Location – south side of Secrest Hill Rd between Covert Place and Pampas Grass Way
Fire of unknown origin lit up just after ten and called in to fire dispatch by passersby’s.
On the scene indicated fire had move east to west from a large tree to area above the Sportsman Bowl. Crews from Oliver Fire Department contained the fire and were mopping up at 10:45pm.
No known injuries. RCMP were called to the scene. This followed an earlier alarm on School Avenue downtown. Not related.
weight room plan
The project to get two new changerooms at the Oliver arena will go ahead this summer and a new expanded weight room is still in the planning stages.
1. Weinrich Construction of Oliver has been granted the contract to do the work on the change rooms at a cost of $74,970 (including all taxes) – the unisex changerooms will be at the south end of the present building. Three other bids discounted ranging in cost from $94 thousand to $151 thousand.
2. Weight rooms plans were reviewed – final drawings to be ordered after building inspector approves any changes. (see picture above) Requests for Proposals can then be distributed.
3. Parks staff now have key to west dyke and initial mowing has taken place with the society now responsible to maintain the areas adjacent to the hike and path after an arrangement was worked out with the RDOS/Ministry of Environment.
4. August 19th – Society will invite RDOS directors Patton and Hovanes to begin the budget process for 2014. This preliminary meeting allows directors to give early guidance on possible increases in the budget.
5. Dave Wilson from SOSS appeared as a delegation on the subject of disc golf sites (Frisbee parks). The society indicated its interest in such a site in Oliver and will discuss the cost implications in the fall during budget talks. Lions Park was thought to be a good site. Director Bill Eggert told the board he is aware of two sites in Oliver where golf disc is played – at the read of Coverts and at Mt. Baldy. – The initial investment might be $5000 with students from SOSS getting involved in the set up. Wilson said his vision is for multiple sites in Oliver where students/kids/adults could get more involved in this fast growing sport.
Ripoff Artists Turn Heads
For their seventh annual challenge, the Ripoff Artists are stalking “the father of abstract art,” Wassily Kandinsky (1866-1944). The larcenous group of South Okanagan artists will turn heads at the Quail’s Nest Arts Centre for a week in July as they purloin Kandinsky’s “Garden of Love.”
This year marks one hundred years since a major exhibit in New York, the Armory Show, changed the face of modern art. Many famous artists had works in the show, and the Ripoff Artists will be ransacking Kandinsky’s entry, also known as “Improvisation #27.” Each artist will also include the number 13 somehow in their individual pilfered piece.
The usual suspects are back: Thea Haubrich, Enid Baker, Kurt Hutterli, Terry Irvine, Leo Petersen, Barb Levant, Marion Trimble, JoAnn Turner and Russell Work will be shamelessly making art in public, with the addition of guest artist Tara Hovanes, already known in Oliver for her abstract art.
The artistic exploits will begin with an opening reception Monday July 8, from 6 to 8 pm, and will wrap up at 3 on Saturday, July 13. During the week, come to the Quail’s Nest at 5840 Airport Road, across from the hangar. Your head will spin as you see this bunch of shady characters exploit the man who created a language of abstract art for the twentieth century.
Before this week of public pilfering, you can witness previous exploits of the Ripoff Artists at venues around town in Oliver. Artworks from previous years’ Ripoff challenges will be on display from June 18 through July 15. For more information, go to www.ripoffartists.ca
On 2013-06-11 someone broke into the Desert Centre (Nature walk interpretive centre). The Desert Centre received an alarm and found a window to the building had been broken to gain entry. It appears nothing was stolen. Police are still investigating the matter.
On 2013-06-13 the Osoyoos RCMP responded to a single vehicle rollover on 41st Street in Osoyoos. The driver, an 18 year old female resident of Osoyoos was the lone occupant and was travelling north bound on 41st Street when it appears she veered left and went off road over an embankment rolling the 2006 Honda Pilot onto its roof. The female was out of the vehicle prior to BC Ambulance arriving on scene and was suffering from what is believed to be minor injuries. She was transported to hospital for assessment. No other vehicles or persons involved. The vehicle received extensive damage.
On 2013-06-14 the Osoyoos RCMP received report of a theft from an unlocked vehicle on Cactus Court. It appears the suspect(s) rummaged through the vehicle stealing loose change. Police were able to lift fingerprints from the vehicle and will be searching their database in an attempt to identify those responsible.
If you see crime happen call Crime Stoppers or your local detachment of the RCMP
Dan Ashton, former Mayor of Penticton has stepped down as chair of the Regional District Okanagan-Similkameen.
Wheels now turning to find a replacement with July 4th targeted as the day for a vote.
Regional Directors will have an opportunity to meet Thursday and Friday of this week and seek support if so interested in the position.
ODN contacted four directors:
Allan Patton – Area C (Oliver) – no interest
Mark Pendergraft – Area A (Osoyoos) – definitely in the running
Michael Brydon – Area F (West Bench) – no interest
Ron Hovanes – Town of Oliver – considering the idea
In April – when Ashton stepped aside for the election – Mayor Hovanes and Director Pendergraft ran against each other for the interim-chair position. Pendergraft won.
Many years ago there was a tradition of allowing a rural director to chair the board but in the past decade someone from Penticton council has chaired the board.
(Hovanes at right – Pendergraft at left)
This week has a few surprises:
1. Minor job action by CUPE Local 523 in local schools Thursday June 20th
2. Exams for students grades 8 to 12 – Thursday, Friday, Monday and Tuesday. And government exams as well for seniors. Last day of portables this week – time to clear out.
3. Grad ceremonies start next week on Wednesday with the last supper for grads (awards dinner) and the commencement ceremonies in the arena on Thursday evening June 27th – with all grade twelves’ leaving on the dry grad bus trip to far off places.
4. Back Friday and safely in bed – ready for the weekend.
5. Arrival of a gift for the Grad Class (pictured above and below)
ODN talked with Principal Marcus Toneatto this afternoon and he said the job action appears to be symbolic as no overtime is scheduled in the system that day.
Toneatto says he looks forward to many changes in the next few months with the removal of all classroom portables and continuing construction of classroom space in the new east wing that needs to be complete by September 3rd. He says he has heard good news that the learning centre and the auditorium may be able to come on stream a little earlier than expected and he knows the community is really looking forward to that and wants them to know that the old school will honoured in many ways at a grand opening in 2014.
In mid-September 1997 – 16 years ago – Bob Grant moved to Oliver to fill a union position at Oliver Park and Recreation. Grant worked in all phases of the operation and was selected to head up the department in 2002 in the position of Manager.
He had graduated from Belmont High in Victoria and worked 18 years with the Juan De Fuca Park and Recreation system on Vancouver Island. Bob has two grown sons and lives in Oliver with wife Kirsten.
Today he said – it’s time to retire and take a breather at the age of 55 ~ 34 years serving communities and people through recreation services.
Grant says Oliver is a paradise to him and he is very proud of his work and what he leaves behind. His highlight: the spray park – upgrading the pool, use of the curling club, and new plans for additional change rooms in the arena and a upgrading and expanding of the weight room.
Yes there has been downs and well as ups in the job but he looks forward to a rest and some new challenges. He and Kirsten recently purchased a spot state side so much time will be spent there when convenient for both.
The 8 directors of the Oliver Park and Recreation Society have launched a search for a replacement.
43 unit owners told to vacate Condo apartment building as early as August 15 because of structural damage and the need to fix building in safety (see earlier ODN stories for more details)
The original rendering on display at office of Park Place – 24 years ago.
Linda Gergely (Evacuation Co-ordinator) and Stuart Syme (Strata Secretary) – running the operation with impending deadlines. Gergely says many people and a number of organizations have contacted her to help. She says she is coordinating a needs assessment – where all residents determine what they can do and what they need help with.
The Mayor’s office has taken a lead in co-ordinating in the background.The RDOS emergency team has been contacted. The Red Cross out of Kelowna wants to help and a meeting is scheduled for Wednesday to gather information and plan a community strategy. Do you want to help contact Linda at parkplaceoffice@eastlink.ca
Syme, the main media contact says residents are busy packing and looking for accommodation. Syme says his main concern is quelling rumour and suggestions about what may have happened. He says he has an engineering report – other voices are not helping with ideas not based on a professional assessment of the situation.
Insurance: many owners have approached their insuring companies but everyone seems to be on wait-mode – hoping for a quick answer from the main insurance carrier about covering the cost of repairs.
I was in Oliver this past weekend for a ball tournament and lost three rings: my wedding rings, family ring and silver thumb ring. I was informed that everyone reads your blog.
There is a picture attached of my wedding rings minus the top band which looks identical to the bottom band – they are soldered together. We camped at Centennial RV Park and played at the parks across the street.
Brenda Ridgeley-Ketchell
Cell: 250-470-2710
Provincial topographical base maps go mobile
VICTORIA – Recreationalists and resource professionals looking for an easier way to explore B.C.’s wilderness can now leave their fold-out maps at home. GeoBC has created a series of free, high-resolution topographical maps specifically designed for viewing on mobile devices.
GeoBC’s popular Terrain Resource Information Management (TRIM) base map series has been redesigned to enable the GPS georeferencing functionality associated with mobile devices and allow users to zoom into small areas of the new maps without compromising detail.
Over 7,000 free maps covering the entire province of British Columbia (at a scale of 1:20,000) are now available as downloadable PDF files through GeoBC’s Base Map Online Store or through its popular KML viewer (with TIFF versions coming soon).
The attractive and easy-to-use maps feature elevation contours, roads, railways, airports, transmission lines, population centres, built-up areas, municipal and regional boundaries, lakes, waterways, wetlands, wooded areas, trails, campgrounds, coastlines, parks, protected areas, place names and local landmarks.
This new generation of TRIM maps is optimized for use on mobile devices, including iPhones, iPads and Android tablets and smartphones. The maps are “spatially aware”, so they show the user’s current location if the mobile device has GPS capability. When users open a downloaded PDF map for their current location, their starting position is automatically marked and they can track their movements on the map as they explore the area.
This feature is not only useful for hikers, campers, anglers, hunters and snowmobilers, but also for researchers, engineers, biologists, archaeologists, geologists, miners, search and rescue crews, foresters and community planners. Field professionals can save time and increase productivity by plotting points of interest on the downloaded PDF and then add notes, diagrams, drawings or other annotations on separate layers using a standard PDF reader.
On June 16th 2013 at 01:40 hrs the Oliver RCMP responded to a report of a collision involving a Red 2011 Ford Windstar, on Highway 97 near the Constellation Winery (Jackson Triggs) North of Oliver B.C. Two males located at scene represented to Police that a third male was the driver and that he had fled the scene. Extensive patrols, including the use of a Police Service Dog unit out of Penticton failed to confirm that there was a third party. Alcohol and speed are believed to have been precipitating factors and the crash is under investigation.
On June 10, 2013 Oliver RCMP received a report of a theft of a scooter that was removed from a residence in the 6000 block of Spartan Street. The scooter, valued at $300 is described the scooter as a MGP VX2 Team Edition Scooter with silver and purple handlebars/wheels and green clamp. This is a unique item and readily identifiable to scooter enthusiasts.
On June 11, 2013 Oliver RCMP received a report of gas stolen overnight from a pick up parked in the 4000 Block of Ryegrass Rd. This is the second time in a week that the complainant has had gas stolen. The public is asked to assist the police by reporting any suspicious nocturnal activity.
On June 12th 2013 at 14:51 hrs the Oliver RCMP responded to a single vehicle MVI in front of the Super Valu in Oliver. Investigation represented that the driver of the vehicle drove the Green 2004 Buick SUV over the cement curb in front of a parking stall and crashed into the corner of the store. Driver error was the cause of the crash and no injuries were sustained by either the driver or the passenger. The corner of the grocery store received minor damage and the vehicle was able to be driven from the scene.
If you see crime happen call Crime Stoppers or your nearest RCMP detachment
