50 YEARS AGO:
There were 250 to 300 men fighting forest fires in the Birch Island Forest District, down from 600 the week before. The Flourmill Creek fire in Wells Gray Park was out of control at 2,000 to 2,400 hectares.
An extremely long dry spell, and an impending threat of additional forest fires caused the provincial government to enforce a recreational closure on the Interior of B.C.
45 YEARS AGO:
Clearwater’s new firetruck arrived after being driven from the factory in Pierreville, Quebec, where it had been built. Art Mayer and Henry Plugoway averaged 1,200 kilometers per day.
Police believed that a body found 45 km up the Clearwater River was that of an Edmonton man. He had been reported missing while alone in a canoe on July 19.
40 YEARS AGO:
Syd Monteith, Joy Dickson and Tracey Dickson were among 350 players at a volleyball camp in Williams Lake.
35 YEARS AGO:
A search began in earnest for Bob and Jackie Johnson of Westbank and their two daughters. Mrs. Johnson’s parents from Port Coquitlam were also missing. The families arranged to meet in Wells Gray Park on Aug. 8 for berry-picking.
A pilot and two passengers came close to drowning when an airplane from New Westminster overturned on Strait Lake in Wells Gray Park. Park superintendent Pat Rogers said the ministry would investigate, as no motorized conveyances were allowed on the lake.
30 YEARS AGO:
A slash and burn near Adams Lake that had gotten away was under control, said Max Tanner, spokesperson for the Clearwater Forest District. There were 180 men checking the 250 hectare blaze.
Hazel Wadlegger won the cow milking contest at the Vavenby fall fair. The event was sponsored by the Lions Club.
25 YEARS AGO:
An inexpensive cooling system designed by Clearwater Salmon Hatchery manager Szcepan Wolski would enable the facility to be used to raise young sockeye from the Upper Adams River. The development meant the hatchery would remain open until at least the following spring, said assistant manager Lucyna Wolski.
Extending the chinook fishing on the Clearwater River from three days per week to seven seemed to have improved the experience, said federal fisheries spokesperson Tim Panko. About 100 fish had been taken, the largest being 19 kilograms.
20 YEARS AGO:
Clearwater Volunteer Fire Department only took a few minutes to control a fire at the corner of Blanchard and Swanson Roads, but the trailer was unlivable.
15 YEARS AGO:
Thompson-Nicola Regional District spent about $175,000 to strengthen the roof of the North Thompson Sportsplex.
10 YEARS AGO:
Clearwater and Barriere RCMP made a number of large-scale marijuana busts, shutting down dozens of outdoor grow sites and destroying millions of dollars worth of the illegal drugs.
The final show of the Flour Meadow Bakery summer concert series came to a close with wonderful performances. Bakery owner Sam Willan had sold the business.
More than 100 people were on hand at the Raft River viewing platform to welcome back the returning sockeye salmon at the fourth annual First Fish Festival. The festival marked the start of the three-week spawning period of sockeye in the river.
5 YEARS AGO:
Survey work for a proposed roundabout at the junction of Highway 5 and the road to Wells Gray Park was about to begin, according to Mayor John Harwood. “I think it’s an excellent idea,” he said.
Estimated total revenue generated within the community by day visitors to Wells Gray and North Thompson provincial parks was $2.8 million, according to a report from Brad Bradbury, the tourism-marketing manager with Tourism Wells Gray.
Wells Gray World Heritage Committee sent an open letter to Canfor CEO Don Kayne, asking him to rethink plans to log near Upper Clearwater. Earlier clear-cuts on the same slopes were largely responsible for five major flash floods between 1997 and 2001, the committee charged.
1 YEAR AGO:
Wells Gray Mantracker attracted trackers and prey of all ages to the annual event in Upper Clearwater.
Improvements to Murtle Crescent in Clearwater were used as one of the case studies in “Rural Complete Streets,” a nationwide report.
