- A new, dedicated teamOliver/Osoyoos 4:00am - 994 views
- Airport has big visionOliver Mar 18 - 1,468 views
- Road closure on School AveOliver Mar 18 - 1,020 views
- JF Kustoms wins top awardOsoyoos Mar 18 - 14,623 views
- Jail time for officer assaultsOliver Mar 18 - 6,789 views
- Locals rack up wine awardsOkanagan Mar 17 - 6,589 views
- Boil water notice issuedOliver Mar 15 - 1,250 views
- Local students to visit JapanOliver Mar 15 - 973 views
Oliver & Osoyoos
Castanet News launching new team dedicated to South Okanagan
A new, dedicated team
Castanet News has a brand new team in the South Okanagan.
Since launching more than 23 years ago in Kelowna, Castanet has become one of the most read news sites in Western Canada. Every week, more than 600,000 unique readers visit the site for the latest news headlines, classifieds, events and more.
Relaunching a newsroom in Osoyoos will allow us to better serve our readers in the region at a time when most local news outlets are cutting back.
News coverage is being led by journalist Sarah Crookall, who lives in Osoyoos but will be covering news all throughout the South Okanagan-Similkameen.
Crookall brings nine years of journalistic experience to the role, and is excited to delve into the stories that matter to the region.
"With newsrooms closing their doors across the country, it’s more important than ever to cover local stories and hear from people right here in the South Okanagan,” Crookall said.
“I can’t imagine going through a wildfire season or an election without having access to quick and accurate on-the-ground information — I try my best to think of our readers' own experiences."
If you have a story idea or suggestion you can reach Sarah at [email protected].
The Oliver/Osoyoos newspage is found here, and the team will work out of our office at 8305 68th Avenue in Osoyoos.
The Osoyoos newsroom will build on the success of bureaus that launched in Vernon in 2015, Penticton in 2016, and Kamloops in 2020. Another bureau will launch in Salmon Arm in the coming days.
South Okanagan sales manager Dexter Toth has joined Castanet after nearly a decade of local media and business experience, and is excited to further harness the power of online news.
"We already serve 35,000 of you every week, but we're stepping things up with way more local news, a local team, free public service ads and dedicated advertising for South Okanagan businesses," Toth said.
If you have a business that wants to be connected to the B.C. Interior’s largest news audience, he can be reached at 250-408-8228 or [email protected].
To kick things off, Castanet will be offering a limited number of free one-week advertising packages to local businesses for use in March or April.
Oliver airport aims to 'become the premier regional airfield' in expansion
Airport has big vision
The Oliver Airport is set to expand commercial flights and offer visitor tour packages over the next few years.
On Monday morning, the Airport Advisory Committee tweaked the Oliver Airport’s 2024 Master Plan, which sets out land-use and development over the next 10 years.
In the plan, the airport is slated to “become the premier regional airfield for the South Okanagan” and increase use of its runway.
The town would start by widening the existing runway by 15 metres to 23 metres to allow for larger planes. It would also develop a reserve for an additional future taxiway.
Currently, the airport is mostly used by private planes, including from emergency response teams and government operations.
A presentation from Operations Economics Inc. highlighted the airport’s business model and potential tourism opportunities moving forward.
Councillor Aimee Grice praised the plan’s tour packages.
“I just think that was super interesting and could bring in some funds to our town,“ said Grace. “Have someone fly in from Calgary for the day and maybe go to the Wine Village.”
One tour package would fly small tour groups from Vancouver or Calgary to the Oliver Airport where travellers could then visit wineries and the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre. Another proposed package would offer sight-seeing tours from the air.
The three main activities and leasing opportunities of the airport moving forward will be: tourism and Indigenous, aviation and aerospace, and fire training/response.
The master plan is set to arrive at town council for a vote on April 22.
School Avenue closed for water main work
Road closure on School Ave
Oliver drivers can expect road closures along sections of School Avenue until Wednesday night.
From March 18 to 20, School Avenue will be closed as city services work on relining the water main supply line on the street.
On Sunday, the Town of Oliver noted on Twitter the following sections of School Ave and Kootenay Street will be closed until Wednesday evening:
- Kootenay Street to Main Street
- Fairview Road to Church Avenue
Earlier, on March 15, the township warned residents that sections of School Avenue and Okanagan Street would be closed from March 16 to 19.
This closure is also related to the water main supply line.
As a result, the town notes the additional following areas will be closed until Tuesday evening:
- Gala Street to Kootenay Street
- St. Martin Place to Church Avenue
Photo: ContributedRoad closure ma
Osoyoos car builder wins Grand Champion at Motorama
JF Kustoms wins top award
A South Okanagan car builder has won the top prize at Toronto's Motorama, while making history for finalist wins at a Detroit expo this spring.
JF Launier, founder of Osoyoos business JF Kustoms, took home the Grand Champion award at Toronto’s Motorama car expo on March 10.
Judged to be “cream of the crop” of 400 eligible vehicles, Launier’s 1967 Ford Mercury Cougar took home first prize and a $5,000 cheque for its innovative custom build.
The pastel green vehicle, dubbed the Mercury Predator, has been celebrated for its high build quality and Launier has been praised for his attention to detail on the model.
On top of winning the prestigious Canadian award, the Osoyoos car designer won his fifth Great 8 finalist award, winning $1,000, at Detroit’s Autorama on March 1. Launier's Autorama win positions him as the builder with the most Great 8 wins in history.
"I am incredibly proud to have achieved the most wins by a builder,” Launier said in a press release. “This accomplishment would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication of my team at JF Kustoms.”
Winners of the Great 8 award are judged on their creativity, engineering, and quality of workmanship.
JF Kustoms has a history for reputable craftsmanship. The shop has also made a guest appearance on the show Rust Valley Restorers on Netflix and the History Channel.
Man sentenced to 20 months for assaulting two officers at OCC
Jail time for officer assaults
An Okanagan man was recently sentenced to 20 months in jail for assaulting two correctional officers in 2022, while he was already serving time at Oliver's Okanagan Correctional Centre.
Blake Everett Dergez, 42, pleaded guilty to assaulting a peace officer and assault causing bodily harm to a peace officer. He was handed four months behind bars for an assault and 16 months for another assault causing bodily harm.
The decision was published online by the courts last week, although the ruling was made back in November.
According to court documents, Dergez struck former correctional officer Justin Styffe’s riot shield from a jail cell’s meal hatch while the officer was performing a cell check on Feb. 19, 2022. The shield then hit Styffe’s face giving him a “minor goose egg on his head.”
In another incident on Aug. 28, 2022, Dergez hit former correctional officer Benjamin Berg 14 times after a flashlight was shone in his cell during another check. The accused then threw the officer to the floor and kicked him.
Berg suffered a concussion and a small cut to his finger as a result of the incident.
With enhanced credit for time already served, Dergez will serve no additional time, but he'll be bound by a probation order for 18 months.
Dergez has been in custody since June of 2021 and previously made headlines for pointing a powerful laser at a plane from Becker Park in Vernon. That matter is expected to make its way to sentencing later this spring.
The latest court decision details Dergez's extensive mental health challenges, including a history of trauma, substance use, depression, and light sensitivity.
The accused was also ordered not to contact the two former officers.
Oliver's Wyse family wins prestigious Wine Growers Canada honour
Locals rack up wine awards
An Okanagan family has been awarded the highest form of peer recognition in the Canadian wine industry.
The Wyse family, which owns Burrowing Owl Estate Winery in Oliver, received the Canadian Wine Industry Award of Distinction during Wine Growers Canada’s annual awards ceremony on Tuesday night in Penticton.
“The Wyse family’s unwavering focus on premium quality wines, along with their pioneering commitment to the environment, has made an enduring mark on the B.C. wine industry,” Wine Growers Canada’s president and CEO Dan Paszkowski said in a press release.
“The dedication of three generations of their family to an innovative, energy efficient winery, a culinary and wine tourism destination and to the conservation of the burrowing owl, their winery namesake, leaves a huge legacy on the wider wine industry in British Columbia and across Canada.”
Wine Growers BC also handed out its provincial honours—known as the BC Industry Recognition Awards—on Tuesday night, and Kelowna’s Kayla Bordignon took home one of the trophies.
Bordignon received the inaugural master marketer award for her business, UncorkBC. The newly created honour recognizes an innovative winery, regional wine association, retailer, restaurant or tourism organization that thought outside the box this year to promote the Wines of BC.
“Kayla’s passion for promoting the wines of B.C. is showcased throughout her social media platforms as well as her innovative BC Wine Passport that connects local wineries with engaged wine consumers from across the province,” WGBC marketing director Kimberley Barnes said.
Meanwhile, the South Okanagan’s Severine Pinte took home the BC Wine Industry Leadership Excellence Award, given to a non-winery individual, business or organization for their support of the B.C. wine industry and B.C. VQA wine through media, research, policy, regulation, education or advocacy. Pinte is the winemaker, viticulturist and managing partner at Enotecca Wineries & Resorts, which operates Le Vieux Pin in Oliver and LaStella Winery in Osoyoos.
“Severine’s passion and dedication to the B.C. wine industry shines through in all that she does,” WGBC president and CEO Miles Prodan said. “Not only does Severine produce some of the most delicious wines in the Okanagan, but she is also a champion of sustainability, serving as chair of Sustainable Winegrowing British Columbia, and is always willing to lend her expertise to her community.”
Oliver issues boil water notice for in-town water system
Boil water notice issued
The Town of Oliver issued a boil water notice on Friday for their In-Town Water Systems.
The town said that in consultation with Interior Health they have issued the notice for the planned domestic watermain relining project.
It is anticipated that the notice will be in place for the properties listed until the end of March.
"This project is necessary to increase the life span of the existing water main that feeds the reservoir to ensure the quality of water moving forward," the town said in their news release.
The following listed customer properties will be under the notice until further notice:
- 6322 Spartan Street
- 6304 Spartan Street
- 6242 Spartan Street
- 6232 Spartan Street
- 809 School Ave/6057 Spartan Street (Elementary and Secondary School)
- 650 School Ave
- 630 School Ave
- 622 School Ave
- 585 School Ave
- 577 School Ave
- 576 School Ave
- 567 School Ave
- 564 School Ave
- 555 School Ave
- 554 School Ave
- 545 School Ave
- 542 School Ave
- 444 School Ave/6206 Main Street
- 6150 Main Street/430 Fairview Road
The town has also supplied a relining map, which can be seen below, and indicates the areas affected by the Domestic Watermain Relining Project.
Under the notice, it is recommended that children, the elderly and those with weakened immunity use water brought to a rolling boil for one minute or more, or seek an alternative safe source, for brushing teeth, drinking, making baby formula and ice, preparing food and beverages and washing fruits and vegetables.
The town said will inform residents, via its e-news service, as soon as it is able to rescind the notice.
Any questions can be directed to the town at 250.485.6200.
Oliver student delegates to visit Japanese sister city
Local students to visit Japan
A couple of Oliver student delegates will be flying off to Bandai, Japan from July 28 to Aug. 3.
The Town of Oliver’s Sister City Advisory Committee met Thursday afternoon to discuss budgeting and logistics for the trip, which is organized through the township’s longstanding sister city partnership with Bandai.
According to a 2024 Bandai Delegation Update report issued on March 12, the township will be financing half of the airfare costs at $2,285 per student through its sister city reserve fund.
Back in October of last year, Bandai Mayor Junichi Sato visited Oliver in conjunction with the 35th anniversary of the twin city agreement, which was first imlemented in 1988.
At the time, the provincial government matched Oliver with Bandai because of their similar population sizes. The Japanese town is a rural farming community that is approximately six hours north of Tokyo.
Osoyoos business rising from the ashes after devastating fire
Fundraiser after the fire
An Osoyoos business that suffered devastating damage during a fire earlier this month is hosting a fundraiser to help regain their footing.
Loco Amigos, a destination tour company, caught fire on March 1. Fire crews from Osoyoos and surrounding communities rushed to the scene to put out the blaze, but the business was lost.
In a social media post Wednesday, Loco Amigos owner Ted Brooks thanked the community for the "overwhelming thoughts and words" he and his son Levi have heard since the blaze.
"[We] have worked very hard since our arrival in this little town to bring our dreams to life. Sadly, I was heavily insured for personal liability and very minimal on contents but we will recover from this," Ted wrote in his public post.
They have invited the community to a fundraising event on Sunday, March 17 at the Gyro Beach concert stage, featuring live entertainment, food, and the chance to win a motorcycle.
The event, sponsored by the Osoyoos Mens Club, runs from 12 to 4 p.m. and admission is by donation, with proceeds going to the family.
Osoyoos town council continues to chip away at tax hike
Tax hike slashed further
Osoyoos town council has lowered the overall tax increase for citizens for the second time, following public backlash.
On Tuesday evening, council met at the Sonora Community Centre, to continue to publicly deliberate budget items in its 2024-2028 Operating and 5-Year Capital Budget.
Council members reduced an overall tax increase to 23.69 per cent, which would mean $912 for the average single-family dwelling homeowner. The reduction follows months of backlash after residents protested an original tax hike of 39 per cent.
Council came to the tax reduction after making additional item cuts, such as removing six manhole covers totalling $115,000. The covers were initially added to help calibrate the town’s sewer system.
Jim Zakall, Osoyoos director of finance and deputy chief administration officer, told council that going without the covers would have a “negligible impact” to the current system.
Additionally, members of council agreed to slash the cost for increased office space at the operational services yard by $50,000 from $150,000 to $100,000. It also deferred the replacement of two light trucks until 2025-2029 and reduced a staff salary by $50,000.
Tuesday night’s budget cuts come after a vocal opposition to the initial 39 per cent tax increase proposed in October of 2023. The previous total tax hike would have meant an additional $1,514 for the average single-family dwelling homeowner in the South Okanagan township.
Much of the increase has been related to major infrastructure problems, including water and wastewater management systems.
While cuts have been made, Mayor Sue McKortoff warned residents that additional costs still need to be added to the budget. As such, the final tax amount is still to come.
Well treatment options being explored
On top of budget talks, the Town of Osoyoos continues to tackle recurring problems with its water system, including high levels of manganese coming from four of six wells.
The town is looking into two potential solutions which involve treating the existing well water or treating surface lake water.
“We have wells right now which supply the water — there seems to be problems with all of the wells in the town and so that’s why we have stopped drilling two more,” McKortoff said.
“It looks like the best option would be to use surface water from the lake instead.”
Staff will be assessing the cost of both options and will come back with a report later this spring.
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