Continued from page 41.
Chief Dickens had requested that the city open a valve connecting the city water supply and the closed supply for the Lois Creek area in the event that more water was needed. However, this situation did not materialize and the valve was again closed.
According to Larry Musser of the city, the installation of new supply mains in the vicinity of the school in 1969 have provided good water supply and pressure to that area.
The city fire department had two units at the blaze as well as an ambulance and the fire chiefs car. Additional assistance was provided by Cominco with one large unit and a rescue van. The mine also had 10 firefighters on the scene as well as Fire Chief Jack Daynes and his assistant Dave Calder.
Officials from Columbia Natural Gas reported this morning that gas lines to the buildings were turned off by the fire department but there was no actual danger from that source in the old building.
Had the fire spread to the new wing gas explosions could have been possible but that is the only area of the school where gas is needed. The remainder is heated by a boiler system.
Despite a radio appeal by the RCMP for people to stay away from the area, several hundred converged on the roads blocking traffic and hindering the movement of necessary equipment to the firefighters.
According to Sgt. Fred Bodemuk, most of his men were called in to help cope with the crowd problems that he termed "foolish."
The sergeant stated that he couldn't see the attraction in a fire of this nature and that people who were in no position to help had no business being there. Particularly, he added, when there is only one access to the area.
"I would hope," he continued, "that people will show more consideration in the future."
Mr. Drdul, now business manager for Today Publications, drove up to the school to play badminton and was one of the first on the scene.
"I pulled up and parked my car in front of the school at first," he said. "The windows of the school looked opaque and you could smell smoke. Then I drove around to the back and I could see smoke being forced out from around the closed cafeteria doors."
He said the two gym doors were open and some youngsters were bringing out musical instruments. Mr. Drdul then went over to the school's music room entrance saw the smoke oozing out.
"I realized then that it was a major fire so I drove right to the fire department. Just as I arrived at the corner the fire truck came thundering out of the department and I knew someone had turned in the alarm."
"The new Kimberley Council will be faced with several important decisions in 1973," reflected new mayor-elect Jim Ogilvie, following his decisive victory in the Kimberley civic elections Saturday night.
"The city must make a decision on the Bavarian and Alpine theme and also decide on their position on the present tax structure within the city's boundaries." Opt-Outs to industrial concerns in the tax blanket will have to be considered and reviewed," he said.
"With our new councillors and city organizations working together, all of Kimberley can benefit," he added.
"I'm naturally very pleased with the results of the election," Ogilvie continued, "and I'm looking forward to working with the new councillors. It will be a big job following in the steps of Mayor Bud Buckle."
Ogilvie expressed his appreciation for the support shown for him at the polls.
"The large slate of candidates in all the races, the mayoralty, aldermanic and school trustees, made it one of the most exciting and interesting campaigns ever," he said. "With that many people willing to work for the betterment of our community, Kimberley has a bright future ahead."
Ogilvie, at 36 years of age, is Kimberley's youngest mayor ever, but he comes to the post well qualified. He served for several years as a councillor for the Village of Marysville prior to amalgamation and since then has served as alderman for the City of Kimberley. He is a former chairman of the Marysville Recreation Commission and former president of the Kimberley Minor Hockey Association.
For Bert Banks, who led the polls in the two-year aldermanic contest, his election marks a return to civic politics after two years of voluntary absence.
"I'm extremely pleased to be back on the council and I'm prepared to do the job people apparently expect of me," he commented Saturday night.
"I feel Kimberley has a good future ahead and my main aim will be to promote the growth of Kimberley," he added. "I'm interested in seeing a change in the tax structure for all taxpayers."
"I'm looking forward to working with our new mayor," Banks continued. "I've worked with him before, and I believe he'll be an exceptional mayor."
Banks served a two-year term on Kimberley City Council from 1968-70 after amalgamation. Prior to this, he had served as a councillor for the Village of Chapman Camp.
As a successful candidate in his first venture into civic politics, John Daigle expressed his appreciation of the support shown him at the polls.
"I'm ready to do the work the people elected me to do," he said. "I've always been optimistic about Kimberley's future, and I'm pleased to have an opportunity to help guide our city's affairs."
Third alderman for the 1973-74 term is W. Jack Reid. Reid is also a returnee to the Kimberley City Council scene, having previously served a two-year term.
"I'm happy to be back," Reid said, "and prepared to work to keep our tax level at a reasonable rate while maintaining our city services."
A former School Board trustee, Harry Broadhurst was the successful winner of the one-year aldermanic post, scoring a decisive victory over his two rivals.
In the School Board Trustee voting, newcomer Verna Coop topped the polls with 1702 votes. The second position was won by Malcolm Smith who collected 1092 votes, edging Bruce King with 822.
The fate of the school referendum for School District No. 3 (Kimberley) remains in doubt at press time. Final unofficial tabulations show the referendum was narrowly defeated, lacking only 12 votes for the 60 per cent majority required. Final figures showed 1110 in favor of the referendum and 759 against.
A new type of 'rock' movement hit the Kimberley area last week and caused red faces among observant residents in the southern reaches of the city.
Back before the days of amalgamation, the Marysville Cub pack, as their centennial project, painted and arranged rocks on the slopes above the CPR rail tracks to spell out 'Marysville '67'. This symbol of civic and national pride remained outlined on the hillside until last week.
City Alderman Vic Dick reports his phone started ringing early Thursday as numerous Marysville residents called in to say the stones had been mysteriously rearranged and were a real eye-opener! One of the best known four-lettered words in the English language scorched the eyes of any and all beholders.
City workmen rushed to the scene and stored a semblance of respectability to the display. They spelled out the password of the seventies: Love.
It's reported that the Marysville Cubs will be repainting the rocks later this spring and will return the rocks to their original outline.
Next.Salute to Kimberley - Index Page
Front Cover - Inside Front Cover
Page One 1896 - 1910, - Page Two 1900 - 1911, - Page Three 1912 - 1920, - Page Four 1921 - 1924, - Page Five 1925
Page Six 1926, - Page Seven 1927, - Page Eight 1928, - Page Nine 1929, - Page Ten 1930, -
Page Eleven 1930, - Page Twelve 1931/32, - Page Thirteen 1933 - 1936, - Page Fourteen 1937 - 1939, - Page Fifteen 1940, -
Page Sixteen 1941/42, - Page Seventeen 1943, - Page Eighteen 1944/45, - Page Nineteen 1945/46, - Page Twenty 1946/47, -
Page Twentyone 1948, - Page Twentytwo 1948, - Page Twentythree 1949, - Page Twentyfour 1950/51, - Page Twentyfive 1951, -
Page Twentysix 1952, - Page Twentyseven 1953, - Page Twentyeight 1954/55, - Page Twentynine 1955, - Page Thirty 1956/57, -
Page Thirtyone 1957/58, - Page Thirtytwo 1958/59, - Page Thirtythree 1959 - 1961, - Page Thirtyfour 1961/62, - Page Thirtyfive 1962/63, -
Page Thirtysix 1963/64, - Page Thirtyseven 1964 - 1966, - Page Thirtyeight 1967, - Page Thirtynine 1968 - 1970, - Page Forty 1970, -
Page Fortyone 1971, - Page Fortytwo 1972, - Page Fortythree 1973, - Page Fortyfour 1974/75, - Page Fortyfive 1975, -
Page Fortysix 1976, - Page Fortyseven 1976, - Page Fortyeight 1977/78, - Page Fortynine 1978, - Page Fifty 1979/80, -
Page Fiftyone 1981/82, - Page Fiftytwo 1982/83, - Page Fiftythree 1983/84, - Page Fiftyfour 1985, - Page Fiftyfive 1986/87, -
Page Fiftysix 1987/88, - Page Fiftyseven 1988/89, - Page Fiftyeight 1989 - 1991, - Page Fiftynine 1991/92, - Page Sixty 1993/94, -
Page Sixtyone 1995, - Page Sixtytwo 1996/97, - Page Sixtythree 1997/98, - Page Sixtyfour 1998/99, - Back CoverReturn to Keepers Index
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