Vernon news
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...
Readers respond to #maninbluesuit
KELOWNA – An InfoNews story about a recent visit by Prime Minister to the Shelter Cove wildfire last Friday has ignited a debate about political photo ops and our decision to not name the Prime Minister during a brief visit last Thursday. The story, “Man in blue suit thanks firefighters,” was shared nation-wide and drew...
Taxi driver ticketed for speeding after rolling car near Parkinson Way
KELOWNA - A taxi driver was ticketed for speeding after he lost control of his car and rolled over on Highway 97 and Parkinson Way in Kelowna just before 6:30 p.m. July 26. The driver, a 35-year-old Vernon man, was the only occupant of the vehicle, which Cpl. Joe Duncan says lost traction in the...
BOLEAN LAKE FIRE: Evacuation alert lifted; fire 75 per cent contained
FALKLAND – The Bolean Lake wildfire burning near Falkland in the North Okanagan is now 75 per cent contained and the evacuation alert has been lifted. The alert covered 24 properties along the Chase-Falkland Road and the Bolean Lake Lodge. There has been a significant drop in fire behaviour thanks to the cooler, wetter weather...
Coolest weekend of July over, sun and heat on the way for Okanagan
OKANAGAN - The weekend was much cooler than what we’ve seen so far this summer, but we will be back above seasonal normals by mid-week. With temperatures only reaching the low- to mid-20s Friday through Sunday it was one of the coolest weekends we’ve seen in the past couple of months. Temperatures did reach the...
Showers for the weekend in the Okanagan; sunshine returns Monday
OKANAGAN – The cool, wet weekend is a welcome break from the hot, dry weather we’ve been experiencing so far this summer in the Okanagan. Environment Canada is calling for showers off and on today, July 25, and Sunday up and down the valley, with high temperatures in the low 20s Celsius. Most of the...
Coroner’s findings in death of Enderby senior
ENDERBY - Dementia is considered a contributing factor in the death of an Enderby woman. Barbara Nell Derenowski, 73, was found dead March 4 on a logging road near Douglas Lake after driving many kilometres from her home in Enderby. Her neighbours were shocked and saddened to hear of her passing. According to a coroner’s...
UPDATE: Kal Park wildfire under control
COLDSTREAM - Firefighters from B.C. Wildfire already have a fire in Kalamalka Provincial Park under control after reports of a smoke plume around Juniper Bay earlier this afternoon. Fire information officer Kelsey Winter says Coldstream Fire Department crews are on the scene along with an initial attack crew from B.C. Wildfire. Winter says the rank...