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
Well it certainly wasn’t quaint small town news on the front page of the Lake Cowichan Gazette of April 9, 2014.
“Armed robbery rocks Youbou” was the shocking headline there in bold print for all to read.
“An armed robbery of a local store on the weekend has rocked Youbou. This past Saturday, April 5, at approximately 4:30 p.m., a hooded male with a balaclava covering his face entered the Shop and Save convenience store with a chisel and demanded money.
“‘After pushing the female store owner (Rose Steven) out of the way, the suspect stole the cash drawer from the register and fled the scene on foot,’ said Cst. Grant Desmet from the Lake Cowichan RCMP in a press release. ‘The store owner’s husband (Kerry Steven) witnessed the robbery and chased after the male as he ran from the scene. The suspect was located a short distance away trying to hide in a yard but when discovered he decided to jump into the lake and swim out to a nearby log boom.’
“The male, surrendered to police as they got to him and the stolen cash was retrieved by the officers.
“‘The suspect had thrown the weapon used in the robbery into Cowichan Lake,’ wrote Desmet. ‘It was later recovered by the RCMP Dive Team’.”
And here’s a story about a project that has actually come to fruition!
“Mayor drops columbarium idea for Lake” was the title.
“The prospect of a columbarium for Lake Cowichan has been brought up for discussion and contemplation at the council table. The idea was presented by Mayor Ross Forrest following feedback at a recent public meeting…
“‘We have no cemetery here,’ said Forrest. ‘A columbarium is an alternative to a full burial. It’s not going to please everybody but this would allow people to stay here.’
“Coun. Tim McGonigle is all for it.
‘“You can live here, you just can’t live here and die here,’ he said. ‘This has always been an issue as long as I’ve been at the table. It’s an excellent idea that doesn’t need to be a full blown cemetery. It’s not a money maker so if we’re looking to make money off it we’re in the wrong business. It’s a place for people to pay their respects’.”
25 years ago
“Negotiations resume between CUPE and VIRL” was on the front page of the April 14, 1999 Lake News.
“The Vancouver Island Regional Library is involved in a labor dispute which may see this library in Lake Cowichan, closed. However the union has extended its strike deadline from April 13 as both the union and VIRL have agreed to a bargaining session on that day. Peter Wainwright, chairman of the Vancouver Island Regional Library said they have been in negotiations with the union for the last six months and talks broke down March 14.
“The talks with the union broke down Mar. 14 a mediator was brought in and negotiation only lasted another two days. On Mar. 30, CUPE 401 gave the VIRL 72 hour strike notice and on Mar. 31 the VIRL gave the union 72 hours lock out notice. CUPE sent a letter to Vancouver Island Regional library to say that if they aren’t offered a better deal by April 12, at noon, then the union would undertake job action.”
In other news, the story “Police concerned with explosives in the hands of young adults” also stood out.
“Lake Cowichan [RCMP] are concerned with dangerous explosives which may be in the hands of young adults possibly living in Lake Cowichan. Sgt. Gerry Poitras said a Wilderness Watch employee heard an explosion in the area of the Robertson River off of Hillcrest Main on Easter Sunday.
“The suspects were followed in Lake Cowichan and were last seen turning east on Cowichan Avenue. Sgt. Poitras said there were several people in the club cab of the vehicle who all appeared to be about 19-years-old or 20. Lake Cowichan RCMP attended the area where the explosion occurred and discovered that an explosive charge had been set off under the last remaining stringer across the river at that point. Of concern to police, said Sgt. Poitras is where did the explosives come from? Do the people involved have more explosives? and what do they intend to do with them?”
40 years ago
“Third shift added as mill rebounds” was a sight for sore eyes on the front page of the Lake News of April 11, 1984.
“The B.C. Forest Products Youbou sawmill will add a third shift in its ‘A’ mill section next Monday for four weeks starting down its ever-increasing supply April 16.
Mill manager Clare Stoney said Monday that 33 workers will be called back to work graveyard shift in the ‘A’ mill, which handles standard, large size logs. The Youbou mill has been running a third shift on its Number One Planer for about two months, Stoney said. The third shift in ‘A’ mill is needed to ‘balance the inventory’ at the mill, Stoney said.”
And finally, in the same edition was “Local couple convicted on cocaine import charge”.
“Don and Vicki Rodenbush, former residents of Lake Cowichan, were convicted last Friday in New Westminster of importing a narcotic into Canada. They now face a minimum of seven years in jail. The case took more than a year and a half to come to court. The Rodenbushes had been charged in August, 1982 with importing a narcotic after customs officials seized a quantity of cocaine following a search of a vehicle at the Douglas border crossing at Surrey.”