42 YEARS AGO (1981): 108 Fire Chief Rod Beaton was upstaged at the annual Firemen’s Ball when POA treasurer Ian Gunn made the award announcing Beaton as the first 108 Mile Citizen of the year. More than 120 firefighters, wives, friends and supporters gave a standing ovation to the chief. He headed the 108 Fire Department for seven years and was one of the founders who formed the unit in 1972. He and his wife Gladys said they made the right decision moving to the 108 and would not trade it for anywhere else.
31 YEARS AGO (1992): An eight-week-long karaoke contest at the Coach House wrapped up with John Cross crowned the Top Crooner. “He was the most homely-looking lady I’ve seen,” said manager Jennifer Boden. “He didn’t shave his beard off.” His song, Big Spender, was also used by second-place winner Dawn Perrey. Third went to Nadia Heaney-Oshanek and her rendition of Thriller. Around 24 people competed and were judged on talent, performance and costume with a possible 30-point total. The judges were Kevin and Beth Marks and David Bono. Boden hoped to hold another contest in the future.
20 YEARS AGO (2003): Four out-of-town teens faced the possibility of charges after allegedly stealing a vehicle and breaking into a Canim Lake residence. They were caught after an RCMP officer noticed a red Honda Civic speeding on Canim-Hendrix Lake Road. Two male suspects were arrested after the vehicle slid into a ditch and two girls were later tracked down at a cabin in the 8000 block of South Canim Lake Road. All four teens from High River, Alta. faced possible charges of breaking and entering while the two boys faced additional charges of auto theft and possession of stolen property.
9 YEARS AGO (2014): Peewee League Wreckers and Grapes hosted a house league tournament with teams from Williams Lake, Chase, Kamloops and Abbotsford attending. The local teams found the back of the net a number of times over the weekend and went head-to-head with the Ainsworth Grapes beating the A&M Towing Wreckers 3-2. Dirk Verheul, Dylan Newhook and Brendon Scott scored in the second period for the Grapes with assists to Newhood, Camille Barton and Owen Ross while Julian Zucchelli and Kaden Lobsinger scored for the Wreckers in the third period with assists by Tyson Fitzgerald and Kade Livingston.
