Shannon Quesnel

Residents on Skaha Lake's east side might appeal to the government if their water rates get doubled with little information given as to why. Homeowner Doug Lychak said his annual water bill would be $912 if the provider, Lakeshore Waterworks, gets provincial approval to double its rate. Lychak and other homeowners want to know what...

Top B.C. firefighters are in Penticton this week to share ideas, learn new ones and see the latest in rescue and firefighting hardware. The South Okanagan Event Centre parking lot this weekend was filled with pumpers, ladder trucks and all-in-one vehicles. This was the expo portion of the week. Members of the public mingled with...

Some of Canada's best hockey players will be training in Penticton tomorrow. The national women's hockey team of 27 players will be lacing up for ice time at the South Okanagan Events Centre from now to June 19. The purpose of boot camp is to prepare players for centralization in Calgary starting in August and...

Penticton's two cemeteries will need fresh ideas from the public on Tuesday. An open house will be held at Lakeview Cemetery Columbarium Gardens tomorrow, at 775 Lower Bench Rd. between 3 to 7 p.m. Attendees can discuss the proposed master plan for Fairview and Lakeview cemeteries, review conceptual plans and provide feedback. Acting mayor Garry...

Tie-vote kills chicken program Penticton city council canceled its order for a backyard chicken program. The pilot project will not continue because council did not approve temporary use permits. Councillors Andrew Jakubeit, Helena Konanz and John Vassilaki voted against the motion with acting mayor Garry Litke, Coun. Wesley Hopkin and Coun. Judy Sentes voting for...

The regional district CAO tops the list of employees collecting the most bucks last year. The $130,893 salary of CAO William Newell, of the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen, was included in a province-ordered financial disclosure. Every year public bodies publish their statement of financial information (SOFI). Included are salary and expense details of employees who...

Retiring MLA Bill Barisoff will have the second highest pension among retiring or defeated MLAs, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation announced. Barisoff begins his annual pension at $90,992 which puts him in second place next to former Liberal premier Gordon Campbell. If Barisoff lives to 80 years of age he will make $1.57 million from his...

A double-vehicle collision on Highway 97 sent two people to the hospital this morning. An Okanagan Falls woman was traveling south when she crossed over the centre line into oncoming traffic. This happened at about 7 a.m. She struck a north-bound vehicle driven by a man from Oliver. Okanagan Falls fire department attended and used...

Penticton is twisting the rule about showers bringing flowers with 35mm of rain falling in May. Last month 52.42 mm fell down and it looks like the deluge will continue. So far 35 mm of rainfall has fed Penticton's vineyards and lawns this month with May 17 offering the most with 14.2 mm. May 2...

A Penticton property owner might be stuck with a bill to demolish his own building. Denis Hildebrand, owner of 597 Ellis St., has until June to finish what a fire started in 2011. He has to begin the demolition process of his former boarding house. Only a broken concrete foundation jutting up from the yard...

A Penticton man will be sentenced for child porn possession this Friday. David Thorp, 57, was facing four charges related to having and distributing child porn. He committed at least one of the offences on Dec. 4, 2011. He was charged with accessing child pornography, possession of child pornography, and two counts of importing and...

A Big Bike crew was hooting and hollering on Tuesday after completing a soggy trip along Penticton's Lakeshore Drive. The Investors Group Survivorship team was at the helm that afternoon filling 23 of the 29 available seats. A few riders said their ponchos might have kept them dry but it also kept them too warm....

Chickens will be on Penticton city council's menu tonight. Twenty-five property owners applied for the urban hen project which allows a handful of egg-laying hens. Applicants who have signed up will follow such rules as having only five hens, and no roosters, making sure the hen coop will not be visible from the street and...

Newly elected MLA Dan Ashton will foot the bill for a Penticton mayoral by-election. Ashton won the provincial race on Tuesday to become the new Liberal MLA for Penticton. The city's mayor has asked for an extended leave of absence which runs out on May 31. He also publicly stated he would personally foot the...