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Vernon news
Skydiver hits power lines near Vernon Airport
VERNON – A skydiver hit a power pole and ended up tangled up in power lines near the Vernon airport today. The man was parachuting with a group from Okanagan Skydiving just before noon, Aug. 3, when he hit power lines on the 6600-block of Tronson Road, according to Vernon Fire Rescue Capt. Colin Clarke....
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...
Run away from your smoking addiction
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A new program is popping up around the country which will help you run away from your problems. The Running Room is launching a Run To Quit program, which will be backed by federal funding and support from the Canadian Cancer Society. The program is designed to help smokers quit by incorporating running...
Want quick attention to Fortis over-billing? Go to the media
WORKED FOR THIS GUY KELOWNA – Media attention got an almost immediate result for a local celebrity who went to the news with a $4,500 power bill for a cabin that wasn’t even there. Gary Fong, a world-famous photographer and inventor made headlines last week when he went public with a massive bill for his...
Province pulls plug on Coldwater River water use
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - In a bid to help struggling salmon populations, water use reduction measures have been imposed on the Coldwater River. The province issued the restriction today, July 31, banning all water use or diversion from the Coldwater River and its tributaries from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. effective immediately. The restriction escalates to a...
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...
Valley mayors push for early start to water conservation
OKANAGAN - Mindful of the dry winter the Okanagan has just experienced, valley mayors and councillors joined the Okanagan Basin Water Board for an early launch of the Make Water Work conservation campaign today. Mayor Doug Findlater, who chairs the water board, used his own community of West Kelowna as an example of why the...
If floating the river in Enderby is on your summer bucket list, do it sooner than later
ENDERBY - Extremely low water levels could cut the summer tubing season short on the Shuswap River in Enderby. Madison Giesbrecht, program manager for the Shuswap River Ambassadors program, which monitors river conditions and provides information to user groups, says river levels are about a month ahead of schedule, and particularly low at that. “We...
Markets, corn and music fill B.C. Day long weekend in Vernon
VERNON - Another long weekend is upon us and if you are looking to get out and enjoy the summer heat Mother Nature will be gifting us this weekend, plus there is lots to keep you busy. Environment Canada is calling for temperatures in the mid-30s with sunshine all weekend, but if you are looking...
RCMP foot chase ends in Vernon park with help of police dog
VERNON – A police dog made short work of the hunt for a suspect who ran into a Vernon park to hide this week. The RCMP dog team tracked down a teenager wanted on gun-related offences in Girouard Park in Easthill on Tuesday, July 28. The chase started when officers knocked on the door of...
Kelowna to retain control over YLW until 2054
KELOWNA – The City of Kelowna will remain in charge of the Kelowna International Airport until 2054 thanks to a 20-year lease extension by the federal government. Until that time, Kelowna will remain responsible for management, operation and development of the largest airport in the B.C. Interior. Kelowna mayor Colin Basran says the extension is...
Fishing suspended along Middle Shuswap River
VERNON - Another body of water has been closed to fishing due to ongoing drought conditions in Southern B.C. Warm water temperatures and a low flow rate are two reasons why the provincial and federal governments decided to suspend angling in Middle Shuswap River from Mabel Lake to Shuswap Falls. The suspension will last from...
Vernon food security projects growing
VERNON - Local food security programs are being supported by provincial funding that will allow them to grow jobs and fresh produce. Kindale Development Association is receiving more than $40,000 to support Patchwork Farms at Okanagan College-Vernon develop a farm-gate market, coordinate a gleaning program and take the beginning steps for creating community kitchens and...
Kamloops jail ordered to flag inmates with a history of violence: WorkSafe B.C.
KAMLOOPS - WorkSafe B.C. ordered administrators at the Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre to flag or identify violent offenders after an inspector discovered there wasn't a proper system in place to warn corrections officers of a potential assault. Inspector Vincent Strain prepared his report and order to create a new flagging system after an inmate assaulted...
Drought level increased in South Thompson, three other areas of southern interior
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Extremely dry conditions and low stream flows have forced the province to raise the drought level in four areas of the southern Interior today. A Level 4 drought rating has been announced for the South Thompson, Similkameen, Kettle and Skagit areas, July 27. Further declines in stream, lake and aquifer levels could lead...