways and over the next week drivers can expect to...

Kamloops man turns downtown Kelowna into demolition derby

KELOWNA - A police chase on Gordon Drive was called off by Mounties in the name of public safety, but the suspect driving the SUV still managed to crash into four cars. Kelowna RCMP are still looking for the driver, who prompted the initial chase by striking vehicles at 2:30 a.m. May 1. Police were...

UPDATE: East Kelowna beer store robbed by men with machetes

"IT'S NOT OFTEN THAT YOU GET SOMEONE RUNNING AT YOU SCREAMING WITH A KNIFE." KELOWNA – Jeff Turton and a cashier at McCulloch Station Beer and Wine Store were getting ready to close for the night when two men armed with machetes entered through the front door. “There were two young guys and they walked...

GOG: How you can help me help you survive this damn flight

I recently had to be somewhere else in a hurry, and the only way of achieving that is, of course, by flying. It’s been a while since I had to travel by aeroplane, and I had forgotten just how dreadful an experience it is. First one must face the ritual humiliation of “security” where in...

You’ll never guess why this award-winning cop took his trophy to work

KELOWNA - In a bizarre coincidence, moments after 83 officers from the Southeast District were honoured for their success enforcing impaired driving laws, a Kelowna woman was found apparently impaired inside her car outside a Glenmore apartment complex. The 43-year-old faces impaired driving charges after she was discovered by police at 11:04 a.m. outside Yaletown...

Driver flees scene after accident in Lake Country

LAKE COUNTRY – A 28-year-old driver was sent to hospital Monday morning after he was hit by another vehicle on Highway 97 Monday morning. The accident happened at 7:40 a.m. when a four-door Infinity was rear-ended by a Ford Ranger at the intersection of Highway 97 and Sexsmith Road. The force of the impact pushed...

Basran to run for mayor of Kelowna

KELOWNA – First term councillor Colin Basran will run for mayor of Kelowna. The news came during a press conference held today at Earl's rooftop patio overlooking downtown with Basran's wife and parents at his side. “It’s been a nerve-wracking couple of days,” he says. “We are about to embark on an amazing journey over...

Worst Roads survey gets in gear

THOMPSON OKANAGAN - If you’ve got a gripe with a road near you, it’s time to pipe up. Until May 26, B.C. motorists, cyclists and pedestrians can cast a vote for their 'Worst Road' nominee. Voters can pinpoint the stretch of road they feel is the worst in B.C. and specify what infrastructure issue they're...

Shot fired into Kelowna home

KELOWNA – A large number of police as well as a helicopter were called to Southeast Kelowna Sunday afternoon after a gun was fired into a house. The incident happened at around 4 p.m. on the 1800 block of Saucier Road and Const. Kris Clark says so far their investigation leads them to believe it...

Basran expected to announce he will run for mayor

KELOWNA – First term councillor Colin Basran has called a press conference today at 10:30 a.m. where it is anticipated he will announce his intention to run for mayor of Kelowna. Basran, 37, said in the past he was considering running soon after current mayor Walter Gray hinted at his retirement February 13. "I am...

Wildfire regulations to limit open burning

KAMLOOPS - Wildfire Management Branch is cracking down on open burning regulations, to help reduce the risk of wildfires in the Kamloops region. The size of open fires will be restricted starting at noon on May 15, 2014 in most areas of the Kamloops Fire Centre. Clearwater and Salmon Arm Fire Zones are excluded from...

Ticked off: How to protect against ticks

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — Warmer weather is upon us and that means shorts, sandals and maybe even a hike or two, but you may want to stop and rethink wardrobe choices if you're heading out. It's also tick season. “Ticks are most often found in tall grass and wooded areas so covering up before you head outdoors...

Measles kept at bay in Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Saturday marks the beginning of a nation-wide event promoting immunizations and while the latest outbreak of measles has been kept out of the Interior Health region, people are still encouraged to make sure they are up to date. Dr. Sue Pollock says the Interior Health region strives for a 95 per cent coverage...

Party planned to welcome back Annie the stolen cat

KELOWNA – Annie, the beloved Buckerfield’s cat is back where she belongs, and staff at the farm and feed store on Springfield Road are so relieved they are holding a welcome home party Saturday in her honour. “We just want to show a little appreciation for all the people of Kelowna that were involved in...