Brennan Phillips

This boulder came crashing down the mountain, over Highway 3 and into a person’s trailer in Keremeos. Luckily the person wasn’t home at the time on Jan. 16. (Jaime Pacheco Facebook)

State of local emergency after rockslide closes Highway 3 near Keremeos

The slide damaged at least one resident’s home at the Eagle RV Park

This boulder came crashing down the mountain, over Highway 3 and into a person’s trailer in Keremeos. Luckily the person wasn’t home at the time on Jan. 16. (Jaime Pacheco Facebook)
Toni Russell holds up a copy of Bill 44, which removed the ability for stratas to ban rentals or use 19+ age restrictions. Now the strata at Cherry Lane Towers where she lives is trying to turn the condo complex into a 55+ community. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Okanagan senior fighting to keep condo strata from becoming 55+ only

Toni Russell is concerned about the impact to her financial future

Toni Russell holds up a copy of Bill 44, which removed the ability for stratas to ban rentals or use 19+ age restrictions. Now the strata at Cherry Lane Towers where she lives is trying to turn the condo complex into a 55+ community. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Casey Cawston and Dianne Clifton were invited up on stage by Kane Brown, with Cawston giving a shoutout to their hometown of Keremeos. (Facebook)

Video: B.C. couple get dance of a lifetime on stage at Kane Brown concert

The couple were invited up at the Vancouver show and gave their hometown a shoutout

Casey Cawston and Dianne Clifton were invited up on stage by Kane Brown, with Cawston giving a shoutout to their hometown of Keremeos. (Facebook)
The College of Massage Therapists of B.C. found that claims of alleged sexual misconduct of former registered massage therapist Leonard Krekic were accurate earlier in 2022. (Unsplash photo)

Former B.C. massage therapist banned for 25 years over sexual misconduct

Leonard Krekic lived or worked in White Rock, Surrey and Penticton at the time of the misconduct

The College of Massage Therapists of B.C. found that claims of alleged sexual misconduct of former registered massage therapist Leonard Krekic were accurate earlier in 2022. (Unsplash photo)
Bill Rotheisler, head coach and general manager of the Castlegar Rebels in 2018. (Chelsea Novak - Castlegar News File)

Former B.C. junior hockey coach charged for voyeurism in Penticton

William Frank Rotheisler was charged and had his first appearance on Dec. 8

Bill Rotheisler, head coach and general manager of the Castlegar Rebels in 2018. (Chelsea Novak - Castlegar News File)
Penticton court.

Okanagan man who shot at girlfriend to spend even longer in jail

Derek Ryan Baptiste skipped out on parole and was arrested in a stolen car in Oliver

Penticton court.
A Lewis Woodpecker, just one of the many species at risk that are in the proposed boundary for a new national park in the South Okanagan Similkameen (Photo courtesy of Paul Graham)

Talks ongoing about national park in South Okanagan Similkameen

If approved the park would cover 270 square kilometres and protect dozens of species at risk

A Lewis Woodpecker, just one of the many species at risk that are in the proposed boundary for a new national park in the South Okanagan Similkameen (Photo courtesy of Paul Graham)
Blair Balch, 49, is awaiting sentencing related to the explosions that rocked Penticton earlier in 2021. (RCMP)

‘I apologize for scaring the public’: Penticton bomber sentenced to 270 days in jail

Blair Robert Balch admitted to setting off 3 explosive devices in 2021

Blair Balch, 49, is awaiting sentencing related to the explosions that rocked Penticton earlier in 2021. (RCMP)
A former nurse at Summerland Seniors Village has given up their license for a year for bullying colleagues in 2020, among other issues. (Summerland Review File)

Year suspension for Okanagan nurse who admitted to bullying colleagues

The nurse was working at the Summerland Seniors Village at the time

A former nurse at Summerland Seniors Village has given up their license for a year for bullying colleagues in 2020, among other issues. (Summerland Review File)
First responders working on an overdose victim in Penticton in September, 2022. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Interior Health advising drug testing after recent overdoses

Testing equipment is available in communities across the Interior

First responders working on an overdose victim in Penticton in September, 2022. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
First responders working on an overdose victim in Penticton in September, 2022. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Interior-wide drug alert after cluster of fatal overdoses in Kelowna

Drug checks have found benzodiazepines and higher than average concentrations of fentanyl

First responders working on an overdose victim in Penticton in September, 2022. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Penticton Law Courts (File photo)

Okanagan man’s $300 a day meth habit fueled 9 day auto crime spree: Lawyer

Jesse Shawcross stole multiple vehicles over nine days in 2019

Penticton Law Courts (File photo)
A swimmer has found a man’s wedding ring in the popular Penticton river channel that sees hundreds of people a day during the summer. (Mike Biden photo)

Wedding ring lost for 17 years returned to B.C. couple in time for 20th anniversary

The ring was recovered by a swimmer in August, 2022

A swimmer has found a man’s wedding ring in the popular Penticton river channel that sees hundreds of people a day during the summer. (Mike Biden photo)
Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles are restricted from flying near any wildfire due to the safety risks for the low-flying firefighting aircraft. (UBC photo)

BC Wildfire Service calls out ‘extremely dangerous’ drones near Keremeos Creek Wildfire

The drones led to a shutdown of aerial firefighting efforts on Monday

Drones and unmanned aerial vehicles are restricted from flying near any wildfire due to the safety risks for the low-flying firefighting aircraft. (UBC photo)
Flames from a vehicle fire on Highway 3 spread up hill. (Facebook)

Highway 3A from Keremeos to Penticton reopens

Reduced speed limits and additional RCMP will be along the road

Flames from a vehicle fire on Highway 3 spread up hill. (Facebook)
A photo from the Cedar Creek Ranch near Olalla on Aug 3. Volunteers assisted firefighters until the early hours of the morning to protect the ranch. The cattle ranch is still standing thanks to all the firefighters and helping hands of the community. (Facebook)

B.C. man has helped battle many wildfires – but nothing like the Keremeos Creek fire

“The sound was as if you were on the tarmac at the Vancouver Airport and let a 767 land on you”

A photo from the Cedar Creek Ranch near Olalla on Aug 3. Volunteers assisted firefighters until the early hours of the morning to protect the ranch. The cattle ranch is still standing thanks to all the firefighters and helping hands of the community. (Facebook)
Residents in Osoyoos are being warned to boil their water before drinking. Some residents didn't need that warning as they took to social media to share images of their brown water. (Facebook)

Dark brown water coming out faucets as Osoyoos expands boil water advisory

The advisory impacts several hundred homes

Residents in Osoyoos are being warned to boil their water before drinking. Some residents didn't need that warning as they took to social media to share images of their brown water. (Facebook)
WestJet has added a new direct route between Penticton and Vancouver. (Western News file)

WestJet adding direct flights between Vancouver and Penticton

The new flights will be six days a week

WestJet has added a new direct route between Penticton and Vancouver. (Western News file)
A BC Wildfire Service photo shows the southwest corner of the Keremeos Creek wildfire as of Sunday (July 31). It has since more than quintupled in size. (Courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)

UPDATE: Wildfire near Penticton more than quintuples in size

Over 300 properties now under evacuation order due to Keremeos Creek wildfire

A BC Wildfire Service photo shows the southwest corner of the Keremeos Creek wildfire as of Sunday (July 31). It has since more than quintupled in size. (Courtesy of BC Wildfire Service)
The Keremeos Creek wildfire is currently visible from the Apex Mountain Resort’s webcams. (Apex Mountain Resort)

B.C. resort village evacuated as Penticton-area wildfire approaches

Keremeos Creek wildfire estimated at 437 hectares and growing

The Keremeos Creek wildfire is currently visible from the Apex Mountain Resort’s webcams. (Apex Mountain Resort)