40 YEARS AGO: Swimming lessons for about 75 children and adults began in unseasonably wet weather at the Dutch Lake Beach July 5. By week’s end however, students in the 15 classes were splashing round under sunny skies taking part in the new Red Cross Water Safety Program and other courses sponsored by the Clearwater Swim Club. Under head instructor Michelle Lam and instructors Carolyne Buck, Noel Hawkey and assistant instructor Connie Nauert, swimmers from age three and up are given the opportunity to acquire one of eight levels of ability in the colour-coded Red Cross Program.
30 YEARS AGO: Over 80 people attended an event organized by the North Thompson Indian Band to discuss a proposal to divert part of the North Thompson to California. The proposal would see one million acre-feet of water per year pumped out of the North Thompson near Gosnell and sent through a 20-kilometre tunnel into the reservoir behind Mica Dam. From there it would flow south in the Columbia River to Oregon, where it would be pumped overland into California. All but a few in attendance appeared to be strongly opposed to any bulk water exports to the Unites States.
25 YEARS AGO: One hundred feet of pavement, yellow centerline and all, simply disappeared into a re-configured, much deeper First Canyon, trapping hundreds of people in Wells Gray Park and Upper Clearwater. Swollen by heavy rains, First Canyon creek dug itself a new channel over 150 feet deep, some 50 feet or so north of its old location where the normally good-natured little stream used to pass through culverts just 25 to 30 feet below the road surface.
20 YEARS AGO: The North Thompson’s softball team, the Tru Market Rebels, showed great sportsmanship in hosting a tough match with softball world champions the New Zealand Black Sox, who were on a three-week tour across Canada. The Black Sox opened with a traditional Maori warrior dance, similar to one done by the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team. The tribal dance stirred the crowd and is meant to intimidate opponents. The game was the New Zealand team’s second time playing in Clearwater.
10 YEARS AGO: Clearwater and area hosted the provincial Peewee and Midget softball championships. A total of 18 teams and more than 800 people were expected to descend on the community for the event. By mid week, preparations for the championships appeared well in hand, according to Melody Romeo, president of Clearwater Minor Ball. Games were held at Capostinsky Park as well as Clearwater Secondary School.
5 YEARS AGO: BC Forest Service brought in one of the top incident management teams in the province to help with fires near Little Fort. The meeting was held primarily to update evacuees on what was going on. About 90 people attended, including evacuees plus a number of officials, volunteers and local residents interested in learning more about fire situation. The fires near Little Fort were one of three major fire events in the Kamloops Fire Centre, the others being Ashcroft and Cache Creek.
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