Looking back - 1956: 10-year-old O’Brien wins great musical distinction

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Photo courtesy of Garry O’Brien. 1956: 10-year-old Garry O’Brien, winner of great musical distinction this year at Winnipeg and Dauphin festivals.

By Cecil Pittman

The Neepawa Press

80 years ago Tuesday, May 12, 1936

The Neepawa Creamery wishes to announce that it has made available a new form of dessert – the “take home sundae” – the perfect finish for any dinner.

70 years ago Thursday, May 9, 1946

Locker plant expands: Excavation is underway at present for the new 20 by 42 addition to the Neepawa locker plant. Construction will start as soon as the full sized basement is completed and nearly all the material is at hand.  F. Lyall, plant manager, reports that they may be temporarily delayed for some finishing material, but that the building will be in operation within a short time. 

60 years ago Thursday, May 10, 1956

Garry O’Brien, 10, guest at meeting of local Lions Club: Ten-year-old Garry O’Brien, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernie O’Brien of Franklin, Monday night of this week presented a highly enjoyable program of musical selections at the regular meeting of Neepawa Lions Club. Garry, who has won great musical distinction this year at the Winnipeg Music Festival and at the Dauphin Festivals, and his father were guests of the local organization at this meeting. The youngster is a music pupil of Gerald Death, Neepawa. 

50 years ago Tuesday, May 10, 1966

It was announced this week that the D and R Groceteria will be closing its doors as soon as stock and equipment are sold out. Proprietors Ray and Doris Murray said they were sorry to be leaving Neepawa, but were forced to do so for health reasons. 

They will leave for Victoria when stock and equipment at the store are sold. The Murrays have a son, Ken, in the RCMP at Victoria and a daughter, Betty-Rae, at Vancouver.

40 years ago Thursday, May 13, 1976

Many people from the Neepawa and surrounding district where awakened early Thursday morning by what many thought was a terrific explosion. 

The Canadian and American air forces have been holding maneuvers this past week over the skies of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba with planes capable of breaking the sound barrier. The air forces had said that they were going to hold their maneuvers over as little populated an area as possible and, obviously, Neepawa must have been chosen for at least one fly by. 

30 years ago Thursday, May 8, 1986

Myths dispelled about the hog plant: Appearing before the Neepawa Rotary Club last Friday, during a luncheon meeting, Springhill Farms hog processing plant general manager Jack Irish said he wanted to “dispel a few misconceptions” surrounding Neepawa’s newest industry. 

“All of your misconceptions are based on plants built anywhere from 20 to 62 years ago,” Irish said in his speech to the club members. “Outmoded, outdated, just like the dinosaur. 

“If you stand in front of Springhill Farms – all you will smell will be the Neepawa dump burning garbage,” he commented, assuring the gathered audience modern processing plants are kept scrupulously clean, preventing unwanted odours.

20 years ago Monday, May 14, 1996

The first of several hurdles standing in the way of a Dairy Queen brazier restaurant in Neepawa has become a stumbling block. 

The proposed site, initially purchased by franchise applicant Darrell Reid of Neepawa, has flunked an environmental assessment test. 

A portion of the vacant 44,000 square-foot lot, located at the corner of Main Street and 5th Avenue, was found to be contaminated with hydrocarbon particles in excess of allowable provincial standards. 

The lot, owned by Imperial Oil, once contained fuel storage tanks. 

The test result is not a deal killer, Reid said. “We did some remedial work last week and removed about 80 yards of contaminated materials,” said Reid, who has ordered a second environmental test. “I’m confident the results of the remedial test will be fine.” 

10 years ago Monday, May 8, 2006

The Neepawa Press won three awards at the Manitoba Community Newspaper Association’s annual awards banquet in Winnipeg. 

The Press topped two categories – one for photography and one for feature writing. 

Jack Gibson was named the winner of the best photo essay for his work on the MSOS Games, which were held in Neepawa last summer. Meanwhile, Elizabeth Treger produced the winning entry in the best feature article on a business topic. The story profiled salesmen who earn their living by making commission sales. 

The other award was a third place finish by Gibson in the best sports photo. The photo was a shot of the NACI Tigers’ extreme cheerleading squad.