Brendan Shykora

An old burn pile was reignited near the Westwold landfill and discovered May 1, 2022. (Patrick Green photo)

Arson suspected in 2 North Okanagan wildfires

Suspicious circumstances surround the two small fires that sparked on Monday

An old burn pile was reignited near the Westwold landfill and discovered May 1, 2022. (Patrick Green photo)
Vernon boasts the cheapest gas prices in B.C. Thursday, April 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Vernon gas prices cheapest in B.C.

Drivers in Vernon can fill up for 163.9 cents per litre as of Thursday afternoon

Vernon boasts the cheapest gas prices in B.C. Thursday, April 14, 2022. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
A Vernon man has sued the Vernon RCMP and three officers over allegations of assault and excessive force, according to a notice of civil claim filed Feb. 14, 2022. (Morning Star file photo)

B.C. man sues Vernon RCMP over excessive force, police dog attack

The man claims police broke into his house while he was sleeping and released a police dog in his bedroom

A Vernon man has sued the Vernon RCMP and three officers over allegations of assault and excessive force, according to a notice of civil claim filed Feb. 14, 2022. (Morning Star file photo)
Michael Gordon Jackson, accused of abducting his seven-year-old daughter, was arrested in Vernon Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (RCMP photo)

Saskatchewan man accused of abducting daughter arrested in Okanagan; child found safe

Michael Gordon Jackson arrested without incident; daughter Sarah to be reunited with mother today

Michael Gordon Jackson, accused of abducting his seven-year-old daughter, was arrested in Vernon Thursday, Feb. 24, 2022. (RCMP photo)
A woman has sued the Catholic Church alleging she was sexually assaulted by a priest at an elementary school run by the St. James Catholic Church in Vernon in 1970. The statement of claim was filed in B.C. Supreme Court Feb. 22, 2022. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Lawsuit against Catholic church alleges woman was sexually assaulted at Vernon school

The woman claims she was abused by a priest while attending a church-run school in 1970

A woman has sued the Catholic Church alleging she was sexually assaulted by a priest at an elementary school run by the St. James Catholic Church in Vernon in 1970. The statement of claim was filed in B.C. Supreme Court Feb. 22, 2022. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Plans are underway for a project that would see a gondola built near Vernon, climbing 1,600 feet above Kalamalka Lake. (Ridge North America photo)

Gondola proposed in the Okanagan overlooking Kalamalka Lake

The Okanagan Gondola, a project by developers of Golden Skybridge, is pending approval from the RDNO

Plans are underway for a project that would see a gondola built near Vernon, climbing 1,600 feet above Kalamalka Lake. (Ridge North America photo)
Trail and Rossland will host the 2026 BC Winter Games.

2022 BC Winter Games cancelled due to pandemic, ‘external factors’

The multi-sport event was set to kick off in Greater Vernon in February

Trail and Rossland will host the 2026 BC Winter Games.
The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP are warning of a scam involving a police impersonator Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. (File photo)

Police impersonator steals thousands from North Okanagan residents

RCMP are warning residents of a scam in which fraudsters claim to be police officers over the phone

The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP are warning of a scam involving a police impersonator Friday, Dec. 3, 2021. (File photo)
An evacuation alert has been issued for Manning Park, Eastgate and San Ang due to the continued impact of flooding in the area Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (RDOS photo)

Evacuation alert issued for Manning Park, Eastgate and San Ang areas due to flooding

Alert issued ‘because of the potential danger to life, health, and property damage,’ says RDOS

An evacuation alert has been issued for Manning Park, Eastgate and San Ang due to the continued impact of flooding in the area Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021. (RDOS photo)
A sign at the Winfield Cenotaph tells people looking for the Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11, 2021 that the event has been cancelled due to a threat of violence. (Bobbi DiMaggio/Facebook)

Threat of violence directed at B.C. Remembrance Day ceremony

Ceremony location changed after threat that “somebody might get killed” if United Nations flag flown

A sign at the Winfield Cenotaph tells people looking for the Remembrance Day ceremony on Nov. 11, 2021 that the event has been cancelled due to a threat of violence. (Bobbi DiMaggio/Facebook)
A million-dollar ticket was sold to an individual in Vernon from the Lotto Max draw Friday, June 11, 2021. (Photo courtesy of BCLC)

Lottery ticket worth $1 million sold in Vernon

One lucky individual holds one of 20 tickets worth $1 million from Friday’s Lotto Max draw

A million-dollar ticket was sold to an individual in Vernon from the Lotto Max draw Friday, June 11, 2021. (Photo courtesy of BCLC)
Splatsin Chief Wayne Christian responded to the discovery of the remains of more than 200 Indigenous children at the former site of a Kamloops residential school Friday, May 28, 2021. (Splatsin photo)

Survivor support needed in wake of ‘unimaginable’ mass burial discovery: Splatsin chief

“It really is about you — you survived that horror, and it’s important that you get what you need,” Splatsin Chief Wayne Christian said

Splatsin Chief Wayne Christian responded to the discovery of the remains of more than 200 Indigenous children at the former site of a Kamloops residential school Friday, May 28, 2021. (Splatsin photo)
BC Housing has released a request for proposals to find a contractor that will conduct an economics of mass timber study. The bidding process closes April 28, 2021. (Don Descoteau/Black Press Media)

BC Housing to study economics of using mass timber for affordable housing

The affordable housing agency sees mass timber as an opportunity to reduce building-related GHG emissions

BC Housing has released a request for proposals to find a contractor that will conduct an economics of mass timber study. The bidding process closes April 28, 2021. (Don Descoteau/Black Press Media)
In the final leg of this pandemic race, as we await vaccinations, it’s a good time to reflect on the maybe not-so-obvious silver lining of the COVID-19 crisis. (Francisco Seco/AP photo )

Shykora: Yes, there’s a silver lining to the pandemic

At the risk of drawing ire, it’s a good time to consider an important lesson from COVID-19

In the final leg of this pandemic race, as we await vaccinations, it’s a good time to reflect on the maybe not-so-obvious silver lining of the COVID-19 crisis. (Francisco Seco/AP photo )
Seven-year-old Rowan Walroth (right) donated just shy of $3,000 to a Vernon food bank in March 2021. (Contributed)

B.C. 7-year-old discovers locals are struggling, raises $3K for food bank

Rowan Walroth read a book about boys who dared to make a difference, and decided to become one

Seven-year-old Rowan Walroth (right) donated just shy of $3,000 to a Vernon food bank in March 2021. (Contributed)
The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is in the process of changing the name of Squaw Valley Road in the rural Lumby area. (Brittney Brewer photo)

Rural Okanagan road to be renamed to remove Indigenous slur

Transportation ministry is in the process of renaming rural road

The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is in the process of changing the name of Squaw Valley Road in the rural Lumby area. (Brittney Brewer photo)
Dorothy Chura, a resident at Vernon's Heritage Square long-term care facility, celebrates her 105th birthday March 16, 2021. She's believed to be B.C.'s oldest COVID-19 survivor. (Contributed)

B.C.’s oldest COVID-19 survivor celebrating 105th birthday

Vernon’s Dorothy Chura has now officially survived two global pandemics

Dorothy Chura, a resident at Vernon's Heritage Square long-term care facility, celebrates her 105th birthday March 16, 2021. She's believed to be B.C.'s oldest COVID-19 survivor. (Contributed)
The B.C. government is in the process of procuring an anti-racism training module for policymakers and senior-level government officials. (Photo: Pixabay)

B.C. government looking to create anti-racism training for high-level officials

The project aims to tackle systemic, institutional racism at the highest levels of government

The B.C. government is in the process of procuring an anti-racism training module for policymakers and senior-level government officials. (Photo: Pixabay)
(Phil McLachlan - Capital News)

‘Targeted’ shooting in Coquitlam leaves woman in hospital

The woman suffered non-life threatening injuries in what police believe to be a targeted shooting Saturday morning

(Phil McLachlan - Capital News)
An online petition has been launched urging the province to extend the winter break by two weeks, as students prepare to return to classrooms Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. (Black Press Media files)

COVID-19: Petition calls on B.C. to extend students’ winter break

Students are set to return to classrooms Monday, Jan. 4

An online petition has been launched urging the province to extend the winter break by two weeks, as students prepare to return to classrooms Monday, Jan. 4, 2021. (Black Press Media files)