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Kamloops news

Warmer weather on the way as Interior braces for El Niño

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - After a cold snap and day after day of snowfall, temperatures are finally expected to begin rising by the middle of January as the 2016 El Niño weather pattern hits the region. The second half of winter is when El Niño effects are generally felt in Western Canada, as the system brings winds...

Coroners wanted: Eight vacancies including Kamloops and Vernon

VICTORIA - The hunt is on for people to fill vacancies at the B.C. Coroners Service. The government has job postings up for eight community coroners in communities throughout B.C. including Kamloops and Vernon. The $25 an hour job isn’t for the faint of heart as coroners are responsible for determining the circumstances of sudden,...

UPDATE: Crash on Trans Canada west of Lake Louise closes highway

FIELD, B.C. – Highway 1 was closed at Field, B.C. following a crash making it tough on travellers driving to and from Alberta today. Drive B.C. says the Trans Canada, closed in both directions from Golden, B.C. to about five kilometres west of Lake Louise, Alta. this morning, Jan. 2, due to a collision, has...

Kamloops plan to help youth homeless goes national

KAMLOOPS - Several agencies in town do their best to help curb homelessness in Kamloops, but one is being recognized nationally for assisting homeless youth. Katherine McParland, youth homelessness manager with Interior Community Services, has joined forces with 15 agencies in town to help teens who are homeless or could be soon. McParland and other...

Earthquake 19 km northeast of Victoria

VICTORIA - A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Sidney, Vancouver Island Tuesday evening. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the three second quake happened just after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, 19 kilometres northeast of Victoria and almost 60 kilometres below the earth’s surface. There have been no reports of any damage or injuries. The...

You’ll never guess what this Kamloops woman wants for her 100th birthday

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The family of a Kamloops grandmother turning 100 years old in a few months is using social media to get the attention of her favourite singer. Kelowna resident Brad Krauza’s grandmother Sylvia lives in Kamloops. With her 100th birthday coming up in March, he and his sister Wendy wanted to do something extra...

‘My roommate used my toothbrush’ and other reasons to not call 9-1-1

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The largest 9-1-1 call centre in B.C. has released its top ten worst reasons people used their service this year. E-Comm is the primary 9-1-1 answer point for 24 regional districts and other communities from Vancouver Island to the Alberta and U.S. borders, to north of Prince George. With nearly 3,400 9-1-1 calls...

Two snowmobilers, two separate rescues for search teams in the Shuswap

SHUSWAP - Every minute of daylight counted as search and rescue crews raced to the aid of two snowmobilers during two separate incidents in the Shuswap this week. The first call came in around 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27, with a report of an injured snowmobiler, possibly with a fractured spine, at Blue Lake near...

Charges laid against man who barricaded himself in Shuswap home, lit it on fire

SALMON ARM - A man accused of barricading himself inside a home and lighting it on fire during a bizarre episode in the Shuswap is facing criminal charges. Adolf Albert Edward Hemmerling, in his 40s, is charged with uttering threats and arson damaging property, in relation to the Dec. 20, 2015 incident. Hemmerling allegedly barricaded...

Kamloops RCMP arrest suspects in McDonald’s drive-thru

KAMLOOPS – With guns drawn, Kamloops RCMP officer arrested a pair of suspects in a stolen pick-up truck in a McDonald’s drive-thru yesterday afternoon. RCMP spotted the Dodge Ram 1500 pickup around 3:30 p.m., Dec. 26. It had had been reported stolen from Calgary. The officers followed the truck until in pulled into the drive-thru...

UPDATE: Snowfall warning ended for Okanagan and South Thompson

ROADS AND HIGHWAYS IN WINTER DRIVING CONDITION THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – A dump of snow overnight and this morning is making the busiest travel day of the year a challenge for drivers. The snowfall warning issued by Environment Canada for the Thompson-Okanagan earlier this morning was ended at about 10:15 a.m., Dec. 27. Forecasters say significant snowfall...

Some quirks of the calendar will bring you a lot more fun next year

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Before you book your vacation next year, you might find some surprises you haven’t seen on the calendar — like an extra four long weekends next year. Thanks to a few quirks of the calendar, all four date-based holidays fall on or near weekends this year. Canada Day, Remembrance Day and New Years...

Christmas in Kamloops: How to one-up your overachieving neighbours

KAMLOOPS - What do you do when your neighbours could challenge Clark Griswold in a Christmas lights contest and you don’t have the time or inclination to plan ahead for something that big? You do the only thing possible — embrace it and ‘ditto’ it. The Fords moved in next to Grant and Jacki Andersen...

No car seat, no ride for Armstrong mom and baby trying to board the bus

VERNON - A North Okanagan woman is sharing her experience after being told she couldn’t board a public transit bus without a car seat for her baby. Chelsey Dyer planned to take the Route 60 bus into Vernon from her Armstrong home last week to pick up her car, but wasn’t allowed on. “The driver...

Salmon Arm cops rescue barricaded suspect from house he set on fire

SALMON ARM – A suspect being chased by police near Salmon Arm had to be rescued from a house he refused to leave, even after he set it on fire last night. The man, who was armed with knives, had barricaded himself in the home in Eagle Bay at around 10 p.m., Dec. 20, according...

Kamloops police searching for man behind Instagram scam

KAMLOOPS - Police are on the lookout for a man accused of illegally obtaining a stay and food at a Kamloops hotel by pretending to be an Instagram advertising executive. The man stayed at a hotel and ate for free by promising to promote the business on the phone photo sharing app Instagram, but he...

Gift of dress, community spirit, thrills Salmon Arm mother and daughter

KAMLOOPS - The mother of a young girl whose community rallied to get her a dress for the winter formal says she’s amazed by the generosity and Christmas spirit of strangers. “I am amazed and in utter shock,” Janet Perry says. “I could not believe it." Perry’s daughter Olivia Perry-Coultas, 17, is a student in...

Massive gun-bust case tossed due to numerous mistakes by Kamloops Mounties

KAMLOOPS - After RCMP raided a Kamloops trailer filled with guns and ammunition in December 2013, they displayed their haul at the RCMP detachment where the city’s top cop posed for pictures and told reporters about the dangers of illegal firearms. They got multiple weapons including shotguns and chopped up, rebuilt long guns, ammunition, drugs...

Accused Kelowna trailer park killer released on bail

KELOWNA – The Kelowna man accused of killing his ex-girlfriend in April 2014 has been released on bail. Ryan James Quigley, 36, has been in custody since he was arrested at a residence on Coronation Avenue on April 4, three days after the body of Amy Jane Parkes was found inside a mobile home on...

Earthquakes felt in Kamloops, Princeton

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Princeton has been a hot bed of earthquake activity in the past week and today Kamloops joined in on the action. According to Earthquake Track Princeton has experienced three earthquakes ranging from 1.7 to 2.2 magnitude over the past seven days, including one yesterday afternoon, Dec. 15. Another four were recorded in the...

Missing Red Deer man could be in Kamloops

KAMLOOPS - A 19-year-old who has not been seen for more than a week may have travelled to Kamloops. Members with the Red Deer RCMP detachment are searching for Conor DeMerchant, who was last seen in Red Deer Dec. 5. Police think he may have travelled to either Kamloops or Edmonton. DeMerchant is 5’9” tall,...