1962 - ELEVATOR DESTROYED BY FIRE - The Didsbury Review reported on the destruction of a grain elevator in town. "Fire broke out early Friday at the UGG #3 elevator in Didsbury. The first fire alarm rang out through the frosty morning at 5:37 a.m. and within seven minutes the first fire engine was at the scene. By this time the fire had too good a start, but with help from the Carstairs fire brigade the volunteer firefighters managed to save the adjacent coal sheds of UGG #2 elevator. Nearly 80,000 bushels of grain were in storage in the elevator and annex combined. Also lost in the blaze were a feed shed, a workshop and several personal items belonging to the operator."
1975 - SPOT-REMOVER COMMITTEE FORMED - In a front page story, the Review reported on plans to help keep the town clean. "The Didsbury Chamber of Commerce has appointed three townspeople to a committee which will attempt to encourage the clean-up and beautification of our town. More than one visitor to Didsbury has commented on how clean the town is. Improvements are continually being made. In the past few years, many homeowners have been painting, shingling, replacing siding and landscaping. However, several areas still require attention. The new committee will be concerned with such things as junk piles and uncut grass, which can be unsightly, but a fire hazard as well, discarded vehicles, broken down fences and property which is generally uncared for. The members of the committee encourage people to clean up these unsightly spots, perhaps as part of their spring clean up. Anyone concerned about a particular problem area is encouraged to call any member of the committee."
1982: DAM PROJECT COMING ALONG – The Gazette reported that work on the new Dickson dam was coming along nicely. “About 550 workers are still at the construction site, about 150 less than the force last summer. Sixty per cent of the work is now complete after three years of work. Pitts Engineering has completed diversion tunnels, which will be equipped to produce 20 megawatts of power, enough to serve Red Deer. The $1-million control building near the spillway is well into construction with four of five spillway gates in place. Work on the main dam should be completed by fall.”
1986: NEW SLOGAN FOR DIDSBURY – The Review reported on the results of a contest to find a new slogan for Didsbury. “After more than two weeks of study and a little hair-pulling by judges, a winner has been declared in the Didsbury and District Chamber of Commerce slogan contest. And the winner is Karen Snyder. Mrs. Snyder’s slogan: Building a secure future on a solid past. It was selected as the winner from 141 entries. She received a microwave oven from Grant’s Variety and Video as her prize. ‘I wasn’t born here but I’ve heard a lot about the history of the town from my in-laws,’ said Snyder. ‘It’s not just a dead little prairie town and I have three good reasons (her children) for believing in its future.' Chamber president Don Moore presented Mrs. Snyder with her prize, along with a town pin. ‘We have some excellent entries, making the choice of a winner very difficult,’ said Moore. ‘The excellence and sheer volume of the entries made me very proud to call Didsbury home.'"
1990 - RESIDENTS QUESTION FARM TAXES – In a front-page story, the Olds Gazette reported on a group of local residents who were not at all happy with the county’s tax rates. “The residents sent a letter to county council complaining of excessively high taxes. ‘Farmers that are depending on what they produce from land are faced with difficult times. To their surprise instead of land taxes going down to lighten the load, the county increases the budget by 9.4 per cent.’ Since 1983 the municipal mill rates have increased by 19.8 per cent, while those for farmland have risen 38.3 per cent. On a typical investment of $50,000 these figures represent tax increases of $104 and $310 respectively. The letter went on to say, ‘The important question is, do you want the farm community to survive or not?’ Councillor Dave Derkson said that if farmers want the budget to be reduced then they will have to accept a cutback in services. He noted that as the county gets larger, and inflation continues, taxes must increase to keep up. ‘No one realizes that people are getting services they are not paying for,’ Derkson said, but he did not mention exactly where the money for such services was coming from.”
1986: LARGE TURNOUT FOR MUSIC EVENT – The Review reported on a successful music event in Carstairs. “The Carstairs Carol Fest, held Sunday evening, was enjoyed by more than 400 people. The Hugh Sutherland senior high concert band played some delightful carols. The cost of the evening was covered by the local churches that participated and donations that were generously made will go to local charities. It was an enjoyable evening and helped everyone get into the Christmas spirit.”
1987 – MAN IN MOTION VISITS DIDSBURY. The Review reported on Rick Hansen’s stopover in Didsbury as part of his Man In Motion world tour. “With more than 1,500 spectators looking on, Mr. Hansen was presented with a cheque and other donations topping the $4,800 mark for spinal cord research and wheelchair awareness. ‘I thank you all for taking the time to turn out tonight,’ he said. ‘But more importantly, I thank you for believing in my dream to give everyone a chance in life, the chance to make the best of what you’ve got’. Mayor Watt said, referring to Mr. Hansen’s upcoming journey through the Rocky Mountains before completing his two-year journey around the world: ‘You’ve only got a couple more small hills to climb’. Among those greeting Hansen were MLA Roy Brassard and many service club members.”
