Heather Black

Graphic warning

Dead animals final straw for Shuswap band in mushroom conflict

‘Does and fawns and bears being shot for no particular reason is quite disheartening’

Graphic warning
The problem of unauthorized mushroom pickers on Skwlāx land has escalated to the point of threatened violence, with the Band having asked for conservation officers and other agencies to help intervene. (BC Morel Mushroom PIckers-Facebook)

Threats against Skwlāx members escalate Shuswap mushroom conflict

Band asks province for ‘action plan’ for them and other wildfire affected areas

The problem of unauthorized mushroom pickers on Skwlāx land has escalated to the point of threatened violence, with the Band having asked for conservation officers and other agencies to help intervene. (BC Morel Mushroom PIckers-Facebook)
Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw Kukpi7 James Tomma stated that non-band members are not allowed to harvest edible mushrooms on band land, and that doing so could result in prosecution for trespassing. (Heather Black-Salmon Arm Observer)

Frustration grows with fungi foragers harvesting on band land in Shuswap

Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw says mushroom pickers could face trespassing charges

Skwlāx te Secwepemcúl̓ecw Kukpi7 James Tomma stated that non-band members are not allowed to harvest edible mushrooms on band land, and that doing so could result in prosecution for trespassing. (Heather Black-Salmon Arm Observer)
Kukpi7 (Chief) James Tomma, with Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hadju, addresses the crowd at the Welcome Home celebration of the new Dancing Fawn II neighbourhood on Wednesday, April 24. (Heather Black-Salmon Arm Observer)

Skwlāx band in Shuswap takes first step home in wildfire recovery

‘This is the start of a great rebuild for our entire band, both physically and mentally’

Kukpi7 (Chief) James Tomma, with Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hadju, addresses the crowd at the Welcome Home celebration of the new Dancing Fawn II neighbourhood on Wednesday, April 24. (Heather Black-Salmon Arm Observer)
Man allegedly thrown out of a vehicle claimed his road rash and other injuries were the result of too long shoelaces, telling officers that “I tripped.” (Black Press file photo)

Salmon Arm man blames significant injuries on ‘too long’ shoelaces

‘I tripped’ – man known to police denies report of being thrown out of a car

Man allegedly thrown out of a vehicle claimed his road rash and other injuries were the result of too long shoelaces, telling officers that “I tripped.” (Black Press file photo)
It’s been a hard road for first time parents Julie Foster and Connor Mounce whose micro-preemie baby Dougie was born at just 25 weeks old. A GoFundMe account has been set up to allow the couple to focus on their new baby and his journey to health. (Connor Mounce-Facebook)

Shuswap parents focused on caring for son born 3 months ahead of due date

Fundraiser set up to help former Sicamous couple to stay with son in Kelowna

It’s been a hard road for first time parents Julie Foster and Connor Mounce whose micro-preemie baby Dougie was born at just 25 weeks old. A GoFundMe account has been set up to allow the couple to focus on their new baby and his journey to health. (Connor Mounce-Facebook)
A man died at Sun Peaks Resort on Thursday, March 21 after succumbing to injuries sustained in a collision with a tree on Mount Morrisey. (Sun Peaks Resort-Facebook)

Man dies at Sun Peaks Resort near Kamloops

Skier succumbed to injuries sustained after colliding with a tree

A man died at Sun Peaks Resort on Thursday, March 21 after succumbing to injuries sustained in a collision with a tree on Mount Morrisey. (Sun Peaks Resort-Facebook)
Salmon Arm RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a person of interest in the March 18 theft of a parrot from Critter’s Pet Store, which is offering a reward for the bird’s safe return. (RCMP photo)

Stolen pricey bird returned to Salmon Arm store

Critters’ cash reward for bird’s safe return now at $600

Salmon Arm RCMP are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying a person of interest in the March 18 theft of a parrot from Critter’s Pet Store, which is offering a reward for the bird’s safe return. (RCMP photo)
Ed’s World of Critters and Supplies is offering a $400 reward for the return of this sun conure parrot stolen from the store on Monday, March 18. No questions will be asked, they just want him back safely. (Critters Facebook photo)

UPDATE: Bird-napped parrot returned to Salmon Arm store

The sun conure was taken from Critters on Monday, March 18

Ed’s World of Critters and Supplies is offering a $400 reward for the return of this sun conure parrot stolen from the store on Monday, March 18. No questions will be asked, they just want him back safely. (Critters Facebook photo)
A car became high-wired in a boulevard on 48th Avenue in Vernon just before 6 p.m. on Friday, March 15. (Submitted photo)

How a car ended up high wired in Vernon

Vehicle gets lodged on power pole guy wire Friday, March 15

A car became high-wired in a boulevard on 48th Avenue in Vernon just before 6 p.m. on Friday, March 15. (Submitted photo)
The Dodge Ram pickup truck that was allegedly involved in numerous collisions across multiple jurisdictions on Feb. 8 was finally stopped by Salmon Arm RCMP in a high-risk takedown. Officers in Golden, Revelstoke and Sicamous also responded as the incident unfolded. (RCMP photo)

Driver arrested after series of crashes in multiple cities ends in Salmon Arm

Pickup truck involved in multiple collisions from Golden to Salmon Arm

The Dodge Ram pickup truck that was allegedly involved in numerous collisions across multiple jurisdictions on Feb. 8 was finally stopped by Salmon Arm RCMP in a high-risk takedown. Officers in Golden, Revelstoke and Sicamous also responded as the incident unfolded. (RCMP photo)
Winners Maddie, left, and Nyang Nyang are adjusting to their newfound fame after being pin-ups in last year’s BC SPCA Calendar, with the contest now open for voting and submissions to the 2025 edition. (BC SPCA photo)

Pin-up pets sought for BC SPCA calendar

Annual fundraiser now open for votes and submissions

Winners Maddie, left, and Nyang Nyang are adjusting to their newfound fame after being pin-ups in last year’s BC SPCA Calendar, with the contest now open for voting and submissions to the 2025 edition. (BC SPCA photo)
The Salmon Arm 55+ BC Games announces its lineup of sports and activities being held in the 2024 event, which includes slo-pitch like last year’s Games hosted by Abbotsford. (55+ BC Games photo)

Let the Games begin: lineup revealed for Salmon Arm 2024 55+ BC Games

Diverse activities announced for the anticipated 3,000 participants

The Salmon Arm 55+ BC Games announces its lineup of sports and activities being held in the 2024 event, which includes slo-pitch like last year’s Games hosted by Abbotsford. (55+ BC Games photo)
Cancer-free since 2019, 12-year-old Jane Scranton will hit the ice with the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, Nov. 28 as part of their annual Hockey Fights Cancer event. (Kristal Burgess Photography)

Salmon Arm cancer survivor to skate with Vancouver Canucks

Jane Scranton will join the team on the ice for Hockey Fights Cancer Nov. 28

Cancer-free since 2019, 12-year-old Jane Scranton will hit the ice with the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, Nov. 28 as part of their annual Hockey Fights Cancer event. (Kristal Burgess Photography)
Conservation Officers are investigating a bear attack in Salmon Arm that sent a woman to hospital with minor injuries after it “bit and shook her.” (Black Press Media file photo)

Salmon Arm woman attacked by bear while on a run

The Conservation Office Service continues to investigate while bear on the lam

Conservation Officers are investigating a bear attack in Salmon Arm that sent a woman to hospital with minor injuries after it “bit and shook her.” (Black Press Media file photo)
Sicamous’ 3Sixty5Designs, owned by Wally Taylor, still has 15 submissions in the running to earn the title of SnorRiders’ 2023 Best Sled Wrap contest, with voting in round two open until Nov. 19. (SnoRiders photo)

B.C. firm going full throttle for snow country’s best ‘braaap wrap’ title

3Sixty5Designs has 15 machine designs vying for the title of SnoRiders’ Best Sled Wrap

Sicamous’ 3Sixty5Designs, owned by Wally Taylor, still has 15 submissions in the running to earn the title of SnorRiders’ 2023 Best Sled Wrap contest, with voting in round two open until Nov. 19. (SnoRiders photo)
Saturday’s (Oct. 28) sunset over Canoe is highlighted by what mountain biker/photographer Kevin Silverson believes to be meteor. (Kevin Silverson photo)

Mountain biking takes a meteoric turn in Shuswap

Kevin Silverson witnesses burning object falling from the sky

Saturday’s (Oct. 28) sunset over Canoe is highlighted by what mountain biker/photographer Kevin Silverson believes to be meteor. (Kevin Silverson photo)
A BC Wildfire Service firefighter working on the McDougall Creek Fire in West Kelowna. (BCWS photo)

Credit union collaboration sparks B.C. wildfire relief

Interior and Gulf & Fraser Credit Unions launch recovery campaign

A BC Wildfire Service firefighter working on the McDougall Creek Fire in West Kelowna. (BCWS photo)