Vernon news
Rail corridor acquisition looking likely in Lake Country as ‘no-votes’ fail to materialize
LAKE COUNTRY - The man spearheading Lake Country’s acquisition of the CN Rail corridor says he felt little opposition to the project at an open house he hosted last night for local residents. “We were asked a lot of very good questions from a good cross section of people. There seemed to be more concern...
Serial armed robber strikes in three provinces
VERNON – A serial bank robber who struck eight banks in three provinces in less than two months has managed to elude police, who are now asking the public for help identifying him. The first robbery was Dec. 1 in Princeton, followed by seven other armed robberies in B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan. On Dec. 9...
TIMELINE: Bank robber strikes three provinces in two months
VERNON - A man police are calling a serial armed robber has stolen cash from eight different banks across three provinces in just 52 days, and police are worried he's not done yet. The first in a series of similar incidents happened at 2:50 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2014, when a man dressed in dark...
How one woman is bringing hope and dignity to those affected by the Ebola outbreak
RAISED IN SALMON ARM, NOW FIGHTING EBOLA IN LIBERIA LIBERIA - Working in the Ebola treatment unit, Bev Kauffeldt would hold her hands together in front of her to resist the urge to console patients with a shoulder squeeze, or a hug. On occasion, if she dipped her three layers of gloves into chlorine, she...
Vernon breaks warm weather record
VERNON – The spring-like weather continues for Vernon with a record high temperature on Sunday, Feb. 8. The mercury rose to 7.9 C, breaking the old record of 6.1 C on the same day in 1998, according to Environment Canada’s website. To put things into perspective, the normal high for his time of year is...
Two drivers, two crashes, same potential impaired charges
KELOWNA - Two separate crashes over the weekend could result in impaired driving charges for two Kelowna men. A concerned citizen flagged down police Feb. 7 at 11:16 p.m. to alert them to a 32-year-old Kelowna man slumped over the steering wheel of a blue Mazda 3 parked on Water Street, according to an RCMP...
Vernon’s Elena Gaskell wins gold in slopestyle skiing at Canada Winter Games
PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – Elena Gaskell was only six when she tackled freestyle skiing for the first time.
Okanagan window painter bringing a little cheer to city streets
VERNON - Bernie DiDiT—the cartoonist behind window paintings all the way from Armstrong to Keremeos—likes to make people smile. The quirky 60-year-old loves bringing a little cheer to city storefronts during events like the Armstrong IPE, Vernon Winter Carnival and May long weekend in Keremeos. “When someone comes along and says wow, that’s cool—that pat...
Danger in the backcountry; avalanche warning issued
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The unseasonably warm weather this week has the experts at Avalanche Canada warning backcountry enthusiasts about the risk of snow slides. There have been a number of recent reports of large avalanches in the mountains across the Southern Interior, including the South Columbia, Kootenay-Boundary, Purcells, South Rockies, Lizard Range and Flathead regions, avalanche...
Top 7 romantic places in Vernon
VERNON - From postcard perfect lake views to snow covered mountains, this picturesque valley we call home has no shortage of lovely locales. This Valentine’s Day, we’ve decided to celebrate the romantic locations our city boasts, and to help us round up the top seven we caught up with some local photographers. Who better to...
Vernon RCMP looking for person of interest after elderly man assaulted
VERNON - Police are appealing to the public for information after an elderly man was allegedly assaulted Thursday afternoon. According to a Vernon RCMP media release, the 83-year-old man was walking along the sidewalk between Coldstream Avenue and 30 Avenue on 34 Street just before 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12. He spoke to a man...
Honouring one of Vernon’s last standing historical Chinatown buildings
VERNON - It was a gathering place for Vernon’s Chinese at a time when the wider community did not accept them as equals. A place they held meetings, engaged in social activities, and cooked traditional feasts. The large, beige, three-storey building at the corner of 28 Avenue and 33 Street, now the Gateway Men and...
Vernon School District seeks feedback on busing changes
VERNON - The Vernon School District is reaching out to parents for input on contentious bussing changes implemented this year. In a recent survey, parents were asked for feedback on School District 22’s transportation policy, which now enforces a 2.4 km walk limit at all its schools. About 300 students living within the walk limit...
Former Vernon Mountie facing child porn allegations arrested on unrelated charges in Alberta
VERNON - A former Vernon Mountie awaiting trial on child pornography charges was arrested in Alberta last week for impaired driving and possession of stolen property. RCMP media relations officer Cpl. Sharon Franks says Ryan Hampton, 37, was arrested Feb. 2 by police in Strathmore, Alta. After pulling him over, officers searched the vehicle and...
Fire in dryer suspected cause of blaze in hotel at Silver Star Resort
VERNON – A fire in a hotel at the Silver Star Mountain Resort in Vernon has caused extensive smoke and water damage.