Looking back - 1986: Hog processing plant open for business

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Photo courtesy of Press archives. The front page from the Oct. 2, 1986 edition of The Neepawa Press, featuring the ribbon cutting ceremony of what is now the HyLife hog processing plant.

By Cecil Pittman

Neepawa Press

80 years ago, Friday Oct. 2, 1936

John Simpson was honoured by the local Oddfellows at the regular meeting Monday night. Mr. Simpson has been a member of the order for 52 years and to commemorate the occasion, the Neepawa lodge presented him with an upholstered chair. The presentation was made by Robert Habkirk, a charter member and past Noble Grand.

70 years ago, Thursday Oct. 3, 1946

Tessie Dreveski crowned queen of country fair:

Miss Tessie Dreveski made a quick come-back during the last few minutes of the country fair to pull enough votes to defeat her two opponents, Misses Julie Nowicky and Phyllis Lindsay, to become queen of the Lion’s Club country fair. The last count on the blackboard gave Miss Lindsay a substantial lead in the popularity race and Miss Dreveski’s triumph on the final count showed heavy last minute voting in her favour.

60 years ago, Thursday Oct. 4, 1956

Jim Kidd, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. David Kidd of Neepawa, recently accepted a position as announcer for CKSO-TV Sudbury, Ontario. The station is on the newly-opened microwave network carrying “live” television. Jim, a graduate of Neepawa Collegiate Institute and a Governor General’s medal winner here, started as CKDM radio station announcer in Dauphin in September, 1954. In 1955, he went to CJRL radio station at Kenora, Ontario, where he was chief announcer.

50 years ago, Tuesday Oct. 4, 1966

Voters in Beautiful Plains School Division will decide in February, 1967, whether school administration in the area should be handled by one school board or the present 37.

The provincial government announced Friday that a province wide referendum, which will include Beautiful Plains School Division, will be held in February to decide the question of single-district school divisions. Trustees and teachers alike throughout the province have for some time been asking for such a referendum.

40 years ago, Thursday Oct. 7, 1976

Hundreds of tax dollars are being “thrown away” each year in Beautiful Plains School Division to repair damage caused by school vandalism and the school division board feels it’s time something is done about it.

Members of the board held a lengthy discussion of the problem at their last regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 5. Secretary Bud Hanson reported to the board that replacing broken windows at J.M. Young, Carberry Collegiate and the Neepawa schools has become a standard procedure.

He also said that there are presently 36 broken panes of glass at Viscount School that have to be replaced before the school can be turned over to the Cultural Council.

30 years ago, Thursday Oct. 2, 1986

The ribbon cutting to open the Springhill farms hog processing plant took place in Neepawa on Monday, Sept. 29. About 1,000 people watched as the plant was declared officially open.

Earlier in the day, tours were conducted to show people one of the most modern plants in the world. The tours took about half an hour and showed people all sections of the plant. Cameras had to be left before tours were taken because the plant wants to protect its computer technology.

Visitors also had a chance to meet some plant employees dressed in white coats describing their jobs at the plant.

20 years ago, Monday Oct. 1, 1996

The first fan, and a big one at that, has arrived for the Neepawa Natives hockey season. The overdue installation of a new ice plant at the Yellowhead arena picked up speed last week, when the plant arrived on site. It’s not know if the new system will be up and running in time for the Natives to play their Manitoba Junior hockey league home-opener in Neepawa this Friday.

10 years ago, Monday Oct. 2, 2006

A development agreement has been struck with Vancouver-based Pinnacle Capital Corporation to construct a Bargain Shop on the site of the former Hamilton Hotel.

In August, the town accepted a $48,000 offer from Pinnacle to purchase the lot.

Originally, Pinnacle had planned to construct the building 10 feet back from the Mountain Avenue property line, but it will now be built in line with the liquor mart.

The site is large enough to provide off street parking.