Global Okanagan’s top 5 most-read stories of 2015

From raging wildfires to a murder investigation, there was a variety of headlines that sparked the interest of Global Okanagan readers.

Here’s a look at the top five most-read stories in the Okanagan region:

5. Snow Day: a first in 35 years

The first week of 2015 started off with a large snow dump, resulting in some school closures throughout the valley.

Superintendent Hugh Gloster of School District 23 announced that all public schools were closed because buses were unable to run. He said it was the first time in 35 years that SD 23 was been forced to close schools because of snow.

North Okanagan-Shuswap School District also joined in and closed schools, while schools in Penticton and Summerland remained open.

4. Kelowna shop faces allegations of best-before-date tampering

A former employee of Valoroso Foods spoke exclusively to Global Okanagan, alleging the Kelowna store was tampering with best-before and expiry dates on some of the food it sold to customers.

Another employee alleged they were instructed to remove the mold found on any cheese or meats and told that no products were to be thrown out, no matter how old.

Joe Valoros, the owner of shop, denied the allegations.

Following this story, Interior Health conducted an investigation and found ten infractions, but said none of them were critical.

The shop closed for a few days while it conducted a full inventory check.

3. Roxanne Louie’s Murder Investigation

Roxanne Louie, 26, was reported missing two days after she failed to show up for a January 4th flight home to Vancouver from Penticton. Her body was found in the bush near Naramata a week later.

Grace Elinor Robotti and her brother, Pier Louis Robotti, are accused of second-degree murder. Grace is the paternal great-grandmother of Louie’s four-year-old son.

A preliminary hearing is set for early 2016. The two accused are out on bail.

2. A pair of wildfires ravaged Oliver

Two fires were raging near the town of Oliver on the evening of Friday, August 14.

The Testalinden Creek Wildfire burned for more than six weeks, scorching more than 5,200 hectares of land. People had to evacuate throughout the course of the fire due to sudden flare ups.

The Wilson Mountain Fire burned more than 300 hectares. The blaze destroyed one home.

1. Rock Creek Fire

On Thursday, August 13, a quick-spreading wildfire forced hundreds of people to flee their homes in the areas between Rock Creek and Westbridge, along with several roads further to the north in the Christian valley.

More than a hundred people were set up in the Kelowna emergency reception centre, while the majority of those evacuated, approximately 500, were in Midway. The evacuees received an outpouring of support from nearby communities.

The wildfire burned 30 homes to the ground, and destroyed and damaged 15 other structures.

The fire scorched more than 4,400 hectares of land. It took more than a month before the wildfire was fully contained.

The exact cause has not been determined but is suspected to be human caused.