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Vernon news
Strain for medical care grows as Vernon walk-in clinic reduces to half-days
VERNON - Access to medical care continues to shrink in Vernon. Shortly after it was learned the Vernon Family Doctor’s Walk-In Clinic is closing down permanently, news has come that another walk-in clinic has drastically cut its hours. The Gartree Medical Clinic in the Vernon Square Mall has reduced its hours to 8 a.m. to...
Online contest puts Silver Star in North American spotlight
VERNON - The Star is getting some international attention for its cross country skiing. Silver Star Mountain Resort is in the running for a top 10 contest on USA Today for the best nordic resorts in North America. Three Olympians, Sadie Bjornsen, Holly Brooks and Sophie Caldwell were asked to nominate their favourite cross country...
Vernon man handed jail term for child porn offence
VERNON - A Vernon man has been sent to prison after getting caught possessing child pornography. A Vernon provincial court judge sentenced Karl David Lawrence to nine months in jail for the offence, longer than the four to six months requested by Crown counsel during sentencing. Police began investigating Lawrence in March 2014 when suspected...
Mild week ahead for the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - We can expect temperatures to hover around the freezing mark this week, with temperatures expected to be at or near seasonal normal temperatures throughout the Okanagan. Environment Canada is calling for daytime high temperatures to range from -1 Celsius to 2 C this week, with overnight lows expected to reach between 0 C...
Early season numbers show decent snowpack in the Thompson-Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Several snow systems pommelled the region at the end of 2015, leaving the snowpack levels at a good level to start 2016. At 143 per cent, Similkameen is most above normal for this time of year, but with the lowest in the region sitting at 92 per cent of normal snowpack levels, low...
Warmer weekend ahead for the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - After cooler temperatures and lots of snow over recently, this weekend marks what should be a welcome break for many in the Kamloops area. Environment Canada is calling for highs to be just above seasonal normals of -1 Celsius all weekend, with Penticton expected to reach 2 C today, Jan. 8, and tomorrow,...
International expert says global warming good for Okanagan wines
OKANAGAN - An Australian winemaker says in a CNBC opinion editorial that global warming is going to turn the Okanagan into the best wine region in the world in the coming years. Philip Mcgahan starting making wine in in Hunter Valley, Australia in 2002. The area regularly reaches more than 40 Celsius and with temperatures...
Vernon RCMP on the lookout for wanted man
VERNON - Police are asking you to keep an eye out for a wanted man. A warrant for theft of a motor vehicle and possession of stolen property relating to a Dec. 17 incident in Vernon was issued Dec. 18 for Dale Christopher Babiy, 22. Babiy is described as Caucasian, and 5’4” tall, 150 lbs,...
Vernon RCMP seek rightful owner of professional photography equipment
VERNON - A box of photography equipment is the latest in a string of items the Vernon RCMP is hoping to reunite with its rightful owner. Vernon RCMP recovered a black plastic box of professional style photography equipment on Jan. 5, 2016, Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy said. The equipment is believed to have been stolen. ...
Vernon RCMP want to know if you can identify this man
VERNON - Police in Vernon want to know if you recognize a man caught on video surveillance. On Dec. 18, a trailer and Polaris ATV were stolen from the 5300 block of 27th Avenue in Vernon, Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says in a release. They were later recovered in the 5500 block of Willow Place in Vernon....
Robbery at Vernon dispensary nothing unusual — for any business: Pot activist
VERNON - Medical marijuana dispensaries in Vernon were warned about police raids, but an armed robbery got one of them first. Police said three men robbed Black Crow Herbal Dispensary on 48 Avenue at gunpoint the evening of Dec. 30, making off with cash and marijuana products. The robbery comes on the heels of an...
Taxpayers heap abuse on snow removal staff
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Few things, it seems, can bring out the ugly in a person more than a snow covered street. A story posted yesterday with a photo from the perspective of a West Kelowna snowplow driver showed cars parked willy-nilly on a local road, making it virtually impossible to plow. The story touched a nerve and...
Vernon man claiming ‘addiction’ to child porn facing jail for possession
VERNON - A Vernon man will be handed a mandatory minimum of three months in jail, and possibly more, after getting caught with child pornography. Police began investigating Karl David Lawrence after an RCMP monitoring tool picked up suspected child pornography activity on his IP address in March 2014, Crown counsel Cristina Cabulea said during...
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...
Report of person falling into Swan Lake turns out to not be a person at all
VERNON - There was some commotion on Swan Lake Tuesday afternoon after reports that someone may have fallen through the ice. As it turns out, it was probably just a wild animal. Leigh Pearson with Vernon Search and Rescue says they found the hole in the ice and discovered animal tracks, but no human footprints....
Vernon mom says break-in happened while daughters were home alone
VERNON – A local mother says her daughers were home alone when someone broke into…
Vernon RCMP issue road warning after numerous accidents
VERNON - Drivers are being warned to take it slow on local roads today. Persistent snowfall today, Jan. 4, is creating slippery conditions on Vernon roads and highways. The slick conditions have prompted a police warning to take extra precautions to avoid a crash. “There have been numerous accidents on Highway 97 from the Crystal...
Woman jumps from moving vehicle in attempt to evade Vernon police officer
VERNON - A woman with several outstanding warrants made a dramatic, yet unsuccessful, attempt to flee from police in Vernon. An officer patrolling the area of 30 Avenue noticed a white Chevrolet truck speeding around 3 a.m. Dec. 31 and attempted to pull over the driver. Instead of stopping, the driver fled south on 35...
Weather warming up, snow on the way in the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - Temperatures are set to warm up this first week of 2016, and along with those warmer temperatures will be several days of snow. Temperatures stayed at or below seasonal normal lows the past few days but after today are expected to be a bit warmer than the -6 Celsius that is typical at...
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: Missing teenaged girl has been found
UPDATE: 12:40 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016 VERNON - The female youth who was reported missing on Jan. 1, 2016 has been located, according to a media release from Vernon RCMP. All personal information has been removed from this article. 9:55 a.m., Sunday, Jan. 3, 2015 VERNON – RCMP are asking for the public’s help to...
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...
Expect a chilly start to the new year in the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - Temperatures are set to dip below normal this New Year’s Day long weekend but the good news is it looks like it will warm up again early next week. Environment Canada is calling for a high of -4 Celsius to -7 C today, Dec. 31 through Sunday before warming up slightly to start...
Armed robbery at Vernon marijuana dispensary
VERNON - Police have arrested a man in Chase B.C. after three men pulled handguns and robbed a marijuana dispensary in Vernon around 6 p.m. yesterday, Dec. 30. According to a release from Vernon RCMP, the three men walked away with cash and marijuana products from Black Crow Herbal Dispensary at 2808A 48 Ave. They...