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10 YEARS AGO: Clearwater tops Great Backyeard Birdcount

Back in time: A snapshot of history
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40 YEARS AGO:

A large group of people came out to the Annual Fun Fair at the Blue River School. The Bingo room with Mr. Leo Angrignon calling the games, as one of the most popular attractions.

There were events for everyone — cake walks, cartoons, fish pond, games, white elephant and bake tables and a sidewalk cafe where you could sit and visit. Many people helped make this annual event a huge success through donations of items and time. A profit of $610 was realized and this will be used towards a cement floor for the covered skating area.

35 YEARS AGO:

An explosion at the North Thompson Sportsplex March 1 resulted in the brief evacuation of the building. A bonspiel and a novice hockey tournament were both in full swing.

Cause of the explosion was believed to have been the result of a spark igniting a leaky propane tank. The cement block wall at the rear of the building was blown almost eight inches out of place in some spots.

One employee of the Sportsplex is said to have been slightly injured.

As the explosion had created no real problem to the safety of the building the busy weekend schedule was able to resume.

30 YEARS AGO:

According to a Vancouver developer, a new shopping mall may be in the works for Clearwater.

Sandy Reid (of the Vancouver-based Reid Group of developers) told The Times his group is considering building a 40,000 sq. ft. enclosed shopping centre in the town, geared to the Clearwater shopping area.

No plans have yet been finalized but he expects to be in the area within two weeks set up a site plan after which he will be able to release more specific information. He is anxious to make a start.

The site has been selected and is ready to go, he claimed.

25 YEARS AGO:

Blue River resident, small business owner, and TNRD Area B Director Stephen Quinn will lead the rejuvenated Social Credit Party of British Columbia into the provincial election in the Kamloops-North Thompson Riding.

“This is win number one,” said Quinn after he took the nomination on the first and only ballot at the nominating meeting held in Kamloops. “The next will come at the call of Mr. Clark.”

In his nomination speech, Quinn stated, “I believe this government sitting now has surrendered its right to govern this province. Hundreds and hundreds of calls were made to the United States to ask how to run B.C. — the Karl Strubbe connection. No one has the competence to run this province other than the people of this province.”

20 YEARS AGO:

There may be a way for the North Thompson valley to get cellular telephone service after all.

Superior Wireless, a cell service company based in Thunder Bay, Ont., wants more information to help it decide about providing cell service to this area.

“We are interested in expanding our services across Canada into communities that are currently be overlooked by the larger wireless providers,” said company spokesman Don Wing, in response to an email from The Times.

Superior Wireless was the first company to get a license to operate a cellular system under Industry Canada’s recently introduced new party cell service policy.

15 YEARS AGO:

Constable Mark Jenkins arrived in Clearwater from out east prepared to hate it. Now, in a reversal of fortune, he is once again heading east, this time to a set of stables in Ottawa; to train for the RCMP musical ride.

“I love Clearwater, the people and the country is beautiful,” avows Jenkins. “The only thing that could get me out of Clearwater, other than a transfer to Newfoundland , is the musical ride.”

Honored to be accepted, he put in for his latest transfer never dreaming he’d be selected. Out of 17,000 employees, the program chooses 30 applicants each year. Following an introductory five-week training course, only 15 of those advance.

10 YEARS AGO:

For the fourth year in a row Clearwater has topped the Great Backyard Bird Count standings in Canada, organizers report. In submitting 354 checklist Clearwater more than doubled the output of London, Ont., which was in second place with 169 checklists. This year’s effort also landed Clearwater in sixth place in North America — out highest international standing yet.

Though Clearwater broke last year’s checklist record by 25, individual bird numbers were down to 8,669 compared to the record 9,715 set in 2010. The chilly weather along with so much snow may have deterred some birds. Perhaps there was more food in the north for the Redpolls as their numbers dropped to 114 compared to 1,145 the year prior.

5 YEARS AGO:

Blue Water Power Corporation of Abbotsford is proposing a 15 MW run-of-the-river waterpower project on Mud Creek, which is located east of Blue River.

A referral from the provincial government on the proposed project was received for information by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board of directors.

Staff would bring the proposal before the board again for resolution prior to a permit being issued.

The proposed power project would be located upstream from Mud Lake and Mud Lake Delta Provincial Park.