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Penticton news
Quick action limits fire damage in Keremeos
PENTICTON - Keremeos and District Volunteer Fire Department’s quick action limited damage from a kitchen fire yesterday. The Keremeos department responded to a call to a structure fire at River Road and South Keremeos Road on March 12. The fire damaged a portion of the residence’s kitchen above the stove, spreading to the microwave, kitchen...
How to fight ‘I’m bored’ this spring break
PENTICTON - There is no shortage of things to do with the kids over the two-week spring break in Penticton. Spring break kicks off Monday, March 16 before wrapping up on Friday, March 27 with all kinds of activities and day camps planned by various organizations around town. The best advice is to pre-register for...
KOOPMANS TRIAL: Expert testifies about blood on suspect’s jeans at double murder trial in B.C.
PENTICTON – Blood spatter stains found on a man's jeans were consistent with what is produced when a bullet enters a human body, an expert has testified at a double murder trial.
Thriving Fest of Ale symbolizes microbrew industry in Penticton
PENTICTON - Less than a month away, the 2015 version of Penticton’s Fest of Ale promises to be the biggest and best ever, fitting because this is also the 20th anniversary of the beer quaffer’s gathering. As Fest of Ale has thrived, so too has the local microbrew industry that is growing up around it....
Penticton’s problems with potholes plummet after pleasant winter
PENTICTON - It’s pothole season in Penticton - but cruising the city streets, one would have a hard time noticing it. Penticton’s paved streets got a reprieve from severe winter damage this year due to the unseasonably mild and dry winter. Penticton Communications Officer Simone Blais said public works crews have been working throughout the...
Regional district board hopes to create fertile economic environment
PENTICTON - The regional district continues to be interested in economic growth, but for the time being will not be implementing a full regional economic development service. The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board of directors discussion regarding the establishment of a regional economic development service focused on the need for public assent for such...
Summerland woman accelerates towards goal as a professional driver
PENTICTON - Summerland’s Sarah Cornett-Ching is going places, and getting there fast. Just weeks after Cornett-Ching made her ARCA racing debut at Daytona International Speedway, her race team, RACE 101, announced in a media release the 23-year-old Summerland resident would be contesting the full ARCA racing series this year. RACE 101 owner Tony Blanchard said...
CROSSING CLOSURE: Licensing issues at the heart of shutdown, ministry says
PENTICTON - A lack of properly licensed staff was a key issue in the sudden closure of the Portage youth treatment facility near Keremeos known as The Crossing last Thursday, March 5, according to the provincial government. “They gave us notice of their decision to withdraw on that day,” said Connie Coniglio, executive director for...
Broken plate art a public safety concern in Penticton
PENTICTON - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but a recent art project is creating a danger to residents in Penticton. The City of Penticton has received a number of reports from residents complaining of unsafe art following incidents in three different locations. Some residents have asked if these are city art installations but...
Generous donation to hospital care tower fund
PENTICTON - A local businessman has provided a big boost to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation’s $20 million fundraising effort. David Kampe, owner of the Peters Brothers Group of Companies, became the first major individual donor with his $2 million donation to the new patient care tower at Penticton Regional Hospital. Kampe said he...
Overdue hiker found after Summerland search
PENTICTON - A search in the Summerland area for a missing woman ended happily for all involved. Penticton Search and Rescue were called to the Summerland area Saturday, March 7 to look for a 28-year-old woman who went missing after a hike. The woman’s West Kelowna family called Summerland RCMP just before 9 p.m. to...
Work on waterfront walkway resumes
PENTICTON - A more widened walkway will enhance visitors and residents useage of the Okangan Lake waterfront during the coming summer days. The reconstruction of Penticton’s lakefront walkway began for another season today, March 9. The walkway reconstruction project, which began in 2013 and officially opened last year, will connect The Peach with Kiwanis Pier....
Addicted youth suffer from lack of treatment facilities
PENTICTON - The closing of Portage’s youth treatment centre near Keremeos last week eliminated an important treatment facility for addicted Canadian youth, says an addiction specialist and certified interventionist. The Crossing, a residential rehabilitation centre for addicted adolescents between the ages of 14 - 18, closed suddenly last week due to a funding disagreement with...
BCHL PLAYOFFS: Penticton Vees edge Warriors in West Kelowna
WEST KELOWNA - Connor Chartier picked a good time to get his first playoff goal. Chartier scored the game-tying goal and setup the game-winner in the third period, as the Penticton Vees edged the West Kelowna Warriors 3-2 in game four of their BCHL Interior Division semi-final in West Kelowna Saturday, March 7. Dakota Conroy...
Local cop walks the beat old style
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP Corporal Don Wrigglesworth is common sight on Penticton city streets these days. But he’s a rare sight as well. Wrigglesworth is the city’s full-time community policing corporal, and in taking on the job has brought some good old-fashioned tradition to Penticton’s police force. Wrigglesworth is a rare sight because he is...
What nurse practitioners bring to our health care system: Interior Health wants you to know
KELOWNA - What began as a study to figure out how Interior Health nurse practitioners could be better incorporated into the health system has turned into three instructional videos for the public to help them understand the role of NPs. The study, conducted by Interior Health and the School of Nursing at UBC Okanagan, was...
Lumby students dominate college spaghetti bridge contest
KELOWNA - It came down to a battle between three friends from Lumby at Okanagan College’s 32nd annual Spaghetti Bridge Contest held at the Kelowna campus today. Grade seven student Adrian Schartner from Lumby placed first with his bridge weighing 982.6 grams and supporting 275.6 kilograms before spectacularly collapsing in front of cheering friends, peers,...
When to start reserving provincial camping sites
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Camping enthusiasts can set their alarms for the 9 a.m. opening of the online camping reserve system, Sunday, March 15. The interactive reservation website displays availability, layout and amenities for 115 front country campgrounds in 99 provincial parks. Reservations can also be made on the go using smartphones, but you aren't limited to...
BCHL PLAYOFFS: Penticton Vees outlast Warriors for triple OT win
WEST KELOWNA - In a game that seemed it would never end, Mitch Newsome scored midway through the third overtime period, as the Penticton Vees outlasted the West Kelowna Warriors 4-3 in game three of their Interior Division Semi-Final on Friday night, March 6, at Royal LePage Place in West Kelowna. Newsome roofed a pass...
Layoffs announced as Keremeos youth treatment centre closes doors
PENTICTON - A Keremeos residential treatment facility for addicted youth known as The Crossing suddenly closed its doors yesterday, ending the service and sending roughly 20 people out of work. The facility was operated by Portage British Columbia, which confirmed the closure today, March 6. Portage spokesperson Christina Panagio said after a dispute with the...
KOOPMANS TRIAL: More oddities as key witness wraps up testimony
PENTICTON - The key witness in the John Ike Koopmans murder trial continued to grapple with defence lawyers under cross-examination today. Bradley Martin took the witness stand for the third day in Penticton Supreme Court on Friday, March 6. He already told the jury he overheard Koopmans arguing with two other friends, Rose Fox and...
Few viable options for reducing “penalizing” electrical connection fees
PENTICTON - Penticton's city councillors are concerned with the high fee the city charges to hook up or to disconnect someone's electricity, but according to the city's utility manager, there's not much they can do about it. The city charges $68 to disconnect the electricity to a home for non-payment and then another $68 to...
Early morning blaze in West Bench
PENTICTON - The quick response by Penticton firefighters limited damage to West Bench property this morning. Penticton firefighters responded to the report of a fire on Jonathan Drive at 4:36 a.m., Friday, March 6, Penticton Deputy Fire Chief Dave Spalding says they sent two engines with on shift crews, with extra staff called in. The...
KOOPMANS TRIAL: Court hears bizarre testimony from key witness
PENTICTON - Witness testimony in the Koopmans murder trial took on a decidedly different direction as a key witness took the stand for a second day. Bradley Martin continued his testimony today, March 5, in Penticton Supreme Court in the trial of John Ike Koopmans, who is charged with two counts of first degree murder and...