Charlotte Helston

A big dump of snow Thursday night meant Vernon woke up to a layer of the white stuff on trees, on rooftops and on the roads. Temperatures have been below average this Winter, and small talk in the grocery isle has turned to "Where's the snow?" A bunch of it fell yesterday, ending the snowfall...

This afternoon is the deadline for those in need to apply for the Salvation Army's Christmas food hampers. The food bank is bustling with volunteers busily sprinting around the stock room, organizing food donations. A special Christmas area is set up adjacent to the regular food bank shelves where hampers wait to be made by...

Vernon will lead the province in a new mental health pilot project which aims to deliver the right resources as fast as possible to families affected by mental illness, substance abuse and domestic violence. Vernon is one of two cities to host the pilot project, and project partners agree it seemed a promising community to...

Sometimes, there are no hints as to when your car's engine will explode. That was the case yesterday when a Vernon cleaning lady's vehicle erupted in flames at 472 Fortress Cres. Jack Blair, Deputy Chief Operations, told InfoTel News the fire, which began in the engine compartment, appears accidental in nature. He says the driver parked...

Canada's Search and Rescue community has recognized Don Blakely of Vernon SAR for his outstanding leadership over the past 25 years.  "It's a little overwhelming," Blakely says of the highly regarded award. "Search and Rescue people tend to shy away from the limelight. I usually keep to myself." Blakely received the National Search and Rescue...

Families, businesses and clubs are coming together in Vernon to give the gift of medical technology. "That's what we're buying—technology," says Sue Beaudry, VJHF director of development. "We all think about the role of technology at work or in our homes, but it serves a very important purpose in health care too." Vernon Jubilee needs...

The art gallery and museum will both get bigger, but only one will move, according to the city's proposal for a new cultural center. There has been talk of a new facility for the art gallery since 2005, and despite several proposals, none have ever been put into action. Options for the museum have also...

Despite strong opposition from one councillor, Vernon has agreed to a change of ownership, management, and funding for the area's parks. The Regional District of the North Okanagan and the District of Coldstream both signed onto a new agreement for servicing of parks last week. With Vernon signed on, the agreement can now move forward to...

Update: Dec. 11 - 1 p.m. City councillors resolved to give a Vernon artist half the funds they were asked to contribute for a new mural on the Sutton building downtown at yesterday's meeting.  "They asked for over $20,000," said Coun. Lord. "We're just being very careful." The Finance Committee recommended the city give $10,000...

A new agreement will restructure the ownership and management of the area's parks, if Vernon decides to sign on.   The Regional District of the North Okanagan and the district of Coldstream both signed the Memorandum of Understanding for the Establishment of a Sub-Regional Parks Service this week.  "All that's left is Vernon," says Tannis...

A coroner's report says it was the fire, not the crash that killed a pilot and his passenger last summer in Vernon. James Leonard Langley, 59, and his passenger Karim Makalai, 55, had been on a round-trip sight-seeing flight around the Okanagan. Just after 1 p.m. on July 7, 2012, they took off from the...

The City of Vernon is planning a conservative approach to spending this coming year. The draft 2013 Financial Plan was brought to council today, and the city's chief administrative officer says it will guide Vernon on a path of security.  "The main difference between this plan (and last year's) is the entire budget is based...

Intensified health standards for drinking water and wastewater disposal are forcing privately owned utilities to seek acquisition by the regional district, and local politicians don't know what to do when they come knocking. A new policy could provide some guidance.  Vernon Mayor Rob Sawatzky says there are 18 independent water systems in the area that...

Across the country, Canadians are reflecting on the issue of violence against women, and Okanagan College staff and students aren't letting the cause go unnoticed in Vernon.  The National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women marks the anniversary of Dec. 6, 1989, a day when 14 young women at a technical school...

The city of Vernon was going to burn through its cash if a core services review wasn't implemented, says a city councillor. "We need to make our financial situation sustainable," says Coun. Bob Spiers.  Vernon has contracted the firm KPMG to get to the bottom of the city's money meltdown. The firm will offer an...

B.C.'s burgeoning wolf population and its impact on other wildlife populations and livestock is not just a northern issue, it's right here in the Okanagan, says an Enderby rancher. The question is what to do about it. Len Bawtry, a member of the Cattlemen's Association of B.C., sees a simple answer. "Wolves need to pretty well...

Not much comes free in this world, including the safety of students, greenhouse gas mitigation, and clean air and water.  The City of Vernon's transportation demand management coordinator, Wendy Majewski, believes the implementation of the School Travel Plan (STP) can address those matters, if adequate funding is provided by the city.  Over the past three...

For those who have enjoyed a few too many holiday spirits, it's a wiser choice to stay in and sleep it off. As Christmas parties started up over the weekend, the Vernon RCMP initiated Counter Attack—a holiday anti drinking driving campaign in its 35th year.  "Drivers need to think before they get behind the wheel,"...

Vernon Mounties were kept busy responding to four robberies Friday night and now that we are in the holiday season, an RCMP spokesperson says we can expect more. "It's very unusual," says RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk of the high total for one night. However robberies themselves aren't very unusual for this time of year. "We're...

The community has stood strong against a resort's plans to develop South Bay since 2004, and must now hope their protest was strong enough to hold sway in what is ultimately a provincial decision. The group Friends of South Bay recently submitted a formal complaint to the provincial government urging that Vernon's Outback Resort not...

Local politicians aren't biting on a 166-acre park proposal brought forth by a local Vernon man.  The proposal has been on the minds of Vernon city councillors for several weeks now after a presentation made by Randy Schellenberg, a local business owner, urging Vernon to buy the property which recently went up for sale. Purchasing...