Town begins charging Osoyoos arts non-profit rent to fund repairs of deteriorating town-owned building – Oliver/Osoyoos News
Photo: Osoyoos Fire Rescue
Osoyoos firefighters extinguish RV blaze on Nov. 5.
Osoyoos firefighters extinguished a blazing RV, which caught on fire at Ponderosa Drive early Tuesday morning.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Osoyoos Fire Rescue shared a photo of the RV and its response.
Crews arrived on scene around 1 a.m, containing the blaze to the RV and eventually putting it out.
“Our crews were in service for three hours. All crew and equipment is back at station,” reads the post.
The photo shows the door area on the RV blackened by fire damage.
Photo: Google Maps
Osoyoos residents can have their say on zoning and density for two properties at Cottonwood Drive next week.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, the Town of Osoyoos alerted residents to a public hearing on Nov. 12.
According to the town, the meeting would be to address bylaw changes regarding density designations.
A key change would move an area from low density to medium density for a property at 6821 Cottonwood Dr. Another change would allow for 19 dwelling units on a property of about 2,452 square metres at 6819 Cottonwood Dr.
The meeting will be held in person at council chambers, and online, at 2 p.m. Nov. 12
For more information on participating click here.
Photo: Town of Osoyoos
Photo: Osoyoos and District Arts Council
The Town of Osoyoos is now charging the Osoyoos and District Arts Council a small rental fee in order to manage future costs of its deteriorating town-owned building.
In an October Committee of the Whole meeting, members agreed to lease the Main Street building to the arts council for another fiver years, provided they pay the rental fee starting at $50.
The Osoyoos Art Gallery building at 8713 Main Street currently houses at least four other non-profits that contribute to utility fees, including the Painters and Potters Club, Artists on Main, Osoyoos Desert Centre, and a former radio station.
Now, the arts council will be paying $50 rent moving forward, which will increase $50 each following year for five years. Town staff said the money would be earmarked for maintenance and capital improvements.
“Some of it will be contingent on the state and the structure of the facilities that we have,” said Gerald Davis, director of community services. “But I can say without a doubt that some of our facilities are at the end of their life and they need some attention.”
The move follows discussions on developing asset management plans for all town facilities, many of which are aging and deteriorating. For instance, the Osoyoos Art Gallery underwent asbestos removal over the summer, which the organization and town had not factored into the budgets. Staff estimate additional future repairs will be costly.
The proposed asset management plans, which include rental fees for town-owned buildings, will be presented later this year.
“My thinking is that if, if we don’t collect a little bit of money from the arts council to add to this, then we could be stuck again dealing with some of the things that were just mentioned,” said mayor Sue McKortoff.
Currently, the arts council pays for all utilities up to $500. Anything over that is the Town’s responsibility.
The new rental agreement also sparked discussion about the sustainability of the non-profit paying additional fees, as it operates from raised funds. Staff recommended that the organization apply for various funding opportunities.
As per the town’s infrastructure strategy, it will be looking to house multiple organizations in a single facility wherever possible.
As such, council also agreed to begin looking into finding another multi-purpose facility, which would house various community organizations for the future.
Photo: Osoyoos Wildlife Federation
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People in Osoyoos tested their aim with pumpkins over the weekend, following Halloween.
On Saturday, the Osoyoos Wildlife Federation hosted its first annual pumpkin shoot event.
“Our first annual Pumpkin Shoot …was a massive success, and we couldn’t have done it without your support,” reads a social media post from the wildlife federation.
“We are humbled by your generosity and grateful for the donations from local businesses and the help from our volunteers.”
The fundraising event was organized to rebuild a rifle shack and included door prizes, a 50/50 draw, and a silent auction.
Photo: Sarah Crookall
South Okanagan General Hospital is closing its emergency room Tuesday from 5 to 11 p.m., due to an ongoing doctor shortage.
In a press release issued just an hour and a half before the closure, Interior Health alerted residents of the change in operating hours.
“Patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital during this time,” Interior Health noted in a press release. “All other inpatient services will continue as normal at South Okanagan General Hospital.”
Anyone with chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, and other emergency situations are asked to call 911 emergency operators to be transported to the next nearest hospital.
Those unsure whether their situation is an emergency can call HealthLink BC at 811 or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca.
The South Okanagan General Hospital’s emergency service has repeatedly temporarily closed due to staff shortages over the past several years.
Photo: Sarah Crookall
Ministry of Transportation paints road lines on Highway 97 between Okanagan Falls and Oliver.
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure completed road line painting between Okanagan Falls and Oliver on Monday, following over two months of road construction.
Construction for road paving of over 20 kilometres between the two towns began in early August, resulting in the section of highway being without road lines until Nov. 4.
Some residents voiced road safety concerns given dark driving conditions at night near winding highway areas close to Vaseux Lake. One particular area has been the spot of fatal vehicle accidents in the past.
In response to a Castanet email last week, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure said that before road painting can be complete, seams of new asphalt “need to be sealed and excess material swept away.”
As of Monday, the Ministry said seam sealing was complete and sweeping was underway. It added temporary line markings were in place during the road work.
Absent road lines haven’t been the only problem during the highway construction project.
On Oct. 1, a section of asphalt near Hwy 97 and Oliver Ranch Road gave way as a vehicle was stopped during traffic control, causing the van to roll over.
The driver’s vehicle was a write-off as a result of the asphalt incident.
Castanet reached out to highway maintenance AIM Roads regarding the vehicle roll-over with no response.
Photo: Sarah Crookall
Photo: Mark Henderson
Vehicle roll-over on Hwy 97 due to asphalt giving way.
Photo: Contributed
A 42-year-old man has been ordered to pay thousands of dollars in damages after he crashed into a fence while driving extremely drunk in Oliver last year.
Jonas Vandall appeared in Penticton Provincial Court Monday to answer for his actions in early November 2023.
Court heard that on Nov. 6 of that year, just after 11:30 a.m., emergency crews were called to a rollover off Highway 97.
A Jeep Cherokee was on its side with the wheels in the air, and it had taken out a large portion of a chain link fence.
A man later identified as Vandall was in the vehicle. Once Vandall was out of the vehicle, first responders at the scene reported a strong odour of alcohol and that Vandall was acting impaired.
Witnesses who were in a nearby vehicle also driving said they saw the Cherokee do a 360-degree spin and roll into the ditch. They stopped to help.
Vandall told first responders he wasn’t sure how much he had had to drink but probably “too much” and that he had been heading to a liquor store at the time of the crash.
Later in hospital, bloodwork showed he was 3.5 times over the legal limit.
In court Monday for a sentencing hearing, Judge Gregory Koturbash said “You made a pretty serious choice that day not just for you but everyone else that was on the road […] the Crown witnesses are fortunate to be alive to be able to tell the story, and you are too.”
Koturbash handed Vandall a $2,500 fine and suspended his drivers’ license for two years. He also ordered Vandall to pay the owner of the fence $5,332.
Koturbash also acknowledged that Vandall has been working hard on his sobriety since the incident. Vandall told the court he has returned to Alcoholics Anonymous treatment and has sought counselling.
“Keep up the good work on [the sobriety] front,” Koturbash said.
“Don’t be afraid, if you slip, to reach out for help and you need it fast.”
Photo: Pixabay
The Lower Similkameen Indian Band removed its off-road vehicle ban on Saturday, allowing for recreational motor vehicles to be in use once again.
In a press release issued Friday, the Indian Band notified people to the change.
In August, the LSIB implemented the off-road ban, heading into fire season with hot and dry conditions. All motorized vehicles were prohibited from leaving roadways until this weekend.
Additionally, the Indian Band removed both Category 1 and Category 2 fire bans on Saturday.
A Category 2 fire refers to one or two material piles of 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width. A Category 3 fire refers to three or more piles each not exceeding 2 metres in height and 3 metres in width.
Photo: Osoyoos Fire Rescue
A number of Osoyoos firefighters are participating in “growing a mo” for Movember in support of men’s health this month.
In a social media post on Friday, the fire department shared their November fundraising campaign.
“Annually our firefighters contribute and support the Movember Fundraiser. This fundraiser sheds light on all the important mental and physical well-being of our members,” reads the post.
“Men’s health is in crisis. Men are dying on average 4.5 years earlier than women and for largely preventable reasons.”
Movember is a global charity for men’s health where participants often grow a new moustache for the month of November.
Since 2003, more than 1,250 men’s health initiatives have been supported from Movember.
Osoyoos Fire Rescue’s Movember campaign can be found online here.
Photo: Contributed
The Rotary Club of Osoyoos has raised $33,000 for community programming from its Lobster on the Beach fundraiser in September.
In a social media post on Monday, the club announced the win.
“Thank you to the generous support of our community we raised $33,000 at Lobster on the Beach which in turn benefits our community and beyond,” reads the post.
The fundraiser event featured Nova Scotia lobster eats, a live auction, a silent auction, and a 50/50 draw.
Funds raised will goto community programs and initiatives throughout the year.
Photo: Rotary Club of Osoyoos
