May
Clearwater and area was down to just one permanent physician. Dr. Mathilde Stuart, who had arrived from South Africa about two years earlier, planned to retire. “Is it a crisis? Absolutely,” said Dr. John Soles.
Borrow Enterprises won the contract to construct a roundabout on Highway 5. The local company’s quote was $2.2 million.
The Times won second place for General Excellence in its circulation class from BC and Yukon Community Newspaper Association. The newspaper earlier won second place for Best All Round Newspaper from Canadian Community Newspaper Association.
There were 12 BMX competitors and 16 skateboarders in the second annual Clearwater Carnage BMX and SK8 competition.
Clearwater and District Highway Rescue Society took possession of its new rescue truck, a Ford 550 4×4 that cost $133,000. The old truck was transferred to the rescue unit in Blue River.
Wells Gray Search and Rescue hosted participants from across the southern Interior to a cliff rescue course. Exercises were done on the bluffs near Blackpool.
Clearwater town council approved a 5.82 per cent tax increase. Taxes in the municipality had gone up by an average of about two per cent since incorporation, said Mayor John Harwood.
Canfor-Vavenby held an open house as part of North American Occupational Health and Safety Week. “After being down to two years we thought it was appropriate to let people go through the mill and see what we’re about,” said division manager Dwayne Thiessen.
About 95 people turned up for an all-candidates forum in Clearwater and heard MLA Terry Lake and Conservative challenger Ed Klop. NDP candidate Kathy Kendall chose to attend a rally with leader Adrian Dix in Kamloops instead.
Members of the Pelton family rode in a 1947 Ford two-ton in Clearwater’s May Day parade. The pickup had carried the family from Plenty, Saskatchewan to Kamloops in the spring of 1947.
Clearwater town council awarded the maintenance contract for the municipality’s roads to Borrow Enterprises. “I’m happy that a local contractor is getting it. That means the money will stay in town,” said Mayor John Harwood.
The provincial Environmental Assessment Office told Yellowhead Mining to go back to the drawing board with its application for a proposed copper-gold-silver mine at Harper Creek southwest of Vavenby. “The request for additional information and clarification was not unexpected,” said Charlene Higgins, Yellowhead vice-president.
A Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement (CVSE) officer impounded a Greyhound bus that had been travelling at 110 km/hr in a 50 km/hr construction speed zone near Blue River. About 19 passengers had to wait at a restaurant for a relief bus to arrive. The incident occurred at 3 a.m.
June
A study sponsored by Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing and the provincial Ministry of Environment showed that helicopter skiing had little or no impact on mountain caribou. The study had been carried out by TRU grad student Katharina Huebel.
Kaitlynn VanderZwan won the $3,000 TRU Board of Governors Regional High School Entrance Scholarship, the biggest award presented during CSS graduation ceremonies. A total of 44 grads crossed the floor to receive their certificates. Possibly the most emotional moment was when Katie Bieber and
Kayla Brock received the first Skye and Courtney Buck Memorial Bursary.
Clearwater’s Lisalee Campbell, age 11, sang a soulful rendition of O’ Canada to open a ceremony held to name the members of B.C.’s new cabinet. The event was held in the Vancouver Trade and Convention Center.
Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Terry Lake was named as the new minister of health. Kamloops-South Thompson MLA Todd Stone got the transportation and infrastructure portfolio.
CSS Grade 10 student Jules Crombie won first place in both long jump and 200 m at the Okanagan Track and Field Meet in Kelowna. He came second in 100 m as well.
Vavenby residents got a shock when they found that Vavenby General Store had been closed indefinitely. Seven employees were without jobs.
TNRD held meetings in Clearwater and Little Fort to discuss a proposed co-terminus fire service. The service would provide some protection to areas such as Birch Island that had no fire department. A second meeting had to be held in Clearwater because staff had neglected to mention they planned to borrow up to $140,000 to pay for four underground water tanks or “dry fire hydrants.”
Avola’s 70-year-old log schoolhouse was both the site and the subject of a sometimes stormy public meeting held to discuss renovations to the building. “You’re not listening to the people,” Avola resident Eleanor Deckert told the Thompson Headwaters services committee. “Your input matters,” said Willow MacDonald, TNRD director for Thompson Headwaters (Area B).
RCMP, Wells Gray Search and Rescue, Liquid Lifestyles and Clearwater Towing recovered a car from the Clearwater River, underneath the Highway 5 bridge. The vehicle had been stolen from Coldstream, B.C.
Nearly 30 people turned out for a lecture on lichens by Upper Clearwater resident Trevor Goward. Although he has no advanced degree in the subject, he is regarded as one of the world’s foremost authorities.
July
CSS student Cody Gunn won the top senior all-round student award during the school’s awards night.
A small group of Avola residents blocked access to the Avola log schoolhouse, preventing a contractor from starting repairs to the 70-year-old building.
Three local youth, Karter Romeo, Justin Sutherland and Adam Borrow, played as members of a Merritt team during the U16 provincial boys softball championships in Clearwater. The Clearwater Stingers participated in the U12 provincials here.
Police in Barriere used a spike-belt to stop a truck that had been stolen in Little Fort. Former Clearwater resident Maddy Beka, now living in Clinton, had stopped for a break in Little Fort when her truck was taken.
Les Bishop, a longtime resident of East Blackpool, celebrated his 100th birthday. About two dozen people attended a party in his honor at Evergreen Acres.
A draft road and trails plan for Clearwater that proposed some far-reaching changes for the community was unveiled during a mobile open house. Nearly 20 people walked or cycled from the Farmers Market to Rotary Sports Park to learn what was being proposed by Opus International.
Front Door to Grocery Store, a project to improve seniors’ mobility, was proceeding nicely, reported UNBC researcher Jessica Blewett. “We really need some more men so we can get their perspective on issues,” she said.
Businesses in Area B (Thompson Headwaters) had been receiving letters from Highways telling them to take down their signs if they were within a certain distance of the highway centre-line, said TNRD director Willow MacDonald. She intended to take the matter up with the Union of BC Municipalities.
A proposed tantalum mine north of Blue River could supply 10 per cent of the world’s market of the metal, according to a consultant’s report released by Commerce Resources. The underground mine would process 7,500 tonnes per day and last 9.3 years. Total estimated capital cost would be $379 million.
Several hundred people took part in a barbeque hosted by Canfor with help from Clearwater Rotary Club to celebrate the company’s 75th birthday.
TNRD directors approved using an alternative approval process to decide about paying for the Valley Connector transit service. “It’s an important social service, especially with the cuts by Greyhound,” said Tim Pennell, TNRD director for Wells Gray Country (Area A).
Roland Neave, author of Exploring Wells Gray Park, led a bus tour to examine the place names in and around the park as part of Wells Gray World Heritage Year. Spahats is Chinook jargon for bear, he said.
A two-page Valley Voices article featured the 10th anniversary of the 2003 McLure Wildfire. The blaze destroyed or damaged 72 homes and nine businesses. A total of 3,800 people were evacuated and, of these, 880 were evacuated a second time. Final size was 26,420 ha.
August
After a two-year break, paddlers from all over the world took part in Clearwater Kayak Festival 2013. Micah Lyall of Enderby won the rodeo event while Sam Ewing of Revelstoke won the downriver.
An article outlined the history of the Jim family’s Little Fort Herefords ranch. The family was getting ready to
host a farmers’ field day to celebrate the ranch’s 70th anniversary.
Restoration work to the exterior of Avola’s log schoolhouse was almost done and it appeared to meet the approval of most, but not all, of the community’s residents. Most of the credit for bringing people onside should go to contractor Brad Dohms, said Sherri Madden, TNRD coordinator for Area B (Thompson Headwaters).
Some of Canada’s most outstanding thinkers and writers had been invited to the upcoming Speak to the Wild – a Wells Gray World Heritage Year event. “It will be a four-day event with an internationally renowned set of authors,” TRU dean of science Tom Dickinson told Clearwater Rotary Club.
About 150 people, many of them former residents from out of town, attended a barbeque held as part of a Blue River reunion held during the August long weekend. The event was hosted by TNRD Area B (Thompson Headwaters) services committee and director Willow MacDonald.
More than 150 people turned up to help the Jim family celebrate the 70th anniversary of its Little Fort Herefords ranch. Highlight of the day was a presentation of a memorial scroll for the late Gung Loy Jim from the Canadian Hereford Association. The presentation was made to his wife, Marie, and sons Kam, Kym, Kee and Kyn.
Renovations were underway at Vavenby General Store as former owners Joy and Mike Bayley worked to reopen it within one or two weeks.
About 150 youngsters visited 10 different activity booths at the Children’s Art Festival in Weyerhaeuser Park. Theme was Vincent Van Gogh.
Television personality Dr. Art Hister talked about healthy living during a seminar at Clearwater Legion Hall. He and his wife also spent the day touring the area, including a hike to Moul Falls.
An alternative approval process held for a proposed co-terminus fire protection service for unprotected areas in the North Thompson Valley failed to get the 50 per cent of names on a petition it would need to pass. Under the proposal people living in Birch Island, for example, would have received fire protection from Clearwater and Vavenby fire departments.
Volcanologist Dr. Cathie Hickson gave a three-day workshop on the volcanic features of Wells Gray Park as part of Wells Gray World Heritage Year. She had done her Ph.D. research on the park’s volcanoes.
Retired physician Dr. Bob Mackenzie called for the restoration of the former planer mill site on the Flats. It could be used as a festival ground, community garden, greenhouse and other facilities, he said.
M.P. Cathy McLeod, MLA Terry Lake, TNRD chair Randy Murray, Wells Gray Country director Tim Pennell, and Thompson Headwaters director Willow MacDonald were among the dignitaries on hand for the official opening of the eco-depot in Clearwater.
The TNRD board held a meeting in the Legion at Clearwater. Mayor John Harwood talked about partnerships in his welcoming address.
