Jordyn Thomson

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The Penticton RCMP executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrant on Dec. 18 for a Winnipeg Street residence. Methamphetamine, cocaine, suspected fentanyl, a shotgun and more were seized, and Daryk Reinders, 41, was arrested and is facing multiple charges. (File Photo)

Penticton RCMP seize illicit drugs, firearms from Winnipeg Street home

Daryk Reinders, 41, has been arrested and faces multiple charges

The Penticton RCMP executed a Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA) search warrant on Dec. 18 for a Winnipeg Street residence. Methamphetamine, cocaine, suspected fentanyl, a shotgun and more were seized, and Daryk Reinders, 41, was arrested and is facing multiple charges. (File Photo)
Penticton’s Pamela Hanson is sharing her story to encourage everyone to make smart choices this holiday season. (Phil McLachlan - Western News)

‘Think twice’: A Penticton woman’s plea to drunk drivers

Pamela Hanson’s life was changed forever when a drunk driver hit her vehicle head-on

Penticton’s Pamela Hanson is sharing her story to encourage everyone to make smart choices this holiday season. (Phil McLachlan - Western News)
From left: Kai, Matthew, Ashley and Julia Fagan will be opening their door to the Penticton community so that those who have nowhere to go on Christmas Day can celebrate it with them. The family will be hosting a dinner and visit from 3 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 25 and those interested in attending are asked to message Ashely M. Fagan on Facebook to get her address and more details. (Contributed)

Penticton family opens its doors to community on Christmas Day

Those without a place to go on Dec. 25 are invited to celebrate the holidays with the Fagans

From left: Kai, Matthew, Ashley and Julia Fagan will be opening their door to the Penticton community so that those who have nowhere to go on Christmas Day can celebrate it with them. The family will be hosting a dinner and visit from 3 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 25 and those interested in attending are asked to message Ashely M. Fagan on Facebook to get her address and more details. (Contributed)
The Canadians in the crowd at the 4-man bobsleigh ceremonies at the BMW IBSF World Cup jumped into action when the broken sound system couldn’t play the national anthem on Saturday. The Canadian team headed by Summerland-native Justin Kripps took gold in the event on Dec. 14. (Photo from Twitter)

Fans sing Canadian anthem after sound system breaks at BMW IBSF World Cup

The Canadians in attendance made sure their team and flag were honoured on the podium

The Canadians in the crowd at the 4-man bobsleigh ceremonies at the BMW IBSF World Cup jumped into action when the broken sound system couldn’t play the national anthem on Saturday. The Canadian team headed by Summerland-native Justin Kripps took gold in the event on Dec. 14. (Photo from Twitter)
This image was posted to Facebook by a Penticton resident alleging that their friend’s mom had her rear car tires stolen overnight in the city on Dec. 12. Western News has reached out for more information on this matter. (Photo from Facebook)

Penticton resident allegedly has rear car tires stolen

The resident woke up today to find their back tires missing and their car on blocks

This image was posted to Facebook by a Penticton resident alleging that their friend’s mom had her rear car tires stolen overnight in the city on Dec. 12. Western News has reached out for more information on this matter. (Photo from Facebook)
Jordyn Thomson is a multimedia journalist with the Penticton Western News. (Mark Brett - Western News)

I’m Just Saying: Our society needs a re-sex education lesson

Jordyn Thomson is a reporter with the Western News

Jordyn Thomson is a multimedia journalist with the Penticton Western News. (Mark Brett - Western News)
Penticton Indian Band Chief Chad Eneas (left) and Minister of Indigenous Services Seamus O’Regan talk with young dancer Summer Testawich at the 2019 Between the Lakes Pow Wow. The band members met on Dec. 12 and voted to hold a new by-election after the results of the 2017 one that appointed five new council members was successfully appealed. (Mark Brett - Western News)

Penticton Indian Band to host new by-election after successful appeal of 2017 results

On Dec. 13, the membership voted to host a new by-election

Penticton Indian Band Chief Chad Eneas (left) and Minister of Indigenous Services Seamus O’Regan talk with young dancer Summer Testawich at the 2019 Between the Lakes Pow Wow. The band members met on Dec. 12 and voted to hold a new by-election after the results of the 2017 one that appointed five new council members was successfully appealed. (Mark Brett - Western News)
Penticton’s Barley Mill Brew Pub and Gary Haupt (also known as “naughty” Santa) were able to raise $1,000 for the South Okanagan Similkameen (SOS) Medical Foundation on Dec. 7 thanks to the brewery’s Photos with Awesome Santa event. (Photo from Facebook)

Penticton’s Barley Mill, “naughty” Santa donate to SOS Medical Foundation

The brewery and local Santa raised $1,000 for the foundation on Dec. 7

Penticton’s Barley Mill Brew Pub and Gary Haupt (also known as “naughty” Santa) were able to raise $1,000 for the South Okanagan Similkameen (SOS) Medical Foundation on Dec. 7 thanks to the brewery’s Photos with Awesome Santa event. (Photo from Facebook)
The washrooms in Penticton’s Okanagan Lake Park have been vandalized again, resulting in their indefinite closure until they can be repaired. The image on the left shows the previous condition one of the city’s public washrooms was left in that city staff had to clean up, and the image on the right shows previous damage of a burn mark in another public washroom that was left by someone suspected of cooking drugs. (Photo from City of Penticton)

Vandalism closes public washrooms in Penticton’s Okanagan Lake Park indefinitely

A post by the city’s Facebook said the damage is ‘quite extensive’

The washrooms in Penticton’s Okanagan Lake Park have been vandalized again, resulting in their indefinite closure until they can be repaired. The image on the left shows the previous condition one of the city’s public washrooms was left in that city staff had to clean up, and the image on the right shows previous damage of a burn mark in another public washroom that was left by someone suspected of cooking drugs. (Photo from City of Penticton)
The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) recently reviewed an arrest made in Penticton in 2018 after a driver alleged he was seriously injured during an unlawful arrest. The man alleged he was “slammed” to the ground by the officer when he went to pick his wallet off of the ground, but footage from the officer’s dash cam tells a different story of the situation. (File Photo)

Officers’ use of force in Penticton arrest that injured a male driver deemed necessary: Watchdog

IIO reviewed the incident after the driver alleged he was “slammed” to the ground by an officer

The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) recently reviewed an arrest made in Penticton in 2018 after a driver alleged he was seriously injured during an unlawful arrest. The man alleged he was “slammed” to the ground by the officer when he went to pick his wallet off of the ground, but footage from the officer’s dash cam tells a different story of the situation. (File Photo)
Denise Soule (left) and Sue McEvoy of Double Stop Creek are bringing their show Christmas Cowboy Style to Penticton’s Elk’s Lodge on Dec. 15. The ladies will be joined by additional musicians and tickets are $15 each, (Photo from Facebook)

Time to celebrate Christmas Cowboy Style with Double Stop Creek & Friends in Penticton

The B.C.-based country band will be joined by additional musicians at Penticton’s Elk’s Lodge

Denise Soule (left) and Sue McEvoy of Double Stop Creek are bringing their show Christmas Cowboy Style to Penticton’s Elk’s Lodge on Dec. 15. The ladies will be joined by additional musicians and tickets are $15 each, (Photo from Facebook)
Dr. Geetika Saini (left) and Dr. Shammi both volunteer their skills and time at H.E.C.K to provide dental care to vulnerable adults and seniors in the South Okanagan. Following a recent clinic day, the doctors were able to donate 47 extracted teeth from 7 patients to assist an area search and rescue group with their human remains recovery training. (Contributed)

South Okanagan volunteer dental clinic donates rotten teeth to good cause

H.E.C.K. recently gifted 47 rotten teeth to a search and rescue group in the area

Dr. Geetika Saini (left) and Dr. Shammi both volunteer their skills and time at H.E.C.K to provide dental care to vulnerable adults and seniors in the South Okanagan. Following a recent clinic day, the doctors were able to donate 47 extracted teeth from 7 patients to assist an area search and rescue group with their human remains recovery training. (Contributed)
Thirty-two paintings by Bob Ross, the late American painter and TV celebrity, will be on display at the Penticton Art Gallery in 2020. The upcoming exhibition is called “Happy Little Accidents” and is the largest solo museum exhibition of his works in Canada. (Screenshot from YouTube)

Bob Ross is coming to Penticton in 2020

32 of the late painter and TV celebrity’s works will be on display at the Penticton Art Gallery

Thirty-two paintings by Bob Ross, the late American painter and TV celebrity, will be on display at the Penticton Art Gallery in 2020. The upcoming exhibition is called “Happy Little Accidents” and is the largest solo museum exhibition of his works in Canada. (Screenshot from YouTube)
IH is concerned by Penticton’s rate of fatal overdoses as a result of opioid use. The healthy authority has been ramping up its outreach efforts, even implementing the Naloxone Challenge to train businesses and organizations how to administer the lifesaving drug, yet the death rate still increased this year. (File Photo)

Interior Health finds Penticton’s fatal overdose rate ‘concerning’

The rate has been consistenly increasing since 2015

IH is concerned by Penticton’s rate of fatal overdoses as a result of opioid use. The healthy authority has been ramping up its outreach efforts, even implementing the Naloxone Challenge to train businesses and organizations how to administer the lifesaving drug, yet the death rate still increased this year. (File Photo)
The IIO B.C. is seeking witnesses to an arrest made in Penticton on Nov. 8, during which the male resisted and sustained a head injury. (File Photo)

Independent Investigations Office seeks witnesses following arrest in Penticton

The male resisted arrest at approximately 8:40 a.m. and sustained a head injury

The IIO B.C. is seeking witnesses to an arrest made in Penticton on Nov. 8, during which the male resisted and sustained a head injury. (File Photo)
The BC Coroners Service has released new data about the ongoing overdose crisis in the province, which found that 17 people overdosed in the City of Penticton between January and October 2019. This is an increase from last year’s 16 people who lost their lives. (Photo from Unsplash)

City of Penticton records all-time high for fatal overdoses

Seventeen people have fatally overdosed so far this year

The BC Coroners Service has released new data about the ongoing overdose crisis in the province, which found that 17 people overdosed in the City of Penticton between January and October 2019. This is an increase from last year’s 16 people who lost their lives. (Photo from Unsplash)
John Brittain, 68, is accused of fatally shooting Rudi Winter, Darlene Knippelberg and Susan and Barry Wonch in April 2019. Zachary Charles Steele, son-in-law to Winter, pleaded guilty on Dec. 4 to a charge of mischief causing damage over $5,000 in relation to the vandalism of Brittain’s wife’s home, his former residence. (Jordyn Thomson — Western News)

Shooting victim’s son-in-law sentenced for vandalizing B.C. home of alleged killer’s wife

Zachary Charles Steele, son-in-law to Rudi Winter, pleaded guilty to mischief over $5,000

John Brittain, 68, is accused of fatally shooting Rudi Winter, Darlene Knippelberg and Susan and Barry Wonch in April 2019. Zachary Charles Steele, son-in-law to Winter, pleaded guilty on Dec. 4 to a charge of mischief causing damage over $5,000 in relation to the vandalism of Brittain’s wife’s home, his former residence. (Jordyn Thomson — Western News)
Vandals target under-construction play area at Penticton preschool

Vandals target under-construction play area at Penticton preschool

The project was nearing completion when it suffered a setback thanks to senseless vandalism

Vandals target under-construction play area at Penticton preschool
Three Blind Mice, an area outside of Penticton frequented by mountain bikers and other users, is now a park thanks to a city council motion passed on Dec. 3. Part of the motion will have city staff amend the current licence to use agreements with groups in the area to require responsible maintenance and development of the park, among other things. (Photo from Google Maps)

Three Blind Mice receives park designation from City of Penticton

City to amend current licence to use agreements to require ‘responsible maintenance and development’

Three Blind Mice, an area outside of Penticton frequented by mountain bikers and other users, is now a park thanks to a city council motion passed on Dec. 3. Part of the motion will have city staff amend the current licence to use agreements with groups in the area to require responsible maintenance and development of the park, among other things. (Photo from Google Maps)
Tennis players in Penticton are asking the city to look at the idea of constructing a public, indoor facility. The renewed interest was triggered by the recent opening of an indoor facility in Salmon Arm. (Photo from Unsplash)

Users renew request for indoor tennis facility in Penticton

“If Salmon Arm, with half our population, can support something like that, why can’t we?”

Tennis players in Penticton are asking the city to look at the idea of constructing a public, indoor facility. The renewed interest was triggered by the recent opening of an indoor facility in Salmon Arm. (Photo from Unsplash)