Charlotte Helston

Trial date set for former Vernon mountie facing child porn charges

VERNON - A former Vernon cop will stand trial in B.C. Supreme Court next March. Ryan Hampton, 35, faces nine charges, including possessing and accessing child pornography. He was arrested in June 2013 and subsequently suspended from the force. He has since resigned from the RCMP. Hampton will be tried before judge alone starting March...

Former B.C. premier to chair Lumby-based marijuana facility

LUMBY - A company chaired by a former B.C. premier has applied to grow and distribute medical marijuana from a facility in Lumby. True Leaf Medicine Inc. has submitted an application to Health Canada to operate the facility under the federal government’s new rules for the system, which came into effect April 1. Mike Harcourt,...

Martial Arts community kicks back at “offensive” remarks by Vernon council

VERNON - The mixed martial arts community is in an uproar over what they feel were offensive and uneducated comments made about their sport earlier this week by Vernon councillors. The City of Vernon wants to ban mixed martial arts (MMA) events because, as Coun. Bob Spiers put it, “the association with the type of...

Residents, business owners warned to take precautions against alleged arsonist

"CLEAN UP ANY PALLETS, DON'T HAVE THEM OUT AND AVAILABLE" VERNON - While authorities have determined at least some suspicious fires are not connected to a string of suspected arsons, investigators believe an arsonist is still on the loose in the city. Deputy fire chief Lawrie Skolrood, one of the lead investigators, says out of...

Vernon drafts ban on mixed martial arts

VERNON - Vernon is hitting mixed martial arts where it hurts. City council is moving forward with the creation of a bylaw that would ban Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) events within municipal limits. “We don’t need them,” Coun. Bob Spiers says. “It’s just the association with the type of people that run those events and...

Community chooses touching memorial for councillor Patrick Nicol

VERNON - Councillor Patrick Nicol will be remembered forever in the place he loved best. Having received substantial feedback from the community, Vernon City Hall has chosen to create an area in Polson Park called Patrick’s Gathering Place. The area will feature benches and a memorial plaque. Nicol passed away in January after a long...

Study finds multi-million dollar benefits to Okanagan Rail Trail

OYAMA - Converting the rail bed between Vernon and Kelowna into a multi-use pathway would drive over $3 million in visitor spending in the first year alone, states a consulting report on predicted benefits. The Okanagan Rail Trail held a press conference Tuesday morning in Oyama to release the findings of a 70 page impact...

Police believe Trinity Valley suspects were cooking up crystal meth

VERNON - A six day investigation and clean-up at a North Okanagan property wrapped up over the weekend, leaving authorities strongly suspecting crystal meth was being produced there. A significant quantity of hazardous materials believed to be used in the manufacturing of crystal meth were removed from the Trinity Valley Road rental home and secured...

Burnt pallets add to list of suspected arsons

VERNON - Police and the fire department are burning for answers after responding to another suspected arson. A flaming pile of pallets drew firefighters to an industrial area in the 4600 block of 34 Street shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday. Authorities are calling the fire suspicious and investigating whether it is connected to a recent...

Why 153 Vernon teachers received layoff notices

VERNON - Over a hundred teachers are being laid off in the Vernon School District, but it’s likely most will be re-hired in September. Superintendent Joe Rogers says the layoffs are all part of an annual process. Unlike most school districts, Vernon grants recall rights to teachers who have worked at least five months, even...

B.C. Supreme court judge awards $2.4M in car crash law suit

VERNON – A Salmon Arm man was awarded over $2.4 million by a B.C. Supreme Court judge in connection with a car crash near Salmon Arm three years ago. Justice Allen Betton awarded the money to 21-year-old Quentin Hermanson. Hermanson, formerly of Vernon, was a passenger in friend Ryan Durkee’s vehicle. They were driving on...

Torched boat latest in series of suspected arsons

VERNON - A torched boat is the latest in a series of suspicious fires under investigation by authorities. Deputy fire chief Jack Blair says an 18 foot recreational ski boat with a For Sale sign on it was set ablaze in a parking lot in the 2300 block of 48 Avenue around 11 p.m. Tuesday....

Motorcyclist takes spill on highway through Vernon

VERNON - A motorcyclist was rushed to hospital this morning after taking a spill on Highway 97 in Vernon. Capt. Darren Cecchini with Vernon Fire Services says the 50-something motorcyclist was cut off by a car on 32 Street across from the EconoLodge around 9:30 a.m. Monday, forcing him to halt abruptly and lay his...