Looking back - 1946: Birnie welcomes home returning soldiers
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- Published on Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Photo courtesy of Cecil Pittman Archives. Royal Winnipeg Rifle soldiers Bill, Frank and George Meakin cycling in London 1943. George and Frank were captured following the Juno Beach landings on June 6. They were both executed June 8, along with 23 other members of the RWRs.
By Cecil Pittman
The Neepawa Press
80 years ago Friday, June 9, 1936
That there is little likelihood of a highway being built from Neepawa south to highway #1 this year was the information A. J. M. Poole gathered from an interview with Honorable W. R. Clubb, Minister of Public Works in Winnipeg last week. Favorably considered will be the proposed road from Mountain Road east to highway #5, nine miles. If the municipality will provide the grade for this road, the government is willing to spend $15,000 for gravelling, the minister intimated to Mr. Poole. It is understood the government man has estimated that the total cost of this project would be in the neighbourhood of $23,000.
70 years ago Thursday, June 13, 1946
The Birnie community gathered in mass Friday, May 31 to formally welcome home the boys who have returned from overseas.
The platform and auditorium of the Orange Hall was tastefully and appropriately decorated with plants, flags and red, white and blue streamers. “Welcome veterans” in large white letters was prominently displayed. A. E. Servante acted as chairman.
The musical part of the program was opened by the church choir singing “Oh God, Our Help In Ages Past” and “Onward, Christian Soldiers”. The next hour was spent in songs, readings and instrumental selections. Those who contributed to the program were Mrs. J. and Mrs. M. Hannah, Cyril Painter, Audrey Hunt, Mrs. A. McConnell, Harold Dunford, Mrs. George Birnie, Fred Stevens, Jas Thompson, Verla and Ferne Smith, Eva Painter, Gaye Babcock, Muriel Hunt, Rev. H. H. Davis, Mrs. T. Gunson and Mrs. F. T. Birch.
The first to be remembered were the boys who gave their lives for their country, Glen Charles, Fred Weaver and George and Frank Meakin.
60 years ago Thursday, June 14, 1956
Two representatives of the Neepawa Gas Company Limited arrived in Neepawa Friday of last week to discuss the laying of pipe for the distribution of natural gas in the town. Neepawa is the first point in the province at which work will commence. The town of Neepawa having been the first to complete the contract with the gas company.
50 years ago Friday, June 10, 1966
East View Lodge – construction at the site of Neepawa’s new 75-bed elderly persons’ home is proceeding well this week, with foundations poured. An appeal for donations from individuals and organizations is being launched by the committee in charge.
40 years ago Thursday, June 10, 1976
Two Neepawa teenagers died Saturday, June 5, at approximately 11 pm in a vehicle accident on Mountain Avenue in Neepawa.
Dead are driver Bruce Gladden, 17, son of Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Gladden of Neepawa, and passenger Laurie Wiezbinski, who would have been 19 on June 6, son of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Wiezbinski of Neepawa.
At last report, two other passengers, Harris Lowe, 16, and Richard Labuik, 17, are both in guarded condition in Brandon General Hospital.
The Gladden vehicle, as it approached the second RCMP patrol car, passed two other vehicles also traveling north on Mountain. It then passed the patrol car on the left going north and as it attempted to pull back onto the road, collided with the patrol car’s right rear fender. The vehicle veered off the police car and collided with a hydro pole and finally struck an elm tree.
The car’s impact with the hydro pole cut off power in the area and residents in the area whose lights blacked out misinterpreted the crack as thunder and rushed out of their homes, thinking lightning had struck.
30 years ago Thursday, June 12, 1986
QUICK BUILD INDEED!! On Friday, all a passerby would have noted was a vacant lot with building materials scattered about, but on return trip Sunday evening, what greeted the eye was a complete structure, as if a miracle had been performed on the spot. Some 450 people laboured Saturday and Sunday to “quick build” Neepawa’s new Jehovah Witnesses Kingdom Hall. By about 7:30 am, the walls of the new hall had been erected with the roof following shortly thereafter. “It’s going to be quite a shock [when it’s finished],” said Norman Clauss early on Saturday morning. “Is this real? It wasn’t there on Friday.”
20 years ago Monday, June 11, 1996
Following six months of discussion, a uniform policy for handling emergencies has been adopted by hospitals in western Manitoba. Pat Cockburn, director of nursing at Neepawa Hospital, said the policy was needed because too many people were using emergency services as a substitute for a walk-in clinic.
“We had some people who would show up at emergency because it was more convenient than making a doctor’s appointment,” said Cockburn. “We can’t afford to misuse the service that way.”
10 years ago Monday, June 12, 2006
Beautiful Plains Community Foundation handed out over $86,000 in grants last Tuesday, bringing total funding over the past decade to $718,000.
The foundation’s executive director, Linda Hart, said awarding the grants is the “feel good” part of foundation work.
“Our success has to be credited to our donors and volunteers,” Hart said. “Without them, there would be no foundation.”
The foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary last year, but this year marks the 10th year since grants have been awarded. No grants were made the first year of its operation.
