Top Stories – Sept 15 – Evac Orders Drop

A big drop yesterday in the number of properties on evacuation order for the McDougall Creek wildfire. Including the recent rescindments and a better count of the secondary and vacant suites at Lake Okanagan Resort, the total is 85. On the fire line, crews continued to work on mop-up objectives, patrols and extinguishing hotspots and demobilizing non-essential equipment. The fire is still classified as out of control. CORD Emergency is reminding people that with the bulk of Evacuation Orders in the vicinity of the McDougall Creek wildfire rescinded and the reopening of Westside Road, motorists must use caution when travelling. Things to be aware of include wildfire crews that are still on site, along with vehicles, and heavy equipment. Other cautions include hazardous tree removals, increased public presence, wildlife and changing road conditions.

Beginning today, the Traders Cove Transfer Station will reopen after closing due to the wildfire and has expanded its operation temporarily as cleanup begins for residents. It’s at the junction of Westside Road and Bear Lake Main Road, and will be open extended hours today, Saturday, and Sunday from 9am to 5pm. There will be no limit on the volume of bagged household waste and non-burnt yard waste that impacted households can discard.

Hurricane Lee is expected to become a powerful post-tropical storm tomorrow when it makes landfall on the East Coast. Residents in western Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick are being told to prepare for power outages and flooding. Lee was southwest of Bermuda yesterday as a Category 1 hurricane, with sustained winds of 155 kilometres per hour.

A student has been arrested in connection with an incident Monday in Rutland where a Sikh student was bear sprayed after getting off a bus. It was the second time this year a Sikh youth had been the victim of violence around public transit. Police did not say what charges have been recommended to prosecutors, but added while the effects of bear spray are extremely painful and may only be temporary, the effects of this young man’s decisions will last much longer.

The Province has received approval from Ottawa to prohibit the possession of illegal drugs at playgrounds, spray pools, wading pools and skate parks starting Monday. It’s an amendment to the decriminalization policy to add those spaces to existing exclusions on possession, including on the premises of K-12 schools and licensed child care facilities.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Ottawa is removing the GST on construction of new rental apartment buildings. The change would lower the cost of labour and materials for homebuilders. Liberals are also calling the heads of big grocery chains to Ottawa to explain how the price of food can be stabilized.

The State of Emergency in BC due to the wildfires has ended. Victoria says many communities like West Kelowna still have local states of emergency in place. However the expiration of the provincial one does not impact wildfire-fighting resources or the ability to continue to provide emergency supports. In BC, about 370 properties are on evacuation order and more than 18,000 are on alert.

People looking to enroll in post-secondary education, who are former youth in care, can now be part of the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program, which has launched for the fall semester. It has been expanded to include all former youth in care, regardless of age. The program is no longer capped on a person’s 27th birthday.

Sports

The Kelowna Rockets wrap up their preseason with two home games this weekend. The Vancouver Giants visit Prospera Place tonight while the Victoria Royals are in town tomorrow. Both games start at 7:05.

The Okanagan Sun are on the road tomorrow taking on the Broncos in Kamloops.

Thursday Night Football in Philadelphia saw the Eagles beat the Vikings 34-28.

After a week off, the BC Lions are back on the field this weekend. They host Ottawa tomorrow at 4:00. Tonight sees Toronto at Montreal and Edmonton in Saskatchewan.

After losing all four home games to the Rangers this week, there are three more important home games for the Toronto Blue Jays this weekend as they fight for a wild card spot in the playoffs. The Boston Red Sox are at Rogers Centre.