Meaghan Archer
Apex hosts the Canadian National Freestyle Event this week
PENTICTON -- Canadian Olympians and local athletes hit the hills this weekend for the Canadian National Freestyle Event being held at Apex. Two-time Olympic Gold medalist Alex Bilodeau will be competing, as well as fellow Olympic medalists, Mikael Kingsbury, and Justine and Chloe Dufour-Lapointe. “We are so excited to have these Olympic athletes come to...
Penticton shuttle out of council control
PENTICTON -- City council wants a regional shuttle bus, but at the same time, the politicians are worried the service will hurt business at the local airport. At the end of the day, the councillors can only express an opinion on the issue. “We really don’t have much authority to stop them,” said Coun. Andrew...
Border control have no ‘mussel’ when it comes to invested watercraft
PENTICTON -- Canada Customs got lucky last week when an officer spotted what appeared to be invasive mussel species attached to a boat crossing the Osoyoos border headed for Lake Okanagan. Legally, customs officers have no authority to hold travellers back from crossing the border if their watercraft is infested with mussels. They got lucky...
Vees face playoff elimination against Vipers in Vernon
OKANAGAN - The Vernon Vipers are one game away from winning the seven game playoff series against the Penticton Vees. The Vees finished the regular season with the most most points in the BCHL Interior Conference standings, while the Vipers sat just a few points behind in third place. But the Snakes have made a...
Challenge Penticton to hand over reigns
PENTICTON -- Challenge Penticton will no longer be directed by the Penticton Triathalon Race Society but by a private organizer, so long as they fit the job qualifications. The Penticton Triathlon Race Society built the Challenge brand up from scratch in this community but the volunteer board members can no longer provide the manpower necessary...
Council taught a lesson by downtown teaching garden
PENTICTON - After admitting not enough attention was paid to detail, city council will readdress renewing a licence-to-use permit for a downtown teaching garden. Council voted against an agreement renewal with the Penticton Urban Agriculture Association to reissue a permit allowing the gardening group to harvest produce on a specified lot downtown. The Ellis and...
Cockfight at council
PENTICTON -- Council chambers turned into a cockfighting ring last night as jokes were tossed around during a serious debate about backyard hens. Coun. John Vassilaki and Coun. Wes Hopkin had a little tiff, started by the witty, young councillor. “I was born in a home with five people, that had eight chickens living in...
Council didn’t know what was going on but voted anyways
PENTICTON - Council jumped the gun on a decision not to renew a downtown teaching garden because they didn’t realize what was actually happening. Councillors admitted to not knowing the truth about a community issue they voted against during previous council meetings — and not communicating with involved parties to notify them their project was...
Councillors question proposed Okanagan shuttle service
PENTICTON – Council debated whether an Okanagan shuttle service would direct customers away from the Penticton airport and if public funds should be spent on the private project. The shuttle service plan was created by the South Okanagan Ground Transportation Committee that is comprised of volunteers, including Robert Lintell, who made a presentation during last...
Penticton aqua park is a ‘no brainer’
PENTICTON -- Family friendly water activities are coming back to Penticton this summer so long as all goes according to plan for Penticton Water Sports. Chuck Loewen, the City’s general manager of facilities, museum and recreation services, presented a plan for a new aqua park on Okanagan Lake to council during today’s committee of the...
City receives provincial funding for at-risk youth
PENTICTON -- City councillors, RCMP officers and staff stood outside city hall Monday afternoon as the city was given a large cheque for a community policing program from the provincial government and Penticton MLA Dan Ashton. The former Penticton mayor gave $14,800 to the city to fund a community policing program for at-risk male youth....
The bottom line: How unimpressed is council with downtown garden?
PENTICTON -- Council thought they had the last word on the unrenewed downtown garden, but community organizers are ready to show their green thumbs. Councillor John Vassilaki said they were not impressed with the way the garden was left. The city issued a temporary use permit to the Penticton Urban Agriculture Association for a plot...
What do standardized tests really reveal about the education system?
PENTICTON -- Penticton schools ranked all over the board on the latest Fundamental Skills Assessment tests, according to a new report by the Fraser Institute released Monday. The tests are issued to students in Grade 4 and 7, but parents have the option to not have their kids tested. Penticton’s Holy Cross Elementary received a...
Accused Dairy Queen stabber to get psych evaluation
PENTICTON -- A Princeton man charged with attempted murder and aggravated assault at the Princeton Dairy Queen restaurant was sent to the West Coast for a 30-day psychiatric examination. James Buhler, 52, was absent from court today but his lawyer, Stanley Turner and the Crown agreed on the evaluation. He is due back in Penticton...
Food trucks rally for an early start
PENTICTON -- This year’s first Food Truck Culture Rally is making an early appearance this weekend and the event is one of eight scheduled for spring/summer 2014. On the menu is Thai from Jamplees Thai Kitchen, tacos from Surf Side California, and lots of meat sandwiches from Gung Ho Gyozas. The food truck season does...