Top Stories – Mar 15 – Greystokes Rescue

Central Okanagan Search and Rescue called in a helicopter on Monday to help with an injured snowmobiler in the Greystokes area. The chopper brought in a medical team but had to leave when visibility dropped so the injured man was taken out by sled. COSAR says the 29-year-old and his two partners used an InReach to transmit their location and then built a fire and shelter and waited for help.

Kelowna Council issued a development permit for a four-storey apartment building at 453 Osprey Avenue in the Pandosy neighbourhood. The building with 44 units will include nine, two-bedroom with dens, 26 two-bedroom, and nine one bedroom with dens.

The federal transportation minister is promising 76-million-dollars to reduce the backlog of airline passenger complaints. He says the money will let the Canadian Transportation Agency hire 200 more employees who can chip away at the current total of 42-thousand complaints.

The DeHart Community Park design has been updated and is ready for public review. There’s an online survey at getinvolved.kelowna.ca and today you can stop by the site from 2-6pm at 687 DeHart Road and speak with the project team and ask questions about the proposed concept.

The cost of an annual freshwater fishing licence in BC is going up. The increase for the basic angling licence for adults is just about 10% this year… from 36 dollars to $39.56. Next year it jumps another 4 percent to $41.15. A portion of the money goes to The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC which stocks more than 5.4 million fish into 641 lakes annually.

Former youth in care in BC will have their tuition waived for post-secondary education as government removes age requirements for the Tuition Waiver Program. Since 2017 it has been for those aged 19 to 26. It covers a wide range of undergraduate study options, including courses leading to a certificate, diploma, apprenticeship or undergraduate degree. Details at studentaidbc.ca .

The BC Court of Appeal has ordered a new trial for a Kelowna man convicted of second-degree murder for bludgeoning another man with a hammer. Steven Pirko was convicted for the 2014 attack on Christopher Ausman after he intervened in a fight between his friend and Ausman. In a 3-0 ruling the high court said that the trial judge’s charge to the jury was “so confusing as to amount to error in law.”

Spring Break starts this weekend and Kelowna International Airport is anticipating more than 130,000 passengers to travel during the two weeks. They suggest you check in online when possible and arrive and drop off your bags at least 2 hours before your flight. For more spring break travel tips, go to ylw.kelowna.ca/traveltips

The Alberta government is planning to require all police services in the province to use body cameras. Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis said they will be working with the Alberta Association of Chiefs of Police on funding, logistics and when the cameras will roll out.

Sports

The Kelowna Rockets are on the road tonight in Prince George. Pregame show with Regan Bartel on 1047 the Lizard begins at 6:35.

In Vancouver last night the Canucks were outshot, but picked up their 5th straight win with a 5-2 victory against Dallas. JT Miller had a goal and assist on his 30th birthday. Brock Boeser had 3 helpers.

FIFA has created a 104-game schedule that will last nearly six weeks in Canada, the US and Mexico for the 2026 Men’s World Cup. Vancouver and Toronto are the host Canadian cities.

He’s still a Packer, but Aaron Rodgers gave the Jets a wish list of free agents he’d like them to get. It includes Odell Beckham Jr., Randall Cobb, and veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis.