Looking back - 1956: Vienna Academy of Music top graduate has local ties

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Photo courtesy of Cecil Pittman Archives. Car accidents also happened in the “good old days.”

By Cecil Pittman

Neepawa Press

80 years ago, Friday, August 14, 1936

Brandon is the next place to experiment with a salt soil stabilized road. An order for the local salt company was filled this week for several tons of salt for the work. The company has received inquiries from other centres regarding the experiment in Neepawa and if the roads stand up in Neepawa over the winter, salt roads will without doubt then become quite popular. 

70 years ago, Thursday, August 8, 1946

“Eddie” Bell, local engineer, completed his last run for the CNR when he pulled the Russell train in here on Thursday morning last, after 40 some years railway service. “Eddie” has been a popular figure in town and around the CNR during his over 20 years residence here, and while his many friends feel somewhat sorry that he is now on the retirement list, they agree that he is entitled to a well-earned rest and will be pleased to know that after a short vacation, he will still be found somewhere in the community close at hand. 

60 years ago, Thursday, August 9, 1956

Terry Gabora, violinist, who was prominent in Winnipeg musical circles before going to Vienna for study three years ago, has won a distinguished place in Vienna musical life. He is the nephew of Mrs. M. Rubachuk, 331 Ada Street, Neepawa. 

Following completion of graduation examinations at Vienna Academy of Music in June, receiving highest possible marks, Mr. Gabora won a state prize of 4,000 shillings, given to the best student in music in Vienna, free state. He was appointed Junior Concert Master of the Vienna Academy, the first Canadian to receive this appointment. 

50 years ago, Tuesday, August 8, 1966

Dennis Skibinsky, 17, of Eden was injured early Sunday morning in a single car accident north of Neepawa on PTH 5. 

Exact time of the accident is not known, but the youth was found by Don Scott of Eden about 7:00 am Sunday near the scene of the accident. He had apparently been knocked unconscious when his car, a 1964 Falcon, side swiped a bridge just north of Neepawa. 

Reports indicated the youth must have fallen asleep at the wheel, but recovered just in time to avoid a head-on collision with the bridge. The car was extensively damaged. 

40 years ago, Tuesday, August 16, 1976

There has been something missing on Mountain Avenue for the last week – Lawrence Hargreaves’ Honda. Apparently, it was stolen from his residence Wednesday night and hasn’t been recovered yet. As a result, Lawrence is getting more exercise these days.  

30 years ago, Thursday, August 12, 1986 

Reeve Dave Dunning and Secretary-Treasurer Mrs. Nellie McLeod, from the RM of McCreary, attended the regular meeting of Turtle River School Division held July 22, to discuss tax increases. 

Included in the board’s 1976 budget was a special levy of $712,929 distributed among all the RMs in the division. The board explained that the budget had been restricted to only essentials, but continuing cost increases, over which the board had no control, had necessitated a special levy.

20 years ago, Monday, August 13, 1996

One of Neepawa’s landmark family businesses – Williams Shop-Easy – has changed hands. 

Brothers Darren and Blake Roe of Neepawa purchased the grocery store from Ed Williams last week. 

“It’s a big step for us, but I think it can work out,” said Darren, 31, who worked for 10 years as the store’s produce manager. 

Blake, 29, was assistant manager of the store for nine years. 

“I guess we’ll both be co-managers now,” said Darren. 

The Roes have decided there will be a change in the store’s operating name, but as of Monday, that hasn’t been decided.

10 years ago, Monday, August 14, 2006

The word “awesome” was used more than once to describe the 6th edition of the Neepawa Drag Races, as over 90 competitors burned up the track a week ago Saturday. 

“It was awesome,” said Monty Simon, president of the Yellowhead Roadrunners, which staged the annual event. “It was the best yet.”

Simon’s words were echoed by a number of the roughly 3,000 spectators at the day-long event, including Sean White of Brandon, who had a pit pass. 

“It was just awesome, just awesome,” a dust-covered White said at the end of the race day. “I’ll definitely be back again next year.”

Simon said 75 out-of-town entries were taken race day. He said several Roadrunners also entered the event, for a total of 90 entries.