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Penticton news
B.C. has highest rate of illegal cigarettes in Western Canada, study finds
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - As the province with the most contraband cigarettes in Western Canada, the amount of illegal tobacco in B.C. remains steadily high. The statistics come from the latest study commissioned by the Western Convenience Stores Association. In September researchers collected discarded cigarettes at various locations throughout the province to determine which were illegally purchased....
Whitewater Cooks author to stir the pot in Kelowna
KELOWNA - The author of a bestselling line of cookbooks will be in Kelowna next week signing autographs and speaking about her famous line of sauces. The author of four bestselling cookbooks, Shelley Adams of the Whitewater Cooks series was the former head chef at Fresh Tracks Café at Whitewater Ski Resort in Nelson. Her...
Time appears right for petition to dump daylight saving time
KAMLOOPS - It’s been a couple days since Bob Dieno and Tara Holmes created a petition and Facebook page asking the B.C. government to consider doing away with daylight saving time and they are getting strong support from many in the province. The petition ‘stop the time change in British Columbia’ received hundreds of signatures...
Okanagan bus drivers to honour passenger killed one year ago
KELOWNA - A Kelowna man who was brutally murdered on a packed, local bus last year will be honoured by drivers across the Okanagan Friday. Caesar Rosales was 55 years old when he was killed Oct. 30, 2014, during his regular commute home after work. Exactly one year later bus drivers from Penticton to Vernon...
Poppy campaign kicks off this week
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - This year’s poppy campaign is expected to be underway this Friday, Oct. 30. Poppies will be available at all Legion offices and members will have them available at locations throughout the city. Funds from the poppies contribute to veterans, their families and others in need of assistance in the community. The long-standing tradition...
Get ready for winter fun at B.C.’s largest snow show
VERNON - The largest exhibition of snow machines and snow safety equipment is coming to Vernon in less than two weeks. The first ever B.C. Provincial Snow Show is made up of three events that were previously held across the Interior — in Vernon, Williams Lake and Prince George. This year, the Vernon Snowmobile Association...
Wine connoisseur Aaron Olfert leaves behind a legacy of kinship
PENTICTON - Friends, business associates and customers are still coming to terms with the passing of one of Penticton’s most revered wine connoisseurs. Aaron Peter Olfert, 37, died of natural causes Saturday, Oct 24, at his home in Penticton. Olfert has worked for the last eight years at the VQA Wine Information Centre on Vees...
Penticton Indian Band hopes to win over Gateway Casinos in bid for new location
PENTICTON – With the future location of the Lakeside Casino in Penticton up in the…
Driver injured after rolling car down ditch, into creek near Penticton
PENTICTON - The driver of a car is being treated for unknown injuries after rolling her car down a ditch and into a creek shortly before noon today. Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department chief Darlene Bailey says the woman driving the car, which landed on its roof in a creek, managed to get out herself and...
Conservation officers save baby bobcat in Osoyoos
KAMLOOPS - An orphaned bobcat kitten got another chance at life after being rescued by conservation officers this summer. Officers found the kitten orphaned near Osoyoos in July and with the help of the public were able to capture it. The kitten was then transferred to the B.C. Wildlife Park in Kamloops for rehabilitation. The...
Lots of love for Shania Twain’s farewell performance in Kelowna
KELOWNA - Kelowna’s Prospera Place was Shania Twain’s final performance on her Rock This Country tour and possibly her last concert ever. And locals made sure to send her off in style. The show sold out quickly and fans were all over social media saying thanks and wishing her the best. Locals like Rose’s Pub...
Multiple school closures considered for School District 67
PENTICTON - A deficit for the 2016-2017 school year estimated at $1.025 million has forced School District 67 to come up with some tough choices. The school board revealed those options at a public meeting held at Shatford Centre on Monday, Oct. 26. School board chair Linda Van Alphen says seven of the 18 originally...
Pilot project could put baskets of free condoms in Okanagan schools
VERNON - Baskets of condoms could soon be coming to local high schools as way of putting protection in the hands of those who need it — no questions asked. About 14 schools in B.C.’s Interior have free condoms available, but students have to ask for them, Vernon School District health coordinator Christine Balfour says....
Local prejudice against Muslims tackled at UBCO
'IF WE DON'T SPEAK ABOUT THESE ISSUES... WE START DEVELOPING ALL THESE MISCONCEPTIONS.' KELOWNA - A UBC Okanagan graduate is organizing a forum on campus to address some of the misconceptions about his religion that are clearly still a problem in Kelowna. Adnan Akiel Ahmad Bhat holds a masters in electrical engineering from the Okanagan...
Break-ins highlight police calls in Penticton
PENTICTON - A number of break-ins and thefts kept officers with Penticton RCMP busy last week. Penticton RCMP responded to a reported break in to a tire bin at Murray Buick GMC, 1010 Westminster Ave., on Thursday, Oct. 22. Investigation could not determine if any tires were taken though, according to police media spokesman Rick...
Penticton court shows mercy on suspended driver with lengthy driving history
PENTICTON - A Naramata man with a notorious driving record was given a break in Penticton court on Monday, Oct. 26 because of his personal circumstances. Peter John Roberts appeared before Judge Meg Shaw on Monday after pleading guilty to one count of driving while his license was suspended. Crown Prosecutor Kurt Froehlich told court...
Local ski hills are growing white
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - While some of us are still holding on to the last strings of warmer weather, those looking forward to skiing and snowboarding will be happy to know the snow is falling at area ski hills. All three of the big ski hills in the area — Sun Peaks, Silver Star Mountain and Big...
Cougar stalks couple hiking Skaha Bluffs near Penticton
PENTICTON - A couple hiking the Skaha Bluffs had an usettling encounter with wildlife earlier this week. Penticton RCMP received a call from a man around 2:20 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, after the man and his wife encountered a cougar while hiking in the Skaha Bluffs area. The man told police the cougar was stalking...
Vernon man accused of murder released from custody
VERNON - An 18-year-old Vernon man accused of murder is no longer in custody. Brandon Wellington, who stands accused of second degree murder in connection with the death of Jason Hardy, was released on bail Monday, Oct. 26. His bail is set at $10,000 and he must adhere to a number of court-ordered conditions. Greater...
Everything you wish you didn’t need to know about rats in the Thompson-Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Just a few years ago, Thompson-Okanagan residents didn’t have to worry about rats invading attic spaces or chewing up electrical wires, simply because the rodent was a rarity in these parts. That's all changed. Steve Ball owns BugMaster Pest Control, which services the North, Central and South Okanagan, and he says rat complaints...
Third quarter projections anticipate budget surplus at Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District
PENTICTON - The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen is looking forward to a budget surplus this year, based on its third quarter financial report. Finance Manager Sandy Croteau says an overall surplus of $745,000 was anticipated on this year’s $37.2 million budget, amounting to two per cent of the budget total. Croteau reported a $50,000...
Penticton Sears store reopened on the weekend
PENTICTON - The Penticton Sears store closure was only temporary, Sears officials confirmed on the weekend. Sears communications officer Alicia Richler says in an email, Sears Canada took over the Penticton Sears store and reopened the business on Saturday, Oct. 24. A sign on the door last week indicated the closure was temporary, but the...
Wet fall week ahead for the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - A mixed bag of weather — cloud, rain and sun — is expected in the Okanagan for the last week of October. Environment Canada is calling for temperature highs at or just above seasonal normals of 9 Celsius throughout the region all week, with the warmest temperatures expected today, Oct. 26. Overnight lows...
Okanagan Regional Library approves budget increase
KELOWNA – Half of the Okanagan Regional Library budget increase for 2016 is wage increases for staff at branches up and down the valley. The board of directors has approved a spending plan worth over $18.2 million, which reflects a 1.98 per cent increase from 2015. The increase amounts to an extra $351,818 tax dollars....