Martha Wickett

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A grass fire beside Highway 1 near the junction with Highway 97B, believed to be caused by a discarded cigarette butt, was extinguished by three passersby about 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 24 before it ignited nearby trees. (Nell Saba photo)

Discarded cigarette blamed for Salmon Arm roadside fire

Passersby manage to extinguish flames July 24 before they spread to nearby trees

A grass fire beside Highway 1 near the junction with Highway 97B, believed to be caused by a discarded cigarette butt, was extinguished by three passersby about 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 24 before it ignited nearby trees. (Nell Saba photo)
A candlelight vigil for brothers Eric and Patrick Stemmer is being held in Salmon Arm on Sunday, July 18. (Facebook photos)

Vigil to be held for Salmon Arm brothers killed in Kelowna crane collapse

Candlelight vigil for Eric and Patrick Stemmer set for Sunday, July 18, 8 p.m.

A candlelight vigil for brothers Eric and Patrick Stemmer is being held in Salmon Arm on Sunday, July 18. (Facebook photos)
An AIM Roads truck heads east towards a motor-vehicle incident on Highway 1 east of the Canoe mill about 1 p.m. on July 9, going by vehicles stopped as emergency crews deal with the collision. (Zach Roman - Salmon Arm Observer)

Driver flown to hospital after July 9 crash that closed Highway 1

RCMP provide details of crash between Salmon Arm, Sicamous

An AIM Roads truck heads east towards a motor-vehicle incident on Highway 1 east of the Canoe mill about 1 p.m. on July 9, going by vehicles stopped as emergency crews deal with the collision. (Zach Roman - Salmon Arm Observer)
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)
Salmon Arm resident raises concerns about one of Salmon Arm’s Rotary club’s Canada Day flag fundraiser, in the wake of unmarked graves of Indigenous children recently being confirmed at Kamloops Indian Residential School and others. (File photo)

Salmon Arm resident calls Rotary Club’s Canada Day flag fundraiser ‘extremely disrespectful’

Noon club said decision to proceed with fundraiser after residential school news was well-considered

Salmon Arm resident raises concerns about one of Salmon Arm’s Rotary club’s Canada Day flag fundraiser, in the wake of unmarked graves of Indigenous children recently being confirmed at Kamloops Indian Residential School and others. (File photo)
Several fires burning in the Shuswap on the morning of July 8, with lightning suspected to have sparked some overnight July 7/July 8. (Wildfire BC image)

Several new ‘spot-sized’ fires sparked overnight in Shuswap

Largest, at 0.25 hectares, east of Blind Bay and White Lake at Cedar Creek

Several fires burning in the Shuswap on the morning of July 8, with lightning suspected to have sparked some overnight July 7/July 8. (Wildfire BC image)
A provincial watercraft inspector inspects a boat at the Golden Watercraft Inspection Station. (Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society image)

Public in Columbia Shuswap warned of dangers of invasive mussels

People urged to clean, drain and dry their watercraft, including paddleboards and canoes

A provincial watercraft inspector inspects a boat at the Golden Watercraft Inspection Station. (Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society image)
Indigenous Education Workers Theresa Johnson and Kaeli Hawrys go to Marine Peace Park in Salmon Arm with Kira Limber’s Grade 6/7 class on June 17 where Johnson helps them with their fishing skills at the wharf and Hawrys provides soapstone carving instruction. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Reconciliation project at Salmon Arm school catches elder’s eye

Indigenous workers say small actions can have big impacts

Indigenous Education Workers Theresa Johnson and Kaeli Hawrys go to Marine Peace Park in Salmon Arm with Kira Limber’s Grade 6/7 class on June 17 where Johnson helps them with their fishing skills at the wharf and Hawrys provides soapstone carving instruction. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
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)
More than 100 people lined both sides of the Trans-Canada Highway between Alexander and Ross Street on July 1 to show support for a rolling blockade travelling from the Splatsin Community Centre to the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in support of those who survived the institution. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Caravan bound for former residential school finds show of support in Salmon Arm

Rolling blockade bound for Kamloops to raise awareness, call for justice

More than 100 people lined both sides of the Trans-Canada Highway between Alexander and Ross Street on July 1 to show support for a rolling blockade travelling from the Splatsin Community Centre to the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in support of those who survived the institution. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
Several emergency vehicles including fire trucks, police, an ambulance and a BC Wildfire crew responded to a barn fire, in this photo on the right hand side of 40th Street NE, in Salmon Arm on Tuesday afternoon, June 29. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Workshops, collector automobiles destroyed in fire at Salmon Arm property

Four firefighters showing signs of heat exhaustion sent to hospital as a precaution

Several emergency vehicles including fire trucks, police, an ambulance and a BC Wildfire crew responded to a barn fire, in this photo on the right hand side of 40th Street NE, in Salmon Arm on Tuesday afternoon, June 29. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
Several emergency vehicles including fire trucks, police, an ambulance and a BC Wildfire crew respond to a barn fire, in this photo on the right hand side of 40th Street NE, in Salmon Arm on Tuesday afternoon, June 29. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Salmon Arm firefighters extinguish barn fire in 40 C heat

Dry terrain and high temperatures heighten danger of blaze spreading

Several emergency vehicles including fire trucks, police, an ambulance and a BC Wildfire crew respond to a barn fire, in this photo on the right hand side of 40th Street NE, in Salmon Arm on Tuesday afternoon, June 29. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
Police have identified John Vance, 32, as the victim of a shooting on June 25 in the North Shuswap. Police urge anyone with information to contact the RCMP’s Southeast District Major Crime Unit. (RCMP photo)

RCMP release name of victim in North Shuswap shooting

Major Crime Unit appeals to public for information on circumstances surrounding June 25 crime

Police have identified John Vance, 32, as the victim of a shooting on June 25 in the North Shuswap. Police urge anyone with information to contact the RCMP’s Southeast District Major Crime Unit. (RCMP photo)
A 1969 Barracuda convertible like this one is being refurbished by Rust Valley Restorers and raffled off to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity Kamloops, which includes the Salmon Arm/Shuswap area. (Image contributed)

Rust Valley Restorers’ work will lead drive for attainable housing in Salmon Arm

Habitat for Humanity Kamloops’ Classic Car raffle features ‘69 Barracuda convertible

A 1969 Barracuda convertible like this one is being refurbished by Rust Valley Restorers and raffled off to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity Kamloops, which includes the Salmon Arm/Shuswap area. (Image contributed)
Hundreds of people, young and old, joined the three-day Walking Our Spirits Home procession, honouring residential school survivors, those who never made it home and all those affected by the institutions. Here people walk the third portion on June 13. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Walking Our Spirits Home from Kamloops provides path to healing

First Nations in and beyond Secwépemc territory join in to honour residential school survivors

Hundreds of people, young and old, joined the three-day Walking Our Spirits Home procession, honouring residential school survivors, those who never made it home and all those affected by the institutions. Here people walk the third portion on June 13. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
Hundreds of people, young and old, joined the three-day Walking Our Spirits Home procession, honouring residential school survivors, those who never made it home and all those affected by the institutions. Here people walk the third portion on June 13. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)

Walking Our Spirits Home from Kamloops provides path to healing

First Nations in and beyond Secwépemc territory join in to honour residential school survivors

Hundreds of people, young and old, joined the three-day Walking Our Spirits Home procession, honouring residential school survivors, those who never made it home and all those affected by the institutions. Here people walk the third portion on June 13. (Martha Wickett - Salmon Arm Observer)
Salmon Arm resident John Woods took this photo of a male house finch in his yard recently, known for its distinctive song. (John Woods image)

Name that refrain: Shuswap birder suggests starting with this bird

If you want to identify bird songs in the region, the house finch is common this time of year

Salmon Arm resident John Woods took this photo of a male house finch in his yard recently, known for its distinctive song. (John Woods image)
Residents gather at Marine Park on June 2 to honour through dance and prayer the 215 children whose remains were recently located at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)

Gathering in Salmon Arm honours ‘tiny ancestors’ at Kamloops residential school site

People gather to honour children who died, speaker urges participants to never forget them

Residents gather at Marine Park on June 2 to honour through dance and prayer the 215 children whose remains were recently located at the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. (Lachlan Labere-Salmon Arm Observer)
Adams Lake Kukpi7 (Chief) Cliff Arnouse speaks of profound sadness on learning of the remains of 215 children found at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. (File photo)

Devastation over discovery at Kamloops residential school felt deeply throughout Shuswap

Adams Lake chief speaks of family, how old wounds have opened with the finding of children’s remains

Adams Lake Kukpi7 (Chief) Cliff Arnouse speaks of profound sadness on learning of the remains of 215 children found at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. (File photo)
Salmon Arm council is letting the provincial government know it is firmly against groundwater extraction for commercial bulk or bottled water sales. (File photos)

Salmon Arm council stands firm against using groundwater for bulk or bottled sale

Mayor and councillors to tell premier, provincial ministries to consider local government wishes

Salmon Arm council is letting the provincial government know it is firmly against groundwater extraction for commercial bulk or bottled water sales. (File photos)