Morning Star Staff

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Vernon’s Brandon Isaac (right), competing in 2018 during the Greater Vernon Alumni Basketball Tournament, died suddenly Friday, Oct. 15, at age 24 in Alberta. Family and friends have organized a GoFundMe campaign to help bring him home. (Morning Star - file photo)

Okanagan hoops star dies suddenly

Brandon Isaac was a Fulton grad from Vernon who played college basketball in Alberta

Vernon’s Brandon Isaac (right), competing in 2018 during the Greater Vernon Alumni Basketball Tournament, died suddenly Friday, Oct. 15, at age 24 in Alberta. Family and friends have organized a GoFundMe campaign to help bring him home. (Morning Star - file photo)
Vernon mountain biker Tom Van Steenbergen suffered multiple injuries in a crash Friday, Oct. 15, at the Red Bull Rampage event in Utah. He underwent eight hours of surgery Saturday and is now on the road to recovery. (twitter.com)

Rampage crash results in multiple injuries for Vernon mountain biker

Tom van Steenbergen was competing at Red Bull Rampage in Utah when a trick went awry

Vernon mountain biker Tom Van Steenbergen suffered multiple injuries in a crash Friday, Oct. 15, at the Red Bull Rampage event in Utah. He underwent eight hours of surgery Saturday and is now on the road to recovery. (twitter.com)
Jordan Abbate (left) was the winner of the largest pumpkin grown for the annual contest during the 21st Harvest Pumpkin Festival in Armstrong Oct. 10-12. Abbate’s winning gourd weighed in at 948 pounds. (Contributed)

Armstrong’s pumpkin festival a smash

Chamber of commerce pleased with how community came together to celebrate return of popular fall festival

Jordan Abbate (left) was the winner of the largest pumpkin grown for the annual contest during the 21st Harvest Pumpkin Festival in Armstrong Oct. 10-12. Abbate’s winning gourd weighed in at 948 pounds. (Contributed)
Vernon-based Tolko Industries Ltd. has again partnered with the Orange Shirt Society for an annual art contest. (Tolko photo)

Vernon company draws up Orange Shirt Day contest

Tolko Industries renews partnership for art contest with Orange Shirt Society

Vernon-based Tolko Industries Ltd. has again partnered with the Orange Shirt Society for an annual art contest. (Tolko photo)
Vernon’s Ryan Vest won the Juvenile Boys National Championship division in convincing fashion at the year-end Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT National Championship in Surrey. (Black Press - file photo)

Vernon golfer runs away with national championship

Ryan Vest scored nine-shot victory over fellow Predator Ridge golfer Cooper Humphreys at Maple Leaf Junior Tour year-end tourney

Vernon’s Ryan Vest won the Juvenile Boys National Championship division in convincing fashion at the year-end Maple Leaf Junior Golf Tour’s MJT National Championship in Surrey. (Black Press - file photo)
Former Vancouver Canucks and Vernon Vipers hockey player Aaron Volpatti (left), joins the Golden Burger Challenge in support of the North Okanagan Community Life Society at The Roster. The challenge is underway at 10 local restaurants until Oct. 24. (Roster photo)

Search for best burger in Vernon begins

Golden Burger challenge is also a fundraiser for event organizer North Okanagan Community Life Society

Former Vancouver Canucks and Vernon Vipers hockey player Aaron Volpatti (left), joins the Golden Burger Challenge in support of the North Okanagan Community Life Society at The Roster. The challenge is underway at 10 local restaurants until Oct. 24. (Roster photo)
Funtastic’s new board president hopes that ball players and music lovers will return to Vernon’s army camp on the July long weekend in 2022 for the Funtastic A&W Music Festival and Slo Pitch Tournament, cancelled the last two years by COVID-19. (Morning Star - file photo)

New board president for Vernon’s Funtastic Sports Society

Jamie Austin voted in at society’s annual general meeting

Funtastic’s new board president hopes that ball players and music lovers will return to Vernon’s army camp on the July long weekend in 2022 for the Funtastic A&W Music Festival and Slo Pitch Tournament, cancelled the last two years by COVID-19. (Morning Star - file photo)
City of Armstrong staff are recommending a rainbow crosswalk similar to one put in by the District of Peachland (pictured) be installed at the Smith Drive tee intersection near the city’s Welcome to Armstrong caboose. (Contributed)

Armstrong staff select rainbow crosswalk site

Staff recommend Smith Drive tee intersection near caboose; include funds in 2022 budget talks

City of Armstrong staff are recommending a rainbow crosswalk similar to one put in by the District of Peachland (pictured) be installed at the Smith Drive tee intersection near the city’s Welcome to Armstrong caboose. (Contributed)
Kyla Inaba from Vernon’s Predator Ridge Resort, placed fourth at the 2021 PGA of BC Women’s Golf Championship at the Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey. (PGA of BC file photo)

Vernon’s Kyla Inaba fourth at PGA of BC Women’s Golf Championship

Predator Ridge pro, who was second in 2020, picked up 58 points in the Stableford scoring system over the 36 holes to finish five points behind the winner

Kyla Inaba from Vernon’s Predator Ridge Resort, placed fourth at the 2021 PGA of BC Women’s Golf Championship at the Northview Golf and Country Club in Surrey. (PGA of BC file photo)
The Haunting of Falkland features theme rooms in the community hall, plus much more Oct. 29-30, as well as weekend ghost hunts which start Oct. 1. (Thunder Boyz Productions image)

From fires to frights: Falkland lifts spirits for Halloween

Second annual Haunting of Falkland runs Oct. 28-31 and proceeds go to non-profit community organizations

The Haunting of Falkland features theme rooms in the community hall, plus much more Oct. 29-30, as well as weekend ghost hunts which start Oct. 1. (Thunder Boyz Productions image)
RCMP officers set up a 3D scanner in the parking lot of the Best Value Inn and Suites in Vernon Saturday afternoon, Feb. 29, 2020. A second-degree murder charge has now been laid in connection to the death of a woman at the hotel. (Morning Star - file photo)

Murder charge laid in connection with 2020 Vernon homicide

Woman charged with second-degree murder after a woman was found dead in a Vernon hotel in February 2020

RCMP officers set up a 3D scanner in the parking lot of the Best Value Inn and Suites in Vernon Saturday afternoon, Feb. 29, 2020. A second-degree murder charge has now been laid in connection to the death of a woman at the hotel. (Morning Star - file photo)
Scarecrows on the Street will again be part of the 21st annual Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce Harvest Pumpkin Festival, which will run Oct. 8-12 at the IPE Grounds. (AS Chamber photo)

Harvest Pumpkin Festival returns to Armstrong

21st annual event hosted by Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce goes Oct. 8-12

Scarecrows on the Street will again be part of the 21st annual Armstrong Spallumcheen Chamber of Commerce Harvest Pumpkin Festival, which will run Oct. 8-12 at the IPE Grounds. (AS Chamber photo)
Vernon Vipers forward Zach Tonelli tries to squeeze out Penticton Vees counterpart Luke Vardy along the boards during the Vees’ 3-2 BCHL overtime pre-season victory Saturday, Sept. 25, at Kal Tire Place. (Lisa Mazurek - Vernon Vipers Photography)

Victorious Vees vex Vernon Vipers

Overtime goal gives Penticton a 3-2 BCHL exhibition win and a sweep of weekend home-and-home series

Vernon Vipers forward Zach Tonelli tries to squeeze out Penticton Vees counterpart Luke Vardy along the boards during the Vees’ 3-2 BCHL overtime pre-season victory Saturday, Sept. 25, at Kal Tire Place. (Lisa Mazurek - Vernon Vipers Photography)
A 46-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with a shooting in Spallumcheen Monday, Sept. 20. (Morning Star - file photo)

Second-degree murder charge laid in Spallumcheen shooting

Man, aged 46, from Spallumcheen arrested and appeared in provincial court in Vernon

A 46-year-old man has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with a shooting in Spallumcheen Monday, Sept. 20. (Morning Star - file photo)
With no current threat of spread of the White Rock Lake fire, the Township of Spallumcheen and City of Vernon are standing down their emergency operations centres. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)

Spallumcheen joins Vernon in closing emergency operations centre

No current threat of spread in connection with White Rock Lake wildfire

With no current threat of spread of the White Rock Lake fire, the Township of Spallumcheen and City of Vernon are standing down their emergency operations centres. (Darryl Dyck/Canadian Press)
Smoke may continue to be seen from the White Rock Lake wildfire, but it is not considered under control. (Contributed)

Vernon reception centre shutting down as White Rock Lake fire under control

Status change for White Rock Lake fire allows city to shut down the emergency support services centre

Smoke may continue to be seen from the White Rock Lake wildfire, but it is not considered under control. (Contributed)
Vernon council will discuss an application for a new five-storey residential building to be situated in the 5500 block of 27th Avenue at its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 7. (Contributed)

UPDATE: Affordable housing application approved by Vernon council

Five-storey building will feature 35 low-income, one-to-four bedroom suites on 27th Avenue

Vernon council will discuss an application for a new five-storey residential building to be situated in the 5500 block of 27th Avenue at its meeting Tuesday, Sept. 7. (Contributed)
Hunters are being reminded by the B.C. Wildfire Service there is no hunting in the White Rock Lake wildfire area. (Black Press - file photo)

Hunters reminded to stay out of White Rock Lake wildfire area

No hunting in the area restriction is permitted

Hunters are being reminded by the B.C. Wildfire Service there is no hunting in the White Rock Lake wildfire area. (Black Press - file photo)
An evacuation alert for the Township of Spallumcheen was lifted Wednesday, Sept. 1, upon a recommendation from the B.C. Wildfire Service. (Township of Spallumcheen photo)

Alert for Township of Spallumcheen lifted

Move based on recommendation by B.C. Wildfire Service Wednesday, Sept. 1

An evacuation alert for the Township of Spallumcheen was lifted Wednesday, Sept. 1, upon a recommendation from the B.C. Wildfire Service. (Township of Spallumcheen photo)
Is the O’Keefe Ranch milkmaid a victim? Or is she the killer? Help solve the crime as the historic ranch hosts its popular Murder Mystery: Murder Comes to Noggin Valley on Sept. 23 and 24. (Yana Crane Photography)

Life at Spallumcheen ranch can be ‘murder’

Historic O’Keefe Ranch brings back popular murder mystery Sept. 23 and 24, and the public can help solve the dastardly crime

Is the O’Keefe Ranch milkmaid a victim? Or is she the killer? Help solve the crime as the historic ranch hosts its popular Murder Mystery: Murder Comes to Noggin Valley on Sept. 23 and 24. (Yana Crane Photography)