40 YEARS AGO
About $175-worth of goods were stolen from a room at the Wells Gray Hotel. Police say a man and women checked into the hotel using a false licence plate number and left the next day taking with them the sheets, towels, a blanket and a garbage can.
Ceremonies to officially open and dedicate the new Evergreen Acres Annex were attended by about 100 people.
Clearwater voters rejected a proposal to incorporate the Clearwater Improvement District by a margin of more than three to one. A total of 356 voters cast ballots against incorporation, while 111 were in favour. Four ballots were spoiled.
Clearwater Secondary School students Janet Jory and Carolyn Buck were recipients of $500 School District scholarships.
35 YEARS AGO
Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital was looking for more Red Cross walking donors, a person willing to come to the hospital in the time of an emergency to donate.
The committee appointed to hire a manager on behalf of School District 26 to operate the North Thompson Sportsplex decided not to fill the position, noting the complex could function effectively with the present two employees.
Clearwater received a new ambulance to replace one of the older models which had served the area for years. The Clearwater areas had two ambulances, both with over 160,000 kilometres and were showing their age.
Blue River Elementary School staff unanimously adopted a policy to make the school and grounds a non-smoking area.
30 YEARS AGO
About 38 students on a field trip from Clearwater Secondary School were seriously injured when their school bus was struck by a train. Close to 70 emergency professionals and volunteers assisted to rescue and treat them. What only a handful knew, however, is that the entire event was only a drill, part of a practice to allow all agencies to in the community to be involved in a joint exercise. It was put on by the Provincial Emergency Program.
It was determined that head lice are not a primary responsibility of the public system, rather a cooperative effort including parents, school staff and health professionals, according to a B.C. School Trustees’ Association resolution, which was received by the School District 26 board.
Five parents and two staff from each elementary school in the district took part in sessions to learn how to help their children with math homework.
25 YEARS AGO
The Kamloops CrimeStoppers invited the Barriere area to join the CrimeStoppers program. Cpl. Chris Bomford of the Barriere RCMP Detachment said it would be an asset, especially considering the increased criminal activity in the area.
The 2924 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps awaited notice of disbandment from national headquarters, the 2924 RCACC parents’ group was told at a regular meeting. Commanding Officer Peter Glover had been relieved of his duties and the group will become a platoon of the Kamloops 2305 RCACC.
Clearwater Valley Road was closed for four weeks beyond the Helmcken Falls intersection to accommodate the replacement of the Alice Creek, the Lone Spoon Creek and Falls Creek bridges.
20 YEARS AGO
Slocan’s Vavenby division was closed for a week as part of a company-wide shutdown. Reasons for the closure included a low market, inventory building, the bombing of the World Trade Centre, the devaluation of the Dow Jones and layoffs in the Unites States.
About 20 local women, children and men walked through the local shopping area to the Interior Whitewater building as part of the Take Back the Night walk.
Thompson Valley Savings Credit Union proposed a merger with Interior Savings. The amalgamation would create a new institution worth $1 billion in assets.
A draft report received from a consulting engineer concluded the Sportsplex roof wasn’t unsafe, but does need repairs. The ice arena’s roof collapsed twice during its first winter, more than 25 years ago. Temporary bracing was put in place and facility employees hadn’t allowed snow to accumulate on the roof since then, resulting in no further incidents.
15 YEARS AGO
A “brown bag lunch” meeting was held at the Community Resource Centre in Clearwater to discuss how rural communities deal with the challenges and opportunities that may arise when faced with economic and social changes taking place throughout B.C. and Canada.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to officially open Neighbourhood House, built to meet some real community needs, according to then Yellowhead Community Services director Jack Keough. The new building would house programs such as Infant Development, Success by Six, Make Children First, Children Who Witness Abuse and Mother Goose, among many others.
The Cops for Kids Charity Foundation raised over $130,000. Const. Chris Newel of the Clearwater RCMP detachment was one of the riders.
5 YEARS AGO
A public tour of Canfor’s Vavenby sawmill took place. Members of the public learned interesting information about the mill, such as each 10-hour shift could produce 600,000 board feet of lumber, working out to 1.2 million per day or 4.8 million board feet per week, with two shifts per day.
Clearwater and District Chamber of Commerce president Jon Kreke, acting mayor Barry Branford, town councillor Ken Kjenstad and National Forest Week organizing committee member Sandy MacKenzie planted a tree in Weyerhaeuser Park near the splash park on National Tree Day. The chamber donated the tree.
1 YEAR AGO
The District of Clearwater mayor and council and the DOC’s Trails Task Force Committee gathered to celebrate the official grand opening of the Wyndhaven multi-use pathway.
A commercial building in Louis Creek sent toxic, billowing smoke into the air in the early morning hours. The Spray All Foam Insulation and Coatings building was engulfed in flames, containers of gas and chemicals exploding inside and around the property.
Clearwater’s Piet Oud was awarded the Jack Koteles Memorial Award for Strong Commitment to Community Service by the Okanagan Mainline Amateur Hockey Association.
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