Elevate your local knowledge
Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!
Meaghan Archer
Former Coun. Hopkin endorses Jakubeit for mayor
PENTICTON - Former Coun. Wes Hopkin has officially endorsed his colleague and mayoral candidate Coun. Andrew Jakubeit for the hot seat. In a letter, Hopkin said his experience working alongside Jakubeit as councillor for three years showed him that Jakubeit has the leadership skills to successfully run the city as mayor. Hopkin said he has...
Officer may have overlooked dead prisoner in early morning checks
PENTICTON - Video surveilance footage from the holding cell in which Steven J. Scott died two years ago shows he was possibly dead during early-morning checks. The coroner’s inquest for Steven Joseph Scott, a 30-year-old man who died in a Penticton RCMP detachment cell in August 2012 continued today with testimony from the watch commander...
If you missed the candidate forums last week, we got ya covered
PENTICTON - Council and mayoral candidates gathered at the Lakeside Resort last week in front of two rather large crowds to talk politics, strategy and their plans for Penticton’s future. The council candidate forum was held first, on Tuesday, Oct. 28 and 22 of the 25 candidates represented themselves in the question-answer style presentation. The...
Coroner’s inquest begins for man who died in holding cells
PENTICTON - A B.C. Coroners inquest into the death of a Penticton man who died in RCMP cells two years ago heard this morning the man had diabetes. The inquest, which began Monday at the Penticton law courts before coroner Larry Marzinzik will likely take the remainder of the week. Steven Joseph Scott, 30, died...
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...
Here’s your second chance to learn about a position with the justice department
OKANAGAN - Three additional orientation sessions have been scheduled for Okanagan residents interested in one of 240 correctional officer positions at the new Okanagan Correctional Centre set to open in Oliver in 2016. The original sessions were well-received and due to high-demand additional sessions have been scheduled throughout November. The first will be held at...
Residents protest duplex development with signs
PENTICTON - Residents of Churchill Avenue have erected signs in protest of the development of a double-duplex on their street — an issue that will be discussed during a public hearing and Penticton city council meeting next week. The property at 701 Churchill Ave. is being developed by local developer Schoenne Homes. The development requires...
Vandalized cafe may be linked to municipal election
OLIVER - An Oliver cafe owner says he won’t take election signs down, even after his business was vandalized in what appears to be anti-election behaviour. John Micka, owner of Sunshine Cafe in Oliver has to replace his cafe-front window after it was shot at by a pellet gun. The shot left several small holes...
ELECTION 2014: Advance polling stations open next week in Penticton
PENTICTON - Advance polling stations will be open for two days next week for any Penticton residents needing or wishing to cast their votes a little early. The City is opening two polling stations on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at City Hall from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Thursday, Nov. 6 at Cherry Lane...
Okanagan Valley wineries propose new designation area
SOUTH OKANAGAN - Okanagan Valley wineries may receive a new official designation after a study revealed that an original agricultural landscape is a contributing factor to the production of unique wines. Golden Mile Bench wineries, located near Oliver, have submitted a proposal to become the first official sub-Designated Viticultural Area of the Okanagan Valley DVA....
HALLOWEEN 2014: Zombie walks and monster bashes
PENTICTON - Zombies, monsters, ghouls and goblins are getting ready to stalk the streets of Penticton this Halloween, but if you haven’t yet decided how to celebrate the spooky holiday on Friday, here are some ideas. The Halloween Howler Charity Drive is being held at the Penticton Lake City Casino at 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 each and...
Penticton open for business: ranking
PENTICTON - Penticton has been ranked as one of the province’s top three entrepreneurial cities, and amongst the top 20 in Canada. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business released a report called Canada’s Entrepreneurial Commutities which studied municipalities with populations of 20,000 or more and ranked them based on 14 indicators including, industrial diversity, representation...
Considering a career in corrections? Here’s your chance to get into the industry
PENTICTON - B.C. Corrections is considering hosting additional information sessions for people interested in a career with the justice system. The Justice Institute and B.C. Corrections received a strong turnout to the orientation sessions held throughout the South Okanagan for anyone interested in becoming a corrections officers at the Okanagan Correctional Centre set to open...
Thompson-Okanagan Tourism Summit heads to Penticton
PENTICTON - The tourism industry is about to get a major boost thanks to a tourism summit expected to draw close to 200 industry leaders comes to town in December. The two-day Thompson Okanagan Tourism Summit held at the Lakeside Resort will host international and national speakers who will cover best practices for boosting the...
ELECTION 2014: A night out with the candidates
PENTICTON - Election candidates and Chamber members have a chance to get to know each other better at a members-only speed campaigning event. It's a chance for Chamber members to have one-on-one conversations with the candidates and ask any questions they like during the five-minute period. Each member will have a chance to meet each...
Three trustee spots secured, race continues for others
PENTICTON - Three school trustees already have their spots on the board secured, but the race continues for Penticton area candidates. There are three electoral areas for School District 67: Penticton (four seats), Summerland (two seats), and surrounding rural areas (one seat). Ginny Manning will hold her spot on the board since she has no...
Former teacher pays price for theft
PENTICTON - A former Osoyoos school teacher got a conditional sentence after embezzling $42,000 from the Osoyoos Rural Fire Protection District, the organization for which he was a volunteer secretary treasurer. Michael R. McWhinnie, born in 1946, appeared in Penticton Provincial Court Monday where he was sentenced by Judge Gregory Koturbash to a 12-month conditional...
Body found in abandoned shed
PENTICTON - The body of a deceased male was found in an abandoned shed behind Super Save Gas in Penticton Monday. The shed is located in a field off Green Mountain Road, on Penticton Indian Band land. RCMP say the body appeared to have been there for several days, however the death is not being...
Get your questions ready for the mayoral candidate forum
PENTICTON - Mayoral candidates will take the stage this week to discuss their goals and answer citizens’ questions at a public forum. The forum, organized by the Chamber of Commerce and the Penticton Herald, will be held on Thursday Oct. 30, 2014 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Lakeside Resort. Each candidate will...
Repeat sex offender sent back to jail
PENTICTON - A Keremeos man and repeat sex offender will spend five years in jail after pleading guilty to sexually touching a minor. Helge E. Wilson, 61, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching by a minor after a series of incidents that took place between April and May 2013....
Repeat sex offender sent back to jail
PENTICTON - A Keremeos man and repeat sex offender will spend five years in jail after pleading guilty to sexually touching a minor. Helge E. Wilson, 61, pleaded guilty to charges of sexual interference and invitation to sexual touching by a minor after a series of incidents that took place between April and May 2013....
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...
ELECTION 2014: Which candidates will step down from high-ranking community groups?
PENTICTON - A handful of council hopefuls may have to leave their high-ranking board positions with community organizations if they are elected next month. Max Picton, Chairman of the Tourism Penticton board, and Campbell Watt, President of the Chamber of Commerce, have both said they will leave their respected positions if they are successful in...
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...