Salmon Arm

This photo from Conny Amelunxen, a snow avalanche forecaster and photographer, was taken Nov. 19, 2021, four days after the landslide that destroyed a portion of Highway 99, also called the Duffey Lake Road, and claimed the lives of five people. The landslide, at the right, can be seen leaving the logging road and heading down to Highway 99. (Contributed)

‘Predictable and preventable’: Engineer says abandoned logging road contributed to fatal B.C. landslide

Fingers pointed only at intense storms when resource roads may be at root of many slides in province

This photo from Conny Amelunxen, a snow avalanche forecaster and photographer, was taken Nov. 19, 2021, four days after the landslide that destroyed a portion of Highway 99, also called the Duffey Lake Road, and claimed the lives of five people. The landslide, at the right, can be seen leaving the logging road and heading down to Highway 99. (Contributed)
On Feb. 8, police reported a Salmon Arm man wanted by the RCMP and missing since Jan. 21 was arrested in Ontario. (File photo)

Wanted Salmon Arm man missing with two daughters arrested in Ontario

RCMP reported man went missing from Salmon Arm home on Jan. 21

On Feb. 8, police reported a Salmon Arm man wanted by the RCMP and missing since Jan. 21 was arrested in Ontario. (File photo)
Caleb Gerbrandt and his daughters are believed to be travelling in a 2006 grey Dodge Grand Caravan, similar to the one pictured, with B.C. licence plate NE961N. (RCMP photo)

Salmon Arm man missing with 2 daughters ‘actively evading police’: RCMP

Police say Caleb Gerbrandt and teenage daughters went missing on Jan. 21

  • Feb 1, 2022
Caleb Gerbrandt and his daughters are believed to be travelling in a 2006 grey Dodge Grand Caravan, similar to the one pictured, with B.C. licence plate NE961N. (RCMP photo)
Bonnie Thomas and her son Darcy Andrew escaped from their burning home west of Salmon Arm on Switzmalph land about 3 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8 after someone was seen running away from the house. (Contributed)

Home destroyed in fire; Salmon Arm RCMP track footprints to unconscious man 2km away

Man witnesses believe started fire flees for two kilometres, officer performs CPR for an hour

Bonnie Thomas and her son Darcy Andrew escaped from their burning home west of Salmon Arm on Switzmalph land about 3 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8 after someone was seen running away from the house. (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)

B.C. 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)
A memorial for the five victims of July’s fatal crane collapse in Kelowna stands in front of the Bernard Block construction site as two new tower cranes are assembled at the site on Oct. 26, 2021. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)

Friend of victims in deadly Kelowna crane collapse want probe complete before work resumes

Petition launched as two new cranes are assembled at worksite

A memorial for the five victims of July’s fatal crane collapse in Kelowna stands in front of the Bernard Block construction site as two new tower cranes are assembled at the site on Oct. 26, 2021. (Aaron Hemens/Capital News)
The Kelowna Rockets fill the arena against the Calgary Hitmen on February 28, 2015, at Prospera Place in Kelowna. (Marissa Baecker/Shoot the Breeze)

Interior Health MLAs ask B.C. to clarify why local WHL teams are stuck with capacity limits

Provincial restrictions on gatherings set to ease next week, Interior may have to wait

The Kelowna Rockets fill the arena against the Calgary Hitmen on February 28, 2015, at Prospera Place in Kelowna. (Marissa Baecker/Shoot the Breeze)
Salmon Arm Secondary graduate Michael Worobey, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, provides information on the coronavirus and vaccine. (Contributed)

Virus specialist raised in Salmon Arm recommends more COVID rapid testing

Michael Worobey says vaccines ‘incredibly safe,’ still effective against delta variant

Salmon Arm Secondary graduate Michael Worobey, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Arizona, provides information on the coronavirus and vaccine. (Contributed)
People opposed to vaccinations and masking entered schools in and around Salmon Arm on Sept. 17. They also recently protested at the School District 83 office. (File photo)

Protesters at Salmon Arm schools prompt political, public condemnation

City, teacher’s union grateful for outpouring of support for students and educators

People opposed to vaccinations and masking entered schools in and around Salmon Arm on Sept. 17. They also recently protested at the School District 83 office. (File photo)
People opposed to vaccinations and masking entered schools in and around Salmon Arm on Sept. 17 They also recently protested at the School District 83 office. (Martha Wickett/Salmon Arm Observer)

‘Unacceptable’: Protesters enter Shuswap schools, forcing hold and secure procedures

Teacher said he didn’t feel safe for students or staff

People opposed to vaccinations and masking entered schools in and around Salmon Arm on Sept. 17 They also recently protested at the School District 83 office. (Martha Wickett/Salmon Arm Observer)
Chad, son Daxton, daughter Trinity and wife Shanel pose for a photo at DeMille’s Farm Market where Trinity was born in the early morning hours of on Aug. 3, 2021. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

VIDEO: Shuswap couple pull off Highway 1 in Salmon Arm to give birth to child

Father guided over phone through early morning delivery of daughter

Chad, son Daxton, daughter Trinity and wife Shanel pose for a photo at DeMille’s Farm Market where Trinity was born in the early morning hours of on Aug. 3, 2021. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
A BC Emergency Health Services ambulance. (File photo)

Full-time paramedics, 24/7 staffing a good start for rural B.C. communities: Union

Former paramedic says $2-an-hour on-call shifts demoralizing

A BC Emergency Health Services ambulance. (File photo)
A GoFundMe campaign was set up for the Stemmer family after brothers Eric (pictured with his family) and Patrick Stemmer were killed in a crane collapse in Kelowna. (GoFundMe image)

GoFundMe set up for Salmon Arm brothers killed in crane collapse

Stemmer Construction operated crane which collapsed in Kelowna

A GoFundMe campaign was set up for the Stemmer family after brothers Eric (pictured with his family) and Patrick Stemmer were killed in a crane collapse in Kelowna. (GoFundMe image)
Joe Wilson with his children Kechia Wilson, Wes Snukwa (Wilson) and Spotted Eagle Williams of the Lytton First Nation, prior to the June 30, 2021 fire that may have destroyed their family home. (Contributed)

Salmon Arm man devastated after fire destroys Lytton First Nation community

Homes of relatives, childhood friends, possibly his own family’s home, struck by fire

Joe Wilson with his children Kechia Wilson, Wes Snukwa (Wilson) and Spotted Eagle Williams of the Lytton First Nation, prior to the June 30, 2021 fire that may have destroyed their family home. (Contributed)
The SASCU Recreation Centre is serving as a COVID-19 mass immunization clinic. (File photo)

Volunteer staff at Shuswap vaccination clinic replaced by paid out-of-town workers

Shuswap MLA Greg Kyllo questions how and why volunteers relieved of duties

The SASCU Recreation Centre is serving as a COVID-19 mass immunization clinic. (File photo)
On March 27, Salmon Arm's Auldin Maxwell smashed his own Jenga stacking world record with a tower of 1,400 blocks held up by one vertical brick. (Contributed)

Young Salmon Arm Guinness World Record breaker helps raise autism awareness

Auldin Maxwell breaks own Jenga stacking record with 1,401 block tower

On March 27, Salmon Arm's Auldin Maxwell smashed his own Jenga stacking world record with a tower of 1,400 blocks held up by one vertical brick. (Contributed)
Avery Shoaf, Mike Hall and son Connor Hall, amidst the massive collection of cars at Mike’s property near Tappen, are returning TV with Season 3 of Rust Valley Restorers. (Contributed)

Shuswap’s Mike Hall geared up for third season of Rust Valley Restorers

Star of reality TV show talks about life, cars and keeping it real in Rust Valley

Avery Shoaf, Mike Hall and son Connor Hall, amidst the massive collection of cars at Mike’s property near Tappen, are returning TV with Season 3 of Rust Valley Restorers. (Contributed)
(Pexels)

Labere: Instagram and other social media not worth losing sleep over

Is it time to consider a device detox program of your own?

  • Feb 11, 2021
(Pexels)
Gin, one of the Kantymirs’ two sheep. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)

Sheep start up ATV, sit in cars and go for walks in Salmon Arm

Until they bought two sheep, Ken and Karleen Kantymir didin’t realize just how social the animals are

Gin, one of the Kantymirs’ two sheep. (Martha Wickett-Salmon Arm Observer)
The parents of 12-year-old Halle Krawczyk of Salmon Arm received welcome news on Dec. 7, 2020 that the Medical Services Plan has reversed its decision and would fund her surgery in the United States for a rare cancer. However, the family is told they are still faced with at least $150,000 in additional expenses to be incurred during the six months in the U.S. throughout the surgery and recovery. (Contributed)

MSP to fund Salmon Arm girl’s surgery to combat rare cancer after reversing decision

Medical Services Plan reverses decision to not help with U.S. cost, parents still face $150,000 bill

The parents of 12-year-old Halle Krawczyk of Salmon Arm received welcome news on Dec. 7, 2020 that the Medical Services Plan has reversed its decision and would fund her surgery in the United States for a rare cancer. However, the family is told they are still faced with at least $150,000 in additional expenses to be incurred during the six months in the U.S. throughout the surgery and recovery. (Contributed)