Skip to content

Year in Review: A look back at Observer headlines from June 2024

June

With the new year around the corner, the Salmon Arm Observer is taking this time to share some of the stories that made headlines throughout 2024.

June

It was all about wagging, woofing and winning at the Salmon Arm Fairgrounds this weekend as the city hosted the 2024 BC Regional Dog Agility Championships. Dogs of all breeds came with their people from around the province for the 22nd annual competition that had them running courses with jumps from four to 20 inches in height, a frame walkway and – a canine favourite – tunnels. The top dogs from these regionals would compete at the National Championships in Maxville, Ont. from Aug. 15 to 18.

A family dispute that hit the road in Chase resulted in probable charges being laid. At around 2:30 p.m. on May 10, the local RCMP received a driving complaint on Squilax-Anglemont Road, with the caller reporting that a silver BMW and black pickup were speeding and appeared to be chasing each other. Shortly after receiving that call, police were then advised of a collision on the Trans-Canada Highway west of Chase, with officers told that a black pickup had rammed a silver BMW several times. “The investigation determined that the two drivers were family members involved in a dispute, and the collision was not accidental,” media relations officer Const. Sarah Van Wilgenburg said in a May 29 media release. “Neither driver was seriously injured; however, both vehicles sustained significant damage.”

c band land forced Kukpi7 (Chief) James Tomma’s hand in keeping unauthorized mushroom pickers out of the already fragile area. The 2023 Bush Creek East wildfire resulted in an influx of morel mushrooms this spring. The band said the valuable fungi attracted “hundreds” of pickers who don’t always respect the still recovering land. Tomma explained the band had been having problems with trespassers leaving garbage behind, having fires, setting up permanent camps and cutting trees. Slain wildlife, however, was the final straw. Tomma said photos were submitted to BC Conservation.

Salmon Arm pianist Jaeden Izik-Dzurko received grand honours at the 2024 piano edition of the Concours musical international de Montréal. The event concluded on May 16 with Izik-Dzurko, 25, playing Brahms Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major, competing against Derek Wang and Jakub Kuszlik with orchestra-accompanied performances at the Maison symphonique de Montreal. Izik-Dzurko won first prize and the award for Best Canadian Artist.

The flame was lit, both literally and figuratively, as Salmon Arm counts down the last 100 days before it hosts the 55+ BC Games. With background music from the Salmon Arm Community Band, local dignitaries, volunteers and athletes attended the Torch Lighting Ceremony Friday night, June 7, in Marine Park to mark the kickoff to the games that will take place from Sept. 10 to 14.

After 75 years of operating the Salmar Classic, the Salmar Community Association was looking for parties interested in taking over the city’s historic movie theatre. In a media release, the Salmar board explained it had completed a thorough review of the Classic and has concluded continued operation of the theatre is “no longer feasible.” This was after exploring a “wide-variety of alternative uses” for the 360 Alexander Street NE property, which includes office spaces above. “Rather, the Salmar intends to concentrate all current and future business activities at the Salmar Grand multiplex location,” said the board, referring to its Hudson Street theatre location.

The memory of John McLeod and his passion for food security continued to flourish with the opening of a community garden named in his honour. With plants already in various stages of growth, the John McLeod Community Garden, located on the city fairgrounds at 490 5th Ave. SW, was officially opened last Thursday, June 6.

Salmon Arm’s new interactive tourism information kiosks were switched off while work was done to ensure they can only be used as intended. On Sunday evening, June 9, the interactive screen at Marine Park was displaying content not selected by the Salmon Arm Economic Development Society, which oversees operation of the signs. At one point it was displaying a dating website. “As soon as we were notified, we shut the kiosk down,” said SAEDS economic development manager Lana Fitt on Monday, June 10. “They’ve been shut down as of early this morning, and we won’t reactivate them until we can address this and make sure they stay securely in that kiosk mode for the duration of their operation.”

Four fire departments responded to knock down a structure blaze that turned into a two-day event after an early morning flare up. On Monday night, June 10, the Malakwa Fire Department responded to a fire at Green Acres Trailer Park on Delaney Road, where one unit was involved. The Sicamous Fire Department was also called in to provide mutual aid, with the Columbia Shuswap Regional District taking charge of the scene for a unified command. “The fire department was able to get water on it quickly and prevent it from spreading to the very close residences on either side, and a shed that was at the rear of the building as well,” Sean Coubrough, CSRD deputy regional fire chief said. Malakwa’s deputy chief did a follow up visit around 4 a.m. and found the scene to be secure. Shortly after, however, a flare up occurred around 4:30 a.m. and very quickly spread. “A total of five trailers were involved, it appears two were unoccupied…,” Coubrough said, adding that all were destroyed along with an outbuilding.

Just over eight years after the murder of their daughter Ashley Simpson, her family saw her killer sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 12 years. On June 12, Derek Lee Matthew Favell, 41, who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in Simpson’s April 27, 2016 death, learned his fate at the Salmon Arm Law Courts where Crown counsel Alison Buchanan successfully argued to have the minimum 10-year parole ineligibility extended. “I’m glad it’s over, I’m glad my daughter up above has got the justice she deserves,” said Ashley’s father John Simpson. “I would’ve liked to see more years… but again, it doesn’t mean he’s getting out in 12 years. I’m happy, I’m satisfied he’s going to jail.”

The City of Salmon Arm made plans for a silent auction to dispose of more than 270 items collected by the RCMP over the past four years. At its June 24 meeting, city council supported staff recommendations to host the auction this summer, to dispose of property the municipality took possession of after it went unclaimed over the 90-day period it was held by the RCMP. The city would also be looking to dispose of unused materials and equipment. “We’re proposing a silent auction to be hosted by the public works yard in mid-July,” said city roads and parks manager Darin Gerow. “We currently have over 270 lots, some of them have combined items.”

After years of discussion and exploration of options, School District 83 is moving towards a reconfiguration of Salmon Arm schools that it says will offer students numerous educational and developmental benefits. At its June 18 meeting, the school board opted to reconfigure Salmon Arm urban and rural feeder schools to a Kindergarten to Grade 7 and Grade 8 to Grade 12 model, the school district explains in a June 20 media release.

After five days of the suspect remaining at large, a Sicamous man was charged with the murder of 66-year old Jo Ann Jackson. In a June 24 media release, the RCMP announced that Scott Keith McDonald, 37, was “arrested without incident” on a second-degree murder charge approved by the BC Prosecution Service

 



About the Author: Salmon Arm Observer Staff

Read more