Top Stories – May 19 – Snowboards Recovered

The Kelowna RCMP is looking to find the owners of 3 high end snowboards that were recovered when a U-haul was pulled over during a traffic stop. Two of the 4 people inside the vehicle were arrested on outstanding warrants. This happened back on April 23rd and you can find a link to their descriptions and photos on our Facebook page.

The volunteers at Central Okanagan Search and Rescue were called out Tuesday when two guests at Chute Lake Lodge got lost on the east side of the lake and one was injured. Because of the difficult terrain and the nature of the injury, COSAR sent in a ground team of 12 members as well as a medical team in a helicopter. They were located, taken by boat to the west side of the lake, then transported by helicopter to an ambulance.

NATO envoys failed to reach a consensus yesterday on whether to start membership talks with Finland and Sweden, as Turkey renewed its objections to the two Nordic countries joining. Turkey’s President insists Finland and Sweden must show more respect for Turkish sensitivities about terrorism and is refusing to budge over what he says is their alleged support for Kurdish militants.

Kelowna’s waterparks are set to open for the summer season on Saturday. There are three of them at: City Park, Ben Lee Park and the Quilchena Splash Park. All three will be open daily, weather permitting, through the Labour Day long weekend. To start, hours will be 10am to 6pm and parents or guardians are asked to remain on site to supervise kids.

BC Liquor and Cannabis Store customers have shown their support for people affected by the war in Ukraine by digging deep to raise more than 1 million dollars. The money will go to the Canadian Red Cross’ Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. All donations will go to providing emergency-preparedness support, relief efforts, long-term recovery, resiliency and other critical humanitarian activities.

Today is the final day of the Royal visit to Canada. Prince Charles and Camilla will arrive in Yellowknife this afternoon where they will meet with Inuit leaders and take part in various community events and experience local culture and traditions. In the evening they will be at the Ceremonial Circle for a Platinum Jubilee Celebration, including a raising of the Canadian Platinum Jubilee flag before leaving.

Four Kelowna organizations will benefit from grants to prevent domestic violence, assist people experiencing gender-based violence and support Indigenous people recovering from trauma. The funding is from the Civil Forfeiture Crime Prevention and Remediation Grant program. The groups receiving between 30 and 90 thousand dollars are The Elizabeth Fry Society, Boys and Girls Clubs, Child Advocacy Centre and New Opportunities for Women Canada Society.

West Kelowna Council wants to have an Economic Development Corporation including the creation of an annual work plan, budget, and operations. The City’s existing in-house service is administrative and supportive in nature. Council wants to create an organization that proactively seeks opportunities and works closely with partners and business stakeholders throughout the region.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average sank more than 11-hundred points or 3.5 percent, and the S&P 500 had its biggest drop in nearly two years yesterday. That came after big earnings misses by Target and other major retailers stoked investors’ fears that surging inflation could cut deeply into corporate profits. The TSX Composite fared a bit better, falling just under 400 points or 1.9 percent.

Sports

The first game in the NHL Battle of Alberta playoff was a scoring fest that went to Calgary with a 9-6 win over the Oilers. Matthew Tkachuk had a hat-trick for Calgary.  Game 2 goes tomorrow at 7:30 at the Saddledome. The other game last night in Carolina went to overtime with the Hurricanes prevailing 2-1 against the Rangers.

Canada is back on the ice at the World Hockey Championships in Finland today. The men put their 3 & 0 record up against Kazakhstan with the face off at 10:20 this morning.

Two games tonight in the NHL playoffs. The Panthers host the Lightning after Tampa won the first game. And St. Louis is in Colorado with the Avalanche up 1-0.

One of the biggest golf events of the year begins today at Southern Hills in Tulsa as players tee off at the PGA Championship. Phil Mickelson will not be back to defend his title, but Tiger Woods is in the field.

The second strike in CFL history is over. The CFL and Players’ Association reached a tentative seven-year collective bargaining agreement last night. The contract must still be ratified by both sides.

The WHL Prospects Draft will be held today. The Medicine Hat Tigers hold the first-overall selection. The Kelowna Rockets would have picked 15th, but that selection was traded to Seattle, so Kelowna doesn’t get to choose until 15th in the second and subsequent rounds.