Shannon Quesnel

A rockfall on Sunday is the likely cause of a fire off of Ashnola Road in western Keremeos. BC Wildfire spokesperson Melissa Welsh said 10 provincial firefighters were asked to pitch in by the Keremeos Fire Department. The fire was 0.78 hectares in size. Only five provincial firefighters remain at the scene on Monday putting...

PENTICTON - An Oliver man got a five-year prison term on Monday for sexually assaulting his stepdaughter. The girl's biological father was happy the offender, who cannot be identified due to a court order, was sentenced after a three-and-half-year long wait. The biological father was in Penticton court with his daughter, her counsellor and family...

PENTICTON — Nearly half of the city's top earners work for Penticton Fire and Rescue. Out of the 71 city employees making $75,000 or more, 32 or 45 per cent work for the fire department. Overall only nine or 12 per cent of city employees making $75,000 are women. The figures were made available Thursday...

PENTICTON - The 2013 Penticton byelection doesn't look like it will be as busy as the 2011 municipal election race. Kevin Noonan and David Korinetz ran and lost in the 2011 general election that saw former mayor Dan Ashton in the top seat. Ashton is now an MLA and his vacancy means a byelection to...

PENTICTON — The heads of the regional district and the City of Penticton must find their chairs uncomfortable because they want new ones. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen lost its chair Dan Ashton when he ran and won an MLA seat in the May 14 provincial election. Vice-chair Mark Pendergraft, director of Osoyoos-Rural, has been...

PENTICTON — Penticton should not worry about flooding concerns despite three days of nearly constant rainfall. The Okanagan Valley has been drenched this past week with various communities experiencing different levels of rising water. Dale Kronebusch said there are no concerns for this area. The emergency services supervisor of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen said Okanagan...

PENTICTON — Parts of Three Blind Mice Trail are no place for beginning mountain bikers. Penticton Search and Rescue president Dale Jorgensen said there's 107 kilometres of trail and some are very technical.  "The trails are zig-zagging all over the place," he says. Jorgensen pointed out there are easier trails elsewhere for starting riders to...

PENTICTON — West Bench residents might get water meters installed if the regional board goes ahead with an $894,395 upgrade. The West Bench water system has had major upgrades over two years and water meters provide incentive and savings, chief administrative officer for the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen, Bill Newell said. Newell will explain...

PENTICTON — Acting mayor Garry Litke was not shot despite wearing a deer costume with a bullseye taped to his back. Litke and city manager Annette Antoniak, who dressed as a chicken, rode a tandem bike in front of city hall on Wednesday as the price for losing a Bike To Work Week competition with...

PENTICTON - An applause followed city council's decision to deny a winery's food service and patio application. Perseus Winery's request was turned down at Monday's city council meeting by a split vote with Coun. Wesley Hopkin and acting mayor Garry Litke leading the charge to deny. Hopkin said the winery didn't even fit inside a...

PENTICTON — A convicted child predator who tricked a boy into bed should serve three to four years in prison, according to Crown counsel. John Swanson said Rene Mark Burke, 56, is guilty of touching a young person for sexual purpose, fear of sexual offence to person under 14 and two breaches of recognizance. Burke...

City staff to present possible election dates on July 2 PENTICTON — Coun. Andrew Jakubeit said he will not run for the mayor's spot. He is the last elected official to sound off on his plans on the upcoming byelection. With former mayor Dan Ashton taking his seat as MLA there is a hole in...

PENTICTON — A man guilty of sexually abusing a child should be locked up for seven years Crown prosecutor Nashina Devji said. She said the man, who cannot be identified due to a court order, sexually assaulted a girl for 18 months, several times week, starting when she was 11 years old and has shown...

PENTICTON — Acting mayor Garry Litke will strap on a costume and ride a tandem bike with city manager Annette Antoniak in front of city hall Wednesday at 10 a.m. At least one will wear a chicken head. Development director Anthony Haddad said once again the city was beaten by the Regional District of Okanagan...

PENTICTON — A byelection and a winery interfering with family life will generate discussion at Penticton city council tonight. Corporate officer Dana Schmidt was instructed to find byelection dates and examine the process to fill the seat left by former mayor Dan Ashton. He ran and won an MLA seat in the 2013 general provincial...