Top Stories – Oct 19 – Mission Suspicious Death

Kelowna RCMP is investigating a death yesterday morning. Police were called to a home in the 600-block of Bechard Road near Lakeshore where they found the body of a man whose death is believed to be suspicious. A woman was arrested at the scene and at last word was in police custody, but no charges had been laid.

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue is recruiting new members until Oct. 31. The work is unpaid, usually takes place after dark or on weekends, and requires availability, willingness and teamwork. Last year COSAR’s 51 members volunteered over 20-thousand hours. Details at cosar.ca .

There were 443 new cases of Covid-19 reported for BC yesterday as part of 1,846 including Saturday and Sunday. There was a 3 day total of 322 in Interior Health and 74 yesterday. There were 26 deaths in BC over the 72 hour period. An update will be provided at 1:30 today.

Kelowna Council considered a rezoning request yesterday for a 13-storey mixed-use development at the site of the former RCMP building on Doyle Avenue. The proposal includes public amenity and retail space, and 10 storeys of rental housing. Council gave first reading and forwarded the proposal to the November 16 public hearing.

Heads up for a popular event this weekend as Big White hosts the annual ski swap in Kelowna. After being cancelled last year, it is being held at the New Life church on Harvey behind the MEC store on Saturday from 8am to 3pm with a small charge to get in. Consignment items can be dropped of Friday from 10-7:30 for $3 an item.

It’s Small Business Week for more than half a Million businesses in BC and Victoria is talking about some of the funding they have received during the pandemic. Victoria says more than 90% of successful Small and Medium Sized Businesses Recovery Grant recipients and more than 99% of the successful Circuit Breaker Business Relief Grant recipients, have received their one-time payment.

Driver impairment, failure to wear a seatbelt and using an electronic device were contributing factors to a fatal crash on Drought Hill on Friday. RCMP say an Okanagan man in his 40s was alone in the vehicle. No other cars were involved in the accident which closed the highway for a number of hours

An open letter from the First Nations Leadership Council is calling on Victoria to update the CleanBC plan to reflect the climate emergency and include First Nations input. It talks about the record-breaking heat wave and this summer’s devastating wildfire season. Over 200 organizations issued an open letter in September calling on the government to implement 10 actions to confront the climate emergency.

Pfizer has now asked Health Canada to approve the first COVID-19 vaccine for children aged five to 11. The doses are about one-third the size given to adults and teens age 12 and up. Data for kids under five is expected as soon as the end of the year.

Boucherie Road will be closed from 6pm to 10pm tonight between Hayman and Hudson. West Kelowna crews will be doing regular fall maintenance. There will be detours.

Sports

The Vancouver Canucks’ road trip continues today in Buffalo. The Sabres are off to a 2 & 0 start and the puck drops at 4 with Thatcher Demko expected to start in net for Vancouver.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll says they have spoken to now vaccinated free-agent quarterback Cam Newton as they cope with the injury to Russell Wilson. Carroll says they’re talking with anyone that could help them.

The Kelowna Chiefs continue their 4 game KIJHL road trip tonight in Princeton. It has been a good one so far with wins in Kamloops and 100 Mile House.

The Vancouver Canucks have placed defenseman Travis Hamonic on a temporary leave of absence due to personal matters. He was waived earlier this month and subsequently assigned to the Abbotsford Canucks, but he wasn’t on the AHL club’s opening-night roster.

The NHL has suspended Vancouver-born San Jose Sharks forward Evander Kane for 21 games for submitting a fake COVID-19 vaccination card. The league also announced that its investigation into allegations of domestic abuse made against Kane by his estranged wife, could not be substantiated.

Ilya Kovalchuk has been named the Russian Olympic Committee’s men’s hockey general manager for the 2022 Beijing Games. Kovalchuk last played in the NHL in 2019-20, when he suited up for the Kings, Canadiens, and Capitals.