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Marshall Jones
News is best when it's local, relevant, timely and interesting. That's our focus every day.
We are on the ground in Penticton, Vernon, Kelowna and Kamloops to bring you the stories that matter most.
Marshall may call West Kelowna home, but after 16 years in local news and 14 in the Okanagan, he knows better than to tell readers in other communities what is "news' to them. He relies on resident reporters to reflect their own community priorities and needs. As the newsroom leader, his job is making those reporters better, ensuring accuracy, fairness and meeting the highest standards of journalism.
UPDATE: Body found in Kalamalka Lake, death suspicious
RCMP SAY "STILL TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER WHAT HAPPENED" COLDSTREAM - Police are treating the discovery of a body floating in Kalamalka Lake Sunday afternoon as suspicious. A standup paddler noticed the body floating under the surface on the south side of Cosens Bay near the cabins and notified police about 2:30 p.m., June 28,...
Kelowna Mountie injures himself with own gun
KELOWNA - An RCMP officer is under investigation after he somehow shot himself with his own gun. This incident occurred around 6:10 p.m. tonight, June 26, when the officer was responding to a break and enter in progress, according to a release by RCMP Sgt. Mona Kauffeld. "During the response, the police officer's firearm discharged,...
FINAL UPDATE: Crews gaining ground on West Kelowna grass fire
WEST KELOWNA - A one-hectare wildfire near the Rose Valley Reservoir is now out. West Kelowna Fire Rescue Chief Jason Brolund says while wind fanned the fire to a rank three with visible flames on a steep slopes, no homes were ever in danger, in a news release at 9:30 p.m. tonight, June 26. The...
UPDATE: Knox Mountain grass fire contained; evacuation alert rescinded
KELOWNA – People living in Kelowna’s Magic Estates near the Knox Mountain wildfire are breathing a collective sigh of relief this morning now the evacuation alert has been rescinded. The alert covering homes a mere 350-metres the three-hectare fire, north of the caretaker’s cabin, was lifted at 5:40 a.m. today, June 22, by the Emergency...
Evacuation alert for Knox Mountain fire
Kelowna, B.C. – An evacuation alert has been issued due to a brush fire burning in Knox Mountain Park. Kelowna Fire Department has 30 members responding to the blaze. Residents living on the following streets are on an Evacuation Alert Notice and should be ready to leave in a moment's notice, with important items packed...
Why killer Neil Snelson could be home for Christmas
KELOWNA - Neil Snelson has once again been convicted of manslaughter in the death of a college student more than 20 years ago but be prepared: His next stay in prison will likely be short — if he goes back to prison at all. The decision by a Kamloops jury shortly before 10 p.m. June...
Now that’s drunk
KAMLOOPS - Mounties patrolling the city overnight see some strange things, like just after midnight when an officer saw an oncoming pickup on Tranquille Road approaching with just three wheels — the fourth nearly broken awkwardly and showering sparks all over the road. According to Sgt. Michael Buxton-Carr, the driver wouldn't stop for police this...
Hey Penticton: Did you feel that?
PENTICTON - Plenty of people in the South Okanagan are reporting they felt a tremor shortly before 5 p.m. today and Natural Resources Canada has confirmed it was an earthquake. Social media lit up around 4:45 p.m. with concerns about an earthquake, and Natural Resources Canada measured the tremor as a 2.5-magnitude earthquake near Princeton, though it...
BREAKING NEWS: SNELSON GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER
FINALLY, JUSTICE FOR JENNIFER KAMLOOPS - A jury has found Neil George Snelson guilty of manslaughter in the 1993 killing of an Okanagan College student in Kelowna. The seven-woman, five-man jury began deliberations this afternoon and had a decision by 9:15 p.m. tonight, June 16. Crown prosecutor Iain Currie declined to say what he will...
UPDATE: Benvoulin Road reopens after rollover
KELOWNA - Benvoulin Road was shut down this evening between Cooper Road and Springfield Road at the north end and Byrns Road at the south end because of a bizarre two-car accident. It happened in the 2300 block around 6 p.m. A witness told infonews.ca a southbound blue Pontiac nudged a white vehicle in the...
Apparently this isn’t a good place to stop for a drink
VERNON - Just FYI: An unlocked compound is not an invitation to mosey inside and borrow a motorhome for some father-son bonding over a drink. A security company thought it was suspicious that the two men were drinking in the motorhome around 9:50 p.m. Saturday, June 14 and called police thinking it was a break...
UPDATE: No arrests after suspicious Kelowna death
KELOWNA – Investigators remain on the scene of a suspicious death in Kelowna after the body of a 51-year-old Kelowna man was found in a Bernard Avenue home last night. RCMP say the body was found at about 8:31 p.m., June 14, at 941 Bernard Ave. and the scene is currently being processed by forensic...
BREAKING NEWS: Surprise twist in Snelson manslaughter trial
KAMLOOPS - Evidence in the Neil Snelson manslaughter trial came to an abrupt end yesterday when the defence called no evidence, essentially ending that portion of the trial. The Crown completed its case Thursday, June 11 after a week-and-a-half and Snelson’s lawyer, Richard Fowler, opted not to put his client, or anyone else, on the...
Police warn about resurging scams
VERNON - If they weren't con artists, thieves and frauds, you might be impressed with their ingenuity but police in the North Okanagan are definitely not impressed. Spokesperson Gord Molendyk says local RCMP detachments had more than 30 calls about two different scams operating by phone and email in the area. One is the Revenue...
Penticton RCMP investigating suspicious death, likely homicide
PENTICTON - Penticton Mounties are investigating what appears to be a homicide after shots were fired in the 1000 block of Lakeshore Road early this morning, June 4. Around 3:20 a.m. RCMP were called and found a dead man at the scene, according to a news release. Officers in white coveralls are examining an outdoor...
Penticton Search and Rescue wants you
PENTICTON - If you want to be the first person people call in an emergency, then Penticton Search and Rescue wants to hear from you. Training officer Mike Porter says with retirements of several long time leaders in the organization, they could use about a dozen more people to help make sure the team can...
Heavy rains cause mudslide impacting Highway 33
KELOWNA - Police are warning traffic near Highway 33 at the McKenzie Road turnoff to watch out for machinery cleaning up a mudslide. Const. Steve Holmes says heavy rains caused the slide and debris washed down from the north slope, partially blocking the turnoff. City crews are on scene. %%image1%% To contact the reporter for...
Home on Harvey lost to fire
KELOWNA - No one was hurt but fire has destroyed a home in the 700 block of Harvey Avenue overnight. Kelowna Fire Department Platoon Capt. Eric Simpson says crews were called out at 2:10 a.m. to find flames shooting out of the two-storey home. "Crews protected the exposures at the same time attacked the fire...
Rimouski little challenge for Rockets
QUEBEC CITY - The Kelowna Rockets defeated the Rimouski Oceanic 7-3 on Monday night at Le Colisee in Quebec City, improving to 1-and-1 and securing at least a chance to play in a tie-breaker game at the 2015 MasterCard Memorial Cup, with one game still remaining in the round robin. Nick Merkley, Leon Draisaitl and...
UPDATE: Vernon teen located
UPDATE: 10:51 A.M., MAY 25, 2015 Vernon RCMP say the missing 17-year-old girl has been…
Where you can deposit your two cents on a second crossing for Okanagan Lake
OKANAGAN VALLEY - As promised, the B.C. government has built a website so you can stay informed and give your feedback on a second bridge across Okanagan Lake. The province is still in the early stages of a three-year study and is still considering options. First you can visit the basic website which is similar to...
Police search for man accused of trying to shoot an officer, leading car chase
NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. – A man accused of trying to shoot an officer before leading police on a high-speed chase across the Lower Mainland should be considered armed and dangerous, police say.
Barn goes up in flames
KELOWNA - Fire officials say one barn at a rural property on Belgo Road was lost but they managed to prevent the spread to other out buildings. Kelowna Fire Department Platoon Capt. Dennis Miller said in a release they were called just before 10 p.m. May 18 to the property and found flames from two...
Penticton Search and Rescue called out for second time in a week
PENTICTON - A 59-year-old mountain biker was rescued from Campbell Mountain last night after he somehow injured himself. Penticton Search and Rescue was called in by B.C. Ambulance just before 8 p.m. and nine responders attended, according to a release this morning, May 14. Darkness prevented use of a helicopter so they sent out a...