Monday, July 23, 1990

Nippon-TV hunting for Ogopogo
Kelowna grins at the publicity
By Holly Horwood
The Province

Staff Reporter

Ogopogo is putting Kelowna on the world map again.

The search for the legendary slithering serpent has introduced B.C.'s Interior city to millions of North American television viewers.

Last year, ABC-TV crews captured several minutes of film showing a mysterious, dark creature leaving a rippling wake on Okanagan Lake. This week, a Japanese crew from Nippon-TV hopes to have even better luck in an underwater and aerial search for Ogopogo.

"It's definitely good for the community," beamed Kelowna's Mayor Jim Stuart.

Said Chamber of Commerce manager Gerry Frederick: "We're meeting the crew (today) and have an official reception Tuesday. We're hoping to have them include something about the city in their documentary."

The Japanese plan to spend five days in Kelowna and are hiring five local drivers, said author Arlene Gaal, Kelowna's Ogopogo guru.

Last year, resident Ken Chaplin caused a stir when he marketed to the highest bidder some home videos of a "snake" undulating through the water. He got the film on network television, but his efforts flopped when scientists concluded the object was a beaver or fresh-water otter.

Last Tuesday, there were two reported sightings of Ogopogo. Richard and Ann Kline said they saw what they believe was Ogopogo from the window of their lakeshore home. Two men driving over the Kelowna Bridge also reported a sighting.