Vernon news
You’ll never guess what this Kamloops woman wants for her 100th birthday
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The family of a Kamloops grandmother turning 100 years old in a few months is using social media to get the attention of her favourite singer. Kelowna resident Brad Krauza’s grandmother Sylvia lives in Kamloops. With her 100th birthday coming up in March, he and his sister Wendy wanted to do something extra...
Vernon lottery winners ‘struck by lightning twice’
VERNON - While most people only dream of winning the lottery, Vernon couple Diana Cools and Neil Remsbery have won it twice, most recently a $500,000 win on the Nov. 6, 2015, Lotto Max Extra draw. Their last win was in 1993, a $50,000 BC/49 win that helped start their lives together. Now 22 years...
Earthquake 19 km northeast of Victoria
VICTORIA - A 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck near Sidney, Vancouver Island Tuesday evening. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the three second quake happened just after 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, 19 kilometres northeast of Victoria and almost 60 kilometres below the earth’s surface. There have been no reports of any damage or injuries. The...
Vernon man trying to reunite mysterious keepsake box with rightful owners over the holidays
VERNON - Finding an old box of postcards, pictures and other keepsakes in the basement of a Vernon business years ago was like a blast from the past, says Jack Elliman. But not a blast from his own past; from someone named Lorna Rothwell Thompson’s past. Elliman doesn’t know who she is, but he’s trying...
Suspected mail thief rams police car, tries to escape on a kayak
SICAMOUS - A traffic stop on Old Spallumcheen Road led to a police cruiser being rammed twice and an RCMP dog unit tracking a man across Mara Lake Monday. Around 2:30 am on Monday, Dec. 28, a Sicamous RCMP officer attempted to pull over the driver of pickup truck near Sicamous when the man put...
‘My roommate used my toothbrush’ and other reasons to not call 9-1-1
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The largest 9-1-1 call centre in B.C. has released its top ten worst reasons people used their service this year. E-Comm is the primary 9-1-1 answer point for 24 regional districts and other communities from Vancouver Island to the Alberta and U.S. borders, to north of Prince George. With nearly 3,400 9-1-1 calls...
Vernon SPCA seeking help for two dogs after closure of animal rescue
VERNON - The Vernon B.C. SPCA is looking for donations to help brighten the holidays for a pair of dogs in need of expensive medical attention. The dogs, named Girlie and Dash, came into the shelter’s care following the closure of an animal rescue organization in the area, the Vernon shelter says in a release. ...
Unlocked vehicle leads to theft from Lake Country garage
LAKE COUNTRY - Parked vehicles left unlocked, two with garage door openers inside, led to the theft of electronics and loose change this morning, as well as tools and fishing gear from a garage. A vehicle parked in the 9800 block Sonata Road in Lake Country was broken into sometime before 9 a.m. today, Dec....
Vernon police looking for prolific tagger
VERNON - Police are looking for someone so in love with their own talents, they spray-painted it on three schools, a bus and a government building. Vernon RCMP hope you will recognize the tags in the Pleasant Valley Road area of Armstrong that started appearing in November, which are similar enough for police to believe...
Vernon RCMP amping up presence for New Year’s Eve
VERNON - Police will be out in full force in the North Okanagan on New Year’s Eve. That’s the reminder Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy is giving in advance of this Thursday’s New Year’s celebrations. “Our communities can expect to see road blocks, roving traffic patrols and foot patrols of bar areas, as well as our usual...
Weather mellowing out in the Okanagan this week
OKANAGAN - It looks like snowplows will get some time to catch up this week with much less white stuff expected to fall. Communities across the Okanagan got hit with a large dump of snow over the holiday weekend, prompting a snowfall warning from Environment Canada, which ended Dec. 27. Between 7 mm and 10 mm...
Charges laid against man who barricaded himself in Shuswap home, lit it on fire
SALMON ARM - A man accused of barricading himself inside a home and lighting it on fire during a bizarre episode in the Shuswap is facing criminal charges. Adolf Albert Edward Hemmerling, in his 40s, is charged with uttering threats and arson damaging property, in relation to the Dec. 20, 2015 incident. Hemmerling allegedly barricaded...
PHOTOS: Vernon Christmas bird count challenged by snow
VERNON - The annual Christmas bird count in Vernon is in the books for another year. Claude Rioux with the North Okanagan Naturalists Club says the count was held on Sunday, Dec. 20. "What a different day we had from last year where we had no snow," Rioux says in an email. "This year's count...
UPDATE: Snowfall warning ended for Okanagan and South Thompson
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS IN WINTER DRIVING CONDITION THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – A dump of snow overnight and this morning is making the busiest travel day of the year a challenge for drivers. The snowfall warning issued by Environment Canada for the Thompson-Okanagan earlier this morning was ended at about 10:15 a.m., Dec. 27. Forecasters say significant snowfall...
UPDATE: Missing Vernon woman found dead
UPDATE: 10 A.M. DEC. 24, 2015 The search for missing Vernon woman Aurelia Wedenig has ended in tragedy. Police say her body was found Dec. 23, 2015. Read more here. ORIGINAL STORY VERNON – Police are concerned about the safety of a woman who went missing from a mental health facility in Vernon yesterday, Dec. 18....