The investigative journalist Sheriff needs a break from the never-ending trail easement saga. Perhaps a dose of fresh air on a rail trail, just maybe not the Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail (SNORT).

Hundreds of emails and texts. More than a dozen interviews. Suggestions for dozens more interviews. Dozens of ALR maps. Hundreds of pages of suggested easements, local government bylaws, submissions to the B.C. Agricultural Land Commission, agricultural assessments, ALC decisions, ALC reconsiderations. It's enough to make you snort.

The following includes anonymous clips from people involved (for their own protection). "You've jumped into the quagmire, I see," said one involved person. "It's a political mess." said another.

Example: Talk to local government staff and farmers look like the bad guys. That's column one. Talk to farmers and local governments look like the bad guys. That's column two. Quote the lawyers is column three. Iffy at best. Here's column four: No-win scenario.

What stands out is the Splatsin, North Okanagan and Columbia-Shuswap Regional Districts bought the abandoned CP Rail line in 2017. Eight years later, the debate continues over farm crossings, which have likely existed since a 46-mile rail line was built by the Shuswap and Okanagan Railway from Sicamous to Vernon in 1892. You would think it........

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