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Penticton news
Warmer weather on the way as Interior braces for El Niño
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - After a cold snap and day after day of snowfall, temperatures are finally expected to begin rising by the middle of January as the 2016 El Niño weather pattern hits the region. The second half of winter is when El Niño effects are generally felt in Western Canada, as the system brings winds...
Taser used to subdue man threatening shoppers and police at Penticton mall
PENTICTON - A man who allegedly assaulted a senior and threatened shoppers and police with scissors at Cherry Lane Mall this weekend was eventually calmed by officers but not before they had to use a taser to subdue him. Police responded to calls of a man being assaulted in the northwest parking lot of Cherry...
City and Penticton Indian Band sign agreement to grow local economy together
PENTICTON - The City of Penticton and the Penticton Indian Band have agreed to work together to develop the local economy. The two governments signed an agreement today, Jan. 4, to work together on tourism and economic development, according to a media release. The Penticton Indian Band has agreed to zone some of its land for...
UPDATE: SUV plunges into Okanagan Lake near Penticton; Summerland woman killed
PENTICTON – The driver of a SUV that plunged into Okanagan Lake from Highway 97 between Penticton and Summerland this morning has died. South Okanagan Traffic Services media spokesperson Sgt. Harold Hallett confirmed this afternoon, Jan. 4, the 42-year-old Summerland woman behind the wheel died in Penticton Regional Hospital as a result of the injuries...
Weather warming up, snow on the way in the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - Temperatures are set to warm up this first week of 2016, and along with those warmer temperatures will be several days of snow. Temperatures stayed at or below seasonal normal lows the past few days but after today are expected to be a bit warmer than the -6 Celsius that is typical at...
New Year’s Eve house fire in Penticton
PENTICTON – The cause of a small house fire in Penticton New Year’s Eve is under investigation. Fire crews were called to the home in the 500-block of Wade Avenue around 4:30 p.m., Dec. 31. Firefighters put out the small fire and there are unconfirmed reports a woman was taken to hospital with undetermined injuries....
UPDATE: Crash on Trans Canada west of Lake Louise closes highway
FIELD, B.C. – Highway 1 was closed at Field, B.C. following a crash making it tough on travellers driving to and from Alberta today. Drive B.C. says the Trans Canada, closed in both directions from Golden, B.C. to about five kilometres west of Lake Louise, Alta. this morning, Jan. 2, due to a collision, has...
Hundreds of hardy souls take New Year’s plunge in Okanagan Lake
PENTICTON - Sub zero temperatures and a snow covered beach failed to deter hundreds from participating in this year’s Summerland Polar Bear Dip. Summerland Kinsman Club President Mike Petkau says roughly 200 dippers took to Okanagan Lake today, Jan.1, to start the new year with an icy plunge. Petkau estimates up to 500 in total...
Propane theft prompts Penticton police to seek public assistance
PENTICTON - Penticton RCMP are looking for a person or persons with an excessive need for propane. Thirteen propane tanks were reported missing from the Skaha Lake Road 7-11 gas bar on Tuesday, Dec. 29. The tanks are believed to have gone missing between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. that day, stolen from an exterior...
Expect a chilly start to the new year in the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - Temperatures are set to dip below normal this New Year’s Day long weekend but the good news is it looks like it will warm up again early next week. Environment Canada is calling for a high of -4 Celsius to -7 C today, Dec. 31 through Sunday before warming up slightly to start...
Court appearance for man accused of widely witnessed assault
PENTICTON - A man accused of viciously assaulting his girlfriend and another man was released on bail in Penticton court, Wednesday, Dec. 29. Crown Prosecutor Nashina Devji asked that Randall C. Toews be detained on numerous charges including assault stemming from an incident on Martin Street in Penticton on Sept. 11, 2015. Devji told court...
Lone female in South Okanagan rural crime spree makes court appearance
PENTICTON - The lone female among four alleged thieves involved in a series of break and enters and mailbox damage in the Twin Lakes area may make bail if she can find a $1,000 surety. Chelsey Anne Thorstenson, 28, appeared in court before Judge Gale Sinclair today, Dec. 30, charged with possession of stolen property...
Man back in custody minutes after leaving Penticton court
PENTICTON - A man found sleeping in a truck filled with stolen items made a court appearance yesterday, and then was taken back into custody just minutes after leaving the court house when he was witnessed stealing a cash box. The man, who is well known to police, was arrested Dec. 23 after residents reported...
Earthquake 19 km northeast of Victoria
VICTORIA - A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Sidney, Vancouver Island Tuesday evening. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the three second quake happened just after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, 19 kilometres northeast of Victoria and almost 60 kilometres below the earth’s surface. There have been no reports of any damage or injuries. The...
You’ll never guess what this Kamloops woman wants for her 100th birthday
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The family of a Kamloops grandmother turning 100 years old in a few months is using social media to get the attention of her favourite singer. Kelowna resident Brad Krauza’s grandmother Sylvia lives in Kamloops. With her 100th birthday coming up in March, he and his sister Wendy wanted to do something extra...
Penticton couple became millionaires on Boxing Day
PENTICTON - A lottery ticket purchased at Penticton’s Cherry Lane Shopping Centre let a local couple keep the celebration going the day after Christmas. Lindsay Slobodzian and Grzegroz Slobodzian checked their lottery ticket while Boxing Day shopping, Dec. 26, just an hour before hosting a family get together, and found out they won one of...
‘My roommate used my toothbrush’ and other reasons to not call 9-1-1
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The largest 9-1-1 call centre in B.C. has released its top ten worst reasons people used their service this year. E-Comm is the primary 9-1-1 answer point for 24 regional districts and other communities from Vancouver Island to the Alberta and U.S. borders, to north of Prince George. With nearly 3,400 9-1-1 calls...
Weather mellowing out in the Okanagan this week
OKANAGAN - It looks like snowplows will get some time to catch up this week with much less white stuff expected to fall. Communities across the Okanagan got hit with a large dump of snow over the holiday weekend, prompting a snowfall warning from Environment Canada, which ended Dec. 27. Between 7 mm and 10 mm...
Penticton firefighters douse car fire
PENTICTON - Firefighters were called to downtown Penticton this afternoon to put out a car fire. Fire crews arrived at the intersection of Wade Avenue and Martin Street at approximately 12:50 p.m., Dec. 28, to find a Honda Civic parked at the curb with smoke billowing from the hood and flame from the engine compartment....
UPDATE: Snowfall warning ended for Okanagan and South Thompson
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS IN WINTER DRIVING CONDITION THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – A dump of snow overnight and this morning is making the busiest travel day of the year a challenge for drivers. The snowfall warning issued by Environment Canada for the Thompson-Okanagan earlier this morning was ended at about 10:15 a.m., Dec. 27. Forecasters say significant snowfall...
Some quirks of the calendar will bring you a lot more fun next year
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Before you book your vacation next year, you might find some surprises you haven’t seen on the calendar — like an extra four long weekends next year. Thanks to a few quirks of the calendar, all four date-based holidays fall on or near weekends this year. Canada Day, Remembrance Day and New Years...
Christmas laser lights causing problems for Okanagan airport
PENTICTON - A new form of Christmas lighting may have been at issue behind a police incident at Penticton Regional Airport earlier this month. RCMP were called to Penticton Regional Airport on Sunday evening, Dec. 13, after a pilot reported seeing a green laser light flash in the cockpit as he was about to land,...
A cool, white Christmas for the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - You’re in luck if you dreamed of a white Christmas, but expect slightly cooler temperatures to go along with it. Enough snow has fallen this month to give much of the Okanagan a white Christmas, something that has only a 50 per cent chance of happening in Kelowna and only a 20 per...
Serious accident south of Penticton sends one to hospital
KALEDEN - One person has been sent to hospital after a head on collision south of Penticton this morning, Dec. 24. Around 7 a.m., a Honda Civic and a Ford pickup truck collided on Highway 97, roughly half a kilometre south of Lakehill Road in Kaleden. The driver of the Civic was taken to hospital...