Penticton

IH secures enough flu vaccine to open postponed clinics

OKANAGAN - Some flu clinics postponed last week have been rescheduled now that Interior Health has secured enough vaccine. An additional 10,000 doses of influenza vaccine means IH can open their doors for public flu clinics starting next week. There are multiple options for those seeking the jab. Kelowna – The December 15 public drop-in...

City program recognizes wintertime good Samaritans

PENTICTON -The City of Penticton has a program to encourage neighbours to help neighbours during winter months when precipitation piles up on city sidewalks. Snow Angels was introduced to help raise the profile of “unsung heroes” in city neighbourhoods - people who unselfishly help their neighbours to keep sidewalks clean and safe. The program was...

Man accused in physician beating to undergo psych evaluation

PENTICTON - Gregory Stanley Nield appeared in Penticton court Tuesday after being charged with assault causing bodily harm and aggravated assault. The charges stem from an incident at Penticton Regional Hospital on Dec. 5 after a doctor on duty in the hospital’s psychiatric ward was attacked. The doctor suffered a broken jaw and other facial...

Def Leppard coming to SOEC

PENTICTON - Def Leppard is coming to Penticton’s South Okanagan Events Centre. The British heavy metal rock band will play the SOEC on April 15, 2015. The group is one of the world’s best selling music artists having  more than 100 million records worldwide between 1977 -2014, on the solid performances of such hits as...

A Penticton cat with a tale to tell

PENTICTON – This is the story of the Penticton cat that came back, but not the next day. Or the next day, or the next. This summer, the Penticton feline travelled with its owner on a camping trip through Canada's north but wandered away. For two weeks, Bille Burles searched for the orange tabby cat...

Freezing rain, warm temperatures in forecast

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - After more than a week of below normal temperatures we finally climbed above 0 Celsius this weekend, and temperatures will continue to warm up over the next few days. Over the past 10 days we went from a heavy snowfall to well below normal temperatures and then this weekend to a couple days...

Self harm among Okanagan youth higher than rest of province

OKANAGAN – The results of a province-wide survey on the health of B.C. adolescents shows that young people in the Okanagan are more likely to participate in activities that risk their health than teens in the rest of the province. The study was conducted by the McCreary Centre Society and looked at survey responses from...

Risk of freezing rain extended

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A system bringing freezing rain to the Coquihalla Highway could also bring the hazardous conditions to other Interior cities and highways this weekend. Environment Canada issued a statement Thursday warning of the potential for freezing rain to develop on parts of Highways 5 and 3 and now forecasters are saying it could also...

SPCA offers pet advice for cold weather and Christmas

PENTICTON - As Penticton experiences its second cold snap of the season, the Penticton SPCA offers some words of advice for animal lovers. “Bring animals in from the cold,” is some simple advice  Corinne Ross, Branch Manager for the Penticton SPCA, offers. “It depends on the dog, as to how much cold they can experience,...

Freezing rain to hit the Coquihalla tonight

SNOW FORECAST FOR IN TOWN THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you are hitting the highways tonight beware, Environment Canada is calling for a risk of freezing rain. There is a chance of snow on the Coquihalla from Merritt to Hope and Highway 3 from Princeton to Hope this afternoon and evening, but as a Pacific system moves...

Penticton high tech company a cut above

PENTICTON - A Penticton company is surviving and thriving on world markets because of its investment in high technology and local know-how. Cut Technologies is the most advanced saw manufacturer for the sawmill industry in North America, Cut Technologies Penticton plant manager Daryl Clarke says. “We’re also the largest producer of round saws for the...

Just a few more days of cold

WARMER WEEKEND EXPECTED THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - We are beginning to see a break in the cold weather and by Sunday the entire region should finally be above 0 Celsius. Environment Canada was originally calling for Friday to be the day we would see temperatures rise to above normal, after a week of well-below normal temperatures. Now...

Penticton man attacked after answering his door

PENTICTON - A  Penticton man is recovering from bruises and a concussion sustained after being attacked at his front door. Ken Paton answered a knock on the door of his Westminster Avenue residence around 1 a.m. Monday morning. “I had just gone to bed,” he said, “I didn’t think about it, I just answered the...

PHOTOS: Top decorating tips for the holidays

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - You have a tree. You have some ornaments. Maybe you even have some garland and ribbon. But if you are not sure what to do next, do not worry, we have some of the hottest tips from local designers to make sure your home is looking its best this holiday season. Kathy Underwood...

Cold snap still on, weekend to be warmer

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Yes, it is still cold outside. Colder than we want to admit and definitely colder than seasonal normals, but that will change by the weekend when the mercury finally rises above 0 Celsius again. After a heavy snowfall mid-week temperatures plummeted well below normal over the weekend, dropping to around -20 C plus...

Business Gives Back fundraising luncheon taking a year off

PENTICTON - Organizers of Penticton's Business Gives Back are taking a year off as Gitta Schoenne and the three other members of the board find themselves too busy for the undertaking this year. “I've been in charge of it for 18 years,” Schoenne says, confident of its return in years to come. “We’ve all just...

Deep freeze begins

EXPECT COLD AND WIND THIS WEEKEND THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The system forecast to bring cold temperatures, wind and some snow to the region has engulfed Kamloops this morning and will fully reach Penticton by Saturday. Strong winds began in Kamloops Thursday afternoon and temperatures dropped to -7 Celsius by this morning. Over the day Friday temperatures...

Avalanche risk high this weekend

BACKCOUNTRY WARNING ISSUED THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A warning has been issued to all backcountry users this weekend as the risk of avalanche increases with the quick weather change headed our way. Avalanche Canada has issued a warning for mountains throughout the Interior, including Kootenay Boundary and the North and South Columbia ranges. The warning extends north...

Rough ride for Maggie Mustangs to seniors volleyball championships

PENTICTON - Members of Princess Margaret’s Mustangs senior boys volleyball team are working on turning a potential tragedy into triumph in Langley. The boys team left Penticton Tuesday headed for Langley to play in the B.C. Senior Boys Volleyball Championships only to have their bus skid off the Hope - Princeton Highway south of Princeton...

Cold snap on the way

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - As heavy snow continues to fall in parts of the region Wednesday and city crews work to keep up with the melt as temperatures move several degrees above seasonal normals we are being warned a cold snap is on the way. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement warning a ‘drastic cold...

City crews work to clean up aftermath of season’s first major snowfall

PENTICTON - Workers with the City of Penticton and its residents spent Wednesday morning digging out from a sudden dump of heavy, wet snow that began falling Tuesday evening. By noon, city streets were awash and boots were the footwear of choice as residents dealt with a mixture of snow, slush and water while temperatures...

UPDATE: SNOWED IN: Weather wreaks havoc on roads, power

SNOWFALL WARNING ISSUED FOR NORTH THOMPSON THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Heavy snow has fallen throughout the region and another 25 centimetres is expected in the North Thompson and Columbia regions by Thursday morning, though the snow will change to rain late tonight or Thursday morning in the more southern regions. While parts of the region struggle with...

Heavy snow continues on Coquihalla, 97C

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Mother Nature seems determined to let us know we are well on our way to winter with yet another round of heavy snow expected to hit area highways today. The system currently over the Interior will continue to drop heavy snow on mountain passes through tonight though the snow will start to mix...

New mayor and council prepare to get down to business

Newly elected Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit admitted to some anxious moments as election day progressed prior to winning the mayor’s position on November 15. “I had a fair bit of confidence going into the day, but I did feel some anxious moments,” Jakubeit said recently. “There were long lineups all day, and I found myself...