Okanagan
Enderby woman wins $1M with free play
ENDERBY - An Enderby woman is celebrating her birthday with the ultimate present — a $1 million Maxmillion prize. Tanya Williams, who celebrates her birthday this week, won a free play and $1 on a previous Lotto Max draw and used that to get another ticket. She found out she was a winner when she...
Fewer rentals available in Thompson-Okanagan as prices rise
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – It's getting harder to find an apartment to rent in most Thompson-Okangan cities, and those that are available cost significantly more than they did one year ago. Kelowna and Kamloops saw minor adjustments in rental availability rates this year compared with the B.C. average. Between April 2014 and April 2015, the provincial average...
Who cares about distracted driving on B.C. roads and highways?
BRITISH COLUMBIA - If you have an opinion on the distracted driving laws — and we’re sure you do — you will now have a chance to share them with the B.C. government. The province is considering raising penalties for distracted driving but will first hold a four-week public consultation through a new website and social media...
Penticton’s newest millionaire revealed
PENTICTON - Another lottery draw, another Okanagan winner. Irene Vestner of Penticton won $1 million in the guaranteed prize draw of the May 30 Lotto 6/49 draw. She claimed her prize today at the B.C. Lottery Corp. head office in Kamloops. Vestner joins several other recent Okanagan winners, including Brittany Powell of Kelowna, Tanya Williams...
Another warm week for the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - After a week filled with record and near-record temperatures, things are set to cool down in the Okanagan this week, but only slightly. With temperatures reaching the mid-30s, Kelowna, Vernon and Penticton hit records this past week and while Environment Canada is not calling for temperatures quite that hot this week, the mercury...
Get used to higher prices: Fruit Growers’ president
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Fred Steele’s day starts before 5 a.m. As the president of the B.C. Fruit Growers' Association, and with 7.5 acres of apple trees to manage, he’s used to an early start, but the early spring across the province has him waking the roosters most days. “I do most of the work myself,” the...
Early spring, California drought has Okanagan grocery stores picking local
KELOWNA – The severe drought in California coupled with an unusually warm and early spring in B.C. has local grocery stores stocking their shelves with fruits and vegetables grown right here at home instead of importing from the south. Chris Holmes is the owner of Quality Greens on Spall Road. With stores in Kelowna, West...
Flood risk continues to drop as snowpacks disappear in Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - An early melt and a warm, dry May mean there is little to no snow left in many basins around the region, and that means a low flood risk. The River Forecast Centre says the warm month led to a rapid melt of the snow pack and about half of the province’s snow...
Record hot weather on the way for Okanagan
OKANAGAN - It was a hot weekend in the Okanagan and the hot weather is forecast to continue through this week. Environment Canada recorded temperatures reaching as high as 33.8 Celsius in Penticton on Sunday, a bit shy of the 35 C record set nearly 70 years ago. In Kelowna temperatures climbed to 33 C,...
The beetle is gone, now the hard work begins
WILDFIRES, JOB LOSSES, JEOPARDIZED WATERSHEDS THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - For the most part the small, yet devastating, mountain pine beetle has disappeared from the landscape of the Southern Interior, but the aftermath of its work will be felt for many years to come. The mountain pine beetle epidemic that crawled into B.C. in 2000 is recognized as...
Rain nearly over in Okanagan
NEAR RECORD HEAT ON THE WAY OKANAGAN - While it has not been record-breaking, it has been very wet throughout the Okanagan this week, with an average of about 25 millimetres of rain falling in the first three days of June alone. Heading just north of the Okanagan, Kamloops has received most of the rain...
UPDATE: Southern Interior severe thunderstorm watch expanded
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Environment Canada has expanded its severe thunderstorm watch to include the South Thompson, North Thompson and Nicola regions, including the city of Kamloops. The original watch issued early this morning, May 24, covered the Okanagan, Shuswap and Boundary regions, including Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and Salmon Arm. Forecasters say conditions are favourable for the...
Cool, wet weather to hit Okanagan
NEAR-RECORD HEAT EXPECTED BY WEEKEND OKANAGAN - The warm weather we’ve been having is about to step aside to make room for cooler temperatures and rain, lots of rain, over the next few days. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement for all of the Okanagan Valley as well as the Shuswap, Nicola and...
B.C. firefighters heading to Alberta
KAMLOOPS - Fire risk in B.C. has lowered over the last several days and as a result B.C. Wildfire is sending crews to Alberta, where the province is under a province-wide fire ban as several large wildfires burn out of control. The Wildfire Management Branch said today, May 27, it would be sending 80 sustained...
More rain, thunderstorms in forecast for Okanagan
OKANAGAN - Above normal temperatures are back, but they come with a chance of rain and thunderstorms over the next few days. After several days of off and on rain, and even a few thunderstorms, Environment Canada is still calling for a chance of rain through the end of the week. There is a chance...