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Vernon news

State-of-the-art amphitheatre proposed for Vernon’s Okanagan College

VERNON - A large outdoor amphitheatre is being proposed for the Vernon campus of Okanagan College. The Okanagan Summer Festival Society proposed the amphitheatre, which would accommodate up to 5,500 people, at a Greater Vernon Advisory Council meeting Thursday, Dec. 10.    “We see the opportunity to develop a significant addition to the cultural infrastructure...

‘Put it on your roof’: Vernon woman shares tale of stolen Christmas decor

VERNON - A grinch stole a Vernon woman’s Christmas spirit. Deb Robertson says close to $600 worth of LED Christmas decorations were stolen from her yard in the East Hill area of Vernon. “It’s bad to steal from anyone any time of year, but Christmas is just the lowest of the low,” Robertson says. Taken...

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...

Socks, pyjamas, and perfume among items on Christmas wish list for Vernon’s homeless

VERNON - Vernon is once again helping to make Christmas wishes come true for the city’s less fortunate. The Christmas Wish List is a collection of personal stories and wish lists from Vernon’s homeless and shelter clients. Participants are interviewed about themselves, and the gifts that would make their Christmases brighter. The responses are then...

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...

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 woman arrested after collision in stolen vehicle

VERNON - A Vernon woman is facing several charges after a dangerous driving episode in a stolen vehicle last week. Police officers noticed the Nissan Juke car, which was reported stolen two days earlier, while conducting patrols in the area of 32 Avenue and 32 Street in Vernon around 3 p.m. on Dec. 1. The...

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...

Expect to see more police presence in downtown Vernon

VERNON - There will be more police officers patroling the streets of downtown Vernon next year. Vernon city council recently voted to approve $330,000 for two additional officer positions effective Jan. 1, 2016. The detachment says it will use that funding to restore staffing levels in the downtown enforcement unit. “These officers will assist us...

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...

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...