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Penticton news

How a standoff between a horse, two dogs and cougar ended in Lumby

LUMBY - It was a sight Lumby resident Tina Berg never expected: Her 1,300 pound horse practically nose-to-nose with a cougar. It was around 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, when Berg, who lives about three kilometres out of Lumby in a rural area, heard her dogs barking. “It was a bark I just know means...

Oliver firefighters looking for reprieve from battling Willowbrook wildfire

PENTICTON - Oliver Volunteer Fire Department members are starting to feel the effects of fighting a wildfire while attempting to conduct their daily routines. The department continues to send firefighters up into the mountains above the Village of Willowbrook to assist B.C. Wildfire Management crews put out the Willowbrook fire, which began Monday, July 20....

South Okanagan governments make a plea for voluntary cuts in water consumption

PENTICTON - There are concerns about water supply as the summer’s hot weather combines with minimal rainfall in the South Okanagan. The Okanagan Similkameen Regional District recently followed the City of Penticton’s move, made last week, to ask residents to voluntarily reduce water consumption by 30 per cent. The regional district was responding to the...

Power pole problem solved?

PENTICTON - The City of Penticton’s Public Works Department recently completed modifications to a couple of errant Fortis power poles located at the intersection of Industrial Avenue and Atkinson Street. The work was required after a major upgrade of the street earlier this year to add curbs and sidewalks at the intersection. Two Fortis power...

Heightened security at Penticton Courthouse

PENTICTON - Following the discovery of a concealed shotgun at the courthouse in Penticton last week, security has been stepped up. People attending the Penticton Law Courts today, July 22, found themselves subject to security screening. A portable walk-through metal detector was set up inside the courthouse foyer in a setup similar to airport screening....

UPDATE: Fugitive Ronald Teneycke believed to have car-jacked a new ride

PENTICTON - RCMP now believe prolific offender Ronald Teneycke has car-jacked another vehicle after assaulting the driver. Teneycke was picked up hitchhiking on Baldy Mountain Forest Service Road by the driver of a 1999 3/4 ton GMC pickup truck with the words Okanagan Rustic Furniture across the back window. The license plate is 6721 GG, Cpl....

Big plans for former waterslides property in Penticton

PENTICTON - Plans to construct three residential towers and a hotel in the city’s south end continue to move forward after receiving the first set of approvals for a zoning change earlier this week. The development is proposed for a 2.5-acre portion of the property at 3388 Skaha Lake Rd. that was the former location...

Health authority hard hit by influenza last season

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The Southern Interior was hard hit by influenza last season with a jump in confirmed cases and deaths. But at the same time, the flu season here in the Interior Health Authority was typical of what the rest of Canada experienced. Dr. Gillian Frosst, an epidemiolgist with the heatlh authority, told the board...

Stolen cigarettes and ice cream bars, and other Penticton crime

PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP continue to deal with higher call volumes this summer with another busy week at the detachment. - Police continue to search for chronic offender Ronald Teneycke following his failure to show up for an intermittent jail sentence. Police media spokesperson Don Wrigglesworth says police have followed up on a number of...

Behind the line at the Shelter Cove wildfire

KELOWNA – The Shelter Cove wildfire along Westside Road continues to grow, however Wildfire B.C. says homes and other structures are not threatened and they are confident they will have it under control soon. The fire, which was first reported Monday afternoon, is not yet contained and continues to burn roughly 430 hectares of dry,...

Penticton council stands resolute in waterpark decision

PENTICTON - Several hundred residents converged on city hall Monday to voice support for and against a Skaha Lake Marina waterfront proposal, but Penticton council appears to be unfazed by demands of those opposed to the plans. Those against the plan called on council to call a referendum, or otherwise force a re-thinking, on the...

Fire risk closes Giant’s Head Mountain Park to vehicle traffic

SUMMERLAND - Because of the high risk of person-caused fires, Giant’s Head Mountain Park Road is closed to vehicle traffic. The closure is effective immediately due to dry vegetation along the roadside. The fire danger rating is currently high but is expected to reach extreme in the next couple of days. “We have moved to...

Big cat sighting on Duncan Avenue in Penticton

PENTICTON - A mid-city street was the location of a cougar sighting in Penticton early this morning. Penticton Conservation Officer Mike Stern says the conservation office answered a call placed at approximately 12:30 a.m., July 21, by residents who said they possibly saw a cougar running across Duncan Avenue East, towards them. The two residents...

Penticton RCMP want help finding man with outstanding warrants

PENTICTON - A man known to be violent and considered a risk to public safety is wanted by Penticton RCMP. Officers are asking for help in locating Jessy Michaud, who has three outstanding warrants for his arrest as of July 17. The 46-year-old Caucasian is 5’9” tall and 161 lbs with brown hair and blue...

Regional building stats point to heightened construction activity

PENTICTON - After several years of slow growth, the Okanagan Similkameen Regional District is seeing a surge in building activity. Development services manager Donna Butler says 2014 was "a very busy year" and statistics so far indicate 2015 on track to meet or exceed last year’s building activity. To date, the regional district has issued...

Regional district office renovations to start in September

PENTICTON - The first major renovation to the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen’s headquarters on Martin Street in Penticton is late in starting, but still expected to be completed this year. The project was supposed to get started shortly after this year's budget was tabled, but a change in staff and lengthy discussions over how to...

Curbside collection initiatives could benefit from contract extension

PENTICTON - The regional district is following up on a contract option included in its curb side collection agreement to extend the present service an additional two years. With the Okanagan Similkameen Regional District’s contract with BFI Canada, which is now called Progressive Waste Solutions, slated to end on June 30, 2016, solid waste management...

Anti-waterpark group disrupts Penticton council meeting

PENTICTON - Hundreds of people showed up at City Hall to let council know their feelings about waterfront revitalization at the city’s south end. Enduring 35 Celsius heat, a huge crowd formed in front of Penticton City Hall well before the designated time of 5 p.m. today, July 20. Police cordoned off the 100-block of...

First wife testifies in trial of former Vernon cop charged with child porn

KELOWNA – The first wife of a former Vernon RCMP officer charged with child porn described him as a confrontational man who often raised his voice. Jennifer Fisher and Ryan Hampton’s marriage officially ended in 2011, the same year he married his accuser, Valerie Little. Little, herself a member of the RCMP, told police she...