school
Vernon School District joins list of superintendents with pay raises
VERNON - Despite tight financial times, the Vernon School District’s superintendent was granted a raise last year, the first for that position since 2006. Joe Rogers is one of at least two other Okanagan superintendents (Kelowna's Hugh Gloster and Penticton's Wendy Hyer) to receive a fatter salary after the Ministry of Education lifted a restriction...
Enraged Sicamous father’s video of public urination brawl leads to police investigation
SICAMOUS - A video making the rounds on Facebook has people downright pissed. It all started when a group of men were reportedly relieving themselves on Main Street in Sicamous, across the road from a high school. Brent Graf, the man who shot the video, says he was picking up his daughters at the time....
Vernon parents left frustrated with City Hall over student safety
VERNON - Vernon parents are disappointed local government isn’t planning to do more to make the roads around Beairsto School safer as a drive-through Tim Hortons is built across the street. Out of 11 traffic safety recommendations made by the Beairsto Parent Advisory Council — such as widening sidewalks, reducing the speed limit on 27...
More cuts on the horizon for Vernon School District
VERNON - More cuts are on the way in the Vernon School District. The provincial government requires $437,000 of cuts in non-instructional costs at School District 22 next year, rising to $814,000 in 2016/17. “Our School District has suffered many cuts in funding in recent years. We’re proud that we’ve kept much of the cost...
Developer must pay $80,000 in upgrades before building drive-through Timmies across from elementary school
VERNON - A group of Vernon parents fear a new drive-through Tim Hortons and gas bar will worsen traffic around an adjacent elementary school, but the city claims the opposite. City planner Dale Rintoul says the developer has agreed to provide $80,000 for intersection upgrades at 35 Avenue and 27 Street, where both Beairsto Elementary...
Fire and vandalism draw authorities to Armstrong middle school
ARMSTRONG - A fire at Lenwood Middle School in Armstrong had 32 firefighters jumping out of bed at 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. Initially reported as a structure fire, members feared the worst. But Armstrong-Spallumcheen Fire Chief Ian Cummings says it was just a small fire in a garbage can a few feet from the school. “There...
Bomb threat forces evacuation at Salmon Arm school
SALMON ARM - The students of a Salmon Arm middle school were evacuated Tuesday after a prank bomb threat. The threat was at Shuswap Middle School and students were evacuated to the school field and then moved to South Broadview Elementary while police investigated, School District 83 stated in a press release. By 12:38 p.m.,...
Vernon, North Okanagan-Shuswap School Districts call students back to class
UPDATE: POWER BACK ON IN MOST SHUSWAP SCHOOLS, CLASSES A GO NORTH OKANAGAN - The North Okanagan-Shuswap and Vernon School Districts are welcoming students back to class Wednesday, Jan. 7. The green light from the ditricts comes after two snow days due to severe weather. School District 83 hadn’t called a snow day in decades....
Second snow day in a row for North Okanagan-Shuswap students
SCHOOL DISTRICTS 22 AND 83 CANCEL CLASS VERNON - Students in the Vernon and North Okanagan-Shuswap School Districts are getting a second snow day Tuesday, Jan. 6. School District 83 announced Monday evening it will be shutting down all schools due to the continued winter storm warning and Environment Canada’s prediction of freezing rain. District...
First snow day for North Okanagan-Shuswap students in decades
VERNON - It takes a lot for the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District to shut down schools and call for a snow day. Even on Monday with 35- 50 cm of snow accumulating around the region, the district remained hopeful school would carry on. It wasn’t until the eleventh hour — after other districts around the...
UPDATE: It’s officially a snow day for all North Okanagan students
UPDATE 8 A.M. JAN. 5: NORTH OKANAGAN SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN, VERNON RECREATION PROGRAMS CANCELLED VERNON - It’s officially a snow day in the North Okanagan. Despite plans to open schools as usual this morning, School Districts 22 and 83 have announced school is cancelled today, Jan. 5. “Due to the fact many staff are reporting...
Reactions to full teacher strike vary
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Earlier this week teachers voted to move to a full strike if necessary and Thursday morning the teachers' union gave the necessary 72 hours notice. If an agreement is not reached by the end of the day Monday teachers will begin a full strike Tuesday, June 17. Monday was declared a study session....
Charity comes easy to this Kelowna family
KELOWNA – For the third year in a row a Mission family is showing that charity doesn’t have to be a lot of hard work. For the past two years, the de Haas family have partnered with a local pizza shop to donate more than a dozen pizzas they take to school and offer to...
UPDATE: School lockdown ends, RCMP discover deceased suspect
KAMLOOPS - Following a manhunt on Lac Le Jeune road, police discovered the suspect who was considered armed and dangerous in the vehicle they were searching for throughout the afternoon of Dec. 9. The 40-year-old man was found deceased from an apparent self-inflicted wound. A firearm was recovered nearby. Police began their investigation and subsequent...
Power outage planned for Peachland, school closed
PEACHLAND – Residents of Peachland have another day in the dark ahead of them as BC Hydro plans to shut off power to 5,000 homes and businesses Friday. Crews will be repairing lines affected by the heavy snow fall today between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and are warning residents to be prepared. Peachland Elementary...