Vernon news
Driver ticketed after fleeing the scene of Vernon crash
VERNON - The mystery behind a car crash last week in which the driver fled the scene has been solved. RCMP Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says a witness reported seeing the vehicle leave the road and go into the ditch around 10:50 p.m., Nov. 27. The driver was then seen fleeing the scene. Emergency responders found...
Police activity outside Vernon apartment building explained
VERNON - Police activity outside a Vernon apartment building last week was related to a stolen property investigation, RCMP confirmed today, Dec. 3 RCMP recovered three stolen Ford pickup trucks from the residence, located in the 4700 block of 20 Street, around 8:30 a.m., Nov. 27, Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says in a media release. Police...
UPDATE: Missing Vernon man found
UPDATE: 1:04 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015 VERNON - Vernon RCMP have confirmed Fraser Gerrard, 25, who last seen on Nov. 19 has been located and is safe and sound. 12:15 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2015 VERNON - Police are appealing to the public for help finding a man not seen since last week. Fraser...
Vernon chamber evaluates city budget with report card
VERNON - The City of Vernon hasn’t received top marks from a local business association, but it’s not failing either. The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce, which represents over 500 business members, gave the city an overall ‘B’ grade for its financial plan, general manager Dan Rogers said in a statement. The grade was part...
Damaged Vernon parking meters turn up in ‘weird’ places
VERNON - The number of vandalized parking meters in Vernon continues to climb, and the pieces are turning up in some unusual places. A further 19 meters were damaged Tuesday night, following a reported 74 over the weekend of Nov. 28 and Nov. 29, the City of Vernon’s protective services manager Clint Kanester says. In most...
Changing speed limit signs on the way for B.C. highways
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Highway drivers will start seeing variable speed signs later this winter as the Ministry of Transportation begins installing them this week, though they won't be functioning until early in the new year. The pilot project, which is currently in its testing phase, will include signs on sections of the Trans-Canada, Sea to Sky...
RCMP say ‘possible actions’ may be taken against Vernon marijuana dispensaries
VERNON - Police are confirming they visited five marijuana dispensaries in Vernon and say further action could be taken in the future. Officers visited the dispensaries to ‘outline our concerns and the potential ramifications related to business practices which do not comply with the current Controlled Drugs and Substances Act’, Const. Jocelyn Noseworthy says in...
Charges no longer being pursued against man accused of Kal Park arson
VERNON - A conviction is no longer being pursued against a North Okanagan man facing arson charges in connection to a fire in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park last summer. Justin Rees, 24, was charged with one count of arson damaging property following the June 12 fire near Juniper Bay. At the time, authorities said the...
Vernon firefighters rescue man stuck in dumpster
VERNON - Emergency responders in Vernon recently came to the aid of a man in a rotten situation. Reported as a 'confined space rescue,' the unusual incident occurred when a man was taking out his garbage around 9 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 28. He accidentally tossed his keys in the dumpster along with the trash, and...
Vernon marijuana dispensaries warned by police to shut down
VERNON - Medical marijuana dispensaries in Vernon have been warned to close their doors. Hasia Glaim co-owns MMJ Total Health Care on 31 Avenue downtown Vernon and was surprised to get a visit from the Vernon RCMP Nov. 24. “We were given a verbal warning to shut down as we are operating illegally and we...
Vernon learning centre on the hunt for a new home after being told to vacate
VERNON - The Vernon School District is on the hunt for a new landlord after the decision to demolish the city-owned building the district has been leasing. School officials recently learned they won’t be able to lease the city-owned building on 29th Street anymore because it’s getting demolished. The city has asked the district to...
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...
Block heater suspected cause of Vernon truck fire
VERNON - A block heater appears to be the culprit behind a weekend vehicle fire. Deputy fire chief Lawrie Skolrood says a Ford F350 caught fire around 4:39 a.m., Sunday, Nov. 29 in the area of Windsor Place. “It was parked within three feet of a house,” Skolrood says. “It was close enough to do...
Driver flees scene after flipping car in Vernon
VERNON - Emergency responders in Vernon were unable to locate the driver after a single vehicle accident last Friday. Deputy fire chief Lawrie Skolrood says the department responded to the Orchard Hill Road accident, near Bella Vista Road, about 10:51 p.m., Nov. 27. “It was a rollover down an embankment,” Skolrood says. “No one was...