Penticton

Health authority hard hit by influenza last season

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The Southern Interior was hard hit by influenza last season with a jump in confirmed cases and deaths. But at the same time, the flu season here in the Interior Health Authority was typical of what the rest of Canada experienced. Dr. Gillian Frosst, an epidemiolgist with the heatlh authority, told the board...

Penticton RCMP want help finding man with outstanding warrants

PENTICTON - A man known to be violent and considered a risk to public safety is wanted by Penticton RCMP. Officers are asking for help in locating Jessy Michaud, who has three outstanding warrants for his arrest as of July 17. The 46-year-old Caucasian is 5’9” tall and 161 lbs with brown hair and blue...

Sunny week ahead for Okanagan

OKANAGAN - It was a hot, sunny and stormy weekend and this week is expected to be a bit closer to normal Okanagan summer weather. Temperatures reached as high as 36 Celsius Sunday as storms rolled through the region. While there is a risk of thunderstorms again today the chance of rain forecast for the...

Okanagan Across the Lake Swim will be bigger than ever this year

KELOWNA – For the 67th year in a row, swimmers from across the province will plunge into Okanagan Lake for the Across the Lake Swim this weekend. And this year will be bigger than ever. Last year, 900 participants showed up but this year event organizers have increased capacity significantly. A record 1,200 swimmers of all ages...

A polite request to use less water in Penticton

PENTICTON – The City of Penticton is asking residents to voluntarily reduce their water consumption by 30 per cent in response to drought conditions and low reservoir levels. The provincial government recently announced a Level 3 drought rating for the Okanagan, including Penticton and area. As well, low stream flows and warm water temperatures mean...

Bringing the heat in the Okanagan this weekend

OKANAGAN - Mother Nature gave us a bit of a reprieve this week, but the temperatures will be back into the 30s again this weekend. After several weeks of intense heat and then a week of near-normal temperatures, the Okanagan will again see temperatures reach the low- to mid-30s Saturday through Tuesday. Environment Canada is...

RCMP are looking for help to find South Okanagan prolific offender

PENTICTON – RCMP are on the hunt for an Okanagan Falls man with a long criminal record who has been on the lam for almost three weeks. Ronald Teneycke was sentenced to 90 days in jail following a conviction April 9, 2015 on a charge of making or possessing an explosive without lawful excuse. He...

Solve the clues and find the treasure at Kamloops’ newest attraction

KAMLOOPS - You and three friends enter a parlour decorated with antiques and cat-themed trinkets. The door closes behind you, the clock starts and you hear the voice of a lady named Margaret. She tells you she has an estate, and the clues leading to her fortune are in the very room you’re standing in....

Aboriginal forestry business gets boost from federal funding

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Aboriginal-owned forest sector companies in B.C. and Alberta will soon enjoy technical support and business advice from Western Economic Diversification Canada. Western diversification minister Michelle Rempel announced during a press conference at the Westbank First Nation corporate offices in West Kelowna that private company FP Innovations would receive $1.8 million to deliver educational...

Mountain Equipment Co-op coming to Kelowna

KELOWNA - Outdoor enthusiasts will soon have another option when shopping for outdoor gear, Mountain Equipment Co-op has announced it is coming to Kelowna next spring. The legendary Vancouver outdoor outfitter will open a 20,000-square-foot location in the former Future Shop location in Orchard Plaza Shopping Centre in Kelowna. In addition to its outdoor products,...

Medical rescue on Enderby Cliffs

VERNON - A female hiker in medical distress was rescued by the Penticton Search and Rescue helicopter team Tuesday afternoon. A Vernon Search and Rescue team was called to the Enderby Cliffs area for a female in medical distress Tuesday, July 14, and when they arrived they realized an air evacuation would be best because...

New city manager announced for Penticton

PENTICTON - The city has finally found a permanent replacement to fill the role of city manager after the former chief administrative officer left in February. Eric Sorensen, former president and CEO of Sun-Rype Products and more recently an entrepreneur and consultant, was named the new city CAO today, July 14. Sorensen retired after working...

Smoky skies advisory ends for Southern Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A system that broke a nearly three-week heat wave and dropped rain in the Interior also helped clear the smoke. The smoky skies advisory that had been in place since June 7 was lifted this morning, July 13, by the Ministry of Environment and the Interior Healthy Authority. While many large fires are...

Break in heat for Okanagan, back to seasonal normals

OKANAGAN - After nearly three weeks of temperatures exceeding 30 Celsius almost every day, we are finally seeing cooler temperatures, some rain and less smoke. This weekend, the heat wave finally broke with temperatures closer to seasonal normals of 27 C on both days, and Environment Canada is calling for high temperatures to remain a...

Break in heat for Kamloops, back to seasonal normals

KAMLOOPS - After nearly three weeks of temperatures exceeding 30 Celsius almost every day we are finally seeing cooler temperatures, some rain and less smoke. This weekend, the heat wave finally broke with temperatures closer to seasonal normals of 28 C on both days, and Environment Canada is calling for high temperatures to remain a...

Water board wants more control over what people do in watersheds

OKANAGAN - In an effort to put a stop to mud-bogging and pit toilets near reservoirs, the local water board is supporting a call for greater control over source watersheds. “The board wants our members to have more control and the province to give more support to water utilities to protect the quality of their...

No fishing in several South Okanagan rivers and streams this summer

PENTICTON – Fans of fishing across the province will be disappointed to learn that as of July 15 they will no longer be permitted to fish many rivers and streams in the South Okanagan this summer due to low flows and warming water temperatures. For the rest of the summer all streams and rivers in...

Reprieve on the way following near-record day in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - After another day in the high-30s we may finally see a break in the blistering heat in Kamloops, and it will likely bring some rain as well. According to Environment Canada, about a dozen B.C. communities set records again Thursday, July 9, and once again many of the record-setters were in the Souther...

New record and another hot day for Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - It was another record-breaking day in the Thompson-Okanagan Wednesday and today will be much of the same. Environment Canada shows 17 B.C. communities setting new records Wednesday, July 8, and many were in the Interior. One of the oldest records to fall was in Kamloops, where a temperature of 38.3 Celsius was enough...

New records and another hot day for Okanagan

OKANAGAN - It was another record-breaking day in the Okanagan Wednesday and today will be much of the same. Environment Canada shows 17 B.C. communities setting new records Wednesday, July 8, and many were in the Interior. One of the oldest records to fall was in Kamloops, where a temperature of 38.3 Celsius was enough...

Missing documents for Westbank audit mysteriously resurface

WHAT IT MEANS TO RECALL PETITION FOR CHIEF AND COUNCIL | In February, Westbank First Nation members demanded an audit of band dealings in the Lake Okanagan Wellness Centre after they found themselves on the hook for $7.9 million. When they failed to get it, they pursued the recall of Chief and council. In our ongoing...