Penticton news

Wet fall week ahead for the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - A mixed bag of weather — cloud, rain and sun — is expected in the Okanagan for the last week of October. Environment Canada is calling for temperature highs at or just above seasonal normals of 9 Celsius throughout the region all week, with the warmest temperatures expected today, Oct. 26. Overnight lows...

Okanagan Regional Library approves budget increase

KELOWNA – Half of the Okanagan Regional Library budget increase for 2016 is wage increases for staff at branches up and down the valley. The board of directors has approved a spending plan worth over $18.2 million, which reflects a 1.98 per cent increase from 2015. The increase amounts to an extra $351,818 tax dollars....

Penticton search and rescue targeted by thieves

PENTICTON –The volunteers with Penticton Search and Rescue showed up at the group’s hall Saturday morning, Oct. 24, for a training exercise to find they were the victim’s of a break-in and theft. “We sure got a shock,” president Dale Jorgensen says in a media release. Thieves broke into two of the organization’s trailers. A...

Martin Street Outreach centre officially opens doors

PENTICTON - The Martin Street Outreach Centre has officially opened its doors. The primary and community based care centre has been operating at 437 Martin Street since May, but had it's officially opening today, Oct. 23. The Outreach Centre is already serving 350 clients, according to Penticton physician Dr. Kyle Stevens, who has played a...

Continuing upgrades announced for Olalla’s water system

PENTICTON - The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen has announced the awarding of the engineering design for water main upgrades to Olalla's water system. The upgrades are part of a continuing program to renovate the Olalla water system, part of which was upgraded in 1999 when a new well, pump, concrete reservoir and pump house was...

Kelowna tourists caught in path of worst hurricane in history

KELOWNA - A small group of tourists from Kelowna who are vacationing in Nuevo Vallarta are fleeing to higher ground to escape the strongest hurricane ever recorded. Rod Robinson, owner of Bogie and Bacall Hair Salon in Orchard Park Mall, is travelling with his wife Donna and friends Denny and Patty Pirot, who are also...

Oktoberfest in Penticton this weekend

PENTICTON - Crisp, sunny days and cool, frosty nights may be a sign of the impending winter season, but there is still lots going on this weekend in Penticton. The Penticton Trade and Convention Centre plays host to the sixth annual Penticton Oktoberfest, which takes place on Saturday, October 24 starting at 6 p.m. The convention centre...

Hot drink sales at downtown Penticton store donated to Soupateria

PENTICTON - As the days get cooler and nights get longer, the need for a food becomes a higher priority for people in need in Penticton. SmartShopper Value Variety Convenience store owner Leigh Follestad is helping the Penticton Soupateria out today, Oct. 23, by donating 100 per cent of money he makes through the sale...

Community Foundation initiative aims to strengthen neighbourly relations

PENTICTON - The City of Penticton is giving the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan-Similkameen $5,000 toward a fund to help residents pay for neighbourhood events like block parties. The Foundation's executive director Aaron McRann approached city council with a request to match funds with the organization in order to leverage equal funding from the...

Sun and frost this weekend in the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - Temperatures should be close to seasonal normals, on both the high and low end, this weekend and with those cooler overnight temperatures comes frost. Environment Canada is calling for a high in the double digits today, Oct. 21, and Saturday, with a high of 9 Celsius being forecast for Sunday. The seasonal normal...

Action packed afternoon on Sunday at Penticton Speedway

PENTICTON - It’s the final weekend for racing events at Penticton Speedway and the track is going out with a bang — literally. Penticton Speedway owner John Aantjes says the Halloween Destruction stock car races on Sunday will include a hit-to-pass event involving race cars towing boats and travel trailers. “It’s great family entertainment, I...

Police act quickly after young Penticton girl subjected to offensive sexual remarks

PENTICTON - Inappropriate comments made to a school girl by a 40 year old intoxicated man resulted in quick police action by Penticton RCMP on Tuesday, Oct.20. Penticton RCMP Staff Sgt. Kurt Lozinski said today, Oct. 22, RCMP responded to an incident at Carmi School just before 3 p.m Tuesday. It involved a man who...

UPDATE: One dead in single vehicle crash on Connector, highway reopens

CENTRAL OKANAGAN – A man died in an early morning crash on Highway 97C at the Pennask summit. RCMP and B.C. Ambulance paramedics were called to the scene, Oct. 22, and while RCMP will not confirm if anyone was hurt, Global Okanagan reports one man was killed in the single vehicle accident. The man, who is...

City seeks to smooth out casino relocation with bylaw amendment

PENTICTON - City Council is smoothing the way for Gateway Casinos to relocate on city-taxed property. A zoning amendment that would include casino operation as a defined use was requested by staff at a council meeting earlier this week. Director of Development Services Jules Hall said staff were alerted through media reports the Penticton Lakeside...

Penticton set to add more snow removal equipment to roster

PENTICTON - City staff are preparing for winter with a pitch to city council for more snow removal equipment. Buiding and Permitting Manager Ken Kunka asked council for an additional $20,000 to purchase more ice and snow clearing equipment. The request was made to facilitate clearing of nearly 10 kilometres of city lanes that will...