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25 Years Ago: No injuries in Highway 5 vehicle fire

Back in Time: A snapshot of history
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No one was injured when this 1989 Plymouth occupied by two young women burst into flames as they were travelling northbound on Highway 5 just after 2 a.m. This image originally appeared in the Jan. 23, 1996, issue of the Times.

40 YEARS AGO

Clearwater is second on the list of priorities for airstrip construction following the airport feasibility study carried out by the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.

First concern is to be the Ashcroft-Cache Creek area landing strip which, it is intended, would serve the proposed B.C. Hydro Hat Creek coal development.

The survey was headed by TNRD Economic Development officer Rino Elverhoy and calls for a 1,219 metre airstrip which could accommodate commercial aircraft and emergency flights located on crown land.

35 YEARS AGO

Early in 1985 a study of a community pool complex was undertaken. The proposed location was adjacent to the existing Sportsplex.

The Recreation Association and Carolyn Buck, the University of Victoria recreational student, conducted a recreational need survey last spring. This was a mailed questionnaire. This survey reached over 1,655 homes from Blackpool to Vavenby.

Over 89 per cent of the returned questionnaires indicated that the first priority was a swimming pool complex. With the advent of “Swimmers Itch,” Dutch Lake swimming was lost for recreational and swimming instruction.

30 YEARS AGO

The entire local tourist industry may owe a debt of gratitude to Clearwater Sno-Drifters, according to Stoney Mountain Wilderness Adventure’s Mile Meuller.

Fifteen riders and their machines helped take two Japanese tour operators on a trip up Raft Mountain Dec. 31.

The pair were staying at Wells Gray Ranch, dog-sledding, snowmobiling and checking out the area for their clients.

A trip up Raft had been planned, but due to deep snow and cold weather he decided to call Sno-Drifters president Ralph Sunderman for help.

Sunderman in turn lined up 15 machines who took turns breaking trail, making what would have been a difficult day into a great success.

25 YEARS AGO

No one was injured when a 1989 Plymouth burst into flames. Owner of the vehicle, Kelly Anne Moss, of Kamloops, was a passenger in her car which was being driven by friend Carrie Tinker, 22, when flames appeared, report RCMP.

The two young women quickly abandoned the vehicle just south of the Raft River bridge north of Clearwater and fled to safety.

Upon arrival at the scene, Clearwater RCMP Cst. Sylvain Lemoyne opened the driver’s door of the fully engulfed vehicle to ensure no other person was trapped inside, recieving quite a start when one of the tires blew up at that time. The Clearwater Volunteer Fire Department attended the scene with Engine 3, both tankers and approximately a dozen firefighters, said Captain Mark Salden.

The blaze was knocked down immediately and the department was back to the hall by 3:00 a.m.

20 YEARS AGO

“What are we going to do, as a group, to bring people to this area?”

That was the question asked by Tammy Campbell, Venture Kamloops tourism manager, at a meeting with about 30 Clearwater Chamber of Commerce members.

How to increase tourism in the off-season was the focus of the meeting, but a variety of other topics were raised as well.

“I think you have a unique product for winter tourism,” said Campbell. “We need to work together. It’s time we got into the game. Tell me how Venture Kamloops can assist.”

15 YEARS AGO

The B.C. government is creating a new coroner’s position dedicated to the forest industry, as well as a safety officer for the forests ministry and a senior manager for safety in the B.C. timber sales program.

Forests Minister Rich Coleman made the announcement to a paced luncheon audience at the Truck Loggers’ Assocation convention. The focus on safety at the convention follows a total of 43 fatal accidents in the B.C. forest industry in 2005, more than double the previous year.

The industry and its largest union announced the previous day that it was committing to a certification program to make sure forest workers are properly trained.

10 YEARS AGO

Clearwater councillor Bert Walker isn’t happy with the procedure being used to move the District of Clearwater offices from their present building on the Flats to proposed new premises in Dutch Lake School.

According to comments Walker made during last Tuesday’s town council meeting, it appears that council held several in camera discussions over a period of time about acquiring Dutch Lake School (discussions involving property are not usually done in public).

“twice I asked if moving the administrative offices was part of the deal. Both times I was told no, we’re just looking at putting some sort of community center in there,” Walker said. “Now, all of a sudden, I read in the newspaper that moving the offices is part of the deal after all.”

5 YEARS AGO

Should property owners in Upper Clearwater continue to pay a total of close to $5,000 per year to help support the Upper Clearwater Hall?

According to the agenda of today’s meeting of Thompson-Nicola Regional District board of directors, two delegations are to speak to the directors regarding the grant-in-aid for the Upper Clearwater Hall.

The first delegation, which has chosen Steve Murray as its spokesperson, will ask the grant-in-aid be removed.

The delegation will also ask that the hall, which belongs to Upper Clearwater Farmers Institute, be declared a private building and not a community hall.



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