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Former Okanagan MPs to earn millions in pension

OKANAGAN - Colin Mayes may have retired, and Ron Cannan may have been defeated in the 2015 federal election, but with pensions set to pad their bank accounts to the tune of between $1.3 million and $2.3 million over their life-times, taxpayers are not quite done with them yet. The Canadian Taxpayers Federation released the...

New officer takes the reins at Vernon RCMP detachment

VERNON - There’s a new top cop in the City of Vernon. Insp. Jim McNamara has been the acting superintendent of the Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP since Reg Burgess retired in March 2015, and on Wednesday, Oct. 14, he was officially promoted to the position. "On behalf of Council and the staff of the City of...

Employee bear sprayed by shoplifter in downtown Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - A loss prevention officer attempting to stop a shoplifter was bear sprayed outside a Kamloops drug store this morning. Cpl. Cheryl Bush of Kamloops RCMP says the male suspect was leaving the Cooper's Foods store on Lansdowne Street around 11:15 a.m. with goods that had not been paid for. When the loss prevention...

Lumby company’s hemp-base doggie chews to hit shelves by end of month

VERNON - Dog lovers are lapping up a new hemp-based pet product made by a North Okanagan company. True Leaf Medicine International Ltd. launched its nutritional dog-chews, which contain hemp, at a pet industry trade show in Toronto Sept. 20, and CEO Darcy Bomford said pre-orders are already bounding in. “The last two weeks have...

ELECTION 2015: Albas defends, Scott attacks at West Kelowna culture forum

WEST KELOWNA - Conservative incumbent Dan Albas was on the defensive at a Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola all candidates meeting in West Kelowna yesterday, Sept. 26, facing tough questions about his government’s record on the CBC, environmental protection and dealings with First Nations. The three challengers to his left (figuratively) took turns receiving applause from arts supporters...

SNELSON TRIAL UPDATE: Kelowna killer sentenced; only 19 months left to serve

KAMLOOPS - It took two trials and nearly 22 years for the case and the jail doors to close on Jennifer Cusworth’s killer, but it will only be one year and seven months before his release. Neil George Snelson, 48, was sentenced to 11 years today, Sept. 16, in Kamloops Supreme Court. Since he was...

UPDATE: Young boy hit by vehicle in Penticton dies; RCMP driver investigated

PENTICTON - The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. is investigating after an off-duty RCMP officer hit and killed a five-year-old pedestrian walking with his family. At roughly 5 p.m. yesterday, Sept. 15, the boy was with his family crossing the road when he was struck.  RCMP originally said the boy was four years old but...

Water drilling rush in B.C. Interior to get jump on new water regulations

IMPACT UNKNOWN THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Companies drilling water wells in the B.C. Southern Interior appear to be busier than usual and the reason may be the introduction next spring of the provincial Water Sustainability Act and its new well licensing requirements. While hard numbers of how many wells are being drilled are hard to come by...

Man wanted on Canada-wide warrant picked up in Oliver

PENTICTON - A man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant is now in police custody following an arrest by Penticton RCMP Drug Task Force and Oliver RCMP members this week. Marcus Wilfred Sheena was apprehended on Sept. 9 for breaching conditions of a two-year sentence for a violent assault four years ago. Sheena and a female...

CORRECTION: Elderly woman dies in van in Vernon

VERNON – An 80-year-old Vernon woman died after falling out of her motorized wheelchair while in the back of a modified-van Sunday morning. RCMP were called to the 4300-block of 25 Avenue near a Petro-Canada gas station around 9:40 a.m., Sept. 6, to assist B.C. Ambulance paramedics, according to Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy. Noseworthy says the...

Suspicious fire at Vernon pet store

VERNON – RCMP has launched an arson investigation after a suspicious fire at a downtown Vernon pet store Sunday night. Vernon firefighters responded to a call around 6:20 a.m., Sept. 6, about smoke coming from AJ’s Pets and Things at 3219 31 Ave. Capt. Reinhard Mann says crews found a fire had been set at...

UPDATE: Wildfire at Cooney Bay near Kamloops is out

KAMLOOPS – It took fire crews over nine hours to extinguish a human-caused wildfire burning near Cooney Bay on Kamloops Lake west of the city yesterday. A plume of smoke could be seen rising from the area as ten firefighters from Kamloops Fire Rescue and a crew of 3 from B.C. Wildfire worked to put...

Signs at boat launches encourage responsible fishing in Okanagan Lake

KELOWNA – Lovers of the lure will notice some new signs at several major boat launches in Kelowna. The signs, which are presently at launches at Sutherland Park, Water Street, Queensway, Cook Road and Cedar Creek, list the native and introduced species in the lake as well as encourage people to practice responsible fishing. “The...

ELECTION 2015: Find out who Liberal candidate Steve Powrie is

KAMLOOPS - Steve Powrie’s daughter decided he should enter politics before he came to the same conclusion. The Liberal candidate for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo says while he complained about the current government at home one night, his daughter threw his own words back at him and told him to follow the 'practice what you preach' mantra he...

Woman killed crossing Penticton street identified

PENTICTON - The B.C. Coroners Service has identified the woman struck and killed at a pedestrian crossing in Penticton last week. Colleen Esther Mary Brennan, 48, died of injuries sustained after she was struck by a pickup truck at approximately 4 p.m., Aug. 18, while crossing Maple Street. The Penticton resident was rushed to Penticton...

Vernon cadets show bravery in moments after head-on collision

VERNON - A group of staff cadets and instructors celebrating at a recent graduation parade in Vernon didn’t hesitate to drop what they were doing and run to help those involved in a serious car crash. “The flags were just being marched on and we heard a loud bang,” Major Keri Winkelaar says. “We turned...

Vernon council decides town hall meetings aren’t needed

VERNON - Elected representatives believe Vernon residents have all the opportunities they need to raise issues with the city.  That’s why council has opted against hosting periodic town hall meetings in which citizens can bring up any topic they wish to discuss. Councillors voted 5-2 at a meeting Monday, Aug. 10, to keep things status...

Best place to watch August meteor shower in the South Okanagan

PENTICTON - Having an astrophysical observatory right on your doorstep can come in handy during cosmic events. Wednesday, Aug. 12, is the date of this year’s annual Perseid meteor shower event at the Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory. Astronomers from the observatory will be on hand to answer questions and provide information about the meteor showers....

Another rally to protest Skaha Lake development

PENTICTON – Penticton city council and the proposed Skaha Lake waterfront development will be the target of a rally planned for Tuesday. Organizer Lisa Martin says she is hoping for a big turnout at 5:30 p.m., Aug. 4, on the steps of city hall, which she says will include several speakers. Several hundred protestors rallied...

Long walks on this Kamloops beach could end in a tetanus shot

KAMLOOPS – A leisurely stroll along the beach in Centennial Park ended in a two-person clean-up expedition for one Westsyde couple. Mark and Andrea Sandberg found hundreds of rusty nails along the beach. The discovery Tuesday night, July 28, prompted them to pick up as many nails as they could over the following two nights....