Vernon news
Trial delayed for B.C. man accused of fatal 2010 speedboat-houseboat crash
KAMLOOPS – Concerns about a lack evidence disclosure have prompted a B.C. Supreme Court judge to delay the trial of a man accused in a fatal B.C. boat crash.
Lumby man will stand trial for school teacher’s murder
VERNON - A Lumby man accused of murdering his girlfriend, a local school teacher, will stand trial in Supreme Court. Following a preliminary inquiry at the Vernon Courthouse last week, the judge ruled there is enough evidence to order Howard Everett Krewson, 55, to stand trial. Krewson is accused of killing Vernon school teacher Linda...
Local flooding possible as El Nino-like weather melts lower snowpack
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – It doesn’t happen often, but a perfect alignment of the right conditions may cause some flooding in the Southern Interior. The warm Pacific air bombarding the region, thanks to the Pineapple Express, is creating above normal temperatures, which in turn are starting to melt the lower elevation snowpack. Add the still frozen ground...
Salvation Army adjusts Vernon thrift store staffing
VERNON - The Salvation Army is reducing the number of employee positions at its Vernon thrift stores as a way to put more money back into the community. It wasn’t an easy decision, says Captain Jean-Curtis Plante, with the Salvation Army, but it had to be done. The non-profit has been struggling financially since at...
Vernon Winter Carnival parade rocks downtown
VERNON – Hundreds of people braved the rain to line the streets of downtown Vernon for the annual Winter Carnival parade. Young and old enjoyed the rock and roll-themed parade featuring floats from local businesses, the Kalamalka Highlanders pipe band and of course the traditional bags of candy tossed to the kids. Even Vernon’s mayor...
UPDATE: Oyama Road reopens following rock slide
LAKE COUNTRY – A stretch of Oyama Road closed since Thursday following a rock slide has reopened. The unstable slope was going to be the target of a rock scaling between Willett Road and Hebbert Road, but the slide beat Lake Country workers to the punch. “Crews worked hard Friday to clear the debris from...
The amazing tale of Peaches the horse
FALKLAND - You might notice something slightly unusual about Peaches, a rescue horse in the North Okanagan. The Arabian/ Quarter Horse cross has only a stump where her tail should be. When Outbackjack’s Horse Rescue in Falkland took her in, she had a football-sized tumour on her tail. The surgery would cost $1,800. “People said...
Family pleads for witnesses after father backed over by a car
“HE WAS IN THE WRONG PLACE AT THE WRONG TIME” VERNON - Andrew Raab walked the same route to the Upper Room Mission for lunch every single day, not because he couldn’t afford food—he paid for all his meals—but because he liked the company. “He didn’t like being alone, he liked being out in the...
Lavington pellet plant could be operating in the next school year
LAVINGTON - A pellet plant will be up and running in Lavington within the year, says the president of Pinnacle Renewable Energy Group. According to Leroy Reitsma, site preparation work is underway and will wrap up in roughly 10-15 weeks. After that, the company will apply for a building permit and start constructing the plant,...
Enderby’s connection to the Super Bowl
ENDERBY - In between football and Katy Perry Sunday evening, audiences were treated to a sneak peak of a movie filmed partly in Enderby. A trailer for Tomorrowland, starring George Clooney, Britt Robertson and Hugh Laurie, debuted when the game went to commercials. The trailer reveals a magical world of space ships and wondrous gadgets,...
Bobcat sightings becoming more common in the North Okanagan
VERNON - North Okanagan residents spotted an increasing number of bobcats in recent years. Conservation officer Mike Richardson says there have already been 16 bobcat reports since April of 2014. That’s not out of line with the last few years—14 last year and 18 the year before. But it’s a lot more than it used...
Vernon’s future takes shape during special city meeting
VERNON - The shape of the City of Vernon over the next four years was discussed by the mayor, councillors and city directors as they evaluated and set strategic priorities during a planning session February 2, 2015. Mayor Akbal Mund and councillors started the planning session by reviewing their election platforms and employing something called...
Vernon man dies in crash near Valemount
VALEMOUNT - The B.C. Coroners Service has identified a Vernon man killed in a crash with a semi-truck near Valemount January 23. He was 53-year-old Ewen Craig McDonald. A media release from the coroner says McDonald was in a pickup truck heading south on Highway 5 when he collided with the semi-truck, about 18 kilometres...
Lake Country to jump on rail corridor purchase if no vote fails
KELOWNA — Lake Country will move ahead quickly with the purchase of its portion of the CN Rail corridor should the alternative approval process succeed, a prospect that seems increasingly likely. “If we’re good and we don’t reach the 931 by noon on Feb. 23 then hopefully we would have a special council meeting on...
Armstrong horse owner fears for animals being sent to auction
“I HOPE THESE HORSES FIND GENTLE PEOPLE. I HOPE THEY LIVE OUT LONG AND FULL LIVES” ARMSTRONG - The possibility some of his 100 horses may go to slaughter after a court-ordered auction this weekend is not a pleasant thought for Armstrong man Gary Roberts. But that’s the reality the SPCA and the courts have...