Jordyn Thomson

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The Canadians in the crowd at the 4-man bobsleigh ceremonies at the BMW IBSF World Cup jumped into action when the broken sound system couldn’t play the national anthem on Saturday. The Canadian team headed by Summerland-native Justin Kripps took gold in the event on Dec. 14. (Photo from Twitter)

Fans sing Canadian anthem after sound system breaks at BMW IBSF World Cup

The Canadians in attendance made sure their team and flag were honoured on the podium

The Canadians in the crowd at the 4-man bobsleigh ceremonies at the BMW IBSF World Cup jumped into action when the broken sound system couldn’t play the national anthem on Saturday. The Canadian team headed by Summerland-native Justin Kripps took gold in the event on Dec. 14. (Photo from Twitter)
Gary Haupt lost his upcoming job as a shopping mall Santa in Penticton after posting risky photos online. (Facebook)

Penticton residents, businesses embrace ‘naughty’ Santa

Gary Haupt lost his contract with Cherry Lane, but you can still find him at other holiday events

Gary Haupt lost his upcoming job as a shopping mall Santa in Penticton after posting risky photos online. (Facebook)
Gary Haupt (right) lost his upcoming job as Penticton’s Cherry Lane Shopping Centre Santa for the holiday season after posting this image and another crude photo to Facebook. Jennifer Andrews, dean of the Victor Nevada Santa School in Calgary, Alta., said it’s lamentable but Santa must be held to a higher standard. (Photo from Facebook)

‘What would Santa do?’: Head of Santa school agrees with firing of Penticton man

Jennifer Andrews said the incident is lamentable, but Santa is held to a higher standard

Gary Haupt (right) lost his upcoming job as Penticton’s Cherry Lane Shopping Centre Santa for the holiday season after posting this image and another crude photo to Facebook. Jennifer Andrews, dean of the Victor Nevada Santa School in Calgary, Alta., said it’s lamentable but Santa must be held to a higher standard. (Photo from Facebook)
Gary Haupt (right) dressed as Santa at a recent Christmas market at Penticton’s Shatford Centre takes a silly photo with a woman who asked him to pretend to drink from a flask. This is one of the photos on Haupt’s personal Facebook page that landed him in hot water with the Cherry Lane Shopping Centre, which decided to terminate his upcoming contract as their mall Santa. (Photo from Facebook)

Crude photos land Penticton’s Santa on the ‘naughty list’

Gary Haupt said his upcoming contract to be the Cherry Lane Santa has been terminated

Gary Haupt (right) dressed as Santa at a recent Christmas market at Penticton’s Shatford Centre takes a silly photo with a woman who asked him to pretend to drink from a flask. This is one of the photos on Haupt’s personal Facebook page that landed him in hot water with the Cherry Lane Shopping Centre, which decided to terminate his upcoming contract as their mall Santa. (Photo from Facebook)
A British man was given a three-year prison sentence in the Penticton court on Oct. 4 for sexually assaulting a person under the age of 16 in 2018. The man will be deported to England following the completion of his sentence. (File Photo)

British man handed three-year jail sentence for sexual assault of Penticton teen

The man will be deported back to England following the completion of his sentence

A British man was given a three-year prison sentence in the Penticton court on Oct. 4 for sexually assaulting a person under the age of 16 in 2018. The man will be deported to England following the completion of his sentence. (File Photo)
Security footage from Oliver’s Sunview Market show a man and a woman stealing the store’s 100 lb pumpkin on Oct. 20 at approximately 8:20 p.m. The store is asking residents to be on the lookout for either individuals or the pumpkin. (Photo from Facebook)

100-pound pumpkin stolen a second time from B.C. business

According to security footage, a man and woman took the pumpkin on Oct. 20 at 8:20 p.m.

Security footage from Oliver’s Sunview Market show a man and a woman stealing the store’s 100 lb pumpkin on Oct. 20 at approximately 8:20 p.m. The store is asking residents to be on the lookout for either individuals or the pumpkin. (Photo from Facebook)
Lorne Michaels and the cast of SNL accept the award for outstanding variety sketch series for “Saturday Night Live” at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

PHOTOS: On this day 44 years ago, SNL began!

The show aired for the first time on Oct. 11, 1975, hosted by George Carlin

Lorne Michaels and the cast of SNL accept the award for outstanding variety sketch series for “Saturday Night Live” at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
A mother black bear was illegally shot in a Keremeos vineyard between the evening of Sept. 30 and the morning of Oct. 1. Authorities are seeking any information related to this event, and B.C. Wildlife Federation is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for info that leads to a conviction. (Photo from Unsplash)

Mother bear found dead from gunshot wounds near Keremeos vineyard

B.C. Wildlife Federation offers up to $2,000 reward for info leading to a conviction

A mother black bear was illegally shot in a Keremeos vineyard between the evening of Sept. 30 and the morning of Oct. 1. Authorities are seeking any information related to this event, and B.C. Wildlife Federation is offering a reward of up to $2,000 for info that leads to a conviction. (Photo from Unsplash)
Canadian figure skating champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir come to Penticton Oct. 6 with the Rock the Rink tour. This will be the pair’s last tour as they have announced they are retiring from the world of competitive figure skating. (Contributed)

‘Interesting mixture of emotions’: Scott Moir reflects on final tour with Tessa Virtue

The Canadian figure skating champions will be skating through B.C. for Rock the Rink tour

Canadian figure skating champions Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir come to Penticton Oct. 6 with the Rock the Rink tour. This will be the pair’s last tour as they have announced they are retiring from the world of competitive figure skating. (Contributed)
On Oct. 1, 1908, Henry Ford introduced the world to the Model T, historically the first “affordable” automobile for the public. (Photo from Pixabay)

On this day: Ford changes the car industry with introduction of Model T

111 years ago exactly, the world got a little faster thanks to Henry Ford

On Oct. 1, 1908, Henry Ford introduced the world to the Model T, historically the first “affordable” automobile for the public. (Photo from Pixabay)
Penticton Fire Chief Larry Watkinson and his adorable sidekick, Sam the disaster dog, have returned home after roughly a week assisting in search and rescue efforts in the Bahamas, which were recently decimated by Hurricane Dorian. (Jordyn Thomson - Western News)

‘It’s almost surreal’: B.C. fire chief, sidekick Sammy recap rescue mission in Bahamas

Chief Larry Watkinson and Sam the disaster dog spent 8 days assisting a search and rescue team

Penticton Fire Chief Larry Watkinson and his adorable sidekick, Sam the disaster dog, have returned home after roughly a week assisting in search and rescue efforts in the Bahamas, which were recently decimated by Hurricane Dorian. (Jordyn Thomson - Western News)
Penticton Fire Chief Larry Watkinson and his disaster dog Sammy take a short break from searching for survivors at Pelican Shore on Great Abaco Island on Sept. 11 after it was decimated by Hurricane Dorian two weeks earlier. (Photo by Burnaby Fire Department)

Coming Home: B.C. fire chief and disaster dog return from hurricane-ravaged Bahamas

The pair spent roughly one week on Great Abaco Island assisting in relief efforts

Penticton Fire Chief Larry Watkinson and his disaster dog Sammy take a short break from searching for survivors at Pelican Shore on Great Abaco Island on Sept. 11 after it was decimated by Hurricane Dorian two weeks earlier. (Photo by Burnaby Fire Department)
A B.C. College of Pharmacists order restricts Sunrise Pharmacy on Main Street from dispensing any narcotic or controlled drug substance intended for opioid agonist treatment. Pharmacy owner Joelle Mbamy has filed a court petition to have the order quashed. (Robin Grant - Western News)

B.C. coroner sheds light on overdose death of teenaged pharmacy employee

Documents provide more info on 2017 overdose death of employee from Sunrise Pharmacy

A B.C. College of Pharmacists order restricts Sunrise Pharmacy on Main Street from dispensing any narcotic or controlled drug substance intended for opioid agonist treatment. Pharmacy owner Joelle Mbamy has filed a court petition to have the order quashed. (Robin Grant - Western News)
Brandi Hansen, a pilot volunteering as a an aviation technician with BCSAR, has entered the Maxim Cover Girl competition for U.S. and international applicants. Similar to her approach in the Canadian contest, she is advocating that women and girls don’t need to rely on their bodies or looks to be successful. She also plans on donating 100 per cent of the prize money if she wins. (Photo submitted)

Penticton pilot takes another crack at being Maxim’s next cover girl

Brandi Hansen still advocates inner beauty is what matters, plans to donate all of the prize money

Brandi Hansen, a pilot volunteering as a an aviation technician with BCSAR, has entered the Maxim Cover Girl competition for U.S. and international applicants. Similar to her approach in the Canadian contest, she is advocating that women and girls don’t need to rely on their bodies or looks to be successful. She also plans on donating 100 per cent of the prize money if she wins. (Photo submitted)
Penny, the 80 lb. lab cross, was allegedly attacked by four river otters while swimming in the Okanagan River Channel the morning of Aug. 23. Here is one of the deeper cuts she suffered after she was pulled under water. (Photo submitted)

Dog attacked by river otters, Penticton owner says

Marie Fletcher says her dog was pulled underwater by four river otters in the Penticton Channel

Penny, the 80 lb. lab cross, was allegedly attacked by four river otters while swimming in the Okanagan River Channel the morning of Aug. 23. Here is one of the deeper cuts she suffered after she was pulled under water. (Photo submitted)
A group of firefighters with departments from Merritt, Naramata, Big White and Keremeos hold hands on the side of the road in Oliver on Aug. 9 at approximately 11:30 a.m. While it is unclear which department they are with, it is likely they are assisting in the ongoing wildfire suppression at Eagle Bluff near Gallagher Lake. (Photo by Jessica Mayhew)

Powerful photo showing fire crew huddled together in Okanagan goes viral

The image was captured by a resident in Oliver on Aug. 9 at approximately 11:30 a.m.

A group of firefighters with departments from Merritt, Naramata, Big White and Keremeos hold hands on the side of the road in Oliver on Aug. 9 at approximately 11:30 a.m. While it is unclear which department they are with, it is likely they are assisting in the ongoing wildfire suppression at Eagle Bluff near Gallagher Lake. (Photo by Jessica Mayhew)
Carolynn Chin and husband, Francesco Oliva, with baby Gaia Realina shortly after she was born on the side of Highway 97 on Aug. 2. Baby and family are healthy and happy. (Photo from Facebook)

‘We made it as far as we could’: Woman gives birth on side of B.C. highway

Gaia Realina couldn’t wait to join her family, arriving Aug. 2 as parents were en route to midwife

Carolynn Chin and husband, Francesco Oliva, with baby Gaia Realina shortly after she was born on the side of Highway 97 on Aug. 2. Baby and family are healthy and happy. (Photo from Facebook)
Harry McWatters, CEO of TIME Winery, enjoyed a glass of the winery’s first ever sparkling wine, TIME brut at the winery’s recently celebrated one-year anniversary earlier this month. The family of McWatters announced his sudden death on July 23. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)

B.C. wine industry legend Harry McWatters dies

Among his accomplishments, McWatters founded the province’s first estate winery, Sumac Ridge Estate

Harry McWatters, CEO of TIME Winery, enjoyed a glass of the winery’s first ever sparkling wine, TIME brut at the winery’s recently celebrated one-year anniversary earlier this month. The family of McWatters announced his sudden death on July 23. (Brennan Phillips - Western News)
Halfling Hideaway is not a fictional home in the J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, it’s an Airbnb accommodation outside of Osoyoos. The Lord of the Rings-themed space can accommodate two guests and is currently booking at $179 per night. (Photo from Airbnb)

Hobbiton in the Okanagan: Spend the night in the Halfling Hideaway

The Airbnb accommodation is modelled after the Lord of the Rings’ movie set of Bag End in Hobbiton

Halfling Hideaway is not a fictional home in the J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, it’s an Airbnb accommodation outside of Osoyoos. The Lord of the Rings-themed space can accommodate two guests and is currently booking at $179 per night. (Photo from Airbnb)
Amanda Burnett, Penticton resident and mother of two, shows the Facebook page Waitlisted Project BC. She is using the page to share stories from parents in the province who are struggling to find affordable childcare. (Jordyn Thomson - Western News)

B.C. mom starts support group to amplify voices of families facing daycare shortage

Amanda Burnett, founder of Waitlisted Project BC, shares parents’ stories about childcare struggles

Amanda Burnett, Penticton resident and mother of two, shows the Facebook page Waitlisted Project BC. She is using the page to share stories from parents in the province who are struggling to find affordable childcare. (Jordyn Thomson - Western News)