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Vernon

You can help build a Lake Country food bank with this simple gesture

LAKE COUNTRY – The food bank in Lake Country is asking for the public’s help winning a national competition that could put them one step closer to a much-needed new facility. The Aviva Community Fund is a Canada-wide contest soliciting community votes for ideas put forward by local non-profits and the winner gets a cash...

Free flu clinic postponed due to high demand

VERNON - Don't roll up your sleeve just yet — a public flu clinic in Vernon has been rescheduled because demand is exceeding supply. Public flu clinics at the Schubert Centre, 3505 30 Ave. for Dec. 4 and Jan. 8 will instead take place Jan. 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. according to a...

New Vernon mayor and council sworn into office

VERNON - Vernon’s new council members officially took their seats for the next four years Monday evening. Mayor Akbal Mund, incumbents Bob Spiers, Juliette Cunningham, Catherine Lord, and Brian Quiring, along with new councillors Scott Anderson and Dalvir Nahal were sworn into office by Justice Mayland McKimm to a packed room at City Hall. “Collectively,...

PHOTOS: Top decorating tips for the holidays

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - You have a tree. You have some ornaments. Maybe you even have some garland and ribbon. But if you are not sure what to do next, do not worry, we have some of the hottest tips from local designers to make sure your home is looking its best this holiday season. Kathy Underwood...

Cold snap still on, weekend to be warmer

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Yes, it is still cold outside. Colder than we want to admit and definitely colder than seasonal normals, but that will change by the weekend when the mercury finally rises above 0 Celsius again. After a heavy snowfall mid-week temperatures plummeted well below normal over the weekend, dropping to around -20 C plus...

Deal signed for Okanagan rail line

OKANAGAN – A deal between the consortium of municipalities and CN Rail to buy the decommissioned rail corridor between Kelowna and Coldstream has been reached. The consortium, made up of Kelowna, Lake Country, Coldstream, along with the North Okanagan and Central Okanagan Regional Districts, have agreed to buy the 47.5 kilometre long stretch of railway...

UPDATE: Missing Vernon girls found

UPDATE: 8:30 p.m. Nov. 30 Saylor Nicole Martian and Tina Kontos have been located in Manitoba. According to the Vernon RCMP, the two 15-year-olds were found in Headingley, Manitoba where they were apprehended by police. One of the girls reportedly made contact with her parents letting them know where they were. Arrangements are being made...

A photo to remember: Hollywood stars pose with North Okanagan locals

VERNON - They’re not exactly keeping a low profile. Actors Sir Anthony Hopkins, Julia Stiles and Ray Liotta have been out and about over the last few weeks, graciously posing for photo after photo with local people. And they don’t seem to mind it. Either they’re really good at acting off set, or the three...

UPDATE: Power restored to 1,389 customers in Vernon

VERNON - Power was cut to over a thousand residents on Okanagan Landing Friday morning, but was restored by 11:09 a.m. According to B.C. Hydro, the outage occurred northwest of Okanagan Landing Road around 6:40 a.m. affecting 1,389 customers. The cause of the outage was identified as a tree down across the power lines. Local...

HELSTON: A small act of kindness will go a long way this Christmas

I’ll admit it; I tend to get my back up when I'm asked for money. My instinct is to terminate the uncomfortable conversation as quickly as possible with a ‘no, not today’ or some other firm, but polite, way of communicating the cause is not getting my hard earned cash. But I’m going to tell...

Deep freeze begins

EXPECT COLD AND WIND THIS WEEKEND THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The system forecast to bring cold temperatures, wind and some snow to the region has engulfed Kamloops this morning and will fully reach Penticton by Saturday. Strong winds began in Kamloops Thursday afternoon and temperatures dropped to -7 Celsius by this morning. Over the day Friday temperatures...

Avalanche risk high this weekend

BACKCOUNTRY WARNING ISSUED THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A warning has been issued to all backcountry users this weekend as the risk of avalanche increases with the quick weather change headed our way. Avalanche Canada has issued a warning for mountains throughout the Interior, including Kootenay Boundary and the North and South Columbia ranges. The warning extends north...

Chronic water leaks plague Vernon art gallery

VERNON - Like shoveling snow and scraping down windshields, preparing for leaks has become a vexing winter tradition at the Vernon Public Art Gallery. A large snow storm Wednesday left the gallery with multiple leaks to deal with.  “It’s an ongoing issue with the building,” executive director Dauna Kennedy Grant says. “We have chronic leakage...

Pepper-sprayed patron at Vernon Rec Centre

VERNON - A man was peppered-sprayed in the changeroom at the Vernon Recreation Complex Wednesday night and police are still searching for a suspect. Staff called RCMP at roughly 9:15 p.m. Nov. 26 to report the incident. When Mounties came to investigate, they were told the suspect ran out the back door of the complex....

Cold snap on the way

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - As heavy snow continues to fall in parts of the region Wednesday and city crews work to keep up with the melt as temperatures move several degrees above seasonal normals we are being warned a cold snap is on the way. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement warning a ‘drastic cold...

VIDEO: Holy cow! Old MacDonald drives a… station wagon?

VERNON - Drivers were surprised to see a cow in the backseat of a car on 27 Street earlier this month in Vernon. It might sound unbelievable, but there’s proof. The bizarre sight was caught on camera near W.L. Seaton Secondary. You can see the cow standing up in the back of the white station...

UPDATE: SNOWED IN: Weather wreaks havoc on roads, power

SNOWFALL WARNING ISSUED FOR NORTH THOMPSON THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Heavy snow has fallen throughout the region and another 25 centimetres is expected in the North Thompson and Columbia regions by Thursday morning, though the snow will change to rain late tonight or Thursday morning in the more southern regions. While parts of the region struggle with...

Vernon residents wake up to blanket of snow

YOUR PHOTOS FROM AROUND THE NORTH OKANAGAN VERNON - North Okanagan residents woke up to a thick blanket of snow Wednesday morning. Environment Canada is calling for 2-4 cm of snow today, though the white stuff is expected to change to rain sometime this morning. The dump of snow means buses in the Vernon school...

Food shortage worries Vernon soup kitchen staff

VERNON - A local agency that helps people in need is reaching out for some community support. Supplies at the Upper Room Mission soup kitchen—which serves around 300 meals a day this time of year—are extremely low. Fundraising director Lisa Anderson says the cupboards are emptier than they’ve been in a very long time. “The...

Vernon voters welcome cultural diversity to city hall

"THIS IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT AND A FEAT" VERNON - Vernon’s rich cultural diversity is being reflected and celebrated on the community’s new city council. In the 2014 civic election, voters elected Akbal Mund for mayor and Dalvir Nahal for city councillor, making them the first individuals of South Asian heritage to sit on Vernon city council....

Heavy snow continues on Coquihalla, 97C

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Mother Nature seems determined to let us know we are well on our way to winter with yet another round of heavy snow expected to hit area highways today. The system currently over the Interior will continue to drop heavy snow on mountain passes through tonight though the snow will start to mix...

Dierks Bentley headlining in Merritt

MERRITT - Country star Dierks Bentley is the first big act to sign up for Riverfest 2015 in Merritt. Bentley recently released his eighth album, Riser, featuring hit singles I Hold On and Drunk On A Plane. The award-winning star is the first act signed to the music festival, which will run July 30 through...

Municipalities granted one week extension to submit rail trail proposal

KELOWNA – The consortium of municipalities hoping to buy the decommissioned CN rail corridor between Kelowna and Vernon have been granted a one week extension to submit their value assessment proposal to the Canadian Transportation Agency. The acquisition team – made up of Kelowna, Lake Country, Coldstream, North Okanagan and Central Okanagan Regional Districts –...