Local News

The historic Kaleden Hotel Park was built in 1911 and closed a few years later because of the First World War. (Photo- RDOS)

Structural upgrades coming for historic Kaleden Hotel Park

The regional district says it is preparing future work on the more than 100-year-old building

Osoyoos’ Watermark Beach Resort is suing multiple companies and people after it was scammed for over $50,000 in April, 2023. (Google Streetview)

Osoyoos resort suing after being scammed for over $50K

The resort’s mattress supplier had his email hacked for the scam

Three-year-old Deerat Kaur Chahal enjoys some time at Skaha Park. Her family and her are being deported if a reprieve isn’t given. (Mark Brett / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter)

Penticton MP, community rallies to keep young family from being deported

Hardeep Singh Chahal, his pregnant wife Kamaldeep Kaur and daughter want to stay in Penticton

Hope RCMP are looking into a serious spate of alleged hate crimes in Hope, just days into the community’s first Pride festival. (Kemone Moodley/Hope Standard/Megan te Boekhorst)

PHOTOS: Pride flag set on fire during night of alleged hate crime in Hope

Hope RCMP extend support to local LGBTQIA2S community following rash of crime

Hope RCMP are looking into a serious spate of alleged hate crimes in Hope, just days into the community’s first Pride festival. (Kemone Moodley/Hope Standard/Megan te Boekhorst)
Work is being done to complete the lock block retaining wall at the slide on Highway 97 in Summerland. Aother landslide took place June 6. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

4K cubic metres of unstable slope has to come down at Summerland slide

Construction of the lock-block retaining wall will continue for at least another week

Work is being done to complete the lock block retaining wall at the slide on Highway 97 in Summerland. Aother landslide took place June 6. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
Work is being done to complete the lock block retaining wall at the slide on Highway 97 in Summerland. Aother landslide took place June 6. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)

4K cubic metres of unstable slope has to come down at Summerland slide

Construction of the lock-block retaining wall will continue for at least another week

Work is being done to complete the lock block retaining wall at the slide on Highway 97 in Summerland. Aother landslide took place June 6. (John Arendt - Summerland Review)
A burning ban goes in place Thursday, June 8 at noon in the city of Penticton and across B.C. (File photo)

Campfire and burning ban goes in place in Penticton

The city’s ban aligns with the provincial ban that comes into effect at 12 p.m. June 8

A burning ban goes in place Thursday, June 8 at noon in the city of Penticton and across B.C. (File photo)
Kasari Govender, B.C. Human Rights commissioner, speaks after releasing the final report on her inquiry into hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

BC Human Rights Commissioner talks battling hate in Penticton

The Commissioner sat down for a one-on-one interview with the Western News

Kasari Govender, B.C. Human Rights commissioner, speaks after releasing the final report on her inquiry into hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, in Vancouver, on Tuesday, March 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Former mayor John Vassilaki has lost one of two lawsuits against his brother Nicholas. (City of Penticton file photo)

Former Penticton mayor’s lawsuit against his family deemed ‘manifestly deficient’

John Vassilaki sued his family for freezing him out of their businesses but had lack of evidence

Former mayor John Vassilaki has lost one of two lawsuits against his brother Nicholas. (City of Penticton file photo)
Colton Jacob Thorsen. (Facebook)

Osoyoos man waits to hear his fate over 2020 shooting

Judge to weigh Colton Thorsen’s progress and the seriousness of the incident

Colton Jacob Thorsen. (Facebook)
The two new air tankers that just arrived at Penticton airport last week are already busy fighting the wildfire near Peachland. (Gary Haupt photo)

The new Dash-8s are helping battle the wildfire near Peachland

Air tankers stationed in Penticton already put to work

The two new air tankers that just arrived at Penticton airport last week are already busy fighting the wildfire near Peachland. (Gary Haupt photo)
Elder Grace Greyeyes of the Penticton Indian Band cut the ribbon for the official ceremonial opening of the rainbow crosswalk at Queen’s Park Elementary School. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Elder Grace Greyeyes of the Penticton Indian Band cut the ribbon for the official ceremonial opening of the rainbow crosswalk at Queen’s Park Elementary School. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Osoyoos RCMP Sgt. Jason Bayda speaking to Rotary about Sam who drowned in Osoyoos Lake in 2017 from a jet ski accident. Sam had leant his passenger his lifejacket and was without one at the time. Bayda wants to bring boat safety stations to the lake, including borrowed lifejackets. (Rotary Club of Osoyoos)

Osoyoos’ top cop wants to prevent future drownings

Sgt. Jason Bayda wants to install boat safety stations including lending lifejackets out

Osoyoos RCMP Sgt. Jason Bayda speaking to Rotary about Sam who drowned in Osoyoos Lake in 2017 from a jet ski accident. Sam had leant his passenger his lifejacket and was without one at the time. Bayda wants to bring boat safety stations to the lake, including borrowed lifejackets. (Rotary Club of Osoyoos)
Barricades are up ahead of construction for a new gas station, convenience store and drive-thru fast food restaurant in Keremeos. (Mary-Ellen Woroby - Facebook)

Keremeos may be getting its first drive-thru fast food restaurant

Chevron is coming to town and likely so is Triple-O’s

Barricades are up ahead of construction for a new gas station, convenience store and drive-thru fast food restaurant in Keremeos. (Mary-Ellen Woroby - Facebook)
An occupied residence next to the Theo’s Restaurant parking lot that was set on fire by a suspect who was arrested on Sept. 18. (Brennan Phillips - Penticton Western News)

Penticton man sentenced to time served for arson behind Theo’s Restaurant

Owen Dean Winchester has spent nearly 600 days in jail and said he is clean now

An occupied residence next to the Theo’s Restaurant parking lot that was set on fire by a suspect who was arrested on Sept. 18. (Brennan Phillips - Penticton Western News)
The annual BC Hydro Safety Rodeo helps educate attendees and celebrate BC Hydro workers for their safe way in performing hydro tasks around the province. (Stout Gloves Facebook)

Provincial Hydro Safety Rodeo sparks in Vernon

The event is for celebrating the safe work practices of BC Hydro workers

The annual BC Hydro Safety Rodeo helps educate attendees and celebrate BC Hydro workers for their safe way in performing hydro tasks around the province. (Stout Gloves Facebook)
A motorcyclist was killed in a crash in Cawston June 2. (File photo)

Motorcyclist killed in Highway 3 crash near Keremeos

The crash took place at 3 p.m. on Friday, June 2

A motorcyclist was killed in a crash in Cawston June 2. (File photo)
Elder Grace Greyeyes of the Penticton Indian Band cut the ribbon for the official ceremonial opening of the rainbow crosswalk at Queen’s Park Elementary School. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Penticton blesses and cuts ribbon for rainbow crosswalk

There was no place for hate at the Friday ceremony

Elder Grace Greyeyes of the Penticton Indian Band cut the ribbon for the official ceremonial opening of the rainbow crosswalk at Queen’s Park Elementary School. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chairperson Bob Fleming (far right) leads a cheer with members of GVAC, the Vernon Rowing and Dragon Boat Club and members of Dr. Laurance Jordan’s family in celebrating the newly created Jordan Nature Reserve on Vernon’s Swan Lake. (Regional District North Okanagan photo)

Doctor’s passion, property results in new Okanagan nature reserve

Property of Dr. Laurance Jordan on east side of Vernon’s Swan Lake purchased by RDNO

Greater Vernon Advisory Committee chairperson Bob Fleming (far right) leads a cheer with members of GVAC, the Vernon Rowing and Dragon Boat Club and members of Dr. Laurance Jordan’s family in celebrating the newly created Jordan Nature Reserve on Vernon’s Swan Lake. (Regional District North Okanagan photo)
Skaha Beach in Penticton saw plenty of activity on Tuesday, Aug. 17 during a warm summer day. Penticton and Osoyoos are among Canada’s favourite getaway destinations in recent months. Data released from Google Aug. 14, 2020 shows three Okanagan cities in the top-five fastest rising hotel destinations in Canada. Beaches and wineries are among the popular attractions for visitors. (John Arendt - Black Press)

‘Extraordinary’ heat in the Okanagan as 120-year-long records shattered in May

Month-long temperatures in the region recorded at 3 to 5 C above normal

Skaha Beach in Penticton saw plenty of activity on Tuesday, Aug. 17 during a warm summer day. Penticton and Osoyoos are among Canada’s favourite getaway destinations in recent months. Data released from Google Aug. 14, 2020 shows three Okanagan cities in the top-five fastest rising hotel destinations in Canada. Beaches and wineries are among the popular attractions for visitors. (John Arendt - Black Press)