Casey Richardson
Truckers and essential travellers on Highway 5A had close calls on Thursday after nearly being hit by semis passing on double lines unsafely, and they are warning others to be alert.
The highway that travels from Princeton to Merritt is seeing increased commercial vehicle travel levels as the only commercial route between the Lower Mainland and Interior, and drivers are noticing. Two saw similar incidents when heading towards Aspen Grove on the highway.
Jim Beckett has been a professional truck driver for 25 years and said that there is a push to meet timeframes for the deliveries heading through, but that’s no excuse for the reckless driving he’s seen lately.
On Thursday afternoon, Beckett had another semi pass him out of the blue, as he was approaching a corner.
“He passed numerous trucks, there’s probably about five of us I’d say that he passed. All of it was on double solid lines. A lot of people know that Highway 5A’s very windy so I mean it was it was pretty scary,” he said.
“The driver was zigzagging out of traffic, one minute he gets in front of me and then he jumped in front of the next truck and then the next truck. Fortunately enough, we were able to catch it on dash cam.”
The highway was just opened a few hours beforehand from a previous accident, leaving a lineup of traffic about two kilometres long, according to Beckett.
Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement (CVSE) was made aware of the driver thanks to the other truckers communicating over radio and notifying the enforcement agency to pulled them over.
“There’s a lot of people traveling and we just need to slow it down and be aware so we can arrive alive,” Beckett added. “It’s just tough to see something like that.”
“Being a professional driver myself, it’s just something I would never ever do.”
The B.C. Ministry of Transportation stated that the incident is now in the RCMP’s hands. Ontario-based Peace Transportation, the company that owns the truck making the dangerous passes, did not respond to request for comment.
Later that day, another traveller came nearly head on with a semi truck that has passed over the double lines into his lane while heading down a hill.
“He basically almost smoked my truck,” Stan Jong said. “The front, the centre of his truck was right in front of me, where I sat. It was just crazy.”
Jong was also able to grab dash cam footage of the incident, but didn’t get a clear enough picture of the license plate. He did find out the company the truck belonged to however, and reported it to them.
“Be aware because things like that, what happened to me last night can happen. It’s not even just a semi coming towards you, it could be any vehicle or it could be the road conditions,” he added. “Know your surroundings, if you don’t feel like driving, don’t drive.”
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure spoke to their awareness of ongoing issues with safe driving on the highways on Friday, addressing that there have been more resources pulled in to monitor the roads.
“Thats the kind of behaviour that we need to ensure does not happen out there,” Erik Lachmuth, spokesperson with MoTI explained, adding that the focus of getting commercial goods moving across the province efficiently has changed now to ensuring people are acting safely.
“Really the importance is to take your time, drive slowly and drive the conditions now that winter is setting in.”
The drivers who experienced the road still have concerns.
“What happens if I wasn’t paying attention? Right? I would have gotten creamed,” Jong said.
“If it was my family heading the other direction and coming around that corner, I just wouldn’t even want to imagine that.”
Contributed
UPDATE: 1:15 p.m.
RDOS residents returning to their homes this weekend after lengthy evacuations due to flooding should be mentally and physically prepared that the transition may not be easy.
At a press conference Friday, representatives from Interior Health along with Health Emergency Management BC’s psychosocial program urged flood victims to seek help if and when they need it.
“When you’re preparing and planning to go back, it’s really important for you to go back with a fully charged cell phone, a camera, pen and paper and then you can start the documentation process for insurance,” recommended Amanda Anderson with IH.
“Bring lots of potable water not just for drinking but also some safe water and cleaning supplies, so that you’re able to start the hard work of cleaning up.”
She recommends the Interior Health and Emergency Management BC websites for links to support services, and information on how to safely restore sewage, water and power systems, as well as disposing of damaged belongings that may no longer be safe to have in the home.
“I would like to really emphasize to everybody to take a lot of breaks pace yourself and reach out for help if it’s really overwhelming. There are restoration companies out there as well. And really look after your mental health. So reach out for resources,” Anderson said.
Margaretha Lundh with the provincial psychosocial program echoed the sentiment.
“Anybody that’s having a difficult time can call the mental health line, which actually feeds into the BC crisis lines,” Lundh explained.
That number is 310-6789, and does not require an area code.
“And please don’t think of it as 911, that you have to be in some dire emergency. You can just be having a very, very tough time. A lot of people don’t want to burden their co-workers or their spouses or their family and these people are here there to help. They’re also great at connecting you to local resources if you need them and for further support as well.”
Resources are also available online here.
The RDOS also continues to offer resources to help flood-affected communities get back on their feet. The Tulameen Resiliency Centre will be open on Sunday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with information on both long-term and immediate recovery needs.
The Emergency Operations Centre is still active as well at 250-490-4225 or online here.
ORIGINAL: 12 p.m.
The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen is providing a live flood update at noon Friday.
They will be joined by representatives from Interior Health, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, and Health Emergency Management British Columbia.
Photo: Mike Biden
UPDATE: 10:40 a.m.
The Penticton fire department was called out at 8:30 this morning to a report of a structure fire behind the KFC on Main Street.
Fire Chief Larry Watkinson said that crews found heavy smoke coming from the residence upon arrival.
From there, the firefighters made entry and assisted two of the residents with smoke inhalation to exit the home.
Residents were transported by BCAS to the Penticton Regional Hospital for treatment.
“Fire crews then aggressively attacked the basement fire containing it to the basement,” Watkinson added.
Crews remain on scene overhauling the fire.
ORIGINAL: 10:30 a.m.
Fire crews responded to a structure fire earlier this morning on Okanagan Avenue in Penticton.
Heavy smoke could be seen billowing out of the roof as the fire fighters tackled the fire.
Castanet has reached out to the department for more information.
Photo: Contributed
South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings.
South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings is calling on the federal government to help his constituents and Canadians everywhere with the rising cost of living through a commitment to cracking down on speculation real estate purchases and building more affordable housing.
“The price of everything just keeps trending upward, and it doesn’t look like that will change any time soon,” said Cannings in a news release Friday.
“People in my riding need relief, and the government seems more inclined to throw up their hands and ignore the problem. We’re disappointed in the Liberal government and are calling on them to invest in building affordable homes across Canada while also retrofitting houses so the price of heating can go down for regular families. New affordable housing and retrofits in the homes of low income Canadians are two ways we can bring costs down and fight climate change at the same time.”
The federal government is expected to release a fiscal update next week. Cannings and his party, the NDP, say they hope to see plans for 500,000 units of affordable housing included, as well as banning blind bidding and introducing flipping and foreign homeowner vacancy taxes.
“The average income in my riding is $30,000 and the median house price is $900,000. It is one of the worst ratios in the country. This is affecting the labour market. People simply cannot afford to live there, so we are having a hard time finding workers,” Cannings said in the House of Commons on Thursday.
Cannings and the NDP are also calling for a program that ensures rental housing built or renovated for low-income families is energy efficient, creating jobs and reducing energy bills.
Photo: Contributed
A 41-year-old Penticton man has been found not guilty on three counts of possession with intent to traffic.
Marshall Hunter, 41, learned his verdict Thursday afternoon at the end of a three-day trial. He had been charged with intending to sell large amounts of methamphetamine, fentanyl and cocaine found on his person after he crashed his unlicensed motorcycle at the base of the Channel Parkway and Skaha Lake Road last fall.
Hunter testified in his own defence Thursday that on Oct. 23, 2020, he spent around $3,000 on roughly 140 combined grams of meth, cocaine and fentanyl in Penticton, which was the most amount of drugs he had ever purchased at one time.
He said that although he was unemployed, he had money from COVID-19 relief cheques, and that’s why he bought in such large quantities.
“I was going to try and make it last at least a month. I didn’t know where I’d be,” Hunter explained, referring to a transition period in his permanent address.
Hunter said he had been a habitual drug user since the age of “14 or 15,” beginning with alcohol and escalating quickly to illicit substances. He has had multiple convictions for drug possession since and remains an addict, experiencing intense withdrawal without access to drugs.
While attempting to leave Penticton to head to Oliver after the drug purchase on Oct. 23, police spotted his unlicensed motorcycle. Hunter testified that he attempted to swerve around a cop car that flashed its lights at the end of the Channel Parkway and Skaha Lake Road and crashed, then was arrested.
A subsequent search found his fanny pack full of drugs.
Counsel for Hunter did not attempt to deny Hunter was in possession of the large amount of drugs, but argued that there was no intent to sell it — rather, it was for Hunter’s personal use over weeks. Notable was the lack of any weapon, “score sheet,” scales, or baggies on Hunter’s person, which are all common tools of the dealing trade.
Crown counsel had previously argued, with the backing of a local RCMP drug investigation specialist, that it would be highly unusual for a personal user to keep such a large amount on their person, for fear of theft or bust.
They also argued there is no need for users to stockpile drugs, given prevalence in the community, and that $3,000 for the amount Hunter purchased was suspiciously low, calling Hunter’s explanation of the situation “just not that logical.”
Hunter’s testimony convinced the Justice, who found that the Crown had not held up their burden of proving their charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
He was found guilty of a lesser included charge of possession, and sentenced to 90 days, which amounted to time served.
The Justice left Hunter with a warning to do better.
“You’re old enough to leave this stuff behind you.”
Photo: Laura Petschl
It’s been more than three weeks without power for residents of tiny Tulameen who are waiting for power poles to be repaired after the river washed a portion of the roads out during the floods.
Laura Petschl and her husband Ed are concerned that they keep getting different answers on when they can see power returned.
“We don’t know when, we have had so many stories about when electricity will be back on, in two days, three days, two weeks, next year so we don’t know,” she said. “Frustration is growing from the different information we are getting.”
Evacuation orders finally lifted for the area on Thursday morning, but the two have been going back and forth from a friend’s place to their own farm ever since the floods, needing to check in on their animals.
“We all have animals we have to take care of, which means heat lamps for all of our chickens and stuff like that. It’s very difficult. My husband needs a CPAP machine at night to sleep. So we have to try to get that charged during the day by running generators.”
“If they told us we don’t have electricity until January, it’s not fine, but fine enough that at least we know what we have to deal with. But to get no information at all, it’s frustrating.”
Mainly she and other residents share frustration that answers aren’t readily available as to why things can’t be repaired right away and when they can expect utilities to be back.
The area’s government director, Bob Coyne, has been working tirelessly in the area for his residents to help get everything back in order.
He explained that the temporary road that has been built isn’t substantial enough to have FortisBC build the power line. It becomes challenging to establish timelines for repairs when there is work to be done from multiple agencies.
“It’s all in the works. People just need to find some patience and I know that that’s not an easy thing to do,” Coyne said, adding that he too is frustrated and tired.
“It’s gonna get done. It’s just a matter of there’s no place to put part of it.”
There is an estimation that answers should be coming shortly as the Ministry of Transportation finishes their decisions with road repairs in the area and then can give Fortis the green light to rebuild, which Coyne said the company is fully ready to jump in and go ahead with.
There are growing concerns with winter temperatures settling in and the heavy snowfall that has continued to fall.
“There are 15 residents here on River Road that are trying to clean and dry their houses with generators,” Petschl said.
“We’re the lucky ones because we heat our house with wood so we can still keep our house warm, but there’s a lot of neighbours that don’t.”
The trouble continues as the downed lines have cut off communication capabilities for the area, making it challenging to get access to travellers.
“If you end up in an accident, you are totally screwed … I had a really bad accident on the road and had to be medevaced to Penticton,” Petschl said.
Petschl had to be pulled out by her husband on a UTV to get her to the fire hall where the chief helped clean her up and get the air ambulance to her.
“It’s definitely a bad scenario,” Coyne said, in reference to the loss of communication. He added that everyone is working as fast as they can to get repairs underway and help get residents back on their feet.
For now, he again asks for patience and kindness from everyone towards the workers, volunteers and government personnel that are all trying to help. The repairs for the multiple damaged communities are not an easy fix in the area.
Photo: Laura Petschl
Photo: Contributed
The City of Penticton is providing an additional week of recycling collection over the holiday season in anticipation of a higher volume of recyclable materials entering local bins.
Garbage and recycling will be picked up for three consecutive weeks from Dec. 13-31.
Residents are reminded to clean and rinse all containers, and products such as toys, electronics, Christmas lights, ribbons, bows and foil wrap are not accepted in curbside bins.
There are no changes to the regular collection schedule due to Christmas and New Year’s Day both falling on a Saturday this year.
Purchase tag-a-bag stickers from City Hall, City Yards or the Community Centre for any bags of extra garbage or recycling that does not fit in carts.
For more information on the City’s recycling program, visit www.penticton.ca/recycling
Photo: Aaron Pritchett
Canadian country music star Aaron Pritchett will be hitting the stage at Oliver’s newest venue, the District Wine Village.
On May 7, 2022 Pritchett will play in the Centre Plaza of the village, which is surrounded by mini-versions of local B.C. wineries, breweries and eateries.
Pritchett is known for hits like “Hold my Beer,” “Worth a Shot,” “Let’s Get Rowdy” and “Out of the Blue,” among many others popular on Canadian radio.
Tickets are $65 and limited numbers are available. Seating in the plaza will be first come, first serve.
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
Photo: Contributed
Pathways Addictions Resource Centre has gotten a much-needed boost from a group of local groups and businesses that came together to support the organization.
In the spring of 2021, Pathways suddenly lost its Interior Health funding when the provincial body announced it was bringing its addictions services in-house.
Since then, Pathways has been attempting to continue offering services, offering some for pay and relying on donations to supplement fees for those in the community who can’t afford them.
On Wednesday, the Penticton Rotary, Barley Mill Brew Pub and local mortgage broker Tracy Comber presented Pathways with a cheque for $2,750, the first of many they hope to donate through their new, ongoing meat draw every Sunday at the pub.
Community sponsors include T-Bones, M&M Meat Shop, Andy Virk with the Barley Mill and Darren Moffatt Accounting.
After the first five weeks of the meat draw, nearly $3,000 was raised, and the group hopes to continue and grow the effort.
Draws are every Sunday starting at 1:30 p.m., with 13 chances to win throughout the day.
Watch for the details on the Barley Mill Facebook page here.
Photo: Contributed
A crash on Highway 3A near Keremeos is impacting traffic flow through the area on Thursday afternoon.
Emergency crews and road workers are on scene directing traffic at Keremeos Bypass Road on the highway.
DriveBC advised of slippery sections between Keremeos and Bobcat Road on the highway on Thursday.
Photo: Contributed
More Penticton News
Source: https://www.castanet.net/edition/news-story-354279-21-.htm
