Five years ago (2009): On 13th Avenue between 10th Street and Stark Road, a petition with 75 signatures was presented to the District of Invermere requesting that the speed limit be lowered from 50 kilometres per hour to 30.
“It is only a matter of time before there is a serious accident on this avenue,” warned the petition. “A system must be introduced to control the speed of traffic along this major artery.”
Ten years ago (2004): High gas prices were in the news. At the cost of 76.9 – 79.9 cents per litre in the valley, mayor Mark Shmigelsky told the Valley Echo, “I’m certainly not happy with the situation both as a consumer and as mayor,” adding that he was worried about the impact on tourism. The District of Invermere had written oil producers in the past, but received replies loaded with excuses, Mr. Shmigelsky sa id.
15 years ago (1999): “The picket lines have gone up because the Treasury Branch won’t sit down and talk,” said Michael Power, president of Public Service Alliance Branch 20113, referring to the rotating strike that has reached the Radium Hot Spring pools. He claimed that Parks Canada employees were being paid less than their private-sector counterparts, contrary to popular belief. It was the first strike by Parks Canada employees in the province since 1991.
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A different strike came to an end when nurses agrees to end the rotating strike that had been going on since October 1998.
“We’ll accept it, but we’re not happy about it,” said local union steward Jonni Sharp.
The provincial union voted 71 per cent in favour; Ms. Sharp would have liked to have seen the rate of support closer to 50 per cent, “to send the Health Employers Association of B.C. a message.”
20 years ago (1994): A grieving pet owner wrote a letter to the editor, requesting that drivers report casualties involving pets to the owner.
“We would have appreciated being informed by you instead of a neighbour, who found Missy lying on the road,” wrote the grieving pet owner, who said the letter was not written with malicious intent, but because her dog could have possibly survived.
“I know it would be hard to face the owners, but it would have been the courteous thing to do.”
She advised people in that situation to not be afraid of telling the owner, “because they would rather know when it happens and not after, once it’s too late.”
30 years ago (1984): Growing up on his family farm near the Toby Benches, Joe Peters was known as one of the valley’s milkmen, and in his later years, became better known for his contributions to the local curling community. After decades of pro-active living, he was named the Citizen of the Year for 1983 by the Rotary Club of Invemere.
40 years ago (1974): Due to concerns over depleting wildlife populations in B.C., the province announced plans for a winter elk feeding program. As a result, fourteen communities in the East Kootenay’s were to receive one ton of hay per day as feed.