Observer SALMON ARM
You otter be in pictures
Wednesday May 9, 2012 www.saobserver.net $1.25 HST INCLUDED
LACHLAN LABERE/OBSERVER
An otter, who appears to be waving to the photographer, puts the McGuire Lake dock to good use as a quiet place to catch some rest in the sun. A few otters have been sighted at the wharf, along Shuswap Lake and McGuire Lake.
Suspect evades police Talana Bay: Accomplice in a pickup truck helps accused squatter. By Martha Wickett OBSERVER STAFF
A suspected squatter and possible thief in Talana Bay managed to slip through a police dragnet Thursday afternoon. Although a helicopter and police dog team were called out, the suspect, thanks to the help of a female accomplice driving a pick-up truck, eluded officers, reports Const. Brian Kukhta of the Chase detachment. Police were summoned to a break and enter in the 4500 block of Squilax-Anglemont Road, between Scotch Creek and Celista, about 1:30 p.m. May 3 after a resident noticed a man who didn’t appear to belong at the cottages. Although the suspect asked the resident not to call the police, using the excuse that he had just had a fight with his girlfriend, not one but several officers were able to
respond because of the overlap between shifts at the time. “It was a good co-ordinated effort,” said Kukhta, noting that the detachment’s corporal was in the helicopter helping guide the pilot. “It’s just unfortunate he had help in the area and was able to slip through.” The helicopter surveyed the area for about an hour and the police dog team searched for two hours. Kukhta said the man may not have stolen anything, but he’d been squatting for one or two weeks in one of the cottages that is occupied seasonally. He said evidence indicated the suspect had also broken into three trailers and another cottage nearby. “Nothing was really noticed missing,” Kukhta said. The cottage the suspect had been stay-
This week A city resident is concerned that speeding on Okanagan Avenue will be deadly. See more on A3. The Friends Abreast dragon boat team marks 10 years of paddling and camaraderie. See A16.
ing in was very sparsely furnished, he noted, and the others had no obvious signs of theft such as holes on shelves or hanging wires where electronics might have been sitting. Although most break and enters are done quickly and thieves usually wear gloves, there might be more evidence in this instance because the suspect had been staying in the cottage, Kukhta said. “We seized some items for finger printing and some cigarette butts we hope to get DNA off.” Kukhta remained on the scene until about 8 p.m. processing evidence. He said police appreciate the efforts of residents. “They did a great job there. They noticed something was wrong and they called us,” he said, adding that police usually hear about break and enters long after the thieves have left.
Heat adds to flood risk By Barb Brouwer OBSERVER STAFF
The temperature’s rising‚ and so are water levels. Salmon River and Chase Creek are the two Shuswap watercourses on the BC River Centre’s radar this week. While snowpacks that feed area rivers and streams are only slightly above normal, the long-term weather forecast is suggesting the period of May 8 to 17 will see much higher than normal temperatures, something that will speed up the melt. And residents that live in areas that have flooded before, should buy and stack sand bags to protect their properties. “My encouragement to citizens is to ensure equipment is moved, along with other stuff they don’t want to get wet,” says Columbia Shuswap Regional District emergency plan co-ordinator See Officials on page A2
Index Opinion ....................... A6 View Point .................. A7 Life & Times ............... A8 Time Out................... A12 Sports............... A16-A21 Arts & Events ... A23-A26 Vol. 105, No. 19, 52 pages