40 YEARS AGO
A letter received from the Highways Department was discussed at the Clearwater Improvement District meeting. The letter contained the information of the Robson Street shopping centre, which a concerned individual had requested.
Apparently, approval had been given to Mr. Marcyniuk and Mr. Miller by both the Weyerhaeuser Company and the Highways Department for extending Myrtle Crescent Road and cutting across Weyerhaeuser’s undeveloped property as the route for the shopping centre.
35 YEARS AGO
The second annual Wells Gray Ski Marathon will be going ahead as planned, organizers report. The 32 km race, one of the Swix Loppet series, is essentially a fun event open to all. Souvenir buttons are presented to all participants.
Approximately 140 people attended last year’s marathon, with about the same number expected this year.
A shorter course is available for Juniors (13-17 years) of 18 km, while Jackrabbits (under 13) will go only 8 km. Start for the Juniors will be near the service yard on the Park Road, while Jackrabbits and adults will start near Majerus junction, site of last year’s start.
30 YEARS AGO
Clearwater Ski Club may have legal difficulty in continuing to operate unless enough people come out to its annual general meeting, according to club President Brian Carruthers.
Only eight attended the club’s meeting held Feb. 3, not enough to hold a vote on a new executive. A quorum is ten, according to the club’s constitution. The meeting was therefore rescheduled.
Mr. Carruthers found it ironic that in a year in which they sold more season’s passes than ever before (302), they should be unable to find enough to come out for a short meeting.
All season’s pass holders who are over 19 years old are members and can vote, he pointed out.
25 YEARS AGO
Two persons were seriously injured, two semi tractor-trailer units slid into the North Thompson River, and numerous vehicles landed in ditches and slipped down roadside banks due to extremely icy conditions that persisted in the Valley for several days.
“People have to be cautious of road conditions and drive accordingly,” advised Clearwater RCMP Detachment Highway Patrolman Cst. Herb Hartling. “If the road starts to darken up and it cools off, that means it’s going to be icy. Slow down.”
Three vehicles left Highway 5 near Mad River and north of Otter Creek in three separate incidents that occured in quick succession early Monday morning of last week.
20 YEARS AGO
Clearwater’s long-awaited multi-level health care center has finally gone to tender.
Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Kevin Kreuger is happy to see progress being made but, after earlier disappointments, is still a little skeptical that the structure will actually be built this year.
“It’s good to see,” commented Kreuger. “The people of Clearwater have never given up, and neither have I.”
The announcement was the result of constant pressure from local residents as well as his own efforts, he added.
Kreuger has brought the question up during every session of the Legislature over the last five years. Most recently, he asked the government about it during debate in early December, regarding the New Democrat’s new Health Action Plan.
15 YEARS AGO
Bayley, Bethany, Beau and Brad Ruttan are learning at an early age what it means to be a dedicated volunteer, as they raise funds for research.
Years ago, Bonnie and Jeff Ruttan got involved with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of B.C. at the urging of local coordinator Sharon Chase.
Last year, for the first time in 10 years, Bonnie fell ill and couldn’t fulfill her volunteer commitment. Jeff enlisted the help of the couple’s two children and their two cousins.
They set out, door-to-door, boys against the girls in a “friendly competition” to see who could raise the most funds. The Heart and Stroke Fund came out a winner with $775 raised between the four of them.
10 YEARS AGO
A meeting of unionized Canfor-Vavenby workers overwhelmingly endorsed arrangements with the company designed to the local sawmill operation.
“The membership showed up in force and ratified the proposed changes,” said Marty Gibbons, president of Steelworkers Local I-417. “With this done we have been told that a proposal to invest more than $24 million in the Vavenby operation would be put before the Canfor board.”
He said that if the construction goes well, Vavenby could be running on one shift by August and with a second shift starting months after that.
5 YEARS AGO
Getting Global Geopark status for Wells Gray Park and area seems to have support from most North Thompson communities.
However, where the Geopark’s boundaries should be and what kind of organization should handle the application are still unclear. Even its name in not yet settled.
That appeared to be the essence of a presentation by tourism consultant Jennifer Houiellebecq to a community-to-community forum held in Clearwater.
A feasibility study had been completed, she reported, and the proposal is now identified as an aspiring geopark on the Canadian Global Geoparks Network website.