Top Stories – Jan 14 – Back To Trinity

Interior health is adding another clinic in Kelowna for covid vaccines. Starting Monday they will be returning to Trinity Church for dose 1 & 2 walk-ins and appointments for boosters. The clinics at Capri Mall in Kelowna and the Westbank Community Centre operate with the same guidelines. Check Interior Health’s website for Central Okanagan clinic info and hours.

A review of more than 3,000 new applications for membership in the BC Liberal Party is underway as the February 5 leadership vote approaches. The party has about 43,000 members. The Liberals are replacing former leader Andrew Wilkinson, who resigned after the October 2020 election loss to the New Democrats.

Days before Canadian truck drivers were required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to get into the country or face quarantine, the federal government is backing away from the vaccine mandate. Now, unvaccinated Canadian truckers, or those who have had only one dose, will not have to quarantine. The Canadian Trucking Alliance says about 10 percent of the 120-thousand Canadian big-riggers who cross the border have not been fully vaccinated.

A Kelowna woman is facing potential criminal charges after being caught trying to steal a catalytic converter in Vernon. RCMP saw someone lying under a vehicle about 2am yesterday using a power tool. The suspect, who was not supposed to be in possession of tools, was arrested while a reciprocating saw and a catalytic converter cut from the vehicle, were recovered.

New covid infections took a big drop in the Central Okanagan last week as 441 people tested positive. That compares to 625 the week before. In other Okanagan areas, Vernon jumped by 100 to 282, while Penticton doubled to 306 from 155 the week before.

His mom didn’t wait for the results of any trial. Queen Elizabeth stripped Prince Andrew of his military affiliations and royal patronages and he will remain away from any Royal duties. The move came one day after his lawyers failed to persuade a U.S. judge to dismiss a civil lawsuit which accuses him of sexual abuse.

The Central Okanagan Teachers Association would be in favour of a vaccine mandate for its members. COTA President Susan Baurhart  told Kelowna10 that the association has never stood in the way of a mandate, but would have preferred that the province initiate it. You can read more about it on the Kelowna10 app.

Don’t forget you have until the end of the month to drop off your real Christmas tree for free chipping at 4 locations in the Central Okanagan. Take them to the Glenmore Landfill, the parking lot at Ben Lee Park, behind the Capital News Centre, or the Westside Waste Centre. Don’t forget to take off all the lights and decorations.

BC reported another 25-hundred cases of covid 19 yesterday including 462 for Interior Health… almost the same number as Vancouver Coastal. There are now 53 facilities including long term acute care dealing with outbreaks in the province. Of the 36-thousand active cases, 534 individuals are in hospital and 102 are in intensive care.

Sports

After a few days off, it’s back to work for the Kelowna Rockets this weekend with 2 games against Victoria. Both games, tonight and tomorrow, are at Prospera Place and start at 7.

The Vancouver Canucks are 0 for 2 on their 5 game road trip following a 4-2 loss in Tampa last night. Next up, is a game against Carolina at 10 tomorrow morning.

The West Kelowna Warriors have just one BCHL game this weekend, and it is on the road tonight. The locals are taking on the Trail Smoke Eaters at the Cominco Arena.

Major League Baseball and the players’ association held a bargaining session yesterday for the first time since the lockout began, but the union left unhappy after receiving the league’s economic proposal. The union is planning to present a counteroffer at some point in the near future.

The KIJHL’s Kelowna Chiefs have 2 road games this weekend. Tonight, they take on the Coyotes in Osoyoos and then move on to Princeton tomorrow for a tilt against the Posse.

The NHL announced the rosters for the 2022 All-Star Game yesterday as each team will include 11 players consisting of nine skaters and two goalies. Thatcher Demko was the only Canuck chosen for the Pacific Division, but JT Miller could still be picked by fans.