Editor: I am writing in response to the article, “Passing lanes coming to Hwy. 97 between Graveyard Hill and Dead Man’s Lake,” written on Wednesday, November 25, 2009. I am truly disappointed that the public is being misled regarding the “passing lanes.” The $8 million going towards a “passing lane” on Hwy. 97, just north of Osoyoos, is [...] [...more]
The owners of two fruit stands located on Hwy. 97 north of Osoyoos are worried that plans to expand the highway to four lanes will hurt their businesses. In November, the federal and provincial governments pledged $8 million towards the construction of a new, two-kilometre stretch of four-lane highway running from Graveyard Hill to Dead Man’s Lake. [...more]
It may be the start of a new year, but it’s also the start of a whole new era for Destination Osoyoos (DO). “I’d have to say that it looks very good,” said Derek Noske, chair of DO’s board of directors, about the contract that is in the works to determine the future of the organization. “We’re very close to wrapping it up.” [...more]
The Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) board of directors gave first, second and third readings on Jan. 7 to a bylaw that will allow the RDOS to apply for a loan to help pay for the planned Northwest Sewer Project. If adopted, the bylaw will provide the authority for the RDOS to borrow up to $1,248,000 to cover the regional district’s share of capital costs for the project. [...more]
“The goal was $1.5 million. Now, we’re going to try to reach $1.7,” said Janice Perrino, executive director of the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation, about the fundraising drive underway to raise enough money to buy a new CT scanner for Penticton Regional Hospital (PRH). [...more]
The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has found that the Casitas Del Sol strata council discriminated against a physically disabled resident of the manufactured home community by not allowing him to keep a solar screen installed on one of his home’s windows. A hearing on the matter took place from July 28 to 30, 2009, and was overseen by tribunal member Lindsay Lyster, who also found that the strata’s property manager, Brian Amos, was responsible for the intentional introduction of inaccurate evidence during the hearing. [...more]
Facebook. According to the social networking website, more than 350 million people now have a Facebook account. More than half of those who use it log on at least every second day and each day, more than 55 million “status updates” are posted. But while it might seem a harmless way to keep in touch with distant friends and family, what you post on a Facebook page can have repercussions. [...more]
A study of algae in Osoyoos Lake is designed to provide a “before and after” look at the impact of the new Northwest Sewer System on the quality of the lake water, explained Mark McKenney, president of the Osoyoos Lake Water Quality Society. “The purpose of this study in part is to take a snapshot in 2009 of certain locations of Osoyoos Lake,” McKenney said, adding the society is mostly curious about the part of the lake that will be most directly affected by the sewer extension. “Our interest was the north basin.” [...more]
A 29-year-old man received an 18-month conditional sentence on Dec. 29 for having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old Osoyoos girl. The man, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of the victim, pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault in Penticton provincial court on Sept. 21 stemming from a police response to a domestic dispute that took place on May 31 and June 1, 2009. [...more]
As far as weather goes, 2009 was abnormally normal, said Doug Lundquist, an Environment Canada meteorologist. In weatherman language, “normal” is calculated over a 30-year period. Compared to the last calculated “normal,” which was from 1971 through to 2000, the weather in 2009 was pretty much bang on. [...more]
