Store owner wants shoplifters to know they’re being watched
PENTICTON - A downtown shop owner has caught another two thieves robbing his store in the last week by posting surveillance footage on Facebook. Leigh Follestad, owner of SmartShopper on Main Street, has been hit several times, but he wants them to know that if they’re going to steal from him, he will put their face...

Penticton rapper gets on board with voting campaign
PENTICTON - A social media campaign to encourage Penticton residents to vote in the municipal election this weekend is using locally made music videos to reach the younger voters. The Get Out and Vote Penticton campaign raised over $300 at a pub night fundraiser last week, with proceeds going to online marketing to encourage people...

Oliver man to serve weekends for assault with a weapon
PENTICTON - An Oliver man who entered a home in Okanagan Falls and beat the residents with a crow bar because of an alleged sexual assault, will spend 90 days in jail every weekend until his 90 days are up. Robert David Delve, born in 1979, pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a...

Forged prescription for painkillers lands accused in jail for one day
PENTICTON - A local man who pleaded guilty to using a forged prescription got off with a one-day jail sentence and never had to leave the Penticton Courthouse. Alexander Milne, 60, was caught on March 3, 2014 trying to get a prescription filled using a forged document. Milne, who suffers from an auto-immune deficiency had...
Centre at Naramata risks being shut down
PENTICTON - The Centre at Naramata risks a chance of shutting down unless the organization can raise $500,000 by the end of the month. The Centre has had financial difficulties, which became known to the public this past spring when 30 CUPE workers, employed by the Centre went on strike. A statement released earlier this...

Investigation of alleged assault by Penticton police officer dismissed
PENTICTON - No charges will be laid against a police officer who allegedly assaulted a woman while she was in custody. An investigation conducted by the Independent Investigations Office “concluded there is no substantial likelihood that the officer … would be convicted of any offences arising from the circumstances.” In April 2014, an officer was...
City and RCMP open to policy changes following jury recommendations
PENTICTON - The City and RCMP are actively considering implementation of recommendations made by a jury following a coroner’s inquest into the death of 30-year-old Steven J. Scott who died in police custody two years ago. The RCMP have already implemented some changes after Scott’s death that the jury also recommended be made. One suggestion...

Votes cast at advance polls break records
PENTICTON - Attendance numbers from the advance polls earlier this week have broken records for number of ballots cast. On the first day of advance polls, 746 ballots were cast, and 1,147 ballots were cast on the second day, for a two-day total of 1,893—1,103 more votes cast than in 2011. The Local Government now...
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...

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...
Cause of in-custody death related to alcohol withdrawal: Pathologist
PENTICTON - The cause of death of Steven J. Scott, who died in a cell at the Penticton RCMP detachment two years ago, was determined to be a breathing problem related to alcohol withdrawal. Dr. William R. Currie, a now-retired pathologist at the Penticton Regional Hospital performed the autopsy of Scott, 30, who was found...

Penticton is invited to Rock the Vote
PENTICTON - One election candidate is taking the issue of voter turnout into his own hands by organizing a Rock the Vote event to spread the word about the importance of voting. Mayoral candidate Andrew Jakubeit arranged an event for Thursday Nov. 6 at the Barking Parrot Bar and Grill that includes live music and...

Celebrate Christmas with the Celts
PENTICTON - Get into the Christmas spirit with a seasonal visit from the Barra MacNeils, one of Canada’s favourite Celtic musical groups. The Cape Breton clan are bringing their Celtic roots and musical artistry to Penticton to get the Okanagan in the holiday spirit. The show features the family group’s seasonal fare mixed with entertaining...
Remember to vote, local marketing agency uses social media campaign to spread the word
PENTICTON - A local marketing company is lending its services and expertise to the Rock the Vote campaign encouraging Penticton residents to get out and vote next weekend during the general election. Dave MacCoubrey, owner of SIRF Marketing and Spotted in Penticton has been collecting video footage, photos and comments from election candidates over the...
Penticton remembers those who have fallen
PENTICTON - Remember all those who have fallen for our country at the Remembrance Day ceremonies this Tuesday, November 11. The ceremony will be held at the Trade and Convention Centre and doors open at 10 a.m. The ceremonies will start around 10:30 a.m. as police, veterans, boy scouts and other protective service agents march...