City
Council questions whether Boonstock is a good idea for the city
PENTICTON - The topic of Boonstock caused a bit of a stir during this week’s council meeting when one councillor said she does not support the event. During a discussion on issues arising from the Protective Services Advisory Committee, Coun. Katie Robinson said there was a lack of substance in the Boonstock plan. Whenever there...
City officials to take tour of Boonstock grounds
PENTICTON - Boonstock organizers have arranged another walk-through of festival grounds this weeks for city officials who either missed out or were not invited to the last tour on June 13. Coun. Helena Konanz confirmed her attendance at the walk-through and said she is excited about the festival and the 8,500 people it will bring...
Council’s tour of Boonstock grounds eases concerns
PENTICTON - Progress on the Boonstock festival grounds this morning appears to be winning over skeptical Penticton City councillors who toured the property again this morning. It still looks like barren land, but organizers assured they are on track for a safe and fun weekend Aug 1 to 3. Not all councillors were invited to walk through...
City focuses on flood cleanup, tallying property damage
KAMLOOPS – While the flooding may have stopped, the City of Kamloops now has cleanup to worry about after buckets of rain scattered debris and poured through several buildings around town – including City Hall. “I don’t know the extent of (the damage),” City of Kamloops Manager Mike Firlotte says about the flooding at the...
$60K public art contract up for bid
KELOWNA – A new public art project worth $60,000 will soon be commissioned to honour and inspire women recovering from addictions. The artwork will be installed adjacent to a major public space planned for outside the Karis Supportive Housing Project that is expected to be completed next year. According to Urban planner Pat McCormick, the...
City hits home run with baseball diamond improvements
PENTICTON - Baseball fields around town are set to get much-needed improvements thanks to a new partnership between the City and Penticton Slo-Pitch League. The fields at Lions, Parkway and Skaha ball diamonds will get new rooftops, players’ benches, a new utility shed, tractor and metal base plates (the peg-system used in the past caused...
New curator to oversee Penticton’s history
PENTICTON - The City has named Dennis Oomen as the new curator for the Penticton Museum and Archives after losing former curator Peter Ord to the Royal B.C. Museum. Oomen has worked all over Canada at prestigious museums including the Federal Canadian Museum of Civilization in Hull, Que., The Museum of Nature, the National Aviation...
City and RCMP open to policy changes following jury recommendations
PENTICTON - The City and RCMP are actively considering implementation of recommendations made by a jury following a coroner’s inquest into the death of 30-year-old Steven J. Scott who died in police custody two years ago. The RCMP have already implemented some changes after Scott’s death that the jury also recommended be made. One suggestion...
Votes cast at advance polls break records
PENTICTON - Attendance numbers from the advance polls earlier this week have broken records for number of ballots cast. On the first day of advance polls, 746 ballots were cast, and 1,147 ballots were cast on the second day, for a two-day total of 1,893—1,103 more votes cast than in 2011. The Local Government now...
City offers e-bill service to Penticton residents
PENTICTON - Residents now have an easier, greener option for paying their bills with a new e-service being provided by the city. Electric Utility users can sign up for electronic bills, which arrive each month in PDF file format directly to the customer’s email inbox. “The City is proud to offer convenient services like e-bills...
Citizens organize forum to educate community on Penticton election issues
PENTICTON - Local citizens are taking the election campaign into their own hands and educating themselves about the candidates and the issues in the upcoming civic vote. Members the community Facebook group Educate Encourage Empower Penticton have organized two candidate forums; one for the candidates for council and one for mayoral candidates. Candidates must RSVP...
Residents will see much-needed infrastructure improvements on their streets
PENTICTON - Residents of Corry Place will see much-needed infrastructure improvements on their street, however council is concerned the cost ratio split between residents and the city could set a precedent for similar projects in the future. Garry Gratton, Corry Place resident and council candidate, spoke to council at Monday night’s council meeting about the...
Future uncertain for Canada’s oldest horse-racing track
VERNON - The future of horse racing in the Interior remains more uncertain thanks to mounting woes for Vernon's troubled Kin Race Track. The society that runs the track has battled for years to keep it open. Already tight on cash from fighting a legal battle with the City of Vernon to continue racing horses...
Okanagan Lake and S.S. Sicamous get revamped
PENTICTON - The Okanagan Lake waterfront will soon get another new look, thanks to city staff who are putting together a plan to revitalize the area around the S.S. Sicamous. Options for the plan were presented to city council last night, who will ultimately decide what they want to see in the new park. The...
Tough as nails councillor announces his retirement
KELOWNA – After three years on council and 15 as fire chief, Coun. Gerry Zimmermann is stepping down from public office. Zimmermann was first elected to council in 2011, was Fire Chief from 1990 to 2005 and also served one term on the Agricultural Land Commision. “I had a hard time making this decision but...