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Vernon news

Skydiver hits power lines near Vernon Airport

VERNON – A skydiver hit a power pole and ended up tangled up in power lines near the Vernon airport today. The man was parachuting with a group from Okanagan Skydiving just before noon, Aug. 3, when he hit power lines on the 6600-block of Tronson Road, according to Vernon Fire Rescue Capt. Colin Clarke....

Run away from your smoking addiction

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A new program is popping up around the country which will help you run away from your problems. The Running Room is launching a Run To Quit program, which will be backed by federal funding and support from the Canadian Cancer Society. The program is designed to help smokers quit by incorporating running...

ELECTION 2015: MP’s brag about accomplishments as early election expectations mount

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – With a federal election less than three months away, local MP’s are ramping up their push to promote their accomplishments over the past year. It’s not unusual for politicians to send releases to the media to show the work they do and the money they’ve secured for their areas, but a breakdown of...

Province pulls plug on Coldwater River water use

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - In a bid to help struggling salmon populations, water use reduction measures have been imposed on the Coldwater River. The province issued the restriction today, July 31, banning all water use or diversion from the Coldwater River and its tributaries from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. effective immediately. The restriction escalates to a...

Markets, corn and music fill B.C. Day long weekend in Vernon

VERNON - Another long weekend is upon us and if you are looking to get out and enjoy the summer heat Mother Nature will be gifting us this weekend, plus there is lots to keep you busy. Environment Canada is calling for temperatures in the mid-30s with sunshine all weekend, but if you are looking...

RCMP foot chase ends in Vernon park with help of police dog

VERNON – A police dog made short work of the hunt for a suspect who ran into a Vernon park to hide this week. The RCMP dog team tracked down a teenager wanted on gun-related offences in Girouard Park in Easthill on Tuesday, July 28. The chase started when officers knocked on the door of...

Kelowna to retain control over YLW until 2054

KELOWNA – The City of Kelowna will remain in charge of the Kelowna International Airport until 2054 thanks to a 20-year lease extension by the federal government. Until that time, Kelowna will remain responsible for management, operation and development of the largest airport in the B.C. Interior. Kelowna mayor Colin Basran says the extension is...

Fishing suspended along Middle Shuswap River

VERNON - Another body of water has been closed to fishing due to ongoing drought conditions in Southern B.C. Warm water temperatures and a low flow rate are two reasons why the provincial and federal governments decided to suspend angling in Middle Shuswap River from Mabel Lake to Shuswap Falls. The suspension will last from...

Formula 1 tunnel boat race team joins fight against mussel infestation

KELOWNA – The Okanagan Basin Water Board is teaming up with Formula 1 Tunnel Boat racer Mike McLellan to raise awareness for their Don’t Move a Mussel campaign. The announcement was made Tuesday, July 28, at the Water Street boat launch in downtown Kelowna. The Don’t Move A Mussel campaign is attempting to raise awareness...

Want quick attention to Fortis over-billing? Go to the media

WORKED FOR THIS GUY KELOWNA – Media attention got an almost immediate result for a local celebrity who went to the news with a $4,500 power bill for a cabin that wasn’t even there. Gary Fong, a world-famous photographer and inventor made headlines last week when he went public with a massive bill for his...

Vernon food security projects growing

VERNON - Local food security programs are being supported by provincial funding that will allow them to grow jobs and fresh produce. Kindale Development Association is receiving more than $40,000 to support Patchwork Farms at Okanagan College-Vernon develop a farm-gate market, coordinate a gleaning program and take the beginning steps for creating community kitchens and...

Migrant workers still missing from Okanagan farm a month later

VERNON - Four migrant workers from Mexico have still not been found a month after an Okanagan farm owner reported the men missing. Huizar Soto Uriel, 37, Isaac Jimenez, 28, Juvenal Rios Binedo, 39, and Juan Manual Sanchez Gallegos, 30, entered Canada on June 16, 2015. On June 26 the foursome departed the farm where...

Kamloops jail ordered to flag inmates with a history of violence: WorkSafe B.C.

KAMLOOPS - WorkSafe B.C. ordered administrators at the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre to flag or identify violent offenders after an inspector discovered there wasn't a proper system in place to warn corrections officers of a potential assault. Inspector Vincent Strain prepared his report and order to create a new flagging system after an inmate assaulted...

Readers respond to #maninbluesuit

KELOWNA – An InfoNews story about a recent visit by Prime Minister to the Shelter Cove wildfire last Friday has ignited a debate about political photo ops and our decision to not name the Prime Minister during a brief visit last Thursday. The story, “Man in blue suit thanks firefighters,” was shared nation-wide and drew...

Drought level increased in South Thompson, three other areas of southern interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Extremely dry conditions and low stream flows have forced the province to raise the drought level in four areas of the southern Interior today. A Level 4 drought rating has been announced for the South Thompson, Similkameen, Kettle and Skagit areas, July 27. Further declines in stream, lake and aquifer levels could lead...

Taxi driver ticketed for speeding after rolling car near Parkinson Way

KELOWNA - A taxi driver was ticketed for speeding after he lost control of his car and rolled over on Highway 97 and Parkinson Way in Kelowna just before 6:30 p.m. July 26. The driver, a 35-year-old Vernon man, was the only occupant of the vehicle, which Cpl. Joe Duncan says lost traction in the...

BOLEAN LAKE FIRE: Evacuation alert lifted; fire 75 per cent contained

FALKLAND – The Bolean Lake wildfire burning near Falkland in the North Okanagan is now 75 per cent contained and the evacuation alert has been lifted. The alert covered 24 properties along the Chase-Falkland Road and the Bolean Lake Lodge. There has been a significant drop in fire behaviour thanks to the cooler, wetter weather...

Coolest weekend of July over, sun and heat on the way for Okanagan

OKANAGAN - The weekend was much cooler than what we’ve seen so far this summer, but we will be back above seasonal normals by mid-week. With temperatures only reaching the low- to mid-20s Friday through Sunday it was one of the coolest weekends we’ve seen in the past couple of months. Temperatures did reach the...

Showers for the weekend in the Okanagan; sunshine returns Monday

OKANAGAN – The cool, wet weekend is a welcome break from the hot, dry weather we’ve been experiencing so far this summer in the Okanagan. Environment Canada is calling for showers off and on today, July 25, and Sunday up and down the valley, with high temperatures in the low 20s Celsius. Most of the...

Coroner’s findings in death of Enderby senior

ENDERBY - Dementia is considered a contributing factor in the death of an Enderby woman. Barbara Nell Derenowski, 73, was found dead March 4 on a logging road near Douglas Lake after driving many kilometres from her home in Enderby. Her neighbours were shocked and saddened to hear of her passing. According to a coroner’s...

Push for traffic light at Stickle Road in Vernon continues

VERNON - There continues to be widespread disagreement over what to do with Stickle Road. While the Ministry of Transportation scrapped it’s original plan and is now touting the idea of a protected T intersection, local government officials remain unimpressed. The ministry presented its revised plan to the North Okanagan Regional District board of directors...