2001 - 10 YEARS AGO
• The Bull Congress, organized by the Stettler and District Agricultural Society is happening this weekend in town and is open to those both involved in the industry and the general public. Commercial displays from numerous businesses will be featured and on Friday there will be the Rainbow Select Single Bull Show followed by the Pen of Three Bull Show.
• Canadian country music artist Patricia Conroy made a special visit to Stettler Middle School last Friday to talk with the students and to sing a few songs. Conroy’s school visit was part of a program organized by Telemedia and Q14 radio to promote Canadian Country music. The workshop allowed the kids to ask questions and hear Conroy perform a number of songs she has recorded and written.
1991 - 20 YEARS AGO
• Blinding snow and a “total white-out” are being blamed for a seven-car pile-up on the Erskine overpass that sent two men to Red Deer Hospital. Motorists had stopped to help with an earlier accident, when a snow plow crunched into the parked vehicles.
• With a donation from Manalta Coal, the Halkirk and District Fire Department has purchased the Jaws of Life. Jody Andersen and Ross Elasser are training other members of the fire department in the use of this apparatus.
1981 - 30 YEARS AGO
• An Erskine dairyman and grain farmer, Roger Nichols, was elected president of the Alberta Dairymen’s Association at the annual convention in Calgary. Mr. Nichols started his dairy enterprise in 1944, milking 12 cows on shares with his father.
• Installation of a $2 million digital telephone switching system is under way in the AGT building in Stettler. The new equipment will expand the number of telephone lines from 3,000 to 4,000.
1971 - 40 YEARS AGO
• Scouts and their leaders from 13 Alberta centres attended the annual Mid-Winter Jamboree at Stettler. Stan Payne organized the big event for 123 participants.
• Students of Alix Junior High School prepared effective displays of their work in optional subjects at the end of the semester. An appreciative audience viewed samples of art, geography, math and biology, and demonstrations of skills in French, music, drama and gymnastics.
1961 - 50 YEARS AGO
• Canada’s favourite humorist, Bill Smiley, whose column appears each week in this newspaper, has won the distinction of being syndicated in more papers than any other Canadian columnist. He is being read in 111 newspapers throughout the country.
• The Tommy Kroeger rink was dethroned as national school boy champions when it lost the final game of the Northern Alberta finals to St. Joseph’s. Murray Sorenson, Pat Harbison and Lorence Isaman make up the rest of the Stettler rink.
1951 - 60 YEARS AGO
• Charred ruins are all that remain of the fine old Big Valley School after it was swept with fire Jan. 29. Most of the 135 pupils were home to dinner when the blaze, originating from a heating flue, destroyed the six-room brick building.
• Burns Night was celebrated at Rotary with an attendance of 102 members and their guests. Chief item on the program was a travelogue through Scotland, given by Mr. Dave Drinnan.
1941 - 70 YEARS AGO
• Stettler decisively out-played the league-leading Lacombe Athletics to defeat them 3-2 before a crowd of 400 enthusiastic fans who braved sub-zero weather to see the game. A general free-for-all was the highlight of a thrill-packed performance.
• Farmers have now begun to dig themselves out of the snow, but roads are plugged in a good many places, and will likely stay that way until spring. Snow in the fields, while fairly deep, isn’t so solidly packed, and roads can be opened there.
1931 - 80 YEARS AGO
• The IODE wishes to inform the public that no books are to be received at the Stettler Public Library from homes where there are any infectious diseases. In such cases the member is requested to burn the book and card.
• “Rich men are not smart because they got rich; don’t ever confuse wealth with brains.” - Julius Rosenwald
1921 - 90 YEARS AGO
• The Stettler Independent Trophy, which is now in Coronation, will be played for next Monday evening by Castor at Coronation. The challenge has been sent in by the Stettler Curling Club.
• Mr. W. Mack, junior clerk in the Royal Bank at Gadsby, has been granted a transfer to a branch at Vernon, B.C., where his parents are now located. He had become very popular amongst the younger folks in town and district.
1911 - 100 YEARS AGO
• Stettler Steam Laundry is now open, and will furnish employment for 14-15 people. Up-to-date equipment includes an ironing machine which handles 600 shirts per day.