Vernon

Vernon Good Citizen of the Year

Photo: Contributed - Airephoto

Jan and Ken Walden

Photo: Contributed - Airephoto

Waldens receive award

Photo: Contributed - Airephoto

Terry Pakenham

Photo: Contributed - Airephoto

Presentation by Accentz Dance Studio at event

Photo: Contributed - Airephoto

Presentation by Accentz Dance Studio at event

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A Vernon couple is celebrating after receiving the 'Good Citizen of the Year' award at the 2012 Winter Breakout Event.

For a number of years the Junior Chamber International has organized the Vernon Good Citizen award, an award that is handed out to celebrate the accomplishments, events and successes of an individual in the community, but very rarely is that award given to a couple.

Laura Code, the award chair of JCI Canada,  says there have only been two or three couples presented with the award since its inception in 1949.

Code presented the award to Jan and Ken Walden on Tuesday at the Schubert Centre.

"These two give of themselves unselfishly, to make it better for everyone else around them.  They have been actively involved in volunteer roles with the RCMP and Fintry Historical Society since 1994."

The Waldens have added many other organizations to their list of volunteer involvement including the Mackie Lake House Society, North Okanagan Community Concert Association, Vernon Prostate Cancer Support and Awareness Group, The All Saints Anglican Church, World Cup Cross Country Ski Tournament, BC Winter Games, and the Emergency Services Volunteer program.

Code refers to the two as the dynamic duo who serve as a couple within all of the organizations.

"These hardworking community minded individuals do this with common sense, good humour and enthusiasm.  As one person said of them, whatever they take on they jump in with both feet and go for it. "

Terry Pakenham also received an award at the event for RCMP volunteer of the year sponsored by Silver Star Rotary.

Pakenham retired from the RCMP in 1999, but wanted to continue service in Vernon. Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP Supt. Reg Burgess presented the award to Pakenham, calling him a visionary and a creator.

"He left on a Friday, and returned on the Monday starting the safe communities unit for Vernon.  The safe communities unit became the envy of many communities, and served as a template for community policing and crime prevention all over the province. "

Burgess works closely with Pakenham and says he is inspired by Pakenham's commitment.

"Terry welcomes a challenge, and puts utmost dedication and devotion to produce without expecting anything in return."

This year the event was also co-sponsored by We Care Home Health Services, City of Vernon and Fraser Financial.

----- With files from Stephanie Dryhurst

Photo: CTV

Capt. Daniel Moriarity

A B.C. cadet instructor has been charged with sexual offences involving underage trainees in Victoria and Vernon.

Capt. Daniel Moriarity is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with one minor cadet and sexually assaulting another between 2008 and 2011.

The alleged offences, which were investigated by military police, occurred at the LGen E.C. Ashton Armoury on Vancouver Island and the Vernon Army Cadet Summer Training Centre.

Lt.-Col. Robert Delaney, commanding officer of the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service, said such allegations are "treated with the utmost seriousness."

"Those in a position of leadership in the Canadian Forces are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner at all times," Delaney said in a release.

Moriarity has been charged with two counts of sexual exploitation, one count of sexual assault and one count of sexual interference.

He has also been charged with behaving in a disgraceful manner, a violation of the National Defence Act but not the Criminal Code.

The case will be tried in the military justice system.

The CFNIS is an independent military police unit tasked with investigating Department of National Defence employees and Canadian Forces personnel in Canada and abroad.

A would be robber picked the wrong store in which to ply his trade.

According to police a man entered the Village Market on 32nd Street in Vernon about 7:15 Saturday evening, brandished a knife and demanded cash from the store owner.

The owner refused and the suspect became upset.

"The owner then started throwing items from the counter at the suspect who then fled the store without obtaining anything," says RCMP spokesman, Gord Molendyk.

Police were unable to track the suspect's movements once he left the store.

The suspect was seen wearing a mask across his face, white runners, blue jeans and a black hoodie with red writing on the front.

Police are attempting to obtain video evidence of the suspect.

RCMP in Vernon are looking for three people believed responsible for an explosion at the playground in Polson Park Saturday evening.

Photo: Contributed - RCMP

Police were called to the park shortly after 6:30 Saturday evening. Witnesses say three people approached the play structure, stopped for a moment, heard the explosion and ran off.

Spokesman, Gord Moplendyk says an aerosol can was sit on fire and placed in an enclosed slide at the park.

"The resulting explosion burned a whole through the slide," says Molendyk.

"The can rocketed into the air."

Molendyk says police tracked the suspects to the movie theatre parking lot at the Polson Mall.

No arrests have been made.

Fire officials meantime are concerned a second fire, set in a dumpster behind Tim Hortons on Highway 6 Sunday could be connected to the incident at the park.

The two fires were started in the same general area.

The dumpster fire was called in about 3:30 Sunday afternoon.

Fire officials were able to quickly douse the fire.

The dumpster was full of dry cardboard. It was smoking when fire crews arrived.

Anyone with information concerning either incident is asked to call the Vernon RCMP Detachment, fire hall or Crime Stoppers.

Photo: Contributed - Tianna Shaw

Since Tianna Shaw was 7-years-old she's always wanted to participate in a pageant.

Now at 20, the Vernon resident will be representing Canada at Miss Ethnic World in Las Vegas this September.

Shaw got her pageant start at Queen Silver Star, and worked her way up to Miss Teen Canada and now Miss Canada, but she doesn't compete just for the glitz and glamour.

"I really found a passion in raising money for charity. My cousin passed away from cystic fibrosis (CF) and it was a really hard thing for me to take, but I found with a crown on my head I had a bigger voice to raise money for CF so I moved on and took the BC title for Miss Teen Canada."

Shaw has raised thousands of dollars for her cause and she says it's her main focus for competing in a pageant.

"I started an annual charity fundraiser for CF in Vernon . . .  I get a bunch of local artists to come and play and we raise money through raffles, 50-50 and we talk about CF. This is our second annual this year and I hope to raise a lot more money."

In September, Shaw plans on traveling to Las Vegas, a week prior to the pageant to visit a young girl in hospital with CF.

"I did the same thing with my past pageants, I just want to spend a week in Las Vegas doing charity work before the pageant."

During the Miss Ethnic Pageant Shaw will be judged in:

• A personal interview
• Fashion Wear
• Cultural Expression
• Evening Gown
• Athletic Wear
• Community Service

Photo: Contributed

"This is the first time I don't have to wear a bathing suit while I compete, so I am very happy about that. I am going to make a dress with a giant Canadian flag on it to represent my nationality."

Shaw will be the first Canadian competing in Miss Ethnic World and says she is looking for support from her community and her country.

"I am raising money for the Miss Canada pageant and looking for sponsors. I really am looking for support from Canada."

If you would like to help Shaw on her road to Miss Ethnic World and her fight against Cystic Fibrosis, please visit her Facebook page.

The Miss Ethnic World competition is open to women of all ethnic/cultural backgrounds and has six competing divisions Pre-Teen, Teen, Miss, Ms, Mrs. and Elegance.