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Meaghan Archer
Challenge Penticton lines up weekend full of events
PENTICTON - The second Challenge triathlon is this Sunday and there are lots of all-ages events lined up in the days before the race. Events start Thursday, Aug. 21 and run for four days. There will be fun runs, a junior triathlon race, party in the park, free yoga and a charity swim. The whole...
Paddle your heart out this weekend at the Rattlesnake Island SUP Classic
PEACHLAND - If there's nothing like having the sun on your face and wind in your hair while pulling a paddle through the water along the lake on a Sunday morning, there's a new event happening that may be just the thing to do this weekend. The first ever Rattlesnake Island SUP Classic takes place...
Okanagan Valley ranks No. 2 in world by USA Today
OKANAGAN - Readers of USA Today voted the Okanagan Valley as the second best wine region in the world, with Alentejo, Portugal ranking number one. “It’s important that the world is going to know that we;re a major wine region,” said Chris Bower, executive director of Tourism Penticton. Residents of the Okanagan have always known...
Surrey man drowned, remains found by RCMP dive team
OKANAGAN - The remains of a Surrey businessman who drowned while on vacation in Washington have been found, thanks to the efforts of the B.C. RCMP Dive Team and the Okanagan County Sheriff Department. While vacationing with family and friends on Washington’s Osoyoos Lake earlier this month, John Mele dove into the water and didn’t...
Teens finalists in World Summit Youth Award for epilepsy support
SUMMERLAND - A group of young activists are finalists for the World Summit Youth Award for their work in epilepsy awareness. The Epilepsy Awareness Squad, created by high school students Caitie Shaw and Dan Nixon in June 2013, was among 1896 applicants from 138 UN countries for the award. The group uses its website and...
Police identify man found dead on Skaha Lake Road
PENTICTON - RCMP have identified a man found dead along Skaha Lake Road early Tuesday morning. He was Scott Michaud, 28, of Penticton. Michaud was found lying in the south bound curb lane on Skaha Lake Road near Lee Avenue. Police say Michaud's injuries are consistent with being struck by a vehicle and it appears...
Two hikers injured near Ellis Creek Canyon in last 24 hours
PENTICTON - Search and Rescue is conducting a medical evacuation for a woman who fractured her leg while hiking on the Ellis Canyon Trail. Fifteen Ground and Rope team members along with two Rescue trucks were dispatched to the area. PENSAR First Responders conducted emergency First Aid to stabilize and prepare the female patient for evacuation,...
BOONSTOCK: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis take it home
PENTICTON - International music sensations Macklemore and Ryan Lewis closed out the show Sunday night at Boonstock, the music festival that's been rocking Penticton all weekend long. There were more attendees Sunday night than anytime over the weekend—an additional parking lot was opened up and RCMP worked as security for the long lines of people...
IN PHOTOS: Boonstock After Dark
PENTICTON - The Boonstock grounds come alive at night with people dressed in costume, facepaint and dust. With hands in the air, they dance frantically and without a care to the music that literally shakes the ground and moves through your body from your feet on up through your limbs. Here's a look at some...
BOONSTOCK: 24-year-old woman dies of suspected drug overdose
PENTICTON – A Boonstock attendee died from an overdose Friday night after being taken to…
IN PHOTOS: Boonstock Saturday
PENTICTON - Boonstock attendees are spending their days at the beach, lounging at the campsite, and taking a break from the dancing and patrying that happens at night. Take a look at what was happening on Skaha Lake-Airport Road beach, and the Boonstock grounds and campsite today. %%embed1%% To contact the reporter for this story,...
BOONSTOCK: The festival in the eyes of campers
PENTICTON - Andrea Vischler and Kelsey Johns sit in what could be considered the living room of their campsite, a rug spread out, pillows propped up and chairs and stools for resting on. This is not their first rodeo—the girls clearly know how to attend a festival in style and comfort. They drove from their...
IN PHOTOS: Boonstock
PENTICTON - The first full day of Boonstock is over and it doesn't seem like the dust has gotten to too many concert-goers. WIth bandanas over their faces, people continued to dance, jam and party as bands and DJs tore up the stages last night. The campsite is full of people, some who've set up...
What you need to know if you’re coming to Boonstock
PENTICTON - If you’re heading out to Penticton this weekend for the Boonstock Music and Arts Festival you may have some questions about the grounds, booze, and what to do in town while giving your liver and ears a break. Here’s the low-down: ACCESS The festival grounds can only be accessed from the North side...
Lack of communication, planning turned Boonstock into Drystock
PENTICTON - It's official: Boonstock will be dry. The Liquor Control and Licensing Board said today the Boonstock Music and Arts Festival organizers cannot appeal their decision not to issue a liquor licence, leaving the 8,000 or so fans per day to get creative if they want their booze. The board said organizers failed to...
Jura Mountain fire almost entirely contained
PENTICTON - The Jura Mountain wildfire is now 90 per cent contained as crews continue to calm the flames. The fire is estimated to be 460 hecates in size and believed to be human caused. There are 27 firefighters, 20 service staff, 2 helicopters, 8 pieces of heavy equipment with air tankers hitting the fire...
Okanagan Valley contender for top wine region in world
OKANAGAN - The Okanagan Valley is a top contender for USA Today’s 10 Best Wine Regions to visit. The valley is up against world-renowned wine regions including Tuscany and Veneto, Italy; Nappa Valley, California; Rhone, France; and Marlborough, New Zealand. “Having visited Nappa Valley and Tuscany I firmly believe the Okanagan Valley is equal, if...
Smith Creek fire closes parks; music will still be heard
WEST KELOWNA - Three Central Okanagan Regional District parks are closed in West Kelowna because of the danger from Smith Creek wildfire. Glen Canyon, Shannon Lake, Rose Valley Regional Parks are all closed as a result of fire activity and will remain closed until further notice. "The Regional District apologizes for any inconvenience and encourages...
Smoky skies across Okanagan and Similkameen valleys
OKANAGAN - A smokey skies advisory is in effect for the Okanagan and Similkameen areas, due to high levels of wildfire smoke spreading throughout the valley. The concentration of smoke will vary as wind, fire behaviour and temperatures change. The advisory was announced Thursday morning by the B.C. Ministry of Environment. The Ministry is advising...
Local governments team up to save water this summer
OKANAGAN - Okanagan mayors are challenging residents to conserve water this summer as part of the Okanagan WaterWise program. The program is an effort by the Okanagan Basin Water Board, local government and utility partners to encourage outdoor water conservation during the hot and dry summer months. Several mayors and councillors throughout the valley took...
Boonstock a go: Organizers have security covered, prepare for economic opportunity
PENTICTON - Boonstock Music Festival organizers have a new security company and are adamant the show will go on August long weekend with or without a liquor license. Boonstock organizers including Barb Haynes and Colin Kobza told a small crowd in Penticton at a public forum Tuesday night they reached an agreement with 24-7 Security...
‘Everything’s up to chance’ with Boonstock: RCMP
PENTICTON - Police continue to have serious concerns about a lack of security at Boonstock but are powerless to intervene. Add Penticton RCMP to the list of organizations kept in the dark about festival plans, now only three weeks away. Staff Sgt. Kurt Lozinski, the officer in charge of RCMP involvement in the festival, says...
Boonstock vows to continue despite security setback
PENTICTON - Boonstock organizers say the show will go on even without definite security plans, since the private company they hired quit one month before the weekend long concert. Boonstock officials have been difficult to reach at the best of times, but since International Crowd Management has backed out of the event hit the news...
Psychiatrist has ‘no reason for optimism’ Bobbitt can be rehabilitated
PENTICTON - Not only is David Bobbitt a psychopath, he's a sexual sadist and deviant, a forensic psychiatrist said today during the offender’s dangerous offender hearing and sentencing in Penticton Supreme Court. Yesterday, Dr. Shabehram Lohrasbe said Bobbitt had strong psychopathic traits, based on the offender’s long history of violence, which began at the age...