Penticton news
On-site hotel could boost business at Penticton Convention Centre
PENTICTON - A premium hotel would help pull in more bookings for the underultilized 60,000-square-foot Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, according to city staff. In a report to council Monday, April 20, staff recommended council move forward on a zoning amendment that would add 'tourist accommodation' as a site-specific use to the city owned property...
Watch out for rattlesnakes; they’re out early in the Thompson-Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Sunny weather has gotten many of us out from beneath our rocks looking for some rays, and we’re not the only ones in the animal world. Warm temperatures have brought rattlesnakes out earlier than normal in the Thompson-Okanagan, according to WildSafe B.C. spokesperson Frank Ritcey. “With the warm weather, the snakes will be...
Man killed near Keremeos remains unidentified
PENTICTON - A man who was struck and killed while crossing the highway near Keremeos Friday night remains unidentified. At 11:03 p.m. on April 17, a blue Dodge pickup truck travelling east on Highway 3, just south of the intersection with Highway 3A in Keremeos, and collided with a man crossing the highway. The driver...
Citizens challenge plan to moor motorboats near SS Sicamous
PENTICTON - A group of Penticton residents staged a rally in front of Penticton City Hall to voice their objection to an element of the SS Sicamous Area Master Plan. Gerry Gilligan fronted the rally, attended by approximately 30 citizens. They were objecting to a part of the plan that would see five to seven...
Aquatic species ‘musselling’ in on Three Mile Beach
PENTICTON - Three Mile Beach is back on city councillor's minds, but not because of clothing optional issues. The beach also happens to be home to an aquatic species in need of help. Not to be confused with invasive zebra and quagga mussels, which governments are trying to keep out of the lake, the province will...
Early start to wildfire season in Southern Interior, numbers still below 10-year average
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A series of wildfires were ignited this past weekend as dry weather combined with warming temperatures to create conditions ideal for human-caused fires. B.C. Wildfire crews responded to four fires over the weekend, two in the Kamloops part of the fire centre and two in the southern tip. Information Officer Kayla Pepper says...
South Okanagan Transit Future Plan moves into new phase with board approval
PENTICTON - The region’s long term transit plan took a step forward wiht the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board’s approval of the Transit Future Plan. The document describes a vision for the South Okanagan’s transit network over the next 25 years. Regional Transit manager Daniel Pizarro told the board the next steps are not...
Two Okanagan wind farms get green light
OKANAGAN – The first wind farms ever built in the Okanagan will be producing electricity by 2016. Agreements between B.C. Hydro and Zero Emission Energy Development have been inked for wind farms west of Summerland and west of Kelowna, according to a media release from the B.C. Liberal caucus. The White Rock-based company will be...
BCHL FINAL: Vees win Fred Page Cup
PENTICTON - Dakota Conroy scored two-minutes into overtime in game six, as the Penticton Vees won the 2014-2015 Fred Page Cup championship Friday night, April 17, at Frank Crane Arena in Nanaimo. The Vees won the BCHL Final four games to two, and now are off to Fort McMurray, Alberta, to represent the BCHL in...
RDOS board seeking further information on capital funding reallocation request
PENTICTON - A request by Interior Health to redirect hospital funding has regional district directors asking questions. Interior Health wants the regional district to redirect $37,000 budgeted toward a pediatric patient room at Penticton Regional Hospital in order to provide a personal safety system for the hospital’s Inpatient Psychiatry Unit. A staff report tabled at...
New money to fight invasive plants in Thompson-Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The province is spending more than $1.7 million to help local governments and other organizations with the battle against unwanted plants damaging local ecosystems. Minster of Lands and Kelowna MLA Steve Thomson announced the grants to fight invasive plant species in a media release this week. “It’s important we get a handle on...
Penticton gas station targeted by suspected arsonist
PENTICTON - A Penticton man is scheduled to appear in court charged with arson in connection with an early morning fire at a Husky gas station. Fire crews and police were called to the gas station on Fairview Road around 2:46 a.m., April 17. They arrived to find a fire on the outside the building,...
RDOS enters agreement for fast charging station
PENTICTON - It will soon be more convenient to drive an electric car from Penticton to Vancouver. The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen directors have entered into an agreement with Sunshine Valley Recreation Inc. to lease space for a DC Fast Charging station in Manning Park. The regional district board also agreed to contract BC...
Popular community market promises to be bigger and better this year
PENTICTON - The start of the popular Penticton Community Market is only a couple of weeks away and as many as 300 vendors can be expected this year. The annual market’s first day of the season is Saturday, May 2. It is scheduled to run until Oct. 12, but may be extended to the end...
BCHL FINAL: Vees rally to beat Clippers and take series lead
PENTICTON - The Penticton Vees are now one win away from a Fred Page Cup championship, after a come from behind 3-2 win over the Nanaimo Clippers in game five at the South Okanagan Events Centre last night, April 16. Cam Amantea and Riley Alferd scored four-minutes apart in the third, as the Vees erased...