Looking Back — Jan. 8, 2024

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/01/2024 (723 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SIXTY YEARS AGO

W.T. Grigg was re-elected president of the Army, Navy and Air Force Veterans in Canada, Unit 10, at the annual meeting held recently.

Six city business and professional men were elected to Brandon Chamber of Commerce council for two-year terms. They are: John G. Allen, J.A. Creighton, J.M. Donovan, A.C. Hamilton, Roland Kitchen and J.W. Pool. Re-elected for two-year terms were: D.M. Doig, John English, J.L. Lowes and F.O. Meighen.

FIFTY YEARS AGO

Melita residents can relax their water conservation regime as the supply is almost back to normal after a week of “critically low supply.”

City council has confirmed the appointment of Bob Gaiser, president of the Brandon Flying Club, as citizen-at-large appointee to the airport management board.

FORTY YEARS AGO

Investigators say a brake failure caused by a pinched air hose was the likely cause of a train wreck that killed a Canadian Pacific Railway engineer and started sulphur fires that forced hundreds from their homes in Medicine Hat, Alta.

Al Robertson of Hamiota has been named volunteer of the year by the Manitoba Baseball Association.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

After pressure from Prairie farmers, the Canadian Wheat Board has raised the prices it will pay for quality, high-protein wheat. Farmers will get an additional $58 per tonne on No. 1 grade high-protein red spring wheat and an extra $60 per tonne on high protein durum.

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien gave his support to increasing NATO involvement in Bosnia to help end 21 months of bloody civil war.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Everyone but Garth Rice and Errol Black had a tough time resisting the charms of Convergys, which promised to open an inbound call centre that will employ at least 300 Brandonites by 2006. While all 10 councillors were upset that they had to make their choice under some pressure, almost all of those at the council table swooned when told Convergys could make their dreams of developing downtown Brandon come true. “Brandon is a big loser if we walk away from a deal just because we don’t like the process,” said Coun. Rick Chrest (University), echoing the feeling around the council table as it voted 9-2 in favour of approving Convergys’ lease at a special council meeting this morning.

TEN YEARS AGO

When Jon and Jamie Hill stepped onto their plane in Cayo Santa Maria, the temperature was a balmy 30 C. Less than five hours later, the newlyweds were standing in the Winnipeg Airport facing -37 C conditions. “It’s like coming back to reality,” Jon Hill said about the 67-degree swing after spending a week at an all-inclusive beach resort located in the north-central part of the island country. The couple, who were married this past summer, picked Cuba for their honeymoon.

The Manitoba government examined “different scenarios” before settling on a one per cent increase to the provincial sales tax in the last budget, although those options are being kept under wraps. The government has come under fire for raising the tax to eight per cent last July and bypassing a referendum required for such a hike under the balanced budget law.