Local News

Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry is among 16 people honoured with the 2021 Order of B.C. Aug. 2 for their contributions to the province. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito)

Dr. Bonnie Henry among 16 awarded Order of B.C.

2021 honourees include Indigenous leaders, artists, doctors

Cooler temperatures and precipitation Sunday, Aug. 1, may have been a help in battling the Two Mile Wildfire near the District of Sicamous. (BC Wildfire Service aerial photo) Cooler temperatures and precipitation Sunday, Aug. 1, may have been a help in battling the Two Mile Wildfire near the District of Sicamous. (BC Wildfire Service aerial photo)

Mother Nature offers brief reprieve in Shuswap firefighting efforts

Drop in temperatures and even some rain played a role in helping suppression efforts Sunday, Aug. 1

The Crazy Creek Gorge Wildfire near Sicamous is still classified as Out of Control as of Sunday, Aug. 1, and upgrade from 1,700 hectares in size to 2,446 hectares. (Shuswap Emergency Program Facebook photo)

Crazy Creek Gorge FSR wildfire near Sicamous grows

Update from BC Wildfire Service Sunday, Aug. 1, at 4 p.m. said fire is now 2,446 hectares in size

Rancher Jennifer Brock from the Sidley area donated $4,300 to the Anarchist Mountain FD and some farm fresh beef to the firefighters. (AMFD Facebook)

PHOTOS: Nk’Mip fire, north of Osoyoos grows to over 15,000 hectares

Large embers and ash falling from the sky before rain arrived

Rancher Jennifer Brock from the Sidley area donated $4,300 to the Anarchist Mountain FD and some farm fresh beef to the firefighters. (AMFD Facebook)
The Brenda Creek Wildfire on the morning of July 26. (BC Wildfire Service)

Scattered precipitation brings slight reprieve to Brenda Creek fire

Crews saw decreased fire behaviour due to the scattered rain and increased humidity

The Brenda Creek Wildfire on the morning of July 26. (BC Wildfire Service)
Mayor John Vassilaki cuts the ribbon for the opening of the bike lane at Martin and Lakeshore Drive Sunday morning. (Monique Tamminga Western News)

Over 200 cyclists turn out to try Penticton’s new bike lane

Cyclists of all ages tried out the two-way cycle track which opened Sunday morning

Mayor John Vassilaki cuts the ribbon for the opening of the bike lane at Martin and Lakeshore Drive Sunday morning. (Monique Tamminga Western News)
Video
Sahtlam Tree Farm owner Robert Russell is photographed in front of his cabin, which he built in the early 70’s, on his 40 acre property in the Cowichan Valley area of Duncan, B.C., on Saturday, July 31, 2021. The recent heat dome and drought have taken a toll on his business of growing trees for the busy Christmas season. Robert farms over 40,000 fir trees including the douglas, grand and noble fir trees. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
B.C. Christmas tree growers say intense heat singes prized trees, kills seedlings
Pixabay
Dog tips with Dogzies: Freedom on the leash
People can be seen trying to pick up glass from wine bottles that are across both lanes of traffic on Highway 97 in Oliver Wednesday afternoon. (Anica Grenzberg Facebook)
Black Press Media Weekly Roundup: Top headlines this week
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau listens as Chief Public Health Officer of Canada Dr. Theresa Tam is seen via videoconference during a news conference on the COVID-19 pandemic in Ottawa on Friday, June 4, 2021. Federal officials are warning that Canada could be on the brink of a fourth wave of COVID-19 driven by the highly contagious Delta variant if the country opens too fast before enough people have been vaccinated. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Federal modelling warns of 4th COVID wave driven by Delta if reopening is too fast
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Voting for what animal should be carved out of a tree stump on Main Street in Sicamous resulted in a close race that finished on July 31, 2021. (District of Sicamous image)

Bear to be carved out of tree stump with chainsaw on Main Street in Sicamous

The kids of Sicamous voted for the animal they wanted to be carved

Voting for what animal should be carved out of a tree stump on Main Street in Sicamous resulted in a close race that finished on July 31, 2021. (District of Sicamous image)
Smoky skies at The Peach Ice Cream Shop in Penticton on Sunday, Aug. 1. (Monique Tamminga/Penticton Western News)

Heat warning ends for the Okanagan

Smoky skies will still impact the region, however

Smoky skies at The Peach Ice Cream Shop in Penticton on Sunday, Aug. 1. (Monique Tamminga/Penticton Western News)
The Momich Lake wildfire is burning across an estimated 6500 hectares as of July 31, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Dashboard image)

Momich Lake wildfire in Shuswap burning across an estimated 6,500 hectares

Nearby properties remain on evacuation alert as the blaze grows

The Momich Lake wildfire is burning across an estimated 6500 hectares as of July 31, 2021. (B.C. Wildfire Dashboard image)
On July 31, Sicamous fire Chief Brett Ogino reminded the public that Highway 97A is closed for their safety. (Columbia Shuswap Regional District image)

Two Mile wildfire fight going well despite tough terrain, smoke: Sicamous fire chief

Fire chief Brett Ogino reminds public Highway 97A is closed for their safety

On July 31, Sicamous fire Chief Brett Ogino reminded the public that Highway 97A is closed for their safety. (Columbia Shuswap Regional District image)
The Children’s Museum and Discovery Centre at R.J. Haney Heritage Village & Museum opened on July 30, 2021. (Zachary Roman/Salmon Arm Observer)

VIDEO: Children’s Museum and Discovery Centre opens in Salmon Arm

The centre opened at R.J. Haney Heritage Village & Museum on July 30

The Children’s Museum and Discovery Centre at R.J. Haney Heritage Village & Museum opened on July 30, 2021. (Zachary Roman/Salmon Arm Observer)
The District of Sicamous will be unable to hold any “Movie in the Park” events in 2021 due to poor air quality. (District of Sicamous image)

Music, movies at Sicamous Beach Park postponed due to poor air quality

District said safety of residents is its top priority

The District of Sicamous will be unable to hold any “Movie in the Park” events in 2021 due to poor air quality. (District of Sicamous image)
The victim and the suspect were known to each other and the incident is an isolated one, according to a Kelowna RCMP press release. (Black Press File Photo)

Kelowna man arrested for allegedly assaulting person and police

A 35-year-old Kelowna man has been held in custody and will be brought before the court

The victim and the suspect were known to each other and the incident is an isolated one, according to a Kelowna RCMP press release. (Black Press File Photo)
Campfire. (Phil McLachlan - Black Press Media - File)

Campfire ban lifted in Prince George area as wildfire risk remains high elsewhere in B.C.

Campfires allowed throughout Prince George, Northwest Fire Centres

Campfire. (Phil McLachlan - Black Press Media - File)
The body of a 27-year-old man was recovered from White Lake on July 29, after he went missing while swimming the day prior. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

RCMP confirm drowning at White Lake north of Salmon Arm

Incident reported to have occurred at community park

The body of a 27-year-old man was recovered from White Lake on July 29, after he went missing while swimming the day prior. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
A new fire has been reported between Sicamous and Malakwa July 28. (B.C. Wildfire Service map)

New wildfire sparked in Shuswap

Blaze off Highway 1 between Malakwa and Sicamous

A new fire has been reported between Sicamous and Malakwa July 28. (B.C. Wildfire Service map)
An updated map of the Two Mile Road wildfire’s perimeter, as shown to District of Sicamous Council at its July 28, 2021 meeting. (District of Sicamous image)

Two Mile Road wildfire jumps Sicamous Creek as its perimeter grows

BC Wildfire Service “not worried about a raging inferno heading towards town.”

An updated map of the Two Mile Road wildfire’s perimeter, as shown to District of Sicamous Council at its July 28, 2021 meeting. (District of Sicamous image)
The community of Falkland is located between Kamloops and Vernon, two cities among 10 from B.C.’s Southern Interior region that have the 10 worst air quality indexes in Canada thanks to wildfire smoke. (Brenda Giesbrecht photo)

Southern B.C. Interior cities have worst air quality in Canada

Ten cities from the Okanagan, Columbia and central Kootenays ranked one through 10

The community of Falkland is located between Kamloops and Vernon, two cities among 10 from B.C.’s Southern Interior region that have the 10 worst air quality indexes in Canada thanks to wildfire smoke. (Brenda Giesbrecht photo)
An emergency response team converged on the Hospitality Inn at 500 West Columbia St. as officers in at least 12 vehicles surrounded the motel on Oct. 16, 2020. (Kamloops This Week photo)

Charge laid against Chase woman following shooting at Kamloops hotel last fall

The shooting shut down roads and placed schools under a hold and secure.

  • Jul 28, 2021
An emergency response team converged on the Hospitality Inn at 500 West Columbia St. as officers in at least 12 vehicles surrounded the motel on Oct. 16, 2020. (Kamloops This Week photo)
Federal internet maps show the majority of the District of Sicamous as having 50 megabyte-per-second download times and 10 megabyte-per-second upload times available as of July 28, 2021. (Google/Government of Canada map)

Internet speed test: Sicamous looks to determine actual speeds in district

Residents encouraged to complete test by Aug. 15

Federal internet maps show the majority of the District of Sicamous as having 50 megabyte-per-second download times and 10 megabyte-per-second upload times available as of July 28, 2021. (Google/Government of Canada map)