Vernon news
Interior Target stores will be closed before Easter
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - By April 2 a total of 62 Target stores will be shut down, including those in Vernon, Kelowna and Kamloops. Target Canada opened doors in Western Canada in May 2013. In January 2015 it was announced the company would be shutting down all 133 stores and liquidation sales began immediately. Last week the...
Citizens call for drastic changes to Greater Vernon Water
VERNON - A citizens group is calling on local politicians to overhaul plans for Greater Vernon’s water supply, including the cost to residents. Citizens for Changes to the Master Water Plan made their case to Vernon City Council Monday afternoon, asking for support in taking a “fresh new look” at the plan. Spokesperson Eric Jackson...
Two Vernon athletes nominated to compete in 2015 Toronto Parapan Am Games
VERNON - Two athletes from Vernon are among 40 swimmers nominated to represent Canada this summer at the Toronto 2015 Parapan Am Games. Sarah Mehain, 20, is a seasoned paralympian and will compete in four events in Toronto, while the games are a first for teammate Riley McLean. The two will compete alongside another fellow...
Vernon parents left frustrated with City Hall over student safety
VERNON - Vernon parents are disappointed local government isn’t planning to do more to make the roads around Beairsto School safer as a drive-through Tim Hortons is built across the street. Out of 11 traffic safety recommendations made by the Beairsto Parent Advisory Council — such as widening sidewalks, reducing the speed limit on 27...
Four local pharmacies to participate in ground-breaking genomics project
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The concept of tailored medical care based on individual DNA was once the stuff of science fiction novels but now the possibility is ever closer with four pharmacies in the Thompson-Okanagan signed on to take part in a first-of-its-kind genomics project. The 'Genomics for Precision Drug Therapy in the Community Pharmacy' project is...
Death of longboarding teen killed by vehicle was accidental
VERNON - A Vernon teenager struck by a car while longboarding July 13, 2014, died of multiple blunt force trauma as a result of the impact, and the incident was accidental, the B.C. Coroners Service has concluded. Christopher Mathew Mitchell, 17, was out longboarding on 39 Street at 11 p.m. when he was hit by...
Co-workers step up efforts to support Vernon nurse badly injured in hit and run
VERNON - Co-workers continue to support a Vernon nurse left unable to walk after a hit and run last winter. As part of an ongoing fundraiser called Robin’s Journey, co-workers have launched a silent auction to help support her financially. Organizer Tina Berg says the community’s response so far with donations has been overwhelming. “Robin...
Lumby-based medical marijuana company still awaiting Health Canada approval
LUMBY - It’s been slow going for a company looking to grow medical marijuana in Lumby. Darcy Bomford, the CEO of True Leaf Medicine Inc. (chaired by former B.C. premier Mike Harcourt) says the company is still waiting for full approval from Health Canada. “It’s been almost a year waiting for this one location,” Bomford...
Young children endangered by drunk driver in Lumby
LUMBY - When an alleged drunk driver was pulled over for failing to stop at a Lumby stop sign last week Mounties saw two small children in the vehicle belted into car seats. Officers from the North Okanagan Traffic Services were sitting in an unmarked car at 7:50 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, when the van...
City provides reminders for bike lane use in Vernon
VERNON - City of Vernon Manager of Protective Services Clint Kanester is reminding Vernon cyclists and drivers of the rules of the road to protect the safety of cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. “It’s important that we respect the areas set aside for bicycle use, as they are an important part of how people move across...
Mobile home on ‘Heroin Hill’ in Shuswap goes up in flames
SCOTCH CREEK – A suspicious fire burned a partially demolished mobile home in Scotch Creek to the ground Friday night, March 20. Fire chief Art Stoll says they decided to let the fire in the abandoned singlewide trailer at 4143 Butters Road burn itself out. People in Shuswap town called the property Heroin Hill due...
Malakwa-area man killed when CP train hits car; unanswered questions
MALAKWA – A nightmare scenario for three people in a car which was stuck on the tracks in Malakwa Saturday night as a CP Rail train approached. RCMP were called just after 9 p.m., March 21 about a car on the tracks just off Malakwa Road and Summerville-Husted Road, according to Const. Patrick Pyper in...
Suspect sought after attempted truck theft in Salmon Arm
SALMON ARM – Police are still searching for a suspect after a man caught someone attempting to steal his pickup truck early this morning in Salmon Arm. The owner of a residence on 8 Avenue awoke to the sound of his pickup truck being started at 3 a.m., Monday, March 23. When he ran outside...
Salmon Arm RCMP seize drugs, make two arrests
SALMON ARM – Two people were arrested and several illegal drugs, along with cash, were seized from an apartment on Shuswap Street in Salmon Arm on Saturday, March 21. After executing a search warrant, Mounties seized marijuana, crack cocaine, methamphetamine and hashish from the apartment. Two males, one 22 and the other 17, were arrested...
Vernon Vipers out of the playoffs; game seven shutout in Penticton
PENTICTON – The BCHL season is over for the Vernon Vipers after losing 2-0 to the Vees in Penticton last night, March 22. Patrick Sexton’s goal at 17:07 of the third period proved to be the game winner, as the Vees took the BCHL Interior Division playoff series. It was Sexton’s first goal of the...