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A NEW footwear and apparel store for men and women has opened at Orchard Park Shopping Centre.
ROYAL OUI duo of Adrienne Pierce and Ari Shine have become close collaborators both personally and as singer/ songwriters.
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THURSDAY November 7, 2013 The Central Okanagan’s Best-Read Newspaper www.kelownacapnews.com
Peachland journalist facing child porn charges
▼ KELOWNA
Long-time councillor ready to retire
Jennifer Smith
Alistair Waters
STAFF REPORTER
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Unless he has a major change of heart, the longest serving member of Kelowna city council will not seek re-election next year. Robert Hobson says he is “heavily” leaning towards not running in 2014, after 26 years on council—20 of them combined with serving as the chairman of the Central Okanagan Regional District board. “It will be tough, but I think it’s time,” said Hobson, who will be 65 when the next municipal election rolls around in November 2014. Hobson said he expects to have finalized his decision before next summer, but at this point he can’t see anything changing his mind. IT WILL BE TOUGH Hobson said he BUT I THINK IT’S strongly considered not running for re-election in TIME. 2011—a move he said Robert Hobson, his wife urged him to Kelowna city make—but he felt there councillor were problems that needed to be addressed at the regional district, so he came back for another term. But now those organizational issues have been addressed and a new chief administrative officer has been hired for CORD. Hobson said there were issues concerning regional parks which have also been addressed. Hobson, whose wife and family members live in Edmonton and who became a grandfather six weeks ago, commutes to the northern Alberta city on weekends. He said he has been doing that for nearly five years and the travel schedule is taking its toll. He said he is currently subdividing his property in the lower Mission area of the city. During his years on council, Hobson, a planner by profession, has been viewed as a pragmatic, moderate voice of reason, often concerned with heritage, planning and social issues. See Retire A6
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JUDIE STEEVES/CAPITAL NEWS
SUGAR PLUM FAIR…Good old Santa, in the person of Tom Kliner, shares a little joke with
Desiree Bortolussi, a dancer with Ballet Kelowna, at Quails’ Gate Estate Winery as they prepare for the annual Sugar Plum Fair on Sunday, Nov. 17, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the West Kelowna winery, 3303 Boucherie Rd. It’s a fundraising event where you can donate to local food banks, and check out a variety of arts and crafts for sale. It’s geared to the whole family with 15 per cent off wine shop purchases, and an appearance by Santa at Allison House where photos will be available by donation with proceeds going to organizations such as Ballet Kelowna.
A former Peachland reporter who worked for the Peachland View newspaper and more recently ran an online news site for the small Okanagan enclave, has been charged with three counts of child pornography. David Andrew Preston will be back in a Kelowna courtroom on Dec. 5 to face charges of possessing, making and importing child pornography. Preston was apparently one of three individuals identified in separate, targeted investigations into the exploitation of children in the area by the RCMP’s E division in June. Sgt. Mat Van Laer, with the BC Integrated Child Exploitation team, is quoted as stating the investigation into one individual expanded because there were children living with the individual. “We continue to use various tools in our disposal to track down these online predators,” said Van Laer. “We aim to hunt those who would prey on children by using every po-
See Charges A6
Chad Bannister is pleased to announce that John O’Callaghan, through his sales and customer satisfaction achievement, has been named our
SALESPERSON OF THE MONTH FOR OCTOBER. www.bannisterkelowna.com
250-860-7700
John O’Callaghan
We know John’s many friends and loyal customers join us in extending congratulations.