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Penticton news
Wet Veterans’ week ahead for the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - As temperatures continue to cool off in the Okanagan, there is at least a chance of snow or rain every day this week for the region. Environment Canada is calling for temperatures to be at or slightly above seasonal normals most of the week, while overnight lows will be just below normal most...
Remembrance Day an important event for Penticton’s Royal Canadian Legion
PENTICTON - The Penticton branch of the Royal Canadian Legion continues its tradition of being of service to the country’s war vets. The organization takes on added significance as Remembrance Day approaches. The legion will again spearhead Remembrance Day ceremonies Wednesday, Nov. 11. This year two ceremonies take place; one indoors at the Penticton Trade...
Two Christmas toy drives in Penticton this year
PENTICTON - Penticton is going to have two Christmas toy drives this year. The 22nd annual Toys for Tots to Teens will return this year at a new location and with a new format, according to event coordinator Karen Davey. This year’s Toys for Tots to Teens will take place Nov. 24 from 7 a.m....
RDOS governance study looking for resident participation
PENTICTON - The goal of the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen’s governance study in Electoral Area D is to get residents involved in the search for new ways to govern the rural area. The governance study offers residents a rare opportunity to share their perspective on how local government works — or how it doesn’t, according...
Harassed Vernon food truck vendor says enough is enough
VERNON - Vernon food truck vendor Dave Braybrook had to call the cops three times in one day this week — and now he's speaking out. The friendly Irishman and owner of the Sizzlin’ Shamrock hot dog stand says he’s had problems with transients disrupting business ever since he set up on the sidewalk at...
Penticton cougar sighting; likely big cat hunting deer
PENTICTON - The Penticton Conservation office reports two calls to their office about a cougar sighting in Penticton earlier this week. The calls related to a sighting of a big cat in the area of Ross and Duncan Avenues at about 2:30 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 4, reports B.C. Conservation Service Inspector Barb Leslie. “It was...
Oliver ski resort’s future is up, then down
PENTICTON - The status of a South Okanagan ski resort appear headed downhill once again. Less than a month after Mount Baldy Ski Resort announced it was making preparations to open the hill, even announcing an opening date, the resort has posted notice on it’s website page saying it is once again in jeopardy of...
New Fortis energy conservation program aimed at low income residents, renters
PENTICTON - Fortis BC is introducing a new energy conservation program it hopes will help low and fixed income residents, as well as renters, in the South Okanagan and Similkameen. Fortis manager Carol Suhan introduced the Energy Conservation Assessment Program, along with a second new program which deals with rental apartments, to regional directors at...
Stolen truck smashes Penticton businesses
PENTICTON - Two Penticton businesses were severely damaged in hit and runs by a stolen truck early this morning. Police responded to a 4 a.m. call from a Calgary Avenue resident reporting his truck stolen while it was warming up outside, unattended, this morning, Nov. 6, Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says. At...
UPDATE: Man accused of threatening Penticton city hall staff arrested after garage fire
PENTICTON - The same man arrested after threatening voicemail messages were left at Penticton city hall is in custody following an early morning fire at this home. Police and Penticton firefighters responded to a garage fire around 5:48 a.m., Nov. 6, at 112 - 2990 South Main St. Penticton RCMP Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says a...
Wet weekend ahead for the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - A typical fall weekend is ahead, with single-digit temperatures and at least a chance of rain every day. Temperatures are expected to vary slightly throughout the region with Environment Canada calling for the coolest temperatures today, Nov. 6, and tomorrow in the Vernon area. The weather office is forecasting a high of just...
Silver Star in good shape for opening thanks to dump of snow
VERNON - Silver Star will open up trails for nordic skiing, fat biking and snowshoeing in a week thanks to plentiful snowfall on the mountain. With a 29 centimetre dump of snow last weekend, groomers have been able to prepare a number of trails, the resort said in a media release. With more snowfall in...
City of Penticton rate review says utility rates must go up
PENTICTON - A key finding of a recently completed review of Penticton’s utility rates is annual rate increases are needed in future years in order for the city to maintain infrastructure and financial sustainability. If the recommendations from the review are adopted, residents will be paying an additional $34 dollars per month on average for...
Penticton RCMP seeking owner of travel trailer
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP would like to find the proper home - and owner - of an abandoned travel trailer. RCMP say the trailer with a stolen British Columbia license plate was found in the Penticton Walmart parking lot on Saturday, Oct. 31. The license plate attached to the trailer had been stolen from an Okanagan...
UPDATE: Threatening messages at Penticton city hall result in armed standoff
PENTICTON – Threatening voicemail messages about the City of Penticton cutting off someone's power sparked…
Penticton fire department seeks $20,000 grant funding for wildfire prevention initiatives
PENTICTON - Penticton city council has thrown their support behind the fire department's grant applications to beef up wildfire prevention initiatives. Deputy Chief Dave Spalding says the department is applying for two Union of BC Municipalities grants worth a total of $20,000. Spalding explained the 10 year old strategic wildfire program needed updates to include spatial...
Another former tenant of Penticton rental speaks out about rat issue
PENTICTON - Another former tenant of a Penticton rental house says he was forced out of the house because of rodent issues. Bram Avery told Infonews he and his wife rented the house, located at 292 Kinney Ave., prior to Linda Childs, who moved out last month because rats were overrunning the property. Avery says...
Torchlight ceremony signals major milestone to B.C. Winter Games in Penticton
PENTICTON - The countdown to the Penticton 2016 B.C. Winter Games is underway with an official torch lighting ceremony set for next week. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m. outside the South Okanagan Events Centre on the plaza. Local entertainers such as Beamer Wigley, Outma Sqilx’W Cultural School Children’s...
Flu shot season in the Southern Interior
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With the peak of flu season just a few weeks away, Health Canada has started its yearly vaccination program. Although last year’s flu vaccine wasn’t particularly effective, Interior Health medical officer Kamran Golmohammadi says, this year’s vaccine cocktail will target the more severe of the two types of viruses – Type A. Every...
Penticton hospital care facility temporarily locked down after verbal threat
PENTICTON - A fired employee threatened a manager last week, putting a long term care facility at Penticton Regional Hospital in lockdown. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, an employee of the facility who was fired threatened a manager while leaving, stating the manager 'wouldn’t make it out of the building alive,' Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Cpl....
Phony firearms, drunk driving and drugs keep Penticton officers busy
PENTICTON - In addition to answering the usual calls for assistance, calls about an axe handle disguised as a gun and a break and enter to the local bottle depot kept Penticton RCMP busy last week. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, Penticton RCMP stopped a man on Highway 97 just outside of Penticton and discovered he...
Community toy drive aims to give Penticton kids a special Christmas
PENTICTON - A new collaborative effort between two Penticton businesses hopes to make Christmas a little more special for local children in need. Gateway Casinos and Entertainment, through Lake City Casino in Penticton, is partnering with Locolanding Adventure Park to collect new, unwrapped gifts for underprivileged children in the South Okanagan. The first annual Community...
Who is at fault? Driving instructor takes on traffic circle dash-cam crash
DO YOU BLUFF YOUR WAY THROUGH TRAFFIC CIRCLES OR DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO? THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - They're slowly popping up in more streets and neighbourhoods to help us but instead often incite mass confusion, arguments, sometimes panic and even the occasional crash. Does anyone know what to do in a traffic circle? We found...
Similkameen youth treatment facility continues to languish
PENTICTON - The re-opening of a youth addiction treatment facility continues to stall in the Similkameen valley as the property’s owners work with the province to restablish new guidelines. Central City Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Johnstone says the foundation, which owns the former Portage youth addiction treatment facility known as The Crossing, remain committed...