Vernon

Lucky lottery trend in the North Okanagan continues with yet another winner

COLDSTREAM – The North Okanagan appears to be on a lucky streak with three winning lottery tickets bought in the region in the last two months. The area has been on a roll since April 1, when a Vernon couple won $5.8 million. The trend continued when an Enderby woman went home with $1 million,...

Vernon offers new grant program with hope of expanding limited rental housing options

VERNON - Building a new rental unit in Vernon? There’s a grant for that. To combat a shortage of rental housing in the city, Vernon council has introduced a new grant program to encourage development. Up to $4,000 per unit is now available for the construction of rental complexes. The city hasn't seen the construction...

Aboriginal health strategy hopes to improve care outcomes

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Tailoring healthcare for the 54,000 First Nations living within the Interior Health Authority will improve the quality of life and health outcomes and ultimately save money by reducing the need for services amongst a population that is overrepresented within the system. That’s the message behind the aboriginal health and wellness strategy adopted yesterday...

B.C. firefighters heading to Alberta

KAMLOOPS - Fire risk in B.C. has lowered over the last several days and as a result B.C. Wildfire is sending crews to Alberta, where the province is under a province-wide fire ban as several large wildfires burn out of control. The Wildfire Management Branch said today, May 27, it would be sending 80 sustained...

Campapalooza campacacancelled

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – A first-of-its kind event that gives parents a chance to get a taste of all the different summer camp options in one place has been cancelled. Campapalooza was to be held at Okanagan College May 30, but according to their website has been 'postponed until April 2016.' The event would have brought together...

UPDATE: Police presence in front of Ellison Elementary

VERNON - Police have cordoned off the road near Ellison Elementary School in Vernon after someone discovered blood in the area Wednesday morning. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says the blood was found sometime between 5 a.m. and 6 a.m., May 27, on Fulton Road, in front of Ellison Elementary School. While police are treating the...

More rain, thunderstorms in forecast for Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - Above normal temperatures are back, but they come with a chance of rain and thunderstorms over the next few days. After several days of off and on rain, and even a few thunderstorms, Environment Canada is still calling for a chance of rain through the end of the week. There is a chance...

More rain, thunderstorms in forecast for Okanagan

OKANAGAN - Above normal temperatures are back, but they come with a chance of rain and thunderstorms over the next few days. After several days of off and on rain, and even a few thunderstorms, Environment Canada is still calling for a chance of rain through the end of the week. There is a chance...

Proactive enforcement takes a hit as Vernon RCMP grapple with heavy caseload

VERNON - Checkstops and impaired driving investigations took a hit over the last few months as police struggled to handle a heavy criminal caseload. In a presentation to Vernon city council Monday, May 25, acting RCMP Supt. Jim McNamara said enforcement initiatives were negatively affected by continued resource-draining serious crime incidents and high calls for...

Health authority continues to monitor possible Ebola cases

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If the ongoing Ebola epidemic has a human face within the Interior Health Authority, it’s that of Patrice Gordon, a nurse practioner who returned from West Africa last December and promptly began displaying the early signs of of the disease. Gordon tested negative for the virus, but since then the health authority has...

Vernon’s Green Valley Motel on police and council radars

VERNON - A notorious Vernon motel was thrust under the spotlight at a recent Vernon city council meeting. During a presentation by acting RCMP Supt. Jim McNamara, Coun. Brian Quiring brought up his concerns about the Green Valley Motel on Highway 97 across from Polson Park. “It appears to be a haven for people that...

Car crashes into Vernon business

VERNON - Emergency services are on the scene of a crash near downtown Vernon this afternoon. The Vernon Fire Department is on scene along with paramedics and RCMP after a car crashed into Abakhan and Associates at the corner of 29th Street and 31st Avenue. There are no reports of any injuries. %%image2%% To contact...

Enderby woman wins $1M with free play

ENDERBY - An Enderby woman is celebrating her birthday with the ultimate present — a $1 million Maxmillion prize. Tanya Williams, who celebrates her birthday this week, won a free play and $1 on a previous Lotto Max draw and used that to get another ticket. She found out she was a winner when she...

‘Free until three’ promotion aimed at bringing people downtown Vernon

VERNON - A new promotion allowing people to park free from noon until 3 p.m. on Fridays this summer is geared at creating a more inviting atmosphere downtown. The free parking will be offered in the lead-up to the Avenue Market, which runs on Fridays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Main Street (30...

Vernon woman, 93, wanted help, not a hospital visit

CALLS FOR HELP ANSWERED BY NEIGHBOURS  VERNON - A 93-year-old Vernon woman who fell down, crawled to the door and yelled for help remained adamant she did not want to go to the hospital despite her situation. In the end, she did, and it was thanks to the help of two good samaritans who heard...

Vernon RCMP seek witnesses in weekend hit and run

VERNON - Police are appealing to the public for information about a hit and run that left a motorcyclist seriously injured. The accident happened around 2:05 p.m. on Saturday, May 23, at Okanagan Landing Road and Fulton Road, RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says. According to a witness, a silver Toyota Celica appeared to stop in...

Okanagan Landing Elementary on lockdown after body found in schoolyard

VERNON - Okanagan Landing Elementary School was in lockdown Monday morning after a body was found in the schoolyard. RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says a man’s body was found by some children shortly before school started Monday, May 25. The incident has been deemed a suicide and the B.C. Coroners Service is involved. Molendyk says...

Severe thunderstorm watch underway in much of Southern Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - After a wet and wild weekend in the Interior another round of thunderstorms could hit the region. Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for the Nicola, South Thompson and Okanagan Valley regions for Monday, May 25. The weather office notes conditions are favourable for storms that could produce hail, strong wind...

UPDATE: Southern Interior severe thunderstorm watch expanded

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Environment Canada has expanded its severe thunderstorm watch to include the South Thompson, North Thompson and Nicola regions, including the city of Kamloops. The original watch issued early this morning, May 24, covered the Okanagan, Shuswap and Boundary regions, including Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and Salmon Arm. Forecasters say conditions are favourable for the...

ELECTION 2015: Defence minister takes selfie with North Okanagan cadets

VERNON – Defence Minister Jason Kenny paused for a selfie with cadets at the Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre this morning. The stop in Vernon, May 23, was part of a campaign-style tour of the Okanagan, which included going door-to-door with a Penticton Conservative candidate on Friday. During the Penticton stop Kenny talked about...

Okanagan diners reap the rewards of an early spring

OKANAGN – The early spring across the Okanagan this year is not only good for your tan but for local restaurants and family kitchens as well. Across the valley, farmers are busy harvesting crops which normally wouldn't be ready for weeks. Fruits, berries, veggies and field crops all got a jump start this year, which...

Few answers in head-on collision that killed Vernon boy

VERNON - What caused a vehicle carrying a Vernon boy to swerve across Highway 97 a year ago remains a mystery, even with the findings of a coroners report. The May 4, 2014 accident killed Rodney Michael Boring, 14, on a stretch of Highway 97 going through Lake Country. Boring was the passenger in a...

Hot dog calls on rise as weather heats up in Southern Interior

THOMSON-OKANAGAN - Though summer isn’t even officially here, the unseasonably warm weather in the Interior is already prompting concerned calls about dogs left unattended in cars. “We’ve had three or four already this morning (May 22) and yesterday we had half a dozen before lunch,” Cam Buksa, spokesman for the Central Okanagan branch of the...

Early spring both good and bad for local farmers

OKANAGAN – The early heat felt across the Okanagan this year has local farmers springing into action. Producers of vegetables, fruit, hay and alfalfa crops say the warm weather came at least two weeks early this year, meaning they can plant earlier, expect higher yields and very likely harvest earlier as well. At the Kelowna...