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Vernon news
Area director worried about lack of consultation for cutblock near Vernon
VERNON - A local politician has concerns about a proposed cutblock near Vernon — primarily that he wasn’t even notified about it. Electoral area C director Mike Macnabb says he wasn’t consulted about four proposed cutblocks covering a total of 261 acres on Vernon Mountain, even though the land is in area C. Macnabb has...
Plans underway to fill health care gap left behind by Vernon walk-in closure
VERNON - As one walk-in medical clinic in Vernon closes, the door to a new one may soon be opening. Plans are quietly developing around the possibility of a new walk-in medical clinic in Vernon following news that the Vernon Family Doctors Walk-In Clinic at the Fruit Union Plaza is closing March 19, 2016. Few...
Another reprieve for Interior Health laundry workers
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The Hospital Employees’ Union is welcoming news that Interior Health is delaying its decision to contract out laundry services. New Interior Health President and CEO Chris Mazurkewich says in a release today, Nov. 25, not to expect a decision before March 2016. He’s been on the job less than a month and wants...
UPDATE: Precautions taken after overnight fuel spill in Coldstream
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, DISTRICT OFFICES TO REOPEN COLDSTREAM - An overnight fuel spill at a Coldstream gas staiton has prompted a full response from emergency crews. Officials say approximately 6,000 litres of gasoline spilled at the Centex Gas Station on Kalamalka Road just after midnight, Nov. 25. The spill is believed to have occurred when a...
Mexican workers who disappeared from Okanagan farm in June located
VERNON – Four Mexican men working at a Vernon orchard who disappeared back in June…
Questions and concerns over proposed cutblocks near Vernon
VERNON - A proposed cutblock in the Coldstream area has the City of Vernon asking more questions. The city received notice from B.C. Timber Sales in September regarding proposed cutblocks covering 261 acres within the BX Community Watershed, just east of Vernon in electoral area C. The area is located on Vernon Mountain and while...
Coldstream municipal hall, elementary school closed due to gas spill
COLDSTREAM - An incident has forced a sudden closure of the Coldstream municipal hall. According to a media release from the District of Coldstream, an overnight gas spill in the vicinity of the Coldstream municipal office, the building is closed until further notice. The gas spill happened at the Centex Gas Station on Kalamalka Lake...
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...
Dream Auction one for the record books
VERNON - It will go down as one of the most successful dream auctions in the last three decades. This year’s Kalamalka Rotary Dream Auction, the 31st annual event, raised more than $204,000, an all-time record according to organizers. “The success is due to the enthusiastic donors who support the effort every year and of...
Woman pursues driver suspected of vehicle theft in Vernon
VERNON - A member of the public went above and beyond by tailing a driver who allegedly stole a truck earlier this week. Vernon RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says police got a heads up around 7:20 p.m. Nov. 22 that a community member was following a 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup truck she’d just witnessed stolen...
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....
Advocate likens cost of a new Vernon arena to a monthly cup of coffee
VERNON - A number of businesses, sports groups and community members came out to show their support for a new arena in Vernon. Representatives from the Vernon Vipers, Greater Vernon Minor Hockey, the Vernon Figure Skating Club, the Prestige Hotel, Super 8 and Village Green, among others, came together at a news conference Monday, Nov....
Community group created to welcome refugees to the North Okanagan
VERNON - A group of community organizations, local residents and faith groups are coming together with a common vision — welcoming refugees and settling them in the North Okanagan. The recently created North Okanagan Refugee Committee is already mobilizing to bring international refugee families to the area. “It is important that refugees are welcomed, supported...
Great timing for Oyama artist to meet demand for colouring books
OYAMA - This Christmas you will be tempted at some point to browse the latest trend of colouring books for adults but before you buy off the rack, you should see the books from local artist Sarah Marie Thompson. The long-time Okanagan resident has three colouring books for sale both online and at Kelowna’s Mosaic...
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...
Jann Arden tour includes stops in Kamloops and the Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - An award-winning Canadian singer will be making stops in two local cities this coming spring. Jann Arden is bringing her Almost Everything tour to the Vernon Performing Arts Centre on March 19 and the Sagebrush Theatre in Kamloops on March 21. Arden is a Canadian born singer, songwriter, broadcaster and author with eight...
Vernon loses one of three walk-in medical clinics
VERNON - Access to medical care in Vernon is shrinking as a walk-in clinic closes its doors. The Vernon Family Doctors Walk-In Clinic at the Fruit Union Plaza on Highway 6 has announced it’s closing permanently on March 19, 2016. The clinic is encouraging patients to attend their regular family physicians, and for those without...
Wintery week ahead in the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - With a snowfall warning in place and cooler temperatures in the forecast, the Okanagan is in for a wintery start to the last week of November. Yesterday, Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for the South and North Thompson, Shuswap and North Okanagan regions, saying snowfall would begin overnight and continue through today, Nov....
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...
Southern Interior braces for winter storm with blast of Arctic air
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The first Arctic outbreak of the season is going to blow through the Thompson-Okanagan bringing blowing snow, cold temperatures and “crummy travel conditions,” according to Environment Canada. A special weather statement, which covers most of southern B.C., has been issued by Environment Canada warning of a winter storm expected with the worst of...
Okanagan hunter fined for shooting deer decoy out of season
KELOWNA – A seasoned hunter who pleaded guilty to shooting at a B.C. Conservation Service deer decoy in West Kelowna days after the season ended one year ago says it was an honest mistake. Joseph Vernon Lange, 60, was driving down the Esperon Forest Service Road in West Kelowna Nov. 15, 2014 when he saw...
How the Mounties got their money
VERNON - Mounties didn’t really get their man, but they did get his money. Earlier this month, North Okanagan RCMP traffic police smelled marijuana coming from a vehicle travelling in front of them on Highway 6. Police said the vehicle also had expired registration on the licence plate. They arrested the driver for possession of a...
Gas prices steady in the Okanagan while Kamloops prices drop
OKANAGAN - While gas prices were trending downwards earlier this week drivers in the Okanagan didn’t get a break, unless they were up in Kamloops where prices dipped well below a dollar per litre. According to Gas Buddy, an online consumer reporting website, gas prices are currently in the 107.9 to 109.9 cents per litre...
Compassion spared Kelowna man death by cop
“HE WOULD PUT THE REVOLVER TO HIS HEAD AND HE’D JUST SIT THERE WITH IT IN HIS MOUTH.” LANGUAGE ADVISORY KELOWNA – A dangerous situation in downtown Kelowna last summer could have turned tragic if it wasn’t for the actions of a group of strangers and a compassionate response by an arresting police officer. On...