40 YEARS AGO
A forest fire covering about 300 acres north of Blue River was reported over the weekend. Operations Superintendent for the Clearwater District, Max Tanner, said as of Monday, 50 men and six cats were involved in fighting the blaze which Forestry officials are calling the “Ad” fire.
New “highly-informative” tourist maps were printed, showcasing the locations of smaller roads, public facilities and businesses located throughout the area. A regional map is included, following the Yellowhead from Louis Creek to Alberta highlighting sights along the way.
The B.C. Rollers slowpitch team from Kamloops dominated the tournament with a five-game winning streak and managed to shut out the Clearwater Bears in the final game. More than 30 softball games were played during the event at the Clearwater Park and in Sunshine Valley.
35 YEARS AGO
A recent decision to close the Little Fort school and bus the children to Barriere caused problems for families with small children who live on McNab Road as the school authorities didn’t plan extend bus services to those children. School board policy won’t allow extensions of bus service so there were situations where children who live within walking distance of their school are bussed and those living further out are not.
Over 100 people attended a meeting called to urge the Thompson-Nicola Regional District directors to release approximately $10,000 for a feasibility study into building a swimming pool and leisure complex in Clearwater.
Activity in the Clearwater Forest District increased dramatically after a relatively quiet fire season to date. Extensive lightning strikes recorded in Wells Gray Park and the headwaters of Adams River were the cause of many of the new blazes. At least 12 new fires were recorded overnight.
For the fourth consecutive year, the B.C. Rollers from Kamloops will have their name engraved on the Clearwater Sloballers perpetual trophy after their win in the weekend slowpitch tournament held at the Clearwater ball park.
30 YEARS AGO
About 50 people taking part in a relay run across Canada passed through the North Thompson over two days. They were travelling from Vancouver to Montreal as part of the “Sacred Run,” to carry the message of the sacredness of all things and prayers for the healing of Mother Earth. The run was planned end around Sept. 27 at Kahnawake near Montreal.
Over 500 people stopped by the Birch Island homecoming to enjoy the festivities. Many entries participated in the parade with many pioneer families having their own float.
About 45 people took part in the annual “Summit Meeting” organized by Friend of Wells Gray Park and BC Parks on Trophy Mountain. Only around a dozen made it to the skyline ridge for the view north into the park.
25 YEARS AGO
Failure to use a seatbelt almost cost a Barriere trucker his life when he was thrown from his Kentworth tractor onto Highway 5 following a collision with a chip truck and then was narrowly missed being run over by both big rigs.
Barriere RCMP want parents to pay attention to where their children are and what they’re up to as local youth gathering behind the Thompson Valley Credit Union are attracting the wrong kind of attention. Police report complaints are coming in that those hanging out in that area have broken lights, thrown cigarettes into the mail slot and thrown garbage around the area.
The future of anew multi-level care facility hangs in limbo while the provincial government reviews capital projects. An urge, however is creeping into the lives of those who have worked for so many years to bring extensive care facilities to Clearwater.
20 YEARS AGO
Two weeks of excessive rain lowered the fire hazard in the area after a low snowfall, dry spring and two weeks of hot weather increased the hazard in early July. Now, the fire season is likely over, though there’s still some potential in the Clearwater to Vavenby area, according to Clearwater Fire Centre staff.
An 18-year-old 100 Mile House resident became stuck on a ledge about 40 metres from the top of Spahats Falls viewpoint, unable to move up or down. Jason Schapansky was later rescued by volunteers from Clearwater Search and Rescue. He summed up the climbing attempt as being “harder than it looked.”
Blue River’s Steve Quinn, director for TNRD Area B, told Vancouver to keep its coyotes. He was responding to a television interview buy Vancouver mayor Philip Owen who said the city’s problem coyotes should be trapped and relocated to wilderness areas of the province. Quinn gave to reasons for his comments: there are already enough coyotes in the TNRD to form a natural balance; and urban coyotes will quickly move back to urban areas when moved.
15 YEARS AGO
The Zone 2 Pee Wee boys softball team took home gold in the B.C. Summer Games held in Kamloops. They were the only team to have to play three games in one day.
The three day long Great Canadian Music Explosion Family Festival began, ran and ended with a bang. Entertainers of every type were present to strut their stuff. Clowns, children’s entertainers, Elvis Presley tribute artists and ramp jumping BMXers all showed.
April Francis and Paul Michie decided to have their wedding with a splash - literally. The two were married after a white water rafting trip on the Clearwater River.
10 YEARS AGO
Differing views on territorial claims by several First Nations bands appear to have postponed the proposed signing of a cooperation agreement between Selkirk Metals and Simpcw First Nation. The signing was cancelled at the last minute, apparently because of questions raised by Neskonlith and Adams Lake Indian Bands.
A children’s story about a lamb has almost sold out its first printing after just a couple of months and the author is looking at doing a second. The book, written by June Moilliet, tells the story of a lamb born on the Moilliet family’s heritage sheep ranch near Vavenby.
5 YEARS AGO
Clearwater residents Keith McNeill and Jean Nelson completed their first leg of a 350 kilometre carbon cycle at the Bear Radio Station in Barriere. The pair are dedicated to promoting e-Petition 297 which is an online petition to Canada’s parliament that calls for nationwide carbon fee-and-dividend as a way to help control global warming.
Clearwater was hit with a thunderstorm accompanied by a heavy rainfall on Aug. 2 resulting in flash flooding. Some parts of the community were hit harder than others — Weyerhaeuser Subdivision, Clearwater Flats, Park Drive area and Wyndhaven.