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Meaghan Archer
Loud Challenge fireworks a ‘first world problem’
PENTICTON - There has been buzz around town that some people are less than thrilled about the midnight fireworks that followed the Challenge Penticton triathlon Sunday. Several Facebook posts suggest the loud fireworks woke them from their slumbers Sunday night, while others barely noticed.. “I am that ‘younger generation’ and midnight on a Sunday was...
Locks cut, items stolen from Oliver storage lockers
OLIVER - Several storage lockers were broken into Monday night at a storage facility in Oliver, according to police. At least seven lockers had their locks cut off and appeared to have been rummaged through and an undetermined amount of property was stolen, RCMP reported. The name of the storage facility is not being released...
City hands Challenge reins over to new stewardship
PENTICTON - Challenge Penticton is officially under the new leadership of triathlon experts Kevin Cutjar and Michael Brown. Cutjar and Brown won the city’s bid this spring to take the Challenge reins and steer the competition in the right direction. The team will invest $300,000 over five years—the length of the new contract with the...
Jail time already served, man walks away on probation
PENTICTON - An Oliver man was sentenced Monday for charges related to a car bomb explosion last August. Eric Olivier Daoust pled guilty to mischief over $5,000 and was sentenced to 30 days in jail plus two years of probation. He already served the jail time so he walked out of Penticton Provincial Court on...
Why First Nations chiefs and councillors can’t be compared to city councils
PENTICTON - The Chief of a local First Nations band says he wants to see more respect throughout the province and the country for the roles band chiefs and councillors play. New federal laws requiring First Nations to release audited financial statements publicly has brought numerous comparisons between First Nations chiefs and councillors to city...
Boonstock survey: A new location, a new experience
PENTICTON - They came, they saw, they got dirty and partied. Now Boonstock wants to hear from you how it went. Boonstock Music and Arts Festival organizers today released an online survey for festival attendees to provide feedback. The survey was posted on Boonstock’s official Facebook page and people are already posting comments about how to...
RCMP find guns and drugs in Highland Motel room
PENTICTON - Three people were arrested for drugs and possession of weapons on Saturday night at the Highland Motel after police were called to calm down a party. Police first spotted a sawed-off shotgun inside the room. After an investigation of the room, police seized additional weapons, a large quantity of MDMA (Ecstasy), other illicit...
Challenge accepted: Symonds defends triathlon title
PENTICTON - Family, friends, residents and volunteers lined the streets of Penticton yesterday to cheer on the 1,200 athletes that participated in the second Challenge triathlon, and to watch Penticton’s own Jeff Symonds defend his title as champion of the race. Symonds was the first to tear down the finish line ribbon after swimming, cycling...
Challenge Penticton challenges drivers
PENTICTON - The city will be bustling with athletes, coaches and families this weekend as everyone gets ready for the second Challenge Penticton triathlon race on Sunday. There are all kinds of family-friendly events planned including fun runs, a junior triathlon race, a party in the park, free yoga and a charity swim. The weekend wraps up...
There’s a first Challenge for everyone
PENTICTON - Tara Ivanitz sits at the back of the room with a smile on her face as she watches her boyfriend, Nathan Champness sit on a panel at the front of the room filled with professional triathletes who will be participating in Challenge Penticton this weekend. While her beau is a seasoned athlete, finishing...
This is how young people in Penticton are bringing awareness to mental health
PENTICTON - There's a group of five Penticton 20-somethings creating a plan for a new non-profit organization to help bring support and awareness of mental health to town — because of what happened to someone they know. They gather at a coffee shop on Main Street in downtown Penticton, their computer screens glowing, pages of...
Time to grab your election nomination forms
PENTICTON - Nomination packages for the uncapping municipal election can be picked up starting today at the Regional District offices and online. The packages include necessary forms and information to help candidates, such as dates, process and strategic plans. Candidates are required to have two qualified nominators sign their nomination. There is no nomination deposit...
ARCHER: A lot of talk, how about some action?
The group TimeForChangePenticton has become a sort of phenomenon over the last few weeks. I “liked” the page early on and my Facebook feed has been blowing up with notifications of posts and pictures and comments. People are talking about issues that many argue were not being talked about (enough) before. All the talk is...
Penticton Indian Band wants fairness in financial transparency
PENTICTON - The Chief of the Penticton Indian Band says he doesn't mind releasing his band's financial statements so long as the federal government treats band politicians and government politicians equally in terms of salary and pensions. The band posted its audited financial statements for 2013-2014 on its official website Wednesday, allowing anyone to see...
Your weather forecast for Challenge weekend
PENTICTON - The weather will cool off this weekend — a lucky break for triathletes competing in the second Challenge Penticton race on Sunday. There is a chance of rain Thursday through Saturday, with Sunday being the only day not calling for showers. There is a chance of thunderstorms Thursday, with a high of 25...
Performing arts community could lose its lot
PENTICTON - The empty lot at the corner of Nanaimo Avenue and Ellis Street has been vacant for years, and the performing arts community may lose their shot at building a new performing arts centre if they don't submit an updated business plan to the city. Jake Kimberley raised concerns about the lot at the...
Grass fire near Naramata fully contained
PENTICTON - A grass and open timbre fire burning north of Naramata on Naramata Road yesterday is now fully contained. The Naramata Fire Department is on scene and B.C. Wildfire has three personnel on site to help with mop up with another three-person crew to join later. A five-person Wildfire crew plus 10 fire fighters...
Challenge Penticton lines up weekend full of events
PENTICTON - The second Challenge triathlon is this Sunday and there are lots of all-ages events lined up in the days before the race. Events start Thursday, Aug. 21 and run for four days. There will be fun runs, a junior triathlon race, party in the park, free yoga and a charity swim. The whole...
Paddle your heart out this weekend at the Rattlesnake Island SUP Classic
PEACHLAND - If there's nothing like having the sun on your face and wind in your hair while pulling a paddle through the water along the lake on a Sunday morning, there's a new event happening that may be just the thing to do this weekend. The first ever Rattlesnake Island SUP Classic takes place...
Penticton Hospitality Association endorses Challenge Penticton
PENTICTON - The Penticton Hospitality Association has officially endorsed Challenge Penticton for a second year in a row. The association donated $15,000 to the Triathlon Society — funding from the Hotel Room Tax dollars that were recently given back to the association by the city. “To have the support again this year from the PHA...
Missing fruit picker found in Summerland
SUMMERLAND - A Quebec fruit picker who went missing last week has been found and is recovering from injuries at the Kelowna Regional Hospital. Julien Landry, a 25-year-old Quebec man was reported missing on Friday, Aug. 15. Friends hadn’t seen him since he went hiking after dinner on Wednesday. Landry loves to hike and take...
Okanagan Valley ranks No. 2 in world by USA Today
OKANAGAN - Readers of USA Today voted the Okanagan Valley as the second best wine region in the world, with Alentejo, Portugal ranking number one. “It’s important that the world is going to know that we;re a major wine region,” said Chris Bower, executive director of Tourism Penticton. Residents of the Okanagan have always known...
TimeForChange members to speak out at council
PENTICTON - Members of the “TimeForChange” Facebook group are taking the conversation offline and onto the streets this evening. They have organized to meet in front of City Hall at 5:30 p.m. Monday before the city council meeting. The goal of the congregation is to make sure city council knows the group is serious about...
Man arrested in Osoyoos faces more firearms trafficking charges
OSOYOOS - An additional 37 firearms-related charges have been laid on a Langley man arrested at the Nk’Mip campground in Osoyoos last month in addition to the nine charges he originally faced. Bradley Michael Friesen, 37, was arrested on July 17 at the campground in Osoyoos where officers found and seized numerous firearms and prohibited...