Brennan Phillips

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In April 2022, a resident living on Maple Street in Osoyoos posted this picture, saying the water coming out was brown and sandy. The Town says demand for domestic water supply has them looking at various sources. (Facebook)

Ammonia and carcinogens complicate Osoyoos drinking water problems

Tests in 2023 have shown additional contaminants beyond known manganese problems

In April 2022, a resident living on Maple Street in Osoyoos posted this picture, saying the water coming out was brown and sandy. The Town says demand for domestic water supply has them looking at various sources. (Facebook)
A vineyard owner in the South Okanagan was named in a search warrant following an alleged sexual assault in December of 2023. (Black Press File)

Okanagan winery owner named in migrant worker sex assault search warrant

The migrant worker claims that a winemaker sexually assaulted her in early December

A vineyard owner in the South Okanagan was named in a search warrant following an alleged sexual assault in December of 2023. (Black Press File)
William ‘Bill’ Frank Rotheisler, was the head coach for the Castlegar Rebels in 2018. (Chelsea Novak/Castlegar News)

Former Princeton hockey coach has voyeurism charged stayed

William ‘Bill’ Rotheisler maintains his innocence

William ‘Bill’ Frank Rotheisler, was the head coach for the Castlegar Rebels in 2018. (Chelsea Novak/Castlegar News)
One of the many signs calling for justice and change at a walk for Roxanne Louie, who was murdered in 2015. Her murderer was recently granted day parole, to the frustration and anger of Louie’s family and the Indigenous communities of the South Okanagan. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

‘Enough is enough’: Okanagan Indigenous community push back on murderer’s parole

Grace Robotti received day parole seven years into her life sentence

One of the many signs calling for justice and change at a walk for Roxanne Louie, who was murdered in 2015. Her murderer was recently granted day parole, to the frustration and anger of Louie’s family and the Indigenous communities of the South Okanagan. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Grace Elinor Robotti (at right) led from the Penticton courthouse by a sheriff in 2015 following her appearance. Penticton Western News file photo

Anger after day parole for Penticton woman who killed great-grandson’s mom

Grace Robotti killed Roxanne Louie and was given a life sentence but now has day parole

Grace Elinor Robotti (at right) led from the Penticton courthouse by a sheriff in 2015 following her appearance. Penticton Western News file photo
A Yukon man allegedly took a 2X4 to numerous vehicles and some homes in a Penticton neighbourhood. (Juliana Bee Facebook)

Man accused of Okanagan rampage ordered to appear from Yukon jail

Cole Nikolaus Sinclair is charged with taking a 2x4 to around 20 vehicles and homes

A Yukon man allegedly took a 2X4 to numerous vehicles and some homes in a Penticton neighbourhood. (Juliana Bee Facebook)
It was so cold in Osoyoos on New Year’s Day 2023, that they had to break the ice to do the polar bear plunge. This year is at Gyro Park at noon. (Ron Hiller photo)

QUIZ: How much do you know about the New Year?

The coming year will have a lot going on

It was so cold in Osoyoos on New Year’s Day 2023, that they had to break the ice to do the polar bear plunge. This year is at Gyro Park at noon. (Ron Hiller photo)
The pictured vehicle has been sitting near abandoned near the Similkameen River for months, frustrating residents nearby. (Bob McAtamney - Contributed)

Dead man’s car lingers alongside B.C. river frustrating residents

Vehicle has sat for months near the Similkameen River as authorities reject responsibility

The pictured vehicle has been sitting near abandoned near the Similkameen River for months, frustrating residents nearby. (Bob McAtamney - Contributed)
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)

Minimal activity overnight as Twin Lakes wildfire updated to 1,830 hectares

The blaze was human-caused

The Upper Park Rill Creek wildfire continues to burn northwest of Keremeos. (BC Wildfire Services)