Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Penticton news

Okanagan BCHL playoff series shifts to West Kelowna

OKANAGAN – An overtime nail-biter as the Penticton Vees tied up the first round, BCHL playoff series with a 3-2 win over the West Kelowna Warriors at the South Okanagan Events Centre last night. The victory, Wednesday, March 4, ties the best-of-seven series at a win each. Penticton Vees' forward Matt Serratore fired a shot...

KOOPMANS TRIAL: Victim describes shooting in Koopmans trial

PENTICTON - A Penticton courtroom heard Bradley Martin describe how he was shot in a residence near Princeton on March 30, 2013, as the trial of accused murderer John Koopmans continued today. “I looked down and found blood pouring down my chest," Martin said, taking a long pause. “I realized what I had heard was...

Penticton Vees raffles benefit kid’s breakfast and women’s charitable programs

PENTICTON - Penticton Vees “Wicked Wednesdays” events have been a big help to the Penticton Speedway Foundation’s fundraising efforts. The Penticton Speedway Foundation teamed up with the Vees and Underwriters Insurance,  raising more than $15,000 through a number of raffles that took place in conjunction with Wicked Wednesdays promotions. The promotions were part of Penticton...

Medical foundation receives funding pledge

PENTICTON - Penticton’s Patient Care Tower Project received a big financial boost from a Summerland fundraising group. The Summerland Health Care Auxiliary, which operates a thrift shop on Victoria Road in Summerland, recently pledged to raise $1 million over the next five years, to go towards the $20 million fundraising effort being undertaken by the...

City staff to investigate choices for clothing optional beach

PENTICTON - The solution to the Three Mile Beach clothing optional issue was pared down from a list of 10 staff submitted options to two during Monday's council meeting. The discussion followed a presentation to council by local naturist Kevin Proteau and Canadian Naturist Organization’s Judy Williams. The 10 options were put forward by staff...

KOOPMANS TRIAL: Mother describes finding her son shot

'I TOLD THE POLICE TO PLEASE GO HELP MY SON, HE'S STILL BREATHING....' PENTICTON - Jurors in the John Ike Koopmans murder trial heard dramatic testimony today, Feb. 3, as the mother of shooting victim Keith Wharton described finding her son and his girlfriend dead in their Princeton trailer. Carol Wharton’s voice broke as she...

What the Irish Rovers have in common with Clancy the cat

PENTICTON - Clancy the cat's incredible story of a journey from the wilderness of the Yukon back to his home town Penticton has caught the attention of a well-known Canadian band. The Irish Rovers were so impressed by Clancy's tale, they decided to help him complete his journey back to a loving home. The legendary...

What south Okanagan off-roaders need to know before heading out on the trail

OLIVER - Off-roading on Oliver Mountain, the Osoyoos West Bench and the impact on the area's sensitive grassland ecosystem will be focus topics at two open house meetings March 11. The meetings are scheduled for Wed. March 11 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.  at the Senora Community Centre located at 8505-68 Ave., Osoyoos, and Thurs....

Two break and enters to start the month in Osoyoos

PENTICTON - Osoyoos RCMP are hoping you can help solve two break and enters on March 1. A garage on 87th Street was entered by thieves who made off with a 1988 black Ford Mustang, a black and yellow coloured Bombardier XP Seadoo and several tools valued at approximately $15,000. On the same date, Osoyoos...

Naturists to present their side in Three Mile Beach controversy

PENTICTON - Penticton City Council will be revisiting a contentious issue this evening. Penticton City council will receive a report from staff suggesting options for resolving the issue of nudity at Three Mile Beach at tonight’s council meeting, March 2. Staff will be presenting 10 potential avenues for council to pursue, including amendments to the...

New housing for medical students

PENTICTON - A new residence facility for visiting medical students and locum physicians is being prepared near Penticton Regional Hospital’s psychiatric unit. The second half of a factory built, single storey residence was lowered into place Feb. 28 on the hospital grounds. A $500,000 donation by Lloyd and Lota Jobling to the South Okanagan Similkameen...

Retiring regional district public works manager turning hobby into second career

PENTICTON - More art is in the future of retiring Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen Public Works Manager Doug French. French will be retiring from his position at the end of March, when Roger Huston joins the regional district to take over the public works reins. French has been with the RDOS for five years....

Charitable concern fulfills daily need in the city

PENTICTON - The Christmas season and the accompanying generosity and goodwill that goes along with it has been over for a couple of months now, but that doesn’t mean the need for charity has diminished in the community. Whether its Christmas or not, those in need can continue to count on the Penticton Community Soupateria...

Penticton RCMP threatening letter investigation winding down

PENTICTON - Police presence at Penticton schools following the discovery of a threatening letter will be scaled back after classes end on Feb. 27 with Penticton RCMP saying they have exhausted all leads. The threatening letter found on school grounds Feb. 18, 2015 prompted a swift response from Mounties, but the investigation offered no new developments this...

Hazy regulations helping to create smoky air

PENTICTON - The kind of smoke that comes from burning wet leaves and brush might be harmful to your health and the health of neighbours in the valley, but it may not be clear which days are best for burning because of how that information is distributed in the south Okanagan. With warm February weather...

Future of Naramata Centre still undecided

PENTICTON - Two upcoming meetings of the Naramata Centre Board of Directors will hopefully define the immediate future of the retreat, board spokesman Gerry Anderson said Feb. 26. “We have a board meeting Sunday and our Annual General Meeting in June. Those meetings will go a long way to deciding our future direction,” Anderson said....

Hockey dad could face criminal charges

WHEN YELLING AT REFEREES GOES TOO FAR THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – A Kamloops hockey dad who allegedly took his anger out on referees in the parking lot after a Junior-A hockey game in Penticton last week could face charges. Penticton RCMP Sgt. Rick Dellebuur says the 52-year-old father of a Merritt Cenntennials player allegedly threatened two referees...

More to Penticton bridge project than meets the eye

PENTICTON - As bridges go, one wouldn’t think the new Satik bridge currently under construction at Green Avenue and the Channel Parkway in Penticton would be a very complicated project. After all, it’s a small bridge, with a low span running a distance of 100 feet or so. But there is more to the Satik...

Shortlist announced for patient care tower construction

PENTICTON - A list of six companies with potential to work on the patient care tower at Penticton General Hospital has been whittled down to three, inching the project closer to completion. Phase one of the project is to design, build, partially finance and maintain the new patient care tower for a term of 30...

KOOPMANS TRIAL: Two shot dead for revenge: Crown

PENTICTON — Two people from Princeton were shot to death and another was seriously wounded because the gunman was "crushed" and betrayed by his belief they broke into his home and stole from him, a Crown prosecutor told the jury today, Feb. 25, in the opening of the murder trial of John Ike Koopmans. Koopmans...

Flying fees edging upwards at Kelowna Airport

OKANAGAN - Flying in and out of Kelowna just got a bit more expensive with council approving an across-the-board increase in operating fees at the city-owned airport. The success of Kelowna Airport and its record passenger volumes means increased costs for maintenance, labour, utilities and technology, Noreen Redman, the airport’s corporate services manager, told council....