50 YEARS AGO:
Lena Gundersen held a grand opening for the new Sportsman Cafe (formally known at the Chuckwagon). Featuring a large stone fireplace, the dining room had space to easily seat 60 people.
B.C. Tel announced plans for a new radio transmission system between Clearwater and Kamloops. It would provide more and better long distance telephoning. Funds for completing a 40-line switching piece of equipment at Vavenby were also announced.
45 YEARS AGO:
A Clearwater snowmobiler was plucked off the side of Raft Mountain by a group of volunteers led by Clearwater RCMP and Glen Small. The man had fallen an estimated 300 to 400 feet and was located by rescuers at about 5:30 a.m., hanging precariously by his hands. A rope was lowered, which he wrapped around himself, and he was hauled to safety.
The provincial government awarded the North Thompson Sportsplex a grant of $150,000. Groundwork on the arena had been carried out in the fall, and the construction company was awaiting arrival of steel for final construction.
40 YEARS AGO:
Clearwater Improvement District was planning to dismantle three rides located at the ballpark. It was felt that they represented hazards to children playing.
Two local doctors were to attend a conference on nuclear energy in Vancouver sponsored by the federal government. Dr. Robert Mackenzie was to go on behalf of the Yellowhead Ecological Association, while Dr. Bob Woollard was a member of the panel of experts.
35 YEARS AGO:
More than $10,000 was raised in the Clearwater Snowarama for B.C. Lions Society for Crippled Children. Willie Schuchardt, representing Clearwater Timber Products, more than doubled his best previous effort by raising more than $3,000. His challenge was beaten by Weyerhaeuser’s Binky Capostinsky, who collected pledges totaling more than $5,000.
About 400 people were to leave the B.C. Forest Service, but the downsizing was not expected to have much effect at the Clearwater Forest District, said district manager Mel Monteith.
Christian Wilderness Programs, a wilderness camping program for teens, got underway in Clearwater under the leadership of Ross Cloutier and his wife, Naomi. The program included snowshoeing, canoeing, rock climbing, winter mountaineering, and hiking.
30 YEARS AGO:
About 40 logging trucks were parked as truckers who hauled logs for Weyerhaeuser’s and Slocan’s Vavenby sawmills sought better rates. Possibly even more contentious was the question of union representation. The Teamsters Union was challenging a section of the B.C. Labor Relations Act that classified the truckers as owner-operators, and that therefore denied them the right to bargain collectively.
Unusual weather saw temperatures in Clearwater soar from 3 C to 13 C within half an hour, then plunge overnight to -21 C, a drop of 34 degrees from the previous afternoon. Strong winds damaged buildings in Kamloops and elsewhere.
25 YEARS AGO:
Michael Loseth was appointed acting Regional Economic Development Officer for the North Thompson area. Loseth, who held a Master’s degree in Business Administration, expected to be in Clearwater at least two days per week.
Letters of support for retaining a full-time ambulance unit chief in Clearwater were still coming in to the Times.
Rehearsals were under way for a presentation by the Raft River Grade 6 and 7 students of the musical Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
20 YEARS AGO:
Weyerhaeuser-Vavenby was advertising for operational production employees as it added a second shift.
Curt McIvor, president of the Cariboo woodworkers’ association, was in Clearwater promoting setting up a province-wide organization to represent the tertiary sector of the forest industry — furniture makers, wood carvers, log home builders and craftspeople. “Perhaps the most exciting part of his presentation was his notion of a store on Granville Island,” Dave Milton of the North Thompson Woodworkers’ Guild.
15 YEAR AGO:
Seppi Wadlegger sought support from Clearwater Improvement District trustees for a proposal that his family’s sawmill company purchase 10 per cent of Weyerhaeuser’s annual allowable cut in the area. The timber would be managed in a private enterprise-community venture, he said.
Clearwater hosted a snowmobile hill climb on Raft Mountain. Noah Baker won the Modified King of the Hill event.
10 YEARS AGO:
A total of 64 anglers and three fish showed up for Clearwater Rotary Club’s annual Iceman Fishing Derby. There were plenty of games for the youngsters, a concession sold snacks, and many participants seemed to spend at least as much time socializing as fishing.
Dr. Sophia Dahia took over the dental clinic of Dr. Masha Maxim. Dahia, a graduate of UBC School of Dentistry, had been working in Thompson, Manitoba, prior to beginning her practice in Clearwater.
Clearwater skaters won a total of eight gold medals, five silver and three bronze at the Cariboots ‘n Blades competition in Williams Lake Jan. 30 – Feb. 1
Members of the Clearwater Hosers men’s hockey team donated $1,000 towards purchasing a defibrillator for the Sportsplex and other sports venues.
Clearwater Ski Club’s first night-skiing evening on Jan. 30, attracted 163 skiers, councilor Stephanie Teare reported to Clearwater council.
Three studies into District of Clearwater’s water system were moving ahead, according to a report from TRUE Consulting Group, the district’s engineers. The study was expected to last for one year and would look at samples from Russell Creek and the district’s two wells.
5 YEARS AGO:
More than 80 people registered for the 16th annual Wells Gray Birchleg at the Candle Creek cross-country ski trails. Many wore Viking or traditional Scandinavian costumes. The event included a Norwegian-style lunch.
A meeting held at the newly renovated Vavenby Community Hall discussed what to do with Vavenby’s share of tax money collected by District of Clearwater on industrial property in Vavenby that was included in the municipality during incorporation. In 2009 the residents had voted to hold the funds for five years and then re-visit the issue. Those present were now looking at what to do with $46,000.
1 YEAR AGO:
Thompson Rivers University’s newest ceremonial leader Simpcw First Nation Chief Nathan Matthew fought back tears after being introduced as the school’s new chancellor.
“It would be so great if my grandparents could be here, it really would be,” Matthew said. “Things like this just weren’t even contemplated or thought about years ago.”
