Looking Back — April 24, 2024

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/04/2024 (880 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SIXTY YEARS AGO

Jim Downey of Coulter was awarded the president’s medal for scholarship combined with outstanding leadership qualities at commencement exercises of the diploma course in agriculture at the University of Manitoba.

Six members of the Brandon Air Cadets were chosen this year for special cadet awards, including flying scholarships, an overseas tour and senior leaders courses. They are: Flt. Sgt. Ed Pue; Cpl. Allan Brooks, WO2 Robert Beattie; Sgt. Mark Sawchuk, LAC Ron Richardson and Sgt. Rodney Johnson.

FIFTY YEARS AGO

Manitoba Hog Producers shut off the teletypes last week and gross receipts increased by $125,000 during the first week of a new selling system. Officials of the Manitoba Hog Producers Marketing Board decided to set a price, rather than permitting buyers to decide the price by using the teletype.

The semester system will be used in Earl Oxford and Earl Haig junior high schools on a trial basis during the 1974-75 school year.

The Manitoba government has turned down a $300,000 loan to a group of Winnipeg businessmen trying to purchase the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association, Premier Ed Sterner said yesterday.

FORTY YEARS AGO

Officials say there were 48 brush and forest fires burning in Manitoba yesterday as the warm, dry spell continued across southern half of the province.

The Brandon North Via Rail passenger service will be back in operation on June 3 after a two-year absence.

About 100 people attended the official opening of the new Manitoba Pool elevator northeast of Brandon. The 37-metre, aluminum-covered building will replace the co-operative’s two elevators on Pacific Avenue as well as elevators in Forrest and one scheduled to be closed in Douglas at the end of July. The new $1.5-million elevator has an electronic 24.4-metre-long receiving scale that can hold tractor-trailers.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

Communications Minister Glen Findlay said an agreement in principle has been reached between Manitoba Telephone System and the Manitoba Cable Television Association. The arrangement will see cable operators buy the cable distribution network from the Crown-owned MTS.

Charles Gordon, a former Brandon Sun managing editor, will be awarded a doctor of literature (Honoris Causa) at Brandon University’s spring convocation. Gordon was the editorial page editor and managing editor from 1964 to 1974, and then went on to join the Ottawa Citizen.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Six tonnes of Manitoba beef will put protein in hungry stomachs and put money in the wallets of the province’s cattle producers. Agriculture Minister Rosann Wowchuk came to Brandon’s Samaritan House Ministries this week to announce that beef will be provided to 24 provincial food banks free of charge, with the government spending $20,000 to have Manitoba cattle slaughtered and processed here. In Brandon, packages of frozen ground beef will be put in with the hampers Samaritan House puts together for needy families.

TEN YEARS AGO

The push is on to free Brandon’s downtown development corporation from political interference, part of the ongoing organizational review being conducted jointly by Renaissance Brandon and city council. The working group conducting the review, which includes city councillors and Renaissance Brandon board members, is looking at various ways to refocus and reimagine the corporation’s mandate. The group is looking at the organization’s current model, reviewing its programs and making recommendations.

This winter’s frozen water woes have spilled into Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, leaving roughly 120 homes without running water through the night. Sioux Valley Chief Vince Tacan said frost buildup caused a break in the community’s water line, a common problem in Winnipeg this year due to an abnormally cold winter.