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Meaghan Archer
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...
Victim’s mother gives emotional testimony in dangerous offender hearing
PENTICTON - The mother of a sexual assault victim in the dangerous offender sentencing hearing for David Bobbitt recalled the summer night her daughter went missing for hours, tortured by the man who held her captive. Her daughter hadn't shown up to work or dropped off her then 22-month-old son at his grandparents’ house to...
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...
Penticton Airport gets to work on a new runway
PENTICTON - Aircraft flying into Penticton Airport will have a smoother landing come this fall, once repaving of the airport’s only runway is complete. The construction is part of Transport Canada's airport improvement project. Major fixes will be made at night, between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. to avoid as much conflict with flights. Construction...
BOBBITT HEARING: Witness told to calm down during testimony
PENTICTON - Justice Peter Rogers had to intervene between defence counsel and a witness who became increasingly defensive answering questions in a dangerous offender and sentencing hearing in Penticton Supreme Court. Earlier this week, a witness in the hearing for David Bobbitt said she is the victim of a sexual assault incident that took place...
Canucks to host Young Stars Classic hockey tournament
PENTICTON - The Vancouver Canucks will be hosting the 2014 Young Stars Classic beginning Sept. 12, 2014 in Penticton. Canucks players won’t be the only NHL stars at the round-robin tournament — prospects from the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets will be there too. “We are excited to host the Young Stars Classic,...
ARCHER: Trustees take a stand for students
If you’ve been following the teachers’ strike over the past few weeks, you know negotiations between the provincial government and teachers' federation have not been going… at all, really. We all feel helpless waiting for them to figure it out but think of school board trustees who are used to having some power and control...
Local school board putting pressure on both sides in teachers strike to settle
PENTICTON - The local school board is writing to provincial education officials urging them to come to a settlement agreement. The board held a special meeting this morning to discuss what information trustees want included in the letter to be sent to the Ministry of Education and the B.C. Teachers’ Federation. The idea of a...
Victim testifies to sexual assault in dangerous offender hearing
PENTICTON — A sexual assault victim continued to give her testimony today during the dangerous offender hearing for David Bobbitt who raped her nearly eight years ago. The victim appeared in Penticton Supreme Court via closed circuit TV and gave evidence of an incident that took place in 2007. There is no relation between this...
The Dropkick Murphys are shipping up to Penticton this fall
PENTICTON - The Dropkick Murphys are bringing their blended sound of adrenaline-pumping American-Irish punk music to Penticton this fall with a show at the South Okanagan Events Centre on September 28. The band was formed in 1996 and members have come a long way from where they started in the basement of a barbershop in...
PenMar Society receives loan from city for theatre improvements
PENTICTON - The PenMar Community Arts Society was chosen by Council to receive city funds to help with the construction of the theatre’s extension. The society can receive a loan up to $125,000 from the City’s Amenity Fund for improvements made during construction of the PenMar Theatre’s addition. Different organizations submitted applicants to receive the...
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...
Seniors considered in new transit plans
PENTICTON - Councillors discussed the need for more public transit options at last night’s city council meeting, including increased evening hours and shorter wait times. Staff presented options for the new three-year contract with B.C. Transit that will run from 2015 to 2018. Options including extending certain routes, all night services and Sunday services. The...
RCMP say sex offender lied in police statement
PENTICTON — The RCMP officer who interrogated David Wesley Bobbitt after his arrest in 2007 said Bobbitt’s story was full of holes and accused him of not telling the truth in his statement. The video statement was played in Penticton Supreme Court today as part of Const. Mike Desmond’s testimony. He was the officer who...
Victim’s mother called to witness stand in dangerous offender hearing
PENTICTON - The mother of a sexual assault victim gave a brief testimony today saying her daughter would “shut down” if she was forced to testify in a room with the accused, David Wesley Bobbitt. Bobbitt’s dangerous offender hearing began this morning in Penticton Supreme Court with the offender appearing in person. Bobbitt pleaded guilty...
IN PHOTOS: 2014 Peach City Beach Cruise
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Charges dropped for murderer Keith Wiens
PENTICTON - Crown Counsel dropped charges last week against an ex-RCMP officer who was found guilty of murdering his common-law wife in 2011. Keith G. Wiens, who is facing a life sentence in federal prison, was charged with breaching his restrictions. Crown prosecutor John Swanson, who was assigned the case, said he was not told...
City paves paradise and doesn’t bother making it a parking lot
PENTICTON — The downtown lot that was not too long ago a teaching garden, is now a patch of levelled land. The city recently took back claim of the property after a temporary use license was not renewed by a local gardening organization. The property at Ellis Street and Nanaimo Avenue was formerly the home...
Tourism Penticton names new executive director
PENTICTON - After a long wait, Tourism Penticton has named Chris Bower as its new executive director. The organization went through administrative changes this winter and spring, with several administrators leaving their positions, including ex-executive director Jessie Campbell. In his new position, Bower will oversee destination tourism and marketing for Tourism Penticton and the operation...
Centre’s strike take toll on community and local businesses
PENTICTON — Naramata’s local economy will take a hit this summer while the community’s largest organization is on strike. Last week, the administration of the Centre at Naramata decided to pull the plug in summer programming, in order to prove their striking efforts were serious. Employees have been standing on the picket line since May,...
B.C. enters new trade deal with China for Okanagan cherries
OKANAGAN — A new trade agreement was made this week between Canada and China to ship Okanagan cherries over seas. The two parties have been operating market deals on a trial basis for two years (the 2014 season is the second year) and are extending their relationship with the longer agreement. The B.C. Minister of...
Residents ordered to evacuate Gables Hotel
PENTICTON - Residents of the Three Gables Hotel were ordered to evacuate the building yesterday due to unsafe and unhealthy building conditions. Penticton Fire Department officials said the existing building conditions could seriously endanger life or property if there were a fire. The 17 residents were given 48 hours to collect their things and leave....
Boonstock attendees seek accommodation on classified sites
PENTICTON - Thousands of people have purchased tickets for Boonstock music festival this August long weekend; some are camping, some are staying in hotels or with friends and family. But what about the people travelling from out of town looking for another option? People have been posting “wanted” ads to classified sites like kijiji.ca hoping...
Never leave a pet inside a hot car: SPCA
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The weather is getting hot, and drivers are rolling down their windows, feeling the breeze in their hair as they drive along. But don’t forget, your pets also need to feel the wind in their fur, or at least a cool breeze. Every year, pets are killed from the heat in hot cars. The...