WINNING IMAGES | Three local residents in the running to be named Best Amateur Photographer [A7]
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Sunday, August 4, 2013
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Record dry July “There will be some sun mixed in with it,” notes Lundquist for all those With just 1.1 millimetres of rain for taking in events or recreational opporthe entire month, July scorched the tunities over the weekend. Vernon record books. Those spending the weekend outAccording to Environment Canada doors are cautioned to stay safe during records dating back to any lightning and/or wind 1900, the past month broke activity. the last record, set in 2003, “It’s best to try and take of just 1.6 mm. good shelter when the storm “Vernon broke their allhits.” time record of 114 July’s,” With Eastern Pacific said Doug Lundquist, waters reading warmer than Environment Canada meteaverage, August is expected orologist. to be another hot month. — Lundquist Although temperatures “There’s a very high probdidn’t soar past any records, ability that temperatures it was still a hotter than will be above average,” said average month. Lundquist, who hasn’t seen The average temperature for July is a ‘bad’ summer in the Okanagan since 19.1, but this year’s average was 21.6. moving here in 1993. While other pockets of B.C. also With all the hot, dry weather, campbroke records for being one of the dri- fire bans are in effect in communiest July’s, Vernon was one of the only ties and throughout the Kamloops Fire Okanagan cities to make it into the his- Centre. tory books. “The campfire ban will remain in “From Kelowna south we didn’t break place until such time that we receive the record,” said Lundquist. wide-spread rain across the region,” said But that all came to an end this week- Michaela Swan, fire centre communicaend as scattered showers and thunder- tions officer. storms rolled through the region just in The threat of lightning sparked fires time for the long weekend. is of particular concern to officials, There is a chance thunderstorms will who ask anyone who spots a wildfire to continue today and Monday with pre- call 1-800-663-5555 or *5555 on a cell cipitation easing off into the week. phone. JENNIFER SMITH
Morning Star Staff
“Vernon broke their all-time record.”
JENNIFER SMITH/MORNING STAR
St. Albert, Alta., residents Jory Groome and her eight-year-old daughter Brooklyn Maron float around Kalamalka Lake Wednesday just off shore from the Sovereign Park beach.
B.C. Assessment set to take your home’s photo Morning Star Staff
Don’t be alarmed if your house is being photographed. Digital cameras mounted inside a clearly marked van will soon be on the residential streets of Vernon as B.C. Assessment uses innovation to update photos for property assessment purposes. The residential photo update initiative will take street-front digital photos of approximately 10,000 single-family homes throughout Vernon. The target start date is Tuesday. “As the Crown corporation
responsible for accurately valuing all properties in B.C. and many First Nations, we are always looking for innovative ways to provide more timely, accurate, equitable and fair assessments to all property owners,” said Tracy Wall, deputy assessor for the Okanagan. B.C. Assessment will photograph only the public street front of a home including the street address number. B.C. Assessment will not retain any personal information related to any images of people on the property, visible signage on a residence
including business signs, signs with the names of the people living at the property or any other signage that may identify a person, which includes license plates. The organization will not shoot the interior of a residence or the interior of an enclosed vehicle shelter such as a garage. This technology has already been used successfully in the Lower Mainland, parts of the Fraser Valley and Nanaimo. Visit bcassessment.ca for more information about the digital residential update initiative.
B.C. ASSESSMENT PHOTO
B.C. Assessment will be conducting a digital residential photo update initiative in Greater Vernon starting Tuesday.
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