1958: Whitla farmers get party line

By Fred Mellen
Down Memory Lane #268
These items were taken from the June 12, 1958 issue of the Bow Island Graphic.
Winnifred News – Mrs. Bertha Annon:
The farmers around Whitla and some in the Winnifred district are building their own telephone lines to be contracted with the AGT in Whitla. There will be three party lines with seven or eight farmers on each line. They hope to have the project completed in the near future.
B.I.: Last Tuesday noon, a passing motorist helped himself to $48.00 from the till at the Highway Motors Garage (now Huck Finn’s) while the attendant was serving the gas. The motorist entered the garage and robbed the till; it was not discovered until he had driven off. The description of the man coincides with that of a motorist who robbed a service station at Tilley of almost $100.00 on May 29. That evening, the Red Head Service Station was broken into and merchandise to the value of $8.00 was stolen. Police are investigating both of the robberies.
B.I.: Mr. and Mrs. Gary Cooper are the proud parents of a baby daughter, Valerie, born Fri. June 6, weighing 6 lbs., 11-1/2 oz. at the Taber Hospital. Both mother and daughter are doing fine.
B.I.: Mr. and Mrs. Jim Wutzke, and their small son Bobby, were very fortunate to escape serious injury Wednesday evening when they had a car accident just south of the Halpin farm on their way to the Conquerville Lions Charter night. It is believed the car was thrown into reverse when it struck the loose gravel at the bridge, causing it to roll. Though the car received extensive damage, the family escaped with only minor injuries. Mr. Wutzke lost a lot of blood with head injuries, but Mrs. Wutzke received only bruises and scratches. The young fellow, Bobby was thrown right out of the car. They believe he went through the front windshield and yet, he was not seriously injured; only scratched and bruised.
Foremost section
Preliminary work has begun on the new County offices. The site is the old Lions Kiddies playground. Holt and Nordlun of Lethbridge are the contractors for the building which will be approximately 80-foot square. It will house the County offices and the library. There will also be an office for a County agriculturist when the need arises.
Further plans for the Jamboree in July were made at the Boy Scout committee meeting on Monday evening. Eleven boys planned to attend. They are: Frank and Kenny Kuehn, Dale and Art Jensen, Wayne and Brett Thompson, Kenny Hadlington, Ronnie Baker, Harry Moss, Brian Parker, and Larry Wolfe, and leaders, Roy Wallman and Martin Boch. Ten members were present at the meeting.
B.I.: Nurses’ registry to be set up – All nurses in this area are requested to cooperate in the formation of a nurses’ registry being set up to ascertain what professional help would be available in case of emergency. The information desired is: Whether or not a registered nurse; available for special duty; nursing at present; available for relieving duty (Bow Island or elsewhere); name and telephone number. All nurses are asked to contact Mrs. Albert Schaufele, telephone 310, and give the above information.
B.I.: Mr. and Mrs. Dave Ferrel are receiving congratulations on the birth of a baby daughter, weighing 7 lbs, 9 oz., born Sun. June 8 at the Taber Municipal Hospital.
This has been another Stroll Down Memory Lane with Old Fred Mellen.

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