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Vernon news
Golfers rejoice: Local course to open Thursday
SPALLUMCHEEN - At least one local golf course is boasting an early March opening. The Spallumcheen Golf and Country Club is opening its driving range Thursday, Mar. 5. — one of the earliest dates around. The course at Predator Ridge is eyeing an April 8 opening, and the Vernon Golf and Country Club says the...
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...
How the Vernon Art Gallery is solving space problems with steel boxes
VERNON - A unique attraction is taking shape downtown Vernon. Five massive container boxes arrived in the empty lot across from Cenotaph Park Monday morning. In two weeks time, the steel boxes will house a major international art show. “It’s fairly unique,” Vernon Public Art Gallery executive director Dauna Kennedy Grant says. “I myself haven’t...
Ski coach apologizes for secretly filming young girls at Silver Star Mountain Resort
VERNON - Before getting caught secretly filming young girls between 14 and 16 years old undressing on a school trip to Silver Star Mountain Resort, Jason Paur was a popular ski coach, mentor and friend to his students. That all changed when a trio of girls noticed a Luminex camera hidden in the curtains of...
Lake Country council will decide tonight on referendum recommendation by district staff
LAKE COUNTRY - Mayor and council will tonight decide whether Lake Country voters will have their say on the CN Rail corridor purchase through a district-wide referendum. Staff are recommending the referendum be held April 25 and will ask the simple question of whether qualified voters agree that the district should borrow $2,615,000 to buy...
Charges laid in crash that took the life of a Vernon nurse
VERNON - Charges have been laid in relation to an accident on 32 Street that took the life of a Vernon nurse in the early morning hours of Oct. 23, 2014. Vernon RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says Lori Victoria Vance will appear in court March 19 to face charges of impaired driving causing death and...
These videos about small Thompson-Okanagan towns will make you proud to live here
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - From brewhouses to outdoor theatre companies, a number of small businesses in the Thompson-Okanagan are being celebrated in a six-part video series. It’s part of a project called Small Business, Big Culture that highlights select cities across B.C. and Alberta. Vernon, Armstrong and Kamloops made the cut, in addition to Medicine Hat, Lethbridge,...
One of the Okanagan’s most expensive, multi-million dollar homes is hiding in Vernon
OKANAGAN - If a Vernon home complete with its own theatre, library, and heli pad sells for the asking price — close to $8 million — it would become the third most expensive residential property in the Okanagan Valley. But if you look the property up on B.C. Assessment, it doesn’t even make the top...
Court hears boat was travelling at ‘killing speed’ before crash on Shuswap Lake
KAMLOOPS – A speedboat was travelling at "killing speed" before a fatal nighttime crash with a houseboat on Shuswap Lake in 2010, a trial has heard.
Surprise construction costs blow new Vernon sports track budget
VERNON - Unexpected costs mean Vernon’s new sports track is more than three quarters of a million dollars over budget. But taxpayers shouldn’t worry about the $790,000 overrun, says Greater Vernon director Mike Macnabb. The extra funding is expected to be recovered through reserves and donations. “We have a very aggressive plan to get some...
Vernon’s top cop reflects on 35 years with the RCMP
VERNON - RCMP Superintendent Reg Burgess’ entry into the police force 35 years ago was a serendipitous one. The now 60-year-old had a business administration degree under his belt and was working as a loans manager in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He was single and rooming with a fellow who happened to be a police officer....
Suspects take two guns during terrifying home invasion
VERNON - RCMP are asking for public assistance to help them find several suspects who forced their way into a Vernon home to steal guns from a safe at The Strand Lakeside Resort. The resort is located along Okanagan Landing Road near Okanagan Landing Elementary School. The 34-year-old victim of the home invasion was restrained,...
Speeding driver plays chicken with Vernon cop
VERNON – The hunt is on for a driver who tried to play chicken with a Vernon RCMP cruiser early this morning. At around 3:35 a.m., Monday, March 2, an officer tried to pull over a Honda in the area of 29 Street and 39 Avenue near the Civic Arena, according to RCMP spokesperson Gord...
The household remedy that started a major RCMP drug investigation in Enderby
VERNON - When authorities raided an Enderby business and lodging house last week, they noticed a horrible smell from a weird substance growing in a jar and called in the RCMP's drug lab unit from Vancouver—complete with full-body suits and gas masks. But your average health nut might have immediately recognized it as a home-made...
Eco-friendly Earthship trend lands in Vernon
VERNON - Vernon could soon be home to a bourgeoning building trend: an off-grid, self-sustaining structure called an Earthship. The buildings — which feature recycled building materials like old tires and bottles, solar electricity, passive thermal heating and cooling, water collection systems, and indoor food production — are popping up all over the world from...
Marijuana grow operation unplugged near Falkland
VERNON – A month long investigation ended with an RCMP emergency response team raiding a suspected grow operation in the Falkland area. The heavily armed officers executed a search warrant Thursday, Feb. 26 once it was determined there wasn’t a medicinal marijuana license associated with the property, North Okanagan RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says in...
Smoke leads Vernon firefighters to the Ministry of Forests
VERNON - The Vernon Fire Department attended the scene of a fire Tuesday not knowing the Ministry of Forests set it on purpose. The B.C Wildfire Management Branch planned the controlled burn just off Highway 97 in the Predator Ridge area but didn’t give the Vernon Fire Department any notice. Deputy fire chief Jack Blair...
Hockey dad could face criminal charges
WHEN YELLING AT REFEREES GOES TOO FAR THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – A Kamloops hockey dad who allegedly took his anger out on referees in the parking lot after a Junior-A hockey game in Penticton last week could face charges. Penticton RCMP Sgt. Rick Dellebuur says the 52-year-old father of a Merritt Cenntennials player allegedly threatened two referees...
City of Vernon buys another high-priced lakeshore property
VERNON - It’s all part of the big picture. Over the last two decades, the City of Vernon has been buying lakeshore property on Okanagan Lake as it pieces together enough land for a public waterfront park. The latest is the property at 2602 Lakeshore Road for $707,500. A pretty good price considering councillors have...
Big money spent on big snowfalls in January
VERNON - The bean counters at city hall totalled up the taxpayer dollars spent to deal with the huge snowfalls in Vernon in January and it wasn’t cheap. According to a report to city council, it cost $631,000 to plow the roads and sidewalks, and then haul the piles of snow away. The bill also...
Flying fees edging upwards at Kelowna Airport
OKANAGAN - Flying in and out of Kelowna just got a bit more expensive with council approving an across-the-board increase in operating fees at the city-owned airport. The success of Kelowna Airport and its record passenger volumes means increased costs for maintenance, labour, utilities and technology, Noreen Redman, the airport’s corporate services manager, told council....
Man arrested for hit and run accident that left woman with serious injuries
VERNON - Vernon RCMP have arrested a suspect they believe left the scene of a crash that left a woman with serious spinal injuries Dec. 3, 2014. The accident between a blue Jeep and a Hyundai car happened at roughly 5:30 p.m. at 39 Avenue and Alexis Park Drive. The driver of the Jeep was...
Mayor says no time for referendum on CN Rail corridor deal
KELOWNA - Lake Country Mayor James Baker says there isn’t enough time to hold a referendum on the CN Rail corridor purchase before the April 1 deadline, unless the rail company and Transport Canada can somehow be persuaded to change the rules and extend it. With Lake Country out, the entire deal could collapse, leaving...
New signs point to parking in Vernon
VERNON - Big, bold colours will signal tourists and residents alike about where parking, the library, the art gallery or Polson Park can be found. Vernon city council approved a plan to spend $48,000 on new signage downtown at their meeting this afternoon, Monday, Feb. 23. “I think we need to refreshen downtown,” mayor Akbal...