
Warthog art piece reunited with owner
PENTICTON - The owner of a rather unique piece of art is happier than a pig in - well, you know - after finding her lost art treasure this morning, July 15. Just after 9 a.m., Judy Rowe of Penticton appeared at the Penticton RCMP detachment to claim a metal sculpture of a warthog, Penticton...

Tourism Penticton firing on all cylinders says departing director
PENTICTON - Leaving Tourism Penticton was a hard decision to make but the executive director says he is giving the group lots of time to move someone new into the role. Departing executive director Chris Bower says leaving his position in Penticton is 'a hard one.' “I really enjoyed my time here. Tourism Penticton and...

Police on the lookout for cigarette-tossing drivers
PENTICTON - Motorists in the South Okanagan beware - you could receive a ticket for something other than a driving infraction while on the road during these hot summer days. Penticton RCMP are on the watch for motorists who throw cigarette butts out the window as the fire danger increases. “We’ve always ticketed drivers for...

Cyclist struck on Green Mountain Road
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP report a cyclist was struck while riding on Green Mountain Road near the junction of Westhills Road at approximately 5 p.m. last night. The driver was issued a 90 day Immediate Roadside Prohibition for being impaired and had his vehicle impounded, in addition to being charged with driving without due care...

Granfondo event great for the cash register, not so much for travelling public
PENTICTON - Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit is defending Sunday’s Granfondo bicycle race saying economic impacts outweigh complaints from residents and motorists in the region over traffic slowdowns. A number of negative comments surfaced on social media regarding traffic disruptions following the Sunday, July 12 event. RCMP police spokesman Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth also noted police received...

Great Cherry Spit coming up in Naramata
PENTICTON - Naramata’s weekly Wednesday afternoon market is celebrating local agriculture with a special event on July 22. The Great Cherry Pit Spitting Contest is coming back to the market for the sixth time, Market Manager Darren Rettie says. Two years ago a cherry picker working in Naramata took the record from local champion Kim...

Driver gets jail time for driving while prohibited
PENTICTON - A Penticton man faces jail time after being caught one too many times driving while prohibited. On March 6, 2015, Penticton RCMP stopped Paul Chavez Efrain, 21, driving a Honda Civic on Paris Street in Penticton. Efrain was found to be driving while prohibited at the time. A record check also revealed the...

Concealed shotgun discovered at Penticton court house
PENTICTON - It's unknown what his intent was but the watchful eye of a Sheriff may have stopped a potentially serious incidents at the Penticton Law Courts Monday after a man was found carrying a concealed shotgun. Penticton RCMP say a man and woman entered the Penticton court house yesterday around noon. The man was...

UPDATE: Police investigation continues at Naramata shooting scene
PENTICTON - Police activity continues today, July 14, at a residence located at the end of Lindsay Road, on the Naramata Bench. Penticton RCMP continue their investigation into a shooting that occurred at the residence at approximately 10:30 last night. According to police, two men were involved in the incident. One is being treated for...

One injured, one in custody following Penticton shooting
PENTICTON - A single victim is in hospital following a shooting incident on the outskirts of Penticton last night. Penticton RCMP received reports of shots fired around 10:30 p.m. yesterday, July 13. Police responded to a residence near the Penticton-Naramata boundary where they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to...

Grist Mill chef takes top honours at Similkameen wine event
PENTICTON - A light rain that turned into a downpour failed to dampen enthusiasm for the Barbecue King competition, Similkameen Winery Association’s premier wine event. The Grist Mill’s Natasha Schooten took home top honours, claiming Barbecue Queen for 2015, winning Judges Choice Award for her wine and food pairing of slow smoked short ribs with...

Agriculture committee wants open deer season within Penticton city limits
PENTICTON - Deer within Penticton city limits could soon be fair game for hunters. Penticton's Agriculture Advisory Committee has made a request to allow First Nation harvesters and other regulated hunters the right to hunt on large private holdings with the landowners’ permission on outlying acreages within the city limits.The recommendation came out of a...

Motorcycle accident sends one to hospital
PENTICTON - Emergency crews were called to another motorcycle accident in the South Okanagan today, July 13. Members of the Okanagan Falls Volunteer Fire Department, the RCMP and B.C. Ambulance service responded to a motorcycle accident near the intersection of Old Kaleden Road and Highway 97 at approximately 3:45 this afternoon. According to a bystander...

Chamber luncheon hopes to inspire Penticton
PENTICTON - Three Penticton men who made it big in the business world are returning to Penticton to inspire others. Penticton Wine Country Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Chamber Luncheon where guest speakers will be Jim Treliving, Brad Treliving and Rick Kozuback. The three Penticton natives had early business success in the city, and...

Koopmans sentencing delayed
PENTICTON - Crown and defence counsel continue to work toward a date for sentencing in the John Koopmans murder trial. A hearing to fix a date for sentencing was adjourned this morning, July 13, as both counsels await a pre-sentence report. Defence lawyer John Skogstad told Penticton court via telephone he and Crown prosecutor Frank...