Top Stories – Nov 8 – Prolific Arrested

Kelowna RCMP have arrested a prolific offender who had moved to the area from the Kootenays, and they recovered more than half-a-million dollars worth of stolen goods. 44 year old Kevin James Brophy was picked up while breaking into a secure compound and will remain in custody until his court appearance next Thursday. RCMP detachments throughout the Okanagan were involved in the investigation.

A few roads will be affected by the Remembrance Day parade in Kelowna on Saturday. Bernard, Abbott, Water, Lawrence and the Queensway roundabout will be closed to traffic at different times between 8am and about 12:30. RCMP and traffic control personnel will be stationed along the parade route.

A total of 59 people connected to Canada made it out of the Gaza Strip yesterday. Global Affairs Canada says the government will help provide food, accommodation and basic necessities in Cairo and help with onward travel to Canada. National Defence Minister Bill Blair says he doesn’t expect the military will be required to bring them back to Ottawa because there are commercial flights available.

An emergency incident at Kelowna International Airport is being investigated by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada. The agency said a privately-operated Pilatus PC-24 business jet had a loss of control and declared an emergency last Friday. The TSB said a team of investigators will be sent to YLW.

An alliance of BC Indigenous leaders is calling on Ottawa to stand firm on plans to transition away from open-net salmon farms in coastal waters by 2025. They’re a long-running subject of debate, with opponents saying the farms are linked to the transfer of disease to wild salmon, while supporters say thousands of jobs are threatened if the operations are phased out.

Ukrainian children abducted by Russia during its assault on their country shared stories of their captivity with Canadian parliamentarians, in hopes they will help rescue others. They told of being forcibly taken from Ukraine to camps in Russia. They were rescued with the help of Save Ukraine, an organization dedicated to repatriating and rehabilitating abducted Ukrainian children.

Kelowna RCMP presented its report to council covering January through August and there were some positive numbers. Compared to a year ago, auto theft was down 41%, business break & enters dropped 44%, and bike theft fell 37%. However, fraud cases increased 56%, sex offenses were 20% higher and calls for service to Rutland were up 27 percent.

Students at Kalamalka Secondary in Coldstream had to stay in their classrooms most of yesterday as RCMP responded to a call of a possible weapon in the area around 10:30. After an assessment of the situation, it was determined the lockdown was no longer needed and administration lifted the hold and secure around 2.

A right-wing news commentator is to have a conversation with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in January when he’s scheduled to speak in Calgary. An itinerary posted on Tucker Carlson’s website says he will make remarks and have a chat with Smith. The premier’s office says that Smith participates in a variety of public and private events, and does interviews with people from across the political spectrum.

SPORTS

In Tri-Cities last night, three straight goals from the home team gave the Americans a 4-3 win over the Kelowna Rockets. Next up for our guys is a Friday tilt in Everett.

With just two team wins this year, the Edmonton Oilers have placed struggling goaltender Jack Campbell on waivers. They plan to assign him to their American Hockey League affiliate.

The baseball pitch clock seems to be doing its job. Nine inning games in post season play averaged 3 hours and 2 minutes. That’s down from 3:37 just 2 years ago.

The Los Angeles Rams are signing quarterback Carson Wentz, according to The Associated Press. Wentz has been out of the NFL this season after starting seven games for Washington last year.