Local News

Re-Inventing The Wheel will be making its online international debut on Dec. 3, coinciding with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. (Contributed)

Documentary on Okanagan, Kamloops wheelchair community making its international debut

Re-Inventing The Wheel won the best feature documentary at the 2020 Chelsea Film Festival in New York

The province of B.C. is requiring irrigators, industries, waterworks and others who use groundwater from a well or dugout for non-domestic use to apply for a water license by March of 2022. (Corey Bullock/Cranbrook Townsman)

Less than 25% of users have applied for groundwater licence as B.C.’s deadline nears

Those without a licence could face fines, penalties and lose water rights

A person was killed in this crash at the uncontrolled intersection of Warren Ave. and Channel Parkway on Tuesday, Dec. 1. (Monique Tamminga Western News)

Penticton crash on Highway 97 was fatal

BC Coroners Service confirm one person died in the crash at an uncontrolled highway intersection

The Monashee Music Festival will be held at the Sicamous Dog Park on July 22 and 23, 2022. (Contributed)

Rockers 54-40 to headline in new Shuswap music festival coming next summer

Monashee Music Festival will feature a day of rock and a day of country tunes

The Monashee Music Festival will be held at the Sicamous Dog Park on July 22 and 23, 2022. (Contributed)
Shawn Lamouroux of Vernon is facing seven counts of robbery stemming from crimes up and down the Okanagan in October and November 2021. (Contributed)

Month-long Okanagan-wide robbery spree ends with arrest

37-year-old Vernon man facing 7 counts of robbery

Shawn Lamouroux of Vernon is facing seven counts of robbery stemming from crimes up and down the Okanagan in October and November 2021. (Contributed)
An autographed Shea Weber jersey is being raffled off at Hideaway Liquor Store in Salmon Arm and tickets are available until Dec. 20, 2021. (Contributed)

Signed Shea Weber jersey being raffled off in support of Shuswap Paws

The two-time Olympic gold medalist from Sicamous’ threads will benefit non-profit rescue society

An autographed Shea Weber jersey is being raffled off at Hideaway Liquor Store in Salmon Arm and tickets are available until Dec. 20, 2021. (Contributed)
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Flood waters surround a farm in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
B.C.’s year of extreme weather ‘consistent’ with climate change, meteorologist says
FILE – A COVID-19 rapid testing area is seen on the international arrivals level at Vancouver International Airport, in Richmond, B.C., on Friday, July 30, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Non-U.S. air travellers must take COVID test, isolate as feds try to slow Omicron spread
Rescue crews prepare to escort a group of stranded travellers on the Lougheed Highway near Agassiz (Photo/Vancouver Fire Rescue Services)
VIDEO: CFB Comox 442 Squadron recaps B.C. flood rescue mission
A sign showing limits on consumer gasoline purchases is seen on a fuel pump at a gas station in Abbotsford, B.C., Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
B.C. extends gas rationing, state of emergency until Dec. 14 as Trans Mountain remains offline
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The lobby at the 25th Avenue Tim Hortons has been closed for weeks due to staff shortages. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)

North Okanagan-Shuswap MP praises business support amid staff shortages

If passed, Bill C-2 would provide targeted support to businesses still struggling amid the pandemic

The lobby at the 25th Avenue Tim Hortons has been closed for weeks due to staff shortages. (Jennifer Smith - Morning Star)
Purchase of the Sicamous to Armstrong rail corridor by the Regional District of North Okanagan and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (excluding portions owned by the Splatsin), was completed in early 2018. (Photo contributed)

Columbia Shuswap Regional District dismisses claim it plans to bring rails back to rail trail

CSRD administrator says updated agreement with Shuswap property owners ‘functionally the same’

Purchase of the Sicamous to Armstrong rail corridor by the Regional District of North Okanagan and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District (excluding portions owned by the Splatsin), was completed in early 2018. (Photo contributed)
Dale Safinuk (left) is the new vice chair of Okanagan College’s board of directors while former vice chair Juliette Cunningham (right) takes over as chair. (Okanagan College photo)

Okanagan College elects new board chairs

Juliette Cunningham moves from vice chair to chair; Dale Safinuk elected vice chair

Dale Safinuk (left) is the new vice chair of Okanagan College’s board of directors while former vice chair Juliette Cunningham (right) takes over as chair. (Okanagan College photo)
Rocks were blocking part of Highway 1 east of Chase around 3 p.m. on Nov. 25, 2021. (File photo)

Rock scaling to be completed near site of rock slides on Highway 1 east of Chase

The scaling begins Dec. 1 at 8 a.m. and traffic will be reduced to single-lane alternating

Rocks were blocking part of Highway 1 east of Chase around 3 p.m. on Nov. 25, 2021. (File photo)
The RCMP arrested, and subsequently released, two more opponents of the Coastal GasLink pipeline for setting up a blockade near the construction site in Houston on Monday morning, Nov. 29. (Gidimt’en Checkpoint/ Facebook)

Resistance activities continue on Northwest pipeline construction site, police make 2 more arrests

The individuals were arrested for contempt of court order and mischief and then released

The RCMP arrested, and subsequently released, two more opponents of the Coastal GasLink pipeline for setting up a blockade near the construction site in Houston on Monday morning, Nov. 29. (Gidimt’en Checkpoint/ Facebook)
Water and debris have been reported at the 11-kilometre mark of the Seymour Arm Main Forest Service Road on Nov. 30, 2021. (File photo)

Water, debris prompt warning to avoid forest service road in North Shuswap

Danger is at 11-kilometre mark of Seymour Arm Main Forest Service Road

Water and debris have been reported at the 11-kilometre mark of the Seymour Arm Main Forest Service Road on Nov. 30, 2021. (File photo)
The neutered male has no permanent forms of identification. (BC SPCA Maple Ridge/Special to The News)

Are you this dog’s owner? BC SPCA looking out for dog displaced during Abbotsford flooding

The dog was brought from the Chilliwack branch to Maple Ridge due to evacuations

The neutered male has no permanent forms of identification. (BC SPCA Maple Ridge/Special to The News)
Water in Sorrento is safe to drink again after a 5-day-long boil water notice. (File photo)

Interior Health rescinds Sorrento boil water notice

Columbia Shuswap Regional District announced water was safe to drink on Nov. 29

Water in Sorrento is safe to drink again after a 5-day-long boil water notice. (File photo)
Stolen hand painted ties and bow ties created by Osoyoos artist Gabriele Beyer. (Contributed)

Osoyoos artist’s life’s work stolen during home break-in

Over 1,000 painted silk ties and 42 original paintings were stolen from her home Nov. 10

Stolen hand painted ties and bow ties created by Osoyoos artist Gabriele Beyer. (Contributed)
Cariboo Pulp and Paper in Quesnel will be shut down for the next 16 days due to a lack of pulp supply. (West Fraser Photo)

Quesnel pulp mill to shut down due to flooding and transportation issues

Around 220 employees have been temporarily laid off at two West Fraser pulp mills

Cariboo Pulp and Paper in Quesnel will be shut down for the next 16 days due to a lack of pulp supply. (West Fraser Photo)
Sharon Taylor and her granddaughter Amoura Sherwood came to take in the Salmon Arm Christmas Parade on Nov. 27, 2021. (Zachary Roman/Salmon Arm Observer)

VIDEO: Christmas parade brings joy to Salmon Arm

Salmon Arm community members showed their festive spirit at the Nov. 27 parade

Sharon Taylor and her granddaughter Amoura Sherwood came to take in the Salmon Arm Christmas Parade on Nov. 27, 2021. (Zachary Roman/Salmon Arm Observer)
A survey published Nov. 9, 2021 by the Okanagan Cannabis Collective and the Association of Canadian Cannabis Retailers found that 60 per cent of legal B.C. retailers feel their business is no longer viable due to the number of illegal and public stores in operation. (File photo)

Okanagan cannabis retailers feel ‘squeezed out’ by illicit operators, public stores: survey

Survey by Okanagan Cannabis Collective found 60 per cent of licenced B.C. retailers feel their business is unviable

A survey published Nov. 9, 2021 by the Okanagan Cannabis Collective and the Association of Canadian Cannabis Retailers found that 60 per cent of legal B.C. retailers feel their business is no longer viable due to the number of illegal and public stores in operation. (File photo)
Evan Parliament, Sicamous town manager (centre), clarified what “health stay suites” at the future Shuswap Healing Centre will be on Nov. 24, 2021. (File photo)

‘Health stay suites’ not for addiction treatment says Sicamous town manager

District responds to ‘ambiguous’ wording in grant application for Shuswap Healing Centre

Evan Parliament, Sicamous town manager (centre), clarified what “health stay suites” at the future Shuswap Healing Centre will be on Nov. 24, 2021. (File photo)
Chilliwack’s Aaron Tschritter died in a car crash in the early hours of Nov. 25 in Texas. (Melissa Tschritter/ Facebook photo)

UPDATE: Chilliwack man reported missing dies in car crash in Texas

Chilliwack Realtor Aaron Tschritter died in an early-morning crash on expressway in Dallas

Chilliwack’s Aaron Tschritter died in a car crash in the early hours of Nov. 25 in Texas. (Melissa Tschritter/ Facebook photo)