Salmon Arm

Salmon Arm resident Sara Mitchell was able to locate the intended recipient of a gift basket left at her house on Dec. 5. Now the recipient, Karen Whidden, is trying to find the person who made the initial delivery to say thanks. (Contributed)

Delivery mystery: Salmon Arm resident hopes to give thanks to sender

Bouquet, gift basket initially dropped off by mistake at neighbour’s house

Salmon Arm resident Sara Mitchell was able to locate the intended recipient of a gift basket left at her house on Dec. 5. Now the recipient, Karen Whidden, is trying to find the person who made the initial delivery to say thanks. (Contributed)
The CP Holiday Train made its last in-person visit to Salmon Arm in 2019. (File photo)

Holiday Train to make virtual stop at Salmon Arm’s Salmar Classic theatre

Salmon Arm Rotary to match donations for food banks fundraiser up to $10,000

The CP Holiday Train made its last in-person visit to Salmon Arm in 2019. (File photo)
James Dyck (sixth from left), with daughter Cadence Trottier, was the surprised and grateful recipient of a refurbished Jeep gifted to him with a year's insurance by Braby Motors, Fix Auto, Kal Tire and SASCU in the 4th annual Shuswap Christmas Car Giveaway. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

VIDEO: Salmon Arm businesses surprise former first responder with early Christmas gift

Braby Motors, Fix Auto, Kal Tire and SASCU unite for 4th annual Shuswap Christmas Car Giveaway

James Dyck (sixth from left), with daughter Cadence Trottier, was the surprised and grateful recipient of a refurbished Jeep gifted to him with a year's insurance by Braby Motors, Fix Auto, Kal Tire and SASCU in the 4th annual Shuswap Christmas Car Giveaway. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
A GoFundMe has been set up to help lay to rest Ashley Simpson with dignity and respect, as well as to support her family as they travel from Ontario to B.C. to attend the murder trial of the man accused of killing her. (File photo)

GoFundMe will help Ashley Simpson’s family lay her remains to rest, attend court in Shuswap

Fundraising support appreciated so family can lay remains to rest in Ontario with dignity, respect

A GoFundMe has been set up to help lay to rest Ashley Simpson with dignity and respect, as well as to support her family as they travel from Ontario to B.C. to attend the murder trial of the man accused of killing her. (File photo)
The approximate location of a collision and material spill that closed Highway 1 east of Salmon Arm on Dec. 9, 2021. (Google image)

UPDATE: Collision, spill on Highway 1 east of Salmon Arm cleared

Incident occurred between Canoe Beach Drive NE and Bernie Road Thursday morning, Dec. 9

The approximate location of a collision and material spill that closed Highway 1 east of Salmon Arm on Dec. 9, 2021. (Google image)
Ernie and Donna Smith are in their second year of selling Christmas trees at their farm on Lyman Hill. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Salmon Arm couple’s Christmas tree farm busy amid shortage

Lyman Hill residents Ernie and Donna Smith began selling their trees last winter

Ernie and Donna Smith are in their second year of selling Christmas trees at their farm on Lyman Hill. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Lena Reynolds and Bonnie Stockbruegger enter the Columbia Shuswap Regional District building on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 to ask that the board reconsider its vaccine mandate’s inclusion of CSRD firehall. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Firefighter, parent, want reconsideration to vaccine mandate for Shuswap fire halls

Group gathers at regional district building Tuesday to submit request

Lena Reynolds and Bonnie Stockbruegger enter the Columbia Shuswap Regional District building on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021 to ask that the board reconsider its vaccine mandate’s inclusion of CSRD firehall. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
A murder charge has been laid regarding Ashley Simpson who went missing in April 2016. (Photo contributed)

Former boyfriend of missing Shuswap woman charged with murder

Ashley Simpson went missing in April 2016, she had been living on Yankee Flats Road near Salmon Arm

A murder charge has been laid regarding Ashley Simpson who went missing in April 2016. (Photo contributed)
Rob Hislop and his spouse Tammy were visiting family in Chilliwack for the weekend of Nov. 12 when they discovered with frustration they wouldn’t be returning to Salmon Arm. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

Floodwaters in Chilliwack bring inspiration for Salmon Arm couple

A shift to ‘smelling the roses’ while stranded changes a week away

Rob Hislop and his spouse Tammy were visiting family in Chilliwack for the weekend of Nov. 12 when they discovered with frustration they wouldn’t be returning to Salmon Arm. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
Salmon Arm Crushing, based in Merritt, has been working alongside other companies repairing damage caused by recent flooding and debris flows along the Coquihalla Highway corridor. (Contributed)

Power of water: Salmon Arm Crushing part of massive effort to restore Coquihalla

Manager Simon Rizzardo working on highway while on evacuation from his own Merritt home

Salmon Arm Crushing, based in Merritt, has been working alongside other companies repairing damage caused by recent flooding and debris flows along the Coquihalla Highway corridor. (Contributed)
A still from security camera footage shows a man making a rude hand gesture towards a Salmon Arm Pizza Hut employee during an exchange in which racist comments were allegedly made towards the restaurant’s staff Monday night, Nov. 29, 2021. (Contributed)

Salmon Arm Pizza Hut employee shaken after being target of racist comments

RCMP say a Kelowna resident was advised not to return to the business

A still from security camera footage shows a man making a rude hand gesture towards a Salmon Arm Pizza Hut employee during an exchange in which racist comments were allegedly made towards the restaurant’s staff Monday night, Nov. 29, 2021. (Contributed)
The annual United Against Violence Against Women Candlelight Vigil will take place Monday, Dec. 6 at both the Vernon and Salmon Arm campuses of Okanagan College. (Image contributed)

Vigils in Salmon Arm, Vernon to remember women killed in Montreal massacre

Okanagan College candlelight vigils to raise awareness of all murdered and missing women

The annual United Against Violence Against Women Candlelight Vigil will take place Monday, Dec. 6 at both the Vernon and Salmon Arm campuses of Okanagan College. (Image contributed)
Tracy Edwards, facility manager of the Zest Commercial Food Hub in Salmon Arm. (Lachlan Labere - Salmon Arm Observer)

Salmon Arm’s Zest opens doors for food innovation and production

Commercial kitchen, classroom among offerings at Zest Commercial Food Hub

Tracy Edwards, facility manager of the Zest Commercial Food Hub in Salmon Arm. (Lachlan Labere - Salmon Arm Observer)
City of Salmon Arm questioned on whether the proposed expansion of the sewage treatment plant would withstand flooding. (File photo)

Resident questions Salmon Arm council after Merritt’s sewage treatment plant floods

City staff express confidence in plans and proposed location for Salmon Arm plant expansion

City of Salmon Arm questioned on whether the proposed expansion of the sewage treatment plant would withstand flooding. (File photo)
The City of Salmon Arm recently informed residents that metered utility bills may be delayed due to the recent flood damage to B.C. highways. Though the bills were mailed out on Nov. 12, city staff explained Canada Post sends mail to the Lower Mainland for processing. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Opinion: Natural disaster emphasizes downside of centralization

In Plain View by Lachlan Labere

The City of Salmon Arm recently informed residents that metered utility bills may be delayed due to the recent flood damage to B.C. highways. Though the bills were mailed out on Nov. 12, city staff explained Canada Post sends mail to the Lower Mainland for processing. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
This photo was taken along the Lougheed Highway - Highway 7, between Mission/Agaissz and Hope on Nov. 14 as Phaedra and Ivan Idzan were travelling past on their way out of Hope after being stranded there for three days. (Contributed)

Hope and faith: Salmon Arm couple get home safely with appreciation for community spirit

Harrowing journey sparks thoughts on future travel, decentralization and kindness of human beings

This photo was taken along the Lougheed Highway - Highway 7, between Mission/Agaissz and Hope on Nov. 14 as Phaedra and Ivan Idzan were travelling past on their way out of Hope after being stranded there for three days. (Contributed)
Hillcrest Elementary Grade 5 students and music teacher Brook Roberts, left, perform a cover of the Hawksley Workman song, Safe and Sound, for their video entry to this year’s CBC Music Class Challenge on Nov. 10, 2021. (Hillcrest Elementary image)

Salmon Arm school’s music video receives love from indie rocker Hawksley Workman

Hillcrest Elementary releases entry to CBC Music Class Challenge

Hillcrest Elementary Grade 5 students and music teacher Brook Roberts, left, perform a cover of the Hawksley Workman song, Safe and Sound, for their video entry to this year’s CBC Music Class Challenge on Nov. 10, 2021. (Hillcrest Elementary image)
Salmon Arm RCMP are investigating multiple reported break and enters, including one on Nov. 22, 2021, in which liquor was reported stolen from a business on 30th Street. NE. (File photo)

Salmon Arm RCMP recover stolen trailer, motorcycle before owner knows they’re missing

Police respond to multiple reports of break and enter over past week

Salmon Arm RCMP are investigating multiple reported break and enters, including one on Nov. 22, 2021, in which liquor was reported stolen from a business on 30th Street. NE. (File photo)
From left back, River Steel, Jazz Lavallee and Janette Klausen; front, Virgil Moar and Vernon Dustyhorn, with motorhome Big Bertha in the background, stop on Nov. 15 at the Mall at Piccadilly in Salmon Arm on Day 76 of their ‘215+ I Wanna Come Home’ walk from Winnipeg to the Kamloops Indian Residential School. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Winnipeg walker stops in Salmon Arm on journey to Kamloops with tiny moccasins

Woman’s own feet provide signal she can’t ignore before embarking on ‘215+ I Wanna Come Home’ walk

From left back, River Steel, Jazz Lavallee and Janette Klausen; front, Virgil Moar and Vernon Dustyhorn, with motorhome Big Bertha in the background, stop on Nov. 15 at the Mall at Piccadilly in Salmon Arm on Day 76 of their ‘215+ I Wanna Come Home’ walk from Winnipeg to the Kamloops Indian Residential School. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
With road access to the Lower Mainland shut off due to flooding and debris flows, Jake Dewitt of Sicamous’ D Dutchmen Dairy said they’ve had to increase production to meet a spike in demand that has resulted in dairy aisles being cleared out at local grocery stores. (D Dutchmen Dairy/Facebook photo)

North Okanagan-Shuswap dairies, farmers grapple shortages, impact of highway closures

Sicamous’ D Dutchmen Dairy increases production in response to demand

With road access to the Lower Mainland shut off due to flooding and debris flows, Jake Dewitt of Sicamous’ D Dutchmen Dairy said they’ve had to increase production to meet a spike in demand that has resulted in dairy aisles being cleared out at local grocery stores. (D Dutchmen Dairy/Facebook photo)