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Remembering the Miner

The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.

The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.

As reported Wednesday, tomorrow marks the 40th anniversary of the fire that destroyed our community's first newspaper, the Flin Flon Daily Miner. In commemoration, I've decided to use today's column to reprint a well-received article of mine from 2004. I hope you enjoy this trip down memory lane. * * * In the annuls of Flin Flon history, November 2, 1962, bears no particular significance. It is, by all counts, just another one of the thousands of squares on the calendar that have passed since man discovered ore north of the 53rd parallel. Nevertheless, the record of that day lends an interesting glimpse into our past. That much was obvious when I recently came across a torn, yellowed copy of the Flin Flon Daily Miner, our community's first newspaper, from that date. The front page exhibits no true top story, just a series of small informative morsels. Readers learned of Sam Hankin being recognized for 30 years of service to local scouting and of the Regina Pats skating into town to battle the Bombers. There was Halloween vandalism, as a Mrs. Hay reported that someone had apparently used a slingshot to fire a rock through the rear window of her parked car. "We don't mind youngsters enjoying themselves on Halloween . . . but not this way," she said. On a more positive note, about 100 people turned out last night to mark Citizenship Day in Flin Flon. The gathering honoured sixteen men and women who received their citizenship papers during 1962. Chairing the proceedings was Mrs. Dorothy Milton, who heads the local citizenship committee. Residents are looking forward to the All-Star Curling Draws this weekend at the Willow Park Curling Club, with the Scott, McCrimmon, Jobin, Lavis and Warnick rinks among the talent involved. Appearing inside the brittle pages is the hockey schedule for the NHL Pee Wee, Tom Thumb A and Tom Thumb B teams (with all Tom Thumb B games to be played in the figure skating rink). The teams taking carry names like Flyers, Warriors, Mintos, Monarchs and Shamrocks. All that skating and shooting will no doubt make the young stars hungry. Good thing there are plenty of deals to be had over at Central Meat and Grocery, where specials include beef roasts for 63 cents per pound, two-dozen eggs for 79 cents and cereal for 18 cents. Playing tonight at the Northland theatre is what's enthusiastically billed as "The greatest thrill classic of all time!", The Phantom of the Opera. Saturday show times are 1-3 p.m., 5-6:50 p.m., and 9 p.m. The Rex Theatre promises equal excitement with Tarzan goes to India, and not to be outdone, the Paragon is showing Ring of Fire. If you'd rather enjoy a relaxing evening in, there's always CBC television to keep you entertained. Today's TV listings are packed with enjoyment, including The Friendly Giant at 3:15, Razzle Dazzle at 5:30, Sgt. Bilko at 7 and Alfred Hitchcock Presents at 11. But if you are out and about and happen to see something newsworthy, you're encouraged to stop by the Miner offices at 30 North Ave. or phone editor Harry J. Miles not at 687-3411, just 3411. Various problems can be solved by a simple glance at the classifieds. Does your chimney need cleaning? Give Jim Wells, licensed chimney sweep, a call at 5188. Need a place to stay? A three-room suite is available on Hapnot St. for $39 a month. And if you mistakenly picked up a men's grey tweed coat at the Nurse's Dance last Friday, the owner can be reached at 5313. Was November 2, 1962, just another day in Flin Flon? Yes. But nearly 42 years later, that routine day has proven to be anything but monotonous. Local Angle runs Fridays.

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