5 years ago (2008): It’s interesting to see the Echo as it was in 2008, at the beginning of the economic recession was getting started. In many ways, the entire community was on an “business as usual” basis, not aware of what was taking place in the larger world outside our mountains. Whether it was a 1950s sock hop or the recruitment of players for the Bighorns football team, there was no sense of any impending catastrophe. The CVCC was preparing to go to fall hours after a busy summer season, while an East Kootenay Wage Subsidy program was being put into place. Much or what was there in 2008 is still there today, even though the economy is completely different as a result of what went on in the next year.

10 years ago (2003): While slight precipitation in the valley gave firefighters a breather and allowed them to get a handle on a few things, it was not enough to change the situation in many other ways. Fire officials thought the situation would be back to extreme soon. A full ban was imposed on backcountry activity to protect safety, which was a surprise to many. The ban applied to all activity in the region. It covered all Crown land and forestry roads in the southern third of B.C.

15 years ago (1998): A vehicle had been parked in the Bugaboo Alpine Recreation Area, 45 kilometres west of Brisco, and was robbed of several thousand dollars worth of valuable climbing material while its occupants were busy on the mountain. Police believed the thieves were also climbers as several other vehicles in the parking area were not touched. On August 16th, a motorhome drove away from the Petro-Can service station without paying for gas.

20 years ago (1993): Special needs children of the valley were riding horseback, thanks to financing by the Kinsmen Club of the Windermere Valley. The organization has been donating funds for four years, to provide the therapeutic services that allow several children to ride every week. Stoddart Creek Stables provided the horses, which give several children a chance to stretch both muscle and mind every week.

30 years ago (1983): Henry Nelson, president and owner of Galloway Lumber company, was elected to the position of Chairman of the Kootenay Region of the Canadian Forestry Association at a meeting in Cranbrook. The Association is a voluntary group which provides guidance for the people of the East and West Kootenay regions to ensure the availability of services and information needed to manage the forests for a multiple use by all citizens.

40 years ago (1973): Tragedy was narrowly averted in a freak accident when a quick thinking young California driver almost drove off the road in Radium Hot Springs. She was leaving Radium Hot Springs Lodge in a half-ton truck when she realized her brakes were not working. Coming to the bottom of the hill and about to meet Highway 95, she realized she could not make a stop. She drove off the road and rode an embankment for about 200 feet, then jumped out of the truck when she realized it was going to cross the road. The truck veered over the embankment and went across the road into the ditch.