Helicoptered to safety

An injured rider of an all-terrain vehicle was helicoptered to safety on Sunday evening.

The man hurt his arm while riding with friends near Bear Lake in West Kelowna.

About 20 volunteers with Central Okanagan Search and Rescue responded to the call. The man was airlifted out by a crew from Wildcat Helicopters.

He was transferred to an ambulance and taken to hospital.

Also Sunday, search and rescue got a call about a boat sinking in Okanagan Lake near Pritchard Drive in West Kelowna. Initially, the report was that 10 people were on board, but everyone made it safely to shore.

Seventeen new single-family homes and 44 townhomes are proposed for Glenrosa in West Kelowna.

The project is planned for a currently vacant property at 2971 Gorman Rd., near Glenrosa Middle School.

“We view this large, seven-acre site as a rare opportunity to offer a diverse range of homes while maintaining the appeal of the surrounding single-family neighbourhood,” Kerr Properties writes in their development proposal to the City of West Kelowna.

The city’s advisory planning commission endorses the development, but the final decision on the necessary changes to the zoning designation and official community plan depend on support from city council.There is currently no date for when the proposal will be considered by council.

The long-time chief of Osoyoos Indian Band is taking over as tribal chairman and spokesman from Grand Chief Stewart Phillip.

“Chief Louie is the longest-standing chief within the nation and will no doubt provide strong leadership based on his years of experience, knowledge and past service to the nation,” the Okanagan Nation Alliance said in a press release.

During his 34 years as chief, Louie has helped lead OIB into a variety of major business ventures, ranging from an industrial park and winery to golf course and resort.

Phillip, who served as tribal chairman for 16 years, went public in June with an appeal for a kidney donation he said was needed to extend his life.

“The ONA would like to acknowledge (Phillip’s) lifetime commitment to the defence of Indigenous people’s title and rights, his service to the Syilx Okanagan people and our advancement as a nation.”

The alliance is made up of seven First Nations from this region, plus the Colville Confederated Tribes in Washington State.

A police officer was slightly injured when she was hit by a man and knocked into a parked car, RCMP say. The incident played out Saturday afternoon on Beach Avenue in Peachland.

At 4 p.m., an officer was conducting an unspecified investigation in the area, according to a police news release.

A man who was not connected to the investigation approached the officer, and allegedly started shouting at him.

“A second officer attended the scene and attempted to speak with the man, who continued to act in a very disruptive manner despite being cautioned by police to stop,” an RCMP news release says.

“Despite the officer’s efforts to de-escalate the tense situation, the man was placed under arrest and he immediately began to resist. At one point, he allegedly kicked at the officers, striking one and knocking her into a nearby parked vehicle.”

The female police officer suffered minor injuries as a result.

“This sort of behaviour towards our officers is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” West Kelowna RCMP commander Staff-Sgt. Duncan Dixon said in the police release.

An unidentified 29-year-old Peachland man was subsequently released from custody on conditions for a future court date. The BC Prosecution Service will decide if he is to be charged.

Police say they’d like to speak with the owner of the parked car.