Looking back - 1976: Neepawa family returns from down under
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- Published on Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Photo courtesy of Neepawa Press Archives. 40 years ago; Thurs., Jan. 8, 1976: The Bennet family recently returned from Australia.
By Cecil Pittman
The Neepawa Press
80 years ago, Tuesday January 14, 1936,
Mesdames Curtis and Shore gave an outline of an association being formed to assist older people to help themselves by making necessary household supplies from material supplied to them. This was along the lines adopted by Brandon and Virden and was proving a great success there. Since starting here, their movement was doing well and several persons were already attending the classes. In order to carry on, Mrs. Curtis asks for a grant of $25 from the town.
70 years ago, Thursday January 17, 1946,
The second large conflagration in Neepawa in the last two months defeated the efforts of the local fire department when the last of the old mill buildings was destroyed early Monday before noon. The building was used as a stable by C. T. Pedlar for the past couple of years and at the time of the fire housed two steers, two cows, chickens and pieces of equipment.
Of unknown origin, the fire was noticed by Mrs. W. R. Adams and the alarm turned in. Despite the speed of the local brigade, the building was nearly encompassed by flames when they arrived and little could be done to save it.
60 years ago, Thursday January 12, 1956,
One woman lost her life and her son was hospitalized as a result of an early morning fire in the Eden district, which was believed to have started on the kitchen stove, destroying their log home and complete contents.
Mrs. Fred Woloschuck of the Eden district, about 82 years of age, thought to be one of the earliest settlers on the district, was burned to death and her bachelor son, Michael, was brought to Neepawa District Memorial Hospital suffering from second degree burns to his hands.
50 years ago, Tuesday January 18, 1966,
Latest word from the Manitoba Fisheries Department is that the rainbow trout in Lake Irwin should survive the winter, as oxygen levels in the lake are satisfactory.
Dr. Alex Fedoruk, Manitoba Director of Sports Fisheries, reports that crews from his department have taken oxygen tests at the lake recently. Their findings indicate that, despite a fairly heavy ice cover, there is sufficient oxygen to enable the fish to survive.
Ice fishermen have reported good catches of rainbows lately, with some of the fish as much as 14 inches long.
40 years ago, Thursday January 8, 1976,
The Bennets recently returned from a year spent in Australia, where Dave was teaching at a high school in Hamilton in the state of Victoria. They said the family enjoyed their stay in Australia and that they found the change between the two countries quite easy to take. Both Dave and Myra said that the people were very friendly and they found many things of interest during their stay there.
30 years ago, Thursday January 8, 1986,
Where there’s smoke there’s not always fire.
A contractor burning coal on Highway 5 outside Neepawa sparked some concern to passersby, Jan. 3.
Neepawa fire chief Don Evenson said the contractor was adding a piece onto one of the businesses in the area. He was burning coal to heat the ground to allow him to dig, when passing motorists noticed the smoke.
“When the public drove by and noticed the smoke, they called in the alarm”, he said.
One truck was dispatched to the scene at about 6pm and a couple more calls came in after the truck returned, said the chief.
Even though the call was a false alarm, Evenson noted that he was pleased the public responded.
“I would sooner have them let us know than to leave it and have something happen,” he said.
20 years ago, Monday January 9, 1996,
Arden man dies snowmobiling:
A 24-year-old Arden man died Saturday evening, after the snowmobile he was driving smashed into a railway trestle bridge near Lockport.
Timothy David Gross of the Riverside Hutterite colony was taken to Selkirk hospital around 7:30pm. He died a short time later of extensive head injuries.
Selkirk RCMP said Gross was snowmobiling along a well-used floodway trail when the accident took place. Instead of following the trail under the trestle bridge, Gross kept going straight ahead, striking the side of the bridge.
10 years ago, Monday January 9, 2006,
Neepawa’s first baby of 2006 made his appearance four days into the New Year, arriving on Wednesday at 4:22 pm.
Sebastien Michael Buchanan is the second child for parents Rob and Renai, who were thrilled to welcome the New Year’s baby.
“He was actually due on Boxing Day, so we weren’t expecting this at all”, said Renai. “We’ve been waiting a long time for him.”
Daddy Rob was also pleased to have the first baby born in Neepawa hospital in 2006.
“When we found out we had the New Year’s baby, we were really happy,” he said.
