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KELOWNA ROCKETS defenceman prospect Joe Gatenby made a positive impression at the team’s rookie camp last week.
THE FIRST LUTHERAN Christian School wants to offer a fresh spin on school hot lunches with the hope it could create a model for other schools and even parents themselves to follow.
LOCAL VETERINARIAN wants dog and cat owners to be aware behavioural patterns of your dog or cat may be a sign of painful chronic health issues that can possibly be treated.
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August 28, 2012 The Central Okanagan’s Best-Read Newspaper www.kelownacapnews.com
New boss for the United Way
Hells Angels clubhouse raids net $4 million cash Jennifer Smith STAFF REPORTER
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It’s been an exciting year at the Knox Mountain Store where a single mother bought a winning lottery ticket, the owner of Urban Distilleries cashed in his winning lottery ticket and police may have found $4 million in the Hells Angels clubhouse across the street this past Saturday. The stacks of $50 and $100 bills were on display at a press conference in Vancouver Monday morning as RCMP gave reporters a briefing on five raids conducted throughout the province to take down an international drug smuggling operation, including one at the Roanoke Avenue clubhouse Saturday at 3 p.m. RCMP are not confirming which of the locations the cash was seized from, but the seven people arrested in conjunction with the police raids include Kelowna Hells Angels Chapter vicepresident David Giles and there is a Canada-wide warrant out for the arrest of the chapter’s sergeant at arms, Brian Oldham. “The investigation began in November 2011 and initially focused upon the evidence suggesting a marijuana and trafficking organization was active in the southeast district of British Columbia. RCMP gathered evidence indicat-
1892 Spall Rd,
Brian Oldham ing the drug trafficking organization was prepared to import and traffic 500 kilograms of cocaine,” Supt. Brian Cantera, officer in charge of the RCMP drug enforcement branch in B.C., explained at the press conference. Searches were conducted in Osoyoos, Coquitlam and directly across from Tolko in the Kelow-
‘‘ THE EVIDENCE GATHERED THROUGH THIS INVESTIGATION IS A STARK REMINDER OF THE CENTRAL ROLE MARIJUANA PLAYS IN THE INTERNATIONAL DRUG TRADE… RCMP Supt. Brian Cantera
na clubhouse, where bystanders reportedly heard glass smashing but little else to indicate the raid was underway. The location has long raised eyebrows in the neighbourhood and residents have met with police from time to time over the club’s presence. “When it was first built, there were some initial concerns about the fortress-like appearance. It doesn’t even appear to have a front door,” said Heather Rice, president of the Kelowna Downtown Knox Mountain Neighbourhood Association. In the years since, the residents’ association has nevertheless only received comments on the noise from the bikes. Along with the $4 million dollars seized, RCMP say they also brought in an assault rifle and handguns from one of the raid locations, suggesting there may be some serious implications neighbours have not had to think about to date, and the police raised the point during the press conference. “This investigation demonstrated how organized criminal groups engaged in drug trafficking have no respect for municipal, provincial or international borders,” Cantera said. “(And) more concerning is the complete disregard these groups show for Canadian families
Barry Gerding EDITOR
WADE PATERSON/CAPITAL NEWS
THE HELLS ANGELS clubhouse on Ellis Street was raided by police last Saturday afternoon, part of a provincewide sting by the RCMP E division gang squad (headquarterd in Vancouver) to break up an alleged international drug ring operation. and public safety, both of which pay the devastating price exacted for criminal profits.” Giles was arrested and charged with conspiracy to import a controlled substance and traffic a controlled substance along
with Kevin Van Kalkeran, Michael Read and James Howard. Orhan Saydam, Murray Trekofski and Shawn Womacks were arrested and charged with possession for the purposes of trafficking a controlled
substance. And Oldham is also charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking a controlled substance, but remains at large.
Connecting potential donors with causes that mean something to them personally can be a pathway to grow donations to the Central/South Okanagan Similkameen United Way, says the agency’s new executive director. Marla O’Brien started her first day at her new job Monday, replacing Harry Grossmith who stepped down earlier this year. For O’Brien, who has been a fixture in the fundraising and non-profit Central Okanagan scene for the past 14 years, she says her new job presents an exciting opportunity. “For me, it has definitely been a huge goal of mine to work with a local philanthropic organization,” O’Brien told the Capital News. “And I have not been in a leadership role like this before so it’s a big step up for me and an exciting challenge.” O’Brien has been the public relations officer for the Okanagan Regional Library the past three years. Prior to that, O’Brien had worked with the fundraising development office of UBC Okanagan and with Kelowna Human Resources.
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