Vernon News

During the past week, Lumby RCMP members responded to 30 complaints or calls for service ranging from trespassing to sudden deaths.

2010/4226 - On March 6 police responded to two thefts from autos within the Village limits. Both vehicles were parked in the lot at the Twin Creeks motel. A hammer used to smash the windows and gain entry was located at the scene. Item were stolen from both vehicles. The vandalism probably occurred during the previous night of March 5 – 6. The owners of both vehicles were the only occupants in the motel that evening.

2010/4202 - Again on March 6, three similar theft from autos were reported on Highway 6 in Cherryville across from the golf course. Back country skiers park their vehicles here for days at a time while they are transported to the lodge in the Monashee mountains. A similar method was used in these thefts as the culprit(s) used a rock to smash out the car windows and steal what they wanted.

2010/4564 - After breaking into the cars across from the golf course, the thieves then stole a 2003 Chevrolet Avalanche pick-up that had also been parked there. They again gained entry by smashing out the rear and passenger windows with a large rock. The stolen truck was recovered parked in front of the “Route 6 Campground” on the east side of Cherryville. Stolen from the vehicle were gloves, mittens, brown Oakley sunglasses, a gold wedding band, Dewalt tool bag and a tackle box contained a specialized first aid kit as the vehicle’s owner is a plastic surgeon.

2010/4469 - We got a strong reminder this week that police should never relax their guard. While responding to a routine family disturbance call at a rural location, police were confronted with the suspect male armed with a rifle inside the residence. Deadly force was avoided when the suspect wisely acceded to police demands and dropped the weapon. Charged with Careless Use of a Firearm, Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm and Possessing a Weapon for a Dangerous Purpose is Chad Shunter, age 42 of Lumby.

RCMP in the North Okanagan have arrested a purse snatcher.

Wednesday afternoon, an elderly woman was sitting on a bench near Kin Beach with her purse sitting on the bench beside her.

RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says a man on a bike came by and stole her purse and rode off with it.

“The police were called immediately and with the description provided by the victim and the direction of travel, two plain clothes officers were able to arrest the suspect in the area of Bella Vista Road,” says Molendyk.

He says the 25-year-old man, from Lumby, was found in possession of items belonging to the victim, as well as a small quantity of drugs.

“He is expected to face charges of theft, possession of stolen property and drug related charges at a later date.”

Molendyk says the victim was unharmed.

“We would like to remind the members of our community who carry purses to keep them close to them at all times so you limit yourselves from being a target for theft like this. Some safety tips are: placing the strap over your shoulder, under your jacket so it is out of site. Carry it under your arm close to your body.”

The chief of the Okanagan Indian Band wants the provincial and federal governments to get actively involved in resolving their on-going dispute with Tolko.

Chief Fabien Alexis says it is the province that has created the current conflict by taking the Brown's Creek watershed and selling it off as a tree farm license.

He adds the federal government did nothing to protect the community.

"I am relieved that Tolko Industries Ltd. has reviewed its operating plans for the Brown's Creek area and have decided to delay harvesting. That creates a window of opportunity for peaceful negotiation to resolve this issue," says Alexis.

"I do wish to make it clear to all concerned parties that our community is simply not going to allow that watershed to be commercially logged. The crown thus has the choice of placing up to 1,800 members of our community in jail or more sensibly, and much less expensively, to re-establish protection of that watershed and afford Tolko some measure of compensation for their loss."

Alexis says while Tolko is open to meaningful negotiations with the Okanagan Nation Alliance, senior government negotiators must also be present.

"The biggest threat to an amicable resolution to this matter is the continued indifference of Canada and British Columbia for the conflict they themselves created."

ONA Grand Chief Stewart Phillip says the protection of limited or scarce water resources is of critical importance to everyone living in the Okanagan Valley.

"It is for that reason that both government and Tolko need to understand that absolutely no logging will be tolerated in the watersheds that supply our drinking water," says Phillip.

"The Brown's Creek area contains a significant amount of living spruce trees and thanks to clear-cut logging and pine beetle kill, there are very few areas remaining in this region where there is this amount and age of spruce."

Phillip says he believes a peaceful resolution can be attained with government involvement.

A 100-year-old heritage house in the North Okanagan has lost some of its grandeur.

Fire broke out at the single family home on 27th Avenue in Vernon just after 4 a.m. Wednesday and claimed the lives of two pet birds.

Fire chief Rick Owens says two people were at home when the fire started on the veranda.

“They got out okay. I heard from a neighbour that there were likely two birds on the veranda who didn't survive and no one has seen the family's two cats yet, but both the people are okay,” says Owens.

He says by the time crews arrived, the fire had breached a window and filled the kitchen.

“It also breached the attic a little, doing smoke damage. Part of the upstairs will have to be gutted and cleaned, it's very smokey.”

Owens says there is no current indication that the fire was deliberately set.

Investigators remain on scene Wednesday morning.

Members of the Vernon/North Okanagan detachment dismantled a grow operation at a residence in the 5600 block of Highway 6 Tuesday.

Several members executed a search warrant on the home this morning and located 393 marijuana plants in various stages of growth.

RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says one male and three female adults were arrested in the residence when police arrived.

“This residence has been posted under the Coldstream Drug By-law because of the use of the residence for growing marijuana,” says Molendyk.

He says police are still investigating this file determining the involvement of all parties that were arrested.

Charges are expected to be laid at a later date.