Cherry choppers roam valley

 The long-time residents just shrug, but the newcomers to the Okanagan valley are woken up and left wondering why there are helicopters hovering just a few feet above the ground at all hours of the day. It’s cherry season, which falls in the month affectionately known in the Okanagan as “June-uary.” The wet weather, […]

Festival beer vendors wanted

Craft beer vendors are reminded they have a glorious chance to strut their stuff at Big White’s Craft & Country Beer & Music Mountain Festival next weekend. The fifth annual event goes Saturday, July 6, and usually attracts more than 800 guests each year. There are no fees for the beer vendors, which gives them […]

Fire limited at The Shore

Platoon Captain Dennis Miller with the Kelowna Fire Department tells Castanet they got the call of a fire at The Shore building at 12:50 a.m. When fire crews arrived on scene flames were shooting from the top floor of the building under construction on the corner of Lakeshore Drive and Richter Street. First responders used […]

Acting chief in Wilson’s Landing

Ronaye Beck will become the Wilson’s Landing Fire Department’s acting chief on Monday. Current chief Don Bennison, who started in the role in June 2017, is retiring on Sunday, so Beck will take over until an official search determines the next permanent leader. Beck has been the deputy chief at Wilson’s Landing since mid-2017. “Don’s […]

They flock to the Okanagan

The Thompson Okanagan region is attracting tourists from the four corners of the planet. Research has found 16 per cent of the visitors to the area are international travellers. Domestic visitors lead the way with 84 per cent of visitors. “The figures are for visitation from out of the region,” TOTA president Glenn Mandziuk said […]

Rutland residents rise up

Rutland residents are not going quietly when it comes to another supportive housing project in their community. The latest is on McCurdy Road and Rutland Road North, where city council has given its approval to a 49-unit facility to be run by the Kelowna branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association. Referencing Mayor Colin Basran’s recent statement that […]

Swooping off to Vegas

Swoop kicked off its Kelowna-to-Las Vegas service in style on Thursday. Nine pre-selected couples showed up to Kelowna International Airport thinking they had a chance to win one of two trips to Sin City on the ultra-low-cost carrier, but all nine of them ended up getting sent on the maiden voyage instead. “Today is extra […]

Flat rate process begins

FortisBC will begin the five-year process of changing to a flat rate for residential electric customers on July 1. The phase-in period will include gradually reducing the higher tier rate and increasing the lower tier rate until a single, flat rate is established by 2023. “As we went through the rate design process, we facilitated […]

Chefs set for Kitchen Party

The field has been set for Canada’s Great Kitchen Party, which will take place in Kelowna this November. The event will serve as a qualifier for the Canadian Culinary Championships that are slated to take place in Ottawa in January. The chef who wins at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort will advance […]

Mushroom farm supported

The District of Summerland has sided with a Garnet Valley mushroom farm in a dispute between neighbours. Council unanimously voted Monday to grant a development variance permit to the “What The Fungus” mushroom farm at 18420 Garnet Valley Rd. to legalize a number of buildings built within the property’s setback. Property owner Thor Clausen told […]