1982: GRAIN ELEVATOR PLANS ANNOUNCED - In a front-page story, the Olds Gazette reported on the planned construction of a new grain elevator complex in the district. “A huge new grain elevator complex to serve the needs of the Olds and Didsbury districts for many years for both grain handling and farm supplies will be built near Olds by Pioneer Grain Co. The announcement was made in Olds by Art Tooth, Pioneer vice-president, who was here to complete arrangements for construction of the new $1,750,000 facility. The elevator will rise in the familiar orange and yellow colours of Pioneer Grain to a height of 148 ft. The lower portion consists of 33 ft. of concrete construction, which will house an office and built-in farm supply storage. Above that will be the 65 ft. 200,000 bushel crib and above that again will be the 50 ft. head house. The elevator will be built on a 12 acre site south of the C.P. loading dock and south of Greenway Farm Supplies. The elevator spur will handle 22 hopper cars. Grain will be elevated in two 6,000 bushel per hour legs. Grain will be delivered through a centre driveway. The elevator will also be designed to load cars at a rate of 12,000 bushels per hour. Contractors are Jacobsen Elevator Builders of Bismarck, North Dakota. Pioneer Grain Co. will also build a similar elevator at Swan River, Manitoba.
1983: GLIDING CENTRE A TENTATIVE GO - The Gazette reported on plans for changes to an airfield north of Olds. “Unofficial confirmation has been received that Netook Airport has been turned over to the Alberta Provincial Air Cadet League to be used as a gliding training centre. According to the chairman of the committee, which will oversee the centre's renovations, confirmation was received verbally from Tom Watt, deputy minister of Alberta Transportation responsible for airports. Don Bennett this week said the airspace in the airstrip's vicinity will henceforth be designated as an "alert area," and will be classified as a private airfield. The airport was recently transferred from the Department of National Defense to the provincial government, which in turn handed it over to the cadets. During the Second World War, the grass strip served as an auxiliary field for the former No. 26 EFTS Flying Training School located at Bowden. After the war, then-Mayor Art Dunkley negotiated a lease on the field for the town of Olds. The town held the lease on the field until the Olds Didsbury Municipal Airport was built. The most recent transfer of ownership was initiated by the Olds Air Cadet Squadron 185's civilian committee approximately one year ago.”
1986: FIRE STRIKES HIGH SCHOOL – The Didsbury Review reported on a fire incident at the local high school. “Quick action by school officials prevented a small fire – which appeared to have been deliberately set – from turning into a major blaze at the Didsbury High School. The fire started about 1:50 p.m. in the heat register of a classroom in May City north, an old two-room country school attached to the high school. ‘Another five minutes and the whole thing might have been gone,’ said vice principal Marty Overguard. After the flames and smoke were spotted, the school was evacuated and Mr. Overguard and principal Ian Taylor then ran to the scene of the trouble and were able to douse the flames with chemical-spray extinguishers. Authorities are looking into the possibility that someone stuffed paper into the registers and then set it on fire. RCMP are investigating.”
1982: NEW BAND DIRECTOR HIRED - The Gazette reported on the hiring of a new band director in the area. “A man with a 30-year background in music will lead the Mountain View County Band into the next school year, superintendent of schools Harold Jepson announced Wednesday. In making the announcement, the superintendent told the monthly school board meeting that the new bandmaster, Jack Teknan, has conducted two bands in Canada and two in his native Holland. He's been with the Princess Patricia Light Infantry’s band and is involved with the Edmonton Armed Forces reserves band. Although not certified as a teacher in Alberta, he’s taught music for over 20 years.”
1986: STORM WREAKS HAVOC – The Review reported on a large storm that caused all kinds of problems when it moved through the area. “What was supposed to be a bit of snow and rain on Tuesday and Wednesday ended up destroying building, knocking down trees, power poles, flooding basements and making a huge mess of things. The storm created enough havoc to close most stores for Wednesday, close Hugh Sutherland School from Wednesday to Friday, and postpone any activities or events that were scheduled for the week. Power was out for about 24 hours for all homes in Carstairs and was out for around 45 hours in rural areas, with many people being stranded and snowed in for days. It’s been a long time since many of us have encountered such a such a storm and in speaking to some of the residents in the area, they don’t remember a storm as severe since 1928 and 1948.”
1982: AIRCRAFT SEARCH INVOLVES LOCALS – The Gazette reported on efforts to find an aircraft that may have gone down in the district. “RCMP from Sundre acting on a report from hunters have turned over a concentrated three-day search for a missing aircraft to the Rocky Mountain House detachment. Sgt. Don Welke of the Sundre RCMP said the hunters on their way through Sundre reported spotting the tail section of an aircraft up a cut line off the forestry road south of Ram Falls. The men did not check the sighting out and neither they nor the RCMP have been able to verify the report. The Bellanca Viking 300 aircraft en route from Cranbrook to Edmonton was reported missing last Wednesday with two men aboard. The air search is now concentrated in the area between Rocky Mountain House and Cranbrook. An aircraft owned and piloted by a local man joined more than 30 other military and civilian planes in the search west of Rocky. Mel Cipperley, a veteran civilian pilot, who is thoroughly familiar with the west country searched for the plane on his own Monday. Other Olds aircraft have joined the search from time to time.”
