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West Kelowna
Fire rips through West Kelowna home
WEST KELOWNA - Residents and their pet were able to escape as flames tore through a home in West Kelowna Wednesday night. West Kelowna Fire Rescue was called to a fire at a single family residence on Empire Place in the Mission Hill area of West Kelowna around 9:45 p.m., Nov. 11. When they arrived...
City of Kelowna take lead on homelessness file
KELOWNA - One of the front-line agencies dealing with the homeless in Kelowna is thrilled to see the city step up and provide leadership with plans to hire a full-time homeless coordinator. Local John Howard Society executive director Gaelene Askeland also says the city is on the right track embracing the low-barrier housing first philosophy...
Woman found dead at West Kelowna house fire identified
WEST KELOWNA - A body found at the scene of a West Kelowna house fire last week has been identified as a resident of the house. The body of Hazel Delgado Budiongan, 37, was found inside the house, which was the scene of an early morning fire on Nov. 4. RCMP consider both her death...
Big White to open early for the first time in years
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - Big White is opening two weeks early, the first time in 14 years the ski resort has begun operations this early in the season. “This is early. This is not usual. Mother Nature has given us a gift and we’re giving it back to the locals,” Michael J. Ballingall, Big White’s booster-in-chief, declared...
UPDATE: Missing West Kelowna woman found
UPDATE: 1:32 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015 WEST KELOWNA - RCMP say Virginia Denomie has returned home safe and sound. Thanks to the media and the public for their assistance, police say. 1:05 p.m., Friday, Nov. 6, 2015 WEST KELOWNA - Police are asking for your help to locate a missing West Kelowna woman. RCMP...
Busy conflict season winding down as Central Okanagan bears seek higher elevations for hibernation
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - An extremely busy bear season might be coming to an end, at least as far as local conservation officers measure it. “I think this is the first day we haven’t had a call for service,” Sgt. Josh Lockwood said this morning. Nov. 6. “Of course, it’s early yet.” The most recent numbers...
The changing gym culture in Kelowna
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - Newcomers to the Okanagan, once they get past the wineries and beaches, often remark on the fitness culture here and how everyone seems to be doing some kind of workout. That’s reflected in the many gyms that serve the Central Okanagan, from huge commercial facilities with lots of equipment to small boutique...
UPDATE: Body discovered following suspicious West Kelowna house fire
WEST KELOWNA - The body of a woman has been discovered after a suspicious house fire in West Kelowna early this morning. West Kelowna Fire Rescue and RCMP responded to the fire at 2311 Boucherie Road around 1:45 a.m., Nov. 4, RCMP spokesman Cpl. Joe Duncan says in a press release. Jason Brolund, the West...
Court forces sale of Mandy and Me Trailriding
WEST KELOWNA - Silverado Socrates is hoping for a miracle. Socrates, the owner of Mandy and Me Trailriding, a West Kelowna farm and horseback riding attraction, is in foreclosure and tomorrow, Nov. 4, a Supreme Court Justice will sell the farm where she's lived more than three decades to the highest bidder. “I’m just sad,”...
West Kelowna looks for choices in Okanagan Lake second crossing project
KELOWNA - A project that would see a second crossing installed over Okanagan Lake has yet to get the full backing of West Kelowna council. West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater says his council doesn’t have the full understanding neccessary to take a firm stand on what the city wants from the Okanagan Lake second crossing...
Some Kelowna infrastructure grants could be in limbo after Liberal election win
KELOWNA - Despite election promises about investment in infrastructure, the advent of a new Liberal government will likely delay some Kelowna projects already in the works. “We do have various applications out there, but with the election, it’s been very quiet,” infrastructure director Alan Newcombe says. While he expects the Liberal government will honour applications...
Mediator to intervene in dispute between irrigation districts and City of Kelowna over drinking water plan
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - The provincial government is stepping into the dispute between city council and the four irrigation districts that supply domestic water in Kelowna. Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran confirms the province, through the Ministry of Communities, has provided a mediator to help get a mandatory review of the Kelowna integrated water supply plan back...
West Kelowna eyesore up for redevelopment
WEST KELOWNA - One of Westbank’s biggest eyesores, and A source of many complaints, has been sold with plans to develop the site. The old Cattle Country restaurant strip mall and gas bar has been sold to an eastern developer and plans include reopening the gas station and retail stores on Highway 97 at Elliot...
ELECTION 2015: ‘I will be making sure that my constituents get the level of service they deserve:’ MP Albas
WEST KELOWNA - Voters in the newly formed riding of Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola have voted to give the incumbent Dan Albas another term. Albas told infonews.ca he was disappointed in the results federally, but praised voters for making their voices heard. “It’s wonderful to see so many people exercise their franchise but if they’re going to...
Third sexual assault reported in Kelowna involving half naked hoodie wearing man
KELOWNA - A third sexual assault involving a man wearing only a hoodie is under investigation by Kelowna RCMP. Spokesman Cpl. Joe Duncan says in a media release a man dressed the same way as in two previous assaults, exposed himself to a women walking to work about 6:19 a.m., Oct. 16, on the Mission...
Glenrosa Cemetery added to heritage register in West Kelowna
OLD BURIAL GROUND MAINLY USED FOR CHILDREN WEST KELOWNA - The Glenrosa Cemetery is officially being added to the West Kelowna heritage register and there are plans to study three more possible historic sites as well. Glenrosa Cemetery, hidden in plain sight on the side of Glenrosa Road, is the burial ground for 10 children...
UPDATE: Highway 97 in West Kelowna reopens following head-on collision
WEST KELOWNA - A head-on collision on Highway 97 near Grizzly Drive backed up traffic in both directions this morning, Oct. 1, closing the highway and sending a 76-year-old woman to hospital in serious condition. Kelowna RCMP spokesman Const. Steve Holmes, says in a meida release, the collision between a Toyota sedan and a Jeep...
Cyclist killed in Kelowna car crash
KELOWNA - A cyclist has died after a collision with a car on Springfield Road. Kelowna RCMP are not releasing the name of the 63-year-old man who they say may have run a stop sign on Belgo Road. “I don’t know that charges will be laid because it’s alleged the cyclist is at fault,” said...
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....
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...
ELECTION 2015: Where to hear the Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola candidates speak
CENTRAL OKANAGAN - Several businesses and organizations in the new Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola electoral district are making it possible for voters to meet the candidates who want to represent them in Ottawa. The new riding includes all of West Kelowna, Summerland, Princeton, Keremeos, Logan Lake, Merritt and Peachland and the majority of Kelowna excluding downtown, the...
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...
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...
West Kelowna singer named best new artist at Indigenous Music Awards
WEST KELOWNA - A local First Nation singer and songwriter has won Best New Artist at the Indigenous Music Awards in Winnipeg. Kelly Margaret Derrickson, daughter of Grand Chief Ron Derrickson, beat out five other artists for the prestigious award on Friday, Sept. 11. Her debut album, Warriors of Love, was released in 2013 and...