Top Stories – Feb 7 – Al Horning Way!

The City of Kelowna will honour former City Councillor, MLA and MP Al Horning with a future road named for him at Kelowna International Airport. It will connect the south end to Rutland, the area his family has called home for decades. He was also a champion snowmobile racer, founding member of the Kelowna Snowmobile Association and was inducted into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame in 2021. Horning is 83.

It may be early February, but Kelowna is reminding residents that live near agricultural land that now is the time to sign up for pesticide notifications. The annual registry is open until March 6 and you can ask for same-day or day-before application notification and reasons for registering. Do it at kelowna.ca/pesticidefree .

Canada stands ready to provide help in the aftermath of the deadly 7.8 magnitude earthquake that rocked Turkey and Syria killing more than 4,000 people. Thousands more bodies are expected to be found in the rubble of collapsed buildings. Some 18,000 people were killed in similar quakes that hit northwest Turkey in 1999.

The NDP government says it plans to put this year’s projected budget surplus of almost $6 billion to work as an economic slowdown looms. The Throne Speech includes a plan to support people amid rising costs now and in the long term. The speech said the government will introduce new legislation covering pay transparency, fighting money laundering, and outlawing malicious sharing of intimate images.

Police say a man who had overdosed was found with a loaded gun in Vernon. He was given a dose of naloxone and taken to hospital to recover. The 23-year-old was released from custody but faces a number of potential firearm-related charges.

Experts say the outlook for the loonie this year depends on a few key factors. They are keeping an eye on commodity prices, how the U-S dollar fares, and whether central banks are successful in avoiding a major recession. Analysts at several major Canadian banks predict the loonie will be worth almost 77 cents U-S by the end of this year, while it’s currently closer to 75.

Central Okanagan Public Schools, CUPE Local 3523, and the BC Public School Employers’ Association have ratified a collective bargaining agreement under the Provincial Framework Agreement. The deal was tentatively agreed to last month with the help of a mediator. The members provide non-teaching services inside and outside the classroom.

The Central Okanagan chapter of the Canadian Home Builders Association has announced the 2023 Awards of Excellence. Taking five of them was AuthenTech Homes for its Wilden Living Lab Next Generation Home. The company says it is 100% more efficient than a conventional home, is healthy to live in, has low energy bills, and lowers your carbon footprint.

Patriot missile batteries that Poland acquired from the U.S. last year have been deployed to the capital Warsaw as part of a military exercise, according to Poland’s defense ministry. The country is taking additional steps to strengthen its defensive capabilities as Russia’s war in neighbouring Ukraine enters its second year later this month.

Sports

The Kelowna Rockets and their 3 game winning streak are on the road starting tonight for two games in Prince George. The pregame show on 1047 The Lizard is at 6:35 with play by play at 7. And Rockets goaltender Talyn Boyko was named WHL Goaltender of the Week.

In New Jersey yesterday the Canucks were down 4-1 but fought back to tie it up in regulation. The Devils won it with 40 seconds left in OT. Vancouver’s next game on the eastern road swing is tomorrow at Madison Square Garden.

There doesn’t appear to be a rush to name a new team captain after trading Bo Horvat. The Canucks say that Quinn Hughes and Elias Pettersson will wear ‘A’s on their jerseys for now.

The ‘pro’ part of the PGA’s AT&T Pro-Am in California was won yesterday by Justin Rose. He shot a final round 6 under over two days to finish at 18 under par.