Helen Horn climbs the Lone Butte at 96 with help from friends
It was with grit, enthusiasm and a little help from family and friends that helped 96-year-old Helen Horn summit the Lone Butte on June 21.
Helen made the ascent with the help of a group of friends and her son Gus to celebrate a year since suffering a stroke. She’s no stranger to the Lone Butte as she climbed it often in her younger years.
The last time Horn had climbed the rock was five years ago when she was 91. At that time she was able to make it up on “her own two feet.” This time, however, due in part to her advanced age and in part because of the difficult terrain, which she thinks has gotten rougher since her youth, she had to be assisted up via the use of rappelling equipment and at one point by getting a piggyback ride from young Dawson Schroevers.
“I did as I was told and I enjoyed every minute of it,” Horn said. “(At the top) we toasted the day, the people and the encouragement of everybody cause without that I could never have made the journey.”
Outhouse races nothing to sniff at
The parking lot of the Iron Horse Pub was so packed that cars were parked on either side of Highway 24 as South Cariboo residents took part in the annual Outhouse Races.
Men and women, young and old, clambered into outhouses specially fitted with skis and did their best to race across a baseball diamond with the assistance of two teammates. Fun was had by both racers and spectators at the event.
- Feb. 20, 2020
100 Mile grandmother spreads love and kindness with window hearts
Debbie Dengel led the push in 100 Mile House to put hearts in the windows of your homes during the COVID-19 lockdown. While practising proper social distancing and cleaning up her home, Dengel was searching for ways to socially interact with her neighbours and 100 Mile House residents in general.
- April 3, 2020
South Cariboo woman makes free masks
Andrea Blair, owner and operator of the Lofty Fox, a recycled child garment company, and her son began making reusable masks free of charge for the community during the COVID lockdown after joining the Facebook group called Sew the Curve Kamloops. When she first joined, there were around 20 people in the group but that later increased closer to 700.
-April 9, 2020
Clinton finds a way for children to celebrate Easter despite COVID-19
With Clinton’s Easter egg hunt in the park cancelled due to COVID-19 Sandi Burrage came up with an innovative idea: Have people put Easter eggs up in their windows or make a display in their yards. Children could go around from Friday to Sunday and count the eggs, getting ice cream from Hunnies afterward. Forty-six children submitted an Easter egg count, which was pretty good given there are only about 53 in the school.
- April 16, 2020
Forest Grove Elementary celebrates birthday at a distance
While students had yet to return to school, Forest Grove Elementary staff was determined to keep on holding birthday celebrations for their students. Coming back from spring break, principal Mark Doolan noticed student Bobby Christopher’s birthday was coming up on April 9, which was also the day they planned to distribute student belongings to each of the families. They placed Bobby’s gift in the birthday treasure chest and left it for him to open when he came to school to pick up his belongings, according to Doolan.
- April 16, 2020
New wheelchair for dogs aims to increase the length and quality of senior dogs’ lives
Ann-Marie Fleming’s business Dog Quality, released her new wheelchair design for aging dogs. The wheelchair consists of a light carbon fibre frame with four wheels, two on the front two on the back, a chest plate with adjustable straps in the middle and on their legs that will either support the dog or loosen it should it be strong enough to take its own weight.
-June 11, 2020
Hospital Employees Union thank 100 Mile House for support at Saturday rally
The 100 Mile House Hospital Employees Union (HEU) rallied together on Highway 97 to thank the people of 100 Mile House for their support during the early months of the pandemic. Close to a dozen hospital workers from nurses to cooks gathered with signs, flags and airhorns to wave at passing cars and show their thanks, receiving honks in return. While there was a slight drizzle, the HEU members didn’t let anything rain on their parade.
- June 4, 2020
Local sisters bake birthday cakes for children during COVID-19 lockdown
Sophie Rywaczuk, 11, with the help of her little sister Ava, 7, began making local children’s birthdays special by baking them their own custom birthday cakes. Sophie came up with the idea of making birthday cakes to cheer up local children after viewing a few photos of drive-by birthday parties on Facebook.
July 30, 2020
Mother aims to heighten autism awareness
A 100 Mile mom planned to distribute laminated “cheat sheets” to local businesses in an effort to raise awareness of autism in the community. Brittany Wall is working with Blue Sky’s Autism Services’ Krysta Stewart to develop the laminated cards, which will offer key steps that businesses and their employees should take if a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder becomes upset in their stores. The tips include giving the parent and child more space and drawing other customers’ attention away from them so the child can de-escalate and calm down, which can sometimes take hours.
- Aug. 20, 2020
40 years for CatttleBelles
They are renowned for selling ‘Beef in a Bun’ and promoting the cattle industry but after 40 years, the Interlakes CattleBelles are rebranding themselves. The last CattleBelles group left in B.C., the group now focuses on agricultural literacy rather than just beef. President Lorraine Jerema, who joined the CattleBelles in 1998, said the one thing that has remained constant over the years is the importance placed on caring for the land. She said the group also likes to encourage people to grow their own food as much as possible and support local agriculture.
- Aug. 20, 2020
New Bridge Creek beach makes a splash with families
The spring’s flooding in Centennial Park created a new beach along the banks of Bridge Creek. Located just across the park from the playground and spray park, the silt and sand beach was created during the flooding as sediment accumulated in one of the bends of the creek. Many families have been making use of this new surprise beach as a place to play and swim in 100 Mile House.
- Sept. 6, 2020
Watch Lake woman recognized for 50 years of 4-H leadership
Enid “Dimps” Horn was recognized for 60 years of leadership service to the 4-H organization, where she has held stints as leader of the Clinton 4-H Club, president of the Winter Fair and secretary of the Williams Lake and District 4-H organization. Dimps Horn has been involved in 4-H since she was 12 years old.
Nov. 22, 2020
Searchers commended for intensive search
Groups involved in the rescue of missing senior Barry Lannon gathered last week at the South Cariboo Search and Rescue hall to commemorate their efforts. Organized by Const. Bentley Johansson, the evening was intended to honour those who went above and beyond in that search. This included the RCMP, local B.C. conservation officers, South Cariboo Search and Rescue and Lake of the Trees Bible Camp.
- Nov. 28, 2020
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