Meaghan Archer
Soupateria expects 150 for Thanksgiving meal
PENTICTON - The Soupateria will be filled with smells of turkey, pumpkin pie and apple spice as they serve up a Thanksgiving meal this holiday long-weekend. Anyone is welcome to stop by the Soupateria on Monday, Oct. 13 between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (one hour) for a hot, traditional Thanksgiving meal. The Soupateria hosts...
Jukka Laurio takes second attempt at mayoral seat
PENTICTON - The mayoral race just got a little tougher with local business owner Jukka Laurio filing to become the third candidate. Laurio is no stranger to city politics, having run for mayor in 2011, but he says he’s more focused this time around. “I’m going to give Penticton a job,” he says. He explained...
Downtown revitalization and controversial construction on tonight’s council agenda
PENTICTON - There’s a packed agenda for tonight’s city council meeting, including a public hearing, economic development opportunities and new plans for the revitalization of the downtown centre. Council will look at options for the first phase of the revitalization of Main Street, which includes new sidewalk plans for the 100 and 200 block of...
Residents tell council to fix existing problem before development makes it worse
PENTICTON - Neighbours of a proposed development property raised existing traffic and parking issues with council, and said it’s a problem that needs to be dealt with now rather than later. Neighbours who came forward during a public hearing Monday night said they are pro-development but are concerned about the increase in traffic the new...
RCMP arrest four suspects for drug trafficking and production
SOUTH OKANAGAN - Four people were arrested last week after RCMP found weapons and a significant amount of drugs during a search warrant at an Oliver residence. On October 2, the South Okanagan RCMP Regional Drug Section, Oliver RCMP Penticton Police Dog Service and South Okanagan Traffic Services executed a search warrant at a residence...
House fire takes down roof, everyone safe
PENTICTON - The roof of a Penticton home came crashing down in flames last night after flames originated in the home’s kitchen. Penticton Fire Department was called at 8:40 p.m. Thursday night to attend a possible kitchen fire at 313 Norton Street. Two engines and six fire fighters attended the scene, and two additional alarms...
Teens reclaim social media by spreading #cyberlove
PENTICTON - A couple of Summerland highschool students are encouraging their peers to spread the love online through a new campaign. Caitie Shaw and Dan Nixon started the #cyberlove campaign through the Youth Empowerment Project to connect with and empower youth all over the world to create positive change. The campaign kicks off on October 10—World...
Penticton man keeps long-term offender status, appeal denied
PENTICTON - Wilfred Charles Baptiste will keep his criminal designation as a long-term offender after his appeal to have the designation removed was dismissed. Baptiste did not think he fit the long-term offender criteria and appealed to have the designation removed. The appeal was dismissed by Justice Wilcock in Penticton Supreme Court on Sept. 23,...
Surrey man lands himself a year in jail for drug trafficking
PENTICTON - A Surrey man found guilty of drug trafficking will spend the next year in jail. Graham V. Jordan, 50, was found guilty of drug trafficking charges laid against him after his arrest in November 2011 in Keremeos. Justice Selwyn Romilly sentenced Jordan to one year in prison on Monday in Penticton Supreme Court. Jordan...
ARCHER: What will your vote stand for?
Rapper Lil’ Jon’s “Rock the Vote” video is going viral and for good reason. The video, which shows young celebrities turning out to vote in the U.S. midterm elections, demonstrates the significance of voting. Everyone has something they can fight for, and represent with their vote. Our municipal election isn’t on the same scale, but...
Warrant issued for arrest of alleged sex offender
PENTICTON - A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a Keremeos man who failed to attend his sentencing at the Penticton courthouse Wednesday afternoon. Roy Charles O’Donaghey faces two charges of exposing genitals to a minor, to which he previously pleaded not guilty. The charges stem from two incidents during the summer of...
Litke still has a few tricks up his sleeve
PENTICTON - With two months left in office, Mayor Garry Litke hopes to accomplish a few more things before he walks out the doors of City Hall for good. Before he became mayor, Litke was a city councillor for eight years. Being a part of the team that created the South Okanagan Events Centre was...
Electronic vote counters challenged by Penticton resident
PENTICTON - Election votes are at risk of being miscounted if the city continues to use an electronic counting machine, says one resident who believes votes should be manually counted, even if it takes longer and costs more. Vicki Lightfoot and Kevin Proteau presented to council Monday night their issue of using electronic ballot counting...
The Fintry Queen is coming to Penticton
PENTICTON - The Fintry Queen has found a new home on the south shore of Okanagan Lake, after spending years docked in a Kelowna bay. The city of Penticton agreed to a license with Fintry operators, the Okanagan Lake Boat Company, on Monday night. The five-year agreement will cost a total of $70,000 for moorage...
Litke is hanging up his mayoral hat
PENTICTON - Mayor Garry Litke is calling it a day and will not run in the upcoming city election. Litke has been mayor for only 13 months, after he was chosen to replace former mayor Dan Ashton in a by-election in fall 2013. Before that, he spent eight years as a city councillor, and 33...