Merritt News

Rollover on Coquihalla north of Merritt; one person injured

MERRITT – A single vehicle rollover closed the northbound lanes of Highway 5 between Merritt and Kamloops this morning and sent one person to hospital. The crash happened at about 8:55 a.m., Nov. 8, about 28 kilometres north of Merritt, according to Merritt RCMP. A pickup towing a trailer overturned and blocked the northbound lanes...

Crash on Okanagan Connector kills three people

MERRITT – Three people in a U-Haul van were killed last night on the Highway 97C when it slammed into the back of a semi transporting crushed cars. The crash happened at about 8:45 p.m., Nov. 6, about six kilometres east of Merritt, according to a media release from RCMP Central Interior Traffic Services. “The...

Merritt woman claims razorblades included in grandson’s Halloween haul

MERRITT - Mounties in Merritt are reminding parents to check their children’s trick or treat bags after a grandmother reported finding two razorblades amongst her 11-year-old grandson’s candy Halloween night. Const. Tracy Dunsmore with the Merritt RCMP says the grandmother reported the incident today, Nov. 2 and doesn’t have a clue what area of town...

UPDATE: One dead in single vehicle crash on Connector, highway reopens

CENTRAL OKANAGAN – A man died in an early morning crash on Highway 97C at the Pennask summit. RCMP and B.C. Ambulance paramedics were called to the scene, Oct. 22, and while RCMP will not confirm if anyone was hurt, Global Okanagan reports one man was killed in the single vehicle accident. The man, who is...

Merritt community group hopes to bring the arts to town

MERRITT - One Merritt community group hopes to bring more arts and culture to the Nicola Valley by way of a new performing arts centre. Nicola Valley Community Theatre Society recently accomplished the first step in a five-step master plan by purchasing a property for the new centre. Funding for the project is planned through...

Drive B.C. adds eight new highway webcams to help you plan your trip

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Just in time for winter, Drive B.C. has installed eight more highway cams between West Kelowna and Kaleden, and in the Merritt area to help drivers assess road conditions and traffic. The cameras include four south of West Kelowna on Highway 97 and Highway 97C, and three near Kaleden in the South Okanagan....

Water restrictions reinstated on Coldwater River

MERRITT - A water use restriction aimed at protecting fish populations in the Coldwater River has been reinstated today. As extreme drought conditions continue throughout the region, temporary water use restrictions for the Coldwater River and its tributaries was reinstated today, Sept. 2. The order affects 50 water licenses and allows for flexibility for irrigation...

Alberta man dies in Okanagan Connector crash

MERRITT - A man who died on Highway 97 in an nearly morning single vehicle roll-over last week has been identified. Daniel Thomas Semeniuk, 25, died when the vehicle he was driving left the road and rolled, according to the B.C. Coroners Service. The Red Deer man was the only occupant in the vehicle, which...

Province pulls plug on Coldwater River water use

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - In a bid to help struggling salmon populations, water use reduction measures have been imposed on the Coldwater River. The province issued the restriction today, July 31, banning all water use or diversion from the Coldwater River and its tributaries from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. effective immediately. The restriction escalates to a...

UPDATE: Coquihalla Highway fully reopens southbound

MERRITT – A motorcycle crash partially closed the Coquihalla Highway southbound between Merritt and Hope this afternoon. According to Drive B.C., the crash closed the southbound lanes on Highway 5 about two kilometres north of the Mine Creek exit around 1 p.m., July 18. One southbound lane reopened at about 2:30 p.m. and both lanes...

New Merritt emergency department moving ahead

MERRITT - Planning is underway for the new emergency department at Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre in Merritt. Interior Health has put out a request for proposals for architectural and planning consultants to develop a plan for the upgrades. Patient privacy and confidentiality, safety, infection prevention and control and patient access and flow will...