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Vernon news

Medical cannabis customers to peacefully protest Vernon RCMP warning

VERNON - A public event is set for Friday to raise awareness about access to medical marijuana. The event comes on the heels of an RCMP warning to all Vernon dispensaries telling them to shut down. The warning created uncertainty for thousands of patients who buy medical marijuana from the dispensaries. A newly formed coalition...

Sensitive Santa brings Christmas closer to children with autism

KELOWNA - A visit to see Santa in the mall, along with the obligatory photo, is a rite of passage in Canada for most kids. But if your child isn’t fascinated by the flashing lights, ringing bells and ornate costumes or together it creates a kind of sensory overload that leads to anxiety and even...

Owner begs court to save dog on death row

KELOWNA – The owner of a dog that’s spent the last year on death row says the judge made a mistake. Owner Drew Panton spoke passionately and capably as he represented himself at a Kelowna Supreme Court appeal Wednesday, Dec. 9, trying to save the life of his dog Jake, an eight-year-old Presa canario that...

Theft allegation behind Vernon dog rescue closure

VERNON - A controversial dog rescue in Vernon shut down its operations last week largely because of a specific allegation of theft involving the rescue's president caught on video, sources tell infoNEWS.ca. According to a volunteer, who has not yet agreed to be quoted for this story, she found her wallet missing following a Nov....

Medical marijuana patients shocked by Vernon dispensary closures

VERNON - Medical marijuana patients coming to The Herbal Health Centre this week are shocked and upset to see the shelves empty and devoid of their medicine. The health centre, along with a coalition of other local dispensaries, has suspended retail sales in response to an RCMP warning to shut down. The dispensaries are closing...

Vernon marijuana dispensaries suspend retail sales in response to RCMP warning

VERNON - A coalition of Vernon marijuana dispensaries is calling for a moratorium on RCMP raids. The dispensaries are asking the RCMP to cease intervention until the new Liberal government formalizes its plans for legalization of the product, according to a statement from Imre Kovacs, a spokesperson for the coalition. Vernon’s five marijuana dispensaries were...

Warm but wet week ahead in the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - With at least a chance of showers every day this week we could be in for a wet week, though the above normal temperatures should make it a lot more bearable. Environment Canada is calling for highs in the 4 Celsius to 7 C range most days this week, though the Penticton area...

West Kelowna musician reunited with stolen trumpets

VERNON – A Vernon Good Samaritan is behind the reunion yesterday, Dec. 6, between a West Kelowna man and his two stolen trumpets. RCMP say the musician’s horns were stolen from his parked vehicle in the 2700 block of 32 Street in Vernon during the evening of Nov. 23, 2015. The two trumpets, a silver...

The free-for-all of ‘dog rescuing’ and why so much falls through the cracks

“IT’S LIKE THE WILD WEST” VERNON - The words ‘dog rescue’ may have a ring of nobility to them, but according to animal welfare advocates, many home-based operations aren’t what you think. Kim Faulkes, an Ottawa-based animal advocate, says there are no standards in place to ensure so-called ‘dog rescues’ operate ethically. “It’s a free-for-all....

Vernon parking meter thief caught in the act

VERNON - A man suspected of breaking into over 100 parking meters has been caught. Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says in a statement a 34-year-old man was arrested breaking into a parking meter on Centennial Drive on Friday, Dec. 4 at around 1 a.m. “To date, approximately 113 parking meters have been broken into in the...

Cooper’s converting to Save-On-Foods in Kamloops and Okanagan

KAMLOOPS – A grocery chain founded in the B.C. Interior will be changing it's name in the New Year. The four Cooper’s Foods locations in Kamloops are scheduled to be converted to Save-On-Foods by mid-February 2016, according to Julie Dickson Olmsteadc with Overwaitea Food Group. The Cooper's grocery store in Vernon and the two in...

Why this Vernon dog rescue wasn’t the saving grace it claimed to be

"I THINK SHE IS A DOG FLIPPER AND NOT SOMEBODY WHO REALLY CARES ABOUT DOGS" VERNON - After 16 years working in animal welfare, Patricia Zerr was never asked to steal a dog — until the winter of 2014 after she got involved with a Vernon-based dog rescue. She remembers driving to a home on...

Vernon dog rescue closes doors amid infoNews.ca investigation

VERNON - A controversial dog rescue in Vernon that has been the focus of numerous allegations in recent months appears to be shutting down. Sources say the Saving Grace Dog Rescue is closing and its dogs are being taken in by other agencies. The closure coincides with an infoNEWS.ca investigation into numerous issues at the...

Pickup smashes into Vernon business

VERNON – A pickup truck driven by an elderly man slammed into the side of a Vernon business this morning. The truck crossed two southbound lanes of traffic and smashed into White House Mortgages in the 4000 block of 27 Street around 10:55 a.m., Dec. 3, according to Vernon Fire Department Capt. Reinhard Mann. Mann...

Warm and wet weekend ahead for the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - While high winds, heavy rain and record temperatures are battering coastal cities, the Okanagan can expect temperatures just above normal and rain during at least part of this weekend. Environment Canada is calling for temperatures to hit between 3 Celsius and 6 C this weekend before climbing to a high of 8 C...

Taking the cash out of Christmas: Vernon event brings back the joy of bartering

VERNON - There are two rules at an unconventional Christmas fair in Vernon this holiday season, the first of which is: No cash allowed. That’s because participants will be trading for the goods and services on hand. Hosted by Jaye Coward and her partner Mireille Gourlay of Farm Bound the Holiday Barter Fest is perhaps...

UPDATE: Missing Vernon man found

UPDATE: 1:04 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 VERNON - Vernon RCMP have confirmed Fraser Gerrard, 25, who last seen on Nov. 19 has been located and is safe and sound. 12:15 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015 VERNON - Police are appealing to the public for help finding a man not seen since last week. Fraser...

Damaged Vernon parking meters turn up in ‘weird’ places

VERNON - The number of vandalized parking meters in Vernon continues to climb, and the pieces are turning up in some unusual places. A further 19 meters were damaged Tuesday night, following a reported 74 over the weekend of Nov. 28 and Nov. 29, the City of Vernon’s protective services manager Clint Kanester says. In most...

Changing speed limit signs on the way for B.C. highways

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Highway drivers will start seeing variable speed signs later this winter as the Ministry of Transportation begins installing them this week, though they won't be functioning until early in the new year. The pilot project, which is currently in its testing phase, will include signs on sections of the Trans-Canada, Sea to Sky...

UPDATE: Missing Vernon teen located

UPDATE: 9:35 a.m., Sunday, Dec. 6, 2015 VERNON - RCMP say the 17-year-old girl who was reported missing on Nov. 28, 2015, and was the subject of a media release on Dec. 2, 2015, has been located. No other information about the case has been released. 3:32 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2015 VERNON - Police...

RCMP say ‘possible actions’ may be taken against Vernon marijuana dispensaries

VERNON - Police are confirming they visited five marijuana dispensaries in Vernon and say further action could be taken in the future. Officers visited the dispensaries to ‘outline our concerns and the potential ramifications related to business practices which do not comply with the current Controlled Drugs and Substances Act’, Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says in...

Vernon firefighters rescue man stuck in dumpster

VERNON - Emergency responders in Vernon recently came to the aid of a man in a rotten situation. Reported as a 'confined space rescue,' the unusual incident occurred when a man was taking out his garbage around 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 28. He accidentally tossed his keys in the dumpster along with the trash, and...

Vernon marijuana dispensaries warned by police to shut down

VERNON - Medical marijuana dispensaries in Vernon have been warned to close their doors. Hasia Glaim co-owns MMJ Total Health Care on 31 Avenue downtown Vernon and was surprised to get a visit from the Vernon RCMP Nov. 24. “We were given a verbal warning to shut down as we are operating illegally and we...