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KELOWNA ROCKETS defenceman Madison Bowey is touted as a first round pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft
COLUMNIST Maxine DeHart says customers will notice some changes to a popular flower shop in the Mission.
FOLK SINGER Rykka, better known as Christina Maria, has taken on a new name to reflect her move to adapt to a new signature sound with guitars, keyboards and catchy pop melodies.
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THURSDAY June 6 , 2013 The Central Okanagan’s Best-Read Newspaper www.kelownacapnews.com
▼ SEXUAL ASSAULT
Women attacked on the Mission Park Greenway Jennifer Smith STAFF REPORTER
Christy Clark (right) can run in a byelection for his constituency seat in the B.C. legislature.
▼ WESTSIDE-KELOWNA
MLA gives up his riding for the premier ASSISTANT EDITOR
Team Okanagan has an opening for a new member. But Kelowna-Mission Liberal MLA Steve Thomson and Kelowna-Lake Country Liberal MLA Norm Letnick hope to replace their outgoing Westside-Kelowna colleague Ben Stewart with an even bigger political player, Premier Christy Clark.
Stewart, fresh off a dominating provincial election win May 14 in which he took 58 per cent of the vote in Westside-Kelowna, announced Wednesday he is stepping aside so Clark, who lost her Vancouver-Point Grey seat in the election, can run here in a byelection. “It’s an important decision for the province, an important decision for the constituency of Westside-Kelowna and an important decision for myself,” said an
emotional Stewart Wednesday. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Clark under sunny but wind-swept skies at his Quail’s Gate Winery in West Kelowna Wednesday, Stewart said stepping aside for Clark did not mean he would step away from politics. He vowed to help Clark win in the riding that he has represented since 2009. Given the ease with which he won re-election in last month’s general election, Clark’s bid for
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the seat is not expected to be a difficult one. Stewart’s margin of victory was the fourth highest of any Liberal elected on May 14. As expected, Clark had nothing but praise for Stewart, saying she was “humbled” by his offer to give up his seat, a gesture she said represented the values he stands for—putting the interests of the province first.
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WESTSIDE-KELOWNA MLA Ben Stewart speaks Wednesday at a press conference held to announce that he will step aside so that Premier
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A 22-year-old woman is recovering from a head injury and sexual assault after being attacked Monday evening near the Mission Creek Greenway. The victim called police to report she had been hit over the head, dragged into the woods near the end of a trail and sexually assaulted by a man she did not know. She met police at the main entrance to Mission Creek Regional Park, off Durnin and Springfield roads, at 8:45 p.m., and a team of RCMP officers began searching for the suspect. “Police believe that there may have been hikers or riders in the area at the time of the assault who may have seen or heard this incident,” said Const. Kris Clark, Kelowna RCMP spokesperson. The area is an extremely well-used section of Mission Creek Regional Park and the Mission Creek Greenway, a linear trail running 16.5 kilometres from Okanagan Lake to East Kelowna. The Greenway acts as a main thoroughfare for bike commuters and recreational runners, walkers and hikers. In the area where the assault took place, smaller trails traverse both the lower portion of the park, where the Greenway sits, and an upper forested area abutting the Hall Road neighbourhood. The victim is said to have been taken to hospital for treatment and released. A description of the assailant has not been made public. The Greenway is a known hotspot for the homeless, who camp in the underbrush lining the trail; but the victim apparently has not identified her assailant as someone who appeared to be transient or living in the park. Though quick to point out RCMP never blame the victim, Clark said RCMP are cautioning anyone who frequents the area not to walk, bike or run alone. “If you must walk alone, stay alert to your surroundings, including people in the area, businesses and sources of assistance,” said Clark. The victim was apparently out for a walk at the time of the assault, which occurred during daylight hours as the time of sunset for June 3 was 9 p.m.
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