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Penticton news

ELECTION 2015: NDP candidate for South Okanagan – West Kootenay predicting tight race

PENTICTON -  Penticton-born Richard Cannings thinks this year’s federal election will be a race between the NDP and Conservative parties in the new riding of South Okanagan - West Kootenay. The 61 year old isn’t a stranger to politics, having run as a provincial NDP candidate three years ago. “We did well, but not well...

How to lockdown a correctional centre job

PENTICTON - The South Okanagan will get an economic shot in the arm when the Okanagan Correctional Centre is completed in late 2016 and the recruitment process for jobs at the prison continues. More than 240 full-time correctional officer jobs will open up, creating opportunities for those interested in the demanding role as a correctional...

Mom raises $14K for Cuddle Cots across Thompson-Okanagan

WEST KELOWNA – What started as an idea to bring to Kelowna General Hospital a device which gives parents of stillborn children a few extra days with their child will now help families across the entire Thompson-Okanagan. In less than three months West Kelowna resident Kristin Esmail has raised enough money to buy four Cuddle...

Smoke wreaks havoc on already-weakened hearts and lungs

SOUTHERN INTERIOR - Looks like the smokey skies will be with us until at least tomorrow and that means more discomfort for those with chronic heart and respiratory problems. “When we talk about smokey skies, we’re talking about the tiny solid particles that remain suspended in the air. The major concern is particles smaller than...

B.C. crews begin work on Washington wildfire

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - B.C. Wildfire firefighters have begun work on a Washington-based wildfire inching its way toward the Canadian border. With five kilometres left before reaching Canada, B.C. crews have been deployed to suppress the Stickpin Fire which is now estimated to be 19,240 hectares in size. Plans so far are for crews to assess the...

Accused in double murder cases pursues mistrial

PENTICTON - The defence lawyer for the man convicted in the double homicide of two Princeton residents and the attempted murder of a third is applying for a mistrial application. Lawyers handling the Koopmans murder trial discussed future court appearances for sentencing and a mistrial application in Penticton Supreme Court today, Aug. 24. John Ike...

Decision on Kelowna Mountie accused of assault expected in September

LANGUAGE ADVISORY KELOWNA – The judge in the trial of a Kelowna RCMP constable accused of assaulting an elderly bar patron will have to decide if the officer believed John McCormick was obstructing justice when he refused to leave Rose’s pub in downtown Kelowna last summer. Judge Gregory Koturbash heard final submissions in Kelowna Provincial...

Arson or accident? Investigators wonder about White Lake wildfires

PENTICTON - An unusual number of wildfires occurring in the rural neighbourhoods of Kaleden and Willowbrook has local and B.C. Wildfire Service officials concerned. Fire information officer Kayla Pepper says they are concerned about the fires which have occurred in the White Lake area. She says they are working with other agencies including the RCMP...

Another break-in at a Tickleberry’s location

PENTICTON – For the second time this month, thieves have targeted one of the Tickleberry’s ice cream shops. This time the family-owned business’s location in Penticton was broken into. RCMP say Tickleberry’s on the Beach, the concession at Skaha Lake was broken into early this morning, Aug. 23. The safe was torn off the wall...

Heavy smoke blankets Okanagan; the rest of southern B.C. gets smoke haze

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Smoke from the huge forest fires burning in Washington State pumped into the southern Interior yesterday evening has been trapped in the valleys by a temperature inversion. The Okanagan is getting the worst of the smoke with visibility down to less to a kilometre in some areas this morning, Aug. 23. Environment Canada,...

City grant helping to reduce fresh fruit and produce waste

PENTICTON - A City of Penticton grant is helping to reduce the amount of food wasted during the abundant summer months. The Okanagan Fruit Tree Project says the $7,000 grant has allowed the hiring of a part time coordinator to increase the amount of overproduced food redistributed to those in need. Coordinator Deb Thorneycroft says...

Initial phase of Penticton Creek restoration half complete

PENTICTON - The first phase of the Penticton Creek restoration is half finished. Reconstruction of the showcase section of creek bed began August 4. The initial project was designed to provide a demonstration to the public of what creek restoration looks like, as construction efforts worked to provide restored fish habitat, maintained flood protection and...

Airport expanding while transfer talks in limbo

PENTICTON - Expansion of the Penticton Regional Airport continues while talks with the federal government over local management of the facility appear to be in limbo. Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen director and Penticton mayor Andrew Jakubeit noted those facts following the announcement of a contract award to Penticton based Greyback Construction for expansion of...

Penticton Regional Hospital gets temporary parking lot

PENTICTON - A temporary parking lot has been approved by Penticton city council for use during construction of the new patient care tower at Penticton Regional Hospital. The parking lot on Camrose Street will be for construction workers, but there won't be a crosswalk in the middle of Industrial Avenue as originally proposed by Interior...

Dream wedding for a dying father

"HE'S DONE SO MUCH FOR US NOW IT'S OUR TURN TO LOOK AFTER HIM" KELOWNA – Christina Richard was just 11 years old when Eric Lavoie entered her life in 2003 and changed it forever. Her mom, Sophy Zaglis, 49, was raising five kids on her own, working as a registered nurse and volunteer with...

KF Aerospace announces more layoffs in the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - Rebranding the company hasn’t helped KF Aerospace avoid the turbulence of the marketplace which has forced the company to cut jobs in both Kelowna and Hamilton. President Tracy Medve was not available for interviews Friday as the Kelowna-headquartered company announced layoffs equivalent to eight per cent of its workforce. However, Medve said in...

Osoyoos RCMP get their man for possession of stolen property

PENTICTON - A man well known to Osoyoos RCMP, who was caught at the scene of a break and enter, has been convicted today for possession of stolen property. Osoyoos RCMP say Cameron McRae, 44, was arrested on January 18 at an Osoyoos winery where police found McRae trying to smash through a fence on...

Woman killed crossing Penticton street identified

PENTICTON - The B.C. Coroners Service has identified the woman struck and killed at a pedestrian crossing in Penticton last week. Colleen Esther Mary Brennan, 48, died of injuries sustained after she was struck by a pickup truck at approximately 4 p.m., Aug. 18, while crossing Maple Street. The Penticton resident was rushed to Penticton...

Temporary closures anticipated during salmon restoration effort

PENTICTON - A salmon restoration project will impact road, trail and channel users this fall, as the Okanagan Nation Alliance Fisheries Department moves ahead with plans to restore salmon habitat in the Okanagan River channel beginning in September. Biologist Natasha Lukey told the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen Board of Directors about plans to build...

ELECTION 2015: Liberal candidate hopes to be unifying force in new riding

PENTICTON - The Liberal candidate for the new federal riding of South Okanagan-West Kootenay feels her party is ideally situated, ideologically, to represent the area in Ottawa. Connie Denesiuk says Liberals have a history of bringing people together, something she is also noted for. “This is a huge, diverse riding containing 40 communities, every one...

Wildfire smokes Rock Creek music festival

PENTICTON - The Rock Creek fire has claimed another victim, this time in the form of an annual music festival. Ponderosa Music and Arts Festival organizers have announced the Rock Creek event will not take place this year. They explain in a media safety concerns have been raised by local government officials due to the...

Penticton city councillor forced to flee Washington State wildfires

"IT WAS VERY, VERY SCARY" PENTICTON - A camping trip turned into a nightmare for a Penticton couple thanks to the wildfires raging in Washington State. Penticton city Coun. Helena Konanz and her husband Adam were forced to cut short the mid-week holiday when wildfires had them beating a hasty retreat from Winthrop yesterday, August...