Penticton news

Warm weather, chance of frost in the Okanagan this weekend

OKANAGAN - Day time temperatures will remain above seasonal normals this weekend but overnight lows mean there is a chance of frost in parts of the Okanagan. Environment Canada is calling for highs of 17 Celsius today, Oct 16, and 16 C Saturday and Sunday in the Vernon and Penticton areas while Kelowna will see...

Paralyzed Okanagan FMX rider makes history

'WHEN YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO SOMETHING YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN' KELOWNA - A freestyle motocross rider who was paralyzed two years ago while attempting a double front flip has just made history. Bruce Cook is the first paraplegic to land a backflip on a motorcycle in front of a major audience. And he...

Deadline to register your off-road vehicles quickly approaching

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Backcountry riders have until Nov. 1 to register their dirt bikes, ATVs and snowmobiles. The new law, which also stipulates several safety regulations while on Crown land, has been voluntary since last November, and back in May the provincial government extended the hard deadline from June 1 to the start of next month....

Melvilles makes $1.5M donation to Penticton medical foundation

PENTICTON - The South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation’s $20-million campaign continues to grow following a generous donation by a former Penticton family. George and Sylvia Melville recently donated $1.5 million to the medical foundation’s campaign, which is raising money to supply medical equipment to the new patient care tower at Penticton Regional Hospital. George is...

ELECTION 2015: Dogwood poll indicates electoral race tightening up in South Okanagan-West Kootenay

PENTICTON - A poll conducted by the Dogwood Initiative indicates the federal electoral race tightening up in the South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding. The poll places NDP candidate Dick Cannings in first place, in spite of a decline in support, while Conservative Marshall Neufeld holds second place. Liberal candidate Connie Denesiuk continues to gain ground, while...

South Okanagan-West Kootenay: Green candidate Samantha Troy

We don’t endorse any single candidate. Our comments on these answers are an assessment of whether the candidate gave a candid answer as we asked for (REAL) or relied on party platforms, leadership or attacks on rivals for their answers (PUPPET). To understand this post, please read this first. __________________ OUR TAKE: It's hard to...

South Okanagan-West Kootenay: NDP candidate Richard Cannings

We don’t endorse any single candidate. Our comments on these answers are an assessment of whether the candidate gave a candid answer as we asked for (REAL) or relied on party platforms, leadership or attacks on rivals for their answers (PUPPET). To understand this post, please read this first. __________________ OUR TAKE: Richard Cannings has...

South Okanagan-West Kootenay: Liberal candidate Connie Denesiuk

We don’t endorse any single candidate. Our comments on these answers are an assessment of whether the candidate gave a candid answer as we asked for (REAL) or relied on party platforms, leadership or attacks on rivals for their answers (PUPPET). To understand this post, please read this first. __________________ OUR TAKE: Connie Denesiuk is...

South Okanagan-West Kootenay: Conservative candidate Marshall Neufeld

We don’t endorse any single candidate. Our comments on these answers are an assessment of whether the candidate gave a candid answer as we asked for (REAL) or relied on party platforms, leadership or attacks on rivals for their answers (PUPPET). To understand this post, please read this first. __________________ OUR TAKE: Conservative candidate Marshall...

School closures looming in South Okanagan as enrolment levels decline

PENTICTON - Years of declining school enrolments have taken their toll on School District 67 and the board is finding itself running out of options when it comes to future budget cuts, meaning school closures could be coming. Approximately 60 residents gathered in the IMC Building behind the school board offices Wednesday evening, Oct. 14,...

Osoyoos-based Columbia River Treaty workshop highlights Okanagan impacts

PENTICTON - A public workshop held recently in Osoyoos to discuss the Columbia River Treaty highlighted Okanagan issues stemming from the 50-year-old pact. The workshop, which took place at the Sonora Centre in Osoyoos on Oct. 7, was held in the Okanagan to raise the profile of the treaty’s impacts on the valley and prioritize...

Fire ban fully rescinded in Kamloops Fire Centre this week

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - As the weather continues to cool off and fire season comes to a close, open burning is now allowed throughout the Kamloops Fire Centre. As of noon today, Oct. 15, the current open burning ban will be completely rescinded in the areas under the Kamloops Fire Centre’s jurisdiction. Many local municipalities are following...

Police concerned over motorist’s inattention in school zones

PENTICTON - Motorists are being reminded to pay attention to new signage within school zones in the community. Penticton RCMP issued a release this week reminding parents and others using school zones that several new regulatory signs are now in effect surrounding certain schools within the local school districts. Police are concerned many motorists are...

Fest-of-Ale provides $35,000 to community groups

PENTICTON - The 2015 Okanagan Fest-of-Ale Craft Beer and Cider Festival gave back to the community following another successful festival earlier this year. Okanagan Fest of Ale representatives distributed $35,000 back to the community last week during a presentation held at the Shatford Centre. The annual Fest-of-Ale event, which takes place in early April, is one...

Cross border water conference shares ideas, compares notes during drought year

PENTICTON - Those with a stake in the Okanagan River watershed on both sides of the 49th parallel gathered in Osoyoos last week to exchange ideas, discuss this year’s drought conditions, and work towards a more cooperative relationship in the management of the Okanagan River. The conference, which first took place in 2007, happens every...

Cougar sighting in east Penticton

PENTICTON - A recent cougar sighting has the conservation office reminding residents to be diligent with pets and attractants to reduce the potential of conflict between visiting wildlife and residents in Penticton. Penticton Conservation Officer Dave Cox’s warning comes on the heels of a cougar sighting in the Adams Crescent and Ridgedale Avenue area of...

Still time to provide input on SS Sicamous park plan

PENTICTON - The City of Penticton has extended its deadline for pubic input on design concepts for the SS Sicamous park area. Residents interested in commenting on the project will now have until Oct. 16 to do so. First phase of a multi-phase plan to reconstruct the area around the SS Sicamous includes improvements to...

Penticton Community Centre leisure pool repair work underway

PENTICTON - The leaky leisure pool in Penticton will be fixed, but it will be several weeks before the pool can be used again. Work crews and professionals have come up with a solution to fix the pool’s leaking drains, which were discovered while refilling the pool following a summer shut down for pool deck tile...

Penticton police dodge rocks and deal with fake guns

PENTICTON - Police spent a busy week tracking thieves, dealing with imitation handguns and dodging rocks while breaking up an unruly party. For the second time in two weeks, thieves struck a roofing supplier, police reported today, Oct. 13. Penticton RCMP spokesperson Don Wrigglesworth says thieves broke into a fenced compound at Proline Suppliers on Oct....

Casino looking for new digs as Lakeside Resort looks at expansion of convention facilities

PENTICTON - Penticton Lakeside Resort, Convention Centre and Casino will be sporting a name change, along with other more significant changes over the next two years. The hotel’s General Manager, David Prystay, recently announced the hotel would not be renewing their lease with Lakeside Casino when it expires in 2017. Prystay says the hotel plans...

Kelowna woman sentenced for trying to smuggle 35 kg of cocaine into Canada

KELOWNA – A 27-year-old Kelowna woman was sentenced to more than six years in jail for trying to smuggle 35 kilograms of cocaine into Canada from the United States, according to Global Okanagan. Caitlin Gladdish was arrested at the Waneta border crossing near Trail in July last year. Her Volkswagen Jetta had been outfitted with...

Investigation into Penticton fatal crash continues

PENTICTON - Police continue their investigation into a head-on collision that killed one person Friday evening, Oct. 9. RCMP media spokesperson Don Wrigglesworth says the crash took place at approximately 7 p.m. Friday evening when a red Ford pickup travelling southbound on Lakeside Road crossed the centre line of the highway and struck a 2002 Kia...

Man accused of bringing gun into Penticton Law Courts denied bail

PENTICTON - The man accused of bringing a shotgun into the Penticton Law Courts earlier this year will remain in jail for the time being. Jessy Arthur Michaud appeared by video in front of Judge Gale Sinclair this morning, Oct. 13, when he was denied bail on five charges, three of which related to an...