Jessica Wallace

KAMLOOPS – A wonderful city, the best blooming town, the Tournament Capital of Canada — it’s not hard to find the beauty, but like anything, Kamloops doesn’t come without it’s flaws. In 2013, police, the courts and the bad guys were busy in the city, and we took note. A variety of trusted professionals in...

KAMLOOPS - It really hasn't been the best year for pedestrians in Kamloops. For a while, it seemed like there was an entire news beat necessary to stay on top of covering pedestrian collisions in the city. Even while compiling this piece, we were saddened to add another collision to the list — a tragic...

JOURNALIST JESSICA WALLACE This year, I'm skipping Christmas by skipping the country — and I won't miss it one bit. I hate the cold, HATE it. It's part of the reason my family and I decided to pull the plug on it altogether this year — a la 'Christmas with the Kranks.' We're saving the money we'd...

THOMPSON OKANAGAN - Maybe it's the expensive season, or it could be from indoor boredom. We like to think it's based on desperation and need. Whatever the cause, the holidays seem to be a target for scammers and thieves. We don't mean to be the holiday fun police, but there are things you should know....

KAMLOOPS - One of the two men accused of having sex with two underage sisters has been found guilty. The other was acquitted. The trial began in November for Tyson Coutlee and Raven Bebamikawe. Each faced one count of sexual interference of a person under 16. The charges came after events on Oct. 13, 2011. Crown...

KAMLOOPS - The man accused in a shooting on Brunner Avenue over the summer is expected to go to trial early in the New Year. Trevor Wilvers faces multiple charges including posession of a loaded prohibited or restricted firearm without a license, unlawfully causing bodily harm and criminal negligence causing bodily harm after an incident...

KAMLOOPS - Some people are early risers, others are just — not. Luckily, Kamloops earlybirds seem to be quite handy with a camera because they caught what a lot of us missed this morning, an absolutely beautiful sunrise over the city.  Here's how some of us woke up this morning and what some of us...

KAMLOOPS - Kamloops RCMP's top cop emphasized organized crime as a priority yesterday after multiple weapons seizures recently in the city. "We're faced with situations where organized crime groups are reaching out into the city," said Supt. Brad Mueller. "Today, I want to emphatically state that that remains a priority for us." Mueller would not...

KAMLOOPS - You can volunteer this holiday season, and right now — there's not much to it. Only half the seniors and people with limited mobility who need their driveways shovelled in Kamloops have been matched up with Snow Angels and the program is in need of volunteers. There's not much snow on the ground right...

KAMLOOPS - The TNRD is preparing for changes to medical marijuana laws to be imposed by the federal government. A public hearing was held last week and a bylaw regulating medical marijuana grow-ops in the area was read for the third time. Now, the law is headed for review by the province before it can...

KAMLOOPS - A three-month undercover investigation on the streets of Kamloops has resulted in a slough of drug charges for everything from marijuana to heroin. Police are recommending 39 charges against 19 people after 'Project Eplanster' by the Kamloops RCMP Targeted Enforcement Unit. The majority of the charges — 28 of them — are for cocaine trafficking,...

KAMLOOPS - Hospital parking woes got you down? If you live in Kamloops, the answer is likely yes, but a Kamloops transit user is wondering why more people aren't utilizing bus services that drop passengers off right at the hospital. Route six, 'City Loop', leaves about once an hour from the Lansdowne Exchange and drops...

KAMLOOPS - Ninety-nine problems have sent a 47-year-old man to jail for five years. Chadley Olson, 47, was sentenced today in B.C. Supreme Court in Kamloops after pleading guilty to multiple break and enter charges in both Kamloops and Saskatoon earlier this year. "Mr. Olson was on quite a crime spree here," said Crown prosecutor...

KAMLOOPS - The jury has heard evidence and arguments from both sides and should begin deliberations tomorrow in the Roy Fraser double murder trial. After five weeks, about 30 exhibits and over 40 witnesses, the jury must decide whether Fraser killed Damien Marks, 31, and Kenneth Yaretz Jr., 24. The two Kamloops men were found...

KAMLOOPS - "Did you kill Ken Yaretz Jr.?" "No." "Did you kill Damien Marks?" "No." "Do you know who killed them?" "No." The man accused of double murder in Kamloops took the stand today in his own defence. Roy Fraser — on trial for the 2009 murders of Kenneth Yaretz Jr., 24, and Damien Marks, 31...

KAMLOOPS - A local rotary club is starting a task force to target a rise of crystal meth in Kamloops. The club was approached by the Kamloops RCMP after it reported a growing concern about crystal meth usage in Kamloops during last quarter's reports. Kamloops Daybreak Rotary Club president Debra Sloat says the group is...

ANIMAL CRUELTY INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED KAMLOOPS - Police are investigating animal cruelty after the death of two dogs, shot in the Knouff Lake area earlier this week. The two dogs were found by their owner on Vitsula Road. One was dead. One was still alive. "One of the dogs was paralyzed mid-body down and left for...

KAMLOOPS - The Kamloops Business Improvement Association is reminding businesses to be vigilant after multiple complaints were made about a possible retail scam. The Association's general manager Gay Pooler says the RCMP received complaints from businesses in the downtown, North Kamloops and Aberdeen regions about people claiming to be point of sale merchants and asking...

KAMLOOPS - A man who lost part of his leg in a pedestrian accident will have to wait until later this month to hear the verdict for the woman accused of hitting him. Evelyn Jack is accused of hitting Greg Harris with her car outside Coopers in the Lansdowne Village parking lot, Dec. 2 of...

KAMLOOPS - The jury has been given a long weekend away from Roy Fraser's double murder trial and isn't expected to sit again until next week after the completion of the Crown's case Tuesday. Roy Frederick Fraser is charged with murdering two Kamloops men. He faces one charge of first degree murder for the death...

KAMLOOPS - Xboxes, Barbies and ugly Christmas sweaters can be exciting for shoppers during the holiday season, but they can also be a big red target if left behind in vehicles in plain sight. The city wants to remind Kamloops shoppers to protect their goodies while shopping this holiday season. Shopping malls, parking lots and...