South Okanagan

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Following her win in the Boundary-Similkameen riding in Tuesday's election, Linda Larson said she is in clean-up and re-set mode.

Her unpaid leave of absence from the Oliver council ended as of today, Wednesday, and she won't be sworn in as MLA until mid-June.

"I am not on leave, but I am unpaid," she said. "And I will continue to go to council meetings until the council deems the time is right to do a by-election."

Larson was mayor for nine years and more recently, a councillor for one and a half years.
As she continues to sit on the council, she will review how the days leading up to the election went, in terms of where the campaign was weak and strong.

"That is what will occupy me in the next few weeks. Until I am sworn in, I am not in a position to make decisions on any issues," she said.

Of her victory in the South Okanagan race, many said was one to watch in this election, she was very pleased and thankful, she said.

"I am extremely grateful to everyone who helped. Now we will slowly ease into the next phase," she said.

Three people are in custody following a drug bust in Summerland over the weekend.

Photo: Contributed - Crime Stoppers

Kristine Haugan

Members of the RCMP Drug Task Force out of Penticton pulled over a vehicle in Summerland this past Saturday.

All five people inside the vehicle were arrested, however, two have subsequently been released without being charged.

The men, both from Penticton and a woman from Kelowna all face charges.

Jesse William Jackson, 32, faces one charge of possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking. He was also unlawfully at large at the time of his arrest. and was remanded in custody.

Anthony Muskego, 24, faces four new charges for weapons possession and breaches and has also been remanded in custody.

Kristine Haugan, 37, was arrested on an outstanding warrant and released from custody. She is to appear in a Kelowna courtroom at a later date.

Haugan was wanted for three counts of fail to comply with probation.

Police say all five are well known to RCMP in Penticton and Kelowna.

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

High volume of water in Testalinda Creek

Preventive work is currently underway at Testalinda Creek just south of Oliver, after a high volume of water and debris started flowing down.

The effort started Friday night and was continuing Monday, according to Dale Kronebusch, RDOS emergency services supervisor.

“The increase in water flow coming down the mountain has picked up an excessive amount of gravel, so we are bailing it out,” he said.

Currently, the effort involves digging out the gravel to ensure water stays in the channel.

The main concern being if water jumped the banks of the creek, it could flood orchards.

“This is all strictly tied to snow melt and there is no public safety risk,” said Kronebusch.“This could be more of an economic impact if orchards flood.

Right now it is basically under control, a waiting game until water stops flowing in high volumes.”

John West, a vineyard owner who lives next to the creek, said the amount of water in the creek  increased last Sunday when it got really hot and hit a peak around Thursday night.

“It’s the typical spring run off,” he said. “But we are always worried about another debris flow like what happened in 2010.”

It was on a hot  June day three years ago, that a massive mudslide slid through the same area, after a dam failed above.

Several homes, other structures, orchards and vineyards were destroyed as the torrent of water, mud and trees swept through.

In addition to keeping an eye on the Testalinda situation, Kronebusch said they are concerned about Keremeos Creek backing up at First Street in Olalla and possible flooding in Tulameen.

Photo: Google Maps

The crash occurred on East Side Road, between Penticton and Okanagan Falls.

Investigators have been deployed to Penticton after a motorcycle crash killed a man and put a woman in hospital late Saturday night.

According BC’s police watchdog (the Independent Investigations Office), an RCMP officer was travelling south on East Side Road between Penticton and Okanagan Falls when he saw a motorcycle speeding north. He activated his emergency lights and turned around but lost sight of the motorcycle.

The officer continued north for approximately one kilometre and found the bike crashed on the side of the road. A man believed to be the driver died of his injuries.

The IIO was notified shortly after the collision and have sent an investigative team to the scene in order to determine if the incident was officer-related.

Photo: Contributed

The Okanagan International Children’s Festival will be partnering with Par-T-Perfect and the OK Falls Hotel to put on two days of activities this weekend, as part of the second annual Okanagan Falls Bike Rally.

Events will include a face painting contest, stilt walkers, craft stations, lawn games and an ATV Train, all set to take place, Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Par-T-Perfect will also be bringing their inflatable bouncers.

Entry to the children’s area is $3 for a full day.

The event is the family component of the bike rally, organized by the OK Falls Hotel.

Part proceeds from the event and the Harley Davidson bike raffle go to support the festival, which is slated to return to Penticton, May 22 to 24, 2014.