Penticton news
Long list of charges resolved in Penticton with more than one year jail
PENTICTON - A Penticton man will serve more than a year in jail for a long list of charges involving numerous incidents taking place in two provinces, over several years. The law caught up with Scott Bradley Mathieson in Penticton Courthouse yesterday, Dec.14, as Judge Gale Sinclair sentenced Mathieson to a total of 380 days...
Still time to save Penticton theatre project, but not much
PENTICTON - The clock is ticking and time is running out for the quest to raise enough money to save the Penmar Community Theatre project. Penmar Community Arts Society president Kerri Milton says the Kickstarter campaign which started last month is gaining steam, but admits they are running out of time. The group is restoring the old Penmar...
Lord of the Dance tour to stop in Okanagan
PENTICTON - The latest production from Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance will be making a swing into the Southern Interior with show in Penticton this spring. Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, fresh from its debut on Broadway, will be stopping at the South Okanagan Events Centre on March 24, 2016, as part of...
Temperatures cooling off in the Okanagan this week
OKANAGAN - The temperatures will drop back below 0 Celsius this week after a long run of weather warmer than seasonal normals in the Okanagan. Environment Canada is calling for the mercury to stay around 2 C to 4 C throughout the region today, Dec. 14, but then the overnight temperature will drop to as...
South Okanagan national park focus group suddenly terminated
PENTICTON - A local MLA is disbanding a national park focus group just weeks after it was formed. Boundary-Similkmeen MLA Linda Larson says in a media release, "while there is a need to protect the natural landscape of the South Okanagan, the question of how that is done has been a divisive one.” Larson says...
Forestbrook Drive zoning amendment going to public hearing
PENTICTON - A zoning amendment to allow low density multiple housing on Forestbrook Drive in Penticton will go to public hearing on January 11. City council voted for an amended zoning bylaw at 511 Forestbrook Dr. to allow for the construction of two duplexes along with a secondary suite for each principal unit for a...
RDOS budget fails to include money for conservation fund
PENTICTON - A conservation fund appears to be a diminishing priority for the Okanagan Similkameen Regional District as the 2016 budget takes shape. After spending $20,000 last year to explore public support for a Regional Conservation Fund, a $40,000 request for referendum funding failed to garner board support, as did a follow up $20,000 request...
Thirty days for possession of stolen truck
PENTICTON - A Penticton man will spend another 13 days in jail after pleading guilty to being in possession of a stolen pickup truck earlier this year. A Penticton Provincial Court judge heard today, Dec.11, a Chev Silverado pickup truck, left running with the keys in it, was stolen from a Forestbrook Drive residence on...
Winter storm bringing heavy snow to mountain passes
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – It wouldn’t be the weekend without a warning from Environment Canada about heavy snow on the highways through B.C. Interior mountain passes. A heavy snowfall warning has been issued today, Dec. 12, as a strong Pacific frontal system is expected to start crossing over the Interior this afternoon. Forecasters say people heading to...
Little enthusiasm from Penticton council to hand off grant process
PENTICTON - Penticton city council isn't enthusiastic about the idea of handing off the city’s municipal grants program to an outside enterprise. Chief financial officer Colin Fisher has asked council to enter into an agreement with the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen in order to establish a City of Penticton Community Grants Fund....
Warm weather sticking around just a bit longer in the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - It seems our stretch of well-above seasonal normal temperatures is coming to an end, but we still have a few slightly warmer days ahead of us. Environment Canada is calling for a high of 3 Celsius today, Dec. 11, in the Vernon and Kelowna areas, with a high of 4 C expected in...
Language funding to boost employability of South Okanagan immigrants
PENTICTON - Newcomers to the South Okanagan who are seeking work in health services will be provided some assistance in getting a grasp on the English language through a B.C. government initiative. The Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training is providing $45,231 towards a medical English training program for new immigrants, the B.C. government...
Okanagan MP mimicks Trudeau’s Vogue cover with funny tweet
KELOWNA – Local Conservative MP Dan Albas is getting some attention in the Twittersphere this week for recreating a Vogue cover photo featuring Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. “Must. Work. On the hair. #vogue,” he tweeted Wednesday, Dec. 9. The black and white photo attached shows him seemingly lost in thought and striking a pose that...
Penticton city councillors back wine bar’s application for increased capacity and longer hours
PENTICTON - Complaints over the hours of operation and parking issues failed to dampen Penticton city council’s enthusiasm for the Mile Zero Wine Bar’s application for an increase in capacity and operating hours. Council approved the request and forwarded a recommendation of support to the Liquor Control and Licensing Branch for a doubling of interior...
Penticton Christmas lights tour returns
PENTICTON - The annual Christmas lights tour returns to Penticton next week. The City of Penticton and B.C. Transit will be sponsoring the tours on Wednesday, Dec. 16 this year. Two buses will run from the bus stop at Wade Avenue and Martin Street with the first tour beginning at 6:30 p.m. A second bus...