Barb Brouwer

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Extremely toxic, poison hemlock is growing profusely in many areas of the City of Salmon Arm. (Sarah Weaver photo)

Fight against toxic weeds continues in the Shuswap

Wild parsnip, poison hemlock and knotweed are a continuing problem

Extremely toxic, poison hemlock is growing profusely in many areas of the City of Salmon Arm. (Sarah Weaver photo)
Laura Gaster and Sam Legebokow (rear) remove wild parsnip from along the Turner Creek Trail between 20th and 24th Street NE on Wednesday, Aug. 8. Gaster is the field operations program co-ordinator with the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society. (Barb Brouwer/Salmon Arm Observer)

Fight against toxic weeds continues in the Shuswap

Wild parsnip, poison hemlock and knotweed are a continuing problem

Laura Gaster and Sam Legebokow (rear) remove wild parsnip from along the Turner Creek Trail between 20th and 24th Street NE on Wednesday, Aug. 8. Gaster is the field operations program co-ordinator with the Columbia Shuswap Invasive Species Society. (Barb Brouwer/Salmon Arm Observer)
A pioneering force in the music industry, Michael Franti believes in using music as a vehicle for positive change. Franti & Spearhead bring a message of positivity wrapped in inspiring music to the Roots & Blues mainstage Friday night at 10. (Hiroki Nishioka photo)

Michael Franti and more make for a hot Shuswap experience

The 26th annual Roots and Blues Festival brings a world of music to Salmon Arm this week

A pioneering force in the music industry, Michael Franti believes in using music as a vehicle for positive change. Franti & Spearhead bring a message of positivity wrapped in inspiring music to the Roots & Blues mainstage Friday night at 10. (Hiroki Nishioka photo)
The Family Stone will bring the familiar 1960s San Francisco funk of Sly and the Family Stone to this year’s Roots and Blues Festival, which runs Aug. 16 to 19 at the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds. (Photo contributed)

Family brings San Fran funk sensations to Roots and Blues

Salmon Arm festival-goers will be able to dance to music created by Sly and the Family Stone

The Family Stone will bring the familiar 1960s San Francisco funk of Sly and the Family Stone to this year’s Roots and Blues Festival, which runs Aug. 16 to 19 at the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds. (Photo contributed)
This is one of the terrifying scenes Johnson Road resident Jeanene Pierce captured of the advancing Silver Creek fire of 1998. (Photo contributed)

Column: Caution is key in preventing fires

Salmon Arm is topping the danger rating charts at 5 or extreme danger

This is one of the terrifying scenes Johnson Road resident Jeanene Pierce captured of the advancing Silver Creek fire of 1998. (Photo contributed)
Johnson Road resident Jeanene Pierce captured a number of extraordinary photographs during the 1998 Silvercreek Fire that roared across her and husband, Norman’s property. The book is available online at www.blurb.ca. (Photo contributed)

Photos capture terrifying images of advancing wildfire

Silver Creek resident's pictorial account of the 1998 Silver Creek firestorm is available online.

Johnson Road resident Jeanene Pierce captured a number of extraordinary photographs during the 1998 Silvercreek Fire that roared across her and husband, Norman’s property. The book is available online at www.blurb.ca. (Photo contributed)
Gary Lomax assembles a recycle station facade for one of 17 eco stations to be located around the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds for the Roots and Blues festival. In behind each facade will be bins for recyclable, refundable and compostable items as well as one for garbage. Eco educators will help patrons put their stuff in the right bin. (Lachlan Labere/Salmon Arm Observer)

Roots and Blues plans to lighten the load

Organizers hope to reduce landfill material by at least one-third

Gary Lomax assembles a recycle station facade for one of 17 eco stations to be located around the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds for the Roots and Blues festival. In behind each facade will be bins for recyclable, refundable and compostable items as well as one for garbage. Eco educators will help patrons put their stuff in the right bin. (Lachlan Labere/Salmon Arm Observer)
Wildfire crews work to extinguish hot spots on the large and destructive Silver Creek fire of 1998. (Salmon Arm Museum Archives)

Salmon Arm looking to be fire smart

Counsellor and fire chief look forward to new provincial program to reduce fire fuel.

Wildfire crews work to extinguish hot spots on the large and destructive Silver Creek fire of 1998. (Salmon Arm Museum Archives)
Firefighters knock down a fully-engulfed garage fire in Calista July 29. (Sean Coubrough photo)

Fires devour two Shuswap structures

Regional district responds to a house fire in Tappen and a garage fire in Celista

Firefighters knock down a fully-engulfed garage fire in Calista July 29. (Sean Coubrough photo)
A funeral service is being arranged for 23-year-old Jason Andrew, whose body was found by the railway tracks west of Salmon Arm on Sunday, July 22. (Photo contributed)

Identity of man found dead by railway tracks released

Local family in mourning following the death of 23-year-old, cause under investigation

A funeral service is being arranged for 23-year-old Jason Andrew, whose body was found by the railway tracks west of Salmon Arm on Sunday, July 22. (Photo contributed)
Jake Simpson of The Lil Smokies fiddles his way through a set on the 2017 Roots and Blues stage. The popular band is coming back for the 26th annual musical feast that runs Aug. 16 to 19 at the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds. (File photo)

Bluegrass band back by demand

Lil Smokies perform unique blend of bluegrass roots with the sheer raw energy of a rock band

Jake Simpson of The Lil Smokies fiddles his way through a set on the 2017 Roots and Blues stage. The popular band is coming back for the 26th annual musical feast that runs Aug. 16 to 19 at the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds. (File photo)
Shirley Greggor wants to have the better treatment option of laser surgery to fix her damaged leg veins, but the Medical Services Plan won’t pay for it. (Jodi Brak/Salmon Arm Observer)

Eighty-0ne-year-old Shuswap woman denied less-intrusive vein repair

Ministry of Health says doctors offer advice on treatments covered by Medical Services Plan

Shirley Greggor wants to have the better treatment option of laser surgery to fix her damaged leg veins, but the Medical Services Plan won’t pay for it. (Jodi Brak/Salmon Arm Observer)
Well into hot summer weather, one regular user of Little Mountain Park is calling for cleanup of huge piles of forest debris that litter the park and would fuel a wildfire. (Michel Landry photo)

Deadfalls in Salmon Arm pose risk for wildfires

Resident emphasizes need for fuel management plan in Little Mountain Park.

Well into hot summer weather, one regular user of Little Mountain Park is calling for cleanup of huge piles of forest debris that litter the park and would fuel a wildfire. (Michel Landry photo)
Interior Health’s blood lab at the top of Tank Hill remains open, but repairs to a leak in the building’s roof have resulted in the suspension of adult daycare and community bathing services this week. (File photo)

Leaky roof leads to partial closure of Interior Health building

Salmon Arm lab is open but adult day care and bathing services are closed this week

Interior Health’s blood lab at the top of Tank Hill remains open, but repairs to a leak in the building’s roof have resulted in the suspension of adult daycare and community bathing services this week. (File photo)
A small wildfire about three kilometres southeast of Chase on Scatchard Mountain reported Saturday is under control and not expected to grow. (Photo contributed)

Small wildfire near Chase under control

Spot-sized fire on Scatchard Mountain not expected to grow

A small wildfire about three kilometres southeast of Chase on Scatchard Mountain reported Saturday is under control and not expected to grow. (Photo contributed)
Heather Stefanek indicates the location of the propane tank on the family motorhome that an attendant at a Kamloops gas station dangerously overfilled by 50 per cent. (Photo contributed)

Alert Shuswap camper recognizes potential propane disaster

Salmon Arm resident lodges a complaint with Technical Safety BC.

Heather Stefanek indicates the location of the propane tank on the family motorhome that an attendant at a Kamloops gas station dangerously overfilled by 50 per cent. (Photo contributed)
Greyhound bus service to BC will stop at the end of October, leaving residents stranded in many communities, including Chase. (Rick Koch photo)

Chase and neighbouring First Nations to suffer from Greyhound plan

Residents depend on bus to travel throughout the Shuswap, to medical facilities in Vancouver

Greyhound bus service to BC will stop at the end of October, leaving residents stranded in many communities, including Chase. (Rick Koch photo)
A newly released report by the Shuswap Watershed Council gives “very good news” on the state of water quality in large lakes and rivers in the Shuswap. (File photo)

Shuswap Watershed beaches good to go

Report indicates water quality is "very good" in terms of human enjoyment of lakes and beaches

A newly released report by the Shuswap Watershed Council gives “very good news” on the state of water quality in large lakes and rivers in the Shuswap. (File photo)
Passengers will no longer be able to board a Greyhound bus at the Salmon Arm Depot as the company ends service within British Columbia in late October. (Lachlan Labere/Salmon Arm Observer)

Shuswap shocked by Greyhound decision

Lack of service will leave thousands of peoplein the region, many vulnerable, stranded

Passengers will no longer be able to board a Greyhound bus at the Salmon Arm Depot as the company ends service within British Columbia in late October. (Lachlan Labere/Salmon Arm Observer)
Sockeye Salmon swim in the Adams River towards their spawning grounds in Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park in this 2014 file photo. (File)

Dominant year for salmon doesn’t mean increased harvest

Poor sockeye returns make for difficult stock management decision by officials

Sockeye Salmon swim in the Adams River towards their spawning grounds in Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park in this 2014 file photo. (File)