Vernon
In their shoes: Riding along with Vernon bylaw
VERNON - I thought bylaw officers spent all their time shoving parking tickets on my windshield with uncanny timing until I suited up in a protective vest and accompanied them on a typical evening shift. We didn’t go near a single parking meter. On a Friday night, Vernon bylaw officer Russ Lutsenko handed me the...
Suspicious car fire outside law office
VERNON - Investigators are calling a vehicle fire Wednesday evening on Main Street suspicious in nature. Deputy fire chief Jack Blair says the department responded to a fully involved Ford Explorer in the lane way by Nixon Wenger just off 30 Avenue around 6:30 p.m. “Firefighters extinguished it and requested RCMP attend,” Blair says. “They...
GOG: How you can help me help you survive this damn flight
I recently had to be somewhere else in a hurry, and the only way of achieving that is, of course, by flying. It’s been a while since I had to travel by aeroplane, and I had forgotten just how dreadful an experience it is. First one must face the ritual humiliation of “security” where in...
Trial begins for man accused of dangerous driving in death of Kamloops man
VERNON - A Lavington man’s dangerous driving causing death trial began Tuesday, almost three years to the day he was involved in a crash that left a Kamloops man dead. Terrance Edward Brown, born in 1977, faces one count of dangerous driving causing death and one count of dangerous driving causing bodily harm. He was...
Suspicious fire creates pallet-burning potato chips
VERNON - A suspicious fire is under investigation at a Vernon business. Police were called to MTF Price Matters on 24 Street Monday at 1:20 p.m. to look into a fire that started in a wooden pallet covered in potato chips. “It’s undetermined what the cause of the fire is,” Molendyk says. “A pallet and...
Worst Roads survey gets in gear
THOMPSON OKANAGAN - If you’ve got a gripe with a road near you, it’s time to pipe up. Until May 26, B.C. motorists, cyclists and pedestrians can cast a vote for their 'Worst Road' nominee. Voters can pinpoint the stretch of road they feel is the worst in B.C. and specify what infrastructure issue they're...
Canada Day prep proves tough without Nicol
VERNON - Volunteers are having a hard time pulling together Canada Day celebrations without the leadership of councillor Patrick Nicol. Nicol, who passed away in January after a long battle with cancer, chaired the Canada Day committee for many years and vice chair Ken Barker says his name was “synonymous with the day for more...
Police seek rightful owners of stolen dolls
VERNON - Police are hoping to reunite a collection of dolls with their rightful owners. The six dolls are dressed to represent several different countries, and four appear to be in their original boxes. Police found the dolls in a stolen vehicle last February. The truck had been involved in a single vehicle motor vehicle...
Wildfire regulations to limit open burning
KAMLOOPS - Wildfire Management Branch is cracking down on open burning regulations, to help reduce the risk of wildfires in the Kamloops region. The size of open fires will be restricted starting at noon on May 15, 2014 in most areas of the Kamloops Fire Centre. Clearwater and Salmon Arm Fire Zones are excluded from...
Ticked off: How to protect against ticks
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN — Warmer weather is upon us and that means shorts, sandals and maybe even a hike or two, but you may want to stop and rethink wardrobe choices if you're heading out. It's also tick season. “Ticks are most often found in tall grass and wooded areas so covering up before you head outdoors...
Shuswap residents still can’t go home
SHUSWAP - An evacuation order is still in effect for some residents located near a debris flow. The evacuation began last Wednesday for people living around McIntyre Creek near Salmon Arm. According to a geotechnical engineer and environmental geoscientist, a collection of debris is still lodged in the creek. They also identified water pooling around...
Measles kept at bay in Interior
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Saturday marks the beginning of a nation-wide event promoting immunizations and while the latest outbreak of measles has been kept out of the Interior Health region, people are still encouraged to make sure they are up to date. Dr. Sue Pollock says the Interior Health region strives for a 95 per cent coverage...
Road maintenance goes downhill at Silver Star
VERNON - It may be time to mow your lawn in most parts of Vernon, but snowfall is plaguing those who live and work in the Silver Star area. Silver Star Mountain Resort and year-round residents are sounding the alarm over questionable road maintenance practices following a snowstorm this week. Resident Steve Darby and his...