Looking Back — Dec. 5, 2023

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/12/2023 (1009 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SIXTY YEARS AGO

A flash fire yesterday afternoon at a newly drilled oil well on the Virden golf course caused anxious moments before it was quickly brought under control by drilling and testing crews at the site.

The late U.S. President John Kennedy’s two children who died at or shortly after their births were laid to rest near their father’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery.

FIFTY YEARS AGO

There are gizmos, gadgets and gimmicks on the new 1974 cars. Ford has a new single connection seat belt provides both lap and cross-the-chest restraint with one belt. GM’s suggested retail price range from a low for the Chevrolet Vega of $2,635 to a high of $15,142 for the Cadillac Fleetwood limousine. Ford’s Pinto sells at $2,671 and the Continental Mark IV at $11,192. Toyota’s Corolla 1200 model is $2,399 and its top-priced Mark II station wagon is $4,978.

FORTY YEARS AGO

U.S. warplanes staged a retaliatory attack against Syrian anti-aircraft positions that had fired on two unarmed U.S. Navy reconnaissance planes flying over Lebanon. Two of the U.S. planes were downed and one pilot was rescued while another flier was captured by Syrian forces.

The anti-fur movement led by French film celebrity Brigitte Bardot has been blamed for the demise of one of Winnipeg’s biggest fur brokerages.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

McKenzie Seeds has marked a successful year by repaying $200,000 to the province. The cheque presented to the province brings total payments over the last four years to $915,087. The company still owes the province $4.6 million through shares held by the Manitoba Development Corp.

Nineteen employees who retired from Brandon General Hospital were honoured this week at a dinner at the BGH nurses lounge. Their service totalled an astounding 390 years at the local facility.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Manitoba Labour and Immigration Minister Nancy Allan announced yesterday she will raise Manitoba’s minimum wage another 25 cents to $7 as of April 1, 2004. Some other minimum wage amounts across Canada include the highest in Nunavut at $8.50 and the lowest in Alberta at $5.90.

TEN YEARS AGO

It will likely cost Brandonites more to license a pet, ride the bus, bury a loved one and go skating at the Sportsplex next year. The city has released its proposed 2014 fee schedule, which sets the fees and surcharges levied on the many civic services and recreational opportunities offered to residents. The schedule, which shows increases in the range of 2.5 to four per cent in most areas, was given first reading by city council earlier this week.

He’s been in the ring with some of the baddest men of his generation, including the likes of The Honky Tonk Man and Brutus Beefcake, but last month Vance Nevada traded in his wrestling tights for a suit and tie. Nevada, whose real name is Vern May, is the new economic development officer for the Souris and Glenwood Community Development Corp.