Top Stories – Dec 17 – Heat Tops Weather

Not surprisingly, BC topped the list of weather events in Canada this year. Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips says the heat dome, where temps got up to 46 in the Okanagan, topped the list as people died from the record heat. Second was the recent flooding and fallout from the Atmospheric Rivers that hit the coast and inland areas with days of heavy rain.

Zero amenity space, down from 500 square metres and no loading zone, down from 1, was approved by West Kelowna council for a new townhouse development. The 20 unit complex is to be built at 825 Anders Road in Lakeview Heights. In place of the amenities, the developer will give a cash-in-lieu donation of 36-thousand dollars for future neighbourhood park improvements.

The countdown to December 24th has begun and as the big night approaches, the Canadian NORAD Region is ready. It says CF-18 pilots and trackers will be tasked with monitoring and escorting Santa as he completes his journey through Canadian airspace. The website at noradsanta.org is now live.

The number of new covid-19 cases in BC grew to 753 yesterday to bring the total since the pandemic began to a quarter-Million. There were 99 in Interior Health with more than 200 in each of Fraser and Coastal Health. There have been 135 cases of the Omicron variant identified in BC… five of them in Interior. There will be a live update from Dr. Henry and Minister Dix at 1pm.

Planes at Kelowna International Airport are now cleared for International flights. It has been more than a year since Ottawa shut down all but a few airports to aircraft from outside our borders because of the pandemic. The first flight, an Alaska Airlines turboprop from Seattle arrived and departed yesterday afternoon.

RCMP say 31-year-old Kevin James Beattie of Kelowna faces a number of charges after incidents in Kamloops. It goes back to Monday when a resident reported he had been held in his own home while two men and a woman stole a bunch of things, including his truck. Police found it in a motel parking lot along with and a man and woman inside with weapons.

A Kelowna man was injured in a confrontation at a construction site on Foxtail Terrace. He had arrived at work and saw a man and woman wearing surgical masks in a car. He approached the vehicle and the three got into an arguement when one of the occupants of the vehicle produced what is believed to have been an imitation firearm and injured the victim before taking off in a stolen silver Dodge Charger.

A lack of drivers means fewer buses and longer waits on some Kelowna Transit routes. Starting January 2nd, service will be reduced by about 15 percent overall but BC Transit says no routes will be completely cut. There will be some modifications to accommodate schools being in full session.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tasked Canada’s housing minister with implementing a temporary ban on foreign buyers of non-recreational residential properties. He wants to ensure that housing does not sit vacant and unavailable to Canadians wanting to buy homes. Trudeau also wants an anti-flipping tax on residences that requires properties to be held for at least 12 months before they can be sold.

Sports

Two goals from Brock Boeser led the Vancouver Canucks to their 6th straight win under new head coach Bruce Boudreau, and his first road win. The final score in San José was Vancouver 5 the Sharks 2. It’s back home now for a 4pm game against the Leafs tomorrow. The Habs/Flyers game was played without fans as Quebec Health is worried about the rising number of covid cases.

The Kelowna Rockets have their last game before Christmas tomorrow at 7 at Prospera Place when the Kamloops Blazers pay a visit. And it’s the annual Teddy Bear toss game.

Final weekend before the Christmas break for the BC Hockey League. The West Kelowna Warriors have just one game when the Penticton Vees visit Royal LePage Place tomorrow at 7.

Thursday Night Football at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, saw the game to overtime and Kansas City take a 34-28 win over the Chargers to improve to 10 & 4 atop the AFC West.

Two games at Rutland Arena for the Kelowna Chiefs this weekend. Tonight, the Heat are in town from Chase, while the Posse ride over from Princeton tomorrow. Both games at 7.

Only 3 Calgary Flames players are NOT in covid-19 protocols now. Former Kelowna Rocket Dillon Dube was added to the list yesterday along with Oliver Kylington.