Charlotte Helston

By Charlotte Helston A pair of 23 year-old Vernon women were arrested Feb. 15 along with the seizure of 31 grams of powder cocaine and 21 grams of crack cocaine packaged for sale. "They're probably street level individuals, obviously very active," Gord Molendyk, spokesperson for the RCMP said. For one of the women, the encounter...

By Charlotte Helston Council has decided that because no one comes anyway, they won't bother with a final input session on the 2013 budget. There have been three opportunities for public input, and most councillors feel that is enough. But one councillor disagrees; he thinks scrapping a last chance for input is a missed opportunity....

By Charlotte Helston When Leonard Gregoire was a kid growing up in 1930s Okanagan, he was ridiculed for speaking in his traditional Okanagan language. By then, many of his peers were learning to speak English, and he was one of few children to gain a lasting fluency in the Nsyilxcen language. Now, some 70 years...

By Charlotte Helston A Vernon businesswoman worries increased parking rates will result in fewer shoppers downtown, and a circulating petition suggests she's not alone. Dianne Rowland, owner of Betty Lou Boutique on 30th Avenue, has watched numerous shopfronts turn dark as owners pack up and leave for financially greener pastures. She believes the City of...

By Charlotte Helston A rash of break and enters and thefts from vehicles looks as bad on paper as it does on the streets. When Supt. Reg Burgess presented the RCMP fourth quarter report to city council on Tuesday, he said a spike in criminal code files has tarnished an otherwise positive term. Crime has...

By Charlotte Helston City council has decided a ban on the retail sale of animals from puppy mills would be all bark and no bite in Vernon. "I've spent a lot of time thinking about this and doing research," Coun. Juliette Cunningham says. "I don't think it would have a huge impact in Vernon." The...

By Charlotte Helston A Coldstream man faces four counts of arson, including charges for a fire set at Okanagan College. The trial is expected to run all week in Vernon Supreme Court. Edward Keith Wade of Coldstream allegedly lit a fire in a garbage can at Okanagan College in 2011. He is also charged with...

UPDATE: Feb. 12, 2013 - 4:51 p.m. By Charlotte Helston City council discussions on the future of the Anna Cail Heritage Hall will remain in-camera after a delegation from the Okanagan Science Centre voiced their opinion on the matter today. Executive director Sandi Dixon and vice-chairperson Robert Clarke told council the hall is vital if...

By Charlotte Helston A ban on the sale of animals from puppy mills will be considered and possibly decided on at Monday's council meeting. The ban was proposed by local animal rights activist Gina Son, who says the area is overrun with puppy mills. She says pet store puppies, kittens and rabbits almost certainly originate...

By Charlotte Helston The board of the Vernon museum is exercising patience while preparing to ask citizens to borrow the necessary funds for a major renovation to the building. Chairman Ian Hawes this week announced a tentative date of fall 2014 for a referendum. "I'm not a big fan of throwing money away to do...

A man who threatened to stab police—and himself— was arrested this morning after a very long night. Last night at 6 p.m. Vernon mounties were called to a domestic disturbance in the 7800 block of Pleasant Valley Rd, in the Swan Lake area. Three people were in the residence at the time. After a while,...

Health Minister Margaret MacDiarmid and Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster today unveiled floor plans that will finish the top two floors of Vernon Jubilee Hospital's Polson Tower by adding 60 beds at a cost of around $29.6 million. "Our government is committed to providing high-quality and accessible health services for all British Columbians, including patients who need hospital care in the...

An updated Master Water Plan could streamline the system to provide treated water to homes, and untreated water to agriculturalists. Currently, many farmers in the area are supplied with potable drinking water to nourish their crops with, when they could be using it straight from the reservoir. "Right now, there's treatment on everything," says Greater...

While Greater Vernon politicians have decided to set aside an extra $7,500 for Vernon's community gardens, how that money is dispersed remains unknown. A few weeks ago, garden advocate Wendy Assen requested funding to hire a coordinator who would oversea the operations of Vernon's three gardens. The money has the garden's name on it, but...

In just a few months, voters will say yay or nay to borrowing $7.5 million for a sports facility at Okanagan College. The Regional District of North Okanagan believes the complex is a valuable candidate for the investment, as it will open up opportunities to host athletic events like the B.C. Summer Games, which can...

Dr. Michael Carlson of Coldstream spent his career with trees, specifically Lodgepole pines. Now that he's retired, not much has changed, except that his work has been recognized by the provincial government with a Queen's Diamond Jubilee medal. The award was presented by Forests, Lands and Natural resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson Tuesday. As an...

Upgrades costing $8 million will be coming to three highways near Vernon this year. Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Mary Polak believes the road construction will improve the driving experience for locals and tourists alike. She also notes the projects will create jobs in the region. "This work near Vernon will improve the ride and safety...

Abrupt changes to where and how a local non-profit gets its funding has created concern for the independence of Vernon's disabled individuals. Independent Living Vernon was informed a few months ago that its core funding of $53,500 would no longer be guaranteed each year, as per new regulations. It would instead have to compete with...

The jam-packed buses proved it; public transit from Vernon to UBCO had to be expanded. And now it has been, with two additional trips leaving Vernon at 9 a.m and noon. On the return, the UBCO Connector departs the university at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The extra runs will be offered between February 12...

Minister of Justice and Attorney General Shirley Bond discussed crime rates and the flaws of the justice system this morning over tea and croissants with Vernon officials. Her message, quite simply, was that crime is on the decline in B.C. while citizens are paying increased taxes for the justice system. Her solution is to move...

Vernon Fire Rescue would say it's not about the recognition, but nevertheless, they're getting some from the Minister of Justice. The Hon. Shirley Bond, Minister of Justice and Attorney General, will formally recognize the Vernon Fire Department for its smoke alarm efforts at an event Tuesday.  "It all started with a goal to have one...

A two-wheeled thief was arrested over the weekend after committing a break-and-enter, and police suspect he wasn't a first-timer. Just before 5 p.m. on Feb. 2, a woman reported that a man had just taken off on his bicycle after attempting to rob her home. "The owner said the suspect was inside the house, stole...

A teenage girl was hit by a truck Saturday night, and while her injuries were not fatal, she may have fractured her pelvis in the collision. Around 9:25 p.m. Feb. 2, the intersection of 32nd St. and 25th Ave. became a busy place as first responders and police arrived at the scene of a pedestrian...