Brendan Shykora

Tatjana Stefanski’s ex-husband, Vitali Stefanski, has been charged with second-degree murder in relation to the death of the Lumby mother in April 2024. (Jason Gaudreault photo)

Ex-husband of slain Lumby mother charged with second-degree murder

Vitali Stefanski was arrested and charged Friday, May 31

Tatjana Stefanski’s ex-husband, Vitali Stefanski, has been charged with second-degree murder in relation to the death of the Lumby mother in April 2024. (Jason Gaudreault photo)
The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is probing the RCMP’s response to a December 2023 incident in Lumby, after which a woman was found deceased on April 14. (File Photo)

Police watchdog investigating leadup to death of North Okanagan woman

The IIO says woman was found deceased on April 14, the same date that RCMP found remains of Tatjana Stefanski

The Independent Investigations Office of BC (IIO) is probing the RCMP’s response to a December 2023 incident in Lumby, after which a woman was found deceased on April 14. (File Photo)
Paige Courtney Howse had a sentencing hearing for one charge of manslaughter at the Vernon Law Courts Friday, May 17, 2024. (Black Press file photo)

Crown seeks 7-9 year jail sentence for Vernon manslaughter of Kelowna woman

Paige Courtney Howse previously pleaded guilty of manslaughter in the death of Kelowna woman Alishia Lemp

Paige Courtney Howse had a sentencing hearing for one charge of manslaughter at the Vernon Law Courts Friday, May 17, 2024. (Black Press file photo)
More than 200 people marched around Oval Park at a vigil honouring slain Lumby mother Tatjana Stefanski Friday, April 26, 2024. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

‘Justice for Tatjana’: Vigil honours memory of slain North Okanagan mother

The release of the suspect in the death of Tatjana Stefanski has the community angry and fearful

More than 200 people marched around Oval Park at a vigil honouring slain Lumby mother Tatjana Stefanski Friday, April 26, 2024. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Emelia Symington-Fedy’s true crime memoir, Skid Dogs, was published Sept. 9, 2023. (Zev Tiefenbach photo)

North Okanagan author in the running for prestigious non-fiction prize

Emelia Symington-Fedy, who published her debut memoir Skid Dogs in 2023, has been shortlisted for the Hubert Evans Non-Fiction Prize

Emelia Symington-Fedy’s true crime memoir, Skid Dogs, was published Sept. 9, 2023. (Zev Tiefenbach photo)
Vernon Paralympian Sonja Gaudet (right) has been elected to the World Curling hall of Fame in the class of 2024. (File photo)

B.C. wheelchair curler inducted into World Curling Hall of Fame

Veron’s Sonja Gaudet won Paralympic gold in 2006, 2010 and 2014

Vernon Paralympian Sonja Gaudet (right) has been elected to the World Curling hall of Fame in the class of 2024. (File photo)
BC Timber Sales plans to harvest trees on Spallumcheen’s Rose Swanson Mountain, but a grassroots effort to create a conservancy is in the works to ensure the mountian’s non-timber values are preserved. (Danica Djordjevich photo)

Conservancy in the works to protect North Okanagan mountain from logging

Community advocates are looking to protect Rose Swanson Mountain, which BC Timber Sales plans to log

BC Timber Sales plans to harvest trees on Spallumcheen’s Rose Swanson Mountain, but a grassroots effort to create a conservancy is in the works to ensure the mountian’s non-timber values are preserved. (Danica Djordjevich photo)
Brian William Harold Chciuk and Keisha Mari McCrea pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to provide necessities of life in provincial court Thursday, March 7, 2024. (Black Press file photo)

B.C. couple plead not guilty to neglect charges 4 years after child’s death

Brian William Harold Chciuk and Keisha Mari McCrea are charged with failure to provide necessities of life

Brian William Harold Chciuk and Keisha Mari McCrea pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to provide necessities of life in provincial court Thursday, March 7, 2024. (Black Press file photo)
Two live grenades, sets of body armour and more than 100 firearms were seized in a police raid in Spallumcheen Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (Black Press file photo)

Live grenades and over 100 firearms seized in North Okanagan police raid

A 38-year-old Spallumcheen man was arrested and remanded in custody

Two live grenades, sets of body armour and more than 100 firearms were seized in a police raid in Spallumcheen Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (Black Press file photo)
An Interior Health nurse administers a vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic. A document containing personal informatio nof more than 20,000 IH employees was recovered by the RCMP, IH said Thursday, March 7, 2024. (Phil McLachlan/Black Press)

Stolen information of over 20k Interior Health employees recovered by RCMP

Anyone who worked for IH from 2003 and 2009 is encouraged to make contact

An Interior Health nurse administers a vaccine during the COVID-19 pandemic. A document containing personal informatio nof more than 20,000 IH employees was recovered by the RCMP, IH said Thursday, March 7, 2024. (Phil McLachlan/Black Press)
Willy Bartz (front left) was killed in Vernon in 2017. Here he is pictured with his father Zeke Bartz (front right), his aunt Mildred Davis (back right) and Mildred’s daughter, Terri Lynn Davis. The accused in Willy’s murder, Richard Fairgrieve, died in custody on the weekend of Feb. 17, 2024. (Submitted photo)

‘He can’t hurt anybody else’: Accused in B.C. murder case dies in custody

Teresa Bartz, sister of murdered Willy Bartz, is feeling relieved after seven years of court proceedings

Willy Bartz (front left) was killed in Vernon in 2017. Here he is pictured with his father Zeke Bartz (front right), his aunt Mildred Davis (back right) and Mildred’s daughter, Terri Lynn Davis. The accused in Willy’s murder, Richard Fairgrieve, died in custody on the weekend of Feb. 17, 2024. (Submitted photo)
Vernon’s Leah Goldstein became the second woman to win the 500 Mile Solo Division of the Hoodoo 500 Ultra-Cycling Race in Utah, and did so with a new record time. (Facebook photo)

Vernon cyclist shocked as keynote speech dropped due to Israeli background

Leah Goldstein says organizers’ decision to cancel her International Women’s Day speech over her past career with Israel Defence Forces is antisemitic

Vernon’s Leah Goldstein became the second woman to win the 500 Mile Solo Division of the Hoodoo 500 Ultra-Cycling Race in Utah, and did so with a new record time. (Facebook photo)
Retiring Beairsto Elementary School teacher Anita Baturin held her last dragon parade at the school to celebrate the Lunar New Year Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Retiring B.C. teacher relishes one last Lunar New Year dragon parade

Anita Baturin has been sharing her Chinese culture with her Vernon students since 2002

Retiring Beairsto Elementary School teacher Anita Baturin held her last dragon parade at the school to celebrate the Lunar New Year Friday, Feb. 9, 2024. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
(Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

PHOTOS: Premier Eby among sights at Vernon Winter Carnival parade

From Mario to Minecraft, the Carnival’s games theme was well represented at the Saturday parade

(Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP found several explosive devices after conducting a traffic stop in Spallumcheen Monday night, Jan. 22, 2024. (Black Press file photo)

Explosives ‘resembling hand grenades’ found in car that fled B.C. police

RCMP confirm several items that resembled hand grenades contained explosives

The Vernon North Okanagan RCMP found several explosive devices after conducting a traffic stop in Spallumcheen Monday night, Jan. 22, 2024. (Black Press file photo)
Bighorn Sheep are blue-listed as an at risk species. (Submitted photo)

Domestic diseases shrinking B.C.’s wild sheep population in Okanagan

Okanagan Nation alliance calling on province to develop overarching legislation to protect the sheep

Bighorn Sheep are blue-listed as an at risk species. (Submitted photo)
The BC Supreme Court ruled Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, that two Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations, including one in Coldstream, must hand over personal information records requested by their former members to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. (File photo)

B.C. Court orders Jehovah’s Witnesses to hand over personal information

BC Supreme Court acknowledges infringement on religious rights, say those rights are not absolute

The BC Supreme Court ruled Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, that two Jehovah’s Witnesses congregations, including one in Coldstream, must hand over personal information records requested by their former members to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner. (File photo)
Syilx Language House executive director Michele Johnson organized the book launch event. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Efforts to preserve Syilx language reach new chapter in Vernon

A trio of Syilx Elders spoke at a book launch in Vernon, introducing the ninth edition of Elder recordings

Syilx Language House executive director Michele Johnson organized the book launch event. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
One person is dead and two are seriously injured following a vehicle crash on Highway 1 near Glacier National Park that occurred around 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

1 dead, 2 seriously injured in Boxing Day crash west of Golden

The fatal collision took place on Highway 1 near Glacier National Park

One person is dead and two are seriously injured following a vehicle crash on Highway 1 near Glacier National Park that occurred around 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
A vehicle incident has closed Highway 1 from Revelstoke to Golden Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. (DriveBC image)

UPDATE: Highway 1 reopened from Revelstoke to Golden after vehicle incident

The highway closed for 141 kilometres for about four hours Tuesday

A vehicle incident has closed Highway 1 from Revelstoke to Golden Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023. (DriveBC image)