Archives for May 10, 2018

Town of Osoyoos Evacuation Order in effect for Coast Hotel at 7702 Main St., Osoyoos

An Evacuation Order has been issued by the Town of Osoyoos for the Coast Hotel.

Pursuant to the Emergency Program Act an Evacuation Order has been issued by the Town due to immediate danger to life and safety due to flooding and lake inundation from Lake Osoyoos.

Evacuation Order is in effect for Coast Hotel at 7702 Main St.

Excavators clean Shuttleworth Creek of debris and shore up the water course.

“The work on the Shuttleworth Properties site has nothing to do with the flooding that occurred in Okanagan Falls last evening.

Shuttleworth Creek, which flows adjacent to that property but doesn’t cross it, breached its banks in one specific area downstream from there and flowed into an adjacent subdivision.  The creek and townsite had a drone fly-over first thing this morning, FLNRO was out on site to assess mitigative action and a plan was developed by 10:00 a.m..  With the approval of FLNRO, we requested the contractor working on the Shuttleworth Properties to dispatch equipment to the appropriate location and they readily agreed.  The contractor will widen the channel in several locations and reinforce the banks where appropriate.  They were also clearing debris in the channel at 4 other locations.  All private landowners where we’re working have been contacted and authorization provided.  We’re expecting that situation to be addressed later this afternoon.

In the meantime, due to potential damage to roads and driveways that might have impeded access to affected homes, we issued an evacuation order.  That may be lifted, or partially lifted, (Thursday)later today.”

Bill Newell, CAO – Regional District Okanagan Similkameen

(Editor’s comment) no suggestion was made by ODN that anyone was responsible for the Shuttleworth Creek breach – but we did ask the RDOS to comment on the amount of work being done just adjacent to the creek this week.

Thursday in Oliver – Music, food, fun, people, art, celebrations

Walk about, check out the art displays, wine tastings – meet the artists enjoy the show!

Osoyoos to sweeten affordable housing plan

By ROY WOOD

Osoyoos council is preparing to ease the conditions of sale for the affordable housing units in the new Meadowlark subdivision in order to spur what has been disappointing demand, ODN has learned.

Developer Hart Buckendahl of Ellcar Construction said in an interview this morning that town council will reduce the 20-year wait requirement before subsidized owners are allowed to sell a home at a profit.

The current rules – imposed by the town as conditions of the sale of the land to Buckendahl — say that owners may sell so-called “near-market” homes before 20 years has elapsed, but they may profit only up to the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

“We have a lot of people interested (in the near-market homes),“ said Buckendahl, “but they don’t want to be tied up for 20 years.

“But as soon as they hear there’s a change for the better they’ll be coming out of the woodwork and they’ll be fighting over it,” he said.

The developer said he doesn’t know the length of the time reduction but that it would be “substantial.”

Buckendahl said that as soon as council makes the changes in the rules, he will build the four units. The prices for the four near-market houses in the 27-home development are fixed at $380,000.

Town chief administrative officer Barry Romanko would not comment this morning because the issue has only been discussed “in camera” by council. The details will be made public at the May 22 council meeting, he said.

In an interview late last month, Romanko said addressing issues that have arisen about the near-market program was “on my list of things to do.”

“The program was put together with a sound theoretical base … but  price points have changed as have the mortgage rules. … We have to revisit it to see what we can do about it,” he said.

“(But) it’s our program and it is in the bylaw … all we’d have to do is change the bylaw.”

Romanko conceded that the 20-year requirement has been met with criticism.

Buckendahl said the rest of the development is selling well. Eight homes have been sold and 10 are at various stages of completion.

“I’ve committed to the town that I will hold four houses at $380,000. And I’m swallowing deep on those four. But as a consequence, the others kind of make up for it a little … So on average, I’m still going to do OK, right? But four people will be very lucky,” he said.

The most expensive house – three storeys and about 3,000 square feet — will sell for about $540,000. On average, they will be in the mid-$400,000 range, Buckendahl said.

The development is west of Highway 97 just south of the new fire hall.

 

Evacuation Order Issued in Electoral Area “D” Okanagan Falls for 54 properties

Pursuant to the Emergency Program Act an Evacuation Order has been issued by The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen due to immediate danger to due to flooding along Shuttleworth Creek, Okanagan Falls, in Electoral Area “D”. Members of the RCMP, local fire department and other applicable agencies will be expediting this action.

RDOS and local authorities need to access the area and conduct works to mitigate risk and return Shuttleworth Creek back within it’s banks. Equipment and personnel will be on-site to commence additional and strategic armouring. Once this immediate work is complete and assessments made, residents will be allowed back to their properties and homes.

Property owners are requested to leave their properties and check in with Emergency Support Services (ESS) located at Penticton Convention Centre 325 Power St, Penticton (by community centre and pool)

 

 

Foot of Park Rill Rd east of Island Rd – Ground water has risen a great deal in last week.

Oliver Fire Department called on a ” flood assessment” Thursday.

Name the two men??

Large format picture – press to enlarge

Peter Hooge

November 15, 1927 – May 8, 2018

On Tuesday May 8, 2018 Mr. Peter Hooge was taken home to be with his Lord and Savior. He passed away peacefully at McKinney Place at the age of 90 with his family and his Pastor surrounding him.

He was predeceased by his parents Peter and Lena Hooge, grandson Jimmy Siemens, sister Helen Pawluk, brother Abram Hooge, and sister Neta Klassen.

Peter was born in Franztal, Ukraine. He lost his parents Peter and Lena early in life. He is survived by 4 siblings in Germany and his wife, Alwine Hooge of Oliver. On his own at age 22 he started his adventure in Canada. A relative in Abbotsford sponsored him. He then moved to Vancouver where he met and married Alwine Knippelberg on December 8, 1950. They had 3 children, their son Rudy Hooge, daughter, Linda and husband Ken Nunweiler, grandson Mike Kriesel and wife Nicole, great grandchildren Jake, Jessa, Blake and Maya, granddaughter Jen and husband Don Ferguson, great grandson Ewan, daughter, Rita and husband Henry Siemens, grandson Tony Siemens, great grandchildren, Devon, his mate Juliette and Logan.

Peter was a bricklayer most of his life and in the latter part of his employment he worked as a maintenance man at UBC in Vancouver. At home he was a Jack of all trades.

Peter and Alwine purchased a lot in Oliver, built a house and moved in 1981. They were very involved with family, could not get away from it actually since back then they were related to half of Oliver. The grandchildren were always involved in sports activities and Peter loved to attend as many as he could in all kinds of weather. They were both quite involved with the St. Paul Lutheran Church and activities there. Peter was great at bussing tables at the Soup and Bunwhich.

Peter loved gardening. He had a very large garden for many years as well at two huge walnut trees that made great shade for their home. He loved camping, fishing, hunting, was a great dancer, enjoyed coffeeing with the fellows every week and loved to whistle while he worked outside. Peter had a harem of ladies at the church where he cut squares every Tuesday morning with his very noisy electric scissors.

Peter and Alwine got in a few cruises. He loved to track down workers that had a Russian accent, be they waitresses or the captain of the ship and have some great conversations with them. He loved to talk of the old days and did so often. He wrote the story of his life in a book, which for him was very emotional and he cried many tears while getting it down on paper with the help of Ruth Knippelberg.

In lieu of flowers, donations would be gratefully accepted for the fight against Alzheimer’s.

A graveside urn interment will be held for family at 1:00 Saturday May 12th at the Oliver Municipal Cemetery and following will be a church service and reception at the St. Paul Lutheran Church at 2:00 p.m.

Big hugs and kisses to the caring staff at McKinney Place, they took care of Peter when the family could not. Thank you Dr. Hamilton and Gwen, for being there when the family needed you to step in. Nunes-Pottinger Funeral Service, you are always wonderful to deal with and have been very caring to our family, lots of hugs.

Condolences and tributes may be directed to the family by visiting www.nunes-pottinger.com

Press to enlarge – high format picture

Neighbours said it started as a trickle through the low lying part of the Rd – 14th in Okanagan Falls just off Maple.

Shuttleworth Creek had breached its course up-stream – flooding into a vineyard and then proceeding north forming into a river heading for a low point.

This started at 1 pm yesterday but reached a peak at midnight and the whole town came to help with sandbags.

Ministry of Forests has now arrived to help

Residents not to happy with regional government according one person who’s basement is completely flooded. One neighbor said “thanks to the local fire department and the people of OK Falls for coming to help”.

Deer Park north of Oliver and south of McIntrye Bluff

Residents says at least 15 feet eroded from park land north of normal creek bed. The expanding creek took out one tree, eroded the bank and threatens the street.

RDOS notified.

No homes threatened. The Park has the river to the west and the creek to the south – both running high.

Legion Beach – Lake rises – no evacuation alerts or orders…. yet.

The Town of Osoyoos and the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen Area “A” are warning property owners along Osoyoos Lake that due to heavy rains, thunderstorms, warm weather and snow melt, the levels of Osoyoos Lake could potentially reach 916 feet or higher. Last year the lake peaked at 914.88 ft.
The lake is rising rapidly and all agencies are actively assessing the situations and should conditions deteriorate, each local government will put Evacuation Alerts in place for their affected residents.

Due to the threat of flooding in the vicinity of Highway 3 at Sunkatchers RV Park, Riverside RV Park and Riverside Estates, west of the Village of Keremeos in Electoral Area “G”.

Because of the potential danger to life, health, and property damage, the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued an Evacuation Alert.

All Dwelling Units at the following addresses:

1) Riverside Estates located at 3455 Highway 3
2) Riverside RV Park located at 4355 Highway 3
3) Sunkatchers RV Park located at 4155 and 4141 Highway 3

and
4) 8 additional Properties at the following addresses (no map):

3133
3143
3145
3141
3149
3155 all on 10th Avenue
4121
5625 both on Hwy 3

Detours for motorists are available from Highway 5A to the Okanagan Connector from Princeton

There’s no estimate on when the highway could reopen, and another update is expected at 8 a.m. on Thursday.

The section of highway has been dealing with floodwater coming from the river since Tuesday.

June 1st Beyond Bliss moves to the College Building – south side – 339 Fairview Road (east of office for Brandt Leinor)

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