Penticton news
Oliver ski resort’s future is up, then down
PENTICTON - The status of a South Okanagan ski resort appear headed downhill once again. Less than a month after Mount Baldy Ski Resort announced it was making preparations to open the hill, even announcing an opening date, the resort has posted notice on it’s website page saying it is once again in jeopardy of...
New Fortis energy conservation program aimed at low income residents, renters
PENTICTON - Fortis BC is introducing a new energy conservation program it hopes will help low and fixed income residents, as well as renters, in the South Okanagan and Similkameen. Fortis manager Carol Suhan introduced the Energy Conservation Assessment Program, along with a second new program which deals with rental apartments, to regional directors at...
Stolen truck smashes Penticton businesses
PENTICTON - Two Penticton businesses were severely damaged in hit and runs by a stolen truck early this morning. Police responded to a 4 a.m. call from a Calgary Avenue resident reporting his truck stolen while it was warming up outside, unattended, this morning, Nov. 6, Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says. At...
UPDATE: Man accused of threatening Penticton city hall staff arrested after garage fire
PENTICTON - The same man arrested after threatening voicemail messages were left at Penticton city hall is in custody following an early morning fire at this home. Police and Penticton firefighters responded to a garage fire around 5:48 a.m., Nov. 6, at 112 - 2990 South Main St. Penticton RCMP Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says a...
Wet weekend ahead for the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - A typical fall weekend is ahead, with single-digit temperatures and at least a chance of rain every day. Temperatures are expected to vary slightly throughout the region with Environment Canada calling for the coolest temperatures today, Nov. 6, and tomorrow in the Vernon area. The weather office is forecasting a high of just...
Penticton fire department seeks $20,000 grant funding for wildfire prevention initiatives
PENTICTON - Penticton city council has thrown their support behind the fire department's grant applications to beef up wildfire prevention initiatives. Deputy Chief Dave Spalding says the department is applying for two Union of BC Municipalities grants worth a total of $20,000. Spalding explained the 10 year old strategic wildfire program needed updates to include spatial...
Silver Star in good shape for opening thanks to dump of snow
VERNON - Silver Star will open up trails for nordic skiing, fat biking and snowshoeing in a week thanks to plentiful snowfall on the mountain. With a 29 centimetre dump of snow last weekend, groomers have been able to prepare a number of trails, the resort said in a media release. With more snowfall in...
City of Penticton rate review says utility rates must go up
PENTICTON - A key finding of a recently completed review of Penticton’s utility rates is annual rate increases are needed in future years in order for the city to maintain infrastructure and financial sustainability. If the recommendations from the review are adopted, residents will be paying an additional $34 dollars per month on average for...
Penticton RCMP seeking owner of travel trailer
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP would like to find the proper home - and owner - of an abandoned travel trailer. RCMP say the trailer with a stolen British Columbia license plate was found in the Penticton Walmart parking lot on Saturday, Oct. 31. The license plate attached to the trailer had been stolen from an Okanagan...
Torchlight ceremony signals major milestone to B.C. Winter Games in Penticton
PENTICTON - The countdown to the Penticton 2016 B.C. Winter Games is underway with an official torch lighting ceremony set for next week. The ceremony will take place on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6:30 p.m. outside the South Okanagan Events Centre on the plaza. Local entertainers such as Beamer Wigley, Outma Sqilx’W Cultural School Children’s...
Another former tenant of Penticton rental speaks out about rat issue
PENTICTON - Another former tenant of a Penticton rental house says he was forced out of the house because of rodent issues. Bram Avery told Infonews he and his wife rented the house, located at 292 Kinney Ave., prior to Linda Childs, who moved out last month because rats were overrunning the property. Avery says...
Flu shot season in the Southern Interior
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With the peak of flu season just a few weeks away, Health Canada has started its yearly vaccination program. Although last year’s flu vaccine wasn’t particularly effective, Interior Health medical officer Kamran Golmohammadi says, this year’s vaccine cocktail will target the more severe of the two types of viruses – Type A. Every...
Phony firearms, drunk driving and drugs keep Penticton officers busy
PENTICTON - In addition to answering the usual calls for assistance, calls about an axe handle disguised as a gun and a break and enter to the local bottle depot kept Penticton RCMP busy last week. On Tuesday, Oct. 27, Penticton RCMP stopped a man on Highway 97 just outside of Penticton and discovered he...
Who is at fault? Driving instructor takes on traffic circle dash-cam crash
DO YOU BLUFF YOUR WAY THROUGH TRAFFIC CIRCLES OR DO YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO? THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - They're slowly popping up in more streets and neighbourhoods to help us but instead often incite mass confusion, arguments, sometimes panic and even the occasional crash. Does anyone know what to do in a traffic circle? We found...
Similkameen youth treatment facility continues to languish
PENTICTON - The re-opening of a youth addiction treatment facility continues to stall in the Similkameen valley as the property’s owners work with the province to restablish new guidelines. Central City Foundation Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Johnstone says the foundation, which owns the former Portage youth addiction treatment facility known as The Crossing, remain committed...