By Tom Mark

Baker Ready For Next Teerm

Baker Ready For Next Term

Oct 24, 2018 | 6:37 AM

Lake Country Mayor James Baker hopes to get moving quickly on some projects with the civic election out of the way.

He’s gratified that voters felt he deserved another term in office.

But his opponent, relative unknown Barry Rhodes, finished only 217 votes behind him.

“I know there’s always people who think change is great and that was his campaign pretty much that he’s there for change and I was there for experience.”

Baker says people obviously voted for experience but admits there was a vote for change and he’ll take that into the next term.

Safety First

Vernon RCMP urge parents not to allow kids to ride e-dirt bikes on roads

19m ago

$700K up to $1.4M

Rising costs double price of flood protection work at Vernon Water Reclamation Centre

23m ago

Abducted Four-Year Old

Amber Alert for West Kelowna child cancelled

6h ago

He says there are things he wants to get done and is confident his council with two new members can hit the ground running.

“We have a couple of developments that we’ve started. I’d liked to see them through, particularly our downtown affordable housing project.”

That project is contingent upon getting provincial and federal money.

Baker says it’s important to get applications in quickly for grant money.

by Tom Mark

Safety First

Vernon RCMP urge parents not to allow kids to ride e-dirt bikes on roads

Local Mounties have asked parents to step up and try to stop dangerous activities on local roads.Vernon North Okanagan RCMP said they have seen an influx of youth riding e-dirt bikes on public roads, but these vehicles do not comply with Motor Vehicle Act regulations and cannot be insured or registered, and therefore a...

23m ago

$700K up to $1.4M

Rising costs double price of flood protection work at Vernon Water Reclamation Centre

The price tag for a flood protection project at a key city asset has doubled.The City of Vernon had planned a flood protection project for the Vernon Water Reclamation Centre, as the facility was found to be vulnerable during high flow events, posing operation and flood risk concerns for the centre and the downstream c...

26m ago

Potential Fire Bug

Police seek suspect after three suspicious fires in West Kelowna

West Kelowna RCMP are looking for a suspect believed to be connected to three suspicious fires set early Saturday morning.Police say firefighters were called around 4:25 a.m. July 18 after a portable toilet caught fire at a park in the 3100-block of Shannon Lake Road. The flames spread to a nearby structure before bein...

1h ago

Crime Concerns

Kelowna crime severity declines, but safety concerns remain

Crime severity in the Kelowna area declined in 2025, according to new Statistics Canada data, but many residents say they still have concerns about public safety.The Kelowna Census Metropolitan Area, which includes Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lake Country and Peachland, ranked ninth highest among Canada's 41 metropolitan ar...

4h ago

Found Safe

Missing man found safe after overnight search near Mission Creek

A coordinated search involving RCMP and Kelowna Search and Rescue crews ended with a missing man being found safe late Tuesday night.Search and Rescue said it received a call around 7 p.m. asking for assistance in locating the man in the Sutherland Hills area behind Mission Creek.More than a dozen team members responde...

4h ago

Abducted Four-Year Old

Amber Alert for West Kelowna child cancelled

Police cancelled the Amber Alert issued shortly after midnight Wednesday for a missing West Kelowna boy.At 12:03 p.m. July 22 the RCMP cancelled the alert.Police said multiple tips led to the child being found in Vernon."We would like to thank the public, the media, and our policing partners for their assistance,&...

6h ago

Supply for Ag Uses

Vernon still considering using reclaimed water for agricultural purposes

The City of Vernon is hoping to use reclaimed water to support local agriculture producers.The city and the Regional District of North Okanagan tasked staff with conducting a feasibility assessment on using reclaimed water to top up the Goose Lake Reservoir.The idea came in response to the declining water supply and in...

22h ago

Home Invasion and Homicide

Police investigating murder in Salmon Arm

RCMP have asked for the public's help investigating a home invasion turned homicide.Police believe three suspects, two men and a woman, broke into a home in the 100 block of 4th Street SE around 3 a.m. Friday, July 17.During the home invasion, the suspects got into an altercation with a resident who was shot and later ...

23h ago

Calls for Support

City of Kelowna hiring 300 workers for 2026 municipal election

The City of Kelowna is looking for about 300 people to help run the 2026 municipal election this October.Paid positions are available for advance voting days on Oct. 7, 10, 14, 15 and 16, as well as general voting day on Oct. 17.Election workers will help with tasks including registering voters, issuing ballots, suppor...

Jul 21, 2026

Baker Ready For Next Term

Other Matters

What Matters