Six-foot-eight rookie Tyler Myers makes Sabres roster

Six-foot-eight rookie Tyler Myers makes Sabres roster

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 2 hours ago

BUFFALO, N.Y. — He's not only tall, he's a top prospect. And now rookie Tyler Myers is on the team.

After a stellar 2008-09 season in Kelowna, where he led the Rockets to the WHL championship and was named the league's playoff MVP, Myers, Buffalo's top pick in the 2008 draft (12th overall), is on the Sabres' 23-man roster that was announced on Wednesday afternoon.

"I came into camp telling myself that I'm going to compete as hard as I can for a spot on the team," Myers said.

Myers, 19, signed a three-year entry level contract in May, and under NHL rules, the first year won't kick in until he plays his 10th NHL game this season.

At six-foot-eight, Myers is an inch shorter than Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara, who is the NHL's tallest player.

Out of work: Kelowna bucks national trend with more on unemployment lines

Out of work: Kelowna bucks national trend with more on unemployment lines

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009 | 7:00 am

By Kathy Michaels

The number of Kelowna residents in need of Employment Insurance benefits continues to climb despite the fact things are looking up in other parts of the country.

Statistics Canada reported that 787,700 Canadians received regular Employment Insurance benefits this July. That number marks a drop of 31,500, or 3.8 per cent, beneficiaries from a month earlier.

While that figure has been lauded as the first decrease in 11 months, it’s largely due to a bounce back in eastern provinces. Kelowna, on the other hand, experienced a surge in claims, both in monthly and yearly reports.

This July there were 4,010 locals receiving the subsidy, compared to 1,630 in July, 2008. Year-over-year, that’s an increase of 146 per cent. Month over month, the number rose 7.2 per cent from 3,740.

That news didn’t come as a big surprise to Dan Tellier, owner and operator of Okanagan Educational Centre, a business that offers a work search strategies program for unemployed and underemployed locals.

“I have a good pulse on what’s happening in the various sectors and I am not seeing a (bounce-back) yet,” he said.

Tellier explained that when the manufacturing sector started to stagnate, there were reverberations all the way down the supply chain and that’s impacting every aspect of the local job market.

Reflecting back on boom times, Tellier pointed out that employers were offering more and more money to lure prospective employees through their doors. Those days are no more.

“What’s somewhat unique about the Kelowna marketplace, is that wages have gone down and businesses are taking advantage of that,” he said. “The reality is that basically from two years ago, until September, 2008 wages were on the increase and employers were having difficulty retaining people. Now employers are back to the status quo.”

Of note, he said, is the retail and food service industries have again started offering lower wages.

Gloom and doom aside, Tellier said there is still work for those who know how to market themselves. On his side of things, they’ve worked to ensure that 75 per cent of the people who come through their doors find work on their way out, and that’s a mandate that they’ve continued to meet.

“There are opportunities out there and our students are finding jobs,” he said. “The key is to continue to believe in oneself… people will find work if they are competitive in their job search. Sitting at the computer, looking at help-wanted ads and never contacting the employer won’t help.”

kathy@kelowna.com

Kelowna welcomes largest aircraft

by Contributed -

Kelowna International Airport (YLW) will welcome one of the world’s largest aircraft, the Antonov AN-124, when it arrives on Saturday September 26 at approximately 7 a.m.

The Antonov AN-124, arriving non-stop from Kazan, Russia, will deliver helicopters to Kelowna Flightcraft for maintenance and modification services.

Accommodating the Antonov at Kelowna airport was made possible because of the runway extension from 7,300 feet to 8,900 feet in November 2008. “The arrival of the Antonov is a great opportunity for YLW to attract other long haul flights for commercial passenger and cargo flights and for very specialized aviation maintenance work by companies such as Kelowna Flightcraft and AVM Solutions Inc.,” says Sam Samaddar, Airport Director.

Avionics Modification Solutions (AVM) Bob Monaghan, President and CEO states, “YLW may see one or two AN-124 operations a year for similar helicopter deliveries.”

The Antonov AN-124 will be the largest aircraft to land at Kelowna International and may be one of the noisiest aircrafts residents within the airport’s flight path are expected to hear. The aircraft is expected to depart Saturday at 10 p.m. The Airport, Kelowna Flightcraft and AVM Solutions apologize in advance for any noise disturbance experienced.

Aviation enthusiasts hoping to watch the aircraft land and take off are reminded there is no parking or stopping along Highway 97 or the north section of the airport on Old Vernon Road. Sections of Airport Way will be cordoned off, but still accessible from the North and South entrances of Highway 97.

Recommended vantage points to view the aircraft’s arrival include the Ellison baseball field and the far east extension of the long-term parking lot (airport parking rates will apply).

Dukes of Hazzard type of accident in West Kelowna

Thu, 2009-09-24 10:45.

Local News

It looked like a scene from Dukes of Hazzard after a spectacular single vehicle accident this morning in West Kelowna.

The driver of a one ton Ford pickup truck lost control along Highway 97 and Grizzley Road, sending his vehicle across the highway striking a median and landing in a back yard of a mobile home park.

Barry Scheid lives next door and was enjoying a morning cup of coffee when he heard a big bang.

"Two weeks ago a car came through the barricade into our back yard two weeks ago. I was s**tting. I thought that thing was coming through our yard again."

Scheid says something need to be done at that intersection.

"This corner is bad anyway. Something needs to be done..maybe a set of lights put in here to slow traffic down. I think this is 1,2,3,4,5, I believe six accidents since March."

Surprisingly no one was hurt in the accident.

Regan Bartel - Kelowna

Suspect nabbed after assault on elderly woman

Suspect nabbed after assault on elderly woman

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 | 12:47 pm

A man wanted in connection with a violent attack on a 67-year-old woman in Lake Country was arrested here on Monday with the assistance of licence plate recognition technology.

Just before the lunch hour Monday, a City of Kelowna bylaw officer using an advanced licence plate recognition camera, which can spot licence plates associated with stolen vehicles, had his attention drawn to a Dodge Dakota pickup that had been stolen on Sunday in Lake Country.

Police were notified and the vehicle was located near the Bennett Bridge. The chase was called off when the driver began driving erratically on his way to West Kelowna. The chase was called off. Later in the day, however, the truck was spotted by a cop waiting where the Bear Creek Main forestry road exits onto Westside Road.

The driver of the Dakota saw a police cruiser and approached the officers on foot. He was arrested without incident.

Richard Benjamin, 32, is charged with theft over $5,000, dangerous driving and flight from police. As well, he’s charged with aggravated assault in connection with the incident Sunday. Police say he was picking fruit in a Lake Country orchard when he became involved in an argument with the 67-year-old woman. Benjamin, of no fixed address, is alleged to have knocked her down and then kicked her in the head, before taking the keys to her vehicle.

The victim, who is from the Midway area, needed emergency surgery and remains in hospital in serious condition.

Tough Day For Kelowna Council

by Rob Turner
Sep 15, 2009 / 10:30 am

Long meetings, crabby constituents and bad press notwithstanding, being a Kelowna councillor does have its occasional perks.

Council starts its work day Tuesday with a buffet lunch at 12 noon at the Kelowna Art Gallery and concludes with a wine tasting at 4 p.m. at the B.C. Wine Museum & VQA Wine Shop.

It's all part of a half-day session of briefings and tours on the Kelowna Cultural District, according to the agenda for the "special meeting."

Sandwiched in between the nourishment and the refreshments, council will be given presentations and/or tours by:

Sandra Kochan, Cultural Services Manager, City of Kelowna
Dona Moore, Executive Director, Kelowna Art Gallery
Tracie Ward, Executive Director, Rotary Centre for the Arts and
Wayne Wilson, Executive Director, B.C. Orchard Industry Museum and the B.C. Wine Museum & VQA Wine Shop.

Kelowna is also scheduled to hold another special meeting at the Central Okanagan school district (SD23) office on Thursday morning.

Murray Tekano, transportation district manager for the Okanagan-Shuswap District, explains how easy the HOV lanes will work in Kelowna along Highway 97 between Highway 33 and the bridge.

Sean Connor

by Alastair Waters Kelowna Cap News

It’s taken eight months and cost $16.1 million but the first high- occupancy vehicle lanes outside of the Lower Mainland will open Sept. 20 along Kelowna’s Harvey Avenue.

The HOV lanes, using the eastbound and westbound curb lanes between Water and Pandosy Streets and Highway 33, will be open to cars and light trucks with at least two occupants.

Buses, motorcycles, taxis and Handi-Dart vehicles will also be allowed to use the new lanes.

Drivers of single-occupancy vehicles risk $109 fines if they are caught driving in the lanes, unless they are within one block of turning right, said B.C. Ministry of Transportation district manager Murray Tekano.

The lanes, introduced here to “efficiently and effectively move more people in fewer vehicles to help reduce congestion and improve mobility in the existing urban corridor,” are viewed by the ministry as part of a larger plan to ease traffic congestion on the highway through Kelowna.

According to the ministry, on any given day there 47,000 vehicles using Harvey Avenue and while 25 per cent of them are now believed to already carrying more than two occupants, the ministry wants that number to grow.

Unlike freeway HOV lanes, such as the ones on Highway 1 through the eastern suburbs of Vancouver, urban corridor HOV lanes use the curb lane not the fast lane.

They are aimed at moving more people in few vehicles, not increasing speed. There are several examples of urban corridor HOV lanes in the Lower Mainland, including on Hastings Street in Burnaby, Granville Street in Vancouver, Georgia Street in Vancouver the Barnet Highway in Burnaby and St. Johns Street and Clarke Street in Port Moody. There is also one on Centre Street in Calgary.

Tekano said one reason reason for using the curb lanes as HOV lanes here is because the project is aimed at improving transit use.

As part of the project, six new bus pullout bays have been installed along the route and the HOV lanes will play a bigger role when rapid transit buses are introduced in the coming years to ferry people between Kelowna and West Kelowna.

Another part of the project, is “prioritization” which will allow GPS units on buses and in traffic signal standards along the route to work together to coordinate traffic lights to provide better traffic flow for buses, said Tekano.

“What we want is to get more people into each vehicle and onto buses,” he said.

As part of a public education system for drivers, the ministry will set up a kiosk at Orchard Park Mall, open a website, www.HOVkelowna.com and set up an information phone line, 250-712-3628.

Tekano said enforcement of the HOV lane rules will be left up to the RCMP and while no “grace” period would be implemented for drivers to get used to the new lanes, he expected there would be an education component to police enforcement.

The new lanes will be identified with a diamond-shape sign on the roadway and overhead signs with that shape, the letters HOV and a picture of a car with two passengers inside

Cawston Avenue Multi-use Corridor Open House

Cawston Avenue Multi-use Corridor
The public is invited to attend an open house:

Wednesday, September 16, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Kelowna Curling Club (Foyer), 551 Recreation Ave

The proposed multi-use corridor will provide a safe and convenient pedestrian/cycling connection along Cawston Avenue and connect the Rails with Trails pathway to the downtown waterfront.

Learn more about the project and provide input to City staff and Consultants, Urban Systems Ltd.

INFO: 250 469-8485 kelowna.ca/cityprojects

by Castanet Staff - Story: 49466
Sep 11, 2009 / 1:30 pm

A 31-year-old Kelowna woman faces numerous charges after biting and scratching a police officer who was trying to arrest her.

According to police, the woman was spotted at the corner of Pandosy and Leon shortly before 6 p.m. Thursday by a member of the Downtown Enforcement Unit.

She was the subject of an outstanding warrant.

Cst Steve Holmes says the officer advised the woman she was under arrest for breach of probation.

"As the officer attempted to place handcuffs on her, she became suddenly resistant," says Holmes.

"The officer continually directed her to place her hands behind her back, but she became violent and a struggle ensued."

Holmes says the officer was bitten and scratched on both of his arms.

"Other officers attended so that she could be controlled without further injury to the arresting officer."

The woman faces charges of breach of probation, resisting arrest and assaulting a police officer.