Shannon Quesnel

Shannon Quesnel

Gyro Park opens up for families

PENTICTON - B.C. Family Day Party at Gyro Park on Sunday was the centre of attraction for downtown tourists and residents. Dozens of families experienced a relaxed atmosphere with live musicians, vendors and plenty of activities for children. When the kids weren't getting their muscles burning jumping up and down or climbing a climbing wall,...

Penticton hospital expansion coming later than sooner: health minister

PENTICTON - B.C.'s health minister said the province is committed to building a hospital expansion but not any time soon. Health Minister Terry Lake told a reporter on Thursday's CBC Daybreak South he did not believe anyone committed to having a hospital built in Penticton in four years. At interview's end he did say the...

Dancing, sweating, singing this long weekend

PENTICTON - Children will be climbing up the wall, not driving their parents up the wall, at Gyro Park this Sunday. The B.C. Family Day Party in the Park is one of several events taking place this weekend in Penticton and it will feature a large climbing wall complete with harnesses. From 11 a.m. to...

District, city, band edge closer to river channel cost-sharing

PENTICTON - Okanagan River channel caretakers want help paying its $40,000 bill but a regional district director wants more for the money. The Penticton Indian Band spends $40,000 for channel maintenance and for the upkeep of its portion of the KVR Trail system. The First Nation would like some financial assistance from the other stakeholders...

RCMP drug busts result in July convictions

PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP have had plenty of drug busts and other arrests this past month according to a drug task force report. RCMP arrested 16 people for a variety of offences including 11 breaches of bail conditions, six various drug possessions, a crystal meth trafficking charge, a controlled prescription pills trafficking charge and one...

Severe afternoon thunderstorm watch

PENTICTON - Lightning, large hail stones and strong winds are in Thursday afternoon's forecast. Environment Canada recommends when severe weather approaches take immediate safety precautions. Seek shelter and stay out of the water. Thunderstorms are building over parts of the southern interior. To contact a reporter for this story, to send photos or videos, email...

District awards $43K watershed consult fee to First Nation

PENTICTON - A First Nation will get paid for its contribution to a watershed plan which is in contrast with other communities doing similar work for free. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen was hesitant at a previous meeting about paying the Lower Similkameen Indian Band $43,755 for the First Nation's work on the Similkameen River...

Lightning causes spot fires in Naramata, Peachland areas

UPDATE 9:05 a.m., Aug. 2, 2013 PENTICTON - Fire crews were kept busy on Thursday handling small spot fires left by lightning strikes in the Naramata and Peachland areas. While hundreds of strikes were detected last night during storms in the Kamloops fire region, there was plenty of rain with some areas getting 10 mm....

Driver says purse caused McDonald’s collision

SUMMERLAND - A dropped purse is the alleged cause for a white truck colliding with a McDonald's outdoor eating area in Summerland on Thursday. Cpl. Bruce Haley said a Summerland woman, 70, told police she exited the Summer Fair Mall on 7519 Prairie Valley Rd. and dropped her purse in the area of the accelerator....

UPDATE: Princeton man found dead near rolled tractor identified

UPDATE: 9:48 a.m. July 31, 3013 The man who died following a tractor accident near Princeton July 27 has been identified. He was Barend Vant' Veld, 65, of Princeton. The B.C. Coroners Service has not revealed the cause of death and the investigation is ongoing. The family of Vant' Veld have been notified. 5:05 p.m....

Penticton to make Okanagan Lake waterfront even prettier

PENTICTON - City council wants public input about making the Okanagan Lake waterfront even greener. The city wants advice on its proposed Marina Way Lookout project which will restore habitat in the area east of the Penticton Art Gallery. More than 20 native trees and about 300 native shrubs will be planted and invasive plant...

Kelowna nurse wins Infotel prize, gets laptop for Penticton home

PENTICTON - Ignoring one little email might have cost Dean Valouch his prize of a new MacBook Pro from Infotel. The licensed practical nurse remembers someone told him about email he hadn't checked out. "I didn't open it up right away," he said. He was happy and surprised when he did. He was hand-delivered a...

Britco offers internships to Penticton Indian Band residents

PENTICTON - Penticton Indian Band added an educational component to its now formalized partnership with the modular-home company Britco Structures. The two groups have had a relationship for about eight years but took it to the next level recently to formalize their partnership. As part of the agreement the company now offers an internship program...

New trail to make use of Okanagan Lake scenery

SUMMERLAND - A proposed trail should show off Okanagan Lake to hikers and bicyclists Mayor Janice Perrino said. She said a new trail system is needed to show off the scenery along the lake. The KVR Trail exists but it follows an old rail-line well away from the water. "The KVR is great and it's...

Strippers have to jump through hoops before dancing on stage

PENTICTON - Dancers will be able to take off their clothes again at The Opal Nite Club once the operators amend their business license. The club already had an exotic dance show on Friday and Saturday but several people complained. Penticton development director Anthony Haddad said staff have already spoken with club offiicals. Haddad said...