Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Penticton news

Four rescued from Manning Park

PENTICTON - Four missing men are safe due to the combined rescue efforts of the RCMP, B.C. Parks and three search and rescue organizations. Princeton ground search and rescue teams were activated by Princeton RCMP yesterday, September 1, after police received a distress call from four men stranded in the wilderness area straddling the Canada...

‘Too soon’ say critics of decision to lift campfire ban

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Some fire-shocked B.C. residents are questioning the decision by the Ministry of Forests to lift the campfire ban that has been in place since early July. The ministry announced Monday afternoon the ban would be lifted on Crown lands and campsites in the South East and Kamloops fire centres and many communities and regional districts...

Penticton radio personality leaving the city for new opportunity

PENTICTON - A radio personality very familiar to Penticton and residents of the South Okanagan-Similkameen is leaving the city for a new job in the Kootenays. SO Country Internet Radio host Dennis Walker announced yesterday, Aug. 31, he would be taking the morning show host’s position for the new Clear Sky Broadcasting radio station, to...

A week of thefts and threats for Penticton RCMP

PENTICTON - Summer activity appears to be winding down in the city with Penticton RCMP reporting a quiet week. RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says police investigated several vehicle thefts, mischief and domestic complaints over the past week in Penticton. On Monday, Aug. 24, police were called in the early morning hours to a...

Local girl to make TV debut on First Dates Canada tonight

KELOWNA - A local model and freestyle motocross rider will appear on the debut episode of a new TV show that films couples on first dates in all their awkward glory. First Dates Canada was filmed in Vancouver earlier this year and debuts on the Slice Network for the first time tonight, Sept. 1. Kelowna’s...

Earthquake south of the border felt in the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - Did you feel the earth move this morning? If so, you’re not alone. Natural Resources Canada’s Earthquakes Canada website is reporting a 4.3 magnitude earthquake, with an approximate epicentre east of Grand Coulee, Washington, struck around 9:40 a.m today, Sept. 1. Natural Resources Canada reports the earthquake was lightly felt in Bridesville, Kelowna and...

Big Brother Canada cast coming to Okanagan to help local girl with depression

PEACHLAND – Cast members of TV game show Big Brother Canada will be in Peachland this weekend to help cheer up a local 15-year-old struggling with mental illness. Thirteen cast members from all three seasons, including season two runner up Neda Kalantar, will be at Davis Cove Lakeshore Resort Sunday, Sept. 6. Manager Shelley Peach...

ELECTION 2015: Promises abound as federal NDP leader rallies Penticton troops

PENTICTON - The first federal leader to make a campaign stop in Penticton drew hundreds of party faithfuls Monday evening. Hundreds of South Okanagan residents crammed into two salon rooms at the convention centre Monday, Aug. 31, to hear federal New Democratic Party leader Tom Mulcair rally the troops for the upcoming Oct. 19 election....

Summer likely over but long weekend forecast sunny

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – If there will be any more hot summer days this year, they will come in the last two weeks of September, but the chances are summer is over in the Thompson-Okanagan. Residents from Kamloops to Penticton are currently experiencing lower than average temperatures for this time of year and that probably won’t change...

Out of season moose hunt proves costly to Oliver man

PENTICTON - An Oliver hunter will pay a hefty fine and lose his hunting privileges for shooting game out of season. David Joseph Oscar Martin pled guilty to four counts related to an incident that took place in June 2014, including hunting without a license, hunting out of season, unlawful possession of dead wildlife and...

Oliver and area residents could see increase in smoke as winds pick up

PENTICTON - Cooler, wetter weather slowed the Testalinden Creek fire on the weekend, but strong winds could give the blaze some renewed vigour this afternoon. B.C. Wildfire spokesperson Heather Rice says the calmer, cooler conditions over the weekend and this morning, Aug. 31, have decreased fire activity. Rice says while the fire has not grown...

Winners dig deep at Penticton Challenge triathlon

PENTICTON - Over 1,100 athletes from across North America and as far away as Europe and Asia braved the cool, wet weather to take park in the Challenge Penticton triathlon on the weekend. Sunday was race day with Victoria's Brent McMahon winning the men's event and Jennifer Spieldenner from Illinois grabbing the women's title. “I...

Cool, wet week in store for the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - The mercury has dropped and rain is expected to fall as summer break wraps up this week. With Environment Canada calling for high temperatures to only reach the mid- to high-teens all week, you can expect temperatures to remain quite a bit below seasonal normals of 23 Celsius for a high and 11...

Keremeos resident launches anti-national park website

PENTICTON - Those opposed to a proposal for a national park in the South Okanagan-Similkameen now have a voice on the internet. Keremeos resident Arlene Arlow recently launched a website called No National Park designed to tell the complete story of the national park proposal. “I don’t like people being duped, and in my opinion,...

Consultant selected for Area “D” governance study

PENTICTON - The committee looking  at alternative options for governance of Area "D" has selected a consultant for the study. Leftside Partners Inc. has been selected as the consulting firm to lead the governance study committee in engaging citizens to accurately assess governance and service issues in the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameeen’s rural Electoral ...

Weekend rain should help improve air quality in Thompson-Okanagan

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The rain falling throughout the Thompson-Okanagan today should help with the forest fire smoke in the air. Although Environment Canada meteorologist Louis Kohanyi isn’t optimistic the rain forecast to fall throughout the weekend will be enough to lift the special air quality statement issued for the region. The forecast is calling for showers...

Changes coming to the 2016 version of Challenge Penticton

PENTICTON - As athletes mill around the Challenge Penticton athletes village at Okanagan Lake Park preparing for this Sunday's race, race organizers are already planning for next year's event. Changes are on the horizon for Challenge Penticton as race organizers set their sights on 2016. Organizers say the 2016 version of the race will be run...

UPDATE: Evacuation order expands near Testalinden Creek wildfire

PENTICTON - The evacuation order issued earlier this afternoon for residents near the Testalinden Creek wildfire has been expanded to include recreational areas and Crown land. The recreational areas around Burnell (Sawmill) Lake, Ripley Lake and Madden Lake, to the west of Oliver have been placed within the expanded evacuation order today, Aug. 28. As...

RCMP marine unit focus is saving lives not writing tickets

OKANAGAN - With just one boat covering lakes throughout the southern Interior, there’s plenty of times when the long arm of the law simply ends at the lakeshore. But if you do run into the RCMP marine enforcement unit and you’re boat’s not up to snuff, they’ll be on your case, either writing you a...

Rainy weather and thunderstorms for Okanagan

OKANAGAN - In the wake of the extended period of hot, dry weather, the Okanagan is about to receive several days of rain.  Environment Canada is calling for clouds and showers beginning today, Aug. 28, and continuing through to Wednesday. Thundershowers are forecast for Saturday. And it will be cool with highs of 19 Celsius and...

Fire crews anxiously watch weather at Testalinden Creek

PENTICTON -  B.C. Wildfire firefighters expect to spend an anxious day on the front lines in the battle against the Testalinden Creek wildfire with strong wind in the forecast. Fire information officer Heather Rice says the wind is expected to pick up from the south around noon today, Aug. 28, which could be detrimental to...