50 YEARS AGO:
A proposed water system for the Clearwater Flats and Clearwater Secondary School area was passed by a 70.5 per cent majority at a public meeting. The province would not give Clearwater Improvement District the go-ahead until nearly all of the potential water users in the area had paid $100 for a 3/4-inch connection.
P.A. (Phil) Gaglardi was well ahead in the North Thompson of his nearest opponent, the NDP’s Jim Jacobs, as Social Credit was re-elected with an even larger majority than they had when the provincial legislature dissolved.
45 YEARS AGO:
For the first time, North Thompson School District 26 was to have its own full-time superintendent, with the appointment of John Denley.
40 YEARS AGO:
Clearwater Secondary School grounds were the setting for the Caravan Stage Company. The horse-drawn carriages and puppet show was billed as “the world’s only open-air, horse-drawn theater company.”
The annual Pumpkin Hoot Harvest Festival was underway. It was being held in Birch Island.
35 YEARS AGO:
Former Prime Minister of Canada Joe Clark was to visit Clearwater with Conservative candidate Mike Latta to assist Latta in an upcoming federal election.
The Rhino Party candidate and his family trundled a “John Turner” in a wheelbarrow in the Vavenby Loggers’ Day parade — a toilet that revolved when a handle was turned.
A meeting was planned for Clearwater to discuss the environmental impacts of CN’s twin-track program.
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30 YEARS AGO:
Slocan’s Vavenby sawmill was to shut down for about three weeks during the fall for renovations costing $16 to $17 million, said mill general manager John MacPherson. The changes would involve installing a brand new sawmill inside the existing buildings.
An official from the Royal B.C. Museum was excited about a recently re-discovered butterfly and moth collection put together by Ted Moilliet while a teenager on his family’s Vavenby sheep ranch from 1921 to 1923. Some of the moths in it had never been collected otherwise in B.C.
25 YEARS AGO:
Exactly 11 months after the start of a massive community fundraising effort, Clearwater and District Highway Rescue Society placed an order for a new rescue van. More than $60,000 of the targeted $80,000 had been raised. The new vehicle would be a 1995 Chev crew cab with a variety of rescue equipment.
TNRD property taxes would increase by one-third if residents voted to implement a proposed Emergency 911 service. Area B (Blue River-Avola) director Steve Quinn was the only member of the TNRD board opposed to the initiative.
20 YEARS AGO:
A helicopter found an Austrian woman who was lost near Fight Lake in Wells Gray Park. She had become separated from her husband when she stayed behind to look at flowers.
Longtime Clearwater resident Raymond (Brother Ray) Hitchcock received a surprise visit from his grandson Philip Hitchcock.
Local physician Ifor Thomas and Clearwater-based outdoor guide Robert Beaudry made the first kayak descent of the Rausch River, located north of Wells Gray Park.
15 YEARS AGO:
Derek Bottomley, governor of Rotary District 5060, officially opened a gazebo built by Clearwater Rotary Club at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital.
Preliminary discussions with Canfor and Weyerhaeuser found no roadblocks to a proposed community forest. “They’re prepared to work with us,” vice-chairman Derek Morris reported to the Wells Gray Country community forest committee.
The RCMP appointed Stuart Seib to be the new sergeant-in-charge of Clearwater Detachment. As a corporal, he had been acting NCO-in-charge since Sgt. Steve Giesinger had retired in June.
The federal government needs to rationalize its regulations so local ranchers can process and export their product, said Vavenby rancher Ed Shook. He was one of half-a-dozen local cattle and sheep producers to meet with M.P. Betty Hinton to discuss problems in their industries.
10 YEARS AGO:
North Thompson Funeral Services proprietor Drake Smith started a Clearwater/Barriere Bike Challenge to raise money for Hospice in both communities. Jean Nelson and Drake Smith both prepared to race against each other for the fundraiser which was set to take place on Sept. 9.
5 YEARS AGO:
Construction of Clearwater’s new 25,000 ft Buy-Low grocery store was progressing quickly with the building expected to be ready to open on Dec. 1.
Mayor John Harwood announced that he intends to seek a four year term as mayor of Clearwater for the upcoming municipal elections.
1 YEAR AGO:
The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour was getting ready to return to Clearwater. The event, which was to be hosted again by the Wells Gray Outdoors Club, features in more than 400 communities across the globe and they were proud to bring the event back to Clearwater.
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