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Meaghan Archer
Nudists on Facebook
PENTICTON - The conversation about keeping Three Mile Beach as a clothing optional space has moved online. And a lot of people are talking about it. The issue was most recently brought up on Monday by poster Darren Laughlin. He asked people their thoughts on the issue on the Time For Change Penticton Facebook group, a...
Surrey man drowned, remains found by RCMP dive team
OKANAGAN - The remains of a Surrey businessman who drowned while on vacation in Washington have been found, thanks to the efforts of the B.C. RCMP Dive Team and the Okanagan County Sheriff Department. While vacationing with family and friends on Washington’s Osoyoos Lake earlier this month, John Mele dove into the water and didn’t...
Oliver home engulfed in flames
OLIVER - A home in Oliver was engulfed in flames early Friday morning. Firefighters were able to take control of the blaze and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring houses. Police said the home at 6036 Station Street was unoccupied and and it does not appear that anyone was hurt. Police are investigating the fire...
Suspects remain unidentified in attempted ATM theft
OLIVER - A local service station was broken into Thursday and police are looking to identify three suspects. At 4:21 a.m. Thursday morning, an older model green Dodge diesel flat deck pick up drove up to the service station with three men inside. Two of the men made a “brazen” attempt to steal the ATM...
“Head-banging druggie” discussion positive for community, says city councillor
PENTICTON - A controversial comment made by a Penticton city councillor has sparked imaginations in Penticton with the creation of t-shirts, hashtags and Facebook groups with the slogan “head-banging druggie,” but the councillor being targeted sees the backlash as a benefit for the community. Coun. Katie Robinson said, “I’m not a head-banging druggie,” at last week’s...
Residents congregate on Facebook to stop neighbourhood drug activity
PENTICTON - Residents have taken their concerns about alleged drug activity at a house in Penticton to Facebook, creating a page where members of the community can discuss the problem that often draws police attention, but has yet to be resolved. Handfuls of residents have posted to the Facebook page “Shut down the crack house”...
Teens finalists in World Summit Youth Award for epilepsy support
SUMMERLAND - A group of young activists are finalists for the World Summit Youth Award for their work in epilepsy awareness. The Epilepsy Awareness Squad, created by high school students Caitie Shaw and Dan Nixon in June 2013, was among 1896 applicants from 138 UN countries for the award. The group uses its website and...
PHA wants to move forward, work with city
PENTICTON - The Penticton Hospitality Association plans to move forward with a positive attitude now that the lawsuit is over between the association and the city, but directors are not impressed with how the city dealt with the matter. In a press release, association directors said the city has been out to get them since...
Oliver RCMP need help identifying robbery suspects
OLIVER - RCMP are looking to identify two men following a store robbery on July 30 in Oliver. The men allegedly stole a 32 inch television from the store and left in an older model white Jeep Cherokee with a female driver. No licence plate was recorded. The first suspect is described as a Caucasian...
Police identify man found dead on Skaha Lake Road
PENTICTON - RCMP have identified a man found dead along Skaha Lake Road early Tuesday morning. He was Scott Michaud, 28, of Penticton. Michaud was found lying in the south bound curb lane on Skaha Lake Road near Lee Avenue. Police say Michaud's injuries are consistent with being struck by a vehicle and it appears...
Border control busy with firearms smugglers
OSOYOOS - Two men have been charged in separate cases for smuggling firearms and weapons across the Canada-U.S. border at Osoyoos and Cascade ports of entry. Osoyoos border officers arrested Cole Phillips after they seized a loaded .45 caliber handgun from a U.S. resident’s vehicle during a secondary exam on July 21. Phillips was charged...
Shingle Creek fire in mop-up phase
PENTICTON - A fire burning 5 kilometres west of Skaha Lake near Shingle Creek is in the mop-up phase. The fire broke out Monday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. and is currently estimated to be 21 hectares in size. There are 20 firefighters on site today and 10 more on the way. Crews are working to...
Boil water notice issued for Summerland
SUMMERLAND - A boil water notice is in effect for Summerland after contaminants entered the district’s water stream during a water treatment process Monday. The notice was issued Monday afternoon around 3:30 p.m. While there was only a small amount of contaminants that entered the system, safety precautions needed to take effect, said Devon Van...
Psychologist: Ex-city councillor has narcissistic personality disorder
PENTICTON - Former city councillor Gary A. Leaman, who pleaded guilty of sexual assault, tested high on a court-ordered psychiatric exam for narcissistic personality disorder. Nalini Joneja, a clinical psychologist with Forensic Psychiatric Services was questioned by Crown prosecutor Catherine Crockett and defence counsel Michael Welsh on her report of the psychiatric exam done in...
A quick recap of PeachFest 2014
PENTICTON - The city was buzzing with excitment this weekend over the 67th annual Peach Festival, a longstanding Penticton tradition. Canadian rock legends The Stampeders and Trooper both took to the stage and played two great shows to huge crowds. Okanagan Lake beach was full of people during the day, enjoying the hot Okanagan weather,...
Fraud Alert: City not calling residents about survey
PENTICTON - The city is advising residents to be aware of fraudulent phone calls asking people to participate in a non existing “environmental survey.” The city is not calling residents to partake in a survey at this time. Reportedly the caller is being very persistent, phoning residents several times in a day saying they are...
Vassilaki considering trading his council seat for mayor
PENTICTON - Local businessman and city councillor John Vassilaki plans to run for mayor in the upcoming municipal election this fall. Vassilaki says he is considering running for mayor and will make a public announcement at the end of the month. He will have some competition for the hot seat, as current Mayor Garry Litke...
Young artist takes the paintbrush into her own hands
PENTICTON - There's photographs and paintings hanging from an industrial fence wrapped in lights that stands in a closed off parking lot next to a creek and people mingling with cans of beer in their hands while a three-year-old runs around their legs making people laugh. An old man with a glowing face and small...
City encourages residents to take WaterWise pledge
PENTICTON - Residents and visitors will get a chance to learn how they can make water work at next week’s farmers’ market. City officials and regional partners will be at the market on Saturday, August 17 encouraging residents to take a pledge to conserve their water use. There are six different types of pledges residents...
ARCHER: This one goes out to all the young people
Looking around the city council table, there are a lot of, how do I put this gently, wise faces, especially now that the youngest member, Wes Hopkin left for law school in Toronto. The 25-year-old councillor, who 22 when elected, brought a youthful spirit and fresh outlook to city governance. At his last council meeting...
Challenge home-stay program a rewarding experience
PENTICTON - Chris Hawkins is no stranger to triathlon races — being a four-time Ironman participant he knows the importance of pre-race preparation, such as rest, good diet and peace and quiet. That’s why last year, Hawkins, his wife (also a triathlete) and their two young daughters hosted professional athlete Chris Bagg and his wife...
RCMP: Pressure for emergency services reaches unprecedented level over long weekend
PENTICTON - RCMP said the pressure Boonstock put on emergency services over the long weekend was taken to unprecedented levels. In a statement released Wednesday, Const. Kris Clark said the large number of overdoses and the death of a 24-year-old Alberta woman caused “alarm for the overwhelmed emergency and security operations”. RCMP provided additional resources...
Councillor says Boonstock for “head-banging druggies”
PENTICTON - City Coun. Katie Robinson made an unexpected comment about Boonstock at last night’s council meeting, causing gallery members to gasp and other councillors to hold their heads in their hands. “I’m not a head-banging druggie, so I wasn’t interested in it whatsoever,” Robinson said of the festival. Robinson has been outspoken about her...
What you need to know about Peach Fest
PENTICTON - The 67th annual Peach Festival starts Wednesday and runs all weekend, so here are a few tips, reminders and schedules to make sure you get the most out of the event. ENTERTAINMENT Emerson Drive kicks things off Wednesday night, followed by Trooper on Thursday, and The Stampeders on Saturday. A full list of...