Penticton Western News Wednesday, August 8, 2012
www.pentictonwesternnews.com
3
news
Bikinis and muscles heat up Skaha Mark Brett
Western News Staff
After a year off, Penticton’s biggest beach party returned with a bang Sunday on the sandy shores of Skaha Lake. Unplanned, although not totally unexpected — at least for those who know him — the unof¿cial theme of the 29th JCI Penticton Mr. Muscle and Miss Bikini competition turned out to be: Go with the Flo. Flo, whose actual name is Banctel Florent, was one of the competitors in the Mr. Muscle event (yes Mr. Muscle) and turned out to be a crowd pleaser from the moment he stepped from the beverage garden. Clad only in very short, very tight, although perfectly hemmed denim cutoffs, the bearded character entertained the appreciative crowd throughout the afternoon. His antics included some creative dance, a professional wrestling demonstration and even a horizontal conga line, with participants passing human cargo hand to hand to the back of the pack. Sadly, despite the efforts of the chanting crowd of supporters, at the end of the day he did not make it into the top ¿ve ¿nishers. The title of Mr. Muscle actually went to Kelowna’s Jared Kittlitz, who edged out defending champion Chris Schulte of Surrey, who ¿nished third, and runner-up Shane Ekeli of Van-
Mark Brett/Western News
JUDGES IN the bikini division (above) of the JCI Penticton Mr. Muscle and Miss Bikini contest watch contestant Michelle Quesnel during her walk on stage, while (above right) Flo (Banctel Florent) shows off his wares to the crowd. Winners this year (below right) were Nikita Kiceluk of Summerland and Kelowna’s Jared Kittlitz.
couver. On the women’s side, it was sultry Nikita Kiceluk of Summerland who wowed the sixmember, male judging panel. Runner-up was the energetic and provocative Michelle Quesnel of Penticton ,who coincidently was (really) enjoying her stagette party with a
group of (really) happy friends. Penticton’s Candace DeLeeww was third. Kiceluk, who took home ¿rst place prize money of $500, admitted she was a little surprised with the win, and at the time had other things on her mind. “Really, I’m late for work. I started at six so I had to call
them and tell them I won so I’ll be late,” said the server who is employed at a waterfront restaurant in Summerland. “This is my ¿rst time in this competition, but I compete in body building competitions in the bikini class so I’m kind of used to it.”
See BIKINI - Page 17
Mother stands behind daughter’s alleged pimp Kristi Patton Western News Staff
The defence for the man accused of sexually abusing his teen stepdaughter and forcing her into the sex trade industry wrapped up last week with the girl’s mother testifying. “I know the truth,” said the mother. After the stepfather was arrested last summer, the mother said she was living with the girl and ordered the girl’s boyfriend to leave the residence because she was tired of supporting him. The mother said her daughter was drunk and they got into an argument. “When she looked at me and said I’ll make sure (the stepfather) is out of our lives for good, I knew,” said the mother. Testifying in support of the stepfather — all of the names are being withheld to protect the girl — the mother said she never saw any-
thing inappropriate between the two. “There is nothing to forgive him for because I know he hasn’t done anything,” said the mother during cross-examination. The mother painted a picture of a drugfueled lifestyle. She said the stepfather was a binge drug user, and both of them dealt drugs while living in Penticton, Osoyoos, Okanagan Falls and in Vancouver. “I’m sure I wasn’t the perfect parent, but I always made sure there was food on the table and we had a roof over our head. I wasn’t the perfect parent. I made my mistakes,” said the mother. She said when an RCMP of¿cer came to her door at the Stardust Motel last summer to tell her the man had been arrested, she did not believe the charges. “I have known (the stepfather) for 15 years and that is just not who he is,” she said, add-
H A N D - BATTE Y L H RE ES
C H & I P H S S I
FR
F
ing her daughter and the man were always close. “(He) stood up to the plate. He was her father. They were best friends and they did everything together.” Crown counsel asked the mother about information from a witness that said they were concerned about bedroom activities the girl had with the stepfather. The mother said she knew nothing was happening and it was common for the girl to fall asleep in the stepfather’s bed and then later move to her own room or bed. “All they did was talk. I walked in and out of that room all the time. There was nothing like that going on,” said the mother. Earlier in the trial, the woman’s son testi¿ed that while the family was living in Osoyoos he once heard sexual noises coming from the stepfather’s bedroom while his sis-
Available in cod, halibut & wild salmon
ter was in there. The son said he was sitting near his mother and asked her if she had heard them and was shot a look from the mother that he understood as mind your own business. “(He) never, ever said that to me. He never said that to me, so I couldn’t have gave him dirty looks,” said the mother. While the man was behind bars at Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre, the woman said she had called him. The conversations were all recorded and transcribed, with some excerpts submitted as evidence by the Crown. The woman said she had phoned the man to wish him a happy birthday and that her daughter grabbed the phone from her to do the same and had told him about her graduating. “She still calls him dad,” said the mother. Closing arguments from the Crown and defence are scheduled to be heard Wednesday in Penticton provincial court.
D CHERRY LANE SHOPPPING CENTRE 2111 Main Street • 250.490.0375 penticton.gotorickys.com