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Penticton news

Penticton launches the Christmas season this weekend

PENTICTON - The festive season launches in Penticton this weekend with the 19th annual Penticton Santa Claus Parade and Christmas Light Up. The parade starts at 1 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, travelling north on Main Street from White Avenue to Gyro Park. There will be time for a visit with Santa prior to the Christmas tree...

Warm and wet weekend ahead for the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - While high winds, heavy rain and record temperatures are battering coastal cities, the Okanagan can expect temperatures just above normal and rain during at least part of this weekend. Environment Canada is calling for temperatures to hit between 3 Celsius and 6 C this weekend before climbing to a high of 8 C...

Changing standards trigger request for regional master fire plan

PENTICTON - A Fire Master Plan is being proposed for inclusion into the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen’s 2016 budget at a cost of $50,000. The item was part of budget talks today, Dec. 3, at the regional board budget meeting held at Penticton Lakeside Resort. Community services manager Mark Woods told the board the...

Christmas celebrations begin Friday in downtown Penticton

PENTICTON - Downtown community Christmas celebrations start Friday in downtown Penticton. The Downtown Penticton Association is inviting preschool children to add decorations to the Community Christmas Tree in Gyro Park on Friday, Dec. 4 at 11:30 a.m. Penticton residents are also invited to add their favourite decorations to the tree on Friday Dec. 4 between...

Salvation Army kettle campaign ramping up

PENTICTON  - The Salvation Army Kettle Campaign is well underway in Penticton with kettles up around the city. The campaign began almost two weeks ago and will kicking into high gear this coming weekend. “We’re now at all our locations in Penticton, including the Penticton Liquor Store,” coordinator Hilma Labelle says. Kettles have also been...

Cant stop the music: Osoyoos high school band plays on after budget cuts

OSOYOOS - When budget cuts led to the cancellation of band class, a small group of determined Osoyoos band students and their volunteer band teacher decided to create their own musical education. Music teacher Anne Murseli has known most of the eight band members since elementary school and when budget cuts cancelled the music class...

Changing speed limit signs on the way for B.C. highways

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Highway drivers will start seeing variable speed signs later this winter as the Ministry of Transportation begins installing them this week, though they won't be functioning until early in the new year. The pilot project, which is currently in its testing phase, will include signs on sections of the Trans-Canada, Sea to Sky...

Lapse in judgement results in loss of driving privilege

PENTICTON - A moment’s inattention proved to be a costly mistake for a Keremeos man in Penticton court yesterday, Dec. 1. Fausto J. Bernard will not be able to drive for at least six months after Judge Gregory Koturbash convicted him for driving without due care and attention. Bernard was driving on Highway 3A on...

Stolen tools found by Penticton police

PENTICTON -  Tools were stolen in Penticton while other tools were discovered in Okanagan Falls last week by Penticton officers, who also dealt with the aftermath of an icy Highway 3A this past week. The owners of a trailer stored at Penticton Self Storage discovered a break and enter on their property Monday, Nov. 23,...

Peach City radio finds a home in Penticton

PENTICTON - Penticton’s Peach City Radio has found a location for its radio station studio. This week the community radio society announced it will be moving into the Cannery Trade Centre in 2016. The society has been extensively looking at possible locations since it obtained its broadcast license earlier this year. A recent vacancy in the...

Sleeping in the wrong place, waking up in a foul mood results in probation

PENTICTON - A Penticton man who "got up on the wrong side of bed” received 12 months’ probation for his crankiness in Penticton court today, December 1. Crown Prosecutor Kurt Froehlich told court Bryson Alexander Diaz, along with his girlfriend, was found sleeping in the vestibule of the Royal Bank of Canada’s Apple Plaza branch...

Penticton gets a peek at new casino plans

PENTICTON - Residents had their voices heard during the second day of public meetings for the casino relocation plans this morning. The second in a series of public meetings to share details of Gateway Casinos and Entertainment’s casino relocation plans, which were announced last week, and hear public input was well attended this morning, Dec....

Penticton police continue to nab impaired drivers

PENTICTON - In what may be a sign of the season, Penticton RCMP found themselves handing out several Immediate Roadside Prohibitions last week, and they weren’t even conducting roadside checks at the time. Detachment officers handed out three 90-day driving prohibitions on Thursday, Nov. 26, alone, Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Corporal Don Wrigglesworth says. A...

Vernon marijuana dispensaries warned by police to shut down

VERNON - Medical marijuana dispensaries in Vernon have been warned to close their doors. Hasia Glaim co-owns MMJ Total Health Care on 31 Avenue downtown Vernon and was surprised to get a visit from the Vernon RCMP Nov. 24. “We were given a verbal warning to shut down as we are operating illegally and we...

Possible cougar encounter near Lakawanna Park in Penticton

PENTICTON - Reports of a possible cougar, or bobcat, in Penticton last night remains unresolved because conservation officers are unable to confirm the sighting. Officers were called to the area of Lakeshore Drive at Lakawanna Park last night, Monday, Nov. 30, after reports of a cougar in the area, Penticton RCMP Media spokesperson Corporal Don...

Penmar Society working against time to save Penmar building

PENTICTON - It’s do or die this month for the PenMar Community Arts Theatre initiative. The Penmar Community Arts Society has just 15 days to raise $190, 000 to complete the restoration of the Penmar theatre building or the project faces the very real prospect of being lost. As of noon on Monday, Nov. 30, $3,575...

Early morning blaze destroys travel trailer in Okanagan Falls

PENTICTON - Okanagan Falls volunteer firefighters were hampered by cold temperatures and a lack of fire hydrants while fighting a blaze just south of the community early this morning. Firefighters arrived at a property at the corner of Highway 97 and Alba Road at about 1:30 a.m., Nov. 30, to find a travel trailer completely...

South Okanagan and Similkameen fire department radio upgrades nearing completion

PENTICTON - Cost savings are being realized as the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen moves into the final phase of its region-wide emergency communications upgrade. Planetworks Consultant Doug Joinson told a recent regional district board meeting the elimination of Okanagan Mountain as a radio repeater site saved $750,000 and $70,000 in annual maintenance costs. The...

Penticton emergency photographer answers call, day or night

PENTICTON - A Penticton man’s interest in photography and emergency services has made his photos a sought after commodity among media, police and fire services. Skylar Noe-Vack, 20, has been following emergency vehicles around the city and throughout the South Okanagan since the fire at the Slack Alice bar back in 2012. He documented that...

Penticton man identified as victim in fatal Okanagan Connector crash

KELOWNA – The first big winter storm on the Okanagan Connector and Coquihalla highways proved deadly early this month. A car crash claimed the life of a Penticton man on Highway 97C around 1:30 p.m., Nov. 16, according to a media release from the B.C. Coroners Service. Martin Lewis Schultz, 44, was the driver and...

Avoid the cold: Indoor things to do this weekend in Penticton

PENTICTON - For those excited about snow and cold weather, Apex Ski Resort opens tomorrow, Nov. 27. For the rest who may not want to spend too much time ouside in the cold, here are a few ways to enjoy the weekend indoors. Indoor activities in the city include a Penticton Vees game Saturday when...

Unique gifts for sale at Indigenous Arts and Craft Fair in Penticton

PENTICTON - A 10-year-old Christmas tradition continues on the Penticton Indian Reserve this weekend. The Indigenous Arts & Craft Fair takes place at the En’owkin Centre from 10 a.m until 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5. Those looking for unique Christmas gift ideas could find what they are looking for a short drive west of...