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Vernon news

Emergency crews responding to large fire downtown Vernon

VERNON - A large fire is burning near Vernon’s Village Green Mall. Reports say the fire broke out at the Vernon social assistance office on 48 Avenue, behind the Petro Canada gas station. A tower of smoke can be seen from across the city. Emergency crews are at the scene working to contain the blaze....

Man found dead in Kal Lake identified; second man still missing

VERNON - Police have launched a full scale search for an individual last seen with a man found dead in Kalamalka Lake over the weekend. In a media release issued in this afternoon, June 30, RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy confirmed what 23-year-old Curtis Wilson’s family announced earlier in the day; that he was last seen...

Men who died in Vernon motorcycle crash identified

VERNON - The names of two men who died in a weekend motorcycle crash have been released by the B.C. Coroners Service. They were James Tyler Folden, 23, of Lumby, and Trinity James Dale Bright, 24, originally from Cherryville, but most recently residing in Canmore, Alberta. Folden was driving an offroad motorcycle with Bright as...

Campfire bans in effect this weekend for B.C. Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Due to an elevated risk of fire across the Interior of B.C., the Kamloops Fire Centre has banned all open fires, including campfires, as of noon on Friday, July 3. Kelsey Winter of B.C. Wildfire says the step is being taken to prevent human-caused wildfires and protect public safety around Penticton, Kelowna, Vernon...

Celebrate Canada’s birthday in downtown Kelowna

KELOWNA – Canada turns 148 years old on Wednesday, July 1, and to celebrate Festivals Kelowna has put together more than 50 fun activities and performances for the whole family. The annual Celebrate Canada Day takes place in Waterfront Park, Jim Stuart Park and Kerry Park as well as Prospera Place. Last year more than...

Missing person last seen with man discovered dead in Kal Lake: Family

VERNON - A person last seen with the man who turned up dead in Kalamalka Lake has not been seen or heard from since Saturday, June 27, prompting concerned family members to plead for information from the public. Shanna Wilson says her brother, Curtis Wilson, was last seen in Vernon Saturday morning having breakfast with...

Weekend of fires fuelled by lightning

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – There were 35 fire starts this weekend in the Kamloops Fire Centre alone. Of those, 22 were caused by lightning, but the remaining 13 were believed to be human-caused. Penticton was the hottest fire zone in the region with 19 of the 35 starts this weekend, but Fire Information Officer Kelsey Winter says...

UPDATE: Two men killed in Vernon dirt bike crash

VERNON – Two men are dead after the dirt bike they were on hit a park utility trailer on East Vernon Road in Vernon Sunday morning. RCMP were called to the crash at about 6:30 a.m., June 28, when a neighbour found the men, 23 and 24 years of age. “Early indications in this investigation...

UPDATE: Body found in Kalamalka Lake, death suspicious

RCMP SAY "STILL TRYING TO PIECE TOGETHER WHAT HAPPENED" COLDSTREAM - Police are treating the discovery of a body floating in Kalamalka Lake Sunday afternoon as suspicious. A standup paddler noticed the body floating under the surface on the south side of Cosens Bay near the cabins and notified police about 2:30 p.m., June 28,...

UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch issued for Southern Interior

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – We could see severe thunderstorms develop in the Thompson-Okanagan region this afternoon and evening. Environment Canada issued a severe thunderstorm watch this morning covering the South and North Thompson, Nicola, Shuswap and Okanagan regions and upgraded it to a warning for parts of the South Thompson, Nicola and Okanagan regions for a short...

Record heat in the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - Several Okanagan cities were among the 30 communities to set a new high temperature record in the province on Sunday. With a high of 39.3 C on Sunday, June 28, Vernon was one of the hottest Okanagan communities, surpassing a former high temperature record of 35.4 C. With a high of 38.7 C...

UPDATE: Semi fire on Coquihalla Highway

MERRITT – A semi burst into flames on the Coquihalla Highway this afternoon, severely restricting traffic for several hours. VSA Highway Maintenance says the route was fully reopened as of 4:30 p.m, June 28. The fire, about 1 kilometre north of the Great Bear snowshed, had forced the closure of one lane. No word on...

No hiking on Okanagan rail corridor just yet

LAKE COUNTRY - Officials with the District of Lake Country are trying to get out the message the CN Rail line through the community is off limits despite the referendum which approved the purchase of the land as part of the Okanagan Rail Trail. Crews have put up signs at access points along the rail...

Wildfire crews hopping with 16 new fires on weekend

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Almost half of the 16 new wildfires sparked in the Thompson-Okanagan region over the weekend were preventable because people caused them. Kelsey Winter with B.C. Wildfire Management says seven of the fires crews have either put out, or are currently working to put out, have been listed as human caused. The rest of...

Scorching heat sizzles high temperature records

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – The heat wave blasting the Southern Interior cranked the temperature up a notch Saturday breaking high temperature records in the Thompson-Okanagan. Canada’s hot spot June 27 was Osoyoos where the mercury climbed to 40.9 Celsius, snapping the old high temperature record of 37.7 C recorded on the same day in 2000. Kamloops hit...

UPDATE: Skydiver injured at Vernon Airport

VERNON – A skydiver was taken to hospital after an accident at the Vernon Airport yesterday afternoon. The man lost control while skydiving and hit one of the chain link boundary fences around the airport at about 3 p.m., Friday, June 26, according to Vernon Fire Rescue. Bret Chalmers with Okanagan Skydive says there was...

Heat wave continues though not as hot has originally forecast

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – While it will still be hot this weekend, it won’t be has hot as first forecast by Environment Canada. The Special Weather Statement issued on Thursday, June 25, for the South and North Thompson, Nicola, Shuswap and Okanagan warning of temperatures as high at 40 Celsius has been ended. Meteorologists are still forecasting...

Concern for homeless community heightens as temperatures rise

VERNON - While the hot weather forecast has many of us planning fun ways to beat the heat, members of the homeless population are thinking about something else entirely: survival. Imagine heading into 40 Celsius weather with no air conditioning, no hat or sunscreen, and no water. That’s the situation Vernon’s Cammy LaFleur Street Outreach...

HELSTON: The Canadian Ski Patrol’s legacy is something that’s never leaving

It takes a certain kind of person to be a volunteer, and we’d be lost without them. From the search and rescuer who misses dinner with his family to help find a missing hiker, the listening ear on the other end of the crisis hotline, or the ski patroller who spends her weekend not knowing what kind of emergency she might be called to next — they are here for us, not for money, not for credit, but to help.

No elevated Okanagan watering restrictions — yet

OKANAGAN - Despite record-breaking heat and little rain in the forecast, Okanagan communities remain under normal, or phase 1, watering restrictions, but be warned — that could change. Water utilities are keeping a close eye on supply, demand and weather predictions for the summer, but haven’t yet been forced to elevate restrictions. Kelowna’s five water...

Woman who went missing in Okanagan bush has outstanding warrants

PEACHLAND - The Winnipeg woman who went missing for more than a week and then was found by two men checking on livestock on an old logging road near Peachland is due for a court appearance in Manitoba. Kara Jo Leigh Stoyanowksi, 24, went missing for nine days after she left a recreational area near...

Forecast heat wave prompts warning for people to be prepared

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – Hot desert air moving into the Southern Interior this weekend is behind a Special Weather Statement warning people to get ready. Record breaking high temperatures of 40 Celsius are forecast for Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28, in the South Thompson, Nicola and South Okanagan. In the statement, issued today, June 25,...