Vernon news
Local ski hills are growing white
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - While some of us are still holding on to the last strings of warmer weather, those looking forward to skiing and snowboarding will be happy to know the snow is falling at area ski hills. All three of the big ski hills in the area — Sun Peaks, Silver Star Mountain and Big...
Vernon man accused of murder released from custody
VERNON - An 18-year-old Vernon man accused of murder is no longer in custody. Brandon Wellington, who stands accused of second degree murder in connection with the death of Jason Hardy, was released on bail Monday, Oct. 26. His bail is set at $10,000 and he must adhere to a number of court-ordered conditions. Greater...
UPDATE: Vernon woman missing for weeks finally located
UPDATE: 6:22 A.M. OCT. 27, 2015 A 26-year-old woman missing for weeks has been located. Police say Celina White was found safe and sound Oct. 26. 8 P.M., OCT. 20, 2015 VERNON - Police in Vernon say a young woman who went missing weeks ago has still not been located. Celina White, 26, was reported...
UPDATE: Missing Okanagan woman found
UPDATE: 6:22 A.M. OCT. 27, 2015 A 26-year-old woman missing for weeks has been located. Police say Celina White was found safe and sound Oct. 26. 12:05 P.M., OCT. 13, 2015 VERNON - RCMP are on the lookout for a woman who last spoke with her family several weeks ago. Celina White, 26, was last...
Everything you wish you didn’t need to know about rats in the Thompson-Okanagan
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Just a few years ago, Thompson-Okanagan residents didn’t have to worry about rats invading attic spaces or chewing up electrical wires, simply because the rodent was a rarity in these parts. That's all changed. Steve Ball owns BugMaster Pest Control, which services the North, Central and South Okanagan, and he says rat complaints...
Another vehicle fire under investigation in Vernon
VERNON - For the third time this month, authorities were called to the scene of a burning vehicle in Vernon. Firefighters were called out at 1:34 a.m. today, Oct. 26, after a truck was reported to be on fire on 35 Avenue in downtown Vernon. Deputy Vernon Fire Chief Jack Blair says the pickup truck...
Wet fall week ahead for the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - A mixed bag of weather — cloud, rain and sun — is expected in the Okanagan for the last week of October. Environment Canada is calling for temperature highs at or just above seasonal normals of 9 Celsius throughout the region all week, with the warmest temperatures expected today, Oct. 26. Overnight lows...
Car snags power pole guy wires and flips near Vernon
VERNON – A car hit the guy wires on a Hydro pole on the north end of Westside Road near Vernon, flipping the vehicle and knocking out power in the area today. The crash happened just around 10:50 a.m., Oct. 25, on Westside Road about a kilometre south of Highway 97, on Okanagan Indian Band...
Okanagan Regional Library approves budget increase
KELOWNA – Half of the Okanagan Regional Library budget increase for 2016 is wage increases for staff at branches up and down the valley. The board of directors has approved a spending plan worth over $18.2 million, which reflects a 1.98 per cent increase from 2015. The increase amounts to an extra $351,818 tax dollars....
Building a new arena is in the hands of Greater Vernon voters
VERNON - Greater Vernon residents will head to the polls to vote on a new arena next month. A referendum is set for Nov. 28 which will ask voters to borrow $13.2 million to decommission the Civic Arena and add a second arena at Kal Tire Place. “Civic has served its purpose, its time is...
Four years later: Armstrong family still organizing walk to remember murdered teen
ARMSTRONG - An annual walk in honour of murdered Armstrong teen Taylor Van Diest will be held on a different day this year in hopes of increasing turnout. “Participation is dwindling of course, but that’s to be expected,” Taylor’s mom Marie Van Diest says. “It would be nice to see a few more people turn...
Man accused in Armstrong woman’s death ordered to stand trial
VERNON - The man accused of killing an Armstrong mother of two has been ordered to stand trial. Logan Scott, 31, of Salmon Arm was charged with manslaughter and theft under $5,000 in August 2014, nine months after Jillian McKinty, 27, was found dead in her Armstrong home. Following a preliminary inquiry this week in...
Kelowna tourists caught in path of worst hurricane in history
KELOWNA - A small group of tourists from Kelowna who are vacationing in Nuevo Vallarta are fleeing to higher ground to escape the strongest hurricane ever recorded. Rod Robinson, owner of Bogie and Bacall Hair Salon in Orchard Park Mall, is travelling with his wife Donna and friends Denny and Patty Pirot, who are also...
Sun and frost this weekend in the Okanagan
OKANAGAN - Temperatures should be close to seasonal normals, on both the high and low end, this weekend and with those cooler overnight temperatures comes frost. Environment Canada is calling for a high in the double digits today, Oct. 21, and Saturday, with a high of 9 Celsius being forecast for Sunday. The seasonal normal...
Attempted murder charge laid in connection with Enderby shooting
ENDERBY - An attempted murder charge has been laid in connection with a shooting near Enderby. Norman Dybdal, 58, faces charges of attempted murder with a firearm and aggravated assault in relation to the Oct. 19 incident in Enderby. Dybdal allegedly shot a 55-year-old man multiple times that evening, leaving the victim with life-threatening injuries. The Vernon...