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Vernon news
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...
Push for traffic light at Stickle Road in Vernon continues
VERNON - There continues to be widespread disagreement over what to do with Stickle Road. While the Ministry of Transportation scrapped it’s original plan and is now touting the idea of a protected T intersection, local government officials remain unimpressed. The ministry presented its revised plan to the North Okanagan Regional District board of directors...
Grass fire near Vernon landfill no longer a threat
VERNON - Quick-acting fire crews managed to suppress a grass fire at the Vernon landfill well before it turned into something bigger. Vernon Fire Rescue was notified just before 5 p.m., yesterday, July 23, but had some initial difficulty pinpointing where it actually was. A number of people phoned 911 to report smoke, but with...
Crews make progress on Bolean Lake wildfire near Falkland
FALKLAND - Fire crews have made significant headway on the Bolean Lake wildfire near Falkland. As of Friday morning, the 348 hectare fire was 50 per cent contained, according to B.C. Wildfire. The suspected lightning-caused fire was first reported Monday, July 20 and fire crews have worked hard all week to establish some level of containment....
Grass fire burning near Vernon landfill
VERNON - Emergency crews are descending upon a new grass fire in Vernon. The fire was reported just before 5 p.m. today, July 23 on Birnie Road, near the landfill, and is an estimated two hectares in size. The Vernon Fire Department is at the scene and has requested back up from B.C. Wildfire. Fire...
Removing land from Kal Park in Vernon continues to worry local officials
VERNON - Additional concerns are arising around a controversial plan to remove land from Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park in Vernon. The Regional District of the North Okanagan board of directors finally heard from B.C. Parks this week about a Ministry of Transportation proposal to remove a 20 metre right-of-way, down from an originally requested 30...
How a standoff between a horse, two dogs and cougar ended in Lumby
LUMBY - It was a sight Lumby resident Tina Berg never expected: Her 1,300 pound horse practically nose-to-nose with a cougar. It was around 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, when Berg, who lives about three kilometres out of Lumby in a rural area, heard her dogs barking. “It was a bark I just know means...
Friend of cop charged with child porn says accuser-wife showed pornography after child’s birthday party
"IT WAS EXTREMELY GRAPHIC." KELOWNA – A friend of a former Vernon cop and his ex-wife Valerie Little, who accuses him of downloading child pornography, says she believes Little was trying to get pregnant to have a better chance at taking sole custody of their kids. She also testified Little accidentally played a pornographic video...
Bolean Lake wildfire near Falkland holding at 348 hectares
FALKLAND - There was no growth in the Bolean Lake wildfire near Falkland overnight, and crews hope to establish some level of containment around the blaze today. Together, the two fires making up the blaze five kilometres northwest of Falkland in the Bolean Lake area remain at an estimated 348 hectares in size as of Thursday, July...