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Vernon

Snowfall warning for Coquihalla

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - If you were planning on hitting the highways tonight you may want to think again, up to 25 centimetres of snow is expected by Friday afternoon. Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for the Coquihalla Highway from Hope to Merritt, noting 20 to 25 cm of snow is expected before the Pacific...

Vernon mayor handed fine for improper tax filings

VERNON - Vernon mayor Akbal Mund has been ordered to pay a fine after some trouble with his taxes. The mayor pleaded guilty to one count of failing to comply with the Income Tax Act in Vernon Provincial Court Thursday, Dec. 17. A second count was stayed, and Mund was handed a $1,000 fine. “The...

Conviction thrown out for man accused of driving into Vernon firefighter

VERNON - A man convicted of dangerous driving causing bodily harm will have his case heard again due to a technicality.  Ian Douglas Burns, 28, was found guilty of hitting BX/Swan Lake firefighter Stephan Hidasi with his truck, but a judge has now deemed that ruling null because court procedures weren’t followed. Crown spokesperson Neil...

The story behind this collection of quirky salt and pepper shakers

VERNON - Hundreds of endearing salt and pepper shakers on display at a Vernon coffee shop are capturing peoples’ hearts and their curiosity. Looking like something out of miniature world, the collection of salt and pepper shakers can be found at the Bean Scene Coffee House on 30 Avenue in downtown Vernon. Inside the glass...

Christmas wish list: Auroras, full moons and meteor showers

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The next two weeks could be everything you wished for if sky watching is at the top of your Christmas list. The northern lights seem to have been making a lot more appearances this year, and another storm is expected to hit Earth this week, as early as this evening. Unfortunately Environment Canada...

Vernon city council endorses controversial marina on Okanagan Lake

VERNON - Vernon city council has done a 180-degree-turn when it comes to a controversial marina on Okanagan Lake. Outback Resort’s proposed marina in South Bay, near Ellison Provincial Park, got support from Vernon council today, Dec. 14 — with a few conditions. The support hinges upon the removal of all the resort’s existing buoys...

Temperatures cooling off in the Okanagan this week

OKANAGAN - The temperatures will drop back below 0 Celsius this week after a long run of weather warmer than seasonal normals in the Okanagan. Environment Canada is calling for the mercury to stay around 2 C to 4 C throughout the region today, Dec. 14, but then the overnight temperature will drop to as...

Why workers at some City Halls must take holidays in December

THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Civic governments in Kamloops, Vernon and Penticton keep their main offices open over the holidays but they do it a little differently in the Central Okanagan. City Halls in both West Kelowna and Kelowna will be closed for the week between Christmas and New Years along with the offices of the Central Okanagan...

How the SPCA approves dog rescue groups

VERNON - There’s a wide range of standards among rescue groups across the province, and while animals are directly involved, that doesn’t mean the SPCA has a hand in how they operate.  Aspects of dog rescuing such as fostering and adoption procedures, holding periods, and vet-checks simply aren’t something the SPCA has a mechanism to...

‘My daughter’s future is in jeopardy’: Vernon mom speaks out at medical marijuana rally

VERNON - A drop of cannabis oil eaten on a cracker is making 13-year-old Tanniel’s seizure’s drop from 170 a day, to 30. “It was our life saver,” her mom, Elizabeth Bakker says. Doctors tried a number of different things, Bakker says, but Tanniel’s non-epileptic seizures weren’t getting better. Frustrated and heartbroken at seeing her...

OWNERS FOUND: Old family photo from Kamloops thrift store is finally going home

KAMLOOPS - The search for the owners of a family portrait from the 1960s has a happy ending after the daughter in the photo identified herself and got in touch with the Lillooet woman who found it in a Kamloops thrift store. Dallas Kempfle purchased a picture frame at Value Village two years ago and...

Warm weather sticking around just a bit longer in the Okanagan

OKANAGAN - It seems our stretch of well-above seasonal normal temperatures is coming to an end, but we still have a few slightly warmer days ahead of us. Environment Canada is calling for a high of 3 Celsius today, Dec. 11, in the Vernon and Kelowna areas, with a high of 4 C expected in...

Zentangle a soothing remedy for your jangled mind

KELOWNA - So who knew when you were doodling your way through high school, filling the margins with aimless drawings, you were already experiencing the stress-reducing mindfulness of Zentangle. “Research shows doodling students retain a lot more information than those that don’t. Doodling is similar in ways but Zentangle is more structured. You start with...

‘Put it on your roof’: Vernon woman shares tale of stolen Christmas decor

VERNON - A grinch stole a Vernon woman’s Christmas spirit. Deb Robertson says close to $600 worth of LED Christmas decorations were stolen from her yard in the East Hill area of Vernon. “It’s bad to steal from anyone any time of year, but Christmas is just the lowest of the low,” Robertson says. Taken...

State-of-the-art amphitheatre proposed for Vernon’s Okanagan College

VERNON - A large outdoor amphitheatre is being proposed for the Vernon campus of Okanagan College. The Okanagan Summer Festival Society proposed the amphitheatre, which would accommodate up to 5,500 people, at a Greater Vernon Advisory Council meeting Thursday, Dec. 10.    “We see the opportunity to develop a significant addition to the cultural infrastructure...

Medical cannabis customers to peacefully protest Vernon RCMP warning

VERNON - A public event is set for Friday to raise awareness about access to medical marijuana. The event comes on the heels of an RCMP warning to all Vernon dispensaries telling them to shut down. The warning created uncertainty for thousands of patients who buy medical marijuana from the dispensaries. A newly formed coalition...

Sensitive Santa brings Christmas closer to children with autism

KELOWNA - A visit to see Santa in the mall, along with the obligatory photo, is a rite of passage in Canada for most kids. But if your child isn’t fascinated by the flashing lights, ringing bells and ornate costumes or together it creates a kind of sensory overload that leads to anxiety and even...

Theft allegation behind Vernon dog rescue closure

VERNON - A controversial dog rescue in Vernon shut down its operations last week largely because of a specific allegation of theft involving the rescue's president caught on video, sources tell infoNEWS.ca. According to a volunteer, who has not yet agreed to be quoted for this story, she found her wallet missing following a Nov....

Snowfall warning for Interior highways

THOMPSON-OKANANAGAN - With a snowfall warning in place for the Coquihalla Highway and Highway 3 we can expect to see significant snowfall on highway passes before the end of the day. Environment Canada has issued a snowfall warning for higher elevations as a Pacific frontal system begins moving across Southern B.C. today, Dec. 9. The...

Medical marijuana patients shocked by Vernon dispensary closures

VERNON - Medical marijuana patients coming to The Herbal Health Centre this week are shocked and upset to see the shelves empty and devoid of their medicine. The health centre, along with a coalition of other local dispensaries, has suspended retail sales in response to an RCMP warning to shut down. The dispensaries are closing...