Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Pnjan2016

Coroner identifies Summerland woman who crashed into Okanagan Lake

OKANAGAN - The B.C. Coroners Service has confirmed the identity of a Summerland woman who died last week after her vehicle slid into Okanagan Lake. Elena Sagario Holly, 42, was driving alone on Highway 97 southbound near Summerland around noon Jan. 4 when her car slid off the road and into Okanagan Lake during bad...

Break and enters dominate new year for Penticton police

PENTICTON - With break and enters being reported nearly every day over the past week, Penticton RCMP have been kept busy as 2016 gets underway. During a break and enter last Wednesday, Jan. 6, on Apex Mountain Road the front door of a residence was damaged. Video surveillance shows a truck on scene with a...

Trucks being targeted by thieves in the South Okanagan

PENTICTON - Thieves appear to be targeting Ford trucks in the South Okanagan, and RCMP believe this rash of stolen trucks is related to other thefts as well. A man who left his 1995 Chrysler Intrepid to warm up at the Holiday House Motel returned to find it missing at approximately 8 a.m. Wednesday morning,...

Snowfall warning for Coquihalla Highway

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - While temperatures continue to warm up in town, a system is expected to drop enough snow on area highways today to prompt a snowfall warning for at least one section of highway. Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt, where up to 25 centimetres of...

Everyone welcome to citizenship ceremony

PENTICTON - Penticton and area residents have an opportunity to welcome new arrivals to the area when the second annual Canadian Citizenship Ceremony takes place othis week. South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services will host the event, which is also partnered by Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada and the City of Penticton. Taking part in...

Sentence for weapons infractions includes restorative justice

PENTICTON - Sentencing passed on an Oliver man who pled guilty to firearms and mischief infractions has left the door open for participation in a restorative justice program following a hearing in Penticton court today, Jan. 11. Judge Meg Shaw left mandatory conditions off orders to the accused not to go near the two victims...

Regional board misses out on initial round of deer management funding

PENTICTON - The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen won’t be able to take advantage of a hastily released interim cost sharing program with the provincial government to pay for deer management projects. Chief administrative officer Bill Newell says an announcement was made during last year’s Union of B.C. Municipalities convention about a short term program,...

Mild week ahead for the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - We can expect temperatures to hover around the freezing mark this week, with temperatures expected to be at or near seasonal normal temperatures throughout the Okanagan. Environment Canada is calling for daytime high temperatures to range from -1 Celsius to 2 C this week, with overnight lows expected to reach between 0 C...

The unusual reason why a judge delayed sentencing

PENTICTON - A Naramata man will spend four months in jail because of an exchange of vitriolic text messages that turned into an armed altercation. But jail comes later. Before he was sentenced for mischief and assault with a weapon, Daryn E. Semancik asked court for a delay in sentencing so he could make arrangements...

Weather and electrical issues take toll on Penticton arenas

PENTICTON - The City of Penticton’s recreation department took a few hits over the holidays, with weather playing a role in damage to some of the city’s recreational facilities. Communications officer Simone Blais says the last few weeks of snow build up on the north side of the Memorial Arena roof partially collapsed two of...

Penticton RCMP report quiet New Year’s Eve

PENTICTON - Police report few incidents New Year's Eve in Penticton, but answered several calls for vehicle thefts last week. Penticton RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says it was a relatively peaceful New Year’s Eve in the city, with only three impaired drivers. Wrigglesworth says festivities were quiet at Apex Mountain Resort as well,...

Man tasered at Cherry Lane Mall to undergo psych evaluation

PENTICTON - The man at the centre of a police incident at Cherry Lane Mall on Jan. 3 made a court appearance today, Jan. 8. Danny Douglas Ross appeared by video in Penticton Provincial Court facing charges of assault, possessing a weapon for dangerous purpose, and willfully resisting or obstructing a peace officer, stemming from the...

Warmer weekend ahead for the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - After cooler temperatures and lots of snow over recently, this weekend marks what should be a welcome break for many in the Kamloops area. Environment Canada is calling for highs to be just above seasonal normals of -1 Celsius all weekend, with Penticton expected to reach 2 C today, Jan. 8, and tomorrow,...

Emergency crews respond to man down at Penticton intersection

PENTICTON - Emergency crews responded to a call of a pedestrian struck at a Penticton intersection this evening, Jan. 7. According to witness Skylar Noe-Vack, who was on scene, a pedestrian was struck at Main Street and Duncan Avenue at approximately 6:15 p.m. The victim is believed to be male, and was conscious when members...

International expert says global warming good for Okanagan wines

OKANAGAN - An Australian winemaker says in a CNBC opinion editorial that global warming is going to turn the Okanagan into the best wine region in the world in the coming years. Philip Mcgahan starting making wine in in Hunter Valley, Australia in 2002. The area regularly reaches more than 40 Celsius and with temperatures...

Lots of Penticton break-ins over the holidays

PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP responded to a series of home break-ins over the holidays. RCMP media spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says police received a call from a Yorkton Avenue resident on Dec. 25 who was complaining of thefts of alcohol from an outdoor refrigerator. The resident told police he had also filled a wine bottle...

New school closure option presented for Summerland

PENTICTON - The Okanagan Skaha school board is looking at another option as it plans for a possible school closure in Summerland. Board Chair Linda Van Alphen says in an email, feedback from surveys, emails and presentations in Summerland have indicated there may be another publicly acceptable option to closing Giants Head school and moving 350 students...

Sex offender arrested on outstanding warrants

PENTICTON - A man convicted of possessing child pornography is behind bars this morning awaiting a court appearance in Penticton. Jason David Anderson was arrested in the Penticton area this morning for failing to comply with his probation order. Anderson was sentenced to a 90-day intermittent jail term for possessing child pornography in August 2013....

Skaha Hills adds name to Dragon Boat Festival sponsorship

PENTICTON - The Penticton Dragon Boat Festival is gearing up for the 2016 event, which is expected to attract more than 2,100 athletes. During the second week of September, the 15 year old festival will play host to more than 2,100 athletes from Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest as they compete along the north shore...

Child safety programs get a boost in Penticton

PENTICTON - Bicycling and fire safety programs in Penticton will be getting a boost thanks to a provincial grant. The Penticton Safety Village Society will put the $20,000 provincial Community Gaming Grant towards bicycle and fire safety programs for children, B.C. government caucus media spokesperson Dave Paulson says. Non-profit organizations can apply for provincial gaming...

Tire fire in vacant Penticton house accidentally set by homeless squatter

PENTICTON - A New Year’s Eve house fire in a vacant Wade Avenue building was not set deliberately, according to police. The fire, first spotted around 4:15 p.m. on Dec. 31, was the result of a tire catching fire, RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth says. The tire was being used as a cooktop sitting on a...

Penticton council approves casino relocation proposal

PENTICTON - A proposal to relocate the Lakeside Casino in Penticton received approval from council this week. City council approved the relocation to a site on the South Okanagan Events Centre property following a series of open houses that followed the unveiling of the proposal in early November. A staff report to council Monday, Jan....