Brennan Phillips

A home on Burns Street caught fire on Nov. 11. The Stewart family, who lived in the unit on the backside, were forced to evacuate due to the smoke. Their unit was broken into three days later. (Logan Lockhart Western News)

Fire, new baby and a break-in give Okanagan family a whirlwind week

The Stewart family have moved into a new home, b

A home on Burns Street caught fire on Nov. 11. The Stewart family, who lived in the unit on the backside, were forced to evacuate due to the smoke. Their unit was broken into three days later. (Logan Lockhart Western News)
City of Penticton staff member Len Robson points to a rock face that is moving and has potential of breaking away, which lead to evacuations for 24 properties on Penticton Avenue. (Monique Tamminga - Western News)

B.C. homes evacuated as large slab threatens to fall off rock face

City of Penticton declares a local state of emergency due to crack in precariously perched rock

City of Penticton staff member Len Robson points to a rock face that is moving and has potential of breaking away, which lead to evacuations for 24 properties on Penticton Avenue. (Monique Tamminga - Western News)
(File photo)

Okanagan company suing after BC Tree Fruits allegedly stiffed the bill

Sandhu Fruit Farms allegedly failed to get paid for packing BC Tree Fruits cherries in 2023

(File photo)
Penticton's Law Courts. (Monique Tamminga - Western News)

‘Freeman’ sentenced to jail for assaulting B.C. senior Walmart greeter

Timothy Beresford punched the greeter over being refused entry for not wearing a mask

Penticton's Law Courts. (Monique Tamminga - Western News)
Saskatoon’s Provincial Courthouse. (Google Streetview)

B.C. man arrested for Saskatoon murder 17 years ago

Albert P. Workman has been charged with second-degree murder for the 2006 incident

Saskatoon’s Provincial Courthouse. (Google Streetview)
This home at 2357 Cornwall Drive was sold by the city in 2017 for $150,000 at auction. It was assessed at $420,000. The BC Ombudsperson filed a report saying the city failed to help a vulnerable person and sold her home over not paying $10,000 property tax. Since then, changes have been made in provincial legislation regarding tax sales. (File)

Vulnerable woman’s house being sold by City of Penticton sparks changes

Province proposes update to Local Government Act around property sales due to unpaid taxes

This home at 2357 Cornwall Drive was sold by the city in 2017 for $150,000 at auction. It was assessed at $420,000. The BC Ombudsperson filed a report saying the city failed to help a vulnerable person and sold her home over not paying $10,000 property tax. Since then, changes have been made in provincial legislation regarding tax sales. (File)
The damage left behind by a water diversion that was done without authorization by the Ministry of Forests in the South Okanagan Grassland Protected Area. (Contributed - Jesse Zeman, BC Wildlife Federation)

Ministry of Forests in hot water for damaging Okanagan protected areas

Unauthorized work by the Ministry and improper cattle grazing caused damage

The damage left behind by a water diversion that was done without authorization by the Ministry of Forests in the South Okanagan Grassland Protected Area. (Contributed - Jesse Zeman, BC Wildlife Federation)
Canadian Border Services Agency’s Osoyoos port of entry. (Western News file photo)

Alberta man fined $7,500 for smuggling illegal gun magazines in Osoyoos

The gun magazines were over-capacity and bannned

Canadian Border Services Agency’s Osoyoos port of entry. (Western News file photo)
A protester, later identified as Silke Schulze, was filmed by students hurling expletives and racist comments during a anti-COVID protest held near the Oliver high school in 2022. (Youtube)

Case dropped against B.C. woman filmed shouting racial abuse at teens

Silke Schulze was filmed harassing kids outside Oliver’s high school in 2022 during the pandemic

A protester, later identified as Silke Schulze, was filmed by students hurling expletives and racist comments during a anti-COVID protest held near the Oliver high school in 2022. (Youtube)
The scene of a fatal crash on Highway 97 in Kaleden in 2022. Joseph McArthur-Pereira, who caused the crash, was fined $1,500 for driving without due care or attention. (Facebook)

‘It breaks me every day’: widow shares pain as careless B.C. driver fined $1,500

No jail time for Joseph McArthur-Pereira after camper-van veers into wrong lane, killing Sean Lecy

The scene of a fatal crash on Highway 97 in Kaleden in 2022. Joseph McArthur-Pereira, who caused the crash, was fined $1,500 for driving without due care or attention. (Facebook)
An RCMP boat on Okanagan Lake in 2020. Osoyoos RCMP are currently investigating a body that was discovered in the waters of Osoyoos Lake on Aug. 22, 2023.
(Black Press File)

RCMP confirm Osoyoos Lake body belongs to missing Mexico man

Multiple searches were done in the hopes of finding Carlos Tomas Aranda Burgoin

An RCMP boat on Okanagan Lake in 2020. Osoyoos RCMP are currently investigating a body that was discovered in the waters of Osoyoos Lake on Aug. 22, 2023.
(Black Press File)
The Upper Park Rill Creek wildfire continues to burn northwest of Keremeos. (BC Wildfire Services)
The Upper Park Rill Creek wildfire continues to burn northwest of Keremeos. (BC Wildfire Services)
The Upper Park Rill Creek wildfire has grown to more than 200 hectares. (Brennan Phillips/Western News)

UPDATE: Twin Lakes wildfire grows over 740 hectares as hundreds remain evacuated

The ‘aggressive’ Upper Park Rill Creek wildfire continues to rapidly grow west of Okanagan Falls

The Upper Park Rill Creek wildfire has grown to more than 200 hectares. (Brennan Phillips/Western News)
The Crater Creek fire ballooned and merged with the Gillianders Creek fire on Tuesday, sending up a plume of smoke so big it could be seen into Kelowna. (Mandi Stewart)

Evacuation orders issued due to Crater Creek wildfire near Keremeos

Regional District recommending people prepare for potential evacuations

The Crater Creek fire ballooned and merged with the Gillianders Creek fire on Tuesday, sending up a plume of smoke so big it could be seen into Kelowna. (Mandi Stewart)
The Crater Creek fire ballooned and merged with the Gillianders Creek fire on Tuesday, sending up a plume of smoke so big it could be seen into Kelowna. (Mandi Stewart)

PHOTOS: Wind largely behind massive Keremeos wildfire growth

A convoy of people who had to shelter at Cathedral Lake Lodge overnight have been safely evacuated

The Crater Creek fire ballooned and merged with the Gillianders Creek fire on Tuesday, sending up a plume of smoke so big it could be seen into Kelowna. (Mandi Stewart)
The Crater Creek Wildfire, visible from Keremeos. BC Wildfire Service currently has heavy equipment and helicopters deployed. (BC Wildfire)

Wildfires burning near Keremeos prompt evacuation alert

The two wildfires have continued to grow since July

The Crater Creek Wildfire, visible from Keremeos. BC Wildfire Service currently has heavy equipment and helicopters deployed. (BC Wildfire)
Carlos Aranda Burgoin was last seen on July 7, in Osoyoos. (RCMP)

Missing man in Osoyoos ‘highest priority’ for Mexican Government

The Mexican Consul General is currently in Osoyoos meeting with searchers and RCMP

Carlos Aranda Burgoin was last seen on July 7, in Osoyoos. (RCMP)
Paul Kranjc, a retired member of the Ontario Provincial Police, speaks on behalf of fallen firefighter Zak Muise’s family. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

B.C. mourns fallen firefighter: ‘Thank you for your service, Big Cat Bravo 20’

‘Rest in Peace Zak’: Memorial for Muise brings hundreds to silence in Penticton

Paul Kranjc, a retired member of the Ontario Provincial Police, speaks on behalf of fallen firefighter Zak Muise’s family. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Water tenders staging at Kilpoola Estates on August 3 for the Eagle bluff wildfire. (Chad Jensen photo)

Cross-border Eagle Bluff Wildfire near Osoyoos now held

The fire roared across the border on July 29 to quickly threaten communities

Water tenders staging at Kilpoola Estates on August 3 for the Eagle bluff wildfire. (Chad Jensen photo)
Firefighter Zak Muise in the field. The 25-year-old was killed firefighting the Donnie Creek Wildfire in northeastern B.C. (BC Wildfire Service)

Procession at Penticton’s Skaha Lake for firefighter killed in action

Zak Muise died in July fighting the largest wildfire in B.C.

Firefighter Zak Muise in the field. The 25-year-old was killed firefighting the Donnie Creek Wildfire in northeastern B.C. (BC Wildfire Service)