Penticton News

Princeton Hospital Problems Addressed in the Legislature

Fri, 18 May 2012 16:20:00 GMT

This week in the Legislature in Victoria the Princeton General Hospital was discussed by Fraser Nicola MLA Harry Lali and BC's Health Minister Mike de Jong.

Harry Lali was quick to point out the issues at the Princeton Hospital have been ongoing for years.

"Today in 2012 there are only six beds, no ER, unreliable hours and frequent closures instead of a 24 hour emergency room. A payphone outside of the ER, a television to a nurse in Kamloops. No maternity ward, 1.5 doctors and no pharmacy"

Mike de Jong replied to Lali's concerns saying the issues exist because of recruiting problems Interior Health has been facing.

"What the Interior Health Authority has done is tried as best as it can, in an entirely non partisan way to address some challenges that exist. And most of those challenges relate to physician recruitment issues."

De Jong went on to challenge Lali to come up with a solution to the problem residents in Princeton currently face.

Lali fired back saying it is the "Minister's job to figure these things out, not his".

De Jong pointed out that funding is not an issue at the hospital, and Interior Health has the means to support more staff.

He also made it clear that there are no plans to fully close the Princeton Hospital in the future.

Anita Sthankiya -Penticton

Young Stars Tournament Cancelled

Fri, 18 May 2012 14:42:00 GMT

The Young Stars Tournament scheduled for the South Okanagan Events Centre (SOEC) in Penticton has been cancelled.

The tournament, featuring rookies and prospective draftees, had been held at the SOEC for the past two years.

For the last two years, the Edmonton Oilers, Calgary Flames and host Vancouver Canucks were regulars at the rookie showcase in Penticton, with the Winnipeg Jets and San Jose Sharks also taking part in 2011.

But uncertainty over upcoming negotiations on a new NHL collective bargaining agreement has forced the cancellation.

The current collective bargaining agreement between the NHL and its players' union, the NHLPA, expires on Sept. 15 and there has been no dialogue between the two sides so far.

Anita Sthankiya -Penticton

Flooding in the Similkameen a Possibility this Weekend

Thu, 17 May 2012 18:55:00 GMT

Emergency Info BC has ended the High Streamflow Advisory for the Southern Interior as temperatures have dropped over the past two days.

While some river levels have remained below concern levels in most parts, residents south of Penticton are still on high alert.

Dale Kronebusch, Regional District Okanagan Similkameen (RDOS) Emergency Services Supervisor says a chance of flooding this weekend is still fairly high.

"With Tulameen we're going to remain on the evacuation alert for those folks because we do expect the snow load to start coming down into Otter Lake and raise the Otter Lake as well. I think it's going to be a moderate risk because it can get high in a hurry. For me it's going to be moderate in a sense that I start watching the Similkameen and see how it affects the Cawston area, because that's where we've been seeing some flooding already. It's also going to control what happens in the Osoyoos Lake believe it or not."

Kronebusch adds that a repeat of what happened earlier last month is very much a possibility and the RDOS is ready with trucks of sand and crews to help residents if Otter Lake rises any further.

Residents in rural Oliver have already begun sandbagging their homes as the water in Otter Lake has risen five to six inches in the last couple of days thanks to the above normal temperatures.

Anita Sthankiya -Penticton

School District 67 Appoints New Staff

Thu, 17 May 2012 16:37:00 GMT

School District 67 have announced effective August 1st the acting principal of Naramata Elementary School, Todd Lindsay, will take a permanent position.

Lindsay is currently the Acting Principal of Naramata Elementary School.

Lindsay previously worked as vice principal at Giant's Head Elementary in Summerland as well as assistant principal at Keeler Elementary in Calgary and has been teaching at various elementary schools for seven years.

School District 67 also appointed Anne Tenning as Aboriginal Education Vice Principal this week.

Since February Tenning has been working with the district as an Aboriginal Education Support Teacher.

In 2008 Tenning was a recipient of the Governor General's Award for Excellence in Teaching Canadian History.

Anita Sthankiya -Penticton

Sockeye Salmon to be Released into Shingle Creek

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:40:00 GMT

The Okanagan Nation will be releasing sockeye salmon into Shingle Creek this morning as part of the Nations salmon restoration program.

This year is the 9th year of a planned 12 year initiative to reintroduce and re-establish sockeye back into their habitat in Skaha Lake.

The reintroduction of the salmon back into Skaha Lake is designed to meet three major goals of the Okanagan Nation:

- to stabilize and rebuild the declining wild Okanagan Sockeye population

- to return sockeye to their former habitat and migration range in the Okanagan Basin

- to revitalize the Okanagan Nation salmon fishery.

In 2010 the area saw an unprecedented return of sockeye and experts believe this years' run will result in an even larger return.

Anita Sthankiya -Penticton

Evacuation Alert Recinded for Homes on Anarchist Mountain

Thu, 17 May 2012 14:07:00 GMT

The evacuation alert that was placed on 11 homes in the Regal Ridge Subdivision just east of Osoyoos has been lifted.

The Ministry of Forest, Land and Natural Resources confirms that one of two of the water reservoirs have been safely drained and the dam de-commissioned.

Dam safety officers say the Nine Mile Creek water flow should not exceed the natural rain event experienced earlier this year.

Meanwhile the evacuation alert is still in effect for the community of Tulameen and a high streamflow advisory covers much of the South Okanagan and Similkameen.

For more information go to the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen website at www.rdos.bc.ca.

Anita Sthankiya -Penticton

Improvements Coming to Highway 3

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:54:00 GMT

A bumpy and uneven stretch of Highway 3 between Hedley and Keremeos is about to get a facelift.

The government announced that $2.9 million will be injected into almost 20 kilometers of highway.

Construction plans include resurfacing as well as shoulder improvements.

The province announced over $13 million for safety improvements on Highway 3 including other areas near Creston and Hope.

In the West Kootenay Highway 3 will be resurfaced from Kootenay Pass Summit to the east chain-up and from Canyon Lister Road to East Arrow Road, a total of 9.2km.

Near Creston a $2.6 million project to rehabilitate the Old Kootenay River Channel Bridge on Highway 3 is underway.

And near Hope a $3.7 million contract will see portions of Highway 3 resurfaced between the Othello Interchange and Nicolum Creek Bridge, a distance of 4.8km.

All construction is scheduled to begin by next month, although no completion date has been set.

Anita Sthankiya- Penticton

Fire Destroys Three Homes in Summerland

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:32:00 GMT

The Summerland Fire department were called to an early morning blaze on Monday which has left six people displaced.

Fire Chief Glen Noble says by the time crews arrived at the Illahie Beach Campground it was too late to save the RV's.

"When we arrived we had one structure fully involved and fire spreading to two adjacent RV's as well. So the guys fairly quickly got the fires under control but there's significant damage to all three units. We've had the Provincial gas inspector as well as the Provincial electrical inspectors helping us with our investigation and at this time no cause has been determined"

Luckily there were no injuries but all three units have been completely destroyed.

Inspectors that were on scene Monday afternoon don't believe the fire was suspicious.

Anita Sthankiya -Penticton

School District 67 School Calendar to Remain the Same

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:25:00 GMT

Good news for parents whose children are enrolled in School District 67.

The district has chosen not to change the school calendar for the 2012-2013 school year.

"Schools will open on September 4th of this year. The only new addition to the calendar is Family Day which will be either the second or third Monday in February. And this date will be confirmed when the legislation has passed in Victoria" says Ginny Manning. District Chair.

Manning says at their regular meeting on Monday SD 67 also found out that playground equipment funding has been approved for seven schools.

The funding, which comes from the Ministry of Education, will go towards playgrounds that are missing equipment or require upgrades.

Anita Sthankiya -Penticton

Boaters Urged to Use Caution this Long Weekend

Wed, 16 May 2012 12:20:00 GMT

With the first official long weekend of summer happening this weekend Okanagan residents are urged to brush up on their boating safety.

Approximately 100 Canadians die in accidents on the water every year, and another 6000 suffer non fatal injuries, with the majority of these accidents being preventable.

Cameron Taylor, President of BOATsmart! says the first step is to obtain a Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC).

By going online to www.boatsmartexam.com, completing the online study course and taking the exam boaters can obtain their card in time for the weekend.

"We believe that all members of the family should get their pleasure Craft Operator Card because safe boating is important at every age for all passengers. By certifying the entire family, you can ensure the watercraft is always under the control of a certified boater" says Taylor.

Failure to present a PCOC while operating a powered vessel can result in a minimum fine of $250.

Once obtained, the PCOC is good for life.

Along with the PCOC Taylor reminds people of the following:

· Make safe boating part of your cottage routine

Canadian winters can be long, so families should review water safety rules together at the beginning of each season, and each time they hit the water. The BOATsmart! Study Guide, available online and at participating Canadian Tire locations,contains crucial information that every family needs to boat safely and with confidence.

· Wear a personal floatation device (PFD) at all times

Data shows that more than 86 per cent of those who drown while boating were not wearing a PFD. It should be worn by all boaters in and around the water—not just when operating or riding in a vessel.

It is strongly recommended that small children wear PFD’s at all times when in close proximity to the water.

· Never mix drinking with boating

Alcohol is a factor in more than 40 per cent of boating related fatalities so officials remind us to never consume alcohol prior to, or while boating.

Anita Sthankiya -Penticton