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.
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This week around the Cowichan Lake area
10 years ago
"LakeTown needs local response" was on the front page of the Lake Cowichan Gazette on Sept. 23, 2015.
"The businesses and organizations of Lake Cowichan need to act now if they hope to benefit from the proposed LakeTown Ranch. That was the message from Cathy Robertson of Community Futures Cowichan to the Lake Cowichan Chamber of Commerce Sept. 15.
"LakeTown Ranch is the proposed new development on 69 hectares at Meade Creek, just west of Lake Cowichan. The event facility that would be the permanent home of the annual Sunfest Country Music Festival and potentially host other events during the year. The purpose-built facility would include a performance venue, campground and infrastructure for large crowds, potentially numbering more than 50,000 during Sunfest, which is currently held at the Cowichan Exhibition Grounds in Duncan."
In other big news of the day, "Foster named Freeman" was a page 3 headline.
"Pat Foster was bestowed with the Town of Lake Cowichan's highest honour, Freeman of the Town, at the council meeting Sept. 15.
"Foster was honoured for her many years of service to the community as a school board trustee, town councillor and other community involvement. Foster has lived in the Lake Cowichan area most of her 73 years and in the home she shares with her husband George at the lake for 53 years.
"'I raised my family and before my son left home, I decided to run for school board, and served on the board for six years,' says Foster who is the mother of three. 'Then I ran for council and sat as a councillor for 15 years.' For many of those years she was deputy mayor and chair of the finance committee."
25 years ago
"Negotiator talks man with rifle out of Lake Cow home" was a headline on the Lake Cowichan Gazette's front page on Sept. 27, 2000.
"A police emergency response team and a negotiator talked a gun-wielding man out of a house on Neva Road in Lake Cowichan early Monday morning.
"The Lake Cowichan RCMP detachment received a complaint at about 1:30 a.m. Monday that an adult male was inside a residence with a gun and was reported to be out of control. Police report the house was secured and the emergency response team brought in to assist local police in removing the man from the house.
"The Lake Cowichan RCMP are recommending weapons-related charges against the man, under the Criminal Code of Canada, reported Sgt. Gerry Poitras.
"The man's name nor his place of residence [was] released by the police."
"Cowichan Lake water is released to help salmon" was another headline.
"Fletcher Challenge began releasing water from Cowichan Lake on Monday to help salmon move up the Cowichan River to spawn. The flow over the company's weir at Lake Cowichan will be increased from 250 cubic feet per second to about 650 cubic feet per second between Sept. 25 and Oct. 2. The full release is expected to reach the lower Cowichan River late on Sept. 26. The increased flow will assist the upward migration of spawning salmon in the Cowichan River.
"'The main thing is to get the fish moving up the river,' said Bruno Blecic, senior district water officer for the Ministry of Environment. 'Apparently there are all kinds of fish (chinook and coho) milling around at the mouth of the river, being eaten by predators. It's basically a Department of Fisheries and Oceans request.'"
40 years ago
The front of the Lake News of Sept. 25, 1985 noted that "Mrs. Noble resigns — Not fired says board," though in the story it never mentioned why there was any confusion about her departure.
"Mrs. Margaret Noble — secretary-treasurer of School District 66 — has resigned, the School Board has announced in a press release issued by chairman Pat Foster. The resignation was accepted following a 'retreat' last Wednesday and Thursday.
"The resignation becomes effective the end of this month. Mrs. Noble later told the Lake News that she may enter private business. She is a professional accountant.
"'Due to declining enrolment and the present level of funding, the board will use this opportunity to reduce senior staff at the district level,' said the board. 'Mrs. Noble joined the School District in 1980 and has played a key role in improving staff relations and assisting the School District through troubled financial times.'
"The trustees dealt with a number of other items at their retreat. They developed a draft set of objectives for the 1985-86 school year for ratification at the board meeting October 7.
"They 'expressed interest' in a request from the Kaatza Historical Society regarding the possible donation of the present custodial building to the Society."
And finally, "Hunter shoots bear cubs" also made the front page.
"Two bear cubs were shot and killed last Saturday at Cottonwood Creek and local RCMP are calling it an 'irresponsible act'.
"Sgt. Derouin said the incident was reported to police by another party who witnessed the shooting. Charges are pending. Sgt. Derouin guesses the cubs to be approximately six months of age and says 'This is completely intolerable'. Derouin explained that Cottonwood Creek is far enough away from a residential area that the animals are not a threat."
