Photo: Mike Williamson
Have you seen these pieces of equipment? Mike Williamson, show superintendent for the Kelowna Kennel Club said the club’s stolen trailer has been recovered but some expensive pieces of equipment are still missing.
UPDATE: 7:00 p.m.
The Kelowna Kennel Club’s missing trailer has been recovered, according to show superintendent Mike Williamson.
Williamson told Castanet on Thursday evening that the RCMP had located the trailer — reported stolen early Wednesday morning — which had contained all the equipment used for the annual kennel club dog show.
Williamson said he hasn’t yet taken a thorough look inside the recovered trailer, but he noted a lock on one of the trailer doors was cut, and a few larger items that had been stored in the trailer are still gone.
“A couple of the big items, like some of our obedience equipment and stuff like that is missing, but I really can’t say what’s missing out if it completely right now,” Williamson said.
He said he would be taking a full assessment of the remaining trailer contents in the morning.
“That type of equipment that’s missing is still some fairly expensive equipment as is, so it would be nice to get it back without having to replace it.”
Anyone who sees any of the stolen items for sale is encouraged to contact the RCMP or the Kelowna Kennel Club.
ORIGINAL: 2:00 p.m.
Cindy White
The show might not go on for the Kelowna Kennel Club.
Their trailer, containing all the equipment used for the annual kennel club dog show, was stolen early Wednesday morning from outside the West Kelowna business of show superintendent Mike Williamson.
“We checked some security footage from neighbouring companies and found that a truck had picked it up and drove away with it,” said Williamson.
The trailer was parked in a parking lot next to Jazz’s Grooming and Training Centre, at 2109 Louie Drive.
Everything belonging to the Kelowna Kennel Club was in the trailer. Williamson said that included some pieces that he had made himself.
Williamson says it’s going to be difficult to put on next year’s kennel club show, which is usually held on the May long weekend, unless their equipment is found or somehow replaced.
“It’s disheartening for a lot of people,” he said. “They wouldn’t be very happy with what’s going on. Eventually, we would have to pick it up and try to put something back on, but right now, as it sits, the club has absolutely no equipment.”
If you spot the missing trailer or any of the stolen items for sale, contact RCMP or the Kelowna Kennel Club.
Photo: RCMP
James Wood
The search for a missing West Kelowna man has been suspended for the time being, as police continue with their investigation into the man’s disappearance.
Wednesday night, the RCMP asked Central Okanagan Search and Rescue crews to stand down in their search for James Wood.
The 27-year-old man was last seen leaving his home on the 2000 block of West Kelowna’s Peters Road Monday afternoon. Police said he may be disoriented or in need of medical assistance, and they’re concerned for his wellbeing.
While search crews went door-to-door Wednesday night in the Peters Road area, asking residents if they’d seen the man, the search has been suspended for now.
“We have been stood down at the moment as the RCMP is doing some further investigation,” said COSAR search manager Duane Tresnich.
The RCMP have asked anyone with information about Wood’s whereabouts to contact their local police.
Photo: RCMP
James Wood
UPDATE 6:15 p.m.
West Kelowna RCMP is advising the public that Central Okanagan Search and Rescue (COSAR) will be going door to door in the area of Peters Road in West Kelowna, looking for James Wood.
Police believe he is in the West Kelowna or Kelowna area.
ORIGINAL 1:30 p.m.
Police and search and rescue crews continue their search for a missing 27-year-old man in West Kelowna Wednesday.
James Wood, 27, was last seen leaving his home on foot in the 2000 block of West Kelowna’s Peters Road Monday afternoon, and police say they’re concerned for his wellbeing.
“We’re back out looking for him today,” said Central Okanagan Search and Rescue manager Duane Tresnich.
He said search crews are looking for Wood in several different areas, but they’re focusing on the Carrington Road area Wednesday.
Police said Tuesday that Wood may appear disoriented and in need of medical assistance.
He’s described as a 5-foot-8, 126-pound Caucasian man with brown hair and green eyes. He was last seen wearing pyjama pants and a button up t-shirt.
Tresnich is asking anyone with information about Wood’s whereabouts to call police.
Photo: Marianne
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A mountain goat paid a visit to a home in Peachland this week.
Marianne tells Castanet the mountain goat wandered onto her property mid-afternoon, Monday.
“My neighbour called us to tell us the mountain Goat was walking onto our property. He was standing by the rocks overlooking the lake.”
Marianne says she was shocked to see the animal so close.
“We were quite surprised because they usually reside in Summerland. He was huge. He looked almost the size of a polar bear. I’m wondering if he came from goats peak,” she added.
Rob Gibson – Nov 9, 2021 / 1:07 pm | Story: 351154
Photo: RCMP
West Kelowna RCMP are searching for missing West Kelowna man James Wood, who was last seen at 1:45 p.m. on Monday November 8, 2021.
Wood was seen leaving his residence on foot in the 2000 block of Peters Road in West Kelowna on Monday. Police believe that he is still in the West Kelowna or Kelowna area but they are very concerned for James’s health and well-being.
Wood is described as:
- Caucasian male
- 27 years old
- 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
- 126 lbs (57 kg)
- Brown hair
- Green eyes
- Last seen wearing pyjama pants and a button up t-shirt
RCMP tell Castanet that Wood may appear disoriented and may be in need of medical assistance.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of James Wood is urged to contact their local police or Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
Photo: Contributed
Mar Jok Elementary school in West Kelowna will shut down in-person learning for a week and a half due to a COVID-19 outbreak
The Central Okanagan School District superintendent Kevin Kaardal confirms the closure will take place from Thursday, Nov. 11 until Monday, Nov. 22.
Students education will continue with remote learning.
The Interior Health Medical Health Officer has declared a COVID-19 school outbreak and is asking all members of the school community to self-monitor for symptoms and get tested if they are sick, the district stated in a news release.
“The declaration of an outbreak and temporary closure of the physical school to in-class learning is an important safety measure. We are confident in our staff’s proven ability to minimize the disruption to learning and transition to remote learning for students,” said SD23 Supt. Kevin Kaardal.
“Interior Health has worked closely with our administrators to protect students and staff, and we are well prepared to adapt to safety measures such as this to prevent the spread of communicable disease.”
Interior Health listed Mar Jok Elementary as a ‘potential exposure event’ back on October 26th along with five other schools in the district.
Interior Health identified increased COVID-19 activity at the school in recent weeks and asked several school community members to self-isolate, the news release stated.
“Despite this and other measures taken by school staff, a handful of exposures continued to occur, prompting Interior Health to recommend the temporary suspension of in-class learning. In its letter to Mar Jok families, Interior Health commended the school and school district for going above and beyond to implement additional
environmental and administrative measures to prevent transmission.”
For the latest on school outbreaks, click here.
Photo: SD23
A much needed new high school on the Westside is one step closer to reality.
The Central Okanagan School District says it received approval for its concept plan to construct a new secondary school on the repurposed George Pringle Elementary school site in downtown West Kelowna.
Provincial approval of the concept plan came last Friday.
Along with its concept plan, the school district also submitted a project definition report in order to expedite final approval.
The district, in an email Tuesday, says it hopes to receive final approval as soon as possible in order to get to work on the project.
“The need for this new secondary school is incredibly urgent,” says board chairperson, Moyra Baxter.
“The Board of Education implores the province to provide final approval on this project as soon as possible, as any delays will further exacerbate the capacity issues at Mount Boucherie Secondary School.”
The district says it will release considerations for catchment changes for the next school year, and for when the new secondary school opens next Tuesday.
Consideration for locations of the French Immersion elementary and secondary programs on the Westside will also be released at that time.
The public is invited to attend a drop-in public information session about the considerations on Nov. 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Mount Boucherie Secondary.
George Pringle was originally a secondary school until the school board of the day voted to convert it to an elementary school in 2003.
Photo: Contributed
It is not a sight you see often in November.
A photo submitted to Castanet shows a convertible Audi with its roof down stuck on a Peachland Beach.
It is unknown why the motorist decided to drive on to the pebbled beach, but one resident believes it may have to do with a selfie gone wrong.
“Peachland has no dogs on beach signs but does not exclude Audi drivers who bury their cars in the beach sand [and] rocks trying to get a cool selfie along the beach on Beach Avenue,” the Castanet viewer said.
Photo: Cindy White
UPDATE: 6:40 p.m.
Vehicles involved in a two-vehicle crash near the bottom of bridge hill late Monday afternoon have been removed.
Southbound traffic heading out of Kelowna had been backed up past the William R. Bennett Bridge.
Traffic is again flowing smoothly.
ORIGINAL: 5:30 p.m.
Traffic is at a virtual standstill on the William R. Bennett Bridge as a result of a two vehicle crash near the bottom of bridge hill.
Castanet reporter Cindy White, who was caught up in the traffic jam, says two of the three lanes are blocked as a result of a crash between a semi and a small passenger vehicle.
No word on injuries.
Bridge cam footage shows traffic backed up well beyond the bridge itself heading into West Kelowna.
Castanet will have more details if, and when they become available.
Cindy White
November 8 is Indigenous Veterans Day, and it was marked with a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial on the Westbank First Nation.
“We pray that all those who fought for our country, the fighters, the warriors are remembered in a good way. We also pray that all the defenders of our land, of our resources, of our languages, are being cared for in a good way,” said Westbank First Nation councillor Jordan Coble.
Among those in attendance was Tom Konek, a WFN member who served in the United States military from 2001-2005. The day that he arrived on base to start technical training was September 11, 2001. He deployed to Qatar in the summer of 2004, where he served as a computer technician.
“I think it’s very powerful to have more events like this that are acknowledging aboriginal veterans and the sacrifices. I’m starting to learn more and more about what they had to endure when they came back, and some of the lack of benefits. Not being treated as their peers, that also served.”
Konek says bringing more attention to it does bring the community together to acknowledge the sacrifices they made.
Thousands of indigenous soldiers served for Canada in the First and Second World Wars.
Dinah Littlechief brought a picture of her 100-year-old uncle, Joe, from Manitoba. He fought in the Second World War. Her family is an example of the great sacrifices made by indigenous communities.
“They’ve given their life’s work to keep this country going for everybody. I had two other uncles that were in the Second World War too on my mother’s side. Two uncles on my mother’s side and one uncle on my dad’s side were all in the Second World War.”
All flags on federal buildings, including the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill, were lowered today, along with the flag at Kelowna City Hall. Central Okanagan Public School’s flags were also flying at half-mast.
While not formally recognized by the federal government, Indigenous Veterans Day has been growing in size and scope since it was first observed by the city council in Winnipeg in 1994.
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