55 YEARS AGO:
Sixteen table legs and a box of kittens went over the auction block at Birch Island on Saturday. The rummage and auction sale was sponsored by the Birch Island Scout and Cub Group Committee. The sale brought in $195 and means that the boys will be able to camp using their own equipment this year.
Two “Kwik Lok” structures arrive in Clearwater all ready for quick construction. A Kwik Lok office and showroom for Wells Gray Service are part of a $15,000 building expansion program. Other work includes a three-room paint and body shop.
50 YEARS AGO:
The Clearwater Ski Club held its annual competitive ski meet on a beautiful sunny day. Twenty-five ski enthusiasts from Blue River attended to stimulate competition. Trophies for first and second place finishers were awarded at the close of events by Mrs. George Wallace, Vice President of the ski club.
45 YEARS AGO:
The new Bailey Bridge over the Clearwater River nears completion.
According to a report from Kamloops wolves in this area are in for a rough time. Provincial game biologist said a poison is to be used to dispose of the wolves which is selective to the canine species call 1080. Packs from Bonaparte Plateau and Heger Mountains are blamed for the deaths of many cattle and the latter pack is slated for elimination. The report states baiting will take place in the wintertime because of difficulties of attracting wolves in the summer.
40 YEARS AGO:
A new $1.8 million lumber sorting system has been put in operation at Weyerhaeuser Canada Ltd’s Vavenby Wood Products Branch here, according to a news release. The branch manager said the new machinery will improve wood recovery, provide higher grade lumber and cut maintenance costs.
35 YEARS AGO:
Clearwater RCMP is still investigating a skiing accident in the Blue River area which resulted in the deaths of two skiers; one from Calgary and one from the US. Both victims were amongst a party of 13 and were on their last planned run of the day. The skiers were traversing a slope at the 6,000-foot level when an avalanche caught the two men who were swept down the mountainside to their deaths. An immediate rescue was commenced and the pair were quickly located by a trained rescue party who tried their best to revive the men.
30 YEARS AGO:
A new public health nurse has been appointed for Clearwater and area. Christine Wilgosh, a recent graduate from UBC, is to start in the position in mid-March. She is from Kamloops and will be replacing a nurse who transferred to Port Alberni in January.
Clearwater Secondary School hosted a travelling exhibit from BC Science World. The exhibit is designed primarily for elementary students, although apparently secondary school students are also finding it very interesting.
25 YEARS AGO:
Over a dozen loaded logging trucks were parked outside the gate to the Slocan log yard as unionized truck drivers supported a Wildcat walkout. A meeting with the mill management was set up for the following morning to try to work out a solution to the strike.
Residents of the TNRD said a resounding no to 911 at the polls. The referendum that could have seen the widely recognized emergency communications system put in place in the Thompson-Nicola Regional District was defeated by an almost two to one margin. Had the referendum passed, the service would have been paid for with increased property taxes in the regional district. It was determined property owners would pay an additional $0.35 per $1,000 of assessed land value to fund the capital.
20 YEARS AGO:
A well known Clearwater resident, aged 75, was killed in a motor vehicle accident. The man was riding westbound on a bicycle on Old North Thompson Highway at the time of the accident. A motor vehicle, also traveling westbound, approached the cyclist as he neared the junction with Sunshine Valley Road. The driver of the vehicle, also a Clearwater resident, was temporarily blinded by the sunlight as she crested a hill. She didn’t see the cyclist in front of her and ran into his bike. The cyclist was thrown from his bike, landing on the road. He was transported by ambulance to hospital where he died.
15 YEARS AGO:
Clearwater’s Brett Turcotte makes a spectacular jump during a snocross race in Winnipeg earlier this winter.
About twice the usual number of members attended the Clearwater and District Chamber of Commerce first general meeting of the year. The networking that takes place at the Chamber meetings is sometimes the most valuable part of the gathering.
Members are encouraged to bring their business cards and brochures to display and to stay after the formal session is over for a chat.
10 YEARS AGO:
Nearly 2,000 workers at eight Canfor operations, including Canfor-Vavenby, were scheduled to vote on a proposed new contract. Steelworkers Local 1-417 president Marty Gibbons said there was no indication the company would restart the local sawmill soon.
Clearwater Food Bank reported it had distributed 102 hampers the previous Christmas, up from 78 the year before.
5 YEARS AGO:
Mayor John Harwood held a workshop with Clearwater’s Junior Council to explain how the municipality’s budget worked. Student Leevon Levasseur could not believe that the District of Clearwater spends 40 per cent of its budget on roads. “Are you sure?” he asked.
1 YEAR AGO:
Chief and council of Simpcw First Nation are calling on the Province of B.C. to immediately suspend all management planning of the recently discovered cave in Wells Gray Park until Simpcw and Canim Lake Indian Band are a part of the discussions.
The cave sits in Secwepemc Territory, on un-ceded and un-surrendered aboriginal title lands, she added, and the Secwepemc Nations with responsibility and stewardship over the cave are Simpcw First Nation and Tsq’escen’ (Canim Lake Indian Band.)
