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15 YEARS AGO: Blue River teacher retires after 33-year career

Back in time: A snapshot of history
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Enjoying fresh air and the company of friends are Leevon Levasseur, left, Grade 3, James Freeman, Grade 3, Lachlan Whelan, Grade 3, Duncan Kilba, Grade 3, and Cory Redman, Grade 4. The group was having fun at a gmae of “Grounders” on the climbing wall at Raft River Elementary School playground, their first day back following spring break. This image originally appeared in the April 2, 2007, issue of the Times.

40 YEARS AGO: Slicked back hair and bobby socks were the fashion at the Family Fun Night held at the Star Lake School. The ’50s was the theme for the event and Grade 6s and 7s performed for an audience of about 150 people packed into a classroom “lip sung” renditions of Let’s Go to the Hop, The Leader of the Pack and other golden oldies at the two Variety Shows during the evening. All of the pupils from Kindergarten to Grade 7 took part in the variety shows which included displays of square dancing by the Grade 1 and 2 class, solos on piano and violin, and various songs by groups made up of Grades 1 and 2 and another of Grades 3 and 4.

35 YEARS AGO: Wells Gray Park’s pine marten population will be reduced by six as a result of a transplant program being conducted by the Ministry of Environment and Parks. The animals are being relocated to the Lac Le Jeune area southwest of Kamloops. In cooperation with BC Parks and under the close supervision of Environment’s biologist Ralph Ritcey, the marten will be live-trapped by local trapper Borke Reaney. When asked why the animals inside the park were selected, Ritcey said Wells Gray is a very good habitat for the animals to thrive and their current numbers allow the transplant without affecting the population.

25 YEARS AGO: Members of the Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital Board have been replaced with a public administrator from Vancouver, appointed by Health Minister Joy McPhail. Alex Berland, currently on leave from Vancouver Hospital where he served as vice-president of clinical services, has been assigned to look after three of the facilities within the confines of the boundaries of the Thompson Regional Health Board where renegade Health Societies refused to give up their autonomy — DHMH in Clearwater, Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops and the Lillooet District Hospital.

20 YEARS AGO: Clearwater’s new multi-level centre should be finished within four weeks. However, it is still not clear exactly what functions the new hospital will provide. As was originally planned, once operations have moved into the new hospital, the old facility will be demolished. One trailer unit would remain, though, and would be moved to Vavenby where it will be used as additional space for the Hospital Auxiliary’s Thrift Shop. Interior Health submitted a draft plan for its facility role review to the provincial government. The final version of the role review should be done within the month, said a health authority spokesperson.

15 YEARS AGO: Sandra Holmes, the school teacher at Blue River Elementary School, retired after 33 years in the profession. Teaching the majority of her career in larger urban centres, Holmes has enjoyed wrapping up her career in the small rural community of Blue River, spending her final four years as the head teacher. Her last class is compiled of 13 students, between Kindergarten and Grade 5.

5 YEARS AGO: The federal and provincial governments are contributing $1.75 million towards the cost of a new well for Clearwater, according to District of Clearwater chief administrative officer Leslie Groulx. Ottawa is paying half the cost of the $2.1 million project while Victoria will chip in one-third, leaving the municipality to pay about $360,000. The new well (Well #3) would be located in Reg Small Park near the existing Well #1. Well #2 is located across the road from Dutch Lake beach.



newsroom@clearwatertimes.com

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