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Penticton news

Concerns raised about high pressure door-to-door sales pitch

PENTICTON - RCMP have some advice for people concerned about a door-to-door sales pitch making the rounds in Penticton. There has been social media chatter about salespeople trying to get into people’s homes to inspect their furnace and hot water heater to see if they were “outdated and illegal.” Kathy Giguere posted a warning on...

Big fires down but not out in Kamloops Fire Centre

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The only two wildfires of note in the Kamloops Fire Centre have been downgraded to patrol status. Shelter Cove fire off Westside Road near Kelowna and Bolean Lake fire near Falkland were downgraded August 5 and will now be monitored by crews of five firefighters. “Patrol status means they are done active fire...

Regional directors discuss agricultural land use issues with ALC chair

PENTICTON - Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen directors discussed Agricultural Land Commission issues with the commission chair this week. Commission chair Frank Leonard gave directors a brief summary of his role and as chair and the present state of the land commission, before taking questions from the director’s board at their regular meeting Thursday. Leonard says...

Bear conflict in Willowbrook

PENTICTON - It's been anything but a carefree summer for residents of the small community of Willowbrook this year, with a wildfire, a windstorm and now a bear issue In the past month alone, the South Okanagan community has had a tumultuous summer so far: a nearby wildfire threatened, a windstorm damaged a number of...

Here’s whats happening Friday at Peachfest

PENTICTON - The 68th annual Penticton Peachfest begins day three events at Okanagan Lake Park with the West Coast Lumberjack Show, starting at 12:30 p.m., and again at 4:10 and 7:25 p.m. Musical performances for Friday include the following acts: - 13 Broken Bones (music from the 70s and 80s) at 1:45 p.m. - A-P...

Warm, sunny weekend on tap for the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - After a break from the heat we will need to again dig out the sunscreen for a hot and sunny weekend. While temperatures were in the low- to mid-20s the last two days, just below seasonal normal highs of 27 Celsius, and were accompanied by up to eight millimetres of rain, we can...

Whooping cough on the rise across Interior Health region

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - An increase in cases of whooping cough across the Interior Health Authority, but primarily in the Central Okanagan, has prompted a warning from public health officials. Medical health officer Dr. Kamran Golmohammadi says in 2015 there has already been 58 confirmed cases of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, with 36 of them...

Highrise development moves forward in Penticton

PENTICTON - A proposed highrise residential development in the city’s south end will continue to move forward after Penticton City Council approved the necessary amendments this week. The proposal, which involves the development of three residential towers, will see one 12-storey and two 14-storey towers built in three phases at 3388 Skaha Lake Rd. Councillors...

Credit card skimmer discovered at Vernon gas station

DEVICE IS DIFFICULT TO DETECT VERNON - A device used to skim credit card information from unsuspecting victims might have been used at a Vernon gas station. Staff at the Esso Gas Station at 3400 32 St. in Vernon discovered the device Friday, July 31, and reported it to the RCMP.  “The device was on...

Thursday’s Peachfest action at Okanagan Lake Park

PENTICTON - Weather for the first day of Peachfest may not have been ideal, but that didn’t stop thousands from showing up along the Okanagan Lake shoreline to watch the Royal Canadian Snowbirds perform their magic. The forecast for today, Aug. 6, calls for clearing skies this afternoon, just in time for day two activities....

Man suspected of bringing shotgun to Penticton court arrested

PENTICTON - The man suspected of bringing a loaded shotgun into Penticton courthouse last month was apprehended earlier this week. Jessy Arthur Michaud was arrested by members of the Penticton RCMP on Tuesday, Aug. 4, according to RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Dave Tyreman. Michaud is alleged to have entered the Penticton Law Courts on Monday,...

Luxury hotel a no-go for Penticton events centre

PENTICTON - There is little interest in constructing a luxury hotel at the South Okanagan Events Centre and those who did show interest did not provide worthwhile submissions. Council delivered their verdict on the idea following a staff study and review of two expressions of interest received by the city concerning proposals for construction and operation...

Kitten rescued from rat trap needs a new home

KELOWNA – A young kitten is in need of a good home after a caring West Kelowna man rescued her from a rat trap last weekend. The kitten, which Dr. Moshe Oz of Rose Valley Veterinary Clinic says is around 10 weeks old, was found in a glue trap, which uses an adhesive substance to...

VIDEO: One-girl act entertains Main Street Penticton

PENTICTON - You never know how you’ll be entertained on Main Street during a Penticton summer. Forget about Willy and the Poor Boys, down on the corner — this young lady can do it all. This one-girl band was spotted recently near Knight’s Pharmacy in the downtown core, providing some entertaining free music for passers-by....

Second protest pretty much same as the first

PENTICTON - The second rally to protest the decision to move ahead with plans for a waterpark at Skaha Lake turned out to be an anticlimactic affair on Monday, Aug. 4. Turnout for the rally appeared to be roughly the same as the number of people that massed in front of city hall on July 20....

Charges possible after children found locked in hot vehicle in Penticton

PENTICTON - For some people, the message just doesn’t seem to be getting through when it comes to leaving kids or pets in locked vehicles. RCMP were called to the Walmart parking lot last Thursday evening, July 30, after bystanders noticed kids left in a car, according to Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth....

Drought levels worsen in Okanagan and North Thompson

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Drought conditions are worsening in the region, enough according to the government to increase the drought rating for both the Okanagan and North Thompson regions by one level. The Okanagan Region is now enduring level four drought conditions while the North Thompson is facing level three, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources....

Grenade, pipe bomb and vehicles thefts keep Penticton officers on their toes

PENTICTON - It was a break from the ordinary for Penticton RCMP this week as they dealt with a grenade and a pipe bomb. Penticton RCMP were kept busy last week answering numerous calls for vehicle thefts and vehicle break-ins last week. They also dealt with an errant hand grenade and pipe bomb. A Penticton...

Peachfest underway in Penticton

PENTICTON - Penticton’s five-day long Peachfest got underway this morning with the second annual Peach Bin Race taking place in the 100-block of the downtown core. Teams of four raced 'customized' peach bins in the event, sponsored by the Downtown Penticton Association. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds, first time competitors, prevailed in the final heat against 30...

Peachfest kicks off in Penticton today

PENTICTON - The August long weekend has come and gone, now for a week of mostly free fun in Penticton. The 68th annual Penticton Peach Festival starts today, Aug. 5, with an outstanding lineup of free family activities through Sunday, Aug. 9. The Canadian Forces Snowbirds will take to the skies over Okanagan Lake Wednesday...

First annual battle of the chefs coming to Gyro Park

PENTICTON - The Downtown Penticton Association is hosting a new event guaranteed to tantalize taste buds. The inaugural Chef’s Cook Off in Gyro Park, sponsored by Eckert Electric and hosted by the Downtown Penticton Association, will be held on Friday, Aug. 7. Beginning at 2:30 p.m., four Penticton chefs will prepare a main dish of ingredients...

Penticton stray cat found with bullet debris in knee has leg amputated

PENTICTON - A four-year-old tabby cat was brought in as a stray with a limp from an old injury, and an X-ray showed he still had debris from a bullet in his knee, which was causing pain, swelling and chronic arthritis in the young cat. Sunny was brought to the South Okanagan-Similkameen SPCA shelter as...