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Here’s what a Vernon man said to Christy Clark about invasive mussels
“IS B.C. NOT WORTH IT TO YOU?” THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A frustrated Vernon man has sent an open letter to Premier Christy Clark about invasive mussels, and he didn’t hold back. Brynne Morrice, a filmmaker who recently debuted a short documentary about the imminent threat of zebra and quagga mussels, is calling on the province to...
Vernon council not happy with provincial government over Stickle Road plan
VERNON - Elected representatives refuse to keep quiet about their concerns around a Ministry of Transportation initiative to modify the Stickle Road intersection at Highway 97 in Vernon. Not only does local government disagree with the plan, which would see the intersection changed to right in, right out only (municipalities want a traffic light instead)...
Retired conservation officer speaks out about the realities of a service stretched too thin
“YOU CAME TO WORK EVERY DAY KNOWING YOU COULD NOT FULFILL EVERY PHONE CALL AND REPORTED COMPLAINT” KELOWNA - Retired B.C. conservation officer Greg Hoyer went into the field to protect fisheries and wildlife; by the time he left in 2009 that was only a fraction of his job. “Over the years, the government just...
Provincial support for Okanagan rail trail may sway voters, but not Okanagan Indian Band
VERNON - While a recent funding announcement from the provincial government may entice some Lake Country voters towards a yes vote in an upcoming borrowing referendum, the Okanagan Indian Band is warning governments not to celebrate just yet. Premier Christy Clark announced a $7.2 million pledge for the acquisition of the Okanagan Rail corridor the...
Appeal court sinks houseboater’s legal challenge
WEST KELOWNA — Mayor Doug Findlater is savouring the latest B.C. Court of Appeal ruling that again backs the district’s right to govern live-aboard houseboats moored off its shores. “It’s been a long, long, battle, over seven years,” he said of the precedent-setting case that pitted local government against houseboat-owners intent on mooring long-term in...
Digital eyes spark assessment spikes
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — If your 2015 property assessment is up drastically, blame it on slightly creepy technology. B.C Assessment says Interior real estate has jumped in value by almost $2 billion and some of those price hikes are the fruit of last summer’s push into the Interior using digital photo vans and enhanced aerial photography to update assessments...
Demobilization of Lumby flood response taking months
VERNON - Cleaning up the aftermath of the Okanagan’s largest flood protection response doesn’t happen overnight, it takes months. North Okanagan Emergency Management crews are still demobilizing gabion baskets—bags filled with gravel and used for dyking—from Lumby. The gabions were deployed at the beginning of May as part of Operation Duteau, a partnership with the...
Growing West Kelowna given Crown land for new municipal works yard
WEST KELOWNA - A new municipal works yard for West Kelowna is on the way with a $8.7 million land grant from the province. The five hectare parcel of Crown land is located at the junction of Bartley and Stevens Road and allows the district to move forward with this civic priority without placing the...
Options for back to school as strike continues
KAMLOOPS - As of Friday morning, B.C. teachers are still on strike and with only three weeks before back to school it’s time to start planning for what to do with your kids if a deal cannot be made before Sept. 2. Monica van der Meulen of the YMCA says the local group will be...
Province shakes hands with China over blueberry and cherry deal
THOMPSON–OKANAGAN – Expecting to grow provincial agrifood exports by $100 million throughout the next few years, Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick and the provincial delegation have agreed to send B.C. blueberries and cherries to China. The agreement came out of a trade mission to China earlier this month. Letnick led the trade agreements and was joined...
Teacher strike hits childrens’ festival where it hurts
"WE'RE JUST TRYING TO DO THE BEST WE CAN IN THIS SITUATION." KELOWNA - Organizers of a West Kelowna childrens' festival are worried the ongoing dispute between the BCTF and the province will hurt attendance at the 8th annual Interior Savings Fat Cat Children's Festival this weekend. Artistic director Dorothee Birker says teachers bringing kids...
Toilets will no longer stand above ancestral burial site
PENTICTON - The province is working with the Osoyoos Indian Band on an agreement to protect an ancestral burial site found in Haynes Point Provincial Park last month — but the park will close indefinitely starting this fall. Human remains were found inside the park April 29 and an agreement between the province and the...