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Vernon news
The Sheepdogs set to rock Vernon and Kamloops in early 2016
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Canadian band The Sheepdogs will be making two stops in the Southern Interior on its cross-country tour next year. The tour follows the latest album, Future Nostalgia, released by the Juno award-winning rock band from Saskatchewan. Tickets will go on sale this Friday, Dec. 4, for the Feb. 17 show at Cactus Jacks next...
Vandalism spree leaves 74 Vernon parking meters damaged
VERNON - The City of Vernon is looking for information after numerous parking meters were vandalized, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage. Communications officer Tanya Laing Gahr says 74 meters were damaged in total, with the clocks from 72 broken or removed over the weekend. Damage is estimated at around $20,000. There was no...
Vernon Farmers’ Market disappointed with arena vote
VERNON - The manager of the Vernon Farmers' Market believes some vendors will feel the squeeze as the group downsizes for upcoming arena construction. Manager Ingrid Baron is expecting the market will need to shrink by a third to fit into reduced parking lot space at Kal Tire Place while the facility is expanded. Greater...
Vernon mayor happy arena referendum passed; disappointed with low voter turnout
VERNON – The voters of Greater Vernon have spoken, although not many of them, giving…
Diamond ring found in Vernon Walmart glove returned to rightful owner
VERNON – A woman from Lake Country quickly bought a pair of gloves at the Walmart in Vernon as she and her daughter headed to the city’s Downtown Light Up event Friday evening, Nov. 27. When Tanya Krcmar put on the gloves, one of her fingers slipped through what she says felt like a ring....
Greater Vernon voters say ‘YES’ to a new arena
VERNON - Greater Vernon will get a brand new, multi-million dollar arena, voters decided today. The ‘yes’ vote for a new ice sheet to replace the aging Civic Arena was victorious in the Saturday, Nov. 28 referendum. According to preliminary results, 4,265 votes were cast in favour of the new arena, and 3,331 against. The...
Rail removal to cause weekend traffic disruptions in Lake Country
LAKE COUNTRY – Crews are working their way north as they dismantle an old railroad…
Penticton man identified as victim in fatal Okanagan Connector crash
KELOWNA – The first big winter storm on the Okanagan Connector and Coquihalla highways proved deadly early this month. A car crash claimed the life of a Penticton man on Highway 97C around 1:30 p.m., Nov. 16, according to a media release from the B.C. Coroners Service. Martin Lewis Schultz, 44, was the driver and...
Cold snap continues in the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - While the temperatures continue to remind us why the stereotype of all Canadians living in parkas and igloos exists, it is nowhere near the record lows recorded in the Okanagan. Environment Canada is calling for temperatures to remain well below zero all weekend but is forecasting the mercury to hit near seasonal normal...
Vernon photographer creates magical Disney photos featuring her daughter
VERNON - A Vernon photographer brought a little magic home from Disneyland. It all started with an elaborate Elsa dress Camillia Courts bought her daughter Layla, who was five years old at the time, during a family trip to Disneyland last year. “When we brought it back home, I was thinking where the heck is...
Migrant workers safe and with families in Mexico after going missing in the Okanagan
VERNON - Four temporary foreign workers who went missing in the Okanagan this past summer are back home in Mexico, the country’s consulate confirmed today, Nov. 26. Vernon RCMP reported the men missing in July 2015, nearly a month after they were last seen taking a cab into Vernon to cash some cheques. They arrived...
Kokanee numbers keep rising in Okanagan
OKANAGAN - Kokanee numbers are up from last year in all of the big valley lakes, the provincial government says. Wood Lake’s kokanee population continues to recover from a disastrous 2011 when poor in-lake conditions lead to a huge increase in fish mortality of all ages, according to a media release. Over 20,000 returned to spawn...
The unusual way some local residents mourn through Facebook
"IT'S NICE TO KNOW THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO LOVED HIM." KELOWNA – Earlier this month Facebook announced a new option designed to help you get over a relationship breakup without blocking or unfriending your ex. But some Okanagan residents are using Facebook to help get over an even greater loss. Three years ago, suddenly and...
Another reprieve for Interior Health laundry workers
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The Hospital Employees’ Union is welcoming news that Interior Health is delaying its decision to contract out laundry services. New Interior Health President and CEO Chris Mazurkewich says in a release today, Nov. 25, not to expect a decision before March 2016. He’s been on the job less than a month and wants...
Mexican workers who disappeared from Okanagan farm in June located
VERNON – Four Mexican men working at a Vernon orchard who disappeared back in June…
Woman pursues driver suspected of vehicle theft in Vernon
VERNON - A member of the public went above and beyond by tailing a driver who allegedly stole a truck earlier this week. Vernon RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says police got a heads up around 7:20 p.m. Nov. 22 that a community member was following a 2001 Dodge Dakota pickup truck she’d just witnessed stolen...
Community group created to welcome refugees to the North Okanagan
VERNON - A group of community organizations, local residents and faith groups are coming together with a common vision — welcoming refugees and settling them in the North Okanagan. The recently created North Okanagan Refugee Committee is already mobilizing to bring international refugee families to the area. “It is important that refugees are welcomed, supported...
Great timing for Oyama artist to meet demand for colouring books
OYAMA - This Christmas you will be tempted at some point to browse the latest trend of colouring books for adults but before you buy off the rack, you should see the books from local artist Sarah Marie Thompson. The long-time Okanagan resident has three colouring books for sale both online and at Kelowna’s Mosaic...
Jann Arden tour includes stops in Kamloops and the Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - An award-winning Canadian singer will be making stops in two local cities this coming spring. Jann Arden is bringing her Almost Everything tour to the Vernon Performing Arts Centre on March 19 and the Sagebrush Theatre in Kamloops on March 21. Arden is a Canadian born singer, songwriter, broadcaster and author with eight...
Wintery week ahead in the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - With a snowfall warning in place and cooler temperatures in the forecast, the Okanagan is in for a wintery start to the last week of November. Yesterday, Environment Canada issued a snowfall warning for the South and North Thompson, Shuswap and North Okanagan regions, saying snowfall would begin overnight and continue through today, Nov....
Snowfall warning for North Okanagan, Shuswap and North Thompson
VERNON – A system of moist air from the Pacific is going to crash into cold Arctic air descending from the north dumping snow over the North Okanagan, Shuswap and North Thompson tonight and tomorrow. Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the regions today, Nov. 22. Forecasters say the snow will be caused...
Southern Interior braces for winter storm with blast of Arctic air
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The first Arctic outbreak of the season is going to blow through the Thompson-Okanagan bringing blowing snow, cold temperatures and “crummy travel conditions,” according to Environment Canada. A special weather statement, which covers most of southern B.C., has been issued by Environment Canada warning of a winter storm expected with the worst of...
Curious about the price of marijuana in your city? Check PriceOfWeed website
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - It isn’t legal yet in Canada, but that won’t stop people from keeping a close eye on weed market in their city. Akin to the website Gas Buddy, which monitors gas prices to help consumers find the lowest price in town, there’s a website called Price of Weed, in which users report the...
Okanagan hunter fined for shooting deer decoy out of season
KELOWNA – A seasoned hunter who pleaded guilty to shooting at a B.C. Conservation Service deer decoy in West Kelowna days after the season ended one year ago says it was an honest mistake. Joseph Vernon Lange, 60, was driving down the Esperon Forest Service Road in West Kelowna Nov. 15, 2014 when he saw...