Top Stories – Jan 17 – Woman’s Body Found

RCMP were called to a park in the 2100 block of Glenmore road yesterday morning after a woman’s body was discovered. Police believe the death to be suspicious in nature and are asking anyone who may have witnessed or has knowledge of the incident to come forward. Further information may be released as the investigation continues.

A Kelowna man was taken into custody under the Mental Health Act following a standoff with police yesterday. It happened on a rural part of the 2100 block of Byrns Road. The initial call was about a man with a weapon and the Emergency Response Team, a Critical Incident Commander and a Crisis Negotiator were called in. The area was closed to the public during the incident and neighbours were told to stay indoors.

Shortly after midnight, crews from WKFR responded to a fire in a mobile home at the PineRidge Mobile Home Park on Westbank First Nation. They diacovered a fire on the deck that had extended into the mobile home. Nearby structures were successfully protected. The mobile home sustained fire damage throughout. 2 residents are in the care of Emergency Support Services.

The 2022 BC Winter Games In Greater Vernon have been cancelled due to Covid-19 and other factors. Over 1,800 participants were expected between February 24-27. The organizers will explore options to see if the region can deliver the multi-sport event in 2023.

The number of new cases of covid 19 in BC continued to level off on Friday at just under 23-hundred. 412 of them were in the Interior. Dr Bonnie Henry says their data shows we may be at, or just past the peak of Omicron, but hospitalizations could still rise.

Don’t forget that Trinity Church in Kelowna is back, starting today, as a vaccination centre. It’s open for walk-in 1st and 2nd doses Monday to Saturday between 830 and 3, and Tuesday evenings from 4-7 and Sunday between, 1 & 5. Kids 5-11 and booster doses are handled by booked appointments only and there are links for that on the Interior Health website.

An Angus Reid poll found that 55 percent of Canadians expect to get Omicron no matter what precautions they take. The resignation to infection is highest among those aged 35 to 54… the age group more likely to have children living at home. 42 per cent of BC residents say provincial restrictions are sufficient.

Kelowna Council will get a look today at one of the proposals to replace the Parkinson Rec Centre. One thing is for sure… it will be much bigger than the current 52-thousand-square-foot facility. Over the coming months, city planners will narrow down the final design and where the new complex will be built.

BC’s covid booster vaccination program is moving along. 30.5% of eligible residents have received a third dose. This comes as 92% of eligible people 12 and older in BC have received their first dose and 89.6% have received their second dose.

Crisis lines in BC are getting a 2.3-million dollar funding boost. It will be used for more responders for call capacity, improved recruitment and retention, better technology and standardized training. Victoria says emergencies like the floods, drug crisis and the pandemic have made crisis lines busier than ever.

Sports

A day off for the Canucks after 2 road games on the weekend where they lost in Carolina on Saturday and picked up their 1st win of the trip by a score of 4 to 2 in Washington yesterday. Vancouver moves on to Music City USA tomorrow.

The New York Yankees have made a huge addition on the international market, signing top prospect Roderick Arias for 4 million dollars. The 17 year old shortstop from the Dominican Republic is the Number 1-ranked international prospect, according to MLB.com.

On the weekend at Prospera Place, the Kelowna Rockets took two games from the Victoria Royals by scores of 6-4 on Friday and 9-1 on Saturday when they scored 5 in the first period. The locals are off until Friday when they begin a 5 game road trip in Everett.

After a bunch of NFL wild card games on the weekend, the final one goes tonight to determine who will move on to the playoffs. It’s a battle between 1st and 2nd in the NFC West as the Rams host the Cardinals at 5:15.

Former tennis star Chris Evert says she was diagnosed with an early stage of ovarian cancer. The 67-year-old learned of the cancer last month and began chemotherapy treatments last week.

Novak Djokovic left Australia Sunday evening after losing his final bid to avoid deportation and play in the Australian Open despite being unvaccinated for COVID. The 34-year-old from Serbia, said he was extremely disappointed by the ruling but respected it.