Top Stories – Au8 18 – McDougall Creek

West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation were part of a local state of emergency declared yesterday due to the McDougall Creek wildfire. It was last estimated at 1,100 hectares, but with the wind that picked up, that is bound to change. Hundreds of properties have been ordered evacuated and thousands more are on alert. As always, cordemergency.ca has the latest info and maps showing evacuation order and alert areas. An information centre is open at Royal Lepage Place.

With the hot, dry weather continuing, it’s not a major surprise that the Okanagan is now at the highest drought level. The province says the valley is now at level 5 which is classified as exceptionally dry, and residents are asked to conserve as much water as possible. The Okanagan Basin Water Board says the low streamflows and high water temperatures can also be lethal to fish.

The manager of a gas station along the highway south of Yellowknife says while coffee is running low, she’s arranged for enough fuel to supply the thousands of wildfire evacuees. Some 20-thousand-residents of Yellowknife and two nearby First Nation communities have been ordered to leave as a wildfire approaches the city. Edmonton will start accepting some evacuees today and Saskatchewan has said it will make room if needed.

The regional district has temporarily closed four parks on the west side due to the McDougall Creek Fire. They include Traders Cove, Raymer Bay, Rose Valley and Upper Glen Canyon from lower Glenrosa to Smith Creek. Again, for up-to-date information and alerts on the situation go to cordemergency.ca .

A Canadian woman was sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison in Washington for mailing a threatening letter containing the poison ricin to then-President Donald Trump at the White House. Pascale Ferrier had pleaded guilty to violating biological weapons prohibitions. Prosecutors said Ferrier made the ricin at home in Quebec in September 2020 and mailed the potentially deadly poison.

RCMP in Kelowna are not facing any charges related to an injury sustained during an apprehension under the mental health act in April last year. They spent 20 minutes trying to persuade a woman to go with them, but she was screaming and refused to go, so police had to physically apprehend her but she resisted, resulting in a broken bone in her arm. The Independent Investigation Office says the actions were reasonable and no charges will be laid.

The run of pink salmon in the Fraser River is exceeding expectations this summer. The Pacific Salmon Commission is increasing its projections of returns to possibly 11.6 million, up from estimates of up to 8.6 million. Environmentalists and Indigenous leaders suggest the larger returns are linked to the closure of open-net Atlantic salmon farms off the Discovery Islands on the migration routes.

SPORTS

The Okanagan Sun will be going for their fourth straight win to start the football season tomorrow night at the Apple Bowl. The Langley Rams will be in town for a 7pm kickoff.

The BC Lions are on the road this weekend. Sunday’s game in Regina against the Roughriders starts at 4. Winnipeg is in Calgary tonight.

In Hamilton last night, the Edmonton Elks finally won a game beating the Tiger Cats 24-10.

Cincinatti is where the Blue Jays find themselves for 3 games. First pitch against the Reds is this afternoon just after 3:30.

Heading into the 2nd round of the PGA’s BMW Championship Rory McIlroy and Brian Harmon are tied for the lead at five under par. Corey Connors is top Canadian just two shots back.