Brendan Shykora
@brendanshykora.bsky.social
Journalist for The Vernon Morning Star/Black Press Media | privileged to report on the valley I grew up in
A family was out boating on Okanagan Lake over the weekend when something pretty remarkable happened. #VernonBC #Okanagan #Nature
'Never seen anything like it': Boaters rescue bear cub from middle of Okanagan Lake - Vernon Morning Star
The bear was found apparently exhausted swimming in the lake Saturday, Aug. 12
vernonmorningstar.com
The Active Living Centre is going to be a big deal for #VernonBC when it opens later this year. Myself and some other media members were offered a tour of the facility to see how it’s coming together.
PHOTOS: City offers glimpse inside Vernon's Active Living Centre amid construction - Vernon Morning Star
$136-million rec centre taking shape, completion slated for fall, opening in December
vernonmorningstar.com
Residents at Crown Villa in #VernonBC are tired of waiting for their power to be restored, five months after it was shut off and with winter approaching.
Residents at powerless Vernon trailer park form protest against owner - Vernon Morning Star
Owner was ordered to resolve the situation 5 months ago. She says she still can't afford the repairs and hasn't found a buyer yet
vernonmorningstar.com
police in #VernonBC are hoping video surveillance/dash cam footage can help with this investigation.
Police investigating suspicious death of woman in Vernon - Vernon Morning Star
54-year-old woman found unresponsive in her basement suite on 24th avenue Aug. 24
vernonmorningstar.com
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth had been called out by Premier David Eby over his trolling of #VernonBC cadets on social media. Speculation on my part: is Hegseth trying to distract from the fact that he’s losing a war to a middle power?
'Embarrassment': U.S. war secretary trolls Vernon cadets - Vernon Morning Star
Premier David Eby calls out Pete Hegseth's social media post
vernonmorningstar.com
Lumby murderer Vitali Stefanksi won’t receive his sentence until mid-November. with his parole eligibility still in question, many have been wondering why he was charged with second-degree murder instead of first-degree. Story: #VernonBC
Why wasn't Lumby killer Vitali Stefanski charged with 1st-degree murder? - Vernon Morning Star
While unable to reference the Stefanski case directly, legal experts explain why the most serious charge isn't always pursued
vernonmorningstar.com
Cools Pond in #VernonBC may not be a pond for much longer. The North Okanagan Naturalist Club is working with the regional district to assess the now dried-up pond's future, and that of the painted turtles that have called it home.
As Cools Pond dries up, North Okanagan Naturalist Club pursues assessments - Vernon Morning Star
Club working with regional district to determine the pond's long-term future
vernonmorningstar.com
Slowly but surely, people evacuated by the Bradley Creek wildfire near #VernonBC are returning home.
UPDATE: More residents in Bradley Creek wildfire area near Vernon can return home - Vernon Morning Star
The Okanagan Indian Band has partially rescinded an evacuation order
vernonmorningstar.com
The need to protect fish and farmers at the same time amid a water shortage has put the province in a tough position. While the BC Cattlemen's Association applauded the government for rescinding a Salmon River fish protection order, the BCWF says the order needs to be reinstated. #VernonBC
Wildlife, ranching groups at odds over fish protection order near Salmon Arm - Vernon Morning Star
B.C. Wildlife Federation has asked the province to reinstate order to protect fish populations. The Cattlemen's Association disagrees
vernonmorningstar.com
These Coldstream demonstrators are giving residents advance notice of a petition to recall Kelowna–Lake Country–Coldstream MLA Tara Armstrong. #VernonBC
Coldstream protesters spread awareness of campaign to recall MLA Tara Armstrong - Vernon Morning Star
A small group of protesters held signs advertising the campaign Friday, ahead of an official petition from Elections BC
vernonmorningstar.com
More progress is being made on the Bradley Creek wildfire west of #VernonBC as crews cross the perimeter to tackle hot spots Saturday.
Crews working inside perimeter as Bradley Creek fire behaviour lessens near Vernon - Vernon Morning Star
BC Wildfire Service crews are working about 100 feet inside the fire perimeter to extinguish remaining heat Saturday
vernonmorningstar.com
#VernonBC resident Blair Visscher has delved into a timely topic for her Master's thesis at UBCO: how Meta's Canadian news ban and a decade of wildfires have eroded trust in the information Canadians rely on during fire season. 1/2
B.C. has declared a provincial state of emergency in response to the Bald Range wildfire that has forced the evacuation of the entire Summerland community. It's being called one of the most challenging fires BC Wildfire Service has ever faced. #Okanagan #Summerland #VernonBC #Wildfire
B.C. declares provincial state of emergency 1 day after wildfire evacuates Summerland - Vernon Morning Star
'The stories that are starting to come out (from Summerland) are heroic,' said Premier David Eby Saturday
vernonmorningstar.com
A critical wildfire emergency is unfolding in the Summerland and Peachland area. The Bald Range wildfire has grown to 5,000 hectares in less than five hours. #Okanagan #BCWildfire #VernonBC
UPDATE: Properties in south Peachland on evacuation order due to Bald Range wildfire - Vernon Morning Star
The wildfire is listed as out of control at 1,000 hectares in size
vernonmorningstar.com
Amid a very tough stretch of news regarding wildfires in the North Okanagan comes a #Calgary family's story of how their son was saved from a drowning incident in the Shuswap River in Enderby, B.C. over the long weekend. #VernonBC
Calgary man says beachside heroics saved his son from drowning in Enderby river - Vernon Morning Star
Matthew Warren, with his son still in ICU, cautions visitors to Shuswap River
vernonmorningstar.com
Police in #VernonBC have suspicions about a pair of grass fires that sparked in the Commonage area Tuesday afternoon and would like to speak to any and all witnesses.
Police deem fires in Vernon's Commonage area suspicious, seek witnesses - Vernon Morning Star
Multiple grass fires were sparked in the area Tuesday afternoon
vernonmorningstar.com
The damage wrought by the Bradley Creek wildfire is starting to be tallied up. It's a massive loss in the Westside community near #VernonBC. A bright spot is that the OKIB's powwow arbour and its new Cultural Immersion School were spared. The latest:
Estimated 230 homes destroyed by Bradley Creek fire near Vernon: OKIB Chief - Vernon Morning Star
Chief Dan Wilson did a helicopter flyover of the Westside and said it 'looked like a war zone'
vernonmorningstar.com
Devastation on Westside as the Bradley Creek wildfire, now 2,600 hectares, ripped through the area last night. Watch this space for critical information throughout today. #VernonBC
Multiple evacuation orders, alerts remain as Bradley Creek wildfire still out-of-control - Vernon Morning Star
The fire has been moving north
vernonmorningstar.com
Falkland is now on Stage 4, the highest level of water restriction that a community can be placed under. #VernonBC #Drought
North Okanagan community placed on Stage 4 water restrictions - Vernon Morning Star
Falkland water users moved to Stage 4 due to extreme drought conditions
vernonmorningstar.com
At a recent meeting, Greater Vernon officials signalled there's one thing they won't do to alleviate this drought and provide more irrigation to agriculture: jeopardize Greater Vernon's most important drinking water source, Kalamalka Lake. #VernonBC
'Can't risk Kal Lake': Vernon officials against plan to ease drought with new wells - Vernon Morning Star
North Okanagan officials are recommending that the province not support a plan to drill 3 wells into Coldstream aquifer
vernonmorningstar.com
Some good news in an eight-week stretch of very poor water news: reclaimed water has been connected to some Greater Vernon farms, including Davison Orchards. How much it will help amid this year's drought situation remains to be seen, but it's a promising development. #VernonBC
'The only bright light': Reclaimed water heading to some Vernon farms - Vernon Morning Star
Completed project allows close to 100 customers in the Bella Vista and West Swan Lake areas to receive reclaimed water
vernonmorningstar.com
junior hockey is back in Enderby. My deep-dive into Enderby Icemen head coach, GM and co-owner Matt Stang, who’s looking to lead the expansion WIJHL franchise with a strong focus on development. #VernonBC #BCHockey
Enderby Icemen owner, head coach wants to make new team a development hotbed - Vernon Morning Star
Matt Stang helped bring a junior hockey team back to Enderby, and his focus on development is etched into the team's philosophy
vernonmorningstar.com
As a temporary fish protection order looms, farmers in the Silver Creek area are calling for better water management while facing the prospect of having their water source completely shut off for an uncertain amount of time. #VernonBC
Concerns for Shuswap farmers rise as water levels drop - Vernon Morning Star
'We have water, but we don't store it properly,' one Silver Creek farmer said amid new efforts to create dams in the area
vernonmorningstar.com
The City of Vernon can now use reclaimed water for things like street cleaning and watering urban trees. But the bigger story here amid this drought is the potential to supply the Goose Lake Reservoir with reclaimed water. #VernonBC
Vernon gets approval for reclaimed water uses, eyes Goose Lake connection - Vernon Morning Star
City looking to supply Goose Lake reservoir with reclaimed water
vernonmorningstar.com
Julie Vigna, pen name JC Edwards, is a lovely person to talk to. And if you come by for an interview about her new book, she'll be sure to offer you a wicked glass of homemade iced tea. #VernonBC
Vernon senior's debut novel a lifetime in the making - Vernon Morning Star
Julie Vigna published The Ghosts of Summer Island at age 70. She's been writing it in her head since age seven.
vernonmorningstar.com
As extreme drought persists in the North Okanagan, two Coldstream orchardists have come forward with a solution to save their trees, while taking pressure off the water system. #VernonBC
Local orchardists propose drilling into Coldstream aquifer to alleviate drought - Vernon Morning Star
As an unprecedented drought carries on with next to no relief in the form of rain in the North Okanagan, drastic Greater Vernon water restrictions continue to hammer agriculturalists. But […]
vernonmorningstar.com
Former #VernonBC RCMP Supt. pleads guilty to Bella Coola area assault with weapon.
Former Vernon RCMP Supt. pleads guilty to Bella Coola area assault with weapon - Vernon Morning Star
Steven McVarnock was previously granted an absolute discharge on an assault conviction last year
vernonmorningstar.com
The jury has spoken: Vitali Stefanski has been found guilty of murdering his ex-wife, Tatjana Stefanski. This puts to end a whirlwind month of proceedings, and puts a stamp of efficacy on a slogan that has emerged over the past two years: Justice for Tatjana. Story below. #VernonBC
Justice for Tatjana: North Okanagan man found guilty of murdering ex-wife - Vernon Morning Star
A jury found Vitali Stefanski guilty of second-degree murder Friday, June 26
vernonmorningstar.com
Farmers in the North Okanagan were offered a pair of meetings Tuesday to discuss significant water cuts amid the drought the region is experiencing. Many of them expressed real consternation, while saying crop losses could spell economic losses that affect the region as a whole. Story: #VernonBC
Farmers lament severe water cuts as historic drought grips North Okanagan - Vernon Morning Star
The regional district and its water purveyor held a pair of meetings with agriculturalists Tuesday evening. The message was dire
vernonmorningstar.com
Closing arguments began in the trial of Vitali Stefanski this morning, with the Crown calling into question much of the accused murderer's previous testimony. Vitali is expected to present his closing arguments tomorrow morning. Story: #VernonBC
Lumby murder suspect’s trial evidence ‘an insult to logic,’ says Crown lawyer - Vernon Morning Star
The Crown made its closing arguments in the trial of Vitali Stefanski Tuesday morning
vernonmorningstar.com