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Vernon news

Big storm to hit Southern Interior Thursday

THOMSON-OKANAGAN - A series of powerful storms are set to move through the B.C. Interior beginning tonight and lasting through the end of the week. The first storm will begin tonight and a second storm, more powerful than the first, will hit the Interior on Thursday and Friday, producing strong winds and heavy rain, according...

Trial postponed for Armstrong man facing animal cruelty charges

VERNON - The trial of a man accused of mistreating a large herd of horses in Armstrong has been postponed. Gary Roberts, 69, was scheduled to begin a three-day trial in Vernon Provincial Court Monday, Nov. 9 on charges of causing unnecessary pain or suffering to an animal, failing to provide necessities, and uttering threats...

Thefts, crime getting worse in Lake Country

LAKE COUNTRY – A long time resident of Lake Country says crime in his community has increased over the last three months and is the worst he's ever seen. “There’s been a few waves, like when the Coquihalla first opened up there was a wave of chainsaws and that stuff stolen but it faded away,”...

Looking for owner of Second World War medals

VERNON – A Vernon man’s discovery inside an antique desk he bought in Montreal is going viral just days before Remembrance Day. Martin Bokesch posted to Facebook pictures of the Second World War medals and a short description of his timely find. “My wife bought an old used desk in Montreal at a furniture dealer,”...

Man injured in Vernon highway crash ticketed for bad driving

VERNON - A driver involved in an ugly highway accident in Vernon over the weekend was seen speeding and driving erratically leading up to the crash, police say. The 28-year-old Kelowna man was headed northbound on Highway 97 in a Honda Civic when witnesses saw him strike the median, drive through a red light, hit...

Do you know these people? Police recover stolen iPod loaded with thousands of photos

VERNON - Mounties are searching for the owners of an iPod containing one thing that’s irreplaceable in most thefts: photographs. RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says the iPod was seized during an arrest and is believed to have been stolen from the Greater Vernon area. “RCMP are in possession of the iPod, and would like to...

Vernon RCMP investigating more poppy donation thefts

VERNON - Police in Vernon are looking into new reports of stolen Remembrance Day poppy donations. The Vernon RCMP announced today, Nov. 9, an arrest had been made in connection with a Nov. 2 poppy donation theft at Bosley’s pet store, but Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says police are also investigating two other similar thefts. On Nov....

Coroner identifies Sorrento man killed in crash

SORRENTO - A Sorrento man was killed after his pickup crashed into a tree near the small community along Shuswap Lake last week. Andrej Schmiegel, 60, died in the crash, the B.C. Coroners Service says in a media release. Schmiegel was the driver and sole occupant of the pickup truck, which left the road and...

Vernon poppy donation thief arrested

VERNON - Police have arrested a Vernon man in connection with what they call a ‘despicable’ theft last week. Matthew Stadel, 29, was arrested Nov. 6 and charged with a series of thefts, RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says. Stadel is accused of stealing a jar of poppy donations from Bosley’s pet store on Nov. 2....

Wet Veterans’ week ahead for the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - As temperatures continue to cool off in the Okanagan, there is at least a chance of snow or rain every day this week for the region. Environment Canada is calling for temperatures to be at or slightly above seasonal normals most of the week, while overnight lows will be just below normal most...

Harassed Vernon food truck vendor says enough is enough

VERNON - Vernon food truck vendor Dave Braybrook had to call the cops three times in one day this week — and now he's speaking out. The friendly Irishman and owner of the Sizzlin’ Shamrock hot dog stand says he’s had problems with transients disrupting business ever since he set up on the sidewalk at...

Happy twist to stolen poppy donations in Vernon

VERNON - Something good has come of an unfortunate crime earlier this week in Vernon. Bosley’s pet store manager Dawn Vipond says after news got out that someone stole a tray of poppy pins and donations from the shop, the community turned the tale around. “We’ve had a bunch of individuals come in just to donate,...

Wet weekend ahead for the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - A typical fall weekend is ahead, with single-digit temperatures and at least a chance of rain every day. Temperatures are expected to vary slightly throughout the region with Environment Canada calling for the coolest temperatures today, Nov. 6, and tomorrow in the Vernon area. The weather office is forecasting a high of just...

Silver Star in good shape for opening thanks to dump of snow

VERNON - Silver Star will open up trails for nordic skiing, fat biking and snowshoeing in a week thanks to plentiful snowfall on the mountain.  With a 29 centimetre dump of snow last weekend, groomers have been able to prepare a number of trails, the resort said in a media release. With more snowfall in...

Lake Country man arrested for lighting house on fire

LAKE COUNTRY – A Lake Country man has been arrested for a suspicious fire at a house on the corner of Highway 97 and Beaver Lake Road this week. Emergency services were called to a fire at a house at 3109 Beaver Lake Rd. around 10 a.m., Monday, Nov. 2. A bystander, Dean Bose of...

Help for Malakwa truck stop workers left jobless after fire

MALAKWA - A fundraising initiative is underway to help support employees of the popular Skyline Truck Stop, which burned to the ground earlier this week in Malakwa. “Not only did we lose a place of employment, the only source of income for some families in a small community that has next to no jobs, but...

First snowflakes fall on Vernon and area

NORTH OKANAGAN - Fall colours are really popping against a contrast of white this morning around parts of the North Okanagan. There are reports that the first snow has fallen around areas of Vernon, Lumby and Cherryville today, Nov. 5. The Kamloops area is also getting its first taste of winter this morning. Environment Canada...

Flu shot season in the Southern Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With the peak of flu season just a few weeks away, Health Canada has started its yearly vaccination program. Although last year’s flu vaccine wasn’t particularly effective, Interior Health medical officer Kamran Golmohammadi says, this year’s vaccine cocktail will target the more severe of the two types of viruses – Type A. Every...

Devastating fire leaves big hole in Malakwa community

MALAKWA - Those who visited the Skyline Truck Stop in Malakwa always left with a full tank, and a full belly. The popular roadside gas station, machine shop and restaurant was a fixture in the rural Shuswap community for decades, and while a devastating fire wiped out the building earlier this week, it hasn’t erased...

Poppy donations stolen from one Vernon business, tip jar from a second

VERNON - Two local businesses are asking the public to keep an eye out after a man in a blue hoodie made off with poppy pin donations and a tip jar Monday evening. Bosley’s pet store manager Dawn Vipond noticed right away the poppy tray and donation jar was missing Tuesday when she came in...