Brennan Phillips

The Ooknakane Friendship Centre in Penticton (Western News File)

More lawsuits filed against Penticton Indigenous friendship centre for ‘wrongful termination’

The Ooknakane Friendship Centre has already been sued by its former executive director

The Ooknakane Friendship Centre in Penticton (Western News File)
Wade Cudmore seen here with his mom Kathy Richardson, will stand trial in Kelowna for the murders of the Fryer brothers found dead in Naramata in May 2021. Cudmore���s mom was found murdered in her home in June 2021. There have been no arrests in her case. (Facebook)

Okanagan double murder trial set for summer of 2024

Wade Cudmore’s trial will start in Kelowna in June next year

Wade Cudmore seen here with his mom Kathy Richardson, will stand trial in Kelowna for the murders of the Fryer brothers found dead in Naramata in May 2021. Cudmore���s mom was found murdered in her home in June 2021. There have been no arrests in her case. (Facebook)
A house fire in Keremeos has cost the family everything due to the heavy smoke. It took firefighters four hours to put out. (Contributed)

Family loses everything in Keremeos house fire, believed to be sparked by dryer

Although the fire was contained there was very heavy smoke damage

A house fire in Keremeos has cost the family everything due to the heavy smoke. It took firefighters four hours to put out. (Contributed)
A prolific Princeton based criminal was arrested once again in Keremeos, this time for driving into a police officer’s vehicle. (Black Press File)

Career criminal with almost 100 convictions arrested after Keremeos police car rammed

Blake Tyler Dunstall allegedly drove into the officer’s vehicle in an attempt to escape

A prolific Princeton based criminal was arrested once again in Keremeos, this time for driving into a police officer’s vehicle. (Black Press File)
Scales of justice at Vancouver law courts. (File photo)

No jail time for elderly man guilty of child sex offenses in Princeton

The man volunteered for years at the garden and reading program of a local elementary school

Scales of justice at Vancouver law courts. (File photo)
Former Penticton mayor John Vassilaki has launched a lawsuit against his brother. (City of Penticton file photo)

Penticton’s former mayor files new lawsuit against family

John Vassilaki remains embroiled in legal battles against his brother and nephews

Former Penticton mayor John Vassilaki has launched a lawsuit against his brother. (City of Penticton file photo)
A woman who passed out in a stranger’s house with a gun and drugs was arrested on Jan. 8. (Brendan Shykora - Black Press File)

Stranger passes out in B.C. home with drugs and a gun

Multiple charges including drug trafficking are being recommended by RCMP

A woman who passed out in a stranger’s house with a gun and drugs was arrested on Jan. 8. (Brendan Shykora - Black Press File)
Close to 130 cattle being kept in 'deplorable' conditions were seized in January from a Cawston rancher. (BC SPCA)

‘Deplorable’ conditions lead to BC SPCA seizure of 129 cattle from B.C. rancher

The animals were taken by the SPCA and are now recovering

Close to 130 cattle being kept in 'deplorable' conditions were seized in January from a Cawston rancher. (BC SPCA)
An ambulance was stolen from Penticton hospital and a man later arrested on Jan. 17. (File photo)

Man arrested after stealing ambulance from Okanagan hospital

The man was found hiding in some bushes after abandoning the vehicle

An ambulance was stolen from Penticton hospital and a man later arrested on Jan. 17. (File photo)
This boulder came crashing down the mountain, over Highway 3 and into a person’s trailer in Keremeos. Luckily the person wasn’t home at the time on Jan. 16. (Jaime Pacheco Facebook)

State of local emergency after rockslide closes Highway 3 near Keremeos

The slide damaged at least one resident’s home at the Eagle RV Park

This boulder came crashing down the mountain, over Highway 3 and into a person’s trailer in Keremeos. Luckily the person wasn’t home at the time on Jan. 16. (Jaime Pacheco Facebook)
Toni Russell holds up a copy of Bill 44, which removed the ability for stratas to ban rentals or use 19+ age restrictions. Now the strata at Cherry Lane Towers where she lives is trying to turn the condo complex into a 55+ community. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Okanagan senior fighting to keep condo strata from becoming 55+ only

Toni Russell is concerned about the impact to her financial future

Toni Russell holds up a copy of Bill 44, which removed the ability for stratas to ban rentals or use 19+ age restrictions. Now the strata at Cherry Lane Towers where she lives is trying to turn the condo complex into a 55+ community. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Casey Cawston and Dianne Clifton were invited up on stage by Kane Brown, with Cawston giving a shoutout to their hometown of Keremeos. (Facebook)

Video: B.C. couple get dance of a lifetime on stage at Kane Brown concert

The couple were invited up at the Vancouver show and gave their hometown a shoutout

Casey Cawston and Dianne Clifton were invited up on stage by Kane Brown, with Cawston giving a shoutout to their hometown of Keremeos. (Facebook)
The College of Massage Therapists of B.C. found that claims of alleged sexual misconduct of former registered massage therapist Leonard Krekic were accurate earlier in 2022. (Unsplash photo)

Former B.C. massage therapist banned for 25 years over sexual misconduct

Leonard Krekic lived or worked in White Rock, Surrey and Penticton at the time of the misconduct

The College of Massage Therapists of B.C. found that claims of alleged sexual misconduct of former registered massage therapist Leonard Krekic were accurate earlier in 2022. (Unsplash photo)
Bill Rotheisler, head coach and general manager of the Castlegar Rebels in 2018. (Chelsea Novak - Castlegar News File)

Former B.C. junior hockey coach charged for voyeurism in Penticton

William Frank Rotheisler was charged and had his first appearance on Dec. 8

Bill Rotheisler, head coach and general manager of the Castlegar Rebels in 2018. (Chelsea Novak - Castlegar News File)
Penticton court.

Okanagan man who shot at girlfriend to spend even longer in jail

Derek Ryan Baptiste skipped out on parole and was arrested in a stolen car in Oliver

Penticton court.
A Lewis Woodpecker, just one of the many species at risk that are in the proposed boundary for a new national park in the South Okanagan Similkameen (Photo courtesy of Paul Graham)

Talks ongoing about national park in South Okanagan Similkameen

If approved the park would cover 270 square kilometres and protect dozens of species at risk

A Lewis Woodpecker, just one of the many species at risk that are in the proposed boundary for a new national park in the South Okanagan Similkameen (Photo courtesy of Paul Graham)
Blair Balch, 49, is awaiting sentencing related to the explosions that rocked Penticton earlier in 2021. (RCMP)

‘I apologize for scaring the public’: Penticton bomber sentenced to 270 days in jail

Blair Robert Balch admitted to setting off 3 explosive devices in 2021

Blair Balch, 49, is awaiting sentencing related to the explosions that rocked Penticton earlier in 2021. (RCMP)
A former nurse at Summerland Seniors Village has given up their license for a year for bullying colleagues in 2020, among other issues. (Summerland Review File)

Year suspension for Okanagan nurse who admitted to bullying colleagues

The nurse was working at the Summerland Seniors Village at the time

A former nurse at Summerland Seniors Village has given up their license for a year for bullying colleagues in 2020, among other issues. (Summerland Review File)
First responders working on an overdose victim in Penticton in September, 2022. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Interior Health advising drug testing after recent overdoses

Testing equipment is available in communities across the Interior

First responders working on an overdose victim in Penticton in September, 2022. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
First responders working on an overdose victim in Penticton in September, 2022. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

Interior-wide drug alert after cluster of fatal overdoses in Kelowna

Drug checks have found benzodiazepines and higher than average concentrations of fentanyl

First responders working on an overdose victim in Penticton in September, 2022. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
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