Top Stories – Oct 20 – Feeding Animal Fines

Kelowna Council amended the Solid Waste Management Bylaw, allowing for Bylaw officers to educate and/or issue a $150 fine to homeowners who attract wildlife with garbage, bird feeders and compost. The Regional District recently approved a similar amendment and is pilot testing wildlife resistant garbage carts for possible future use.

Meantime, pumpkins are like candy for bears and they are getting ready to hibernate. The Conservation Officer Service recommends just putting them out for Halloween night, especially if you live in an area where bears roam. It adds the scent of a carved jack-o-lantern could bring the bruins right to your front door.

New covid cases in Interior Health were in double digits for the second straight day with 79 positive tests. There are 772 active cases. In BC there were 560 new cases and 83-1/2 percent of people 12 and over are fully vaccinated.

Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country RCMP is asking residents to get into the 9pm crime prevention routine. A few things they suggest include removing spare keys, garage door openers, electronics and other valuables from vehicles; make sure all doors and windows are shut and locked; secure sheds and outbuildings; and turn on exterior lights. Most thefts are crimes of opportunity, with thieves taking advantage of items left in plain sight or unattended.

Everyone in BC gets a free flu shot this year. With everything else that’s going on, the province has decided that the freebies, which have only been for certain high-risk groups, will be for everyone. Flu shots are now available and the Health Ministry continues to increase vaccine accessibility through many locations and vaccine providers throughout BC.

BC’s Conservation Officer Service is acknowledging the work of the Okanagan Forest Task Force. It presented the OFTF with a Special Recognition Award for their unyielding efforts to tackle illegal dumping and help clean up the backcountry. To date, volunteers have collected more than 350-thousand pounds of trash and metal from our forests.

Some covid restrictions for gatherings will be lifted on Monday. Dr. Bonnie Henry says the order restricting capacity limits to 50% for inside organized events and gatherings will be revised to allow 100% capacity where the BC Vaccine Card is in place and proof of vaccination status is checked. Starting Sunday, full vaccination is required and everyone 12 and over will have to show the vaccine card to access certain events, services and businesses.

Flair Airlines is adding a couple more destinations from Kelowna to it’s route schedule. The discount carrier will begin flying to Vancouver and Victoria next May. Flair is adding more MAX 8s to its 737 fleet.

Layoffs are once again hitting the Green Party as party brass look to shave costs at an organization facing persistent financial and political woes. Word is that say the Greens are temporarily laying off half of their staff, or about 10 employees. The party remained at 2 seats in the House of Commons following the last election.

Sports

Kelowna Rockets forwards Max Graham and Gabriel Szturc (sturtz), who are both first time NHL Draft eligible candidates, earned C ratings on NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary players to watch list released yesterday. Those with C ratings are potential fourth, fifth or sixth round selections.

And the West Kelowna Warriors announced that blue liner Tyson Jugnauth has been named to that scouting list. He’s 17 now, but as a 16-year-old, he led all BCHL rookie blue liners with 17 points in 20 games.

In Buffalo yesterday, 2 goals in 23 seconds in the third period for the Sabres broke a tie and helped them to a 5 to 2 win over Vancouver. The Canucks’ road trip continues tomorrow in Chicago.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have acquired American kicker Sergio Castillo in a trade with the BC Lions. In return BC gets a conditional fourth round selection in the 2022 Draft. The Lions had maintained his CFL rights after he opted out of his contract last year.

Legendary New York Islanders forward Mike Bossy says he’s stepping away from his role with TVA Sports to battle lung cancer. The 64 year old has been a colour commentator with the Quebec-based sports channel since 2015.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers has just about had it with the petulant Ben Simmons. He’s been suspended for 1 game and fined 1.4 Million dollars for conduct detrimental to the team during practise. Simmons was an offseason holdout.