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Top 10 News Stories  

Fuhr: One heck of a year

In 2014, he could barely get 100 signatures on his nomination form – now, he's the MP for Kelowna-Lake Country and Castanet’s Newsmaker of the Year.

“It's a huge honour to be named,” said Liberal MP Stephen Fuhr. “A lot of things happen in this community in a year. It's humbling, and it is a big honour.”

Fuhr was elected in a Liberal "red wave" that swept the nation in October's federal election.

“I am so incredibly proud of this community,” said Fuhr. “This was 100 per cent a grassroots effort. This is the poster child of a community coming together. We didn't get Justin rolling in to town, we didn't get an influx of cash, we grew this together, and the community came together in a way that you don't see very often.”

Fuhr managed to win in a riding that has voted Conservative for decades.

“I always thought this was possible,” said Fuhr. “Otherwise, I wouldn't have done it. We worked very hard. I knew the vote was there – you just don't know who is going to show up at the polls.”

Fuhr says he's excited to represent the riding and notes areas the Liberal government wants to invest in align well with our area.

“This government is going to invest in tech and green jobs and infrastructure. We are shovel-ready for all of it,” he said.

Fuhr has been busy setting up his constituency office in Kelowna, as well as in Ottawa, and spent several weeks working with his new colleagues in government.

“Our response to the Syrian refugee crisis from a Canadian perspective and the fact that Justin (Trudeau) appointed a cabinet that was merit based, gender balanced and ethnically diverse has put us on the map. Other countries are looking at Canada again."

“I can’t think of, in my lifetime, a time when we are as noticed, in a positive way, as we are right now."

Fuhr says he's proud the new government has already passed an amended Income Tax Act, moved forward with the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women, un-muzzled scientists, is bringing the long-form census back in 2016, and that climate change action is moving forward.

“I don’t remember government moving this fast,” he said.

Fuhr says he's already getting feedback from constituents who are honest they didn't vote for him, but are happy with that they are seeing so far.

He's hopeful that the community will come together, regardless of partisan lines.

“The message is that anything is possible when we work together,” said Fuhr. “I appreciate that there are realistically 25,000 people who did not want this to happen, who actively came out and put their 'X' next to someone else's name. I understand that – but, if we all pull together for the next four years, we will be a lot better off.”

He believes his victory has forever changed the "blue" history of the region.

“Whether or not we win another election in 2019, I think this will be a Liberal or Conservative community, based on the quality of the candidate and platform of the government,” said Fuhr. “The days of this being a blue riding and it doesn't matter what happens – are done.”

Since the election, he and his team have been scrambling.

“My administrative infrastructure is coming together. I have an office in Ottawa, I have an office in Kelowna (although it is full of boxes) and there are staff in each.”

“It has been challenging, but it will settle down. It is essentially trying to change the tire on the car while it is still moving,” said Fuhr. “I almost have the rim on, I am putting the bolts in right now, and we are still moving.”

Fuhr chose to keep two of former MP Ron Cannan’s office staff to ease the transition and provide the best service to the community.

“I kept them for very specific reasons. They are great people, they know the files, they know the community, and it was win-win for everybody.”

Fuhr plans to hit the ground running in 2016, meeting with Kelowna and Lake Country city councils as well as opening a new Veteran's Affairs office in Kelowna.

“I think the people who did not want this to happen, that are skeptical, are going to be pleasantly surprised," he said.

Fuhr heads back to Ottawa in mid-January.

Constituents can email him at [email protected] or visit his office at 1420 St. Paul St.



Top 10 Penticton stories

Two homicides, a young boy struck and killed by a vehicle driven by an off-duty police officer in a Penticton crosswalk, a well-known fugitive on the run and a forest fire that burned for weeks are among the South Okanagan's top stories of 2015.

Here is a look back at these and others, starting with a homicide that shocked the community.

Roxanne Louie, a 26-year-old single mother, was reported missing in early January after failing to show up at Penticton Regional Airport for a flight back to Vancouver. A search ended with the discovery of her body in the Naramata/Chute Lake area.

Grace Robotti was charged with second-degree murder, while Pier Robotti, her brother, was charged with being an accessory after the fact and indignity to a body. Pier Robotti's charge was later upgraded to second-degree murder.

Several rallies asking for justice for Louie were held at the Penticton courthouse.The Robottis, who were released on bail, will begin a preliminary inquiry in February.

That same month, the Naramata Centre announced it would cease operations immediately.

A review concluded the centre couldn't continue to operate in a sustainable manner. The loss was a big blow to the small community.

The centre is now being talked about as possible temporary refugee housing.

The long trial of a Princeton man in the deaths of Robert Keith Wharton and Rosemary Fox and attempted murder of Bradley Martin began in February.

John Ike Koopmans was found guilty in April of second-degree murder and attempted murder. Months later, in October, he was sentenced to life in prison, with eligibility to apply for parole after 22 years.

On June 4, Penticton RCMP responded to shots fired on Lakeshore Drive and discovered a deceased man at the Golden Sands Resort.

The man was later identified as Darren Leadbeater, an employee at Princeton's Copper Mountain Mine.

The investigation into his death is ongoing.

In June, Penticton council gave the green light to a controversial marina/water slide development at Skaha Lake Park.

Opponents to development inside the park rallied outside City Hall against Trio Marine Group's plans. A group known as Save Skaha Park went on to file a lawsuit against the city.

In July, prolific offender Ronald Teneycke was the subject of a manhunt in the South Okanagan after he failed to show up for a weekends-only jail sentence in Penticton.

Prior to being taken into custody, Teneycke allegedly robbed the Eastside Grocery and shot Wayne Belleville, an Oliver resident who stopped to pick him up on McKinney Road.

He faces a slew of charges, including robbery, using an imitation firearm, discharging a firearm with intent to disfigure, aggravated assault and flight from a police officer. 

It was a long, hot summer, and on Aug. 14 the Testalinden Creek fire was sparked in the Oliver area.

Forestry crews spent several weeks battling the blaze, which forced area residents out of their homes. All evacuation orders, alerts and area restrictions were rescinded on Sept. 18.

The blaze burned a total of 5,202 hectares.

The start of the school year in Penticton was marked by tragedy, when a young boy in a crosswalk was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by an off-duty police officer.

Five-year-old James McIntosh was crossing Highway 97 with his father, brother and their dog when the incident occurred. Students and staff at Holy Cross Elementary School were devastated by the loss.

The Independent Investigations Office is investigating the incident.

In October, School District 67 admitted it was facing difficult decisions in light of declining enrolment and mandated budget cuts.

School closures and grade reconfigurations have all been discussed at a series of meetings. Parents have made emotional pleas to keep their schools open.

Residents can provide feedback on the district's website until Jan. 10. The board is expected to make a final decision on Jan. 20.

In November, Gateway Casinos & Entertainment announced plans to build a new, 45,000-square-foot entertainment and gaming property next to the South Okanagan Events Centre.

It will be called Cascades Casino Penticton.

The project promises up to 150 new jobs and a $25-million construction investment.

Gateway has entered into a lease with the City of Penticton for the property.

The city worked hard to keep the casino in Penticton after it was announced its lease would not be renewed at Penticton Lakeside Resort. At stake was also $1.6 million in hosting revenue for citizen services.



#1 - Devastating fires

Castanet is counting down the top news stories of 2015. Today, our top story – a summer of fire that hit close to home.

A tinder-dry spring and scorching summer made for a disastrous fire season in the B.C. Interior.

In Rock Creek, along Highway 3, a suspected human-caused wildfire destroyed 30 homes and took weeks to fully contain.

Hundreds of residents and campers were evacuated, many with only the clothes on their back or in some cases just their swimsuits.

The blaze was first spotted on the west side of Kettle River and in a matter of minutes flames jumped the river and highway. It grew to more than 4,000 hectares, and was finally contained in September – almost a month after the blaze sparked.

South of Rock Creek, across the U.S. border, firefighters warily watched as the Stickpin blaze covered more than 21,000 hectares and crept toward Canada. Smoke from the massive Washington state fire choked the Okanagan.

One day after the Rock Creek wildfire started, Aug. 13, two separate blazes were sparked near Oliver. The Testalinden fire grew to more than 5,000-hectares, and 27 properties were evacuated. The Wilson’s Mountain fire grew to 300-plus hectares and consumed one home. The fire had sparked on that property after lightning hit a power line.

In July, the Shelter Cover fire, in West Kelowna, forced the evacuation of 70 homes along Westside Road and grew to 560 hectares.

Earlier in the year, a human-cased blaze also sparked in Bear Creek Provincial Park, but was held to 2.5 hectares. Both fires prompted officials to close Westside Road. 

In the North Okanagan, a fire near Bolean Lakes Lodge grew to 348 hectares, not far from Falkland. More than 20 homes were placed on an evacuation order, however, it was quickly rescinded to an alert once firefighters gained the upper hand.

Premier Christy Clark and former Prime Minster Stephen Harper visited the Shelter Cove fire line in August to meet and thank firefighters for their efforts.

Clark also stopped by Midway, where evacuees of the Rock Creek blaze were gathered.

Okanagan residents came together to help those affected by the fires. The Salvation Army in Kelowna had volunteers working for the Canadian Disaster Animal Response Team collecting supplies for horses in need. Farmers and ranchers throughout the region offered to transport and care for evacuated animals. Small businesses also stepped up and offered food, blankets and other supplies for people who had been evacuated from their homes.

Drones halted aerial firefighting efforts at both the Oliver and Shelter Cove wildfires, prompting officials to issue stern safety warnings. RCMP investigated both incidents, but no charges were laid.

Residents of Joe Rich in the Highway 33 and Huckleberry Road area were evacuated as another blaze scorched 55 hectares. The highway was closed for a time, and flare-ups occurred for several days in the area.

Above Kelowna, on Little White Mountain, a blaze, suspected to be human caused, burned 194 hectares of forest in August. Close by, another fire sparked at the same time in the Myra-Bellevue area, which reached six hectares in size.

A total of 304,484 hectares were burned across B.C. during the 2015 fire season, costing the province $282 million. Wildfire management responded to 1,835 fires, of which one third, or 609, were human caused.

At the height of the season, about 2,500 personnel were working on the fire line or in support positions.

In addition, the province brought in more than 800 contract firefighters from across Canada as well as Australia, South Africa and the United States.

That's well above the 10-year average of 115,464 hectares burned, but slightly less than 2014's staggering 369,169 hectares. The cost of fighting the wildfires that year was more than $297 million.

Read all the top 10 stories here.



Polson murder tops list

Castanet Vernon is counting down the top five local stories of 2015. Today, in the top spot, we take a look back at the murder in Polson Park.

While the discovery of a body in Vernon's Polson Park this past summer was a shock, the age of one of the suspects was even more so.

Among the three individuals charged with second-degree murder in the death of 42-year-old Jason Hardy last August is a 14-year-old boy.

The teen cannot be identified because he is a minor.

Also facing charges is Brandon Joseph Clayton Wellington, 18, who was arrested shortly after the incident.

A couple weeks later, police also charged Tal Kalum La Riviere, 28, with second-degree murder.

Hardy's body was found near some bushes behind the Vernon lawn bowling club. Police closed a large section of the park while they investigated.

The murder was the only one Vernon recorded in 2015.

But horror over the killing led city staff to rethink safety in the park and in the downtown core. 

Public safety and security have become top priorities for Vernon heading into 2016, according to Will Pearce, the city's chief administration officer.

Pearce said two service improvement programs next year would focus on public safety, including a program that would see nighttime police patrols in Polson Park.

The second program would see an increase in surveillance cameras in certain areas, including the parkade and the transit station.

The park made the news again in 2015, this time for another shocking event that happened a year earlier.

Three people were arrested last July for a shooting at the now-closed Green Valley Motel in 2014.

The men face numerous charges for the August 2014 incident that started at the motel and then spilled across the street into Polson Park. The suspects were later arrested in Kelowna but had to be released while police continued their investigation.

However in July, police had enough evidence to arrest Robin Rochmont, 34, who is facing seven charges, including attempted murder; Jacob Lowes, 29, who is facing three charges, including attempted murder and Adrian Dziedzic, 24, who faces two weapons-related charges.

Multiple shots were fired during the incident, launching a police manhunt across the North and Central Okanagan.

While no one was hurt, police said there was intent to cause harm, warranting the attempted murder charges.

“The investigation has determined that individuals were believed to have been involved in a robbery at one of the units of the Green Valley Motel where a firearm was discharged and ultimately led to the confrontation in Polson Park,” said then police spokesperson Gord Molendyk.

Shots were also fired in the park, and one of those charged is the robbery victim.

All of the men charged are known to police.

Molendyk said it took a year to bring charges in the incident because “it takes time to put all the pieces together. It was a very lengthy investigation.”

Police believe the incident was drug related.



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