Penticton

Assault victim recipient of Christmas generosity

PENTICTON - Assault victim Ken Paton was overwhelmed at the charity shown him after a short fundraising effort was held for him on a friend’s Facebook page. Leigh Follestad recently noted Paton’s plight after being hospitalized following a bizarre confrontation that took place early in the morning of Dec. 1 after Paton answered a knock...

Heavy snow expected on highway passes, avalanche risk high

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The avalanche risk is considered high throughout most of the region with large to very large human-triggered avalanches a main concern for forecasters over the next week. Avalanche Canada upgraded the risk to high from considerable in the treeline and alpine areas of the Kootenay Boundary and North and South Columbia regions late...

IN TWEETS: We’re all waiting for a white Christmas

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Kamloops residents woke up to a skiff of snow on Christmas Eve, but for the last two weeks, people across the Okanagan have been enjoying warmer than normal temperatures. It's been both a blessing and a curse. Not worrying about warming up your car and slipping on the ice is nice, but without...

Slight chance for slightly white Christmas

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you have been dreaming of a white Christmas don’t give up hope just yet: Mother Nature could still come through with the gift of your dreams. Environment Canada is calling for a chance of flurries tonight in Kamloops, Vernon and Kelowna while Penticton could see rain this afternoon. Snow could begin in...

Get your winter driving face on for holiday travel

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you have travel plans over the next couple of days give yourself a little more time, and not just because of the amount of holiday traffic that usually files down the highway at this time of year. The next 24 hours could bring a lot of snow as well. Environment Canada is...

B.C. wildfires, cold and heat make list of top 2014 weather stories

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - You would expect that temperature would play a big part in a list of top weather stories, but unlike in previous years Environment Canada says our long, cold winter was the attention grabber in 2014. It was such a cold winter that much of the country remained cooler than usual throughout the summer...

Kettle Campaign stalled by lack of volunteers

PENTICTON - With two days left in the Salvation Army’s Kettle Campaign, Kettle Coordinator Tricia Dobrik is hoping to bolster volunteer ranks in order to reach this year’s goal. “We barely covered kettle shifts last week, and today we missed three shifts - two at the liquor store and one at Shoppers Drug Mart,” Dobrik...

Chances of a white Christmas slim

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you live in Penticton, you only have a 36 per cent chance of seeing a white Christmas in town, but in Vernon you have an 88 per cent chance. The current forecast is offering very little hope for a white Christmas through most of the region, unless you plan on heading up...

Two Penticton businesses vying for best in B.C. status

PENTICTON - Two Penticton businesses made the semi-finalists list for the 12th annual Small Business B.C. Awards. The two Penticton businesses in the top 10 are White Kennedy LLP for Best Workplace and SO Country Radio with Dennis Walker for Premier People’s Choice. “I’m very pleased. The comments I have received indicate to me that...

Low gas prices a present at the pump

PLAN A KAMLOOPS PIT STOP TO FILL UP THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Spent a little too much on gifts this year? You might still come out flush on your holiday budget thanks to the dropping prices at gas pumps around the country. For those that plan to drive during the holidays gas prices are often a thing...

Snow to impact holiday travel this weekend

HEAVY SNOW FORECAST FOR COQUIHALLA THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you were planning to hit the highways this weekend to visit family and friends, or to head out of town to get your last minute shopping done, beware, Environment Canada is warning of a storm system moving over the Interior highways. Snow is already falling this morning...

Major upgrade budgeted for Corry Place in Penticton

PENTICTON - The people living on Corry Place in Penticon recieved an early Christmas present from city council this week. The councillors voted unanimously in favour of a staff recommendation to include the reconstruction of the street in the 2015 budget. Prior to the start of budget talks on Dec. 8, a Corry Place resident made...

Penticton house fire illustrates need to be ‘fire aware’ during the holiday season

PENTICTON - A house fire in Penticton Sunday, believed to have been started by a candle, brings a reminder from the Penticton Fire Department to be careful when using candles during this holiday season. The fire, which occurred in the 200 block of Okanagan Avenue West at 1:48 p.m. Dec.14, was knocked down quickly, according...

Will we have a white Christmas?

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The halls are decked, the trees are trimmed and the presents are wrapped, or at least bought, or at least thought of, but it doesn’t really feel like Christmas until there’s snow on the ground. But will Mother Nature cooperate? Right now, it’s not looking so good. With Environment Canada forecasting above normal...

Cemetery options discussed at committee meeting

PENTICTON -Penticton city council was given a refresher course on the state of Lakeview Cemetery at a Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, Dec. 15. The cemetery issue raised some controversy during council’s initial budget discussions on Dec. 8. At that time, Councillor Helena Konanz asked Penticton Public Works Manager Len Robson to describe...

Council feels the love following public hearing

PENTICTON - Monday’s public hearing packed the gallery at city hall with residents, some of whom spilled out into the corridors. The business at hand concerned a piece of city-owned property located at 1400 Riddle Road, to be re-designated in the Official Community Plan from residential to parks and recreation prior to Monday’s council meeting...

Marilyn Manson performing in the Okanagan

PENTICTON - Shock-rocker Marilyn Manson will put on a show at Penticton's South Okanagan Events Centre next year.  Ticket sales for the "Hell Not Hallelujah" tour begins at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 19. Prices range from $29 to $55 plus applicable taxes.  The band has received numerous accolades, from platinum and gold albums to...

So you want to be a wildland firefighter?

NOW IS THE TIME TO APPLY THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The wildfire season is just barely over but the provincial branch responsible for protecting us from wildfires is already getting prepared for next year. This past year crews attended nearly 350 fires, which burned a total of more than 3,800 hectares, in just the Kamloops centre. Across...

New RDOS board promoting regionalism

PENTICTON - The regional district's new chair and vice chair are both taking a regional view to the table as the new board held its inaugural meeting on December 11. Several new faces joined the Regional District Okanagan -SiImilkameen board following the November 15 municipal elections. New members of the board include Terry Schafer (Area...

Third day of record highs in Interior

COOL DOWN BEGINS THOMPSON- OKANAGAN - For the third day in a row more high temperatures records were set in the region Thursday. According to temperatures recorded by Environment Canada Vernon set a new record with a high of 12.6 Celsius Thursday, more than three degrees higher than the previous record set in 1939, and...

Warm weekend perfect for meteor show

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A mix of sun and cloud, low temperatures of only -2 Celsius and a moon in the last quarter may give us just the perfect conditions to take in the peak of the Geminid meteor shower this weekend. The meteor shower is visible Dec. 4-17 this year but overnight Dec. 13-14 is likely...

Donating for a Christmas cause

PENTICTON - If you’re looking to spread the Christmas spirit this year by donating to a charitable cause, there are Penticton organizations that can put your generosity to good use. The Salvation Army is always a good bet when it comes to donating. Joey Cyr, Food Bank Manager for the Salvation Army, said the organization...

More weather records broken in Interior

BACK TO NORMALS BY SUNDAY THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - As temperatures soared as high as 15 degrees above seasonal normals more weather records were broken across the region Wednesday. According to Environment Canada, temperatures reached 15.6 Celsius in Kamloops Wednesday, nearly three degrees higher than the previous record for the second day in a row, while Vernon...

Weather record set in Kamloops, Okanagan communities just shy

COULD BE ANOTHER RECORD DAY IN INTERIOR THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Kamloops was among a handful of B.C. communities to set new weather records as temperatures soared to above 14 Celsius Tuesday. According to Environment Canada Kamloops reached a high of 14.2 C Tuesday, 3.6 degrees higher than the previous record that was set in 1896. Today...