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Vernon news
French Tricolour tribute to people of Paris at Vernon city hall
VERNON – Three trees at Vernon city hall have been lit with the red, white and blue of the French flag in an effort to express solidarity with the people of France following the terror attacks in Paris. Infonews.ca columnist and Vernon city councillor Scott Anderson posted a picture of the decorated trees to Facebook...
More heavy snow on southern Interior mountain highways; Kamloops gets a dump
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The heavy snow originally forecast to let up overnight continues today in southern Interior mountain passes, while snow also fell Kamloops and more can be expected this morning. Environment Canada has updated the special weather statement this morning, Nov. 15, calling for more heavy snow on the Okanagan Connector from Kelowna to Merritt,...
Winter driving conditions with heavy snow in mountain passes
SNOWFALL WARNING FOR SOUTH THOMPSON THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The heavy snow is forecast on the highways through mountain passes in the southern Interior today, Nov. 14, and overnight will make travel a challenge, and winter tires or chains a necessity. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement warning of up to 40 centimetres of snow...
Vernon Food Bank looks to community for helping hand this holiday season
VERNON - The local food bank is calling on the community to help make the holidays bright for the less fortunate. The Salvation Army is launching its annual Christmas Kettle Campaign on Saturday, Nov. 21 and is looking for volunteers. “Christmas should be about celebrating, good memories, and family coming together,” Captain Jean-Curtis Plante says...
Province to fund new complex care facility for youth in Vernon
VERNON - The province has picked Vernon as one of the early implementation sites for a new residential service for youth with complex care needs. The Ministry of Children recently signed off on a five-bed complex care facility for youth aged seven to 18 in Vernon. The province isn’t saying much about the facility because...
Hot weather, wildfires and changes in agriculture mean less Okanagan honey in the pot
OKANAGAN - An abnormally hot and dry summer appears to have had an unwelcome impact on Okanagan honey production. Helen Kennedy, who runs Arlo’s Honey Farm in Kelowna with her husband Rick Appel, says the season started off with an unusually early honey flow in May, likely due to above average spring temperatures. A productive...
Local agencies preparing for Syrian refugees, awaiting government direction
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - It's unknown how many Syrian refugees will be arriving in the souther Interior, but in the meantime, officials with the Immigrant Service Society of B.C. are looking for housing to place those escaping the conflict in the Middle East. Director of settlment services Chris Friesen says the are awaiting to receive further direction...
On the ground in Paris: The terrorist attack as seen in social media
PARIS, FRANCE - News sources are reporting at least 100 people are dead following an attack in Paris Friday evening, Nov. 13. As of 5 p.m. Nov. 13, The Associated Press reports at least six attacks including a hostage situation have led to the carnage, which began in a well-known concert hall in the city. ...
Kelowna woman guilty of possessing 15 kg of bath salts drug imported from China
KELOWNA – A West Kelowna woman has been found guilty of possessing 15 kg of a new synthetic drug she received in the mail from China. Nicole Marie Hubek, 32, was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking for bringing what RCMP say was up to $1 million worth of Methylone, also known as...
Water interruption for some Greater Vernon Water customers
VERNON – The water will be turned off for some Greater Vernon Water customers this Sunday. A valve will be replaced at a pressure reducing station at the corner of Grey Road and Buchanan Road in Coldstream on Sunday, Nov. 18, according to a media release from the Regional District North Okanagan. The water for...
Okanagan theft ring targeting Ford trucks broken up
THOMSON-OKANAGAN - An Okanagan-based theft ring with a taste for Ford F-350 pickup trucks has been busted by police. Seven people have been charged with multiple offences after a seven-week investigation by the Kelowna RCMP street enforcement unit, RCMP spokesman Const. Jesse O’Donaghey said during a press conference today, Nov. 13. An upswing in Ford...
Rainy weekend ahead in the Okanagan, avalanche risk increases in southeastern B.C.
OKANAGAN - A storm system skirting much of the region will move on this morning, though a weekend of rain is still in store for the Okanagan. The strongest winds came in the Penticton area yesterday, Nov. 12, with Environment Canada recording strong wind gusts since yesterday morning and the strongest reaching in excess of...
Church looking for donations, volunteers to help welcome refugee family to Vernon
VERNON - A local church is asking the community to help make a difference in the lives of those impacted by the global refugee crisis. Members of Trinity United Church were moved by the magnitude of the crisis and have decided to sponsor a family, representative Marilyn Erdmann says in a statement. “Members of the...
Workshop to address street safety concerns downtown Vernon
VERNON - Local agencies are responding to concerns about street safety in the downtown core by teaching businesses how to interact with street people in the area. A workshop is being offered next week to help teach businesses and property owners how to manage interactions with Vernon’s street population to prevent things from escalating. The...
Kamloops and Vernon Finning locations will stay, unknown if job cuts will hit locally
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - While Finning International announced another round of cuts the company says Southern Interior locations won’t be moving or amalgamating. The company, which is the world's largest dealer for Caterpillar equipment, has bases in Canada, where it's headquartered in Vancouver, South America and Europe. The cuts, announced today, Nov. 12, are company-wide. Hilary Anaka,...
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...
Vernon cyclists want more wheels on the ground
VERNON - Cycling enthusiasts are gearing up to get a bit more organized in the Vernon area. The Greater Vernon Cycling Advisory Committee has been around for roughly a decade, but members say the current structure isn’t getting the job done. Representative Bruce Mol says they’re looking to reorganize and take a more aggressive approach...
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...
Vernon man says he’s close to finding owner of war medals he found in an antique chest
VERNON - The Vernon man who found a mysterious box of Second World War medals inside an antique desk he bought in Montreal says he is close to finding out who their rightful owner is. Martin and his wife Jeanne Bokesch bought the desk at an antique furniture dealer last week. When they brought the...
Big storm to hit Southern Interior Thursday
THOMSON-OKANAGAN - A series of powerful storms are set to move through the B.C. Interior beginning tonight and lasting through the end of the week. The first storm will begin tonight and a second storm, more powerful than the first, will hit the Interior on Thursday and Friday, producing strong winds and heavy rain, according...
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...
Flags of remembrance wave proudly in Vernon
VERNON - A row of over 100 Canadian flags along Highway 97 in Vernon has been turning heads recently. The striking line of flags is displayed outside the Vernon Army Base and greets drivers coming into the city. The flags — 128 of them — were raised Oct. 17 as part of a nation-wide tribute...
Kelowna woman helped defraud Canada of almost $200 million in taxes sentenced to house arrest
KELOWNA – A Kelowna woman who helped defraud the Canadian government of almost $200 million in taxes was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment to be served at home. Deanna Lynne Lavalley, 54, is one of two women who committed fraud by cheating on her taxes and counselling others to do the same using an illegal...
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...