Elevate your local knowledge

Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!

Select Region

Selecting your primary region ensures you get the stories that matter to you first.

Shuswap

Drunk driving checks net few impaired drivers in Chase check

CHASE - RCMP say a Christmas Eve checkstop in Celista that produced nothing more than verbal warnings shows local motorists are heeding the message about drinking and driving. In a release, Chase RCMP Sgt. Gary Heebner says one ticket for no insurance was issued as were verbal warnings, but no impaired driving charges among the...

Two snowmobilers, two separate rescues for search teams in the Shuswap

SHUSWAP - Every minute of daylight counted as search and rescue crews raced to the aid of two snowmobilers during two separate incidents in the Shuswap this week. The first call came in around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27, with a report of an injured snowmobiler, possibly with a fractured spine, at Blue Lake near...

Charges laid against man who barricaded himself in Shuswap home, lit it on fire

SALMON ARM - A man accused of barricading himself inside a home and lighting it on fire during a bizarre episode in the Shuswap is facing criminal charges. Adolf Albert Edward Hemmerling, in his 40s, is charged with uttering threats and arson damaging property, in relation to the Dec. 20, 2015 incident. Hemmerling allegedly barricaded...

Eight books by Vernon and area authors to put under the tree this year

VERNON - For die-hard book worms, there’s no greater Christmas gift than a good read. A book, especially one with a personal inscription, makes a thoughtful gift for the book lover in your life. If you’re on the hunt for local titles, we’ve got a few suggestions.  For the fiction lover %%Image1%% Turtle Valley by...

Missing Salmon Arm senior found deceased

SALMON ARM - The search for a missing senior ended tragically yesterday after the Salmon Arm woman was found deceased. Mildred Ekren, 76, was last seen near her home by Fifth Street and 10th Avenue in Salmon Arm before she went missing around around noon yesterday, Dec. 7. There was an increased concern for her...

Woman’s body found after shooting reported in Shuswap

CHASE – Investigators are treating the death of a woman in Shuswap Saturday night as suspicious after a reported shooting incident. RCMP were called to a report of a possible shooting at home in the 2500 block of Squilax Anglemont Road in Lee Creek, west of Chase at around 9:46 p.m., Nov. 28, according to...

Snowfall warning for North Okanagan, Shuswap and North Thompson

VERNON – A system of moist air from the Pacific is going to crash into cold Arctic air descending from the north dumping snow over the North Okanagan, Shuswap and North Thompson tonight and tomorrow. Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the regions today, Nov. 22. Forecasters say the snow will be caused...

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...

ELECTION 2015: Conservative Mel Arnold ready to work

VERNON - Mel Arnold plans to spend his first day as a member of Parliament saying thank you. “So many people kicked in to make this campaign successful,” Arnold says. “I want to thank the volunteers that came out and supported me and the people that voted for me. That means so much moving forward.”...

ELECTION 2015: Conservative win in North Okanagan-Shuswap

VERNON - Conservative candidate Mel Arnold is the North Okanagan-Shuswap’s new Member of Parliament. Arnold had a healthy lead right off the bat Monday evening, and while Liberal candidate Cindy Derkaz was on his tail, he was declared elected as of 8:30 p.m. with about 40 per cent of the vote. Derkaz stood about 10...

ELECTION 2015: Conservative Mel Arnold leads in North Okanagan-Shuswap race

VERNON - When North Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes announced he wasn’t seeking reelection, the riding was guaranteed a brand new representative out of the 2015 federal election. That new representative was chosen tonight. The riding has been a Conservative stronghold for many years, and tonight's results show that tradition will continue for another term.  Conservative...

ELECTION 2015: New polls paint different pictures in North Okanagan-Shuswap

VERNON - Hot on the heels of a poll released by local citizens, two other groups have commissioned surveys and the findings show mixed results. The latest poll, conducted by Mainstreet Technologies and funded by Liberal candidate Cindy Derkaz’s campaign team, found 38 per cent of decided voters plan to vote for Conservative candidate Mel...

Salmon Arm mom pulls son from school after learning he was placed in locked room

SALMON ARM - A Salmon Arm mother is still in shock after finding out her seven-year-old son was being locked in a room at school as part of a behaviour management plan she knew nothing about. Jackie Graham found out about the practice when the principal of South Broadview Elementary School in Salmon Arm called...

Lake Country man found unconscious following Shuswap crash

SALMON ARM - A single vehicle collision in the Shuswap Saturday evening sent a Lake Country man to hospital with head and internal injuries. The vehicle struck a power pole in the 4700-block of Eagle Bay Road around 6:45 p.m., Sept. 26, causing the airbags to deploy and major damage to the vehicle. First responders...

Here’s how many people it took to sway a controversial riding adjustment in the North Okanagan

VERNON - Controversial boundary changes are no longer being considered for the North Okanagan's provincial electoral ridings, and you might be surprised at how few people it took to sway the proposal. The B.C. Electoral Boundaries Commission, which reviews riding boundaries after every two provincial elections, had proposed removing a section of the Vernon-Monashee riding...

Chase RCMP busy with thefts, fire and traffic

CHASE - Drunk driver, collisions, theft and fire keep Chase RCMP officers on their toes. On Sept. 14, Chase RCMP received a report of five propane cylinders stolen from the Race Trac gas station in Squilax. Surveillance video showed that at roughly 4:45 a.m., a dark-coloured, recent model Dodge pickup truck with a canopy approached...

ELECTION 2015: Candidates, voters make voices heard at North Okanagan-Shuswap debate

VERNON - Close to 500 people packed the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Monday night, not for a ballet or a concert, but for political discourse. The all candidates forum was anything but dull, and like any good show at the performing arts centre, parts certainly got people going. All four North Okanagan-Shuswap candidates were grilled...