Penticton news

Penticton set to add more snow removal equipment to roster

PENTICTON - City staff are preparing for winter with a pitch to city council for more snow removal equipment. Buiding and Permitting Manager Ken Kunka asked council for an additional $20,000 to purchase more ice and snow clearing equipment. The request was made to facilitate clearing of nearly 10 kilometres of city lanes that will...

Meteor shower peaks over the Southern Interior this week

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If clouds part enough tonight you may be able to get a glimpse of the Orionid meteor shower as it peaks early Thursday morning. The Orionid meteor shower, which is formed from the debris of Halley’s comet, is known for producing bright and quick meteors. This meteor shower runs throughout October and into...

Penticton police bust boozy driver, catch car thief

PENTICTON - A man wanted for several crimes and an impaired driver were removed from city streets last week. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, Penticton resident Jesse Armstrong was arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle dating back to Sept. 17. A video from local businesses showed him associated with the vehicle in question. He also...

Backpack full of bloody items found in Penticton

PENTICTON - A backpack containing some concerning contents was found outside a Fairview Road business last weekend, and at this point RCMP are unsure whether it is linked to any other crimes in the city. A woman arriving at work found the backpack near Accent Fireplace Gallery at 1295 Fairview Rd. on Saturday, Oct. 17,...

Arrests made in kidnapping and extortion incident in Penticton

PENTICTON - A call from an upset grandmother tipped police off to a kidnapping in Penticton this past weekend. Police received a call from the victim's grandmother early Sunday, Oct. 18, who said her grandson and his dog were going to be shot by a kidnapper if he didn’t pay the man money, according to...

Man in critical condition after North Okanagan shooting

ENDERBY - Police are investigating a shooting in the North Okanagan that left a man in critical condition. RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says police were called to a rural property in the Enderby area about 5:15 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19.  Officers located a 55-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds, Noseworthy says. He was transported to...

Voter turnout jumps in Thompson-Okanagan ridings

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Voter turnout numbers in the 42nd federal election jumped to more than 70 per cent throughout the region, just above the national average and well ahead of 2011 turnout. In the Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo riding, where Conservative Cathy McLeod was re-elected, voter turnout jumped to 74.07 per cent this election, up significantly from the 63.3...

ELECTION 2015: UPDATE: NDP’s Cannings wins in South Okanagan-West Kootenay

PENTICTON - Like his campaign slogan said, “It’s Cannings time.” The NDP's Richard Cannings, 61, is heading to Ottawa after winning in the new riding of South Okanagan-West Kootenay. Cannings admitted early in the race he expected it to be a tight battle between himself and Conservative candidate Marshall Neufeld, noting many people were looking...

ELECTION 2015: UPDATE: Eye on the South Okanagan-West Kootenay race

PENTICTON - As one of the ridings to undergo a big change heading into the 2015 federal election we can guarantee one thing after tonight — there will be a new member of Parliament for the South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding. The Okanagan-Coquihalla and the British Columbia Southern Interior ridings were split and boundaries redrawn in...

Co-accused in beating appears in court for break and enter

PENTICTON - A man alleged to have taken part in the kidnapping and beating of a Penticton man in May pleaded guilty today, Oct. 19, to several charges stemming from a prior incident at Nickel Plate Nordic Ski Centre on April 30, 2015. Sentencing for Albert Edgar Fontaine, who appeared by video today, was delayed. Fontaine...

Revived air quality program in South Okanagan-Similkameen up for discussion

PENTICTON - A Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen program that was axed in 2010 could come before the board of directors for discussion once again. Between 2006-2010, the regional district had an inter-regional committee that was meeting regularly between the RDOS, the Central Okanagan Regional District and the North Okanagan Regional District. The RDOS also...

Local filmmaker captures the brilliance of Summerland

PENTICTON - The latest video offered by Okanagan filmmaker Steve Cogbill highlights his hometown. Cogbill’s Three minutes in Summerland captures the diversity and beauty of Cogbill’s home. “It’s such a beautiful place, I wanted to make a video to capture some of its brilliance,” Cogbill says. Cogbill's film captures the natural beauty surrounding the community as...

Warm weather and chance of rain on the way for the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - It might be fall in the Okanagan, but that’s not stopping Mother Nature from keeping temperatures mostly above seasonal normals this week. Environment Canada is calling for a high of 16 Celsius in Vernon and Kelowna today, Oct. 19, with the expected high gradually dropping off to 10 C by Friday. Overnight the...

Penticton Moccasin Run promotes cultural values, health

PENTICTON - The Penticton Indian Band’s Outma Sqilx’ Cultural School played host to students from the Okanagan Nation Alliance on Friday, Oct.16. The school hosted the fourth annual Moccasin Mile - a cross country running race involving First Nations schools from Keremeos, Oliver, Penticton, Vernon and West Kelowna. Organizer Karolyn Bonneau says the students 9-years-old...

Wanted: Extras for TV movie shoot in South Okanagan

PENTICTON - South Okanagan residents have a unique opportunity to take part in the movie business. Odyssey Media and Reel One Pictures are looking for extras for the TV movie Hand in Love being filmed in Osoyoos. It will air on The Movie Network in Canada. Laurie Pavon-Solis is in charge of background casting for the...

This year’s flu vaccine to target relatively vicious strain

KELOWNA – If you feel like this fall has already been worse than others for getting a cold or the flu, Interior Health has some bad news for you. It won’t peak for another month. According to Interior Health medical officer Kamran Golmohammadi the influenza virus and all the other viruses that cause flu-like symptoms...

Injured hiker rescued near Naramata

PENTICTON – Search and rescue volunteers rescued a hiker in the Three Blind Mice hiking and biking area near Naramata today. The call for help came at about 12:30 p.m., Oct. 16, according to a media release from Penticton Search and Rescue. A woman had fallen down a 20-foot slope and was seriously injured. The...

Increasing demand for Penticton police in third quarter

PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP detachment continues to see an increase in calls for service in the city and region. Supt. Kevin Hewco presented the detachment’s third quarter activity in separate meetings to city council and Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board members this week. The Penticton detachment responded to 5,593 calls for service during this...