Vernon

Okanagan feeling the heat

OKANAGAN - Expect temperatures to remain in the mid-30s through much of next week as the Okanagan continues to flirt with record-breaking temperatures. Environment Canada is calling for temperatures of 36 Celsius throughout the Okanagan today, July 3, and 31 C Saturday in Vernon and Kelowna. Penticton is expected to reach 33 C on Saturday....

HELSTON: One tiny, burning ember can do a lot of damage

All of us were reminded this week how destructive fire can be, in so many different ways. On Tuesday night, we saw how fire can take down a building in mere hours, leaving nothing but ash and rubble. It’s awe-inspiring in the most horrific way. But the physical damage is just the beginning. When Vernon’s...

Vernon cop charged with possessing child porn nearing trial date

KELOWNA – The trial of the former Vernon cop charged with possessing child pornography will start the middle of next month after a brief court appearance today. Ryan Hampton, 37, faces counts of possession of child pornography, accessing child pornography, attempting to obstruct justice and half a dozen breaches of court orders. He was arrested...

Cyclist suffers life threatening injuries in Vernon accident

VERNON - A cyclist was seriously injured early this morning after being struck by a vehicle. The accident happened around 6:20 a.m. Thursday, July 2, in the 3400 block of 25 Avenue. The cyclist, a 38-year-old woman, sustained serious, life-threatening injuries, and has been moved to Kelowna General Hospital, says RCMP Const. Karla Ivany. The...

Emergency crews responding to large fire downtown Vernon

VERNON - A large fire is burning near Vernon’s Village Green Mall. Reports say the fire broke out at the Vernon social assistance office on 48 Avenue, behind the Petro Canada gas station. A tower of smoke can be seen from across the city. Emergency crews are at the scene working to contain the blaze....

UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm warnings back in effect for B.C. Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you haven't experienced major rain or thunder and lightning, your turn is likely coming. Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch on and off for most of the region today, June 30. At 5:35 p.m., Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm warning for the North Okanagan, including Vernon. The storm has...

RCMP following up on torched SUV left on Spallumcheen road

SPALLUMCHEEN - Police are investigating after a vehicle was set on fire just outside of Vernon yesterday. RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says officers were called out around 11:30 a.m. Monday, June 29, to Highway 97 near L&A Crossroad in Spallumcheen where a vehicle had been set on fire. “The vehicle was a Lincoln SUV that...

Police warn Vernon residents not to give money to man going door to door

VERNON - Police are issuing a public warning about a man going door to door asking for money.  Over the past three days, an unknown man has reportedly been going door to door in the area of 48 Avenue to 30 Avenue, RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy said in a media release issued today, June 30....

Man assaulted in Vernon parking lot

VERNON - Police are investigating an assault that took place in the parking lot of the Fruit Union Plaza and put a man in hospital this weekend. A witness contacted police around 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 28, to report the assault. RCMP Sgt. Tory Romailler says the victim, a man in his late-40s, was taken...

Men who died in Vernon motorcycle crash identified

VERNON - The names of two men who died in a weekend motorcycle crash have been released by the B.C. Coroners Service. They were James Tyler Folden, 23, of Lumby, and Trinity James Dale Bright, 24, originally from Cherryville, but most recently residing in Canmore, Alberta. Folden was driving an offroad motorcycle with Bright as...

Campfire bans in effect this weekend for B.C. Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Due to an elevated risk of fire across the Interior of B.C., the Kamloops Fire Centre has banned all open fires, including campfires, as of noon on Friday, July 3. Kelsey Winter of B.C. Wildfire says the step is being taken to prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety around Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon...

Missing person last seen with man discovered dead in Kal Lake: Family

VERNON - A person last seen with the man who turned up dead in Kalamalka Lake has not been seen or heard from since Saturday, June 27, prompting concerned family members to plead for information from the public. Shanna Wilson says her brother, Curtis Wilson, was last seen in Vernon Saturday morning having breakfast with...

Suspicious dumpster fire outside Vernon high school under investigation

VERNON - A suspicious fire which started in a dumpster outside a Vernon high school is under investigation The fire department was called to Vernon Secondary School to put out the fire about 11:15 p.m., Friday, June 26. “It appeared to be suspicious in nature from what we’ve come across,” deputy fire chief Jack Blair...

UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Southern Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – We could see severe thunderstorms develop in the Thompson-Okanagan region this afternoon and evening. Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch this morning covering the South and North Thompson, Nicola, Shuswap and Okanagan regions and upgraded it to a warning for parts of the South Thompson, Nicola and Okanagan regions for a short...

Record heat in the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - Several Okanagan cities were among the 30 communities to set a new high temperature record in the province on Sunday. With a high of 39.3 C on Sunday, June 28, Vernon was one of the hottest Okanagan communities, surpassing a former high temperature record of 35.4 C. With a high of 38.7 C...

Scorching heat sizzles high temperature records

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The heat wave blasting the Southern Interior cranked the temperature up a notch Saturday breaking high temperature records in the Thompson-Okanagan. Canada’s hot spot June 27 was Osoyoos where the mercury climbed to 40.9 Celsius, snapping the old high temperature record of 37.7 C recorded on the same day in 2000. Kamloops hit...

Heat wave continues though not as hot has originally forecast

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – While it will still be hot this weekend, it won’t be has hot as first forecast by Environment Canada. The Special Weather Statement issued on Thursday, June 25, for the South and North Thompson, Nicola, Shuswap and Okanagan warning of temperatures as high at 40 Celsius has been ended. Meteorologists are still forecasting...

No fireworks in Vernon for Canada Day, but here’s what is happening

VERNON - With many people disappointed there won’t be any fireworks accompanying Canada Day in Vernon, a local organizer says there’s still lots to enjoy, and take pride in, this year. Residents learned in May there wouldn’t be a fireworks display on Canada Day — a shock to many who assumed the longstanding tradition would,...

Concern for homeless community heightens as temperatures rise

VERNON - While the hot weather forecast has many of us planning fun ways to beat the heat, members of the homeless population are thinking about something else entirely: survival. Imagine heading into 40 Celsius weather with no air conditioning, no hat or sunscreen, and no water. That’s the situation Vernon’s Cammy LaFleur Street Outreach...

Kelowna crack dealer busted by officer who lived in same building loses appeal

KELOWNA – A Kelowna man arrested after an investigator who lived in his apartment building saw him selling drugs, has had his appeal dismissed in a Vancouver court. Peter Andrew Webster was arrested in the elevator of his building Dec. 16, 2008, after a surveillance team saw him hand a plastic bag to another man...

UPDATE: Water quality advisory rescinded for Delcliffe area

VERNON - A water quality advisory issued for customers in the Delcliffe Road and Cameron Road area earlier this week has been rescinded. Greater Vernon Water along with Interior Health issued the advisory, June 24, for customers supplied by the Delcliffe Water Utility. Increasing water levels had increased turbidity resulting in cloudy water and a...

HELSTON: The Canadian Ski Patrol’s legacy is something that’s never leaving

It takes a certain kind of person to be a volunteer, and we’d be lost without them. From the search and rescuer who misses dinner with his family to help find a missing hiker, the listening ear on the other end of the crisis hotline, or the ski patroller who spends her weekend not knowing what kind of emergency she might be called to next — they are here for us, not for money, not for credit, but to help.

No elevated Okanagan watering restrictions — yet

OKANAGAN - Despite record-breaking heat and little rain in the forecast, Okanagan communities remain under normal, or phase 1, watering restrictions, but be warned — that could change. Water utilities are keeping a close eye on supply, demand and weather predictions for the summer, but haven’t yet been forced to elevate restrictions. Kelowna’s five water...