Looking Back — Dec. 9, 2023

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/12/2023 (1029 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SIXTY YEARS AGO

A pilot project that could “be the start of something big” is taking shape on the North Hill, just south of Hank and Henry’s miniature golf. Scotty’s, a hamburger store that will probably be offering the least expensive burgers in the Brandon area, is half built and its promoters are confidently predicting an April 1 opening.

FIFTY YEARS AGO

The United Appeal campaign has thus far raised $116,866 — 75 per cent of its $155,000 target leaving $438,134 to be raised.

There was a major gasoline spill at the Gulf service station at 18th Street and Richmond Avenue today. A gasoline tanker overfilled a tank and 600 gallons spilled on the ground.

FORTY YEARS AGO

During a tame bearpit session yesterday in Winnipeg, Brian Ransom, Gary Filmon and Clayton Manness outlined the policies they will hold if they are elected the Conservative leader today.

The Zone 8 curling playdown opened this morning at the Wheat City and Brandon Curling Clubs with 15 rinks aiming to win a berth in the Manitoba Labatt Tankard championships.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

The federal government will go ahead with a scheduled increase in unemployment insurance premiums on Jan. 1. The unemployment insurance premiums paid by workers and employers are to rise by as much as 7.1 per cent, a total increase of $800 million over a year.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

With three weeks left on the calendar, Brandon Crime Stoppers has shattered records for the number of cases solved and property recovered in one year. As of the end of November, tips to Brandon Crime Stoppers had helped solve 185 cases. Since the program started in 1985, the only year to come close was 1996 when 135 cases were closed as the result of Crime Stoppers tips. So far this year, police have recovered more than $206,000 in stolen property and drugs as a result of Crime Stoppers tips. The next best year was 2000 when $159,350 worth of property and drugs was recovered. Crime Stoppers has authorized more than $13,000 in rewards this year, up from only $2,700 last year.

TEN YEARS AGO

Fire and ice — two competing elements were front and centre in a downtown blaze that destroyed a building and left three businesses out in the cold yesterday morning. At approximately 7:45 a.m., Brandon Fire and Emergency Services were called to the intersection of Second Street and Pacific Avenue for a structure fire.

Past and present Canadian leaders from across the political spectrum left partisan differences at home Monday as they arrived in South Africa to join a global gathering in memory of Nelson Mandela. Prime Minister Stephen Harper smiled and waved to a small gathering of South African and Canadian diplomatic officials as he stepped off the plane onto the tarmac at Air Force Base Waterkloof, north of Johannesburg. Three of Harper’s predecessors — Jean Chrétien, Kim Campbell and Brian Mulroney — were also on board for the 18-hour flight, along with former governors general Adrienne Clarkson and Michaëlle Jean.