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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.
14-year-old girl missing since Saturday
Update: 9:05 a.m. March 26 Police say the missing girl is back home. Update: 6:37 p.m. March 25 Kamloops RCMP are looking for a missing 14-year-old girl who left home Saturday and hasn't returned. Montana Poel-Robarts is about 5' tall, 85 lbs with auburn hair. Her mother and RCMP are concerned for her safety. Information...
Supt. Bill McKinnon to retire
By Marshall Jones Kelowna RCMP have confirmed that Supt. Bill McKinnon is retiring from service after 38 years with the RCMP. McKinnon told his officers yesterday that he was leaving his post at the end of the month. He took over the top position in May, 2004 from then-Supt. Don Harrison. He was in charge during...
BREAKING NEWS: Province commits to new Penticton Regional Hospital tower
A new tower for Penticton Regional Hospital is one step closer today after Premier Christy Clark announced plans to build a business case for the hospital. "After my visit to Penticton last month, I committed to look at how we can move along plans for the new tower," Clark said. "Penticton residents have been telling us they...
Vees sweep Silverbacks, onto the next round
Ninety-one seconds highlighted the effort and sacrifice of the Penticton Vees in their four-game sweep of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. Scoreless in the early stages of the first, the Vees killed-off a lengthy Salmon Arm five-on-three, highlighted by great goaltending and blocked shots. The kill seemed to turn the tide in the Vees favour. The...
Rockets to play Seattle in first round
The Kelowna Rockets will meet the Seattle Thunderbirds in the opening round of the Western Hockey League playoffs beginning next Friday and Saturday at Prospera Place in Kelowna. Here are the dates for the series: Game 1 Seattle @ Kelowna Friday, March 22 7:05 Game 2 Seattle @ Kelowna Saturday, March 23 7:05 Game 3 ...
Ashton’s trials will never really end
"IT'S WHO I AM NOW, AND I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN CHANGE IT. I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO:" DEBORAH ASHTON By Charlotte Helston It was an emotional day for Deborah Ashton, her two kids, and numerous loyal supporters as her third—and what she prays is her final—trial approached an end. A judge...
‘SERIOUS CONCERNS:’ MLA Foster back in AG’s crosshairs
"IT JUST DOESN'T LOOK GOOD… THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT:" FOSTER By Marshall Jones…
UPDATE: Salmon Arm man killed crossing Hwy identified
UPDATE: March 1, 2013 - 1:10 p.m. A man who was killed crossing Highway 1, Feb. 26 evening near Salmon Arm has been identified. He was Jason Marcus Greaves, 41, of Salmon Arm. The B.C. Coroners Service confirmed his identity, stating Greaves was making the crossing around 11 p.m. when he collided with a minivan...
UPDATE: Three charged in gangland murder investigation today
UPDATE: Feb. 25, 2013 - 1:12 p.m. Arrests were made in connection to the Aug. 11, 2011 gangland shooting outside the Delta Grand Hotel in Kelowna. The shootings, taking place at 2:41 p.m. in front of witnesses was described by Chief Superintendent Dan Malo as so brazen, "that it could have been mistaken for a...
Strip search leads to dial-a-dope conviction
Update 12:29 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20 By Jessica Wallace Tammy Van Buskirk was found guilty today for her part in a dial-a-dope operation dating back to 2011. B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ian Meiklem said the primary element of the case not proven was the actual possession of the drugs by Van Buskirk who was arrested...
Judge backs liquor branch against Liquid Zoo
A Kelowna judge sided with the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch against nightclub owner David Habib who violated his licence at the Liquid Zoo by allowing gang-related clothing in his club last year. The condition was placed on the Liquid Zoo because of a checkered history with organized crime. However, B.C. Supreme Court Justice...
Alert neighbour leads police to arrest thief
If you live in the area of Park and Valleyview Drives, you might want to check your things after police arrested a man for thieving from vehicles there. Kamloops RCMP spokesperson Staff Sgt. Grant Learned says an alert resident noticed a man poking through vehicles and gave police a detailed description. They stopped a man...
Police still seek suspects in January stabbing
Investigators are still seeking information from the public in connection with the stabbing of a man in front of the Mobil 1 Lube Express at 780 Columbia Street West between 1 and 1:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 24. The victim said he was assaulted by three men who appeared to be in their late teens. One of...
Few answers for police searching for men with shotgun, handgun
Police say two men armed with a shotgun and a handgun threatened several people at a rooming house in the 400 block of St. Paul St. Sunday morning. Five or six people were sitting on the deck of the home when the two men confronted them. Most of them scattered but one man who lived...
Police called in after house party gets out of control
Kamloops Mounties arrested at least two people after breaking up an out of control house party in Pineview early Sunday morning. RCMP spokesperson Staff Sgt. Grant Learned says between 10 and 40 people were found fighting in three streets outside the home in the 1700 block of Lodgepole Drive. The 42-year-old owner of the home...
Driver walks away from crash, blows twice legal limit for alcohol
A 54-year-old Kamloops woman is facing charges of impaired driving the red 2013 Jeep Cherokee she was driving crashed into a retaining wall and rolled onto its side at the intersection of Columbia St. and 13th Ave. just 11:20 p.m. Sunday. Witnesses reported seeing the Jeep heading east bound on Columbia St. swerving and driving...
Bystanders stop hit and run driver
Police and emergency vehicles are were on the scene at a two-car accident outside of Clancy's Pub on Martin Street tonight, according to witnesses. Reports are not yet confirmed, but one witness said a black car was travelling southbound and rear-ended a maroon minivan parked on the east side of the road. Robert Conci said...
Exhausted, cold snowmobilers rescued from backcountry
Vernon Search and Rescue had to help two exhausted and cold snowmobilers after they endured an 11-km walk through deep snow on Saturday. Search Manager Leigh Pearson says RCMP called the volunteer service for help finding two people in their 60s who called for help after getting stranded in the Beauleau Lake area on the...
Random beating leaves police puzzled
A 23-year-old Kelowna man is left bruised and bewildered after what police say is a random beating by one or more attackers. The man was on Ellis Street between Harvey Avenue and Buckland Avenue Wednesday afternoon when he was thrown to the ground and kicked repeatedly by an unknown number of people, says Kelowna RCMP Staff...
Parent accused of stealing from school band program
More than $22,000 has gone missing from the Okanagan Mission Secondary school band parents program and police have charged one of the parents themselves with taking it. A 47-year-old Elizabeth Sherwood of Kelowna has been charged with theft, fraud and uttering forged documents after the money went missing from a fundraising account in 2010/11. Last...
Forget the ticket: Speeding cost Surrey man $61,000
Police searching the vehicle of a speeding driver north of Kamloops earlier this week found something unexpected in the trunk. They thought it might be drugs, instead it was $61,000 in cash. On January 29, 2013 a Southeast District Traffic Section cop stopped a 35-year-old Surrey man for speeding near Darfield, B.C. Something about the...
Battered and bloody but no one’s talking
Kelowna Mounties were called to a bloody assault Thursday afternoon, but no one involved wanted to talk about it—not even the victim. Shortly after 3 p.m. police were called to Burne Ave where witnesses saw what they described as two men "covered in blood," according to Cpl. Tania Carroll. Police managed to learn that the...
16-year-old Kelowna girl missing
Kelowna RCMP need your help finding Kylie Jessome, 16, who was reported missing to the Kelowna RCMP on January 14, 2013. Jessome is described as Caucasian, 5'6", 130 lbs., medium build, long black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing red and black high top skater shoes, and carrying a blue back pack....
Man injured in targeted home invasion
Police say four people with masks entered a home early this morning brandishing weapons and beat and robbed the people inside in a targeted attack. According to RCMP Sgt. Edward Preto, several adults were home in the 1000 block of Kemano St. when the robbers entered with "sharp-edged weapons" around 1:18 a.m. He said victims of...