Local News

Friends Abreast team members Janet Ferns, Melanie Gotell, Angie Trenholm and Barb Puetz prepare to hand out pink carnations on Oct. 1 at the Mall at Piccadilly for Breast Cancer Awareness Month as a reminder to book a mammogram. (Contributed)

Carnations serve as reminder in Salmon Arm to get a mammogram

Members of Friends Abreast dragonboat team, made up of survivors and supporters, hand out carnations

Friends Abreast team members Janet Ferns, Melanie Gotell, Angie Trenholm and Barb Puetz prepare to hand out pink carnations on Oct. 1 at the Mall at Piccadilly for Breast Cancer Awareness Month as a reminder to book a mammogram. (Contributed)
Josh Ciocco played in the B.C. Hockey League with four teams, including the Vernon Vipers and Salmon Arm Silverbacks, in the early 2000s. His death at age 38 was announced by Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass. Tuesday, Oct. 4. Ciocco had been an assistant coach with the Warriors for the past five seasons. (@VernonVipers photo)

Vernon Vipers, Salmon Arm Silverbacks alum dies at 38

Josh Ciocco had been an assistant coach the past five years with Merrimack College in Massachusetts

Josh Ciocco played in the B.C. Hockey League with four teams, including the Vernon Vipers and Salmon Arm Silverbacks, in the early 2000s. His death at age 38 was announced by Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass. Tuesday, Oct. 4. Ciocco had been an assistant coach with the Warriors for the past five seasons. (@VernonVipers photo)
Thirty-six child care spaces at Shuswap Day Care are now part of the B.C. government’s $10-a-day program. (Lachlan Labere–Salmon Arm Observer)

$10-a-day child-care program comes to Salmon Arm day care

Additional funding to reduce cost of child care expected in December

Thirty-six child care spaces at Shuswap Day Care are now part of the B.C. government’s $10-a-day program. (Lachlan Labere–Salmon Arm Observer)
B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson waits as a polling station worker checks a list before being sent to a different ballot box to cast his vote for the provincial election in Vancouver on Saturday, October 24, 2020. British Columbia’s Electoral Boundaries Commission has released a preliminary report that recommends the creation of six new electoral districts, which would bring the total number of seats in the legislature to 93. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Okanagan adjustments proposed for B.C. electoral ridings

Growing regions prompt need for new Kelowna-Centre, moving areas in Vernon, Salmon Arm, Peachland

B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson waits as a polling station worker checks a list before being sent to a different ballot box to cast his vote for the provincial election in Vancouver on Saturday, October 24, 2020. British Columbia’s Electoral Boundaries Commission has released a preliminary report that recommends the creation of six new electoral districts, which would bring the total number of seats in the legislature to 93. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Shuswap Climate Action wants severe weather and climate impacts considered in the 2022 municipal election so has posted candidate answers to four climate questions on its website. (File photo)

Shuswap Climate Action asks municipal candidates questions on climate

Group says local governments have large role to play so climate should be election issue

Shuswap Climate Action wants severe weather and climate impacts considered in the 2022 municipal election so has posted candidate answers to four climate questions on its website. (File photo)
Erica Seymour and her son Logan Christian performed an Honour Song outside the Salmon Arm Arts Centre for all the Indigenous children lost and for the ones still here on Sept. 30, 2022, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

‘Get to know each other:’ People in Salmon Arm given road map to truth and reconciliation

Gathering for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation emphasizes importance of 94 Calls to Action

Erica Seymour and her son Logan Christian performed an Honour Song outside the Salmon Arm Arts Centre for all the Indigenous children lost and for the ones still here on Sept. 30, 2022, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
A woman from Clearwater, 35, has been identified as the victim in a motorcycle collision on Highway 97A near Grindrod Friday, Sept. 30. (File photo)

Clearwater woman identified as victim in North Okanagan motorcycle collision

Incident happened Friday, Sept. 30, on Highway 97A at 5:15 p.m.; woman ejected from bike

A woman from Clearwater, 35, has been identified as the victim in a motorcycle collision on Highway 97A near Grindrod Friday, Sept. 30. (File photo)
Ringo on the move with two of his All Starr band members, that included the nimble fingers of former Toto guitarist Steve Lukather (left) and ex-Bread Saxman Warren Ham in 2015.
(Western News File)
Ringo on the move with two of his All Starr band members, that included the nimble fingers of former Toto guitarist Steve Lukather (left) and ex-Bread Saxman Warren Ham in 2015.
(Western News File)
Annika Kirk, Ayden Clark, James Plaxton, Rebekah Dingwall, Elizabeth Hirschkorn, Jackson Price, Dr.Kyleen Myrah (faculty advisor), Devin Rubadaeu (faculty advisor), Jon Philip Talastas, Maya Samaddar, Mandi Kohout, Mackenna Lenarcic, Danielle Walker, celebrate the Enactus OC National Exhibition win. (Contributed)

Okanagan College students fundraising for international competition

Enactus Canada first place goes to Fruit Snaps and Unusually Good Food Co. projects

Annika Kirk, Ayden Clark, James Plaxton, Rebekah Dingwall, Elizabeth Hirschkorn, Jackson Price, Dr.Kyleen Myrah (faculty advisor), Devin Rubadaeu (faculty advisor), Jon Philip Talastas, Maya Samaddar, Mandi Kohout, Mackenna Lenarcic, Danielle Walker, celebrate the Enactus OC National Exhibition win. (Contributed)
Riley Christie took this impressive photo in Penticton of the newly launched Starlink satellites crossing Okanagan night skies. (Facebook)

Long trail of satellites dazzle night sky over the Okanagan

SpaceX’s Elon Musk end goal is to launch 40,000 satellites into space

Riley Christie took this impressive photo in Penticton of the newly launched Starlink satellites crossing Okanagan night skies. (Facebook)
Ashton Pede went to the Vernon hospital Friday night, Sept. 30, after allegedly being attacked by a bus driver during a B.C. Hockey League game. (Contributed)

Bus driver allegedly attacks fan outside Salmon Arm arena

Ashton Pede was assessed at the Vernon hospital after the alleged incident Friday night, Sept. 30

Ashton Pede went to the Vernon hospital Friday night, Sept. 30, after allegedly being attacked by a bus driver during a B.C. Hockey League game. (Contributed)
Hundreds came out for the second Walk for the Children in Penticton. The journey of 6,000 steps from the Peach to the residential school survivor memorial on the Penticton Indian Band represents the 6,000 children whose bodies were discovered in unmarked graves at residential schools in 2021. (Logan Lockhart - Western News)

VIDEO: Hundreds come out to Walk for the Children in Penticton

“We’re honouring the residential school survivors and those who didn’t make it home”: Penticton Chief

Hundreds came out for the second Walk for the Children in Penticton. The journey of 6,000 steps from the Peach to the residential school survivor memorial on the Penticton Indian Band represents the 6,000 children whose bodies were discovered in unmarked graves at residential schools in 2021. (Logan Lockhart - Western News)
A roundabout is proposed for 14th Avenue SE and Shuswap Street (becomes Foothill Road) in Salmon Arm, which will be the termination point of the new Auto Road Connector. The connector is scheduled in the city’s strategic plan as a medium-term priority, 2025 to 2027. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

Three roundabouts on the horizon for Salmon Arm

Council approves design contract, budget change for three traffic circles

A roundabout is proposed for 14th Avenue SE and Shuswap Street (becomes Foothill Road) in Salmon Arm, which will be the termination point of the new Auto Road Connector. The connector is scheduled in the city’s strategic plan as a medium-term priority, 2025 to 2027. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
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)
Boil water notice has been issued on Monday, Dec. 13 in regards to construction work relating to the water twinning project being undertaken by TwinCon Enterprises Ltd.

UPDATE: Boil water notice rescinded for Grindrod

Interior Health and regional district order in effect due to poor test results

Boil water notice has been issued on Monday, Dec. 13 in regards to construction work relating to the water twinning project being undertaken by TwinCon Enterprises Ltd.
The Quilakwa Centre Esso in Enderby will pause serving gas while a new canopy is constructed starting Oct. 3, 2022. (Google Street View image)

Pumps to pause for weeks at Enderby gas station

Construction of a new canopy at Quilakwa Centre Esso will close gas service for 6 to 8 weeks

The Quilakwa Centre Esso in Enderby will pause serving gas while a new canopy is constructed starting Oct. 3, 2022. (Google Street View image)
An anonymous donor gave a million-plus dollar donation to the Shuswap Community Foundation for an endowment fund to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Shuswap. Pictured are Rob Marshall, Community Futures Shuswap; Lana Fitt, Salmon Arm Economic Development Society and Roger Parenteau, Shuswap Community Foundation. (Contributed)

Anonymous donor gives million-dollar gift to Shuswap small businesses

Shuswap Community Foundation tells city council of surprise donation

An anonymous donor gave a million-plus dollar donation to the Shuswap Community Foundation for an endowment fund to support small businesses and entrepreneurs in the Shuswap. Pictured are Rob Marshall, Community Futures Shuswap; Lana Fitt, Salmon Arm Economic Development Society and Roger Parenteau, Shuswap Community Foundation. (Contributed)
A new Vernon-Lake Country electoral district is being proposed for the area. (Contributed)

New Vernon-Lake Country electoral district proposed

Population growth prompts federal electoral boundary changes

A new Vernon-Lake Country electoral district is being proposed for the area. (Contributed)
Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter were censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photos)

Judges says Greater Victoria School Board lacked authority to suspend trustees

Diane McNally and Rob Paynter have been reinstated after suspension over alleged bullying

Greater Victoria School District trustees Diane McNally and Rob Paynter were censured by the board and suspended from their duties until October for misconduct relating to bullying and harassment complaints. (Black Press Media file photos)
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)
Pop-up banner image