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Pay-by-phone parking system pitched for downtown Vernon
VERNON – With parking being one of the biggest complaints people have about downtown Vernon,…
Vernon Community Band appeals to city hall to keep the music alive
VERNON – Money problems could stop the music for a community band that performs for…
Same road work, different price tag as construction costs rise in Vernon
VERNON – It costs the city more to do the same construction project today than…
HELSTON: When politicians give you cash back, don’t complain
It’s not uncommon to hear people grumble about rising taxes, but have you ever heard…
City-owned buildings to be demolished in Vernon
VERNON – The city will be tearing down a building and creating more parking in…
Bus stop to stay at Vernon mall for now
VERNON – Plans to move a bus stop at the Vernon mall are on hold.…
Vernon council will ‘sit back and wait’ when it comes to pot dispensaries
VERNON – A Vernon pot dispensary made a pitch to work openly, transparently and collaboratively…
Crunch time for runway extension at the Vernon airport
VERNON – It’s now or never when it comes to extending the runway at the…
Vernon councillor alarmed over ‘cavalier’ attitude over agricultural land
VERNON – A Vernon councillor is concerned her colleagues are letting the preservation of agricultural…
Wheelchair accessible taxis don’t need councillors’ encouragement
KAMLOOPS – Local taxis companies don't need Kamloops city council's encouragement to meet the demand…
New ice rink study, storm system upgrades top Kamloops budget requests
KAMLOOPS – Homeowners can expect to pay an additional $36 on average for their property…
City returns cash to Vernon taxpayers
VERNON – Vernon taxpayers are getting a few bucks back from the city. During budget…
Free parking in downtown Vernon adding up to concerns
VERNON - There’s concern that free parking is coming at too high a cost in downtown Vernon. Vernon city council has approved a number of free parking days for special events and initiatives, adding up to a total of approximately 15 days of free parking, Coun. Catherine Lord said at a meeting Monday, Jan. 11....
Options of new welcome to Vernon signs ‘too bland’
VERNON - Vernon council trashed a series of design ideas for the city’s new welcome signs, calling for more playfulness and vibrancy. This week council was shown three options for the signs, which are being redone, but quickly sent staff back to the drawing board. The draft designs featured wood material, and a large white...
Vernon council exploring options for largely empty downtown parkade
VERNON - Concerns around safety might be deterring people from using downtown Vernon’s parkade. The parkade only has about 35 per cent usage, council learned on Monday, Dec. 14, leading Coun. Catherine Lord to question why it's not better used. “We need to do something to make it more attractive for people, especially if we...
Merchants air mixed feelings about downtown Vernon market
VERNON - Vernon has some hard data on how downtown merchants feel about the summertime Avenue Market, and while it's not all good there is support to keep the market going. Survey results show businesses have mixed feelings about the market, which runs on Friday evenings on 30 Avenue during the summer. Of 143 surveys sent...
Mounties calling for more manpower to police Vernon streets
VERNON - More RCMP boots on the ground seems to be the answer to a recent wave of safety concerns in the downtown core, but mounties say more boots requires more bodies. Sgt. Kara Triance spoke of the need for an increase of two police officers during a presentation to Vernon City Council Monday, Nov....
Vernon resort makes case for contentious marina on Okanagan Lake
VERNON - Those pushing for a new marina on Okanagan Lake say safety is at stake if the project is blocked. The proposal for a 72-slip marina for the Outback Resort has been a controversial one. A neighbourhood group called the Friends of South Bay are fiercely opposed, citing environmental impacts, water quality concerns and...
Bow hunting pitched as solution for Vernon deer population
VERNON - There’s talk about using bow hunting to help manage the deer population in Vernon. Coun. Brian Quiring made the suggestion at a council meeting Nov. 9, noting the city is overrun with deer. “There are so many deer it’s unbelievable,” Quiring said. He added the sheer volume of deer crossing city roads is...
Fewer traffic check stops, drunk driving investigations in North Okanagan a symptom of heavy caseload
VERNON - A heavy case load impacted the Vernon RCMP’s ability to keep up with proactive police work, like traffic checkstops, over the summer. RCMP Superintendent Jim McNamara pointed out a 12.5 per cent rise in criminal code cases, much of it related to property crimes, which jumped 10.9 per cent, during an update on...
Plans for huge new care home in downtown Vernon coming along
VERNON - The creation of a large, multi-storey care home in downtown Vernon is moving along, but there are concerns it won’t be much to look at. The City of Vernon supported several development variances for the project, which includes 90 residential care beds, 52 assisted living units, 72 one- and two-bedroom condo units, and...
Vernon residents still fighting resort’s attempts to build a marina
VERNON - A controversial marina proposal on Okanagan Lake has resurfaced. The Outback Resort has once again applied for permission from the provincial government to build a 72-slip marina in South Bay near Ellison Provincial Park and that’s put a local community group on the defensive. The Friends of South Bay has been boycotting the marina...
Vernon council disagrees about panhandling issue
VERNON - A Vernon city councillor insists panhandling is getting out of control, but that view isn’t shared by the rest of council. Coun. Scott Anderson raised the issue after a Vernon food truck vendor spoke out about being harassed and physically assaulted downtown. “We have a duty to help anyone that needs help and...
The cause of that foul odour at Vernon’s Polson Park
VERNON - It should smell like the fresh outdoors, but instead Polson Park in Vernon has been wrinkling noses lately. People are complaining about a foul, septic smell in the park, and Vernon city councillor Juliette Cunningham says she’s not only heard from community members about the problem, but experienced it firsthand. “I walk on...