Penticton

Highway 5 between Hope and Merritt remains closed Saturday due to extreme avalanche conditions. (Photo- B.C. Ministry of Transportation/Twitter)

UPDATE: Coquihalla Highway reopens between Hope and Merritt after avalanche control

Crews worked to remove more than 70 centimetres of snow on Saturday afternoon

Highway 5 between Hope and Merritt remains closed Saturday due to extreme avalanche conditions. (Photo- B.C. Ministry of Transportation/Twitter)
Staff members from Valley First gather around after a Penticton Vees’ Feed the Valley Night. The 12th annual edition of the night goes on March 10, 2023. (Mark Brett- Western News file)

‘Feed the Valley’: Penticton Vees invite fans to tackle hunger

The Vees host the annual night next Friday, March 10, when they battle the Langley Rivermen

Staff members from Valley First gather around after a Penticton Vees’ Feed the Valley Night. The 12th annual edition of the night goes on March 10, 2023. (Mark Brett- Western News file)
Hudson Suh with Angela Niehe, Senior Interventionist for the Autism Intervention Program at the OSNS Child & Youth Development Centre. (Photo- OSNS Child and Youth Development Centre)

Double the generosity for Penticton kids with developmental challenges

New campaign will support kids like Hudson Suh, whose family credits OSNS for his continued success

Hudson Suh with Angela Niehe, Senior Interventionist for the Autism Intervention Program at the OSNS Child & Youth Development Centre. (Photo- OSNS Child and Youth Development Centre)
The CHBA Penticton Home and Reno Show is March 4 and 5, featuring 129 booths, GardenWorks expert and a pancake breakfast Sunday with all proceeds going to SOWINS. (File photo)

Here’s what’s happening this weekend in Penticton

Home and Reno Show and the filming of Chris Griffin’s comedy special all coming up

The CHBA Penticton Home and Reno Show is March 4 and 5, featuring 129 booths, GardenWorks expert and a pancake breakfast Sunday with all proceeds going to SOWINS. (File photo)
A consultant report suggests Memorial Arena and McLaren Arena both be demolished to make way for a twinned-rink facility. (Brennan Phillips Western News)

Idea to demolish Memorial Arena returns to Penticton council

City staff updated council this week on the controversial Civic Spaces and Places project

A consultant report suggests Memorial Arena and McLaren Arena both be demolished to make way for a twinned-rink facility. (Brennan Phillips Western News)
Thrash Wrestling is coming to Penticton’s Luso Canadian Multicultural Society on March 24, April 14, and May 19. (Shar’s Photography photo)

Thrash Wrestling returns to Penticton for 3 shows; former WWE superstar joining roster

Chris Masters is joining the promotion’s roster and will appear in Kelowna and Vernon first

Thrash Wrestling is coming to Penticton’s Luso Canadian Multicultural Society on March 24, April 14, and May 19. (Shar’s Photography photo)
RCMP is investigating after a pair of vehicles were set on fire outside the Penticton Kia car dealership on Saturday, Feb. 25. (Photo- Penticton Kia Instagram)

2 vehicles set on fire at Penticton car dealership

A man on a bike was caught on camera leaving the torched vehicles behind

RCMP is investigating after a pair of vehicles were set on fire outside the Penticton Kia car dealership on Saturday, Feb. 25. (Photo- Penticton Kia Instagram)
Penticton in March 2023, from West Bench. (Brennan Phillips- Western News)

Tired of cold weather in the Okanagan? Be optimistic for March, meteorologist says

Weather experts say no more arctic blasts predicted for the rest of this long winter

Penticton in March 2023, from West Bench. (Brennan Phillips- Western News)
Penticton RCMP says Wednesday morning’s fire in the 600-block of Pineview Road is “suspicious in nature.” (File photo)

Suspicious fires destroy 2 vehicles in Penticton neighbourhood, 1 car torched in separate incident

RCMP is calling Pineview Road vehicle fires ‘suspicious in nature’

Penticton RCMP says Wednesday morning’s fire in the 600-block of Pineview Road is “suspicious in nature.” (File photo)
One of the five vehicles in the Flying Destruction bursts through an old trailer at the end of a day of races at the Penticton Speedway in a previous season. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Start your engines: Monster trucks, trailers returning to Penticton Speedway in 2023

The track has announced this year’s schedule; opening day is May 5

One of the five vehicles in the Flying Destruction bursts through an old trailer at the end of a day of races at the Penticton Speedway in a previous season. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Duncan’s Trish Laliberte on the bike portion of Ironman Canada’s Penticton race Aug. 27. (Courtesy of Trish Laliberte)

Penticton’s Ironman voted as among top courses for swimming, biking in North America

Athletes had their say in a recent vote, following Ironman’s return to Penticton last September

Duncan’s Trish Laliberte on the bike portion of Ironman Canada’s Penticton race Aug. 27. (Courtesy of Trish Laliberte)
Duncan Keith, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, was named Tuesday, Feb. 28, to the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023. The announcement was made at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton, the home of the hall of fame. (Logan Lockhart/Western News)

Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook headline B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame Class of 2023 in Penticton

The 2007 Vancouver Giants will join the former Chicago Blackhawks duo for induction this summer

Duncan Keith, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, was named Tuesday, Feb. 28, to the B.C. Hockey Hall of Fame’s Class of 2023. The announcement was made at the South Okanagan Events Centre in Penticton, the home of the hall of fame. (Logan Lockhart/Western News)
Highway 97 is closed in Kaleden because of a vehicle incident. (Google Maps)

Update: Highway 97 open in Kaleden after vehicle incident

The highway was closed in both directions for the morning commute

Highway 97 is closed in Kaleden because of a vehicle incident. (Google Maps)
The OneWorld Festival in Penticton returned Saturday, Feb. 25, for a celebration of culture and diversity. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)

PHOTOS: More than 35 countries represented in OneWorld Festival’s return to Penticton

‘This is a beautiful thing,’ said Cherry Fernandez from Penticton-based SOICS

The OneWorld Festival in Penticton returned Saturday, Feb. 25, for a celebration of culture and diversity. (Logan Lockhart- Western News)
Sinisa Marovic, third from right, saved the life of his neighbour Sinisa Zakosek, second from right, in May 2021 through the use of CPR. He was presented on Friday, Feb. 24, with the Vital Link Award from BCHES.

‘He’s my hero’: Penticton man who saved neighbour’s life receives rare, provincial award

The award’s recipient is credited by doctors for saving the life of his neighbour in May 2021

Sinisa Marovic, third from right, saved the life of his neighbour Sinisa Zakosek, second from right, in May 2021 through the use of CPR. He was presented on Friday, Feb. 24, with the Vital Link Award from BCHES.
The Okanagan Chinese Canadian Association performed three different renditions of tradition Chinese dances in front of hundreds at 2020’s OneWorld Festival. (Jesse Day - Western News)

Here’s what’s happening this weekend in Penticton

OneWorld Festival, IGA bottle drive for Ukraine and Vees at the SOEC all coming up

The Okanagan Chinese Canadian Association performed three different renditions of tradition Chinese dances in front of hundreds at 2020’s OneWorld Festival. (Jesse Day - Western News)
Canadian comedian Chris Griffin has selected Penticton as the destination to film his debut comedy special in early March. (Photo- Chris Griffin/Facebook)

This comedian could have performed anywhere in Canada: Here’s why he chose Penticton

He once opened for the late Norm Macdonald; now he’s ready to set another milestone at the Dream Cafe

Canadian comedian Chris Griffin has selected Penticton as the destination to film his debut comedy special in early March. (Photo- Chris Griffin/Facebook)
A Penticton mom is warning others after a woman took a scary fascination with her daughter in the play place of McDonald’s on Feb. 22. RCMP have been made aware. (Google photos)

Odd incident with stranger at Penticton McDonald’s leaves mother shaken

The unknown woman touched the girl’s hair, tried to claim that she was her daughter

A Penticton mom is warning others after a woman took a scary fascination with her daughter in the play place of McDonald’s on Feb. 22. RCMP have been made aware. (Google photos)
The Penticton Soccer Clubhouse at 550 Eckhardt Avenue West could be demolished in favour of a new facility. (Photo- Logan Lockhart- Western News)

Demolition work begins on soccer clubhouse at Penticton’s King Park

City council recently voted to demolish the 37-year-old building in favour of a new facility

The Penticton Soccer Clubhouse at 550 Eckhardt Avenue West could be demolished in favour of a new facility. (Photo- Logan Lockhart- Western News)
Yasmin and Rick Thorpe, as well as the Penny Lane Legacy Fund presenting a $50,000 cheque to Okanagan College. From left to right: Bruce Hallquist, board member, Penny Lane Legacy Fund; Orv Robson, chairman, Penny Lane Legacy Fund; Alison Gibson, regional dean, Okanagan College; Helen Jackman, executive director, Okanagan College Foundation; Yasmin John Thorpe; Rick Thorpe. (Contributed)

Local couple helps create $50k bursary fund for Penticton healthcare students

The fund will provide up to $1,750 in awards for eligible students at Okanagan College in Penticton

Yasmin and Rick Thorpe, as well as the Penny Lane Legacy Fund presenting a $50,000 cheque to Okanagan College. From left to right: Bruce Hallquist, board member, Penny Lane Legacy Fund; Orv Robson, chairman, Penny Lane Legacy Fund; Alison Gibson, regional dean, Okanagan College; Helen Jackman, executive director, Okanagan College Foundation; Yasmin John Thorpe; Rick Thorpe. (Contributed)