Wednesday, July 20, 2016
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Bottled message from New York traces back to…. Thompson. KACPER ANTOSZEWSKI KACPER@THOMPSONCITIZEN.NET
Readers may recall an article on May 11, about a message in a bottle discovered by Harlan Cordell, which he discovered along the banks of the Grass River. The note asked the finder to contact a postal box in Yonkers, New York, adding a sense of mystery to a strange artifact lucky to be discovered at all. As it turns out, however, its story begins much closer to home. Since 1972, Former Thompsonite Tom Heimer has dropped over 28, 000 messages in bottles all over the world, from every state in the USA (except Hawai’i), every Canadian province and territory, to Cuba and the Caribbean, and throughout both Europe and what was then the Soviet Union. Over seventeen hundred of them have been found, and over 700 have been re-sent by their finders. Seven have crossed the Atlantic Ocean, though his longest release travelled 3218 kilometers, from Dauphin Island, Alabama to Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, by way of the Gulf of Mexico. The bottle Cordell found is Heimer’s longest lasting parcel: the bottle had sat undisturbed for over twenty-five years, set loose March 25, 1991. “I took a drive in my old 1980 Honda Civic back then, to try and reach Pikwitonei on the winter roads,” he recalls. “I have in my records eleven and a half miles south of Halfway River. There’s a bridge there on the allweather portion.” A testament to northern Manitoba’s vast untapped wilderness, Heimer’s previous record was also a
Tom Heimer’s Original Note release near Thompson, this time in the Burntwood River: The bottle had been discovered the first time a year later, and was re-released into the river, where
THANK YOU! Nickel Days 2016 was N jam ja a packed with fun for the whole family, the th Board of Directors would B like to express heartfelt lik thanks to everyone who th made it possible. This is m a very long list and we hhope not to have missed anyone! Our gifted entertainers: Timepiece, 5 Minutes From Everywhere, The Richard Farrow Band, The Nelson Little Band and our headliner – The Sheepdogs. Everyone who made our 1st ever Lil Nick Dance Party a huge success!! Sonny the Clown, Lil Nick, Louie the Lightning Bug, Boston Pizza’s Lionel, Rudy the Raven. The amazing sound crew from Barndog Productions, thanks for all your help with the Talent Shows, Lil Nick’s Dance Party, Friday Night Stage Show and
it floated undisturbed for over 23 years. Outside of Thompson, his longestlasting release was discovered in North Carolina 19 years after it was released.
Heimer began dropping messages in bottles as a youth, following the example of his grandfather. “When I was a teenager, my mom mentioned that
my grandfather immigrated to Canada from Scotland, and he started throwing them in, back in 1910 or so.” Heimer currently lives in Nova Scotia; While in
the rockin good time at the Saturday evening social. Thanks to Afterdark Productions for emceeing and keeping the music going between bands.
The USW crew for coordinating another great National King Miner contest! Big thanks and congratulations to all the participants.
Donna Wilson and Wally Itson for coordinating the Junior Talent Contest and Thompson’s Got Vocal Talent, all the brave and talented participants. Thanks to the judges for making the hard decisions!
Blair Hudson, Bruce Kent, Dave Kelly, Chris Fraser and Alex Burton, our entertainment hosts.
The fundraising groups for all their hard work: Thompson Auxiliary Firefighters for bartending, Aurora Dance Academy for keeping everyone safe at the social with security, RDPC Automotive Technology Germany student -parent committee for set up and grounds clean up, Music Parents for manning the Beer Gardens and Thompson Ringette Association for manning the Gates. Don Johnson Jewellers for selling dance tickets. The Thompson Seniors Council for manning the Child Find booth. The Thompson Lions Club for coordinating another great community parade. The organizers of the softball tournament and all teams that participated.
the Classifieds You
Wendy Janelle, Sherrie Benner and Linda Graham for volunteering their time with various tasks throughout the weekend and smiling the whole time! Select Shows for non-stop fun at the midway. All the TRCC staff for their assistance and long hours throughout the weekend. Lona Barnowich for all the advice and support!! The community of Thompson and visitors from throughout the region for taking in Nickel Days festivities. Our GENEROUS, GENEROUS SPONSORS!! MAJOR: The Province of Manitoba, Smook Contractors, City of Thompson, United Rentals, Greyhound, The Brick, 102.9 CHTM, NCI, Thompson Citizen, Shaw, Vale, Red’s Septic Service, Gardewine North, Calm Air, Bob’s Auto Service
Thompson, he served as Band Director. He continues to release bottles (and to check up on his mailbox in Yonkers). His last release was in the Gulf of Mexico.
SPONSORS: Scotia Bank, Labatt’s, MTS Future First, United Steelworkers Local 6166, Arctic Beverages, MB Hydro, Waste Management, KNC Electric, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, Twin Motors DONORS: Boston Pizza, Acklands Grainger, Home Hardware, MDS Aerotest FRIENDS: Burntwood Hotel, Thompson Inn, Quality Inn, RBC Royal Bank, Kennedy Energy, Safeway, Robin’s Donuts SUPPORTERS: Wonton Place, Boardman Northland Funeral Home, Stittco Energy Ltd., Don Johnson Jewellers, Thompson Seniors Council, Giant Tiger, Mystery Lake Hotel
Thank you! Wendell Fitzpatrick, Nickel Days President and the Nickel Days board of directors: Graham Brown, Tamy Burton, Jim English, Darwin Graham, Travis Graham, Jim Howitt, Conrad Hykway, Charlene Kissick, Mike Krentz, John Maskerine, Melissa Meston, Joe Roque, Mick Slack, Torrence Sukhbir and Jennifer Thackeray. Volunteers: Lona Barnowich and Melanie Graham.
never know what you’ll find inside
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