The cooler, wetter weather is allowing the area fire restrictions to be lifted.Effective at noon Friday, Oct. 2, the B.C. Wildfire Service will rescind the bans on Category 2 and 3 fires within the Kamloops Fire Centre, which includes the Okanagan.Category 2 and 3 open burning includes burn piles, windrow burning, and ...

One of Vernon's key recreation facilities is getting some much needed new equipment.Vernon City Council was asked to give early budget approval to purchase a new evaporation condenser for Priest Valley Arena.During the regular council meeting Monday, city staff noted the existing condenser was installed in 2002 and bey...

The Executive Director of the Okanagan Science Centre is joining a national group that connects science centres and engagement organizations across Canada. Dione Chambers was elected to the Board of Directors for the Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC).CASC creates opportunities for collaboration, knowledge ...

The City of Vernon found success in bringing forward proposals for changes to the provincial legislature.At the Union of B.C. Municipalities' Conference earlier this month, the city brought forward two resolutions:That the province provide municipality-specific data on the impacts the speculation and vacancy tax have h...

People interested in the future of the Greater Vernon School District will have a chance to hear from candidates next week.A School District 22 Trustee all-candidates forum will be held at the Vernon Secondary School auditorium from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, October 7.The forum is being hosted by the District Parent A...

A boil water notice has been issued for the South Local Area Service portion of Spallumcheen.The Township issued the advisory after an unexpected watermain break occurred on Holes Road."Because of this break, the South Local Area Service, which includes the Larkin and Eagle Rock water systems as shown shaded in gr...

A School District 22 trustee is looking to serve on the board for another four years.Mark Olsen is running to retain his seat representing Vernon and RDNO Areas B and C in the Greater Vernon Board of Education.Olsen was elected to the seat in 2018 and was re-elected in 2022, and said in an online post that during those...

An inaugural charity golf tournament in Armstrong raised a lot of money for a good cause.The Vienna Classic went at the Overlander Golf Course September 19 and raised $85,000 for the B.C. Children's Hospital Foundation.The tournament was held in the name of Vienna, a little girl who has sought treatment at the Children...

Vernon will be trying to secure some outside funding to support its Community Climate Action Outreach Strategy.Under that strategy the city offers Community Climate Resiliency Workshop, free events that include:Climate Conversation Cafe, facilitated community conversations involving impacts of climate change, climate-r...

A local resident is looking to serve on the School District 22 Board of Education for a third, non-consecutive term.Robert Lee will be on the ballot to represent Vernon as a School Board Trustee.Lee served two terms representing Coldstream on the board, but lost the seat in the 2022 election.He said in a social media p...

A parent and newcomer in politics is looking to serve on the Greater Vernon school board.In a social media post, Geoff Bradley announced he would run to represent Lumby and RDNO Areas D and E as a School District 22 Trustee."My daughter's experience in her first three years of elementary school here at JW Inglis i...

Java lovers were disappointed to learn Friday morning of a local Starbucks closing its doors.The Village Green Starbucks location had a sign posted on its storefront door announcing it would be permanently closing ."We've made the very difficult decision to close this Starbucks location by the end of the week,&quo...

The City of Vernon will be accepting applications for it's community grants starting in early October.The City has multiple funding streams to distribute the grants for people looking to run events, launch a sustainability project, or support their non-profits.Community Event Grant: supports for non-commercial organiza...

South Vernon residents have a re-branded grocery store to shop for their food and essential goods.Save-On-Foods opened its doors at the landing plaza Thursday, replacing the Buy Low Foods that previously occupied the site."There has been a lot of excitement leading up to today, and it's rewarding to welcome custom...

Some back taxes have been paid off but still over a dozen properties will be on the docket for Coldstream's annual tax sale.The municipality had 14 properties to auction off as they were delinquent and owed between $1,000 to more than $33,000 in taxes.11420 Palfrey Drive E, Lot 3 - $11,240.769102 Mackie Drive, Lot A - ...

The Okanagan's drought conditions were unchanged heading into the last week of September.The B.C. River Forecast Centre said the region was still classified at Drought Level 4 with a High Water Scarcity Level Thursday.The Okanagan was the only region in B.C. with a drought rating level that high, and the only other are...

An entrepreneur and high-ranking member of the Conservative Party of B.C. will run for the joint North-Central Okanagan riding seat.Pavneet Singh aims to represent Kelowna-Lake Country-Coldstream in the snap provincial election.Singh has lived in the Okanagan for 25 years and over that time he has launched and operated...

Skiers and snowboarders will have a chance to browse and purchase some new or used equipment ahead of the winter.The Vernon Ski Club will hold the 57th annual Ski Swap at the Vernon Recreation Centre from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 3.The club said in a release that the Ski Swap is "the region's biggest pre-season ev...

Local rowers earned some accolades at the Head of the Nicomelk regatta over the weekend.The event, which is one of the largest head races in the province, saw rowers traverse a 5.5-kilometre winding river course finishing in the ocean.Pariticpating in the regatta, Peter Masys of the Vernon Rowing and Dragon Boat Club (...

Search and rescue workers continue looking for a paddleboarder who went missing on Okanagan Lake.Around 7 p.m. Tuesday, first responders were called out for a marine incident on the lake. Two paddleboarders, a man and a woman, were in distress between Fintry Provincial Park and Carr's Landing.The woman was located and ...

The organization that helps families as they seek medical treatment is getting a boost from a local golf tournament.The first-ever Ronald McDonald House Golf Tournament at Predator Ridge was held on Sept. 17.The golf tournament, followed by a silent and live auction and banquet, raised $373,860 for Ronald McDonald Hous...

A Vernon home that area residents refer to as a "drug house" has been raided for the second time in as many months as part of an ongoing drug trafficking investigation.At around 2:20 p.m. Monday, Vernon North Okanagan RCMP and the RCMP's Southeast District Emergency Response Team executed a search warrant at ...

Voters will be go to the polls to elect the next provincial government in late October.Premier David Eby announced Tuesday he had spoken to the Lieutenant Governor who agreed to dissolve the legislature and call a provincial election for Oct. 24.Eby claims the election is being spurred on by the ongoing tensions create...

Coldstream residents will have an opportunity to hear from the candidates ahead of the fall municipal election.A non-partisan all-candidates forum will be held at Coldstream Community Hall from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct. 1. Led by a group of residents and sponsored by the Friends of the Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park,...

Provincial firefighting crews will be doing a fire risk mitigation project in the North Okanagan as early as this week.The B.C. Wildfire Service will be undertaking a prescribed burn at a 40 hectare site in the Harvey Lake Reservoir area near Lavington.The burn could begin as early as Thursday, weather and site conditi...

An incumbent director with the Regional District of North Okanagan (RDNO) will look to serve another four years in office.Allysa Hopkins is running in the fall municipal election with the hopes of representing Electoral Area F, Rural Enderby, for a second term.Hopkins said her first term was marked by strengthening rur...

Police are investigating a crash that claimed two lives in Enderby in the early morning hours Monday.Vernon North Okanagan RCMP said a blue Volvo was travelling north on George Street around 2:15 a.m. September 21 when it left the road, struck four parked vehicles at three different addresses, and collided with a hydro...

A Lumby woman has entered the race to serve the Greater Vernon school district.Tahni Fortin is running for SD22 Trustee for Lumby and Electoral Areas D and E in the fall municipal election.In a release, Fortin said communication would be a key priority if elected."[I want] to ensure the voices of Lumby and Cherryv...