Looking back - 1995: Blizzard in southwest Manitoba strands motorists overnight
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- Published on Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Photo courtesy of Randy Oslund. Dec. 7, 1965: Randy Oslund was elected the new president of the Neepawa Figure Skating Club.
By Cecil Pittman
The Neepawa Press
80 years ago, Friday, December 13, 1935
Town hockey league has favorable start: The inaugural games of the local commercial circuit were staged Wednesday evening in the local arena. Only a mere handful of the most rabid fans were in attendance as the league got underway, but if the speed and flashy hockey displayed in the final contest is any criterion of the caliber of play to expect, the games will soon be a sell out.
70 years ago, Thursday, December 13, 1945
Harvest help demanded large amount of rations: Local ration officer J. H. Thomson reports that approximately 22,000 extra ration coupons were issued for harvest in this district, despite the fact that meat was not rationed until late in the season. Breaking the ration picture down for the month of September, it is shown that 2,478 coupons were issued for sugar, 4,430 for butter, 2,360 for preserves and 4,007 for meat, totaling 13,275 for the month.
60 years ago, Thursday, December 2, 1955
A well attended meeting was held in Murray’s Garage board room Monday night to organize Beautiful Plains Credit Union Society Limited.
C. L. Black, Credit Union representative of Brandon, announced that the official charter from the provincial government had been received. He explained that the Credit Union’s purpose was first, to encourage savings among its members and second, to grant loans at a reasonable rate of interest to its members. Considerable time was spent outlining the operation and answering numerous questions.
50 years ago, Tuesday, December 7, 1965
A general meeting of the Neepawa Figure Skating Club was held following the registration of skaters at the Neepawa Sports Arena Sunday afternoon, when a new slate of officers was elected to conduct the business of the club for the coming year.
Mrs. John Oslund was elected president, replacing C. H. (Bud) Hanson, who is retiring after holding the post for the past two years.
40 years ago, Thursday, December 11, 1975
Bright sunshine and crisp, cool air made an attractive setting for the annual Santa Claus parade, which rolled along Neepawa streets without a hitch Saturday, Dec. 6, to the delight of the children and adults alike.
The parade comprised some 34 units including floats, horses, clowns, fire engines and police cars, and, of course, concluded with the jolly old Santa and his reindeer.
30 years ago, Thursday, December 12, 1985
The sewing machine works briskly as Dorien Anderson assembles another unique bridal gown, bridesmaid or party dress in her shop at the back of Dorien’s Fabrics on Hamilton Street.
“Everything I’ve sold is my original design. Except for bridal parties, I never make two dresses the same.”
An extremely perceptive lady, she can visualize from description what a person desires. “Sometimes I draw a sketch, sometimes I just trace the fabric on the person. I may draw a pattern, but often, I just begin cutting. All I need is the measurements and then I go to work.”
20 years ago, Monday, December 12, 1995
Gale-force winds reduced visibility to zero, as a fierce blizzard blew its way through southwestern Manitoba last Monday.
Highways in the area were closed overnight, and remained closed until 9 am Tuesday morning. In Neepawa, 12 truckers were stranded when the RCMP closed the Yellowhead Highway around 11 pm.
Even though there were no accidents, a number of vehicles were abandoned on the highway.
Six people, including two RCMP officers sought shelter at Bill and Viona Fraser’s home east of the Franklin junction on Highway 16.
And even though last Monday’s blizzard was fierce, Fraser said it didn’t compare to the blizzard of 1978. Three days after Christmas that year, the Frasers opened their doors to 62 stranded people – and two dogs.
“We’ve never had anything like that since,” he said.
10 years ago, Monday, December 12, 2005
Construction on Neepawa’s new personal care home is expected to begin this spring, with occupancy slated for January 2008.
Ted Bartlett, executive director of support services for the Assiniboine Regional Health Authority, said the project - which has proceeded at a snail’s pace since 1999 - is on track to completion.
“I hope this will be a facility people will love,” Bartlett said when unveiling architectural plans for the one-storey, 67,000 square foot building in Neepawa last Wednesday. “This will be a state of the art facility for rural Manitoba. We are breaking new ground.”
He said laundry and kitchen facilities are large enough to accommodate an adjoined hospital down the road.
