Kelowna

Clark rescinds raises; Dix claims victory

Premier Christy Clark says she made a mistake and has rescinded post-election pay increases for the government's top political staff. Photo: Ragnar Haagen Carole Gordon and Adrian Dix meet with media in Kelowna on June 19, 2013. Clark says the raises sent the wrong message to...

Rainfall warning in effect

Photo: Castanet Staff A rainfall warning is in effect for the Okanagan Valley. A rainfall warning is in effect for the North, South and Central Okanagan, including Vernon, Penticton and Kelowna. Environment Canada is forecasting between 40-60 millimetres of rain to fall over the...

900 days on the water

Photo: Contributed For the last 900 days, rain, shine and even snow, Bob Purdy has taken to the waters around the province on his paddleboard - SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard). His hope when he started this endeavour, back on Jan 1 2011, was to paddle everyday as a way to...

Malls head list of corporate taxpayers

Photo: Google Maps Even the taxman goes to mall. ​ The City of Kelowna received nearly $100M from citizens and corporations through municipal taxation in 2012. Figures were released this week as part of the city's 2012 annual report. The final tax, $98.2M, was part...

Mayor defends $800K spiffy biffy

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe - Castanet $800,000 for a new bathroom in City Park. Exorbitant? If it was just a toilet - definitely. Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray says he would agree if it was just a normal, run of the mill washroom. But this is not your average loo. Gray says...

Hells Angels member gets 26 months

An admitted member of the Hells Angels motorcycle club has been sentenced to 26 months in custody, but with 112 days of credit for time already served, he will not be confined to a Federal prison. Photo: Contributed Joseph Bruce Skreptak, a member of the Hells Angels has been sentenced to...

Bridging the gap to detox

Photo: Castanet Staff The Bridge Youth & Family Services Society has been chosen as the preferred proponent for a detox and residential treatment services contract. The contract will be for 20 intensive residential treatment beds and 10 community-based withdrawal management beds,...

RCMP confirm suspicious death

Photo: Jennifer Zielinski Yates and Ballou in Glenmore. 11:30 a.m. update: Kelowna RCMP have confirmed they are investigating  a suspicious death at a Glenmore area home. On June 18, 2013 at 12:37 am, the Kelowna RCMP were called to a house on the 300 block of Yates Road...

Council wants say on new Cop Shop

Photo: Wayne Moore - Castanet File Photo Calling it the biggest expense the City of Kelowna will have to endure over the next 10 years, Councillor Andre Blanleil says he wants assurances the city's new RCMP building is affordable. "This is a staggering amount of money for our...

Realtors donate to Gospel Mission

Photo: Adam Proskiw Exec. Director Randy Benson accepts a cheque from AJ Hazzi. A local real estate agency has gone dark for the month of June by turning off their technology as a way to personalize their service. They have also pledged $300 to the Kelowna Gospel Mission for every...

Council toasts new liquor establishment

Photo: Contributed - Google Street View Kelowna City Council has thrown its support behind a new liquor establishment in the downtown core. The proposed 250 seat establishment would be located at 587 and 589 Lawrence Avenue just west of the intersection with Bertram...

City to test family alcohol zone

Photo: Contributed - kelownafuturestennis.com File photo from last year. ​ Next month's Kelowna Futures Tennis Tournament will serve as a test run for a new type of liquor licence supported by the Liquor Control and Licencing Branch (LCLB). The licence will allow the...

Missing teenager has been found

Update - 8:30 a.m. Hayley Blair has returned home and is now safe. Thank you for your concern. Photo: RCMP Hayley Blair was reported missing on June 17, 2013. The Kelowna RCMP is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a 15-year-old girl who was reported missing...

Attempted murder charges laid

  Photo: Contributed - Stacy A 47-year-old Kelowna woman has been charged with attempted murder following an incident on Leon Avenue last Thursday night. Sheila Devilliers was charged with attempted murder and uttering threats after a 39-year-old Kelowna man was stabbed near...

Gas leak capped on Borden Ave.

Photo: Ragnar Haagen Workers on Borden Ave.. 5 p.m. update: Crews have been able to stop the leak on Borden Ave., people will be able to return to their homes once the gas dissipates. Emergency crews have evacuated five homes in the vicinity of 1064 Borden Ave. near the Capri...

Wiens trial to resume in July

Photo: Castanet Staff Jurors at the Keith Wiens second-degree murder trial have been told to come back in three weeks. It has been a frustrating turn of events that started with an unexpected adjournment that brought the proceedings to a grinding halt early last week. The issue,...

Room to grow - hotel tax continues

Photo: Trevor Rockliffe A room with a view - 2 per cent tax stays on all hotels in Kelowna. Visitors to Kelowna will continue to help fund Kelowna Tourism's ongoing marketing of the city. City Council Monday voted unanimously to extend the 2 per cent hotel room tax for another...

Sugar closes sorting plant

1:45 p.m. update: The all-clear has been given for workers to go back to work at the Canada Post sorting plant on Gaston Ave. The substance found in an envelope . . . sugar. The Hazmat team has been called out to the Canada Post sorting centre on Gaston Ave. in Kelowna. According to the...

Assault sends one man to hospital

Photo: Ragnar Haagen The assault took place near the intersection of Bernard and Pandosy. A 23-year-old man is in Kelowna General Hospital in serious but stable condition after he was beaten during an altercation in downtown Kelowna early Monday morning. Cst. Kris Clark says RCMP...

Memory card looking for a home

Photo: Contributed Been there - done that. Most people take pictures with the hopes of transferring them to computer, but sometimes by time we get around to it - that pesky little SD card is nowhere to be found. One of those memory cards was recently found in the Parkridge Drive...