Penticton news
Health authority moves on residential care bed promise
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Construction of 100 new residential care beds will begin this fall in Kelowna and another 85 are soon expected in Vernon as well. The Interior Health Authority announced in a press release it has awarded the contract to Baltic Properties, an existing contractor who is already providing residential care services in Kamloops, Lake...
ELECTION 2015: Defence minister discusses foreign policy on Penticton street
PENTICTON - Signs of an upcoming federal election were apparent in Penticton today as the Conservative candidate for South Okanagan-West Kootenay Marshall Neufeld was seen stumping with Federal Minister of Defence Jason Kenney. The two stopped their door to door campaign on Douglas Avenue for a brief word with the media, May 22. Kenney answered...
ELECTION 2015: MP’s brag about accomplishments as early election expectations mount
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – With a federal election less than three months away, local MP’s are ramping up their push to promote their accomplishments over the past year. It’s not unusual for politicians to send releases to the media to show the work they do and the money they’ve secured for their areas, but a breakdown of...
ELECTION 2015: New federal electoral boundaries in place
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Boundary changes for ridings in the Thompson, Okanagan and Similkameen regions are in place for the upcoming federal election. The redistribution process of the most recent review, which is required every 10 years, began in 2012 and new federal electoral districts were approved for the first general election to be called after May...
ELECTION 2015: Desire to help at heart of Conservative candidate’s motivation
PENTICTON - The Conservative candidate for South Okanagan-West Kootenay has seen how helpful a Member of Parliament can be to his constituents, and wants an opportunity to do similar work. Marshall Neufeld, 34, was born and raised in Penticton. He says his interest in politics dates back to the 1995 Quebec referendum. “I’ve been interested...
ELECTION 2015: Promises abound as federal NDP leader rallies Penticton troops
PENTICTON - The first federal leader to make a campaign stop in Penticton drew hundreds of party faithfuls Monday evening. Hundreds of South Okanagan residents crammed into two salon rooms at the convention centre Monday, Aug. 31, to hear federal New Democratic Party leader Tom Mulcair rally the troops for the upcoming Oct. 19 election....
Young Stars Classic begins with Canucks training camp in Penticton
PENTICTON - Hockey season is almost here again, and nowhere will that be more evident than Penticton's South Okanagan Events Centre this week. The roster and schedule for the Vancouver Canucks Young Stars Classic Tournament was announced today, Aug. 31. The tournament begins with the Canucks training camp on Sept. 10. Practices on the arena's main...
Temperatures to heat up again in Okanagan
OKANAGAN - Back to school is kicking off with a little rain this morning but by the end of the week we can expect highs well above seasonal normals throughout the Southern Interior. Temperatures will remain below seasonal normal lows of 21 Celsius today, Sept. 8, but it's expected to reach 23 C Wednesday before...
Bogus American money circulating in Okanagan
OKANAGAN – RCMP are warning people to be on the lookout for counterfeit American currency in the Okanagan. Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says in a media release there have been numerous reports of bogus $20 and $50 bills. She is urging businesses to carefully check the authenticity of any currency before they accept it as payment....
Falling signage slams car at Penticton gas station
PENTICTON – A bizarre incident at a Penticton gas station Sunday afternoon has left a driver with a damaged vehicle. The signage above the gas pumps at the Husky station at the corner of Skaha Lake Road and Kinney Avenue let loose and smashed onto a car getting filled up around 2:30 p.m., Sept. 6....
Evacuation alert expanded for Testalinden Creek wildfire
PENTICTON - A forecast for increased wind has resulted in an expansion of the evacuation alert for the Testalinden Creek wildfire. The Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen issued the evacuation alert expansion late in the day yesterday, August 27. The notice applies to properties north of the Testalinden Creek fire area, along Tinhorn Creek, Old Golf Course...
Fire crews anxiously watch weather at Testalinden Creek
PENTICTON - B.C. Wildfire firefighters expect to spend an anxious day on the front lines in the battle against the Testalinden Creek wildfire with strong wind in the forecast. Fire information officer Heather Rice says the wind is expected to pick up from the south around noon today, Aug. 28, which could be detrimental to...
Oliver and area residents could see increase in smoke as winds pick up
PENTICTON - Cooler, wetter weather slowed the Testalinden Creek fire on the weekend, but strong winds could give the blaze some renewed vigour this afternoon. B.C. Wildfire spokesperson Heather Rice says the calmer, cooler conditions over the weekend and this morning, Aug. 31, have decreased fire activity. Rice says while the fire has not grown...
Drive B.C. adds eight new highway webcams to help you plan your trip
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Just in time for winter, Drive B.C. has installed eight more highway cams between West Kelowna and Kaleden, and in the Merritt area to help drivers assess road conditions and traffic. The cameras include four south of West Kelowna on Highway 97 and Highway 97C, and three near Kaleden in the South Okanagan....
Grist Mill’s Apple Day too late for early harvest
PENTICTON - An early season harvest has forced a change of plans for one of Keremeos Grist Mill’s most popular late season events. Apple Day at the Grist Mill usually takes place in October, but due to the early harvest this year most apple varieties will be ready long before that. Grist Mill Manager Chris...