FLOOD FEARS EASE | Eyes still on local water levels, but flood watch downgraded [A6]
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Friday, June 15, 2012
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Robbery attempt foiled
HAWK HEROES
Morning Star Staff
LISA VANDERVELDE/MORNING STAR
Kalamalka Secondary school teacher Todd Wenger lets his fellow teachers James Carr (left) and Shon Thomas loose with shears during Wenger’s 10th annual Mohawks against Mutilation fundraiser at the school Wednesday. Wenger started the fundraiser after his mother died of cancer and it has now evolved into a fundraiser for local families coping with medical issues.
In small towns, people know people. Including suspected bank robbers. Vernon-North Okanagan RCMP report that just after 5 p.m. Monday, the branch manager of Valley First Credit Union in Armstrong called to report that, a short time earlier, a woman came into the bank and presented a note to one of the tellers, advising them that a robbery was taking place. “The note required the teller to ‘hand over all the money,’” said RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk. The suspect left the branch after the teller advised her that no money was kept in the drawers at the counter. The teller notified the manager but one of the other tellers recognized the suspect as she left the bank on a bicycle. “The suspect was located a short distance away and confronted by staff,” said Molendyk. “The police were contacted and the suspect has been arrested.” The suspect, aged 64, from the Armstrong area, has been released and is expected to appear in court on July 5 to answer to a charge of attempted robbery.
Downtown concert goers gain access to facilities ROGER KNOX Morning Star Staff
Public washrooms will be open to summer downtown concert goers. Vernon council voted unanimously to spend $600 on a summer student to staff the council chamber washrooms on Thursday evenings from July 5 to Aug. 30 to facilitate the Downtown Vernon Association’s Civic Sounds Concert Series. The event is held at Spirit Square, between the old Vernon library and
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“Why Spirit Square doesn’t have washrooms is mind boggling.” — Mary-Jo O’Keefe the Greater Vernon Museum, and, in the past, concert goers could use the public washrooms at the library. However, the library has since closed and will be used for city office
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staff. “The washrooms at council chambers are available but, unfortunately, with the artwork and fixtures, we would need to staff the
facility,” said Ian Currie, city building services manager. While supporting the motion, Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe wondered why the old library washrooms couldn’t be used, and was vocally adamant that Spirit Square needs public facilities. “Why Spirit Square doesn’t have public washrooms is mind boggling,” said O’Keefe “I just don’t get it. We need public washrooms on this site for every
single event we have. This temporary solution (of staffing council chambers) isn’t going to work. We should be able to keep the public washrooms we already have. I don’t understand why the bathrooms were taken away.” A motion by Coun. Patrick Nicol to have the city’s tourism advisory committee come up with the $600 for the summer student did not receive a seconder and was defeated.
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