SIXTY YEARS AGO

Apparently hungry, thieves broke into the Co-op Livestock canteen on Byng Avenue last night and stole food and one $20 bill.

FIFTY YEARS AGO

Five Brandon University string scholarship students who auditioned for the National Youth Orchestra have been accepted for this year’s session. They are: Karen Doerksen, Joan Dillon, Patricia Nadler, Melvin Martin and one violinist, Alison Ryles.

FORTY YEARS AGO

A severe thunderstorm over Winnipeg forced an Air Canada DC-9 jet to make an unscheduled landing in Brandon yesterday.

Diane Ogibowski of Minnedosa was named to the reserve list as the Canadian Figure Skating Association announced its lineup for the international season.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

Brandon General Hospital is cutting the equivalent of 16 full-time positions from its housekeeping and dietary departments as a cost-saving measure. Layoff notices went out yesterday to 20 permanent and 10 term employees. The move is expected to save between $300,000 and $400,000.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Westman Recycling’s program is three weeks old and already considered a success. Late last month, every Brandon household received clear recycling bags for yard waste, and blue ones for containers and paper products. On garbage day, these bags are picked up and sent to the new plant at the Eastview Landfill, where they are either composted or recycled.

TEN YEARS AGO

Elijah Harper, former chief, MLA and MP, passed away in Ottawa early Friday morning from complications due to diabetes. He was 64. His most famous and longest-lasting legacy came in June 1990, when he held up an eagle feather in the Manitoba legislature and said “no” to allowing the Meech Lake Accord to come to a vote.

A man found not criminally responsible for beheading a fellow passenger on a Greyhound bus in Manitoba has been granted more privileges. The Criminal Code Review Board has ruled that Vince Li can go on more escorted day trips from the Selkirk Mental Health Centre, where he is in custody. Li was already allowed short escorted visits into the nearby community of Selkirk, but soon will be able to make supervised, full-day trips farther afield to Lockport and Winnipeg. The board also says Li can be unescorted on the grounds of the mental hospital starting at 15 minutes at a time and working up to full days.