Vernon News
Total domination.
That's how best to describe the Vernon Vipers 6-0 win over the Penticton Vees in game 1 of the BCHL's Interior conference final before 2,082 fans at Wesbild Centre.
Graeme Gordon posted his third straight shutout with 19 saves as the Vees were kept off the score board for the first time all season.
20 year old Calgary product Dan Nycholat led the offence with two goals and was named first star.
Jon Milhouse also had a strong game with 1 plus 1. His goal with just 2 seconds left on a breakaway in the first period was perhaps the game's turning point, giving the Vipers a 2-0 lead.
Vees all star goalie Sean Bonar didn't get a lot of help from his defence and looked ordinary as he was shelled by 47 Vipers shots.
Other Vernon goals came from Kellen Jones, Garrett Noonan and Rob Short, short-handed.
Top Vees Denver Manderson and Beau Bennett were held in check during the game. Gordon was solid but didn't have to make any spectacular saves.
Game 2 in the best of 7 series goes Saturday night at Wesbild Centre.
Tickets will be on sale from 10 am to game time at the arena.
Games 3 and 4 will be at the South Okanagan Events Centre Tuesday and Wednesday.
All Viper games will be broadcast on KISS FM with Todd Miller and Don Klepp.
Game 1 of the coastal final was won 4-3 by visiting Powell River over Alberni Valley on a goal by Chad Niddery 15:14 into the first overtime.
Submitted by Cpl Henry Proce
This week's report deals with youth crime. That may be because it's Spring Break and the kids have time on their hands, at any rate, here are a few examples:
On March 11 police responded to a complaint of Break, Enter and Theft from a mobile home at 446 Mabel Lake Rd. This coincided with a call from a distraught mother who had discovered her 8 year old daughter has been stealing items from neighbours. It didn't take long for police to determine that the little girl and her friend, also 8 years old, had systematically gone from home to home stealing items from yards and porches which they then loaded into a wheelbarrow (also stolen) They had set up a table not far off to hold all the stolen property... Needless to say, the property was returned but surprisingly, the two girls displayed little, is any, remorse for their actions. Due to their very young ages, criminal charges will not be contemplated. A youth has to be at least12 years old in order for that to happen.
Speaking of which, Vernon Crown Counsel has approved charges against a local 12 year old youth for Break, Enter& Theft and Unlawfully in a Dwelling House. Initially, there were a total of three suspects. The two other suspects were not charged but may have to testify against the accused. The investigation goes back to November 23rd, 2009 when a residence at 1826 Skyview Ave had it's window broken and was entered. It is rare that police charge one so young even though it is allowable by law. In this case, discretion was not used. The youth cannot be named due to provisions in the Youth Criminal Justice Act.
Still on the topic of youths and crime, the local Field's store was vandalized twice this past week. This is at least the 4th time since last summer that this particular business has been targeted by youths breaking glass. In this latest case, rocks were again thrown through the front window although nothing appears to have been stolen. Police may have caught a break this time with some witness evidence coming forward. The matter remains under investigation. Perhaps the bigger issue is why these kids are roaming around the downtown area at 3:00 AM ?
The parties were talking about how to settle the dispute that has seen the Okanagan Indian Band block Tolko Industries from logging the Browns Creek area.
Band chief Fabian Alexis says issues like water, timber and archeology were discussed.
Okanagan Grand Chief Stewart Phillip (pictured) calls the session "positive", but says more meetings will be needed before there's progress.
"So it's something that's not going to resolve itself in two or three meetings. It's going to demand a very well planned organized process."
The First Nations were not given any assurance that Tolko won't be allowed to log the disputed area.
The company plans to do that after spring break-up, and has government and court approval to proceed.
Phillip says they made it clear that invoking an enforcement order to remove their logging blockade, will only make the situation worse.
"Myself and Chief Alexis have agreed to be arrested in the event it comes to that, and that will only serve to inflame the situation."
Alexis says the meeting involved reps from the Ministry of Environment and from the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations.
Phillip says the Ministry of Forest was not represented and they told the province it was essential they be part of the process.
Phillip says they don't want the process to just serve as a "smoke screen to burn up time, and after break-up have Tolko aggressively trying to access the cut block areas."
A robbery suspect has pleaded guilty to holding up a Vernon bakery last year.
37 year old Kipp Waechter admitted to robbing Bakers Dozen back in November.
He will be back in court March 25th to set a date for sentencing.
Waechter at one point had been the RCMP's main suspect in up to ten robberies around that same time, but Crown counsel issued a stay of proceedings on six robbery charges in November, due to a lack of evidence.
RCMP spokesman Gord Molendyk says officers are still gathering evidence that may lead to one other robbery charge against the suspect.
Vernon's Josh Dueck came in 14th in the men's super G sitting ski race today at the Paralympics in Whistler.
The 29 year old was about 5 seconds back of the winner from Japan.
About 40 skiers took part.
Dueck will wrap up his Paralympics in the super combined race on Sunday.
He won a silver in the men's sitting slalom Sunday and was fifth in the downhill Thursday.
Local curlers Sonja Gaudet, Ina Forrest and the rest of Team Canada's wheelchair team will take on either Italy or Sweden in the semi final Saturday at 10am, while the U-S and Korea will battle in the other.
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