Due to ongoing concerns with the Bradley Creek wildfire, the Regional District of North Okanagan will keep its State of Local Emergency in place.The designation (SOLE) will remain in effect for RDNO Electoral Area B until August 28.The extension allows the RDNO to continue to use its powers to support wildfire response...

Progress has been made restoring power to areas ravaged by summer wildfires.B.C. Hydro said work was ongoing in the Okanagan Indian Band land, where power had already been restored to around 2,700 customers impacted by the Bradley Creek wildfire and area windstorms.Crews had also installed nearly 200 new power poles in...

A traffic calming construction project will begin in Coldstream next week.On Monday and Tuesday, August 17 and 18, crews will be installing three speed tables, along with updated signage to reflect the new traffic calming features, along the sharp curve of Kidston Road. The section of Kidston Road where three new speed...

Vernon's major parking structure will be getting some upgrades.Starting Monday, August 17, crews will be working to repair and maintain the Downtown Vernon Parkade on 31st Avenue.The work will go weekdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and see the deteriorated concrete and stairwell repaired and waterproofed, so as to ensure th...

A Water Quality Advisory has been issued for the Kalamalka Lake water source.The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) and Interior Health issued the advisory Friday, Aug. 14, due to increased turbidity in the lake water.Turbidity indicates the amount of fine particulate matter in the water, which can cause cloudi...

The wildfire in the Okanagan Indian Band lands is still being held, though there was a risk of some flare-ups Friday.The B.C. Wildfire Service (BCWS) said the fire was contained and still estimated at 2,658.1 hectares as of Aug. 14.However, the BCWS warned that sunny and hot weather could dry out fuels Friday, and that...

Vernon and Coldstream have developed a new pilot program to better respond to significant fire incidents.The two-year Automatic Aid program will, unlike traditional agreements, see neighbouring resources dispatched immediately when qualifying incidents are reported.The project will see Coldstream fire crews deployed fo...

A community recreation space in Coldstream has been upgraded.The municipality said the resurfacing of the Kalavista tennis courts is now complete and the courts are open for public use. The courts were closed July 6 for the work to take place; it was done in two phases. The first stage saw the existing surface removed,...

The wildfire burning south of Fintry was classified as 'being held' Thursday. The designation Aug. 13 indicated the fire was unlikely to spread beyond the current perimeter.The B.C. Wildfire Service said it was continuing work at the site of the 1,275.7 hectare blaze. That consisted of mopping up hot spots along Westsi...

Extreme drought conditions continue to persist in the Okanagan.The B.C. River Forecast Centre said Thursday, August 13, that the region was at Drought Level 5 with a High Water Scarcity Level, both of which were the highest ratings on their respective scales.The agency's weekly report stated concerns of limited to no w...

A man who was reported missing August 11 has been located.Police say the 28 year old was found, and that he was safe and well.

A long-term volunteer in Enderby has been recognized for his work giving back to the community.Neil Fidler was presented the Lifetime Civic Merit Award from mayor and council Tuesday, Aug. 11."We moved to Enderby 22 years ago, and one of the first things I did was join the Garden Club," Fidler said after rece...

A special event and fundraiser in the North Okanagan will not be going ahead as planned.The RCMP Musical Ride was supposed to take place at the Armstrong Spallumcheen Fairgrounds over the weekend of August 15 and 16, but it was cancelled due to the wildfire situation in the Okanagan."We know this will be disappoin...

People wishing to explore their creative side and mental well-being will have the opportunity to do so during a special event in September.The first-of-its-kind Mind Over Music Mental Health Festival will take place at Polson Park on Saturday, Sept. 26.The event, put on by the Vernon and District Branch of the Canadian...

Progress has been made on fighting the Bradley Creek wildfire, but upcoming weather could interfere with efforts.The B.C. Wildfire Service said Wednesday, August 12, that "suppression efforts have been highly effective on keeping fire behaviour at Rank 1 and 2," which were smouldering ground fires without any...

Vernon RCMP have put out a call for public assistance locating a wanted man.Teigan Frances is wanted for driving while prohibited and failing to comply with a probation order.Frances was described as a 28-year old Caucasian man, standing 6'1" (185 cm) and weighing 155 lb (70kg), with black hair and hazel eyes. Tei...

Major road work projects will disrupt traffic in the Alexis Park area for the coming weeks.Starting Thursday, August 13, 39th Avenue will be closed during construction hours for a culvert rehabilitation project.The road will be closed Friday and Saturday, and then closed August 17 to 22, and on the 24th. Work will cont...

A vocal member of the community will be running for a seat on Vernon City Council this fall.Dawn Tucker announced their bid with a social media post in which they stated they had fittingly been referred to as Vernon's "financial watchdog."Tucker's candidacy website pointed to their long-time commitment to rai...

A woman was arrested after allegedly setting an object on fire near Kin Beach Monday afternoon before walking away. Police were called out for a report of arson at the beach. The suspect allegedly set a newspaper box on fire. Vernon RCMP attended with the Police Dog Service Team around 2:45 p.m. Aug. 10, and were able ...

Evacuation orders have been rescinded for dozens of properties affected by the Bradley Creek wildfire.The Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) downgraded evacuation orders to alerts for 24, 398, 396, 306, 304, 300, 280, and 257 Irish Creek Road; and for 59 Beatrice Road.The Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) also rescin...

Vernon RCMP have put out a call for information about a grass fire at a downtown park.At around 9 a.m. Sunday, August 9, Vernon Fire Rescue responded to Becker Park for a grass fire.Fire crews were able to quickly douse the flames.However, the initial investigation found the fire was human caused, and believed to be su...

A woman who is involved with lots of community work and the local business community will be running for a seat on Vernon City Council.Sarah Moorhouse announced her candidacy with a campaign slogan I Love Vernon."As a mother of a young son, and the daughter of senior parents who reside in Vernon, I care deeply abo...

Effective immediately, off-roading in the Okanagan and Kamloops Fire Centre is not allowed.As of noon Monday, August 10, a prohibition was in place on using all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, and side-by-sides on Crown land in the Kamloops and Southeast Fire Centres, as well as in parts of the Cariboo and Coastal Fire ...

The unemployment rate for the economic region that includes Vernon leveled off but has remained quite high.Statistics Canada said the Thompson-Okanagan's unadjusted unemployment rate was 7.5 per cent in July.That was unchanged from June's rate, and while it was below the rate of 8.1 per cent in May it remained well abo...

Some Evacuation Orders for the Bradley Creek wildfire have been downgraded.As of 8 p.m. Sunday, Evacuation Orders were downgraded to Alerts for all residents of Coyote Crossing; 9511 and 9551 Highway 97; 1294 Westside Road; 20 Eagle Rock Road; 18 and 36 Tonasket Road; and 2585 and 2591 Highway 97. The new Evacuation Or...

A house in a gated community was lost in a fire that posed a risk to the wooded hills overlooking Okanagan Lake.At around 5:08 p.m. Saturday, August 8, Vernon Fire Rescue were called out for reports of a house fire in the 100-block of Sunset Boulevard.Crews arrived on the scene and found a home, bordering a wooded area...

UPDATE 2 p.m. August 9Power has been restored to hundreds of properties in the Bradley Creek wildfire zone.B.C. Hydro said around 2,700 customers affected by the wildfire and windstorm had their power restored as of Sunday.Power was being restored in phases as crews completed repairs and rebuilt sections of the electri...

The wildfire burning in the Okanagan Indian Band land has been somewhat contained.The B.C. Wildfire Service said the Bradley Creek wildfire was Being Held as of Sunday morning."At this stage, the wildfire is projected, based on fuel and weather conditions and resource availability, to remain within the current per...