Vernon news

When to start reserving provincial camping sites

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Camping enthusiasts can set their alarms for the 9 a.m. opening of the online camping reserve system, Sunday, March 15. The interactive reservation website displays availability, layout and amenities for 115 front country campgrounds in 99 provincial parks. Reservations can also be made on the go using smartphones, but you aren't limited to...

Ringette players from around B.C. converge in Vernon

VERNON - Thirty seven ringette teams from around the province will gather in Vernon this weekend. The occasion is the provincial A and B Championships featuring divisions from under 14 to under 18. Games began at 7:15 a.m. Friday and continue all weekend with the gold medal games set for Sunday afternoon. An opening ceremony...

February home sales best in years says real estate board report

KELOWNA – After a disappointing start to 2015, the Okanagan Mainline Real Estate Board is reporting a 34 per cent improvement in home sales in February compared with the same month in 2014. “After a more than usual slowdown in January, Okanagan-Shuswap home sales rallied along with consumer confidence during February despite weaker economic conditions...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

UPDATE: Missing Enderby woman found dead

UPDATE: 9:39 A.M. MAR. 5 A missing senior with dementia was found dead Wednesday afternoon. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says people fishing in the Salmon Lake area found Barbara Derenowski, missing since Monday afternoon, and reported it to the Merritt RCMP detachment. “Early indications appear that Barbara got her truck stuck in snow on a...

This Vernon actor brings the party to YouTube in new series

VERNON - YouTube sensation Ian Fisher got his start writing comedy sketches and goofing off as Mage the Street Magician in Vernon. That was back in Fisher’s teen years at Seaton Secondary. The Toronto-based actor has now moved on to bigger projects like The Party Show, but he'll never forget his earliest ventures. “No matter...

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...

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...