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Penticton news
Volunteer fire departments facing news standards, higher costs
PENTICTON - New provincial regulations affecting the province's fire departments was a topic of discussion for the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen’s Emergency Services Supervisor at a recent committee meeting. RDOS supervisor Dale Kronebusch provided directors with a snapshot of changes coming to the region’s fire departments as a result of the recently introduced B.C. Fire...
City will seek developer for hotel development for SOEC property
PENTICTON - The idea of adding a hotel to the South Okanagan Events Centre property garnered little interest at a public hearing this week, but those who did attend voiced a wide array of views. A special council meeting and public hearing looking at the proposed zoning amendment to add 'tourist accommodation' as an allowable...
Business building at Penticton First Nations event
PENTICTON - First Nations business groups from all over Western Canada are in Penticton this week to do business. The Penticton Indian Band is hosting their third Aboriginal Business Match at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre. “This is an opportunity for us to showcase our developments, to show others what we’re doing and inspire...
Vees win second straight at RBC Cup
PENTICTON - Steen Cooper picked the perfect time to get his first points of the RBC Cup. The 19-year-old forward had a goal and an assist and was named the Player of the Game, as the Penticton Vees held-off the Carleton Place Canadians 4-3 Tuesday afternoon. Cooper setup Connor Chartier’s game-winning goal early in the...
Independent investigators to probe motorcycle collision with police car
CRUISER DID U-TURN IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY PENTICTON - A collision between an RCMP cruiser and a motorcycle in Osoyoos this past weekend is now under investigation by the province’s Independent Investigations Office. Spokesperson Kelly Kilpatrick confirmed today, May 12, two investigators were sent to Osoyoos on Monday to begin an investigation into the crash....
Summerland family refuses to give up on lost pup
PENTICTON - A Summerland family whose dog was lost in late April haven’t given up hope of being reunited. Rob and Jodie Conti of Summerland are heartbroken after losing Grace, their four-month-old puppy, on April 30, but they continue to believe the dog will return to its rightful home. Jodie spends most of her day...
Penticton firefighters kept busy Monday afternoon
PENTICTON - Penticton firefighters were ready for action Monday when dispatch paged them to a structure fire right at a shift change. Fire Chief Wayne Williams says the crew was able to make a quick response to Neighbourhood Auto Body on Rosetown Avenue at 5:43 p.m., yesterday, May 11. An employee at the shop was...
Beach use in Okanagan Falls restricted because of species at risk
PENTICTON - A policy regarding species at risk and restricted beach usage at an Okanagan Falls park is not getting much support from a regional district committee. At an environment committee meeting last week regional directors said they disagreed with the restrictive policy. The committee, including Area ‘D’ Director Tom Siddon, were most upset at...
Correctional Centre taking shape in Oliver desert
PENTICTON - Grey concrete walls are going up on the desert bench at the Senkulmen Business Park north of Oliver for an institution that will be the first of its kind in the South Okanagan. Construction of B.C.’s newest medium security prison, the Okanagan Correctional Centre, has been underway since site preparation began in April...
Showcase project for Penticton Creek
PENTICTON - One of Penticton’s most important waterways is benefitting from the city’s plan to enhance downtown. A Penticton staff report notes a key component arising from the 2012 downtown revitalization objective was recognition of the importance Penticton Creek has to the overall objective. Grant funding was sought by city staff in 2013 for the...
Floaters rescued from Penticton channel
PENTICTON – The fire department rescued a man and woman stuck in the Penticton channel late Saturday afternoon. The marine rescue call came in just after 5 p.m., May 9. Penticton fire chief Wayne Williams says the man and woman had been on floaties in the very swift water and ended up stuck on the...
Penticton poet’s work featured in B.C. tourism campaign
PENTICTON – Shane Koyczan is fast becoming one of Canada’s most well known spoken word artists and his work shines in the latest Super Natural British Columbia campaign from Tourism B.C. Koyczan modestly says he wrote a little poem about being out in nature and folks made a little video out it. The powerful poem...
RBC Cup: Terriers edge Vees in opener
PORTAGE, Man - The Portage Terriers took round three against the Penticton Vees, as they took the RBC Cup opener 3-2 Saturday afternoon, May 9, in Portage la Prairie, Man. One week ago the Vees bettered the Terriers 4-3 in the Western Canada Cup Final in Fort McMurray; avenging their 3-2 round-robin loss earlier in...
Lyme Sucks Challenge creating sour faces in South Okanagan
PENTICTON - Penticton has a lot of sour faces lately. Maybe it has something to do with the Lyme Sucks Challenge, which appears to making its way through every political body, service and civil servant group in town. The challenge is to suck on a quarter of a lime and make a video, post the video...
Okanagan Basin Water Board demands more action on invasive mussels
OKANAGAN - The Okanagan Basin Water Board is calling on the provincial government to step up the fight against invasive quagga and zebra mussels by establishing permanent inspection stations at the five main highway entrances from Alberta. As well, in a seven-point position paper, the water board is calling on the federal government to immediately...
Retired conservation officer speaks out about the realities of a service stretched too thin
“YOU CAME TO WORK EVERY DAY KNOWING YOU COULD NOT FULFILL EVERY PHONE CALL AND REPORTED COMPLAINT” KELOWNA - Retired B.C. conservation officer Greg Hoyer went into the field to protect fisheries and wildlife; by the time he left in 2009 that was only a fraction of his job. “Over the years, the government just...
Councillor objects to amended purchasing policy
PENTICTON - One city councillor isn’t happy about amendments made to Penticton’s purchasing policy approved earlier this week. Penticton city staff approached council with a recommendation to approve an amended purchasing policy for the city. The policy describes the method by which quotes are obtained for for different values of purchases, in addition to assigning...
New wildfire recruits put through paces
MERRITT - More than 200 seasonal firefighter applicants have made the cut and this month they are being put through a ‘rigorous’ bootcamp near Merritt. About 1,000 people, many of which are post-secondary students, apply for the positions every year. Provincial Fire Information Officer Kevin Skrepnek says the job is "very in demand" and the...
PNE prize home made in Okanagan Falls
PENTICTON - An Okanagan Falls modular home manufacturer will get some serious advertising exposure when the Pacific National Exhibition opens this year in Vancouver. Karoleena has been chosen to build this year’s PNE prize home. The 3,080 square foot, $ 2.1-million modular home was a six month project for the company. It took 30 days...
Anti-graffiti strategy attracting attention beyond Penticton boundaries
PENTICTON – If you’re seeing less graffiti in Penticton’s downtown core these days, you're not…
B.C. health authority apologizes for ‘detaining’ woman for over two years
VICTORIA – A British Columbia man's claim that his wife was held hostage in a care facility has prompted a stinging report from the office of the province's ombudsperson and an apology from a health authority.
Summer watering restrictions likely as province records average lowest snowpack levels in 31 years
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The lastest snowpack measurements from the provincial government’s river forecast centre are showing record low levels in some areas including the Okanagan and Similkameen regions. Without substantial rain in the next couple of months, reservoirs across the region will also be lower than normal, likely leading to water use restrictions in many communities...
VIDEO: Local RC pilots strut their stuff
KELOWNA - While most people would have a hard time simply flying and landing a radio controlled airplane, some locals have put together a video showing what's possible when a skilled set of hands are behind the stick. Triple Threat RC uploaded the 13-minute video to YouTube last week. It contains footage of gas-powered planes...
Move over wine, there’s a new Okanagan drink and it’s more popular than ever
OKANAGAN - There’s more for the thirsty soul in the Okanagan Valley than just wine, and locally-made cider is here to prove it. A number of cideries have blossomed in the Okanagan over the last few years, including the family-run BX Press in Vernon. Owners Dave and Melissa Dobernigg opened their craft cider house last...