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Penticton news

Smart meter fears prompt director’s motion

PENTICTON - The debate around smart meters in the South Okanagan was recharged following a director’s motion at a Regional District Okanagan SImilkameen board meeting last week. Electoral area 'D' Director Tom Siddon introduced a motion calling for a moratorium on smart meter installation in his area, inciting what Siddon called 'a worthwhile debate' amongst...

Sunday fire destroy Naramata business

PENTICTON - Penticton and other community firefighters were busy this past weekend following a Sunday morning a massive blaze in Naramata that devastated a long running business in that community. Naramata firefighters were called to the scene of Plexus Woodworks, located at 780 Gulch Rd., at approximately 9 a.m. Sunday, May 24. When they arrived they...

Crews battle structure fire in Naramata

NARAMATA – A large building is on fire in Naramata and local volunteer firefighters are working to put it out this morning. Smoke from the blaze could be seen for miles. The call came in about a structure fire on Gulch Road just after 9 a.m., May 24, according to fire dispatch. The Naramata fire...

UPDATE: Southern Interior severe thunderstorm watch expanded

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Environment Canada has expanded its severe thunderstorm watch to include the South Thompson, North Thompson and Nicola regions, including the city of Kamloops. The original watch issued early this morning, May 24, covered the Okanagan, Shuswap and Boundary regions, including Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and Salmon Arm. Forecasters say conditions are favourable for the...

Penticton pickleball players to get their own courts

PENTICTON - Pickle ball and tennis don’t go together well, so they will get courts of their own. Penticton City council learned that lesson at its meeting earlier this week. The game which combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping-pong has become quite popular in the city, but with no dedicated courts, those who play...

South Okanagan provincial parks name change reflect aboriginal culture

PENTICTON - Two South Okanagan parks have been renamed to reflect traditional First Nation place names. Environment Minister Mary Polak and Osoyoos Indian Band Chief Clarence Louie made the official announcement, renaming Haynes Point and Okanagan Falls Provincial Parks. The name changes coincide with the Osoyoos band taking over management of the two parks. McIntyre...

Okanagan diners reap the rewards of an early spring

OKANAGN – The early spring across the Okanagan this year is not only good for your tan but for local restaurants and family kitchens as well. Across the valley, farmers are busy harvesting crops which normally wouldn't be ready for weeks. Fruits, berries, veggies and field crops all got a jump start this year, which...

Okanagan Correctional Centre stimulates local economy

PENTICTON - The $200 million Okanagan Correctional Centre has entered it's second year of construction with a completion date in the fall of 2016. The facility is rapidly taking shape as one of the three cell “pods” nears completion and the prison’s administration building begins to take shape. More than 375 people have worked on...

Jump in fatal motorcycle crashes has South Okanagan RCMP concerned

PENTICTON - A huge jump in the number of motorcycle crashes — and the number of fatal crashes — has prompted members of the RCMP South Okanagan Traffic Service into action. Sgt. Harold Hallett says up to 2013 the region averaged a single fatal motorcycle crash each year. In 2013, there were two and last...

Hot dog calls on rise as weather heats up in Southern Interior

THOMSON-OKANAGAN - Though summer isn’t even officially here, the unseasonably warm weather in the Interior is already prompting concerned calls about dogs left unattended in cars. “We’ve had three or four already this morning (May 22) and yesterday we had half a dozen before lunch,” Cam Buksa, spokesman for the Central Okanagan branch of the...

Bumper crop of itchy, scratchy poison ivy in South Okanagan

PENTICTON - There’s a good reason for outdoor enthusiasts to stay on the trail when hiking in the South Okanagan this spring. Cyclists and pedestrians using the Kettle Valley Railway trail are noticing an abundance of poison ivy this year, particularly on the trail between Penticton and Kaleden. Regional District Okanagan Similkameen parks coordinator Justin...

ELECTION 2015: Defence minister discusses foreign policy on Penticton street

PENTICTON - Signs of an upcoming federal election were apparent in Penticton today as the Conservative candidate for South Okanagan-West Kootenay Marshall Neufeld was seen stumping with Federal Minister of Defence Jason Kenney. The two stopped their door to door campaign on Douglas Avenue for a brief word with the media, May 22. Kenney answered...

Penticton man found badly beaten on side of road

PENTICTON – A man is in police custody after what police are calling “a serious assault” that left a Penticton man badly injured on the side of the road Thursday morning. According to a release, Penticton RCMP were called to the 3 km mark on Shingle Creek Road off Green Mountain Road shortly after 8:30...

Penticton paving stone sales provide funds for hospital care tower

PENTICTON - A city waterfront revitalization project is providing homeowners with an opportunity to get a bargain on their building materials and help fund a worthwhile fundraising effort at the same time. Paving stones currently being removed from the Rotary Park walkway project will be offered for sale by the city in a two week...

Study at UBC Okanagan seeks breast cancer survivors

OKANAGAN - A researcher from UBC Okanagan is hoping to find survivors of breast cancer for a study on the effects of increasing physical exercise after treatment and rehabilitation. Cristina Caperchione, an assistant professor with the School of Health and Exercise Sciences, is leading ProjectMOVE which has secured a $200,000 research grant from the Canadian...

Early spring both good and bad for local farmers

OKANAGAN – The early heat felt across the Okanagan this year has local farmers springing into action. Producers of vegetables, fruit, hay and alfalfa crops say the warm weather came at least two weeks early this year, meaning they can plant earlier, expect higher yields and very likely harvest earlier as well. At the Kelowna...

Financial muscle for mussel awareness program

PENTICTON - Waterways in the South Okanagan will receive an extra measure of protection in the fight to prevent the spread of an aquatic invasive species this summer. The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen received a $100,000 grant from the project this week. The grant will be used to educate and inform the public, working in conjunction...

Canucks to host Young Stars Classic in Penticton

PENTICTON – For the fifth year in a row, Penticton will play host to the Vancouver Canucks Young Stars Classic. The four teams taking part in the tournament at the South Okanagan Events Centre in September are made up of prospects from the Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets. “We have great fans...

Penticton lawyer fined for professional misconduct

PENTICTON - A Penticton lawyer recently found himself subject of a disciplinary hearing by the Law Society of British Columbia. Charles Louis Albas—father of Okanagan-Coquihalla MP Dan Albas—was cited for preparing a will for a client, naming himself as a beneficiary, and in another instance prepared a will naming his wife as beneficiary. The incidents...

Laundry workers bring anti-privatization message to Interior Health

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Hospital Employees' Union reps will get their first chance to argue their case against privatizing laundry services in front of the Interior Health Authority board next week. “We hope after our presentation that they will conclude this is a necessary service,” union representative Mike Old says, noting he is well aware board members...

You have a few more months to register your off-road vehicle

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Good news for the estimated 200,000 trail riders across the province as the government has pushed the deadline to register off-road vehicles from June 1 to Nov. 1. According to a press release sent Wednesday, May 20, the deadline change will give users more time to prepare for the mandatory registration as well...

Funding to help with mussel control in South Okanagan

PENTICTON - The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen is getting some financial help in its fight to prevent quagga and zebra mussels from finding their way into the Okanagan. The RBC Blue Water project recently announced $100,000 in grant funding will be made available to the regional district to bolster their Okanagan Aquatic Invasive Species...

Waterslides returning to Penticton with Skaha Lake Marine development

PENTICTON - Waterfront redevelopment has seen a new pedestrian walkway along Lakeshore Drive and plans are in the works for a redesign of the area around the S.S. Sicamous as Penticton’s Okanagan Lake shoreline sees renewal. Now it’s Skaha Lake’s turn. Plans were unveiled at the Tuesday, May 19, council meeting for major redevelopment along...