Morning Star Staff

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The White Rock Lake Wildfire near Westwold grew some more overnight Monday, Aug. 2, but also got some help from Mother Nature. (BC Wildfire Service photo)

UPDATE: Smoke hampers fight to control White Rock Lake wildfire

Blaze near Westwold grows by a few hundred hectares but rain helps with suppression efforts

The White Rock Lake Wildfire near Westwold grew some more overnight Monday, Aug. 2, but also got some help from Mother Nature. (BC Wildfire Service photo)
The White Rock Lake wildfire near Westwold, which has resulted in a handful of evacuation orders and alerts, is anticipated to grow in size over the next 24 hours after aggressive overnight growth Sunday, Aug. 1. (BC Wilfire Service aerial photo)

Growth anticipated for White Rock Lake wildfire near Westwold

Fire listed at approximately 24,000 hectares in size will get bigger in next 24 hours due to aggressive growth overnight

The White Rock Lake wildfire near Westwold, which has resulted in a handful of evacuation orders and alerts, is anticipated to grow in size over the next 24 hours after aggressive overnight growth Sunday, Aug. 1. (BC Wilfire Service aerial photo)
Brittney Page (left) and Kristin Postill are getting ready for their fourth annual paddleboard fundraiser, this year in support of the Archway Society. (Contributed)

North Okanagan paddleboard pals return to Kal Lake for fundraiser

Kristin Postill and Brittney Page will paddle length of lake Saturday, Aug. 14, in support of Archway Society

Brittney Page (left) and Kristin Postill are getting ready for their fourth annual paddleboard fundraiser, this year in support of the Archway Society. (Contributed)
Splatsin near Enderby has teamed up with a Calgary-based company to launch its VoyentAlert mass notification service so community members and others living in the area can be safe during emergencies. The alert delivers vital information to cell phones, landlines, and email. (Splatsin photo)

Mass emergency notification service launched by Splatsin

Band near Enderby teams up with Calgary-based company to provide emergency alert service to community members

Splatsin near Enderby has teamed up with a Calgary-based company to launch its VoyentAlert mass notification service so community members and others living in the area can be safe during emergencies. The alert delivers vital information to cell phones, landlines, and email. (Splatsin photo)
A case of COVID-19 has temporarily closed Vernon’s Kelly O’Bryan’s restaurant. (Morning Star - file photo)

COVID case temporarily closes Okanagan restaurant

Kelly O’Bryan’s in Vernon makes announcement on social media, answering machine

A case of COVID-19 has temporarily closed Vernon’s Kelly O’Bryan’s restaurant. (Morning Star - file photo)
An evacuation alert has been issued for an area 15-25 kilometres east of Cherryville, including Keefer Lake and Keefer Lake Road, due to a wildfire. (Contributed)

Evacuation alert issued for Keefer Lake area east of Cherryville

Regional district issues alert after recommendation from B.C. Wildfire Service

An evacuation alert has been issued for an area 15-25 kilometres east of Cherryville, including Keefer Lake and Keefer Lake Road, due to a wildfire. (Contributed)
A brush fire close to the Chevron station on 32nd Street Saturday at 4:30 a.m. was one of four fires in 12 hours dealt with successfully by Vernon Fire Rescue Services. (@vernonfirefighters photo)

Busy 12-hour span for Okanagan fire department

Three brush fires and a structure fire in Vernon successfully doused Friday night and Saturday morning

A brush fire close to the Chevron station on 32nd Street Saturday at 4:30 a.m. was one of four fires in 12 hours dealt with successfully by Vernon Fire Rescue Services. (@vernonfirefighters photo)
An evacuation alert remains in place for the Bunting Lake Wildfire burning near the Mabel Lake Forest Service Road east of Lumby. (Sylvia Wilson photo)

Mabel Lake FSR wildfire evacuation alert east of Lumby still in place

B.C. Wildfire Service continues to monitor the blaze

An evacuation alert remains in place for the Bunting Lake Wildfire burning near the Mabel Lake Forest Service Road east of Lumby. (Sylvia Wilson photo)
The B.C. Wildfire Service is battling a fire on the Okanagan Connector about 40 kilometres from West Kelowna Wednesday, July 14. The fire is estimated to be 40 hectares in size. (B.C. Wildfire Service photo)

Wildfire breaks out off Okanagan Connector

Blaze about 40 kilometres from West Kelowna started Wednesday evening, July 14

The B.C. Wildfire Service is battling a fire on the Okanagan Connector about 40 kilometres from West Kelowna Wednesday, July 14. The fire is estimated to be 40 hectares in size. (B.C. Wildfire Service photo)
The B.C. Wildfire Service is battling a fire on the Okanagan Connector about 40 kilometres from West Kelowna Wednesday, July 14. The fire is estimated to be 40 hectares in size. (B.C. Wildfire Service photo)

Wildfire breaks out off Okanagan Connector

Blaze about 40 kilometres from West Kelowna started Wednesday evening, July 14

The B.C. Wildfire Service is battling a fire on the Okanagan Connector about 40 kilometres from West Kelowna Wednesday, July 14. The fire is estimated to be 40 hectares in size. (B.C. Wildfire Service photo)
A year-long investigation by Vernon North Okanagan RCMP has deemed a number of fires in the Cedar Ridge Street area of Lumby were deliberately set, and police are now asking for the public's help in identifying the arsonist. (RCMP photo)

Lumby fires spark hunt for arsonist

Year-long investigation reveals a number of suspicious fires in the area of Cedar Ridge Street were deliberately set

A year-long investigation by Vernon North Okanagan RCMP has deemed a number of fires in the Cedar Ridge Street area of Lumby were deliberately set, and police are now asking for the public's help in identifying the arsonist. (RCMP photo)
B.C. Wildfire Service helicopters battling the Becker Lake Fire near Vernon have been having problems with watercraft interfering with their ability to draw water from the north end of Kalalmalka Lake. (Wayne Emde photo)

Wildfire crews, RCMP warn watercraft users to avoid north end of Coldstream lake

Helicopters and airplanes having problems with watercraft on Kal Lake as they try to reload to battle Becker Lake wildfire

B.C. Wildfire Service helicopters battling the Becker Lake Fire near Vernon have been having problems with watercraft interfering with their ability to draw water from the north end of Kalalmalka Lake. (Wayne Emde photo)
A funding boost from her government to community-based Indigenous, adult and family literacy programs to help people gain skills in reading, writing, math and digital literacy pleases Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu. (Black Press - file photo)

Vernon-Monashee MLA pleased with literacy funding boost

Harwinder Sandhu’s NDP government rolling out new programs in fall in 128 communities, including Vernon

A funding boost from her government to community-based Indigenous, adult and family literacy programs to help people gain skills in reading, writing, math and digital literacy pleases Vernon-Monashee MLA Harwinder Sandhu. (Black Press - file photo)
A North Okanagan organization has expressed serious concerns about the living conditions for migrant farm workers during the recent heat wave. from (Canadian Press file photo)

Heat wave: Okanagan group concerned about ‘miserable’ conditions for migrant workers

Radical Action with Migrants in Agriculture said farmworkers are living in houses unequipped to withstand the record temperatures

A North Okanagan organization has expressed serious concerns about the living conditions for migrant farm workers during the recent heat wave. from (Canadian Press file photo)
The Vernon School District is recommending parents make alternate transportation plans in the afternoon of the final two days of the school year, Monday and Tuesday, June 28 and 29, with a heat warning in effect. District school buses are not equipped with air conditioning. (File photo)

No air conditioning on buses prompts alert from Okanagan school district

With two days left in calendar year and heat warning in place, Vernon School District asks parents to consider alternate after-school plans if kids are heat sensitive or rides are long

The Vernon School District is recommending parents make alternate transportation plans in the afternoon of the final two days of the school year, Monday and Tuesday, June 28 and 29, with a heat warning in effect. District school buses are not equipped with air conditioning. (File photo)
Vernon’s Eric de Nys will leave his role as head coach and program director of the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club to become the new NextGen coach with Nordiq Canada. (Nordiq Canada photo)

Okanagan man chosen coach of Nordiq Canada NextGen squad

Vernon’s Eric de Nys will leave the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club to take over new position in August

Vernon’s Eric de Nys will leave his role as head coach and program director of the Sovereign Lake Nordic Club to become the new NextGen coach with Nordiq Canada. (Nordiq Canada photo)
Accompanied by her crew, and with the adoring public on hand to welcome her, Vernon’s Leah Goldstein makes history Saturday, June 26, in Annapolis, Maryland, becoming the first woman solo rider to win the Race Across America. (Facebook photo)

Okanagan cyclist makes history as first female solo rider to win world’s toughest race

Vernon’s Leah Goldstein was accompanied by her crew Saturday night in Annapolis, Maryland as she finished the Race Across America

Accompanied by her crew, and with the adoring public on hand to welcome her, Vernon’s Leah Goldstein makes history Saturday, June 26, in Annapolis, Maryland, becoming the first woman solo rider to win the Race Across America. (Facebook photo)
The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce is calling on the provincial government to meet with the Interior Provincial Exhibition organization in Armstrong to help ensure the long-term viability of the annual fair, which has been cancelled the last two years due to the pandemic. (Morning Star - file photo)

Vernon chamber calls on Victoria to ensure viability of Armstrong’s fair

The annual IPE, more than a century old, has been cancelled the last two years due to COVID-19

The Greater Vernon Chamber of Commerce is calling on the provincial government to meet with the Interior Provincial Exhibition organization in Armstrong to help ensure the long-term viability of the annual fair, which has been cancelled the last two years due to the pandemic. (Morning Star - file photo)
Former Kalamalka Lakers standout Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe (with ball) helped Canada finish fourth at a pre-Olympics women’s basketball tournament in Puerto Rico. (File photo)

Coldstream hoops star helps Canada to playoff round at Olympic tune-up

Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe and Team Canada placed fourth in Puerto Rico at FIBA Women’s AmeriCup

Former Kalamalka Lakers standout Nayo Raincock-Ekunwe (with ball) helped Canada finish fourth at a pre-Olympics women’s basketball tournament in Puerto Rico. (File photo)
The Vernon Vipers’ 2021-22 B.C. Hockey League home opener will be against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Saturday, Oct. 16. The league announced it is returning to a 54-game schedule on Monday, June 7. (Lisa Mazurek- Vernon Vipers Photography)

Vernon Vipers to open 2021-22 BC Hockey League season on road

League announces 54-game schedule, with all but two teams qualifying for the post-season

The Vernon Vipers’ 2021-22 B.C. Hockey League home opener will be against the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Saturday, Oct. 16. The league announced it is returning to a 54-game schedule on Monday, June 7. (Lisa Mazurek- Vernon Vipers Photography)