Welcome to Lake Flashback. Reporter Sarah Simpson has been combing through old newspapers with the assistance of the Kaatza Station Museum and Archives so we can jog your memory, give you that nostalgic feeling, or just a chuckle, as we take a look at what was making headlines this week around Cowichan Lake in years gone by.
This week around the Cowichan Lake area…
10 years ago
Crime always seems to hit as Christmas nears and things were no different a decade ago according to the Lake Cowichan Gazette of Nov. 27, 2013.
“Everything about Coral Sirup’s wedding ring and band has special meaning… The rings, which were custom-made, combine jewelry from Sirup’s family and from her husband’s family to create two pieces that are incredibly personal.
“‘My rings are unique; they’re one-of-a-kind,’ she said. ‘Each stone represents something and is something’ These unique rings that mean so much to Sirup were taken from her home during a break and enter on Friday, Nov. 22, and she’s been distributing posters asking for information about the missing rings and offering a reward for their return ever since.”
Police confirmed that there had been four break-ins in the neighbourhood near the Duck Pond in recent weeks.
“In another part of town, Cathy Jenkins came home on Monday, Nov. 25 after three weeks away to discover a freezerload of food had been taken. Jenkins lives on Johel Road, and she has a freezer outside her home that was almost full with food she’d bought for the holidays. She was shocked to find that everything was gone except the bread.”
In more uplifting news of the day, “They have a boat!: Thanks to anonymous donors and fundraising, the Lake Cowichan Fire Department has purchased a rescue boat earlier than expected.
“The fire department has been fundraising for over a year and a half and has just had the new boat delivered, equipped with a trailer and all. ‘It’s a huge thing; we’ve gone a long time without one,’ said fire chief Doug Knott.
“Knott’s relief comes after a heartfelt cash injection from anonymous sources, but the fire chief admits ‘has a fair idea of who it’s from.’”
25 years ago
“Rescuers, save life in raging river” was the top headline on the front page of the Lake News of Dec. 2, 1998.
“In one of the most dramatic rescues ever made in this area, one of three rafters, names of whom have not been released by police, was plucked by Lake Cowichan firemen from the rain-swollen Cowichan River Thursday. He had hung desperately onto a log jam near the river bank for more than an hour. He was rushed to hospital with hypothermia. The raft upset about a kilometre up-stream from where the missing man was located. Another man made it to shore near where the raft turned over. A woman was found about half a kilometre down-stream. Police said later that the three adults were aged 65, 52 and 55. It was feared that the missing man might not be found alive. Survival for long in the icy water was unlikely.”
In other news, “Council looks at Municipal Bonds” was a story on page 3.
“If Lake Cowichan has to ‘go it alone’ in building a new incinerator, money must be raised by issuing our own municipal bonds that every citizen could buy. The bonds would be issued through the Municipal Finance Authority of British Columbia. They would probably pay a slightly higher rate than you could get from term deposits at the bank, or Canada Savings Bonds, while still protected with a Triple AAA credit rating.”
40 years ago
“What an incredible way to die!” was the headline atop the Lake News of Nov. 30, 1983 but thankfully nobody did.
“In a slick business like operation on Friday, two armed men, barking terse orders to Royal Bank customers and staff, cleaned out teller’s wickets and one vault in seven minutes flat before calmly leaving the scene in a stolen pick-up. They were a no-nonsense duo, one armed with a sawed-off shot gun which could have sprayed lethal pellets in seconds within the confined area of the bank at about 11:30 a.m. on Friday. Nov. 25, the day most of the six staff and seven customers wish never happened.”
And for those who think things just keep getting more expensive, ponder this one:
“New council handed $450,000 budget” was also a headline on the same front page as the above story.
“The outgoing village council adopted a $450,000 provisional budget for 1984 at its Nov. 22 meeting, but left decisions on how money should be specifically spent to the new council, which takes office in December.
“The heaviest expenses are in ‘general government’ and ‘public works’ sectors of the budget, which would total about $390,000 between them in 1984. Other anticipated heavy-expense areas in 1984 will be the fire department and parks and recreation department, which will need about $87,800 between them.
“The amount of revenue expected to be generated for 1984 is down considerably — $128,319 — from 1983 according to the provisional budget.
