Clayton Whitelaw

Penticton’s Ez-Vape location off Hwy 97 (Clayton Whitelaw/Penticton Western News)

Penticton RCMP looking for suspect in armed robbery of vape shop

Suspect threatened an employee, stole cash and product in Sept. 12 robbery of EzVape

Penticton’s Ez-Vape location off Hwy 97 (Clayton Whitelaw/Penticton Western News)
Paramedics attended the scene but were unable to save the rider (File/Black Press Media)

Motorcycle crash leaves 1 dead in Oliver

Sept. 9 accident kept Willowbrook Road closed for several hours

Paramedics attended the scene but were unable to save the rider (File/Black Press Media)
Trainer Karly Estey has her COVID-19 QR code scanned by Jonathan Gagne, manager of Orangetheory Fitness in Montreal, Wednesday, September 1, 2021, as the Quebec government’s COVID-19 vaccine passport comes into effect. . (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes)

Majority of businesses in Penticton and Wine Country support vaccine passports, poll

96 businesses took part in the poll with a nearly three-fourths majority supporting the new passports, which come into effect on Monday

Trainer Karly Estey has her COVID-19 QR code scanned by Jonathan Gagne, manager of Orangetheory Fitness in Montreal, Wednesday, September 1, 2021, as the Quebec government’s COVID-19 vaccine passport comes into effect. . (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes)
Map showing the cases per 100,000 residents in the Southern Interior (BCCDC)

Southern Interior sees drop in weekly COVID cases, increase in vaccination rate

The drop should come as a relief to the region that saw consistently rising case counts in August

Map showing the cases per 100,000 residents in the Southern Interior (BCCDC)
Smile cookie purchases from Sept. 13 to 19 will support the OSNS (Okanagan Similkameen Neurological Society)

OSNS chosen charity for 2021 Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign

Cookies available at every South Okanagan Tim Hortons location

Smile cookie purchases from Sept. 13 to 19 will support the OSNS (Okanagan Similkameen Neurological Society)
Map showing the cases per 100,000 residents in the Southern Interior (BCCDC)

Southern Interior sees drop in weekly COVID cases, increase in vaccination rate

The drop should come as a relief to the region that saw consistently rising case counts in August

Map showing the cases per 100,000 residents in the Southern Interior (BCCDC)
Port Coquitlam photographer captured views of the night sky from Manning Park’s Cascade Lookout. (Jon Ross)

Penticton to host sidewalk stargazing events starting this month

Everyone is invited to gaze into the vast endlessness of space

Port Coquitlam photographer captured views of the night sky from Manning Park’s Cascade Lookout. (Jon Ross)
The Suncor oil sands facility seen from a helicopter near Fort McMurray, Alta. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)

Penticton plans to curb greenhouse gas emissions following 22% increase since 2011

Motor vehicles accounted for up to 55 per cent of emissions in Penticton

The Suncor oil sands facility seen from a helicopter near Fort McMurray, Alta. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh)
A work in progress picture of another of Stone’s sculptures (Kevin Stone metal sculptor/Facebook)

50-foot T-Rex destined for Penticton is taking shape

Kevin Stone started the massive art piece this summer and expects it to take 20 months

A work in progress picture of another of Stone’s sculptures (Kevin Stone metal sculptor/Facebook)
Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP Const. Nick Reimann leads a small group of riders between Vernon and Lake Country during the homecoming stretch of the 20th annual Cops For Kids cycling fundraiser (Cops For Kids)

RCMP cycle through the Okanagan during Cops for Kids fundraiser

Three Penticton Mounties will join 24 other officers cycling around the Okanagan in 10 days

Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP Const. Nick Reimann leads a small group of riders between Vernon and Lake Country during the homecoming stretch of the 20th annual Cops For Kids cycling fundraiser (Cops For Kids)
Volunteers and staff involved in a clean up through the Ambassador Program through ASK Wellness, Fairhaven and Burdock House. (ASK Wellness photo)

ASK Wellness volunteer clean-up program brings sense of community in Penticton

Since its inception Aug. 5, over 2,000 lbs. garbage, 55 sharps collected by volunteers

Volunteers and staff involved in a clean up through the Ambassador Program through ASK Wellness, Fairhaven and Burdock House. (ASK Wellness photo)
Some of Canada’s Armed Forces personnel (BC Wildfire Service/Twitter)

Canadian Armed Forces end wildfire deployment in B.C.

The forces played a crucial role in one of the worst wildfire seasons in history

Some of Canada’s Armed Forces personnel (BC Wildfire Service/Twitter)
Solo hasn’t been seen since the early morning of Saturday, Feb. 4. (Dayna Johnson Fedeli/Facebook)

Summerland resident pleading for help finding lost dog

Solo is a former sled dog who was adopted by Fedeli 3 weeks ago

Solo hasn’t been seen since the early morning of Saturday, Feb. 4. (Dayna Johnson Fedeli/Facebook)
An Okanagan cougar's diet can consist mostly of deer, a plentiful source of meat in the region (Michael Handley)

More cougar sightings in Kelowna; not unusual for time of year

Cougars are often seen at night hunting for food or a home

An Okanagan cougar's diet can consist mostly of deer, a plentiful source of meat in the region (Michael Handley)
Harper and Ellie at their lemonade stand (Dana Wilmot-Chapman/Facebook)

Two Penticton kids raise over $400 for charity

Harper’s mom says she was inspired to raise money after seeing one of the wildfires in the area

Harper and Ellie at their lemonade stand (Dana Wilmot-Chapman/Facebook)
Kelowna RCMP police service dog Mysan. (Contributed)

Police dog locates suspect hiding under car after reported assault at Kelowna home

Suspect allegedly fled the scene after reports of an assault with a weapon at a Bach Road home

Kelowna RCMP police service dog Mysan. (Contributed)
Director Neill Blomkamp, who managed to produce a feature-length film without anyone finding out (iMDB)

Okanagan director releases horror movie shot entirely during pandemic

Blomkamp says he enjoyed shooting the low-budget horror film

Director Neill Blomkamp, who managed to produce a feature-length film without anyone finding out (iMDB)
The sign detailing the project with the bird showing the size of the issue (Clayton Whitelaw/Penticton Western News)

Oliver home to birdhouse showcase in support of homelessness

The birdhouses are on display at the corner of Fairview and Main in downtown Oliver

The sign detailing the project with the bird showing the size of the issue (Clayton Whitelaw/Penticton Western News)
Weekly COVID-19 case count for August 15-21 (BC CDC)

South Okanagan COVID-19 cases continue to rise

Penticton and Keremeos saw a rise in case count this week

Weekly COVID-19 case count for August 15-21 (BC CDC)
While Princeton’s wildlife photographer John Moody is most noted for his stunning pictures of birds, last week he proved he can do the bees as well. Fun facts…it takes 556 worker bees to gather a pound of honey. It takes a colony, about 30,000 bees, to pollinate an acre of fruit trees.

The buzz on honey bees and B.C. wildfires

While wildfires negatively impact the bee population there may be an upside

While Princeton’s wildlife photographer John Moody is most noted for his stunning pictures of birds, last week he proved he can do the bees as well. Fun facts…it takes 556 worker bees to gather a pound of honey. It takes a colony, about 30,000 bees, to pollinate an acre of fruit trees.