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Penticton news
2015 TOP STORIES: Penticton stories that will continue making waves in the new year
PENTICTON - From waterslides and casinos to bridges and tourism, a lot of controversial issues came to light in Penticton in 2015, and a lot of them will likely continue to lead the news in 2016. Here's a look at some of the top stories to come out of Penticton in 2015. SKAHA LAKE PARK...
Hundreds of hardy souls take New Year’s plunge in Okanagan Lake
PENTICTON - Sub zero temperatures and a snow covered beach failed to deter hundreds from participating in this year’s Summerland Polar Bear Dip. Summerland Kinsman Club President Mike Petkau says roughly 200 dippers took to Okanagan Lake today, Jan.1, to start the new year with an icy plunge. Petkau estimates up to 500 in total...
Propane theft prompts Penticton police to seek public assistance
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP are looking for a person or persons with an excessive need for propane. Thirteen propane tanks were reported missing from the Skaha Lake Road 7-11 gas bar on Tuesday, Dec. 29. The tanks are believed to have gone missing between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. that day, stolen from an exterior...
Expect a chilly start to the new year in the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - Temperatures are set to dip below normal this New Year’s Day long weekend but the good news is it looks like it will warm up again early next week. Environment Canada is calling for a high of -4 Celsius to -7 C today, Dec. 31 through Sunday before warming up slightly to start...
Court appearance for man accused of widely witnessed assault
PENTICTON - A man accused of viciously assaulting his girlfriend and another man was released on bail in Penticton court, Wednesday, Dec. 29. Crown Prosecutor Nashina Devji asked that Randall C. Toews be detained on numerous charges including assault stemming from an incident on Martin Street in Penticton on Sept. 11, 2015. Devji told court...
Lone female in South Okanagan rural crime spree makes court appearance
PENTICTON - The lone female among four alleged thieves involved in a series of break and enters and mailbox damage in the Twin Lakes area may make bail if she can find a $1,000 surety. Chelsey Anne Thorstenson, 28, appeared in court before Judge Gale Sinclair today, Dec. 30, charged with possession of stolen property...
Penticton court appreciative of man’s insight into his own behaviour
PENTICTON - A Penticton man showing promise at straightening out his life received a conditional sentence in Penticton court this week for charges stemming from a vehicle theft more than a year ago. Clifford Robert Dranchuk was charged with two counts of theft under $5,000, possession of break-in instruments and driving while prohibited, after police...
Holidays and weather doesn’t stop flow of blood donations in Penticton
PENTICTON - With a blood donor clinic taking place in Penticton this week red has come to signify more than the Christmas season for many South Okanagan and Similkameen residents this year. Canadian Blood Services held a two day clinic in Penticton earlier this week and turnout for holiday clinics can be hard to predict...
Man back in custody minutes after leaving Penticton court
PENTICTON - A man found sleeping in a truck filled with stolen items made a court appearance yesterday, and then was taken back into custody just minutes after leaving the court house when he was witnessed stealing a cash box. The man, who is well known to police, was arrested Dec. 23 after residents reported...
Earthquake 19 km northeast of Victoria
VICTORIA - A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Sidney, Vancouver Island Tuesday evening. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the three second quake happened just after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, 19 kilometres northeast of Victoria and almost 60 kilometres below the earth’s surface. There have been no reports of any damage or injuries. The...
Theft and snowball fights keep Penticton RCMP busy Christmas week
PENTICTON - Penticton thieves were especially active Christmas Eve last week. Police responded to 52 files on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24. Among the calls were a rash of thefts from vehicles reported Christmas Eve, including: - safety equipment stolen from a vehicle parked on Canyon Court - a vehicle on Wellington Street was rifled through,...
You’ll never guess what this Kamloops woman wants for her 100th birthday
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The family of a Kamloops grandmother turning 100 years old in a few months is using social media to get the attention of her favourite singer. Kelowna resident Brad Krauza’s grandmother Sylvia lives in Kamloops. With her 100th birthday coming up in March, he and his sister Wendy wanted to do something extra...
Penticton couple became millionaires on Boxing Day
PENTICTON - A lottery ticket purchased at Penticton’s Cherry Lane Shopping Centre let a local couple keep the celebration going the day after Christmas. Lindsay Slobodzian and Grzegroz Slobodzian checked their lottery ticket while Boxing Day shopping, Dec. 26, just an hour before hosting a family get together, and found out they won one of...
‘My roommate used my toothbrush’ and other reasons to not call 9-1-1
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The largest 9-1-1 call centre in B.C. has released its top ten worst reasons people used their service this year. E-Comm is the primary 9-1-1 answer point for 24 regional districts and other communities from Vancouver Island to the Alberta and U.S. borders, to north of Prince George. With nearly 3,400 9-1-1 calls...
Faulty fireplace results in close call at Naramata home
PENTICTON - A Naramata resident is fortunate damage to his house wasn’t greater following an unusual fire yesterday evening. Naramata Fire Chief Tony Trovao says the fire department responded to a call of a structure fire on Granite Place around 8:50 p.m. Monday, Dec.28. Travao says the resident had the fire mostly out by the...
Twin Lakes crime spree leads to police chase
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP spent a busy day prior to Christmas tracking down thieves in the Twin Lakes area. Police responded to calls of break and enters on Grand Oro Road in the Twin Lakes area on Wednesday morning, Dec. 23, RCMP media spokesperson Don Wrigglesworth says. While investigating the break-ins, police were alerted by another Grand...
No day off for Soupateria volunteers in Penticton
PENTICTON - While many people in Penticton took today off, not so for the volunteers at Penticton Soupateria. They were kept busy through the noon hour serving clients at the Martin Street kitchen, Dec. 28. Soupateria cook Pat Witzraney says the kitchen has been serving a few less people in the last week, down from...
Penticton digging out after heavy snowfall
PENTICTON - Penticton residents with mobility issues faced difficulties getting around today as city crews tried to get a handle on the weekend snowfall. Many sidewalks and street curbs remained snow covered or slushy early Monday afternoon, Dec. 28. City Hall was closed for the Boxing Day stat, so there was no official word available...
Weather mellowing out in the Okanagan this week
OKANAGAN - It looks like snowplows will get some time to catch up this week with much less white stuff expected to fall. Communities across the Okanagan got hit with a large dump of snow over the holiday weekend, prompting a snowfall warning from Environment Canada, which ended Dec. 27. Between 7 mm and 10 mm...
Penticton firefighters douse car fire
PENTICTON - Firefighters were called to downtown Penticton this afternoon to put out a car fire. Fire crews arrived at the intersection of Wade Avenue and Martin Street at approximately 12:50 p.m., Dec. 28, to find a Honda Civic parked at the curb with smoke billowing from the hood and flame from the engine compartment....
Pickup truck dislodges concrete barriers after losing control on Highway 97
PENTICTON - Frozen, snowy roads continue to take their toll on traffic in the South Okanagan. The driver of a Toyota Tundra pickup narrowly missed plunging down a steep, 300-foot embankment when her vehicle went out of control and struck several concrete barriers lining Highway 97 late Sunday afternoon.The truck dislodged two of the barriers,...
UPDATE: Snowfall warning ended for Okanagan and South Thompson
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS IN WINTER DRIVING CONDITION THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – A dump of snow overnight and this morning is making the busiest travel day of the year a challenge for drivers. The snowfall warning issued by Environment Canada for the Thompson-Okanagan earlier this morning was ended at about 10:15 a.m., Dec. 27. Forecasters say significant snowfall...
Are changes coming for Penticton’s two tourism associations in 2016?
PENTICTON - The city is looking everywhere it can to find ways to cut costs and operate city interests more efficiently and that includes both city entities entrusted with promoting the region's tourism industry. Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says the overlap in function between the Penticton Hospitality Association and Tourism Penticton could be leveraged to the...
Penticton Christmas tree recycling program back for another year
PENTICTON - Penticton residents will have the opportunity to recycle their Christmas trees once again this year. City residents can drop their trees off at Fire Hall #2 at 285 Dawson Ave. where they will be collected, chipped and recycled. Drop offs are permitted between Dec. 26, 2015 and Jan. 31, 2016. For more information,...