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West Kelowna News
Construction worker needs help with recovery after severe spinal injury on the job
WEST KELOWNA - Cole Bernier, a construction worker injured last week in a workplace accident, is facing a lengthy recovery after being crushed under some roof trusses. “Cole is someone you’ll never see without a smile on his face and if he’s frowning, it is typically because you changed his music or didn’t leave enough...
ELECTION 2015: Albas defends, Scott attacks at West Kelowna culture forum
WEST KELOWNA - Conservative incumbent Dan Albas was on the defensive at a Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola all candidates meeting in West Kelowna yesterday, Sept. 26, facing tough questions about his government’s record on the CBC, environmental protection and dealings with First Nations. The three challengers to his left (figuratively) took turns receiving applause from arts supporters...
Infamous West Kelowna mobile home maintenance shed set on fire
WEST KELOWNA – A controversial lot in a Westbank mobile home park was likely the target of an arsonist last weekend. Unit 144 at Jubilee Mobile Home Park on Boucherie Road was the subject of much media scrutiny after owners evicted the long-time residences, saying they planned to use the large garage as a workshop....
Construction worker trapped in West Kelowna
KELOWNA – A construction worker had to be rescued from a building in West Kelowna today, Sept. 23, after the truss system above him collapsed. Shortly after 2:30 p.m., West Kelowna Fire Rescue responded to a building that was under construction on Carrington Road. A media release says firefighters from Lakeview Heights and Westbank stations...
Food bank fall harvest begins in Central Okanagan
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - Local farmers and orchardists are in the middle of harvest and so is the Central Okanagan Community Food Bank. “From now until Christmas is our harvest time, the time when we have to stock up until spring,” spokeswoman Ami Catriona says. "We go through 1.4 million pounds of donations a year and...
Suspicious house fire in West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA – No one was hurt in an early morning house fire in West Kelowna that investigators are calling suspicious. The fire happened Tuesday, Sept. 22, just before 5:30 a.m. on Alexander Court. No one was home at the time and the cause of the fire is not yet known. Firefighters were able to...
Conflicts between humans and bears expected to increase in the Okanagan
WEST KELOWNA – A busy weekend for bear sightings in West Kelowna could signal the start of a fall rife with bear-human conflicts. Frank Ritcey, the creator of the interactive Wildlife Alert Reporting Program on WildsafeBC.com, says four sightings of black bears were reported in the Shannon Lake neighbourhood in West Kelowna since Friday. “This...
Power back on for almost 3,000 in West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA – An almost two hour power outage in West Kelowna this morning left thousands in the dark. The power went out at around 6:40 a.m. and came back on at about 8:18 a.m., Sept. 20, according to B.C. Hydro. The outage affected 2,827 customers in an area east of Highway 97, north of...
Westbank First Nation ponies up for public beach extension
WEST KELOWNA - Local residents can now enjoy an extended beach in Gellatly Bay courtesy of the Westbank First Nation. The band dedicated a portion of band land along the lakeshore of Indian Reserve #9 adjacent to the public beach at Gellatly Bay today, Sept. 14. Chief Robert Louie says the band recognizes the importance...
Nine years later RCMP still investigating West Kelowna murder
WEST KELOWNA - A man was found murdered in his Stuart Street home nine years ago today and RCMP are still looking for witnesses to help with their investigation. On Sept. 10, 2006, the body of 33-year-old Adam Fettes, also known as Mikel Jones, was found in his West Kelowna home. Police continue to investigate...
UPDATE: Mountain biker rescued in West Kelowna suffered severe neck and back injuries
WEST KELOWNA - A 54-year-old mountain biker who had to be rescued by helicopter near Smith Creek is in hospital with severe neck and back injuries, according to Penticton Search and Rescue. Information officer Randy Brown says the man was riding with friends at the end of Smith Creek around 1:15 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 7,...
Fatal motorcycle crash on Westside Road
WEST KELOWNA – A 31-year-old West Kelowna man was killed in a motorcycle crash on Westside Road yesterday evening. RCMP say the motorcycle went off the road at about 5:44 p.m., Sept. 5, about 12 kilometres north of Highway 97 in West Kelowna, and south of Bear Creek Provincial Park. Const. Kent Hall says the...
UPDATE: Gas leak repaired after forcing evacuation in West Kelowna
UPDATE: 6:37 A.M., SEPT. 1, 2015 The leak has been repaired and evacuees were allowed back home by about 7:30 p.m., Aug. 31, 2015. 2:36 P.M., AUG. 31, 2015 WEST KELOWNA - A natural gas leak has forced people out of their homes in West Kelowna this afternoon. The gas leak has forced the evacuation...
Carriage houses may be coming soon to West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA - Residents in the Westbank centre and other select parts of West Kelowna could soon see carriage houses popping up in a nearby laneway. Council is due to give third reading to the draft regulations governing the new category of residential developments, the latest step in a lengthy process that began in 2012....
UPDATE: Crew mopping up after wildfire near Brenda Mines
WEST KELOWNA - B.C. Wildfire is moping up a wildfire about five kilometres south of the Brenda Mines, near Peachland Creek. Fire information officer Kelsey Winter says an air tanker used fire retardant to box in the 0.5 hectare fire northwest of Peachland, named the Boliver Forestry Service Road fire. Once that was in place,...
Head office confirms closing of West Kelowna Sears
WEST KELOWNA - Sears Canada has confirmed the closing of its West Kelowna store and says its not sure if it will continue to operate a store on that side of the lake. Sears director of communications Alicia Richler says in an email statement all customer purchases will be honoured. “While we have not yet...
West Kelowna Sears store struggling to stay open
WEST KELOWNA - Sears Canada’s West Kelowna location could be shutting down. Landlord Noll Derriksan says he locked out Sears from its Estates Square location on Old Okanagan Highway Thursday morning, Aug. 13, because of non-payment and frequent late payment of rent. The voice message for the Sears West Kelowna number says only that the...
West Kelowna steps up water use regulations
WEST KELOWNA - Due to continuing hot, dry weather, the City of West Kelowna has moved to stage two watering regulations. Residents are advised that, effective immediately, outdoor watering is prohibited between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. and is only permitted two days per week, as follows: - Even numbered addresses water on Tuesdays and...
West Kelowna water abusers face fines before cutoff
WEST KELOWNA – Water wasters in West Kelowna will soon face a range of fines…
West Kelowna wastewater station to be replaced
WEST KELOWNA – The lift station that collects and stores wastewater in West Kelowna is getting a $1.3 million upgrade to improve reliability in the event of an emergency or extended power outage. The Horizon Village Lift Station will be replaced and upgraded, giving residents of West Kelowna some peace of mind. The upgrade also...
Drones flying over Westside Road wildfire halt air operations
WEST KELOWNA – Several people have been flying drones over the Westside Road wildfire today, forcing B.C. Wildfire to stop flying helicopters, which are supporting firefighters on the ground. The RCMP have been called in to investigate. Fire information officer Melissa Klassen says the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles have been flying in the Flight Restricted area...
Crash slows highway traffic in West Kelowna
KELOWNA – A serious crash shut down a portion of Highway 97 near Daimler Road in West Kelowna Friday afternoon. It’s not yet clear what happened but an SUV is in the ditch and westbound lanes are closed for the time being. InfoNews.ca reader Sindy Vaughn says a lamppost was struck and emergency crews are on...
UPDATE: Suspicious item that caused Pick n’ Pull evacuation was “magic crystals”
KELOWNA – The small device found in a car which caused the evacuation of a West Kelowna auto wrecker this afternoon was a personal health care product filled with crystals some claim have healing powers. Emergency crews, including police, fire rescue and ambulance, were called to Pick n' Pull on Stevens Rd. just after 1...
Retirement building evacuated because of toaster
WEST KELOWNA – A smoking toaster forced residents of a multi-unit retirement building out of their homes early Wednesday morning. West Kelowna Fire Rescue were called to the building on Brown Road just after 5 a.m. According to a release, fire crews located a toaster in a suite on the second floor that was the...