AHN OCT 10 2019

alaska highway news THURSDAY, oct. 10, 2019 | VOL. A-75 NO. 41

$1.50 incl. gst celebrating

75 years

FORT ST. JOHN NEWS | BUSINESS | POLITICS | SPORTS | ARTS | est. 1944 justice for pam

split weekend

bridge bids

Leon Wokeley sentenced to life for murdering Pamela Napoleon in 2014

Huskies went 1-1 again last weekend, get ready for road trip to Alberta this weekend

Replacing the Halfway River bridge for Site C isn’t going to come cheap

NEWS h A3

sports h b1

news h A4

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A SOUL Classic Krystle Dos Santos brought some Motown soul sounds to Fort St. John on Oct. 2, 2019, the first stop of a northern B.C. tour that wrapped up in Kitimat on Tuesday.

matt preprost photo

When You Are Out in the Field, Time IS Money.

Preparations in full swing for Winter Games Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca Volunteers of all ages are busy at work getting ready for the upcoming BC Winter Games in Fort St. John, and hundreds more are still needed to make sure the event goes without a hitch in February.

The Games have about one-quarter of the 2,000 volunteers it needs to chauffeur 1,800 athletes, coaches, and officials to 14 different venues in Fort St. John, Dawson Creek, Taylor, and Charlie Lake. Even more hands are needed to prepare 23,000 meals over the course of four days, while others are needed to take photographs and tell stories, work security, supply first aid and more.

“It’s a big machine, so it’s going to take the whole region to make it happen,” said Jennifer Moore, an organizing committee member. “Because we have 1,800 participants coming to the region, this is a real opportunity for us to showcase that some of the misconceptions folks have about living the north maybe aren’t true.”

matt preprost photo

Neil Evans and Bryce Kelly prep first aid kits for the 2020 BC Winter Games with their kids Maverick and Linden Evans and Olivia Kelly, Sept. 29, 2019.

The Games are the first step for emerging athletes working their way to national and international success — hometown Olympian speed skater Denny Morrison will be the Games ambassador to help tell the story of just how crucial the Games are to athletic development in B.C. But the Games are also

a platform for community development, Moore said.

Last summer and fall, six sea cans of equipment and supplies were delivered to a warehouse just outside the city, and volunteers have been spending the last several months sorting through the inventory.

On Sept. 29, Games medical director Neil Evans and

physiotherapist Bryce Kelly spent the day with their kids sorting through eight crates of medical supplies and building first aid kits.

“We’re inspecting equipment, we’re inspecting supplies for out dates, and just making sure we have everything that we need,” Evans said.

Continued on A9

A2 | INDEX | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019

PAGE 2 VIEWS E

lection Day is now less than two weeks away, and there are five candidates running for office in Northeast B.C. They are Bob Zimmer, for the Conservatives; Mavis Erickson, for the Liberals; Catharine Kendall, for the Greens; Ron Vaillant, for the People’s Party; and Marcia Luccock, for the NDP. All have been invited to a public forum this Thursday, October 10, at the Lido in Fort St. John.

Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for a meet and greet, with the forum to begin at 7:30 p.m. and run approximately 90 minutes.

Candidates will be asked to answer questions from Fort St. John and North Peace residents.

Questions can still be submitted to info@fsjchamber.com or editor@ahnfsj.ca through October 10. Please include your full name, location, and to whom your question is addressed.

A selection of questions will be put to the candidates at the forum, and we’ve already heard from some readers with questions about abortion rights and climate change.

The forum will be broadcast live on Facebook through Alaska Highway News, EnergeticCity. ca, and CJDC-TV. It will also be broadcast live on the radio through 100.1 Moose FM and 98.5 Sun FM. A recap of the forum will appear in our Oct. 17 issue.

Meanwhile, voters can already head to the polls and cast a ballot, as two readers let us know they did last week.

You can vote at any Elections Canada office any time before 6 p.m. local time on October 15. In Fort St. John, the Elections Canada office is located at at 10543100th Street.

Advance Voting Days will be held October 11, 12, 13 and 14 at the Legion on 105th Avenue from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Election Day is October 21, with polls at the Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

BC Transit and handyDART services will be free on Election Day. 





Thank you to all the readers who have written in or dropped by the office to give us their thoughts on the new-look for the paper. We’re still working on some adjustments so we can see the return of some of our regular columnists including Bob Snyder, as well as Dear Annie and the horoscopes. This week, you’ll find all three on B10, along with Temerarious Tabias writer Norma Rrae. You’ll find political columnist Evan Saugstad on A10 in this week’s edition, and community columnist Edwina Nearhood on A11. Alien Messages, by Charo Lloret and Kalpana Loganathan, can be found on B11, along with motherhood columnist Bronwyn Moser.

To read more of our columnists and the news we couldn’t fit in to this week’s print, visit us online at alaskahighwaynews.ca.

Email Managing Editor Matt Preprost at editor@ahnfsj.ca.

THIS DAY IN HISTORY

WEATHER FORECAST

1911: Robert Borden becomes the 8th Prime Minister of Canada

THURSDAY

6C

ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

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t’s hard to get the sense of just how big something is when you’re right in the middle of it.

In the summer of 1987, a massive tornado passed right through Edmonton, Alta., killing dozens of people on its way through. My family lived on the other side of town, far from the main tornado. But a second funnel cloud started to form near us. When we saw the entire sky turn green and start to circle itself, we ran for the basement.

It sounded like the end of the world was going on above us as we huddled there. But as the wind subsided and we emerged a half-hour later, all that was left was a lawn covered in golfball sized chunks of hail – not a sign in the sky of what we thought would be total disaster.

Sometimes, when I look at my chosen trade of community media, I think about that. There’s no doubt we are in the midst of a storm. Will it sweep us aside or pass us by?

This week, as we celebrate National Newspaper Week, it’s a good time to contemplate that storm, and our place in it.

When people ask me how the newspaper business is doing – and when they do, they often use that same tone of voice you hear when you’re asked about an aging relative who’s been in the hospital – I usually answer with one word: “Exciting!”

Yes, sometimes I may add “And terrifying!” to that, depending on

the day. But even on those days, it’s an amazing time to be in our line of work.

We’ve got more readers than ever – nearly 9 out of 10 Canadians read community media between print and digital every week, according to the latest research from News Media Canada.

And we have more ways than ever to reach them. When breaking news happens in our community, we can write a story, post it to our website, and link to it on social media, add some video and maybe even make a podcast about it, while at the same time printing thousands of copies of it on recycled trees and put it at thousands of doorsteps the next morning, or the following week.

The problem is how it all gets paid for. The local advertising dollars which support that local journalism, are being sucked up by two massive foreign corporations – Facebook and Google. Between them, they take 75 per cent of the online advertising revenue in Canada.

There’s no doubt the power of Facebook and Google have to reach local people in the community. But you won’t see a reporter from Google in your city council chambers. And Facebook won’t sponsor your community’s campaign to build that new arts centre.

And it’s not just our business model that’s been disrupted. The local businesses who support us with their

SUNDAY

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advertising also face disruption from that same media. Ask any retailer who’s seen someone come into their store to look at a product, then pull out their phone and order that product from Amazon right in front of them.

The definition of community has changed dramatically. It used to be defined simply by geography. Now the internet and the rise of social media has redefined community to be anyone, connected anywhere by shared interest.

But geographic community – where we choose to live – still matters. And it needs support. Reading local, and making deliberate choices to shop local, is how to do it. That’s our shelter from the storm.

So on this National Newspaper Week, please go to our new website, newspapersmatter.ca, to sign a pledge of support and send a message—to Canadian businesses, advertisers, to all levels of government, to newspaper journalists and all Canadians— that what we do matters, now more than ever.

Thanks for your support, and for the privilege of supporting our community by telling its stories.

Tim Shoults is Vice-President, Content and Audience Development for Glacier Media, which publishes more than 45 community newspapers and websites across Western Canada, including Alaska Highway News.

Letters to the editor Trudeau misses mark on gun control pledge Trudeau’s proposed ban on the AR-15 will not address gun violence, which mostly involve illicitly acquired smuggled firearms.

It will not prevent another shooting of a transit police officer committed by a convicted murderer early released from jail (the shooting of Const. Josh Harms at the Scott Road SkyTrain station, January 2019).

It will not prevent street level gangs from shooting each other and innocent bystanders (the 15-yearold Coquitlam boy who was killed after being struck by a bullet while riding in his parents’ car, January 2018).

And Trudeau is not aware that military-type firearms such as the AR-15 is a restricted firearm and thus not allowed to hunt deer. Restricted firearms can only be used in gun ranges by restricted PAL card holders.

Criminals and gang members only need money and underworld connections to buy guns. This is where the tougher gun laws should be directed at.

The guns and other types of weapons recently confiscated at Oppenheimer Park were not acquired legally. The federal Conservatives have long ago revealed their plans to keep Canadians safer from gun violence. It deals with the real problem targeting gangs and criminals involved in gun violence and equipping the police force.

— Alan Yu, Fort St. John Keep AR-15s on the gun range Mr. Yu makes some good points, notably: “And Trudeau is not aware that military-type firearms such as the AR-15 is (sic) a restricted firearm and thus not allowed to hunt deer.

Restricted firearms can only be used in gun ranges by restricted PAL card holders.”

Mr. Yu should also explain this to our Conservative MP Bob Zimmer, who dangerously and irresponsibly lobbies hard for AR-15s to become non-restricted and permitted for hunting in Canada.

Many AR-15s and like militarystyle semi-auto rifles can readily be modified to be automatic-equivalent and to employ high-capacity magazines. These deadly weapons are designed to efficiently kill soldiers on battlefields and are not necessary for hunting nor for selfdefence. I would not feel safe knowing guys are lurking in the bush with AR-15s, and driving around with them, subject to loosened regulations on their transport, use and storage.

At the least, let’s keep them restricted to the gun range and limit the probability of AR-15s falling into the hands of criminals and deranged mass shooters (as often happens in the U.S.).

— Brian Shaw, PRRD

LETTERS

:)

Published every Thursday at 9916 - 98th Street Fort St. John, B.C. V1J 3T8 250-785-5631 250-785-3522 alaskahighwaynews.ca

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News matters, more than ever

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William Julian Regional Manager wj@ahnfsj.ca

Ryan Wallace Sales Manager rwallace@ahnfsj.ca

Brenda Piper Sales Associate bpiper@ahnfsj.ca

Tim Cramer Graphic Artist compose@ahnfsj.ca CONTRIBUTORS

Matt Preprost Managing Editor editor@ahnfsj.ca

Dillon Giancola Sports Reporter sports@ahnfsj.ca

Lynn Novack Circulation Manager circulation@ahnfsj.ca

Dave Lueneberg,, Larry Evans, Evan Saugstad, Edwina Nearhood, Charo Lloret, Kalpana Loganathan, Maria Luisa Fruns, Sam Stackhouse, Bronwyn Moser, Norma Rrae, Bob Snyder, LJ Lawson

Write to us by snail mail, or email your letters to editor@ahnfsj.ca.

Letters must be accompanied by your full name and a phone number, for verification. Please limit your letters to 300 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for length, taste, accuracy, and libel. Protest the policy, not the person. Opinions expressed in letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect those of Alaska Highway News.

COPYRIGHT & LEGAL NOTICE Alaska Highway News retains sole copyright of advertising, news stories, and photography produced by staff. Copyright of letters and other materials submitted to the Editor and accepted for publication remain with the author, but the Publisher and its licensees may freely reproduce them in print, electronic, or other forms. Reproduction is prohibited without written consent of the publisher.

Alaska Highway News is a member of the National Newsmedia Council, an independent organization established to deal with acceptable journalistic practices and ethical behaviour. If you have concerns about our content, please let us know first. If you are not satisfied with the response and wish to file a formal complaint, visit mediacouncil.ca or call 1-844-877-1163 for more information.

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alaska highway news

thursday, october 10, 2019 | NEWS | A3

Life sentence for 2014 murder Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca Leon Wokeley has been sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years for the seconddegree murder of Pamela Napoleon in 2014.

BC Supreme Court Justice Jennifer Duncan delivered her decision Tuesday morning after two days of hearings in Fort St. John.

“The circumstances of the offence are callous,” Justice Duncan said.

“Mr. Wokeley killed Ms. Napoleon over the exchange of petty insults …

He simply got so angry that he took her life. In doing so, he has deprived her sons of a mother, her sisters of a sister, and a community of a valued member.”

Napoleon and Wokeley were last seen leaving Blueberry River First Nation on July 8, 2014. Napoleon’s remains were found a month later in a burned down cabin near the community. Napoleon was 42.

Wokeley, 44, was arrested in October 2017 after he was the subject of a Mr. Big sting operation, used by undercover police to elicit confessions from suspects.

Second degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison, with a minimum ineligibility for parole of 10 years.

The Crown did not seek more than the minimum, and Wokeley’s eligibility for parole starts from the time of his arrest. He was also issued a lifetime firearms and weapons ban, and ordered to provide a DNA sample.

Wokeley pleaded guilty to seconddegree murder earlier this year, after he initially pleaded not guilty and elected for a trial by judge.

Two other counts of arson and indignity to human remains were stayed.

Wokeley has prior convictions for assault, mischief, and uttering threats. Justice Duncan said she took Wokeley’s aboriginal background, and his troubled childhood with alcohol, sexual abuse, and violence into the consideration of her sentence.

‘Cycle of trauma’ Napoleon is remembered as a loving daughter, sister, and mother who cared deeply about her family and community, and who loved her culture and cooking meals for special occasions.

Three victim impact statements were submitted to the court, two of them read into the record by Napoleon’s sister Vanessa, and the other

by Robin Ewaskow on behalf of the Blueberry River community.

Vanessa Napoleon told court she misses Pamela and feels lost without her. Pamela’s murder left her fearful, and she slept with a weapon by her bed for two years, constantly checking on her family members to make sure she had not lost them too.

“Pam was a kind person who would do anything,” Vanessa said.

“She was the kind of person who would give her last money to you if you needed it. I’ll never be able to

talk to my older sister again, someone to talk to when I need her.”

Ewaskow wondered how the Blueberry River community would be able to heal, and said the crime has added to divisions in the community.

“In one instance, a wife, a mother, a sister, a daughter was brutally taken. Now, a son, a brother, an uncle, his life forever changed,” Ewaskow said.

“Now, we’re faced with even more of a cycle of trauma, grief, and addictions. The emotional impacts of this crime has already changed this community.”

Pamela Napoleon.

‘He became enraged’ Napoleon and Wokeley had been drinking and consuming drugs together at Napoleon’s home in Blueberry River on July 8, 2014, court heard. At some point in the evening, they decided to drive to Wonowon to buy more alcohol before heading to a ranch in Pink Mountain.

After stopping in Wonowon, plans changed and they went instead to a nearby trapper’s cabin. Wokelely claimed Napoleon hit him twice in the head with a frying pan after the two had sex and exchanged derogatory comments.

“The blows were not significant, but he became enraged, pinned her arms to the ground, and began to choke her,” Justice Duncan said in her ruling.

Wokeley said he thought Napoleon was faking being unconscious when her body stopped moving.

When he couldn’t hear her breathing or find a heartbeat, Wokeley moved Napoleon’s body to a bed frame, doused her with kerosene, and set the cabin on fire before driving away.

Napoleon’s remains were identified through dental records. Wokeley was a suspect early in the investigation, and was arrested, though he was later released as there was insufficient evidence to lay charges.

The subsequent undercover operation elicited his confession, and more than 100 hours of recordings were compiled.

Members of Napoleon’s family had to leave the courtroom in tears several times as Crown prosecutors laid out the timeline and circumstances of the killing for Justice Duncan.

Wokeley sat in court with his eyes cast down for most of the hearing on Monday, though he looked directly at Duncan as she read her ruling on Tuesday.

Given a chance to speak on Monday, Wokeley apologized to Napoleon’s family.

“My family’s all messed up, her family’s messed up. Every day I think about this, and every day I ask the Lord to help me,” Wokeley said.

“I’m sorry for everything that happened.”

Justice Duncan said she was satisfied with the sentence.

“I hope you use your time wisely,” Justice Duncan told Wokeley, “and reflect on the harm that you’ve caused to your community, particularly to the family of Ms. Napoleon.”

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alaska highway news

A4 | news | thursday, october 10, 2019

Bids in for Halfway River bridge replacement Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca Builders estimate it will cost between $104 million to $134 million to rebuild the Halfway River bridge.

A new bridge is needed to make way for the Site C hydroelectric reservoir, expected to start filling as early as 2023.

Seven contractors and joint ventures based in B.C. and Alberta submitted bids for the work, which includes a new 1042-metre bridge to cross the Halfway River at its confluence with the Peace River: • PCL Constructors Westcoast Inc. (Richmond) - $134,275,613.00 • Ledcor CMI Ltd. (Edmonton) - $131,281,266.89 • Gateway Infrastructure Group (New Westminster) - $128,036,625.26 • Flatiron-Aecon JV (Richmond) - $122,438,374.15 • Surespan Construction (North Vancouver) - $117,774,865.07 • Pennecon Heavy Civil Ltd & Jim Dent Const. Ltd JV

bc hydro photo

Artist rendering of a new Halfway River Bridge on Highway 29.

(Nisku, Alta.) - $114,899,000 • Eiffage-Infracon Halfway River JV (Nisku, Alta.)

- $104,569,326.00 The Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure says it’s currently reviewing the bids. A construction start date will be confirmed following a successful contract award.

The Site C reservoir will

flood 100-plus kilometres of the Peace River and its tributaries from Fort St. John to the Peace Canyon Dam at Hudson’s Hope. The project requires 32 kilometres of Highway 29 to be realigned and four bridges to be replaced, chief among them the bridge at Halfway River.

There is the need for three other new bridges along

the 90-kilometre stretch of Highway 29: a 580-metrelong bridge at Cache Creek/ Bear Flat; a 170-metre bridge at Farrell Creek; and a 160-metre bridge at Lynx Creek. Other causeway crossings will also be required at both Farrell and Lynx Creek.

Meanwhile, thirteen bids were received for embank-

ment work at Cache Creek east, including five from Northern B.C. contractors: • Golden Base Contracting Ltd (Fort St. John) - $18,197,013.04 • JJM Construction Ltd. (Delta) - $14,187,000.00 • MasTec Canada Inc. (Calgary, Alta.) - $13,894,320.00 • Jakes Construction Ltd. (Chilliwack) - $10,800,000.00 • IDL Projects Inc (Prince George) - $10,232,654.00 • Enviro-Ex Contracting Ltd (Prince George) - $10,158,900.00 • Belvedere Place Development Ltd. (Kelowna) - $10,134,552.00 • North Country Maintenance Inc. (Fort Nelson) - $11,463,252.00 • Eagle Rock Construction Ltd. (Kamloops) - $9,594,361.00 • Jacob Bros. Construction Inc. (Surrey) - $9,474,000.00 • Timbro Contracting (Agassiz) - $8,222,589.40 • Acres Enterprises Ltd. (Kamloops) - $7,720,600.00 • Brocor Construction Ltd. (Dawson Creek) - $7,518,249.75

Memorial for Alaska Highway murder victims upgraded Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca A memorial for two young international tourists murdered on the Alaska Highway this summer is getting an upgrade.

Whitehorse trucker Ed Grennan put up the memorial near Liard Hot Spring for Australian Lucas Fowler and American Chynna Deese in August.

Over the past few weeks, Grennan and fellow trucker John Van Vyfeyken have been working on a more permanent memorial with new crosses and a small shelter to keep it covered from the elements.

“The memorial is a place to keep the memory of this couple alive and to help all those impacted by this tragic event find some solice [sic] and peace knowing that we are all keeping the lost and thier [sic] families in our thoughts and prayers,” Van Vyfeyken wrote in a post to Facebook.

Fowler and Deese were found shot to death outside their van on the side of the highway on July 15.

Their killers, Kam McLeod and Bryer Schmegelsky

FEDERAL ELECTION

were found dead in the northern Manitoba bush on Aug. 7, after a weekslong nationwide manhunt that involved the police and military.

The memorial, featuring an American and Australian flag, has been collecting flowers and other tributes since it was first made.

Fowler, 23, was from Sydney, Australia, and Deese, 24, was from Charlotte, North Carolina. The couple met in a hostel in Croatia in 2017, and had visited Europe, Central America, and Asia together.

Fowler had worked and saved up money in Sydney before travelling to B.C. earlier this year to work at a ranch in Hudson’s Hope, and to later meet up with Deese. They had just started a road trip together up the Alaska Highway and to the Yukon before they were killed.

“These families are so far away, I couldn’t tell how much they appreciate us doing this,” Grennan said in a video captured by a passerby documenting their work.

Facebook/John Van Vyfeyken

A memorial in memory of Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese on the Alaska Highway.

M O N D AY, O C TO B E R 21

#ItsOurVote

Can’t vote on election day?

If you think you’ll be away or too busy on October 21, you can vote early: ■ ■ ■

At your assigned advance polling station from October 11 to 14 At any Elections Canada office before October 15, 6:00 p.m.

By mail – apply by October 15, 6:00 p.m.

Check your voter information card for all the ways you can vote.

Visit elections.ca for the official information you need to vote 1-800-463-6868

elections.ca

TTY 1-800-361-8935

alaska highway news

thursday, october 10, 2019 | NEWS | A5

How can you help?

SIMPLY FILL BOTTLE WITH LOOSE CHANGE, BILLS OR CHEQUE AND RETURN BY NOVEMBER 24!

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No problem!

Pick up your“baby bottle” at:

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Your sma flange does make a big difference! #335 9900 100 Ave Fort St. John, BC V1J5S7 | phone: (250) 787-5584 email: info@northpeacepregnancycare.ca

Future Firefighter dave lueneberg photo

Harley Whitton,3, is all smiles as he gets to sit inside a City of Fort St. John fire engine during a kickoff event for National Fire Prevention Week on October 5, 2019.

Firefighters will be visiting schools this week to teach kids how to create a fire escape plan for their home.

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK October 6th to October 12th 2019

ARE YOUR FIRE ESCAPES

ACCESSIBLE?

In the event of a house fire, smoke can invade your home in less than three minutes. It’s therefore vital that everyone evacuate the premises quickly. Will your emergency exits allow for this to happen?

To avoid hindering your quick departure to safety, make certain that the doors and windows that serve as emergency exits are unobstructed at all times. Put away all items strewn around them (shoes, backpacks, toys, etc.) and be sure not to block emergency exits with furniture or large objects. Also, in winter, carefully remove snow from all doors, balconies, windows and terraces after every snowfall. Make sure your house number sign is kept clear as well.

Additionally, you should regularly ascertain that windows intended as evacuation points effortlessly open (that they don’t get stuck due to ice or rust, for instance). And if you have young children, also make sure these exits are easy for them to reach and open.

Finally, don’t forget to identify all possible hitches in your evacuation plan. Ideally, set up a strategy that allows for two different paths to get out of each room in your house.

STAY ALERT:

fire safety is in your hands For this year’s Fire Prevention Week, October 6 to 12, 2019, Fire Prevention Canada is endorsing the National Fire Prevention Association’s (NFPA) new theme: Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware — fire can happen anywhere. The slogan identifies three crucial aspects of fire safety and reminds us that fires can occur when and where we least expect them. In recognition of Fire Prevention Week 2019, check out these three key tips from the NFPA for staying safe in the event of a fire.

1. LOOK. Inspect your home for potential fire hazards — such as loose outlets, faulty wiring, frayed electrical cords and unattended candles — and eliminate them wherever possible.

2. LISTEN. Keep an ear out for the sound of smoke alarms. If there’s a fire, you’ll only have a few minutes to escape the building safely and get to your household’s designated meeting spot. Check your smoke alarms every two months to ensure that they’re working correctly.

3. LEARN. Make sure to learn two ways to exit every room of your house, through either a door or a window. Keep these exits easy to open and clear of clutter. Your household should have a fire escape plan in place and rehearse it at least twice a year.

Though many people mistakenly think that a fire could never occur in their own home, mishaps and disasters don’t discriminate. Always be prepared for the worst. If you stay alert and take preventive measures, you and your loved ones are much more likely to stay safe during a fire.

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Install exit and emergency lighting

Check your smoke detector batteries on a regular basis!

Don’t overload extension cords with plugs and ensure that you do not exceed the maximum wattage allowed.

To guarantee the safety of you and your loved ones, make sure emergency exits remain unobstructed at all times.

Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware FIRE CAN HAPPEN ANYWHERE.

250-785-3282

alaska highway news

A6 | NEWS | thursday, OCTOber 10, 2019

New pain support group launches Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca

healthy walk In what’s become an annual ritual, students and staff at Taylor Elementary bundled themselves up for a short walk to the Community Hall. The Healthy Walk to Breakfast is a long-standing tradition that was started to promote healthy eating and exercise. On the menu: pancakes, bacon, oranges, and juice.

dave luenberg photo

$9,600 for senior care They danced, they sang, they got married — all to raise money for seniors care in Fort St. John.

The Fort St. John Rotary Club donated $9,660 to the Fort St. John and Area Senior Care Foundation on Thursday, Sept. 26, proceeds from its successful Tony and Tina’s Wedding dinner theatre produced with Stage North earlier this year.

Those monies will support the foundation’s Meals on Wheels food delivery program, its Better at Home

housekeeping service, the chaplaincy at Peace Villa, and a whole range of other programs its operates to keep seniors social and in contact with the community.

“We look after a lot of their needs that no one else will,” said Roxanne Chmelyk.

“We try to do everything we can to keep them involved. We try to keep them healthy, emotionally and physically and spiritually.”

The foundation visits each seniors facility in town as part of its outreach, organizing social dances and Red Hat Teas.

“They love to dress up and have a different type of social event for the ladies.

You’ll always have a man that slips in. We dress him up like a woman just so he can come,” Chmelyk said with a laugh.

“We have a lot of fun with the seniors and we just try to always have new things that are going on, and keep them as much involved as we can with everything.”

Inclusion talks B.C.’s minister for social development and poverty reduction will be in Fort St. John this month to discuss the development of accessibility legislation in the province.

Peace region residents are invited to meet with Shane Simpson on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the North Peace Cultural Centre.

The government says Simpson will host “people with disabilities, their friends and families, accessibility advocates and self-advocates, as well as organizations, experts, businesses and individuals to help define what future legislation to make B.C. a more accessible and inclusive province could look like.”

The meeting will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 15. All are welcome to attend.

A new pain support and wellness group is launching in Fort St. John.

The group is being launched by Pain BC, which says one in five British Columbians suffer from chronic pain caused by accidents, injuries, or chronic conditions and illnesses.

The group is being established to help residents learn about pain management, and to network and share their knowledge and strategies with others who live with with pain.

“There is a huge need for accessible pain care and support in BC,” Maria Hudspith, executive director, said in a news release.

“We hope these groups will give British Columbians with pain the hope, support, and resources they need to manage their pain.”

The group will hold its first meeting at the pool on Oct. 8, and will meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.

Pain BC is also launching groups in Chilliwack, Kelowna, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, Quesnel, Salmon Arm, Trail, Vancouver, Vernon, and Victoria, with plans to expand in 2020.

The groups are being funded through a community grant from ICBC.

Rotarians at Work

Local Rotarians assembling Mitzpah Transition House “Starter Kits” for women and children as they begin a new chapter in life

We’re planning to upgrade our gas meters Come to an information session to learn more FortisBC is exploring ways to modernize our natural gas system and add new customer benefits. One of the ways we’re proposing to do this is by upgrading our gas meters to new advanced meters. Before we file our application with the British Columbia Utilities Commission, we are engaging with communities.

We’re hosting information sessions across B.C. including in Prince George on October 15 and Fort Nelson on October 16.

For more information on the Advanced Gas Meters project, and to register for a session, visit fortisbc.com/gasmeters.

Can’t make it to an info session? Contact us at 1-833-592-7937 or advancedgasmeters@fortisbc.com.

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alaska highway news

thursday, october 10, 2019 | NEWS | A7

Impaired driving suspected Police are investigating whether drugs played a role in a serious motor vehicle accident on the South Taylor Hill on Saturday that caused serious injuries.

Emergency crews responded to the collision between a truck and car just after 12 p.m. on Oct. 5, 2019.

RCMP say the driver of the truck, a local man in his 30s, collided with the other vehicle, sending it careening into the ditch while the truck flipped onto its side on the road.

The driver of the car, a man in his 40s from the United States, suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to hospital, RCMP said.

The driver of the truck is Emergency crews on scene of a motor vehicle accident on the South Taylor Hill, Oct. 5, 2019. known to police, RCMP said.

The matter is under investigation as an impaired driving file, RCMP said. The investigation continues.

dave lueneberg photo

Livestock deaths, mutilations investigated

Fraud workshop Have you been targeted by fake contest scams, or been suckered into thinking you owe the government even more taxes? The North Peace Savings and Credit Union is putting on a free financial literacy workshop to help residents prevent fraud and identity theft later this month.

The workshop is geared toward seniors to learn about the ways thieves try to steal and use personal information, along with tips to keep that information safe and what people need to do if they are a victim of fraud.

“Fraud and identity theft scams targeted at an aging population are a real heartbreaker and we hope to teach as many seniors as we can to protect themselves from being vulnerable to these types of crimes,” said spokesperson Megan Brooks.

The workshop runs Oct. 24, at the Seniors Hall at 1 p.m.

Matt Preprost editor@ahnfsj.ca A horse found dead and mutilated north of Fort St. John this week reportedly died from natural causes.

Veterinarians have ruled the horse died from a perforated bowel, and that scavengers were responsible for the mutilation of the animal, which was found missing its genitals after its owners discovered the dismaying scene in Rose Prairie on Oct. 1.

“They were very thorough with their autopsy ... but I still question things,” Amanda Babock told CBC News about the necropsy performed on her 21-yearold horse named Kelly.

“There wasn’t a mark on him other than he was missing his penis and he had a small piece of skin that was missing around it.”

It happened 10 days after a bull was also found dead and missing its genitals in Cecil Lake. Both incidents have renewed concerns among farmers in the re-

gion after similar incidents happened in the region five years ago.

Babcock said Friday she still has many unanswered questions, and that too many coincidences don’t seem to add up.

Babcock had been keeping her horse at her mother’s home, and noted the fence had been cut. Babcock also questions why a scavenger would go after the genitals, removed with minimal tearing and little blood, instead of the hind end, where there’s more meat.

“How many coincidences does there have to be, before they are no longer coincidence?” Babcock asked.

The BC RCMP Livestock Section is assisting Fort St. John RCMP with the investigations. Police have said it’s unclear whether the two animal deaths are related, and that there was no evidence to indicate the animals were killed by predators.

RCMP have advised farmers to check their livestock regularly and to ensure their properties are properly

secured.

They are also encouraging farmers to report suspicious activity and compare notes with one another, and to install wildlife cameras that can be used for video surveillance.

Babcock is also encouraging residents to keep a close eye on their animals and their neighbours.

Trail cameras are an op-

tion, Babcock said, but added even those aren’t always reliable due to how they’re triggered and the quality of images they produce.

“Be aware,” Babcock said.

Anyone with information about the two incidents is asked to call RCMP at 250787-8100, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

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alaska highway news

A8 | news | thursday, october 10, 2019

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• Adam Phillip McLeod (born 1988) was sentenced to 27 days jail, issued a 12-month probation order, issued a lifetime firearms ban, and ordered to provide a DNA sample for possession for the purpose of trafficking. McLeod was jailed for seven days and issued a 12-month probation order for possession of a controlled substance. McLeod was jailed for seven days for failing to appear pursuant to court order.

• Jullian Melvin Randy Field (born 2000) was issued an 18-month probation order and 10-year firearms ban, and ordered to provide a DNA sample on two counts of assault with a weapon.

• Daniel Arthur Scott Carter

(born 1976) was issued a suspended sentence with a one-year probation order, and assessed a $100 victim surcharge for mischief. Carter received the same sentence for possession of stolen property under $5,000.

• Lucius William Mattison (born 1977) was issued a one-year $500 recognizance after allegation of assault.

Dawson Creek • Devin Daniel Calliou (born 1995) was issued a one-year probation order for possession of stolen property over $5,000. Calliou was issued a three-year criminal driving ban and a second one-year probation order for flight from police.

Calliou was sentenced to 124 days for five counts of breach of probation. Calliou was jailed for six days for failing to appear pursuant to court order. Calliou was fined $500 and assessed a $75 victim surcharge for driving while prohibited.

— Matt Preprost

Thefts on the rise, police say

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Fort St. John RCMP are urging residents to lock up the vehicles and secure their valuables after a recent rise in thefts. There have been 49 reports of thefts from vehicles so far between Sept. 1 and Oct. 4 — 11 of those were in the first four days of October.

Those numbers are up dramatically from the 27 complaints seen during the same time period in 2018, and the 15 complaints in 2017.

More than 60% of the thefts are happening in the northwest quadrant of the city. In a majority of cases, there are no signs of forced entry, so it may be possible vehicles are being left unlocked, police say.

“Admittedly, there have been a couple of times in the past year where I have come out to my personal vehicle in the morning to find it unlocked,” Sgt. Dave Tyreman said in a news release. “Fortunately I have not been the victim of a theft, but very

well could have been. This is why we are pushing this campaign. To get ourselves in a routine of keeping our belongings safe and reducing the chances of being victimized.”

RCMP are reminding residents to start a regular routine around 9 p.m. each night to ensure their vehicles are locked before going to bed.

Those routine measures should include: Removing valuables & garage door openers from your vehicle; Removing insurance/registration papers as they can be used for identity thefts; Securing your vehicle windows and locks; Securing personal belongings like bicycles, skateboards and dirt bikes are secured in your garage; Closing your overhead garage door; Locking the door between your garage and your house; Checking all other doors and windows to ensure they are closed and locked; and turning on exterior lights.

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alaska highway news

thursday, october 10, 2019 | NEWS | A9

Polio left its scars on Fort St. John and the North Peace

W

orld Polio Day is October 24, and thousands of Rotary Clubs around the world will hold events and fundraisers to recognize the progress in the global fight to end polio.

The Sunrise Rotary Club of Fort St. John is hosting a screening of Breathe on Oct. 16 at at Aurora Cinema.

The movie is about a gentleman who contracts polio and how it affects him and his family. The Rotary Club of Fort St. John is also holding a fundraiser on Oct. 19 called Pints For Polio, and is a beer-tasting tour that starts at the curling club. There will be bus transportation to take you to all the stops. Proceeds from both will go to support the eradication of polio.

The history of polio began with Michael Underwood describing a debility of the lower extremities in children, that was recognized as poliomyelitis in England in 1789.

The first polio outbreaks in Europe were reported in the early 19th Century, and polio outbreaks were first reported in the United States in 1843.

For the next 100 years, epidemics of polio were reported from developed countries in the Northern Hemisphere each summer and fall. These epidemics became increasingly severe, and the average age of people affected rose. The increasingly older age of people with primary polio infection increased both the severity of the disease and the number of deaths. In 1952, polio reached a peak in the United States, with more than 21,000 cases.

It has been more than 60 years since the last cases of polio were seen in the Peace Country. Like everywhere in Canada, the U.S., and the world for that matter, the very contagious illness spread like wildfire.

An injectable polio vaccine was discovered by Jonas Salk in 1952 and, following testing, was made available to the public in 1955. By this time, many were crippled and many more had died.

Time was of an essence to stop the disease. In 1957, an oral polio vaccine was developed by Albert Sabin, which was much easier to administer. Following testing the vaccine was licensed

larry evans in 1962. Children lined up by the millions around the globe to receive the little spoonful of vaccine, or sugar cube laden with the vaccine.

By this time it was critical to vaccinate everyone in the world.

The illness, which invaded the nervous system, sometimes caused problems with lungs, making it impossible to take a breath on your own.

The physicians designed, and broadly used an “iron lung” to assist the patient with breathing. In larger hospitals, polio victims with disabled limbs were put into large hydrotherapy baths.

This seemed to encourage use of afflicted arms and legs.

When the polio epidemic first struck Fort St. John in 1948, some 50 patients were treated. The only polio patient lost at that time was the brother of Sister Marcellina. The Elks club aided Dr. Cormack and Mr. Murphy, the Providence Hospital handyman, to improvise a “Clover Tank” for hydrotherapy for the polio patients.

The army doctors assisted the local doctors at this crucial time and a hydraulic jack was improvised to raise and lower patients into and out of the water. This clover leaf shaped bathtub is now used for a flower bed near the entrance to the Fort St. John North Peace Museum. It is planted with lovely flowers every year and is possibly visited by some local pioneer that knew or was related to someone that benefited from it during the epidemic.

In 1952, news came of the death of another polio victim. This was Mrs. Gordon Ecklund who had lived in Taylor with her husband and infant. Mr. Ecklund was the son of a well-known Baldonnel farmer. Mrs. Ecklund was originally from Dawson Creek. Mrs. Ecklund had been admitted to Providence Hospital and as her condition deteriorated her phys-

fort st. john north peace museum / I986.150.02

This is a black and white photograph of a group of eight people beside the Elk’s shamrock pool during the Polio epidemic in 1947.

ician, Dr. G.N. Cormack, put in a call for assistance from the Department of Health in Victoria. The RCAF’s hospital plane answered the call, flying into the airport here.

The plane carried a flight commander, medical man, a nurse, and a first aid man with respirator equipment.

This team was in readiness to answer such emergency calls, and the big DC3 was equipped for any type of call.

Unfortunately the assistance of the rescue team was of no avail as just a few hours after their arrival the patient succumbed. She was the victim of the most serious type of polio, the progress was rapid and at that time there was no known cure. The date was November 11, 1952, and Mr. Salk would be busy in his lab testing the first vaccine.

As the polio victims recovered, no other deaths were mentioned until October 8, 1953, when Joseph Wagner, just 25 years old, passed away in the hospital in Edmonton. Joseph was the son of Leo Wagner, who lived at the airport subdivision at the time and later moved to Cecil Lake where he farmed with his son Tony and daughter -in-law Roxanne (my oldest sister). Joseph was a victim of polio and passed away just shortly after the dreaded disease claimed

his elder sister, Martha, in Washington, D.C. Joseph’s death was the climax of a series of misfortunes. This started when weeks previous he was stricken with a ruptured appendix while working on his house at his farm near Fort St. John. He was unable to summon help, although he fired his rifle with the customary distress signal of three shots, and lay in agony the four days before he was able to walk and crawl the long mile to his neighbour.

He was then flown to Edmonton and it appeared that he was recovering nicely from the operation when he was stricken with polio.

According to his father, who had managed to make the trip to Edmonton to see his son, Joseph had been put into an iron lung when he was completely paralyzed.

“He was a very fine young man,” Duncan Cran had reported, as he had worked with Joe many times as a surveyor. Joe was brought back to Fort St. John by his sister, the late Mrs. John Budac, for burial in the Fort St. John Cemetery. Pallbearers from Fort St. John and Baldonnel were Gabriel, Alliouis, and Valentine Sperling, Paul Odermat, Raymond and Gabriel Wagner.

Polio has left its scars on

the North Peace, but thankfully the illness is controlled and continues to be prevented as it is included in the Province of B.C.’s vaccination program. Infants receiving childhood vaccines are now protected against the disease.

In 1988, Rotary International partnered with Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), the World Health Organization, Unicef and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to work in a unified effort to wipe out polio off the face of the earth.

Rotary first started immunizing children in third world countries in 1985.

Their main responsibility is fundraising, advocacy and volunteer recruitment. The vaccines discovered by Salk and Sabin in the 1950s were the beginning of the end of polio as the vaccines have eliminated polio completely from most countries. The number of reported cases each year world wide has been reduced to just a handful, but that’s still too many.

That is enough reason to continue with the vaccinations.

Larry Evans is a former fire chief, city councillor, and lifelong historian living in Fort St. John.

Torch light ceremony planned for Dec. 7 Continued from A1 “Whatever we need that’s where of course we’re going to be looking for sponsorships. We know Fort St. John is a very giving community, and we always appreciate people that come out and help stuff like this, especially for youth in the community.”

The Games will need 120 first aid volunteers to work stations at each venue, as well as a central medical clinic. Volunteers must already have their first aid ticket, as there is no capacity funding to certify those without one.

“There are a number of first aid trained people in our community, so we’re not too worried about finding the numbers,” Evans said.

“It’s just a matter of getting the word out to everyone and hoping they’re off

that weekend.”

The athletes will start arriving in Fort St. John on Feb. 19. Four planes will make 14 trips back and forth to the airport that day, with the first flight in at 11 a.m., and the last flight in at 10 p.m.

“It’s a big movement of people and athletes,” said Darren Snider, president of the organizing committee.

“It’s going to take all day to transport them around and get everybody here a day early for everybody to prepare.”

The Games kick off Feb. 20 and will run to Feb. 23.

The city will hold a torch lighting ceremony on Dec. 7 in Centennial Park after the Santa Claus parade.

To learn more about volunteering, visit bcgames.org/ Games/BC-Winter-Games/ Volunteers

Al as ka Hi gh wa y Ne ws

• informative • innovative • indepth www.alaskahighwaynews.ca

ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

A10 | NEWS | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019

WEEKEND WORK A welder busy at work at the site of the new Canadian Tire development under construction on Old Fort Road, Oct. 5, 2019.

Sorting through the spin on B.C.’s latest emissions report

I

f you need to know how to take positive news and make it negative, just ask Andrew Weaver.

As can only happen in the disorganized world of politics, our fearless provincial leaders take a good news story and make it sound like a disaster. The headline

by CBC on a Canadian Press story from Sept. 10 read ‘B.C. greenhouse gas emissions still near 2007 levels, ministry says’.

I would have thought this was a good news story, especially today where emissions are always being reported as rising, but apparently not here in B.C. We wouldn’t want to give any impression that we’re slowly winning the battle, when the desired outcome is to immediately achieve the impossible and rid ourselves of pipelines, gasoline, diesel, and all other things derived from petroleum.

In my simple world and using a train as an example, if it misses its scheduled stop and blows right past the station, it must do things in a predetermined order to get back to the station and on schedule.

First, they slow the down in order to come to a complete stop; then, they reverse down the tracks and back into the station. it takes a bit longer, but it does get there, and after that, it begins to move forward once again. Not complicated.

In the ever-changing world of politics, climate

change, and emissions targets, politicians do seem to get it all backwards.

The Canadian Press story reports Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver as being “concerned with the emissions levels, saying ordinary B.C. residents are doing their part to fight pollution, but industry emissions are largely rising.”

Yet, the same story reports “2017 emissions fell in several sectors including petroleum, oil and gas extraction, road transport, and public electricity and heat production. Sectors where emission increased included manufacturing, off-road transport, residential construction and agriculture.”

Let me get this right.

The report says our major emitting sectors are doing their part and slowly reducing their emissions, but our politicians cannot and will not give them any credit. I thought this would be good news. Unfortunately, we know where Premier John Horgan and Weaver stand when it comes to our oil and gas industries. Hell will likely freeze over before either could admit to the truth and give some support for this sector and all the good things it’s doing and achieving.

Not surprisingly, agriculture is cited as an increaser. What opportunities are there for farmers to decrease emissions when there aren’t a lot of technological advancements that

Mining generates $3B in B.C. business

If you live in Chetwynd or Tumbler Ridge, you are probably attuned to just how important mining is to B.C.’s economy. After all, three metallurgical coal mines operating in the region are a major employer for those communities.

The importance of mining to the rest of B.C.’s economy

are affordable or practical, other than reducing production?

Year after year, our farmers need to produce our food, get it to markets, and then out to us, the consumers — all of which requires vast amounts of energy, mostly in the form of diesel and gas. Any changes to this system are still far in the distant future.

It’s the same for manufacturing. We need their production; we need their jobs and changes to their processes will take years.

Another article, titled ‘Clean/green movement won’t transform the economy quickly’ by Jock Finlayson of the Business Council of British Columbia in the ORCA on Sept. 9, concludes: “the current energy transition, like those that have occurred before, is destined to be slow-moving and is unlikely to entail a sudden break with established patterns of energy production and consumption.

“In the meantime, Canadians should be skeptical

of claims made by some politicians about the role of a supposedly booming clean/green sector in transforming the country’s economy.”

Finlayson then goes on to explain why Canada and the rest of the world cannot quickly change from using fossil fuels to other sources, and how world fossil fuel production and use continues to climb, despite all the rhetoric to the contrary.

I hate to break the news to the fossil fuel deniers, but getting rid of gas and oil isn’t happening anytime soon. Come to think of it, why should we jump off this bandwagon when everyone else is still getting on? Getting off now will simply leave us standing by the edge of the road, watching the rest of the world pass us by, all the while petroleum production continues to grow.

On Sept. 11, I watched one of Canada’s leading investment gurus talk on BNN about how the world becoming more interested in investing in Canada’s oil and gas sector. With world demand for oil increasing by more than one million barrels per year — consistent on a yearly basis over the past 30 years and showing no signs of slowing down — the world is waking up and once again beginning to look to Canada to provide for its needs.

His view, which is supported by many, is that we already have the world’s most ethically and en-

vironmentally-produced petroleum production, and that we should be supplying the rest of the world with our products, not denying them. Not only that, but that our governments should be taking the lead from our knowledge and knowhow, and helping export these processes and technologies so other petroleum-producing regions of the world can accomplish these same good things just like we do here at home.

With the federal election in full swing, we shouldn’t be afraid to give a shoutout to all our great petroleumbased industries, on how they support us, how they support our wellbeing, and how they support Canada.

If there’s one thing we all should be doing, it’s not letting fossil fuel deniers take over the conversation with false messages about the demise of our petroleum industry.

Don’t let them confuse you with stories about how our “clean energy” economy will save the day and create all those jobs. Green energy’s current contribution to Canada’s gross domestic product (GDP) is still less than a politician’s rounding error.

We still need our petroleum producing sector, if not more than ever, at least as much as we ever have.

is not as well understood. But a new study has now put a number to mining’s spinoff impacts for other businesses throughout the province.

There are 17 operating mines and two smelters in B.C. that generate more than $12 billion in economic activity, according to a new study by the Mining Association

of BC (MABC) and Mining Suppliers Association of BC (MSABC).

About one-third of that ($2.9 billion) went to more than 3,700 B.C. businesses providing goods and services to the mining sector.

In Vancouver alone, the spend is worth about $248 million, according to the

study, released September 24. Roughly $265 million of goods and services are spent with First Nations contractors and suppliers.

Mining supports a host of service industries, including legal, accounting, financing and engineering sectors.

EVAN SAUGSTAD

Evan Saugstad is a former mayor of Chetwynd, and lives in Fort St. John.

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alaska highway news

thursday, october 10, 2019 | arts & culture | a11

We all have a role in our health care solutions

L

Edwina nearhood environment is very hard on staff as it is slow to see results.

We have developed local programs to help fill the staffing challenges – but retention of the students where they are needed the most has not been happening. This yells opportunity loud and clear for management to do better.

I think the new residential care manager at Peace Villa is just the person to do just that. We will have to give change a chance. Perhaps now is the time for some of the past students to reconsider their profession and come again with an open mind that things can be different.

To our community – when we see challenges, instead of pointing fingers and blaming, let’s do our best to become part of the solution. A volunteer co-ordinator at the hospital and in the community can do a lot to alleviate some of the pressures experienced. You as a local resident can help just by showing up. We have people in the community in the past that would bring flowers, read books, play music, have cultural activities. It’s amazing how a small act of kindness can make a huge difference.

One hour a week will pay back tenfold.

Give change a chance; Be the change you wish to see in the world, is not a Gandhi quote, but it most certainly invokes several powerful changes in ourselves. It stops us from judging others and stirs us into action. This is a great example of civility.

Won’t you make a difference today?

Special Delivery

ast week, Northern Health temporarily suspended new admissions at Peace Villa due to staffing challenges. Back up.

Back up… way back. Peace Villa hired a new permanent residential care manager this past spring. Prior to that, Peace Villa had been operated by temporary managers.

The challenge in the north is often trying to find experienced qualified professionals to fill key positions.

When those positions are not filled, the responsibility is placed on under-qualified managers. This is a band-aid solution that can be a challenge for all involved. Human resource management, volunteer management, and staff burnout, as well as lower standards of care, are tell-tale signs there’s an issue. It’s unfair to put an under-qualified person in any position without mentorship, additional resources, and support. Burnout and stress are imminent. The job becomes a challenge and the rest, may I say, is writing on the wall.

There are many organizations in the north that face the same challenges every day. Professional positions require a certain amount of gray hair wisdom to mentor and grow confident and qualified succession plans.

The reality is a bright new hire is keen to roll up their sleeves to get the job done with no opportunity for vulnerability or mentorship.

The results – clean up in Aisle 4, a huge opportunity lost of a bright employee, and a deeper hole to climb out from.

Change management takes time. We are very fortunate to have a new residential care manager in our community that chose to come here and wants to stay here. As a community, can we welcome her with open arms and find out what we can do to help.

There are a lot of great staff at Peace Villa who care.

Sometimes, there are staff in health care positions who need to take a step back and realize they are not safe and are experiencing burnout.

Change management in this

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Edwina Nearhood is a lifelong resident of Fort St. John.

Museum news Summer is over, and we’re preparing for the fall here at the museum. We’ve ordered in new sweaters, Fort St. John magnets, stickers, and key chains! We also have some new Christmas ornaments for sale. We’ve introduced annual family memberships to the museum. Call the museum for more information!

Exhibits • Charlie Lake Cave Now until December at the Fort St. John Regional Airport Designed and installed by our summer students, this exhibit looks at the history surrounding Tse’K’wa (Charlie Lake Cave), the archaeological digs conducted there, what has been found, and future plans for the site.

• Providence Hospital & The Construction of the Alaska Highway Now until November 2019 at the Fort St. John Hospital This exhibit looks at the role that Providence Hospital had in the building of the Alaska Highway. Dr. Kearney and nurses treated sick sol-

diers who had arrived in Fort St. John to begin building the Alaska Highway. The sudden influx of soldiers strained the hospital’s resources, and hallways were turned into patient rooms. Even the Xray table was used as a bed!

• The Peace River: Highway of the North Before roads, rivers were the highways of First Nations and early settlers. Birch bark canoes allowed First Nations to travel swiftly. Steamboats could travel over 500 miles along the Peace River from the chutes near Fort Vermillion to gates at Hudson’s Hope. This exhibit looks at over twelve boats, steam and gas powered, that used to navigate up and down the Peace River. Watch a slideshow of archival photographs, and listen to the sounds of steamboats. See what a dining table on the D. A. Thomas may have looked like. Try on a life jacket and see how it compares to one from over 100 years ago.

Caty Virostek is manager and curator of the Fort St. John North Peace Museum.

Your minimum donation of $125 to the FSJ Hospital Foundation will not only purchase a flower petal, but the money raised will also go towards much needed medical equipment that will help to provide the best healthcare and service possible.

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curling tee-up

girls hockey week

volleyball

The Fort St. John Curling Club leagues started this week

The North Peace Eagles held try-it sessions on the weekend for World Girls Hockey Weekend

The NPSS junior girls team won at home, while the senior teams struggled in Whitecourt

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loewen behold Fort St. John Huskies forward Nick Loewen scores the game winner at 8:47 of the third period, beating goalie Cameron Beson and the Grande Prairie Kings 4-3 in NWJHL action Oct. 5, 2019 at North Peace Arena.

dave lueneberg photo

Huskies win one, lose one for second-straight weekend Dave Lueneberg Alaska Highway News The Fort St. John Huskies had a win and a loss for the second straight weekend.

The loss, a 6-5 defeat, came Friday, October 4, on the road to the Sexsmith Vipers.

The Huskies, however, were able to rebound with a much better effort Saturday night, at home, edging out the County of Grande Prairie Kings 4-3 to improve their record to 3-2 on the season.

Rookie Connor Kindrat scored twice in less than eight minutes to lead the charge, after the Kings opened the scoring just 27 seconds into the game.

Kindrat’s opening goal came off the face-off.

“I just got in a good spot and all the boys put up a good screen and it just went in.”

The former Tracker’s second tally was on a rush.

“The boys (Nick Loewen and Logan Kimmie) gave me a great pass in a great spot and you can’t not score when you get a pass like that.”

Kindrat now has three goals and three assists through the club’s first five games this season. Jared Winkel and Nick Loewen added the other goals to round out Fort St. John’s scoring.

Unlike Friday’s loss against Sexsmith, where the Huskies fell behind early and weren’t able to recover, head coach Todd Alexander felt his team didn’t panic Saturday.

“That’s the thing that’s good about our group, we don’t worry about that stuff. We talk about it a lot, to drop what has been in the past really quickly and get on to the future,” said Alexander, who feels the Kings’ opening goal wasn’t any reflection of his team’s play early on.

“I’m sure if you ask our goalie (Tyler McArthur) I know he would like to have that one back.”

McArthur went on to make 20

saves and pick up his first-ever win with the Junior B club.

Alexander maintains it’s a good milestone for his young goalie.

“His first victory, the second time out. We’re really looking forward to watching his growth, how his progression (development) goes this year. He’s got the tangibles to be a real good goaltender.”

Upcoming Games As for the Huskies, it’s back on the road for the next two games starting Friday night, October 11, in Fairview.

It’ll be the first match-up of the season between the two teams.

“I know they’re a big team,” said Alexander. “I talked to a couple of other guys in the league (about Fairview), they like to hit. They got a couple of big wins for themselves in the last week.”

The game in Grande Prairie on Saturday, October 12, will be the third game between the Huskies and Kings already this season.

The Huskies have won the first two matchups.

Alexander said he’s not looking to change anything up.

“For the most part, you’re more worried about what we’re doing ... Our systems, our game, and our style ... We’re trying to build on our identity and get to those plays so you don’t have to think about them anymore, they just happen.”

Injury Updates Alexander say two key players, forwards Alex Nimmo and Brady Marzocco, won’t be in the line-up this weekend.

“Alex is out definitely. Brady is out indefinitely and (Joel) Bourgeois, we’ll see how he is. He might get worked into practice.”

The Huskies’ next home game is October 18 against the Dawson Creek Junior Canucks.

Julius and Willie from Peace Glass Ltd. in Fort St. John are pleased with the purchase of their second Promaster Van from Angelo at Inland Auto Centre.

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B2 | sportS | thursday, October 10, 2019

around the bases F or many sports fans, the jersey is a sacred thing. You only wear it when your team is playing, and you certainly don’t ever wear another team’s jersey.

Wearing a jersey at home while the game is on is fine.

Sporting the Canucks’ colours at the grocery store isn’t.

Sports jerseys are the one expensive piece of clothing that make you look childish, apparently. Sure, I get it, they look a little goofy, but I’ll wear a tight-fitting Tori Holt jersey any day of the week and be OK with my choice.

Most people are OK with this. What people aren’t OK at all with is wearing a different team’s jersey. On the surface, that sounds like a fair statement. I’m a life-long and diehard Blue Jays fan, so it would be blasphemous if I wore a New York Yankees jersey on any occasion.

However, if I wear a team that I have no affiliation with whatsoever, and isn’t a rival of my favourite team — say, the Milwaukee Brewers, or the Calgary Flames — people lose their minds.

I bring this up because I went to the Calgary Flames home opener on October 5 against the Vancouver Canucks. I have nothing against the Flames and was excited to watch some hockey, especially with all the excitement that comes with the beginning of the NHL season.

The thing is, since the Flames and the Saddledome

dillon giancola

sports@ahnfsj.ca

schedule

1947: Caroll’s bowling alley re-opened with resurfaced lanes that were “kitten-smooth.” Apparently, renting bowling shoes at the alley was not yet a common occurence, and on this occasion, the article asked people to not wear muddy shoes but instead bring bowling shoes.

friday: Huskies @ flyers, fairview arena, 7 pm saturday: barons @ trackers, north peace arena, 1:45 pm Saturday: huskies @ kings, crosslink centre, 7 pm

home opener Sports reporter Dillon Giancola traded his Leafs jersey for a Calgary Flames jersey with friend Darin Corbett at the Flames’ 3-0 home-opener win against Vancouver on October 5, 2019.

dillon giancola photo

are known for their “Sea of Red,” in which almost every person at the game is wearing a red Flames jersey, I didn’t really feel like standing out. And since I like Johnny Gaudreau, and think Calgary’s alternate jerseys with the white C are awesome, I was more than happy to don my buddy’s mom’s jersey.

Plus, the team gave every fan a nice Flames scarf, and I’m always excited to show off new clothes.

Unfortunately, I forgot how unforgiving people are when it comes to different

alaska highway news

this day in sports history

team’s jerseys, especially hockey. Now, I’ll admit, part of the reason I was excited to wear the jersey and share the photo with my friends online was that I knew it would annoy those who cheered for the Oilers. For what it’s worth, I have long rooted against the Oilers and they are the only team whose jersey I won’t wear to a game.

Still, I was a little surprised at the amount of people who didn’t see it as a joke, and instead saw it as a heinous crime.

As funny as it is to be a

troll, or even just fit in at a packed arena, I really don’t think it’s a big deal. Sometimes, fans get carried away, and think that if you wear a different team’s jersey, you’re mind will be affected and you will unable to continue to be a fan of the other team.

For example, as a Los Angeles Rams fan, I have hated the Seattle Seahawks for 20 years now. But, the bright green jerseys that Seatttle wore while they ripped my heart out on October 3, and beat the Rams 30-29, were

pretty baller. I’m not saying I would wear a Chris Carson jersey if someone gave it to me for free, but I’m not saying I wouldn’t either.

This isn’t the first time I committed a jersey foul, and it surely won’t be the last. In 2014, I wore a Red Wings jersey accompanying my friend, who’s a huge fan, to a game in Detroit against the Winnipeg Jets. It seemed like the thing to do, and I wanted to embrace the fun.

Since the Red Wings aren’t a rival of the Oilers, none of my friends cared, but that’s besides the point.

Sports apparel, and jerseys and hats of other teams, are cool. I absolutely love baseball hats, but sometimes I get bored of wearing the same old Blue Jays hat everywhere I go. Different teams have different coloured hats, it’s that simple, and putting on a Chicago Cubs or St. Louis Cardinals hat for a month or two is like pretending you have a different career or live in a different city. After all, they say being a sports fan is a form of escape, right?

As much fun as I had that night, I don’t think I’ll be wearing a Flames jersey again anytime soon. Heck, I’ll wear a Canucks jersey in Vancouver next month at a game against Calgary if the opportunity arrises.

If that makes me the worst, than so be it.

PRO GOLF WEEKLY UPDATE Golf News, Tips, Trivia & Stats

This Week in Pro Golf

Top News Stories

Last Week in Pro Golf

The Houston Open returns after an 18-month break with a new spot during the season The Houston Open has been an institution on the PGA Tour since 1946, making it the 10th oldest tournament on the tour. The longtime lead-in to the Masters is now part of the fall stretch of tournaments in 2019-20, and will return to the Golf Club of Houston’s Tournament course for this year for the final time before shifting to a new course in 2020.

Byron Nelson took home the inaugural title by two strokes over Ben Hogan. The last time the Houston Open was played in April 2018, Ian Poulter made a par on the first playoff hole to earn the victory.

Former PGA Tour player gets threeyear suspension from Korean Tour for obscene gesture during tournament Bio Kim has been suspended from the Korean Tour for three years after making an obscene gesture during Sunday’s final round of the DGB Financial Group Volvik Daegu Gyeongbuk Open. He flipped off the crowd and slammed his club in frustration after hearing a fan’s cell phone go off while he hit a shot on the 16th hole.

Kim held a one-shot lead at the time and wound up winning for his second KPGA title of the season. After the tournament, he apologized for his outburst, but it wasn’t enough to keep the tour’s governing body from issuing a stiff punishment. The KPGA reached a unanimous decision to fine Kim $8,350 and suspend him for three years.

The tour’s current leader in money and player of the year points will not be allowed to finish the season.

Kevin Na won the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open

Kevin Na fired a 1-under 70 on Sunday, rallying back after a rough back nine to force a playoff with Patrick Cantlay. Neither Cantlay nor Na blinked on the first playoff hole, both easily making birdie to extend the tournament.

On the second playoff hole, Cantlay missed a 5-foot par putt to make a three-putt bogey.

Na then drilled his par putt, ending the playoff.

“I’ve failed many times. I’ve lost three playoffs,” Na said. “This is my first playoff win.”

Lessons from the Golf Pro

FedEx Cup Standings

Course Stats Yards: 7,441 Par: 72 18-hole record: 62 Tournament record: 266 Defending champion: Ian Poulter

The “yips” is a golf term that afflicts many golfers. We have TV Coverage seen the “yips” totally crash PGA Day Time Network professionals like Chip Beck, Ian Thursday 3pm-7pm GOLF Baker-Finch and David Duval, but Friday 3pm-7pm GOLF it is a very common problem on the Saturday 4pm-7pm GOLF Sunday 4pm-7pm GOLF putting green. It occurs when the golfer has so many failures on certain putts that it causes a mental breakdown in the subconscious part Pro Golf Trivia of our brain. While it is a nice concept to think that the problem will fix itself over time, it really Where does Kevin Na rank in strokes never goes away. The only way that you can gained putting this season? hope to fix this situation is to change everything about your putting game. This means from a) 1st c) 10th your stance to the grip, a complete start-over b) 2nd d) 15th is in order. Eliminating all the old bad habits is Answer: b) Kevin Na is 2nd in strokes gained the key to giving yourself the best chance to succeed and getting rid of the “yips”. putting this season.

?

Tournament Results Player Score Earnings 1. Kevin Na *playoff -23 $1,260,000 2. Patrick Cantlay -23 $763,000 3. Pat Perez -21 $483,000

Through Oct. 6, 2019

1) Sebastian Munoz

605 pts. / 2 top tens

2) Kevin Na

553 pts. / 1 top tens

3) Cameron Champ

526 pts. / 1 top tens

FedEx Cup Standings continued...

Player Points 4) Joaquin Niemann 506 5) Adam Hadwin 415 6) Sungjae Im 352 7) Patrick Cantlay 315 8) Tom Hoge 315 9) Harris English 240 10) Brian Harman 229

PLACE YOUR AD HERE!

Top 10s 1 2 1 1 1 2 1

alaska highway news

thursday, October 10, 2019 | sports | b3

HUSKIES PLAYER OF THE WEEK Sponsored by Candoo Oilfield Services Inc.

JERIDYN LOEWEN DEFENSE

ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

#7

ruck and roll The Fort St. John girls rugby team represented well at the Inaugural Peace Fall Rugby 7s Classic in Dawson Creek on October 1, 2019, advancing to the final but losing to the hosts 25-15. The team heads to Kamloops for a tourney over the Thanksgiving long-weekend.

erika sherk photo

Curling Club league play opens two weeks earlier this year Dillon Giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca The Fort St. John Curling Club welcomed members to the rink for league play on October 8, after press time, to kick off the 2019-20 season. If it seems a bit early for curling, that’s because it is.

The club didn’t begin the season until October 25 a year ago after a series of delays, and it was important to the club’s executive that they make it up to members this year.

“Last year was unfortunate and our members didn’t get their full bang for their buck. (Ice maker) Jeff Holland has put a lot of time into getting the ice ready in time and we can’t wait to start curling again,” said Fort St. John Curling Club General Manager Trudy Mitchell.

Mitchell admitted that the earlier start time seemed to throw off curlers

this year, and she was hard at work last week making sure everyone got their registration in on time and was aware that the start of the season was upon them.

The club will hold three weekly league nights again — ladies on Tuesday, mixed on Wednesday, and men’s on Thursday — and is hoping to host junior nights and “Try It” sessions again, although those haven’t yet been scheduled.

The club’s first social night of the year will take place Friday, October 19 at 6 p.m., with the AGM at 7:30 p.m.

“It will be a short meeting to welcome members back and inform them of the financials and health of the club,” Mitchell said.

The club will be open for double’s play on October 19 as part of the Fort St. John Rotary Club’s Pints for Polio event.

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Loewen is in his second year as captain of the Huskies and third year playing with the team, with one more year of eligibility. He is a stay-at-home defenseman and is an all-around-player. He helped lead the team to its second-straight NWJHL championship in 2019, and has thee assists in five games this season as he attempts to lead the team to a three-peat.

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Prespatou 4-H Community Club Hello everyone!

It’s been awhile since I last wrote, so I hope you all had a fantastic summer break!

Club Awards in Kin Park.

To kick things off I want to say that this year was a lot of fun and that the Achievement days were a huge success!

The Prespatou 4-H club had their year end party. We went to the Fort St. John escape room, and later we had a pizza dinner, at Kin Park.

An event that is coming up soon is the Socials Night which is on November 15th. At Socials Night members of the North Peace 4-H District will come down for a potluck, awards and some dancing!

Well that is all for now, I hope you all have a wonderful week and can’t wait to see you next time!

The Prespatou 4-H Community Club would like to thank Home Hardware for sponsoring this article.

Melissa Dick, Prespatou 4-H Community Club Reporter

At the Escape Room.

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B4 | sportS | thursday, october 10, 2019

Eagles spread love of the game during World Girls Hockey Weekend Dave Lueneberg Alaska Highway News

dave lueneberg photo

Above: 15-year-old Carmyn Szoo takes part in a drill during a try-out event put on by the North Peace Eagles October 5, 2019 at the North Peace. The session was meant to introduce girls and women to the sport of hockey.

Below: North Peace Eagles’ Emma Tranminh tries to score from behind the net on Taylor Falcons goalie Alicia Wowchuk during a Peace Country Female Hockey League pre-season game October 6, 2019 at the Taylor Arena.

When Marissa Jordan of the North Peace Eagles ladies hockey team heard that the IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) was declaring October 4 to 6 World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend, she thought it would be a great way to expand something the team is already doing.

In August, members of the Eagles held a free session for girls wanting to try out the sport, and the response was amazing.

“We had almost 50 ladies out over two ice times,” said Jordan. “We looked at our ice (times) and reevaluated some of our objectives for the season and we said, ‘You know, we want to use some our ice and some our knowledge to share (the game) with girls and women who wouldn’t otherwise get the opportunityto play.’”

As a result, the Eagles held a similar event last weekend to coincide with World Girls Ice Hockey Weekend.

“I applied through Hockey Canada to run a sanctioned event. The City supported us with the ice time.

We had volunteers from the Eagles and the (female) Predators come out,” said Jordan.

“We had a great day teaching some skills and having fun. It’s been awesome to see the response.”

One young lady taking part in the sessions was 15-year-old Carmyn Szoo.

“My family is big on hockey so I learned to skate when I was really little. My dad thought I would be a hockey player when I was younger but now I guess I’m starting at 15.”

Szoo has played soccer competitively for nearly five years, but no winter sports.

“Soccer isn’t that interesting for me anymore, so my parents said why don’t you try hockey. There’s a women’s team that’s holding tryouts for girls.”

Based on her age and experience, though, Szoo admits she’s not quite ready to play for the Eagles. “I’ll just keep going to the Learn to Play events until I get better and, maybe if I get good enough, I’ll try out for the Predators.”

Learn to Play is a series of sessions which teach the fundamentals of hockey. While players need to provide their own equipment, and pay an insurance fee, everything else is covered.

For specific details on the sessions, you can check out the North Peace Eagles Facebook page.

City encouraging seniors to ‘Give it a Try’ Dillon Giancola sports@ahnfsj.ca The City of Fort St. John and the B.C. 55+ Games’ Zone 12 are hosting three ‘Give it a Try’ sessions this month, to encourage people to come out and try out a new sport and learn about the B.C. 55+ Games.

The first session saw people try their hand at darts on October 6.

The next two sessions will be swimming (North Peace Leisure Pool),

on October 20 from 11 a.nm. to 12 p.m.; and badminton (Margaret Ma Murray School) on October 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The events are free of charge to attend, and will give community members a sense of the competition and social aspect that the games provide.

For more information, contact the City’s Recreation Programmer Paola Banks at pbanks@fortstjohn.ca.

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ROCKPORT cupboards are plentiful, wrapping around all four sides. Standing at the kitchen sink, you have a clear view of the back yard.

The owners' suite is the only bedroom on the ground floor. It's down a short hallway, just past a powder room and utility room. Owners' suite amenities include a dual vanity, private toilet, large shower and deep walk-in closet.

Two more bedrooms and a large bonus room are on the Rockport's upper level. Storage closets line the hallway that links the bedrooms to the bonus room. A two-section bathroom allows one child to be bathing or using the toilet while another spends quality time with the mirror. The bonus room has a window at one end. Its ceiling tapers down on the sides in typical attic fashion.

Associated Designs is the original source for the Rockport 30-707. For more information or to view other designs, visit www.AssociatedDesigns. com or call 800-634-0123.

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Tapered columns and multipaned window uppers lend Craftsman charm to the Rockport. This two-story contemporary Craftsman cottage is an economical plan, designed to meet the needs of a young and/or growing family.

A nostalgic covered porch spans half of the front facade, extending from the home's entry to the garage's walk-in entry. The two-car garage is also directly accessible from the kitchen, a feature which will be greatly appreciated when unloading groceries after dark or in inclement weather.

Entering, you step into a great room with a wide window up front and a gas fireplace on the side. This room is open to the dining room, which is, in turn, open to the kitchen. Sliding glass doors in the dining room offer easy access to the covered patio outside, which could be screened.

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EMAIL YOUR RESULTS TO SPORTS@AHNFSJ.CA

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 | SPORTS | B5

PRO SPORTS NEWS BITES

PRO SPORTS NEWS BITES

Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors reached agreement on a one-year contract extension worth $31 million that will keep him with the team through the 2020-21 NBA season.

The Washington Redskins fired head coach Jay Gruden on Oct. 7, after the team lost 33-7 to the New England Patriots on Oct. 6. Gruden is the first head coach to be fired, just five weeks into the 2019 NFL season.

SCOREBOARD

Friday, Oct. 4, 2019

SEXSMITH VIPERS

6

FORT ST JOHN HUSKIES

5

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Megan Salinas, Grade 12 Volleyball Megan was solid all weekend in her passing and was an excellent leader on the court in tight game situations. She made key defensive contributions all tournament, but especially against strong outside attackers from Peace River in the fifth place match. Congrats Megan!

Huskies Scoring — Cayden Frenette, Jared Winkel (2), Gary Loewen, Dean Whitcomb

Saturday, Oct. 5, 2019

FORT ST JOHN HUSKIES

4

GRANDE PRAIRIE KINGS

3

ERIKA SHERK PHOTO

The Fort St. John team breaks out for a try against Dawson Creek during the Inaugural Peace Fall Rugby 7s Classic in Dawson Creek on October 1, 2019.

Huskies Scoring — Connor Kindrat (2), Nick Loewen, Jared Winkel.

MINOR HOCKEY Sunday, Oct. 5, 2019

NEBC Trackers

5

Grande Peace Storm

5

Trackers Scoring — Duncan Ross, Chase London, Justin Brownlee, Noah Lang, Colby Busche.

SPORTS 

NOTES

SUPPLIED PHOTO

The NPSS senior boys volleyball team battled hard all weekend in Whitecourt, losing to Mayerthorpe in the consolation final in three sets, on October 5, 2019.

JAKUBOWSKI ROCKS THE RINK

Special Olympics athlete Darlene Jakubowski will skate alongside Canadian Olympic heroes Patrick Chan and Tessa Virtue during the 2019 Rock the Rink Tour’s stop at the Encana Event Centre in Dawson Creek October 11.

OILMEN’S BONSPIEL

The Oilmen’s Bonspiel is back this November 14 to 16, for the 59th time.

Registration is now open for the long-running regional staple. The deadline to enter a team is November 11. For more information, call Neil Carlstrom at 250-263-7018.

DAVE LUENEBERG PHOTO

Grade 9 student Chelsea Goodvin from Bert Bowes gets ready to serve during a game October 5, 2019 against Dr. Kearney. The teams were involved in the junior tournament at Ma Murray School.

The senior volleyball teams were in Whitecourt over the weekend competing in the A&W Tournament. The senior boys started the tournament strong with two wins and a loss on Friday night against GP Vanier, Harry Collinge and Onoway, respectively. They were in a three-way tie for first, but due to a tie-breaker were dropped to tier 2.

In the first playoff game on October 5 against Swan Hills, the boys came out focused and showcased what they have been working on in practice. Grade 12 player Nathan Narcisco gave the boys a good start, serving 16 unanswered points. The Grizzlies played disciplined and solid defence to win in two sets. After taking their second playoff game to a third set and ultimately winning, the Grizzlies went up against Mayerthorpe in the Consolation Final.

The boys got crushed in the first set of the match, 25-12, but promptly forgot about the first set and went back out, worked for every point and played the ball until the whistle blew. They won the second set, but lost the third 17-15, and Mayerthorpe took the championship.

The girls, meanwhile, started off pretty shaky, losing to a strong Glenmary team, but bounced back with two straight wins. After losing to the home team Hilltop Chargers to start the playoffs, the girls rallied and were able to pull off an exciting win over GP Vanier, which put them in the consolation final against Peace River. This match was a back and forth battle between Peace River and the Grizzlies. The Grizzlies pushed it to a third set, but fell short in the end.

Back at home, the junior girls played at the Dr. Kearney Junior Tournament, which was held at Ma Murray School. The Grizzlies played well, won every set, and finished in first place.

Up Next: The volleyball teams will be in Dawson Creek Oct. 18 and 19. The cross country team will be in Dawson Creek on Oct. 19 for zones.

— Sam Stackhouse

The work never stops, even after the golf season ends

I

f I’m still working but you’re not here to see it, do I make a sound? As the season ends for golfing, the work to build a great 2020 season is just beginning.

The off season is as busy, or busier than the season itself — in fact, the more work done during the off season, the better the following season will be!

There’s a number of tasks that are involved in wrapping up one season and heading into the next. With reduced staff, it means lots of work for the year-round employees.

First, like any business, you need to wrap up all of the financials for the year and go through the budgeting process for the next season. Then, in order to shut everything down, you need to complete inventory and evaluate the state of your equipment so that maintenance and repairs can be completed. You winterize the

clubhouse and ensure everything not required in winter is safely packed away.

One of the fun activities that happens right after we close our doors is the buying show. Even before the year ends, we have to have all of our orders in to stock the pro shop for the following season. It can be fun, and stressful, to see what’s going to be available for your golfers in the next season and make decisions about what will be the most popular in six months.

For example, if you decide on a golf shoe, you have to guess how many of each size will sell. Buy too much of one size or stray too far from your golfers’ comfort zone and you could be sitting on a lot of inventory at the end of next season.

Once back from the show, it’s time to start connecting with tournament organizers and sponsors to put together the 2020 calendar of events.

L.J. LAWSON The goal is to have this complete by December, as the first couple of months of the new year will be spent creating promotional materials and organizing the first few tournaments of the season.

Although it seems like the season is a long ways away, by the time the doors open, all focus is going to be on the day to day operations and serving the golfers, so the more prep work completed, the better.

It’s a great time to go through all the issues that arose during the previous

season and see how you as a course can smooth them out.

You learn a great deal from season to season and if you want to keep getting better, the winter is the best time to lay the foundation for the next season.

Courses continue to provide a number of services in the off season. It’s a great time to drop your clubs off to be regripped or repaired. Of course, we always open up for Christmas shopping and look forward to seeing people we haven’t seen since the season ended.

As the new year rolls around, merchandise starts arriving and with the warmer temperatures, the guessing game with regard to when we’ll open starts. It’s important to get an early start on hiring for the season, unpacking everything that was put away, starting up contracts required for summer operations, getting out to see

sponsors and tournament organizers and prepping for the area’s first sign of spring – the trade show!

And this work list is just for the clubhouse operations.

The superintendent is busy with many of the same things and also monitoring changes in the weather and how they may impact the course, clearing snow and checking whether ice is developing, repairing and replacing equipment, preparing for new projects and activities coming in the new year, and updating maintenance work plans.

So, if you always imagined we have our suitcases packed on the day after the course closes to head off on tropical golf vacations, it’s sadly not true. Although we do try to sneak off for a bit of a break before the new season, we’re mostly busy making sure your experience at the club gets better year every year!

alaska highway news

b6 | sportS | thursday, october 10, 2019

The great coffee debate: is caffeine good or bad for you?

C

affeine, especially in the form of coffee, is something that many people don’t think twice about consuming each and every day. Coffee’s prevalence in our lives is brought home by the fact that around 1.6 million cups of coffee are consumed worldwide on a daily basis.

There’s no doubt then that coffee, and in turn caffeine, has become a staple in our diet, but is it as harmless as it is delicious?

In this article we are going to look at whether caffeine is something we should be limiting in our daily diet.

Statistics from Statista. com tell us that people are drinking an average of 3.2 cups of coffee per day. The amount of caffeine that has been suggested as safe for

a healthy adult to consume per day is 400 mg.

The average cup of coffee contains anywhere from 50 to 400 mg of caffeine. From these stats, it seems that the average person is consuming a normal amount of caffeine day-to-day and should not be experiencing harmful side effects.

The fact is, we all respond to food differently, and coffee is no different. One cup of coffee could energize and help improve the focus of one person while for another it could do quite the opposite.

Building bodily intuition — that is, paying attention to how our body responds to the food and drink we are consuming — is essential to figuring out whether coffee is our friend or foe.

coach lynzee How our body responds to caffeine is dependent on our genetic makeup. Some people are prone to be more sensitive to caffeine while others can drink four or more cups of coffee per day and be able to sleep soundly at night. Various medical conditions and medications can also affect a person’s caffeine tolerance. It’s

important to talk to a doctor about the effects caffeine can have on medical conditions and it’s interaction with medications.

How do we tell whether a reduction in our daily caffeine intake would be helpful for us? Here are a couple red flags.

If we feel dependent on our cup of coffee to help us handle stress or energize us is a big sign that caffeine has become an unhealthy crutch. If we start experiencing bothersome side effects, this could mean we are consuming more caffeine than we can tolerate and an adjustment needs to be made.

Over consumption of caffeine can cause an irregular heartbeat, irritability, anxiety and many more uncom-

fortable side effects. On that note, it is not necessarily recommended that a person quits coffee cold turkey.

Withdrawal symptoms can also be painful and interfere with day-to-day life so talk to a health professional about the best approach to weaning yourself off of caffeine.

As a nutrition coach, I recognize the importance of building a balanced mindset and moderate dietary habits. A cup of coffee is something that many of us enjoy everyday. If it isn’t interfering with our well-being and we are not becoming dependent on it, coffee can have a place in our healthy lifestyle.

Caitlyn Harbottle is a Peace Region nutrition coach.

The sports and venues for the 2020 BC Winter Games Alaska Highway News Fort St. John and the Peace region plays host to the 2020 BC Winter Games from February 20 to 23, 2020.

Up to 1,800 athletes, coaches, and officials are expected for the Games, the first step for emerging athletes working their way to national and international success.

Here are the list of sports and venues:

1. Archery — Kids Field House 2. Badminton — Margaret Ma Murray Community School 3. Basketball (wheelchair) — Dr. Kearney Middle School 4. Biathlon — North Peace Rod and Gun Club 5. Curling — Fort St. John Curling Rink 6. Diving — North Peace Leisure Pool 7. Figure Skating — Taylor Arena

8. Figure Skating (Special Olympics) Taylor Arena 9. Gymnastics — North Peace Secondary School 10. Judo — Bert Bowes Middle School 11. Karate — Pomeroy Hotel and Conference Centre 12. Rhythmic Gymnastics — Duncan Cran Elementary School 13. Ringette — Pomeroy Sport Centre

14. Skiing (Alpine) — Bear Mountain Ski Hill 15. Skiing (Cross Country) — Beatton Provincial Park 16. Skiing (Cross Country Para) — Beatton Provincial Park 17. Speed Skating — Pomeroy Sport Centre 18. Speed Skating (Special Olympics) — Pomeroy Sport Centre

PRO RACING THIS WEEK Racing g News,, Stats & Trivia

Cup Series Playoffs Race #5: 1000Bulbs.com 500 Race Preview

Location: Talladega, Ala. Date: Sunday, Oct. 13, 2:00 p.m.

Last Year’s Pole: Kurt Busch - 195.804 mph Last Year’s Winner: Aric Almirola

Talladega Superspeedway

Shape: Tri-Oval Distance: 2.66 miles Turns / Front / Back: 33º / 16.5º / 2º

This week’s race is the fifth in the NASCAR Playoffs. Talladega Superspeedway is one of the best known motorsports facilities in the world with over forty years of racing tradition.

Records for both speed and competition have been established at Talladega. The backstretch is nearly 4,000 feet long with a total frontstretch of 4,300 feet, making it the largest oval track on the NASCAR circuit and allowing stock cars to reach speeds in excess of 200 miles per hour. The track’s true dominator had been Dale Earnhardt, who posted 10 NASCAR Cup wins. The speedway can accommodate more than 143,000 fans and has a 212-acre infield.

Last Weekend’s Race: Kyle Larson won at Dover Kyle Larson pulled away in the final stage and won the playoff race Sunday at Dover International Speedway. The win snapped a 75race winless streak and earned an automatic berth in the next round. “What a day,” Larson said after climbing out of his car on the startfinish line. “This is unbelievable. I’ve always wanted to win a Cup race here.” Larson has six career Cup victories and his first one in the playoffs. Playoff drivers took the top six spots: Truex was second, followed by Alex Bowman, Kevin Harvick, Hamlin and Kyle Busch.

Kyle Larson Born: July 31, 1992 Crew Chief: Alan Gustafson Car: Chevrolet

Year 2019 2018

Wins 1 0

Top 10s 15 19

Avg. Finish 14.1 12.6

2019 Standings Cup Series Top Ten Drivers 1) Martin Truex, Jr. 2) Denny Hamlin 3) Kyle Busch 4) Kevin Harvick 5) Kyle Larson 6) Brad Keselowski 7) Alex Bowman 8) William Byron 9) Joey Logano 10) Clint Bowyer

Points 3095 3080 3080 3074 3063 3052 3049 3032 3032 3028

Xfinity Series Top Ten Top 10s 19 19 23 21 15 17 10 11 17 15

Drivers 1) Christopher Bell 2) Cole Custer 3) Tyler Reddick 4) Austin Cindric 5) Justin Allgaier 6) Chase Briscoe 7) Michael Annett 8) Noah Gragson 9) John Hunter Nemechek 10) Justin Haley

Points 3062 3050 3044 3017 3014 3013 3009 3005 2097 2076

Top 10s 19 21 24 21 21 23 17 20 15 18

Denny Hamlin sounds off on Joey Logano after Dover playoff race As laps wound down in Stage 2 of Sunday’s NASCAR Playoffs Round of 12 opener at Dover International Speedway, Joey Logano raced leaders Denny Hamlin, Martin Truex Jr. and Kyle Larson hard. The No. 22 Team Penske Ford was 24 laps down at the time. Moments before cars took the green flag for Dover’s 100th Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race, Logano was sent behind the wall and to the garage with a busted rear axle. The defending series champion’s day was essentially over before it began, but his team decided to put the car back on the track to scrape together any points available.

“We’re out there racing. I’ve got to race. Here’s the situation … there’s four or five cars that I could possibly catch. That’s five points. I’m in by zero points right now, so we’ve better get ’em all,” Logano said. Hamlin, who led a race-high 218 laps from the pole en route to a fifth-place finish, felt Logano racing him as hard as he did impeded his shot at the win. “Make up position? He’s 24 laps down. That’s the most idiotic statement I’ve ever heard,” Hamlin said. “We’re battling for the end of the stage. It’s not your day, you had bad luck. We get it. Stay in one lane. Maybe the high lane, because nobody’s up there. Get the laps over with. Get the race over with and go home and get ready for Talladega to try to win that race.”

Racing Trivia How many times has Joey Logano won at Talladega? a) 0 b) 1

c) 2 d) 3

?

Answer : d) Joey Logano has 3 career victories at Talladega.

Race Details

Top News Stories

PLACE YOUR AD HERE!

alaska highway news

thursday, October 10, 2019 | sports | b7

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hOW TO PLAY: Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 only once.

Each 3x3 box is outlined with a darker line. You already have a few numbers to get you started.

Remember: you must not repeat the numbers 1 through 9 in the same line, column or 3x3 box.

PREVIOUS PUZZLES ANSWERS

• • • • • • • •

AUTUMN BUSHEL COMMODITY CORN CRADLE CROPS CULTIVATE EROSION

• FALLOW • FARM • FEED • FLAIL • FORAGE • GRANGE • GRASS Help • PeterHARVEST the porcupine find the apples.

TODAY’S PUZZLE

PREVIOUS PUZZLES ANSWERS

CLUES ACROSS 1. Google certification 4. Cloths spread over coffins 9. Disorderly 14. “Star Wars” hero Solo 15. Toward the rear 16. The order of frogs 17. Alternative pain treatment (abbr.)

18. “Wolf of Wall Street” star 20. Evoke 22. Units of metrical time 23. Helps to predict eclipses 24. Some say they attract 28. Pitching statistic 29. Baseball box score (abbr.)

30. Force unit 31. Repaired shoe 33. English theologian 37. Commercial 38. Exchange money for CLUES DOWN goods or services 1. Clarified butters 39. Give off

HAY HUSK MANURE MILL ORCHARD PICK SOWING TILLING

FINISH

Q: cern...

12. California think tank 13. Former Rocket Ming 19. A pigeon noise 21. Central part of 24. Academy Award statue 25. Distinct unit of sound 26. Relative on the female side of the family 27. Passover feast and ceremony 31. The brightest star in Virgo 32. Made with oats 34. Subjects to laser light 35. Beloved Hollywood alien 36. Neatly brief 40. The Great Lakes State (abbr.)

41. Soon to be released 45. Swiss river 2. Primitive Himalayan 47. Become involved in 41. One from Utah people 42. Computer 48. More dour department 3. Completely 52. They’re on floors 43. Begets 4. Steep cliffs along the 53. Boxing’s GOAT 44. English navigator Hudson River 54. Swarms with 46. C C C 5. Assist 56. Quantum mechanics 49. Of I pioneer 6. Language spoken in 50. Pouch 57. Facilitated Laos 51. Add notes to 59. As fast as can be 7. Type of screen done (abbr.)

55. A way to fall into 8. An attempt to ruin 60. Regional French economize wine Grand __ 58. Cunning intelligence 9. Volcanic craters 61. Owns 59. Blood disorder 10. Still outstanding 62. Tell on 60. Disgraced CBS 11. Takes responsibility newsman 63. Precedes two for another 64. Tax collector 65. Type of grass common to the Orient 66. Cosmic intelligence 67. No (Scottish) 68. People who rely on things 69. Stairs have them 70. Mathematical term (abbr.)

• • • • • • • •

START

Q

COMPLETE FROM 1 TO - a numbe - a numbe - a numbe box of 6

alaska highway news

b8 | sportS | thursday, october 10, 2019

2019-20 High School Rodeo Results: Chetwynd Rodeo #1 The BCHSRA North Region held the third rodeo of the 2019-20 season in Chetwynd on Sept. 27 and 28, with with two one-day rodeos.

For the seniors, Kali Clare Atkings and Tyler Pederson were the all around winners on Saturday, and Fallon Jones and Zane Jones were the all around winners on Sunday.

On the junior side, Cashlyn Callison and Korbin Mills were the all around winners on Saturday, and Shelby Corr and Danny Jones took home the honours for Sunday.

Here are the winners of each event.

Saturday Brittany Ollenberger Sunday Rachel Moat Break Away Roping Saturday Destiny Ollenberger Sunday Rylie Bondaroff

Cashlyn Callison Sunday Shelby Corr

Steer Wrestling Saturday Tyler Pederson Sunday Zane Jones

Tie Down Roping Sunday Jacob Bowden Boys Break Away Roping Sunday Blake Collins

Pole Bending Saturday Fallon Jones Sunday Aspen Wollen

Tie Down Roping Saturday Wyatt Simmons Sunday Tucker Esau

Senior Rodeo Results

Ribbon Roping Saturday Korbin Mills/ Shelby Corr Sunday Wyatt Bondaroff/ Cali Schippman

Team Roping Saturday Rylie Bondaroff/ Tyler Pederson Sunday Zane Jones/ Jesse Jones

Goat Tying Saturday

Barrel Racing

Ryle Bondaroff Sunday Lauren Konashuk

Girls Goat Tying Saturday Kerri Moat Sunday Shelby Corr

Bareback Saturday and Sunday Spencer Lewis

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Junior Rodeo Results Barrel Racing Saturday

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fastest in fish creek Grade 11 NPSS runner Carter Collins takes the early lead at a 6K cross-country event held October 5, 2019 at the Fish Creek trails. Colby Snider finished the course in 35 minutes, 10 seconds, one second faster than Collins. Jordynn McPherson won the ladies division with a time of 36:03.

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ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 | CLASSIFIEDS | B9

CLASSIFIEDS

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Coming EvEnts

Acquired Brain Injury Support Group: ABI Support group meets every 2nd & 4th Thursday of month at 6:00pm at the Northern Brain Injury Association office: #11-1405 102 Ave Dawson Creek. Please call 250-719-4673 for more information. http://nbia.ca/ Borderline Culture Series presents: Lonesome Ace Stringband Saturday October 19, 2019 at the Demmitt Community Centre (1/2 Mile South of Hwy 43 on RR 132).

Doors open at 7:00 pm (AB time) Music begins at 8:00pm.

Tickets Advance: $27. Door $30. For tickets and information call 780356-2904 or go to www.borderlineculture.com Come Dance With Us! OCTOBER 19, 2019 Country Music Dance - Music by “Night Sounds” at the Senior Citizens Hall, 1101 McKellar Ave, Dawson Creek. Dance: 8:30pm- 12:30am (Lunch included) Members: $15 NonMembers: $18 For more information phone Linda 250-8437418 or Joanne 250782-0158 Dawson Creek Seniors Hall Activities 1011 McKellar Ave. Floor curling, carpet bowling, pool, line dancing, bridge, crib, darts, bingo, Wellness Exercise, craft classes.

Schedules are available at the hall.

Come and see our hall and try out our activities.

Mile “O” Quilter’s Guild meets every Tuesday & Thursday in Dawson Creek at KPAC in Studio #10 at 7pm Announcements

Coming EvEnts

General employment

PC Roots Group Building Open: Every Saturday SeptJune 10:00am12:00pm to members wanting to use the genealogy library. A member will be available by appointment to anyone requiring help on how to get started on your family history. Everyone is welcome. We are located in the small building in NAR Park. For appointment call: Lynn- 250782-4058. Neil- 250782-7651. Website http://peacecountryroots.ca

SANDMAN INNS RURAL BC recruiting management couples, both full-time and part-time roles available. Ask us about our great employee perks and accommodation. Apply: sbraid@sandman.ca

SATURDAYS: LEARN YOUR ROOTS - Genealogy information NAR Park Roots Building. 10:00am peacecountryroots.ca Save the Dates July 10-12, 2020 for the Mile Zero Cruisers Summer Cruise weekend Bring down your pride and joy and register for the Car Show weekend. For online Registration and more information:

TRAFFIC CONTROL TRAINING BCCSA/WCB Certified FSJ: New TCPs-2-days October 17 & 18 Re-Certs-1-day October 16 October 24 & 25 PG: New TCPs-2-days October 8 & 10 October 29 & 30 1-866-737-2389 roadsafetytcs.com Trades Help Labourer/ Apprentice Plumber Candidate must have a valid drivers license. Be able to perform general labour duties.

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South Peace Historical Society Meetings Third Wednesday of the month. In Dawson Creek at the Calvin Kruk Centre Archives Room at 2 pm.

SUNDAYS: FAMILY TREE HELP - Peace Country Roots Group Meeting - Fourth Sunday of each Month at the Calvin Kruk Centre in Dawson Creek 1:30pm TOPS 3907: Take Off Pounds Sensibly Meet Thursday mornings 9:30 am New Beginnings Baptist Church 1022118th St. Phone Marge 780-864-5205 for more info.

TOPS Evening Sessions Meet Thursday at 6:00 pm New Beginnings Baptist Church in DC, 10221-18th St Phone: Judy 250-7829540 or Gail 250-782-7208 for more info.

Career OppOrtunities ALTUS GEOMATICS We are now accepting applications for a BC Land Surveyor/ Branch Manager.

Email: geomaticse mployment@altus group.com Learn more at: altusgeomatics.co m

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Support reliable LOCAL journalism. Join the list www.newspapersmatter.ca.

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Obituaries

Obituaries

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Obituaries

Kenneth Lee Smith March 9, 1942 - September 14, 2019

Kenneth was born in Fort St. John, the sixth child of Ross and Amy Smith of North Pine, B.C. He grew up and received his primary education in North Pine as part of a family that grew to eleven children. Kenneth graduated from high school in Fort St. John in 1962, and went on to attend college in Prince George.

He was a kind-hearted sociable person, enjoyed playing the piano and entertained many people with that ability. He spent the early part of his working life in central and southern British Columbia.

In his forties Ken moved to Alberta and was employed by the Alberta Government in the area of vocational and job training until his health forced him to retire. He is survived by nine siblings, many nieces and nephews who were an important part of his life and by many friends in many places who enjoyed his company.

He will be interred in the North Pine cemetery on the land his parents homesteaded in 1928.

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ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

B10 | COMMUNITY | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019

Google results for Germany, Golden Girls, and ghosts TARANTULA TIME: Need news chews? You came to the right place. Let’s start with a creepy crawly item from Colorado, where it’s tarantula migration season.

Thousands of tarantulas can be seen crawling across highways in search of mates.

Mating is a very slow process for tarantulas, because of all the handshaking that happens first.

BIKE BUST: In Kamloops, a man was arrested after he stole a bicycle on his way to his wedding. Gee, give the guy a break. Maybe he already had something old, something new, something blue, but he still needed something borrowed.

FALL FACT: In a survey, most Canadians said autumn is their favorite season. On TV an expert said the change of seasons is caused by the Earth’s tilt. We are all riding through the universe on a big spinning Tilt-a-Whirl.

Although just lately it’s been more like a Roller Coaster.

Autumn means falling leaves and lots of raking, unless you have one of those noisy leaf

blowers. I was at the home and garden centre checking out the leaf blowers. They have a Turbocharged, HyperVelocity, Mega-Thrust, uperPowered, leaf blower with four power settings: 1. Low 2. Medium 3. High 4. Blow every leaf in your yard all the way to Edmonton.

STRESS STUFF: In a new study: Housecleaning can raise your stress level. This contradicts a previous study that showed housecleaning reduces stress. Over the years there have been many stress studies. I have come to the conclusion that a major cause of stress is studies.

SCOTTISH STORM: Last week there was a very nasty storm in Scotland with heavy snowfall. It’s tough being Scottish during a storm.

You’re shovelling snow, a freezing wind is blowing, and you’re wearing a kilt.

HOWDY SAUDI: Saudi Arabia made a surprise announcement, it will open up the reclusive kingdom for a few foreign tourists.

I’m not sure I like their

BOB SNYDER tourism slogan: “Come For The Floggings, Stay For The Beheading.”

MUMMY MEMO: A study of Egyptian mummies shows cholesterol and heart disease were problems in ancient times. One Egyptian Pharaoh started a healthcare system, but it turned out to be a pyramid scheme.

BEER HERE: In Germany, it’s the Oktoberfest Beer Festival. This follows the Septemberfest Beer Festival.

Which follows the Augustfest Beer Festival. Which follows the Julyfest Beer Festival.

What comes after Octoberfest? You guessed it: The

Novemberfest Beer Festival.

Spam that tastes like meat.

MOVIE MEMO: Peace Country moviegoers saw the story of a magical Yeti. The movie’s title is Abonibulu...

Abomabubble.... Anonibabble... Abobinubel. Geez, I can’t spell the word! For crying out loud, they couldn’t just call it “Yeti”??

READ THE LABEL: A study shows people eat healthier when they read food labels. When I’m at the supermarket I like to pick up a food item, I pretend I’m reading the label, when someone walks by I say in a loud voice: “It says here this product can cause foaming at the mouth and extreme foot odor.”

HALLOWEEN: The stores are full of Halloween stuff.

In today’s politically correct world it’s hard choosing a Halloween costume. If you go out dressed as a zombie, you’ll offend the real zombies. If you go out dressed as a ghost, you’ll get complaints from the ghost liberation movement.

FLU FACT: Medical experts say this year’s flu shot is not as effective as last year’s shot. Have you ever experienced Deja Flu? That’s the vague feeling you’ve had the flu before.

SPAM CAN: The Hormel company introduced a new flavor of Spam. It has pumpkin spice flavor. They’re still working to come up with

GOLDEN GAG: In the works: A reboot of The Golden Girls. I remember that TV show. My favorite episode was where the Golden Girls took Spanish dance lessons.

They used their dentures as castanets.

GOOGLE GAG: Google turned 21 last week. Well, I think it was last week. When I Googled it I came up with a bunch of contradictory information.

LOOK UP: Lastly, a British inventor says he’s working on a flying car, it’ll be ready in two years. And because it’s a British flying car, you’ll drive it on the left side of the sky.

Temerarious Tabias: What to dress up as....

T

abias hated Halloween, possibly because so many other people loved Halloween and it became overplayed just as every other holiday does.

Sister demanded Father and Step Mother buy her the latest Harley Quinn outfit. That included two separate trips to Edmonton, three pieces being special ordered online, and one choker being hand made (when it wasn’t available for purchase.)

So, when Father asked Tabias what he wanted to be, it was pretty easy for Tabias to answer.

“I want to be a paper bag. I don’t want any special outfits of the latest superhero or villain. I don’t want you and Mom to spend hundreds of dollars on not only a costume but also on candy. Candy that you give away to children who are possibly going to throw them at your house if they don’t like them. Or their parents will throw them in the garbage if the wrapping is torn just a little bit.

“I want to spend my time helping you carve pumpkins, putting up Halloween decorations, and making

HOROSCOPE

pies. I miss the candy apples and three-legged sack races. I want Halloween to be about haunted houses and spooky decorations rather than Paw Patrol head gears and concern of candy.

“I want to dress up as a ghost in a bed sheet or a mummy by wrapping myself in toilet paper and still be appreciated and greeted rather than ridiculed and made fun of. Teenagers that make an effort to dress up should always be given candy just the same as us. I want to reuse the same outfit every year without being worried that it’s not the coolest one on the street.

“Because Halloween is about having fun and candy and dark ghost houses. Not the coolest costume or something being unhealthy to eat.”

Tabias grinned, proud of his rant.

Father stood silent for a moment, then replied, “So, what color paper bag do you want to be?”

For Thursday October 10 2019

ARIES (MARCH 21 TO APRIL 19) Quiet research will benefit you today, because whatever you do alone or behind the scenes will have a practical result. Keep on truckin’.

LIBRA (SEPT. 23 TO OCT. 22) Today will be productive at work because you are willing to do whatever is necessary. You won’t object if you have to do routine, boring work.

TAURUS (APRIL 20 TO MAY 20) Someone older or more experienced might have solid advice for you. It never hurts to listen, because what this person tells you could be a practical benefit. Remain open to new ideas.

SCORPIO (OCT. 23 TO NOV. 21) This is a good day to plan a future vacation or to make solid plans related to sports. It’s also a good day to educate and teach younger minds.

GEMINI (MAY 21 TO JUNE 20) Others see you as responsible and reliable today, which is why they might ask you to take on a particular job. In turn, you are willing to accept your duties.

/ ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

Norma Rrae is an author based in Fort St. John. Read more of her works at notmewriting.com.

SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22 TO DEC. 21) An older family member might have excellent advice for you today. It will behoove you to listen because, after all, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, right?

CANCER (JUNE 21 TO JULY 22) It’s easy to study and focus on what you have to learn today.

This is also a good day to catch up on details regarding publishing, the media, medicine and the law.

CAPRICORN (DEC. 22 TO JAN. 19) You have excellent powers of concentration today, which is why you will excel with routine tasks that require attention to detail. You have patience, perseverance and endurance.

LEO (JULY 23 TO AUG. 22) You will be productive today if you focus on details related to banking, taxes, debt and shared property. Inheritances and insurance issues also might be at play. Do as much as possible.

AQUARIUS (JAN. 20 TO FEB. 18) If shopping today, you will choose to spend money on practical, long-lasting items.

Hey, you don’t want to waste your money on frivolous stuff!

VIRGO (AUG. 23 TO SEPT. 22) A discussion with a partner or close friend about the division of labor or shared expenses will be practical and productive today.

Lay your cards out on the table.

PISCES (FEB. 19 TO MARCH 20) You feel good today because you’re willing to accept your duties and obligations. This gives you a feeling of increased selfrespect. (You’ll get a lot done.)

No Need to Be Friends Dear Annie: My boyfriend broke up with me pretty suddenly and over the phone right after spring semester ended. We haven’t talked over the summer, and now that school started this fall, it’s been pretty awkward. I still have feelings for him and a lot of questions. Since we haven’t talked to each other for about four months, I don’t know how to start talking to him again. I don’t even know if talking to him is a good idea.

After he broke up with me, he said he still wanted to be good friends, and I told him that I honestly didn’t think I could be friends with him. I don’t know what to do.

What do you think I should do? -Uneasy at University Dear Uneasy at University: I think you ought to listen to your heart, which seems to be saying that it needs more time to heal.

So, be cordial when you run into your ex-boyfriend -- wish him all the best -- but put your energy into nourishing friendships, interests and your sense of self. One day you might be able to be friends with this ex, but that day is not today.

And that is 100% OK. Dear Annie: I was shocked to read that “Fearing the Future” is so pessimistic at 67. I am 91 and recently wrote the following poem: “The Optimist” “Why live to one hundred?” asked my friend.

“Isn’t ninety enough to make a good end?”

Annie Lane DEAR ANNIE

“I think of the things I would miss,” I replied, “If, at ninety, I stopped and simply died.”

Thousands of mornings to see the sun rise In a glorious blaze in the eastern skies.

Moons to wax and wane anew, Trillions of stars in the midnight blue.

Ten springs to see the lilacs bloom As their fragrance drifts across my room.

To see new leaves on the maple tree As the birds return and sing to me.

Ten summers to feel the ocean breeze As whales cavort in blue-green seas, To watch the hawks on the thermals rise Into the blue of summer skies.

Ten more harvests to celebrate Of apple and peach and pear and date.

To anticipate the vintner’s wines From fresh new grapes on ancient vines.

Ten more autumns in which to see The change of color on every tree,

Russets and golds and reds ablaze To brighten the ever-shortening days.

Ten winters of freshly fallen snow On mountains above and valleys below.

Of cherry-cheeked children on skis and sleds, Of blazing hearths and soft warm beds.

Ten Christmas seasons of church bells rung, Of mince pies eaten and carols sung.

Of families gathered to celebrate The wonder of that age-old date.

Ten more New Years to welcome in, To wonder what the year will bring.

Will there be a new baby for me to see?

A great-grandchild on my family tree?

I strive for another decade of living, Of hoping and praying and loving and giving.

And, if I reach one hundred, what then?

Why, I’d plan to live to one hundred and ten!

-- Beryl in Keizer, Oregon Dear Beryl: Thank you for lighting the way with optimism. Your poem made my day a little brighter, and I’m sure it will do the same for many readers.

Send your questions for Annie Lane to dearannie@creators.com. To find out more about Annie Lane and read features by other Creators Syndicate columnists and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2017 CREATORS.COM

ALASKA HIGHWAY NEWS

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2019 | COMMUNITY | B11

Alien Messages: Advice for a politically correct Halloween Kalpana: “This week, our illustrator, Maria Luisa Fruns, from Spain has some words for us about international news.”

Maria Luisa: “I do! The thing is, we hardly ever get any news in Spain about Canada. I guess it’s a very well behaved country. But the other day, we woke up to the news that there was a picture of Trudeau in a sort of Aladdin costume, with his face painted black. We all commented, ‘So what?’ I mean, are we joking?

Is that actually news? What the heck? In Spain, we don’t have Halloween, but we have Carnival.

Carnival is a time to be politically incorrect, to make parodies of politicians, priests, celebrities… you name it!”

Charo: “We even have a festivity called Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) that re-enacts the battles between Muslims and Christians during the Reconquista (VIII to XV Century), the re-conquering of Spain, which had been occupied by Muslims for eight centuries. During these festivities, everyone in southeastern Spain gets dressed as a Christian or as a Moor and parade the streets to Hispano-Arab music. This would be the epitome of politically incorrect.”

Kalpana: “Indeed! If you want to try your luck in politics, NEVER join those festivities. Not as a Moor and not as a Christian. And, hey, here in Canada, we have Halloween coming. I think we ought to give some practical advice on what to wear to stay politically correct. First of all, if you are a perfectly pink person, don’t dress as Aladdin. It’s not going to look good. You’re going to look like a strange sort of albino Aladdin, or one who stayed inside the treasure cave for too long.

And if you paint your face, you know, chances are someone will be at hand with the cellphone and that will be the end of your political career.”

Charo: “I remember Placido Domingo and Pavarotti singing the main role in the Otello opera, faces painted black, their sweat smudging their

MARIA LUISA FRUNS

makeup as their glorious voices mesmerized the audience. How come nobody noticed they were being politically incorrect?”

Maria Luisa: “They were too busy with the ‘opera’ thing.”

Kalpana: “Well, the Japanese paint their face white in the Kabuki theatre and as a part

of their geisha gear; maybe they are politically incorrect.”

Charo: “Whatever you do, don’t dress like a Geisha for Halloween. You would be incurring several counts of political incorrectness.”

Kalpana: “Especially if you are a man. Men should avoid dressing as women. This used to be a very frequent costume for guys. And cheap, too. You just had to take your mom’s old dress and a wig, stuff two tennis balls for breasts and there you go. Ready for the carnival. Not anymore. This could be considered offensive by some feminist or LGBTQ groups. If you want to triumph in politics, stay away from mommy’s pumps on Halloween.”

Maria Luisa: “Well, Rudolph Giuliani once showed up at a costume party dressed as Marilyn Monroe. But, of course, he was already the Mayor of New York.”

Charo: “Well, that gives you some licence. Just like the President of the United States can utter in public that women can be grabbed by their reproductive organs, but Justin Trudeau cannot paint his face black while dressing as Aladdin in a 1001 Nights themed party.”

Maria Luisa: “What if you are six foot tall black guy and you want to dress like Marilyn Monroe? Can you paint your face white? Cause if you don’t, nobody’s going to know who the heck you are, but if you do, are you politically incorrect?”

Kalpana: “Too controversial… For this Halloween, to stay safe, let’s stick to the good ol’ witch and pirate costumes.”

Charo: “Forget the pirate costume. It could offend the bankers.”

Charo Lloret is from Spain; Kalpana Loganathan is from India. Each week, they’ll reflect on their experiences immigrating to Canada and settling into their new homes in Fort St. John.

Helpful tips for the expecting mother

I

’m no expert. I’m just a new mom fumbling her way through, taking things one sleep-deprived day at a time, doing the best she can, and I’m here to share my experience and hard-earned ‘wisdom’ with any expecting mama who might benefit. Here are a few things I’m glad I did, and a few things I wish I’d done, while I was pregnant.

Things I’m glad I did: • Take prenatal vitamins before I became pregnant.

I started taking them three months beforehand because I wanted to make sure my body was in an optimum state to support the development of a baby. The early weeks of pregnancy are vitally important for baby’s development, particularly baby’s brain and spine. Taking prenatal vitamins early on, and the folic acid they contain, will help to reduce the likelihood of some birth defects.

• Eat dates. This one may seem weird, but there are a number of studies emerging that suggest eating dates in the latter weeks of pregnancy reduces the pain and duration of labour, and might even kickstart labour a little earlier than would otherwise be the case. Eat five dates a day for the last four weeks of your pregnancy to reap the benefits.

• Go on date nights while you can. Having a baby is one of the most exciting times in a couple’s life. It is also one of the most – if not the most – exhausting.

After baby is born, it will be a while before you and your partner can enjoy a night out together, particularly if you are transplants like us your family is far away. Take this pre-baby time to go out and really enjoy one another’s company.

• Prenatal yoga. The aches and pains that come with pregnancy are like no other.

There were days, nearing the end of my pregnancy, that I was in so much pain that I could barely walk, never

mind exercise. I went anyway, and every time I was glad I did. Just make sure you tell your instructor where it hurts and they should be able to suggest modified stretches to help you.

• Make a birthing playlist.

This one might seem a little hokey, but I found my music playlist to be an aid to relaxation when I was in the throes of labour. And guess what?

When you’re relaxed, your labour progresses faster. It’s true that I didn’t have time to play my music while I was at the hospital, but while I labored at home it played softly while I practiced my yoga stretches, did laps around my living room (because walking helps progress your labour, too), and gently bounced on my exercise ball.

• Get the sweep. Too graphic for print here, but Google ‘membrane sweep.’ A little painful, but guess what?

Childbirth hurts a hellovalot more. They’ll probably offer this to you at the prenatal clinic when you’re 39+ weeks pregnant, but if not you can ask for it. The sweep encourages baby to come sooner rather than later.

• Have a bath during labour. It’s true that the Birth Centre at our Fort St. John Hospital has tubs in some of their rooms, but if you’re like me, you might not have any time to use them when you get to the hospital. While you’re laboring at home, have a good soak in the tub. It’ll help with the pain, honestly!

Things I wish I’d done: • Hired a midwife or doula.

My husband admits he felt a little useless as I grunted and groaned in agony at the hospital. He didn’t know what to do, never having been around a laboring woman before. It would have been nice to have someone there who knew what was up, who kept an even head about things (my husband and I were both a bit shell-shocked by what was happening, understandably), who knew my birth plan, and who

could advocate for me and communicate my desires to the nurses. The doctors and nurses at the hospital were great from a medical standpoint, but it would have been nice to have someone there who took my emotional wellbeing into consideration – something I did not feel the doctors and nurses did.

• Read more. Hooray, baby’s here! Guess what? If you’re new at being a par-

ent, like me, you have no idea what you’re doing. I’d read What to Expect When You’re Expecting, but I had really no clue about how to care for a newborn. I wish I’d taken more time while I was pregnant to read about how to take care of an infant, and parenting in general. There are other What to Expect Books, and I am now working my way through What to Expect The First Year.

BRONWYN MOSER Bronwyn Moser is a teacher and former journalist, and lives in North Pine.

B12 | NEWS | thursday, OCTOBer 10, 2019

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