West Kelowna
West Kelowna mayor presses other jurisdictions to support power line back-up bid
KELOWNA - While he insists progress is being made on a solution to the vulnerability of its single-line power supply, West Kelowna Mayor Doug Findlater says the district is calling for expressions of support from other affected jurisdictions in advance of a soon-to-be-released B.C. Hydro study into the issue. “We’re being cautious,” Findletter said, of...
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...
Accused Westside shooter trial coming to an end
"THE CASE BECOMES STRONGER WITH EACH PASSING KILOMETRE." KELOWNA – Was Michael Ellis only doing what he was told when he led police on a high speed shootout along Westside Road in 2012 or is his friend and former co-accused taking the blame because he knows it can’t affect his sentence? That was the focus...
Man will face the judge for what RCMP say he did during Smith Creek fire
WEST KELOWNA - The man who RCMP believe took advantage of the West Kelowna fire evacuation notice last July to break into an empty home to steal has been charged. On July 2014, West Kelowna RCMP received a report of break and enter and theft from a home in the 2500 block of Cobblestone Road....
Three people, two pets homeless after West Kelowna fire
WEST KELOWNA – Three people and two animals are safe despite their home in West Kelowna catching fire late Thursday night. West Kelowna Fire Rescue were called to the 3100 block of Country Pines Way around midnight. Firefighters were able to contain the fire, however the house was severely damaged. The three occupants and their...
Passenger during Westside Road police shootout says he was in charge
LANGUAGE ADVISORY KELOWNA – Michael Ellis, accused ringleader of a 2012 high speed shootout with police, was just doing what he was told. At least that’s what his only defence witness says. Shawn Wysynski, who is also a lifelong friend of Ellis, told Kelowna Supreme Court Justice Ian Josephson that the only reason his friends were...
Witness shot at three times, continues following
KELOWNA – A witness who took the stand in the attempted murder trial of accused Westside Road shooter Michael Ellis was shot at three separate times, but still refused to stop following him. Michael James Scott is an onsite construction supervisor with the Ministry of Transportation. He was in his work truck on Westside Road...
“HE’S SHOOTING AT ME, HE’S SHOOTING AT ME:” Dramatic audio from the 2012 Westside Road shootout with police
KELOWNA – The chase lasts close to an hour and takes police from West Kelowna to Vernon along the busy, winding Westside Road in the middle of summer 2012. During that time, police are shot at and their cars rammed by a suspect desperate to get away. It began shortly after 1 p.m. July 31...
Driver blames black ice; West Kelowna rollover
KELOWNA – The driver and passenger walked away from a rollover in West Kelowna Monday morning. The driver lost control on black ice on Lower Glenrosa Road around 9:30 a.m. and rolled the vehicle which ended up on its roof, according to Global Okanagan. Traffic was disrupted for about an hour as crews righted the...
Smith Creek fire closes parks; music will still be heard
WEST KELOWNA - Three Central Okanagan Regional District parks are closed in West Kelowna because of the danger from Smith Creek wildfire. Glen Canyon, Shannon Lake, Rose Valley Regional Parks are all closed as a result of fire activity and will remain closed until further notice. "The Regional District apologizes for any inconvenience and encourages...
Vet opens heart, clinic to evacuated pets
WEST KELOWNA - Evacuations can be a high stress situtation but one local vet is trying to make it easier on people and their pets by offering free kennelling for all pets displaced by the wildfire burning in West Kelowna right now. Dr. Moshe Oz , a vet with Rose Valley Veterinary Clinic, says they’ve...
Evacuees watch crews attempt to save their homes
WEST KELOWNA - Margaret Maljevac is living out of Rubbermaid bins and watching water bombers swirl above her home, hoping it will still be there when the evacuation order is lifted. Maljevac is one of thousands of residents displaced by the Smith Creek wildfire in West Kelowna, now 400 hectares large and only 20 per...
UPDATE: Smith Creek fire now 30 per cent contained
WEST KELOWNA – Some positive news from the fire lines at the Smith Creek wildfire burning in West Kelowna Saturday morning. B.C. Wildfire Management is reporting the 260 hectare blaze is now 30 per cent contained. The perimeter contained is the area of the fire closest to the 1,100 evacuated homes. The cooler temperatures, higher humidity...
Crews making progress on Smith Creek wildfire; evacuation order still in place
WEST KELOWNA – Despite the cooler weather and some rain showers Saturday, the Smith Creek wildfire in West Kelowna is still a threat to homes in the area. While north and central parts of the province saw the fire danger ratings downgraded to low or moderate, the Southern Interior still has high to extreme ratings....
Pet rescues underway in Smith Creek fire zone
WEST KELOWNA - An animal rescue team is doing everything possible to ensure no pet is left behind while a forest fire rages in West Kelowna. The Canadian Disaster Animal Response Team (CDART) has recovered over 60 animals from the evacuation zone near Smith Creek, including 16 horses, 21 cats and 21 dogs. Spokesperson Petra...