Ponoka News, May 27, 2015 by Black Press Media Group

WWW.PONOKANEWS.COM

CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY Vol. 67, No. 22 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2015 | 403-783-3311 | EDITORIAL@PONOKANEWS.COM

U14 boys overpower Lacombe. Story on page 30

A 1910 class photo taken in front of the Iowalta School west of Ponoka. Story on page 5

Generations of C The parking lot of Prairie Boys Truck and Car Wash Ltd. filled with Corvette’s during Ponoka’s annual Corvette Meet and Greet, Saturday, May 23. Organizers were surprised with the number of cars that showed up as well as the crowd of out of town drivers who came. Please see our story on page 29. Photo by Amelia Naismith

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2 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Planners to review downtown survey BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Results of the recently conducted Ponoka Downtown Survey are in and town planners are looking at how that information can benefit the downtown area. The survey was hosted by the Downtown Revitalization and Heritage Committee, explained chairperson and Coun. Teri Underhill. Participants were invited to answer a set number of questions as well as offer comments. There were 124 participants to the survey and despite the low number, Underhill was pleased with the involvement. She says some communities are lucky to get numbers like that. Underhill feels the majority of comments were positive although there was one she felt she needed to clarify. One respondent of the survey stated the town does not allow certain businesses such as shoe and

clothing stores into Ponoka. “Right now about all visitors can purchase is gasoline, groceries, fast food and booze,” the survey respondent continued. “Some owners are simply charging too much rent.” Underhill said councillors and administration have no say over what business comes into town. “The town has no control over who wants to bring a business or who doesn’t,” explained Underhill. “All we can do is encourage it,” she added. Council and administration have no power over what a landlord charges, either. Another respondent suggested “Putting lipstick on a pig doesn’t work. See Chipman Avenue.” One respondent offered the idea to close Chipman Avenue to cars and create an environment that is conducive to open air cafes and musical performances.

Coun. Teri Underhill

“I think Ponoka’s downtown has a great foundation that can be built on. It’s just a matter of the right investments and buy-in from residents and business owners,” suggested another survey participant.

Underhill said some of the users have a valid point about the downtown area. She suggests communities need to change the way they see downtown and how it can be used. One person suggested the old hospital, which sits on 50 Street near the downtown area, be converted into a museum. Looking at the questions Underhill was asked what struck her the most about the survey and she started with results from Question 4, which asked what elements people would like to see developed or improved in the downtown area. The top choice was public murals and artwork with 65 votes in favour. For this question, users could pick more than one choice. The next highest options were public washrooms (51), public benches (50) and “other” (50). Information

signage (34) and pedestrian-only streets (25) were the lowest picked options. Underhill feels residents want downtown to “reflect the beauty of the town and the people.” She suggests the top pick of murals and artwork show that residents would prefer to see the area beautified. Another surprise were the results from Question 6: What per cent of personal shopping is done locally? Of the 124 participants, 42 stated they shop locally 75 per cent of the time, 39 said 50 per cent, another 39 said 25 per cent and four said never. To bring those numbers into perspective, Question 7 asks what people’s main reason for shopping outside of Ponoka. Like Question 4, users were able to provide more than one choice and 113 people stated they go outside of town due to bet-

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ter selections. Better price and better hours were the next highest at 58 and 47 respectively. Better quality (26), better service (18) and better parking (8) were the other options. Question 10 related to business owners, which asked how much of a capital investment they would be willing to make as part of the downtown revitalization plan. Here are the results from the 16 submissions: • $500 or lower: 8 • $500 to $1,000: 1 • $1,000 to $1,500: 2 • More than $1,500: 5 While the majority stated under $500 or under the next highest said they would be willing to spend more than $1,500. Underhill suggests the results from this question need some in depth consideration. She says some business owners might be looking at other avenues to improve the downtown area. “We have work to do to discuss with property owners and businesses,” said Underhill. For full survey results without the comments visit www.ponoka.ca.

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Candice Grifﬁth-Wilton: This is my 5th year working as the School Social Worker at Ponoka Outreach. I enjoy the positive and energetic atmosphere that both staff and students bring to the school. Thursday, May 28 Graduation! Friday, May 29 PD Day – No school for students Monday, June 1 All students welcome to attend Wedneday, June 3 Night School – All staff present Thursday, June 4 Awards!

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PONOKA NEWS 3

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Four ATVs reported stolen over one night

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Police are investigating the theft of four quads from three different locations last week. RCMP received three reports Tuesday, May 19 that ATVs were stolen overnight out of properties north of Ponoka near along Township Road 435 and 433. The first report was of a red 2002 Suzuki 500. The second report was of two ATVs stolen with one recovered, say police. A 2009 black Yamaha Raptor and a 2001 Yamaha, the latter of which was recovered on the Louis Bull Reserve. The third report was of a 2003 black Suzuki King Quad, which was later found, also on the Louis Bull Reserve. Police have no suspects at this time. Lawnmowers stolen The next day police took a call that two Mower brand lawnmowers were taken from a business near the Southwest Industrial Park.

Police are asking anyone who has information on the thefts to call the detachment or Crime Stoppers. Broken down vehicle found to be stolen The breakdown of a Chevy Blazer on Highway 2 last week proved to be bad luck for the driver as it turns out the vehicle was reported stolen last fall. Members of the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit noticed the Blazer in the breakdown lanes northbound on Highway 2 on May 20 at 9 a.m. and came to help out. The driver, a 33-yearold Red Deer Man was unable to provide a driver’s licence, vehicle registration or insurance and a subsequent check of the vehicle’s license plate showed it was reported stolen in September 2014. The man initially provided a false name but upon further prompting from police gave his real name. He was charged with possession of stolen property. There was also a 24-year-old woman passenger and a small child in the vehicle. Speedster nabbed with open liquor, marijuana Speeding at 154 km/h with open liquor and marijuana in the vehicle and no insurance turned out to be a bad combination for a 21-year-old driver. Members of the Inte-

& CRUISE CENTRE

grated Traffic Unit pulled the Edmonton driver over on May 23 at 10 p.m. in a 2009 Subaru Impreza for speeding. Upon investigation, an odor of marijuana could be smelled from the vehicle and open liquor was found in the vehicle. He was charged with possession of marijuana, no insurance and open liquor within reach. There were three other passengers in the vehicle and one of them, a 20-year-old man, was charged with open liquor within reach. Tired driver in possession of marijuana A tired motorist had some tough questions to answer after police found 60 grams of marijuana in his vehicle. Officers were alerted to an erratic driver May 22 in a Dodge Ram and after pulling the vehicle over the 43-year-old Lethbridge man admitted he was fatigued. A subsequent investigation found marijuana in the vehicle. He was given a 24-hour driving suspension. Other charges were not available at press time. Ponoka RCMP and the Integrated Traffic Unit took 94 calls for service last week. If you have information on any crime call Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477. PHONE: 403-783-4911 FAX: 403-783-5222

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PONOKA NEWS STAFF

After four years of service to the Town of Ponoka, RCMP Staff Sgt. Cameron Chisholm is transferring to a new location. No official announcement is expected with regard to Chisholm’s departure to his new duty station. Until a new commander is appointed, Cpl. Jeff Sehn, assisted by Cpl. Chad Pushie, is expected to be in charge of the overall operational responsibilities for the Ponoka detachment. There is no definitive timeline as to when the new commanding officer will be appointed.

This paper is

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Operations of the Ponoka RCMP detachment and the Ponoka Integrated

Traffic Unit are expected to continue without any hindrance.

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1. Grip putter with your regular grip (light pressure) 2. Stance your eyes are right over the putter and ball making your arms hang like a pendulum 3. Swing putter with a rhythmical motion 4. Control distance with length of backstroke, follow through same length low through to target. 5. Experiment on practice green, learn from your mistakes if ball is going to long or to short adjust back stroke accordingly

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4 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Religion

Your Guide To Local Houses of Worship

God’s AED

CHURCH DIRECTORY Associated Gospel Churches of Canada

CHURCH OF THE OPEN BIBLE Pastor Jerry Preheim • Pastor Matt Sealy 3704 - 42 St. Ponoka 403-783-6500 Worship Service 11:00 a.m. • churchoftheopenbible@telus.net

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH PONOKA Sr. Pastor Paul Spate

Erin Dirsten - Fac. Youth & Family Min. & James Crosina - Fac. of Community Life

5109 - 57 Ave. Ponoka www.fbcponoka.org

403-783-5533

Bible Discovery Hour 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service 10:30 a.m.

NEW COVENANT BAPTIST REFORMED CHURCH Currently meeting at Ponoka Christian School 6300-50 St. Worship Service Sunday 10:30 a.m. Everyone Welcome! phone: 403-783-6962 • www.baptistreformedponoka.org

PARKLAND REFORMED CHURCH South on 2A, West on Spruce Road 403-783-1888 Worship Service 10:00 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. Rev. Mitch Ramkissoon www.parklandurc.org

PONOKA WORD OF LIFE CHURCH Pastor Rob McArthur

403-783-5659

Sunday @ 10:30 a.m. Corner of Hwy 53 & Hwy 2A (former Crossroads Restaurant)

www.wordoﬂife.ca

PONOKA UNITED CHURCH Minister: Beatrix Schirner

ponokaunited@shaw.ca

Sunday Service 10:00 am. 5020-52 Ave. Ponoka

Phone: 403-783-4087

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

Pastor Tim Graﬀ

Last night, the community was invited to attend a public information event about Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s) which had recently been installed around town. AED’s, as they are referred to, are portable devices that can check the heart rhythm of a person and if necessary, send an electric shock to the heart to restore a normal rhythm. In worse case scenarios, an AED can be used to bring

back to life a heart that has completely stopped beating. AED’s can certainly save the life of a person, but they cannot fix the problem that caused the heart to stop beating normally in the first place. There are other kinds of heart beats that exist within people and within the larger community. There are the healthy heart beats that give us that sense of peace, that all is well. Then there are the abnormal rhythms when things are going wrong in our personal lives or in the life of our smaller and larger communities. A couple of weeks ago, I listened to an aboriginal woman speak with anger and frustration about what was going on for aboriginal women in Canada. One of her responses to the problem was to somehow “fix men” so that they wouldn’t be abusive. This is often our response to our personal and societal problems. We want to “fix them” with some kind of human AED or worse.

The dilemma we face though is that our attempts to remedy these problems fail to address their causes and most importantly, fail to recognize that the root issue behind these problems is really a spiritual one. The abnormal life rhythm we feel in our own lives and in the life of our communities is a product of sin – that broken relationship between ourselves and God. Most of us would like to just ignore that and either go on living with arrhythmia or attempt to fix things ourselves. However, the results usually end in some form of death. The AED God brings us is the message that we are sinners and that there is truly nothing we can do to remedy our condition. This spiritual AED is intended to wake us up to the reality that life apart from God is a death spiral. The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). However, this spiritual AED called the Law cannot fix our relationship with God. You can’t come to worship or read the

Bible or do enough good things to fix what is wrong with your relationship with God. This AED is only there to show us that our lives are truly a mess and we need the Great Physician. That Physician is Jesus Christ who through his life, death and resurrection can actually change the rhythm of our personal and community lives so that through faith our hearts begin to beat in rhythm with God’s heart. I thank God for inventions like AED’s, but I am even more thankful for those who can surgically fix hearts. More importantly, I thank God for revealing our spiritual sickness and I give great praise to God for the gift of his love in Christ Jesus who comes to heal the spiritual hearts of all people. Do we want to see change in our communities? Do we want to see healing in our own lives or in the life of one you care about? It all begins and ends with Christ, the Great Physician.

PASTOR DAVE BEAUDOIN 6230-57 Ave. Ph. 403-783-6404 Saturdays 9:30 - 12 Noon dsjjb@xplornet.com ponokaadventist.ca

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ST. AUGUSTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH Fr. Chris Gnanaprakasam, S.A.C. Mass Times: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 9:00 a.m. Sunday

5113 - 52 Ave., Ponoka, T4J 1H6 403-783-4048

Read all about it in the

stachurch@shaw.ca

ST. MARY’S ANGLICAN CHURCH Rev. Donna Willer Rev. Marty Tuer, Honourary Assistant 5120 - 49 Ave. Ponoka

403-783-4329

Sunday Service: Holy Eucharist 10 a.m. www.stmarysanglicanponoka.com

TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 5501 - 54 Ave. Ponoka 403-783-4141 Sunday Service: 10:30am Sunday School: 10:30am Pastor Tim Graff • trinityponoka.ca

ZION CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Pastor Fred Knip 9 miles east on Hwy 53 403-782-9877 Jr. Church during service for children Sunday Service 10:30 am

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PONOKA NEWS 5

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Reflections of Ponoka Early education began in tiny one room schools BY MIKE RAINONE FOR THE NEWS

May is that glorious month when nature bursts forth in all its finest, and when our youngest school students look forward to final exams and summer holidays, while our Grade 12s prepare for the gala celebration of their once-in-a-lifetime Graduation Day. The proud and long-standing traditions of giving thousands of young town and rural students the opportunity of receiving a good education and having fun in the process has been going on in and around our community and districts for over 115 years. After the first pioneer families began settling in this area in the late 18th century, they worked hard to establish their homes, farms and businesses, and then looked to the next most important task of building the schools and churches to serve a rapidly growing population. By 1905, there were over 25 mostly log and sod one room school houses

hosting rambunctious new students from all nationalities and walks of life in our rural districts, and going into the 19th century, this would zoom to over 70 country sites. Much of the learning done in these early schools was not only by the boys and girls struggling with the basics of the three Rs, but by the poor young teachers ($300-a-year salary) who not only had to teach up to six grades in one small room, but also had to quickly learn to adjust to a new and overwhelming environment on the Alberta prairies. These friendly one room schools would also serve as the year-round ‘heart of the district’, often hosting church services, weddings, funerals, pie and box socials, concerts, picnics and all sorts of meetings. Their hardy and amazing stories of survival and successes in teaching thousands of students from several family generations for so many years will also relate their

delightful daily adventures such as starting the old pot-bellied stove and boiling some water on a minus 35 degree morning, sitting in those very hard wooden desks all day, and huddled together eating lunch in one room before dashing outside where the world was their playground. There were also many horrific days when just getting to school by horse and buggy or sleigh or walking was a real task, and some lived a few miles away from their school. The first school class in the Village of Ponoka was held in a church in 1898, but the rapid growth of the community, which became a town in 1904, resulted in the addition of the White School, the Brick School, and countless other large and more modern facilities over the years. Out in the County of Ponoka, the need for larger education facilities resulted in the addition of popular country schools such as Mecca Glen, Syl-

Photo from Crestomere Sylvan Heights Heritage

This 1910 class photo was taken in front of the Iowalta School west of Ponoka, which was one of the first of the over 70 one-room country schools that were established in the County of Ponoka and would host generations of students between 1898 and 1959. Shown from left to right in their fine long dresses, trousers, and ties are, back row, left to right, Pat Zielie, Charles Hubbard, Teacher Miss Doris Talbet, Ella and Fred Marquardt; then in the third row are Strausie Taylor, Jessie Hubbard, Cecil Whitecotton, and Harry Taylor. Kneeling in the second row are Jennie Frizzell, Fred Key, Mabel Ingraham, and Zelia Zielie, then sitting in front are Victoria Kinley, Clara Frizzell, Marvel Rowland, and Addie Frizzell.

van Heights, Usona and Crestomere to teach grades 1 to 9. In the early 1950s, when the County of Ponoka was formed and took over the direction of the school system, the high school stu-

dents were bused into the town schools, and eventually many of those quaint but wonderful one room schools were closed, and while some are only marked by a sign, will always be remembered

as very close and personal and friendly ‘hallowed halls of learning’ from great days gone by. Helen McLennan proudly shared and dedicated some of these colorful memories in this song:

The little old school house down the way I’ll sing you a song of the old one roomed school, a symbol of our pioneer days It was when men worked together in all kinds of weather regardless of payment or praise A community grows with the school at the centre, the hub of the wheel we will say ‘Twas used as a hall as many recall, and also a church come every Sunday Inside of the building the tools of the trade, with desks seating one child or two There was a pointer so long and a bell to ding-dong for that time when the classes were through The blackboard was up front with brushes and chalk, and

sometimes a world map on display which rolled up like a blind when not needed to find the name of an ocean or bay Then down in the corner or quite near the door the potbellied stove stood its ground and when the days were cold or when the thunder rolled each child in the school gathered round. To get them to school was the worry of parents with a number of children to go, and many a mile was trudged with a smile through the mud holes or deep snow. The pioneer teachers we must mention, too, who never a chance would they lose, to help a child’s mind develop and find the path in the future they choose. And there are so many persons in the high walks of life

who owe their successes they will say to the start that they got and the lessons they were taught in the ‘little old school down the way.’ Although our educational facilities and teaching skills and technologies may have changed just a little over all those many years when our grandparents, parents, ourselves and our children achieved and enjoyed this age-old ‘adventure in learning’, we must always remind and encourage our vibrant new generations from tots to teens that this keen and exciting opportunity to attend school with our buddies was and should always will be the most important and best 12 or so years of our busy and exciting young lives.

Remember When... Photo courtesy of Delores Morrow

Fastball and baseball season is now upon us, and here is a great photo of the 1951-52 Ponoka Flyers Softball team. Shown in the picture from left to right, back row are Shirley Cammidge, Eloise Raper, Vi Hoar, coach Adolph Kailwet, Audrey Brown, Meagan Morgon and Enid Tweedy; then in the middle are Coach Blondie Doell, unknown, unknown, and seated in front are unknown, Edna Smith, Muriel Clapp, and unknown. If you know any of the girls we missed please let us know and please keep these great Remember When? and Reflections photos and stories coming in to the News! Thanks from MDR!

6 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Seeing off another bunch of youth set sail to life

Mustafa Eric

Editor

We are realizing yet another grad season, with brilliant young people being sent off to the next stage of their journey with glare and glitter, celebrating the outcome of years of effort put into their studies from kindergarten to Grade 12. Some will pursue further studies while others start to put into practice whatever skills they have already acquired in the course of their high school years, being welders, hairdressers, car mechanics or

cooks; some might do both, working to finance their university tuition fees. Whatever they will be doing, there is one thing certain that they have to face as they advance along their chosen path, and that is the increasing uncertainty in the world we live. It has been almost a decade since newcomers to the labor market started to be preached about what they should or should not expect in their careers: The time for holding on to your job until retirement is long gone, be prepared to work for at least half a dozen different employers before even beginning to think of retirement. In addition to, or rather in connection with, the changing economic circumstances, the social background we are living against is undergoing fundamental shifts, too. OECD, the international think tank of the capitalist system has just announced that income distribution has just taken a turn for the worse, with the

highest earning 10 percent of the population making 10 times the money of the bottom 10 per cent in the industrialized west. Middle classes in developed economies are slowly seeing their share of wealth get steadily smaller as they join the ranks of poor, increasing the possibility of social conflict while religious extremism contributes to the emergence of tendencies for too strong governments, threatening individual liberties and ultimately the values of democratic governance. This comes on top of the technological revolution that has been changing our lives on an almost daily

basis with newly developed apps coming on stream, transforming the way we share and exchange information and even having an impact on the way we think and act. This progress in technology also allows more and more employers to prefer robots to do the work rather than humans, creating a significant employment crunch for those populating the labor market. We should also remember that by the time the graduates of this year come of age of carrying family responsibilities, technology will have progressed much faster and the challenges of today will have increased,

maybe exponentially in certain areas. It looks certain, then, that with such head-spinning pace of change in the way we live and work, most of the youth saying goodbye to their high schools these days could well be in need of additional skills training, and even longer term reeducation, to adjust to new circumstances that will be emerging in the years and decades to come. But regardless of the kind of new skills or abilities that they might have to acquire in the later stages of their lives, two main characteristics that they should have developed in their

years of secondary education will stay with them as long as they live: Prudence and sense of responsibility. The first will allow them to chart their courses through the foreseen and unforeseen traps life will set for them and the second will be their guiding principle as they strive to be the best individuals they can be. As their parents, teachers, elders and acquaintances, we have all the right to share the pride of their moment of glory in their graduation celebrations if we could make even the tiniest of contributions to those two main traits of their personality.

Still lots of time to study who to vote for in October Dear Editor: In five months, in October, we’ll be into another election, this time a federal election. As the electorate we have important decisions to make. Even at this point in time, before the summer and outdoor activities engage us, and before the fall winds come our way, it is worth thinking about where we want to go as a country. The campaign rhetoric has not heated up yet, but it’s coming. We will be lambasted with pictures and political promotions of all kinds, even negative attack ads, who knows, but it would be important that we identify kernels

of genuineness and truth in what sometimes becomes election mayhem. Messages can be confusing, repetitive, and sometimes misleading so it could be helpful to stake out important ground around our areas of interest. News media, we know, can only present limited and often very selective pieces of information but there are online resources and good reporting on issues if we are willing to look for them. A visit to the library for assistance should not be a barrier. Important areas for most of us are employment, health care and education. All of these have federal and provincial components. One needs to see what exists and what

Judy Dick Manager 5019A Chipman Ave., Box 4217, Ponoka, AB. T4J 1R6 Phone: 403.783.3311 Fax: 403.783.6300 Email: editorial@ponokanews.com Published every Wednesday by PNG Prairie Newspaper Group in community with: Regional Publisher, Fred Gorman

manager@ponokanews.com

has changed for the better or the worse: How fair, equitable and helpful has the federal government’s relationship with the provinces been? What significant issues has the federal government initiated or reneged on? Reaction to the status quo plays a big part in politics but it is also important that we identify concrete alternatives and options that have not seen the light of day. Don’t keep the midnight oil burning, though. There’s a good five months to think clearly even if campaign emotion eventually fills all the airwaves. George Jason

Mustafa Eric Editor

Jeﬀ Heyden-Kaye Reporter

Amelia Naismith Reporter

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PONOKA NEWS 7

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Town Times

Ponoka, AB T4J 1P7 Ph: 403-783-4431 | Fax: 403-783-6745 | Email: town@ponoka.org Or Check us out Online: www.ponoka.ca

NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Canada Day “Human Canadian Flag” Attempt on July 1st **** Ponoka Day in the Park, August 29th **** For more information please contact Wes Amendt, Director of Community Services (403) 783-0118 or e-mail wes.amendt@ponoka.org

Spring Clean-Up Has Started The Annual Town of Ponoka Spring Clean-Up has started and will continue until completed. Pick up is restricted to compostable materials (e.g. landscaping waste such as leaves & grass clippings) and small amounts of tree branches that are no longer than 3 feet. Materials not picked up include: rocks, construction material, wood, household waste, and pet excrement. Preference is to have all materials in a pile and not bagged. Make sure your yard waste is set out adjacent to your normal household garbage pickup location. If yard collection is not completed that week - it will continue the following week. The Town will only make one trip per street/avenue. ***Please do not throw grass, leaves and compost materials into the garbage***

Ponoka Recreation Committee Vacancy (Senior & Youth) The Ponoka Recreation Committee is seeking applications for an enthusiastic and community-minded individuals to join the Recreation Committee as the Senior’s and Youth Representatives. Any persons interested in serving on the Recreation Committee are requested to submit a completed Board Application Form to the Town of Ponoka. For more information please contact Wes Amendt at 403-783-0118 or Wes.Amendt@ponoka.org Board Application Forms are available at: Town Oﬃce: 5102 - 48 Avenue, Ponoka • Town’s website: www.ponoka.ca

Job Opportunities:

-Volunteer Fire Fighters -Manager of Operations For more information please visit the Town website and apply to hr@ponoka.org

Alberta Seniors Week – June 1 - 7 A playground not even one year old, located across the street from the Howard Buffalo Memorial Centre in Maskwacis, was set on fire the evening of Saturday, May 23 according to the conclusions of the investigators on the site. Despite speaking with witnesses at the scene, Maskwacis RCMP officers left with no leads and no suspects. Photo by Amelia Naismith

Ponoka Festival of Trees 2015 Ross North, GM of Legacy Ford Ponoka, is proud to announce that Legacy Ford will again be the presenting sponsor of the Ponoka Festival of Trees. Sherry Gummow (left) and Judy Dick are shown here with Ross. Committee members are pleased to have Legacy Ford conﬁrm their commitment to this community event, taking place November 19 - 21 at the Calnash Ag Event Centre. Proceeds from the annual Festival of Trees go to the Ponoka & District Health Foundation.

Seniors make a diﬀerence in our communities every day. From supporting family members and friends to assisting charities and volunteering, seniors are deeply involved in our communities and their contributions beneﬁt Albertans of all ages. Please take the time to acknowledge Alberta’s seniors and all that they contribute to our quality of life. ponoka.ca

EVENTS AND RECREATION Nominate a Property for FREE Utilities The Pride in Your Property Contest is open to Town residents and businesses. Here’s your chance to nominate yourself, a business, or someone you know for having a well-kept property. Prizes are awarded to Residential and Business properties as follows: Best Kept Residential - 1st Prize $500 Town of Ponoka Utility Credit 2nd Prize - $250.00 Town of Ponoka Utility Credit Most Improved Prize of $500 Town of Ponoka Utility Credit Best Kept Commercial/Industrial – 1st Prize $500 Town of Ponoka Utility Credit 2nd Prize - $250.00 Town of Ponoka Utility Credit Entry forms are available at www.ponoka.ca, or pick up at the Town Oﬃce. Reward yourself or someone you know for their hard work and enter today! Deadline for entries is July 31st !

Ponoka Mini Golf & Ice Cream Shop Open June 5! Splash Park Open June 12! Fort Ostell Museum is now open for the summer. Hours are 10 – 5 Monday to Friday. Dates to note on your calendars are August 1 – Heritage Tea

Library News SUDOKU PUZZLE INTRODUCTION CLASS: Ponoka Jubilee Library invites you to learn the basics on solving Sudoku puzzles. Saturday June 13th at 1:00 pm. This is a free class, but registration is required. Call 403-783-3843, or register in person at the Library. BILLYCO JUNCTION GARDENS: The Ponoka Friends of the Library Society invite you to support the Library, while receiving the benefits of fresh vegetables/fruit. Buy a Community Shared Agriculture share from BillyCo Junction Gardens, and have fresh organic fruits/veggies brought to Ponoka for you, plus choose to donate a portion of your cost back to Ponoka Jubilee Library. Sign up sheets available at Ponoka Jubilee Library, deadline for CSA sign-up is May 31st. Go to www.billycojunction.com for more information, or call the farmers at (403) 782-4263. GO FUND ME: Did you enjoy receiving your Free Library Membership this year and want to see it continue next year? In order for that to happen Ponoka Jubilee Library needs to raise funds! To donate money quickly and easily, go to GoFundMe.com/tfkcb8. Thank you. E-WASTE BRIGADE: Ponoka Jubilee Library is collecting your trash and using it to raise money! Bring your old e-items to the Library and we will ship them off to TerraCycle to be made into cool new products. Acceptable items are: cell phones, smart phones, iPhones, digital cameras, camcorders, graphic calculators, inkjet cartridges from HP & Canon printers, iPads, laptops, notebooks, netbooks, eReaders, tablets and iPods. Please drop items off at Ponoka Jubilee Library – 5110 48 Avenue. For more information visit: http://www.terracycle.ca/en-CA/brigades/e-waste-brigade.html.

Aquaplex: Renovations to the Tennis Courts - Watch for signs of Re-opening Soon - for Tennis & Pickle Ball Players Register now for Summer Swim Lessons! 403-783-0131 Are you a good artist or have some great ideas and would like to see that put into art? The Aquaplex is looking for someone to help design a mural for the blank wall space over the whirl pool. The top 5 will then be selected and voted on by you the public and painted by a professional artist. Have the designs water related and of course appropriate. You can tie in the town theme and logo, or go a who different route. Submit by July 2nd to the Aquaplex front desk. Thank you!

Ponoka Adult Learning Have you moved to Ponoka from another Country? Ponoka Adult Learning would like to hear from you! You are invited to a focus group to discuss the issues and challenges that you have experienced while moving to Ponoka! Please join us on Thursday June 11 at 5 pm at the Kinsmen Center for a free catered supper from Cilantro & Chive. For your time each participant will receive a grocery voucher.

Ponoka Youth Centre 2015 Summer Program (July 6 - August 28): RACE FOR THE KIDS: Fundraiser on June 6, 2015. Support your local youth programs. Enter a team of 4, raise money & compete for great prizes!!! Anyone who can walk can be involved there are 10 locations in the town of Ponoka to start from. For more information please contact 403-783-3112 or visit www.raceforkids.ca to register online.

COUNCIL UPDATES & BYLAW INFO Next Town Council Meetings June 9th @ 4:30 pm

Quote Of The Week: “Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable conﬁdence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.”

8 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

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PONOKA NEWS 9

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Ponoka Chamber recognized as Alberta Chamber of the Year BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Members of the Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce can walk a little taller after hearing Ponoka was awarded the title of Chamber of the Year for 2015. President Jim Hamilton and executive manager Les Jaster were all smiles Saturday, May 23 in Medicine Hat at the Alberta Chambers of Commerce annual general meeting. Ponoka won the Chamber of the Year award in the 100 to 300 member category and Hamilton gave much of the credit to Jaster. “We were pumped. It is a huge cue to Les,” said Hamilton. He added that one of Jaster’s goals when he took on the role of executive manager two and a half years ago was to win the award. “It’s pretty impressive that he’s done it in less than three years,” said Hamilton. Winning the award isn’t just a matter of submitting the Ponoka chamber’s name. Hamilton said key criteria are looked at to determine if a chamber is eligible for consideration. Among the criteria that helped the recognition were: • Increase in luncheon attendance. Hamilton said the average attendance numbers are up to 30 to 35 people per meeting compared to 10 to 15 in previous years. • Raising the presence of the chamber.

There are four key events for the chamber in Ponoka with the trade fair, passport to Christmas, downtown garage sale and the annual business awards. Hamilton said the business awards have seen an increase of 10 per cent attendance every year for the last four years. Another criterion that benefited the Ponoka chamber was the development of a policy document that helps government with legislation. In this case, the Ponoka and Red Deer chambers joined forces to create a policy document that is meant to benefit central Alberta beef farmers. “We wrote a policy position paper on origin of meat from the United States,” said Hamilton. Meat labeling rules in the United States required meat in grocery stores to be labeled by its country of origin. However, that requirement has recently been rejected by the World Trade Organization. “We wanted this to be front and centre that this is important to rural central Alberta,” said Hamilton. Jaster said he hoped to maintain the progress the chamber has made into next year to win a second time in a row. Winning was a confirmation of the hard work done over the years. “It confirmed to me that all along this has been a great organization,” said Jaster.

Stampede Association gearing up for a busy rodeo week BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

The Ponoka Stampede and Exhibition Association is getting ready for another busy week when cowboys come rolling in for the one of the largest pro rodeos in Canada. Vice-president Blair Vold spoke with members of the Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce Tuesday, May 19 at the Calnash Ag Event Centre about the association’s plans for the week of June 25 to July 1. Blair said later in an interview that last year’s stampede had quite high numbers of tickets sold. “We were very happy with our numbers last year and this year looks like it’s going to be good, too,” he explained. “My goal is to sell 90,000 to 100,000 tickets this year,” he added. Vold said there would be two exciting concerts this year accompanying the rodeo action: Sawyer Brown on June 25 and Josh Turner

on June 30. He reminded that Sawyer Brown was the first entertainer to perform at the Ponoka Stampede when the association introduced live music several years ago. He added that Josh Turner is an exciting act to have in Ponoka. For other entertainment, Vold announced trick roper LaRue Olson, a fourth generation cowboy, would be performing at the Ponoka Stampede. With plans in full swing to ensure the week goes on without a hitch, the association has been meeting with

many stakeholders including the Town and County of Ponoka as well as sponsors and volunteers. “We’re looking forward to working with the town,” said Vold. Getting the name out with social media Last year saw a shift in how the association gets its name out there with a push to promote the busy week with social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The group has hired a communications person to promote the busy week and to connect with rodeo fans.

Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce executive manager Les Jaster and president Jim Hamilton celebrate Saturday, May 23 after hearing Ponoka won the Chamber of the Year category from the Alberta Chambers of Commerce. Photo submitted

Chamber moving to county offices After some searching, the Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce office will move to the Ponoka County offices, says Hamilton. The chamber has been searching for a new location since the Town of Ponoka announced changes to the Visitor’s Centre, where the chamber is currently located. He

expects the move to be made over the month of June. Not much will change for operations, he added. “Again, our focus is to work more with rural Alberta,” said Hamilton. He feels this will get the chamber closer to local farmers and open up other avenues for the chamber while still being able to provide the same service to existing members.

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10 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Ponoka girls take third place in $10,000 watershed competition says there have been years when portions of the sponsorship money had gone to different groups competing against each other because the students wanted to make their proposals a reality. As third place winners the girls take home $400 each and $800 is given to their school. The top 10 projects were presented at the contest finals on Saturday, May 23 at the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin. Brooklyn Green and Mina Shin proposed birdhouses placed on golf courses would lower the use of pesticide in the Battle River Watershed. The idea started out as a

BY AMELIA NAISMITH

Two Grade 8 St. Augustine Catholic School students placed third in the Caring for Our Watersheds competition with their project that mixed environmental stewardship with their passion for golf. Although the girls are not taking home the first place prize of $10,000, they may still be eligible for a portion of that amount as the contest places a great focus on supporting students who wish to implement their projects within their communities. Nathalie Stanley Olson, education and outreach co-ordinator for the Battle River Watershed Alliance

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school project and the two girls had been working on their project since January. At the finals each group was required to give a short presentation on their project proposal. “It was a very close race,” said Olson. “I think, for both of us, we feel pretty proud of ourselves,” said Shin. In early spring, when the girls found out they had made the top 10 they were surprised that their proposal could compete with the Grade 12 students of the Battle River Watershed, which stretches from Fort McMurray to Lethbridge. It was a record-breaking year, as the competition received more than 150 proposals from approximately 300 students. From their project, the girls learned the importance of caring for the watershed, especially as the province’s up and coming generation. “In 50 years, we’re going to be the older generation,” said Shin. “It revolves around everything we have to work with,” Green added, refer-

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ring to the health of the watershed. Shin says she has learned to be more aware of her surroundings since taking on the project. Because the Battle River Watershed covers such a large land area, Olson says there was a great diversity in the projects this year as

each community faces different challenges. “When we’re talking about how to protect the watershed it’s so much more than water,” Olson explained. “It was really interesting and exciting to see the students taking on old problems … it’s an age old problem

but coming up with new solutions,” she added. She feels the students who partake in the competition begin to see their communities in a different light and having the support of their recognition will increase their confidence when it comes to believing they can incite change.

Brooklyn Green (left) and Mina Shin (right), Grade 8 St. Augustine Catholic School students, placed third out of 300 Albertan students in the Caring for Our Watersheds competition with their idea to reduce pesticide use via birdhouses placed on golf courses. The competition finals took place at the Reynolds Museum in Wetaskiwin, Saturday, May 23. Photo by Amelia Naismith

The Wild Wild West of ‘36 lives on e at th

79th Annual

Ponoka Stampede June 25-July 1, 2015

Business Decorating & Parade Theme: SALUTE TO 50 YEARS OF THE CANADIAN MAPLE LEAF FLAG

ONE DAY ONLY! Sat., July 18 8:30am–2:30pm

Join the fun and register ! Cost: $20 Chamber of Commerce Members $ 30 Non Chamber Members Call: 403-783-3888 or email: chamberp@telus.net

TO BOOK YOUR SPOT!

GARAGE SALE HOURS: 8:30 am - 2:30 pm Coffee & Mufﬁns $300

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BBQ 10:30 am - 1:30 pm Hamburgers & Drink $500

Canada’s largest seven-day rodeo, the Ponoka Stampede, will take place from Thursday, June 25 to Wednesday, July 1. The Ponoka News will be publishing a special section on this prestigious event in the Wednesday, June 17 edition. This popular and much-anticipated special section will highlight all the events and festivities surrounding the Stampede and contain feature stories of local cowboys and cowgirls competing. In addition to our distribution of 6000, we will provide an additional 2600 copies for distribution at the Stampede grounds.

ADVERTISING RATES: EIGHTH PAGE: $145 • QUARTER PAGE: $225 HALF PAGE: $400 • FULL PAGE: $620

All ads include full colour

PUBLISHES: WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 DEADLINE: THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 5 PM

Thousands of visitors will be coming to our town for the event and this section will give your business tremendous opportunity to promote your products and services.

TO BOOK YOUR SPACE CALL 403-783-3311 • FAX: 403-783-6300

PONOKA NEWS 11

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Poverty challenging many WCPS students to the point of homelessness BY AMELIA NAISMITH

The state of students coming from households living in

poverty within the division territory and how those students

are affected by the decisions of the Wolf Creek Public

Schools Board of Trustees was the main topic of discussion

Poverty challenging many WCPS students to the point of homelessness

15054UC0

among the trustees on Tuesday, May 19. Trustee Bob Huff told the board there is a difference between minimum wage and living wage, and many students in the division come from homes that bring in less than a living wage. “We’ve got to be cognizant of that,” said Huff. Some students’ behavior, practices and actions in school can be traced back to living in poverty, including such issues as payment of school fees, anxieties and mental illness. Huff is also concerned youths living in poverty will become more susceptible to human trafficking situations. “Some of these people who are in these homes really don’t have the capacity to get out,” said Huff. “We have to be less prejudiced and less stereotypical and find out why these young people are having these difficulties,” he added. In the WCPS division, there are pre-Kindergarten students who are already facing the challenges of living in poverty the trustees were told. “As trustees, we make data-driven decisions and part of the data is we have students living in poverty,” said Huff. He told the other trustees a lack of affordable housing on the market is leaving students couch surfing as they try to go to school. “Not because it’s fun, that’s what they have to do.” Trustee Pam Hansen added the division and the province was in for a change on who would be affected by poverty; she was referring to oilfield workers. “They’re not going to be able to go for assistance because last year they made $150,000.” “It’s going to affect these kids hard because there’s not going to be food on the table,” she added. Hansen says she’s been involved with two homeless families living in her ward in Bentley. “There’s five kids who are without homes right now and I don’t know where they are, I know where two are.” “It’s the reality right now people are living in,” she added. She also mentioned drug addiction on the part of adults had contributed to some of these students’ situations. “It’s a mess and it’s going to get worse,” she added. The board’s discussion was for information purposes only and no motions were made.

12 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Donations: Members of the Ponoka Legion provided cheque donations to three groups Tuesday, May 19: The Wheelchair Van Society ($4288.44), the Ponoka Gymnastics and Trampoline Club and the Ponoka Youth Centre, both $500. Here (l-r) President Sybil Evans, Ways and Means chairperson Dorothy Houghton present a cheque to the Wheelchair Van Society with Nancy MacKenzie accepting.

Operations supervisor Jhoejo Soco (far left) and restaurant manager Janice Uy (centre left) of Ponoka McDonald’s present a cheque to Jen Bartley (centre right) and Layna Palechek of the Ponoka Elementary School Playground Society. The $3000 donation represents the proceeds from the McHappy Day, May 6.Ƭ

Contributed photo

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PONOKA NEWS 13

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Town council considers potential response on wireless water meter holdouts BY JEFFREY HEYDENKAYE

There are nine hard refusals for the acceptance of the wireless Neptune water meters that were installed in most Ponoka homes last year and town councillors are considering what their next steps should be on the matter. Betty Quinlan, director of corporate services for the Town of Ponoka told council Tuesday, May 19 during a committee of the whole meeting that there are also 28 property owners that town staff have been unable to reach over the matter, what she called “soft refusals.” Councillors read over some of the clauses in the town’s Water Rates Bylaw to determine the legality of changing out the old water meters. Quinlan wanted to let councillors know that administration will have to take some steps to get the job done. An extreme case would be to turn off the water and the bylaw provides four reasons why that is possible: • Repairs • Want of supply • Non-payment of accounts • In any other case in which council deems it advisable While the water meters are in a person’s property, they belong to the town, advised Quinlan and staff have the legal right to make a change. Clause 10 of the bylaw states: “Whenever the Town wishes to repair or remove a measuring device, an authorized employee of the Town may enter the premises on which same is situate and repair or remove such measuring device and may cause any damage necessary to effect such removal or repair.” At their Oct. 14 2014, meeting council voted against giving residents options, something that other municipalities have done as well. Quinlan said the Town of Innisfail did not provide options and the entire community has fully switched to wireless water meters. Mayor Rick Bonnett said he hoped common sense would prevail in this situation as the vast ma-

jority of residents have accepted the change. He wondered if there were any other options for the community. However, Coun. Loanna Gulka said council had already voted on no options. Coun. Marc Yaworski agreed. “The new ones

should be put in,” he said. Coun. Carla Prediger added that extreme decisions such as turning off the water do not make sense and she hopes there is a way to deal with the issue. As committee of the whole meetings are for information, no decisions

were made. Administration options for gym club irrelevant Information from Alberta Municipal Affairs has cleared that the options given by the administration to the town council on the gym club land were irrel-

evant. Council was given two options by administration to give the club a lease or to transfer the title with a $160,000 payment if the land is sold, at a recent meeting Mayor Bonnett said an informal consultation with

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403-358-8770

Call Brian

PRICED TO SELL AT $69,000 Call Wayne 403-704-0864

WEST OF PONOKA

Productive 1/4 section. Call Brian 403-704-7018

NEW LISTING - NORTH END

duplex unit 2 - 3 bdrm units fully rented. Asking $257,000

403-704-7018 NEW LISTING - RED DEER LAKE

Call Brian

LAKE FRONT CABIN

• 2000+ sq. ft. immaculate bungalow • 3 beds & 3 baths • Gourment kitchen with high end appliances • Located in Wolf Creek Estates

BRIAN HATALA

639,900 Call Jane or Lacey

PRESTIGIOUS LIVING IN WOLF CREEK ESTATES

Beautiful setting on just under 1 acre. Priced at $159,000

Call Brian 403-704-7018

Call Brian

ANNETTE DODDS

• 1588 sq. ft. walk out bungalow • 4 beds & 3 baths • Open ﬂoor plan, 9' ceilings & hardwood ﬂooring • Attached double garage & detached 24x36 garage

403-704-7018

SHAWNA LOW Broker

PROFESSIONAL REALTORS OF JOHN W. LOW AGENCIES INC.

Lacey Gregory

LUXURY COUNTRY LIVING

403-704-7018 NEW PRICE Country residential 5 acre property with a newer manufactured home, quiet setting. Horses welcome. Price reduced to $255,000

Jane Wiezba

NEW LISTINGS THIS WEEK

Choice country acreages, close to town. Sizes vary – some treed, others open with walk-out potential.

Great opportunity to build your dream home or duplex in north end of town. Mature neighbourhood.

WAYNE McGARVEY

- 50 X 100 Square Feet each $60,000

4 bedroom, 3 bathrooms, move in ready home located in Lucas Heights on large lot.

COMMERCIAL 4 bedroom, 3 bath bungalow

4 COMMERCIAL LOTS LOCATED ON 50TH STREET

GREAT FAMILY HOME

GET READY FOR SPRING!

403-704-3152

- 1.21 Acres $99,000 plus GST - 1.27 Acres $109,000 plus GST

Servicing Central Alberta. With special emphasis on Ponoka, Lacombe, Village of Wolf Creek.

6 acreages available. Beautiful building sites just a short drive south of Ponoka in Jada Estates. Building restricitons REDUCED PRICE make this property an exclusive Call Wayne area for upscale homes. 403-704-0864

municipal affairs had clarified that options were not required because council had already approved a land exchange with Ponoka County to give two-acres to the gym club. “We need to finish this off and get it done,” said Bonnett.

749,900 Call Jane or Lacey

14 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Canadian Foodgrains plant barley for 2015 season finish seeding the land with barley, said farmer and volunteer Johan Feitsma. He says their goal is to eradicate hunger around the world. The hope is that the crop will bring in a large amount of money that will benefit the CFB’s goals. For more than a decade, the Ponoka

BY JEFFREY HEYDENKAYE

Volunteers with Ponoka’s Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFB) finished planting barley in preparation for this season’s harvest. Members got together with two seeders Thursday, May 21 at their 170-acre field south of Ponoka to

branch has been farming on the same 170-acres, added Feitsma. Spring seeding has been going well as Feitsma believes the field has the right conditions for the barley they planted. “It is good actually. It is good for

sell. Donations from local agricultural product dealers is helping ensure the Ponoka branch will be able to keep its costs down, said Feitsma of the joint effort between the many farmers in the community. Alberta has several

projects for the FCB this year, added Terence Barg, a regional co-ordinator for (CFB). Ponoka’s is one of 36, Barg said excitedly. “It’s just encouraging when you see businesses, farmers and community members

Seeders spread out at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank field Thursday, May 21 to seed barley in preparation for the season. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

come together,” said Brag. “Working together for one cause of ending hunger.” “That’s really what CFB is about. Getting Canadians involved,” he added. Brag says matching contributions from the federal government gives the CFB an opportunity to raise more money to reach their goals. “We’re very appreciative of these groups that do this,” said Brag.

germination. We still need spring rains of course,” he said. Feitsma hopes they will be able to sell the barley in the $4 per bushel range once harvest is complete and if the season goes well, they will have quite a bit to

VJV MARKET REPORT MARKET REPORT MAY 20, 2015

On Wednesday, May 20, 2015 - 1877 head of cattle went through our rings & 67 head on the Canadian Satellite Sale - TOTAL - 1944

SLAUGHTER CATTLE D1 - D2 cows D3 - D4 cows Good Holstein cows Medium Holstein cows Heiferettes Bologna Bulls

145.00-156.00 125.00-141.00 115.00-129.00 110.00-120.00 150.00-180.00 155.00-185.00

Feeder bulls 175.00-210.00 Good Bred Cows 2100.00-3200.00 Older Bred Cows N/A Good Bred Heifers: N/A Cow/calf pairs (younger) 3000.00-3700.00 Cow/Calf pairs (older) 2600.00-3100.00

STOCKERS AND FEEDERS Good Feeder Steers 1000 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 900 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 800 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 700 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 600 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 500 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 400 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 300 lbs Plus:

207.00-215.00 230.00-246.00 236.00-254.50 280.00-291.00 276.00-314.00 295.00-333.00 310.00-350.00 320.00-360.00

Dairy Steers Baby Calves Dairy Type: Baby Calves Beef Type: Hay: Sq Bales Straw: Sq. Bales Greenfeed: Sq. Bales

195.00-238.00 200.00-400.00 385.00-775.00 5.00-9.00 NONE

Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers

Rd Bales Rd Bales Rd Bales

195.00-207.00 215.00-228.00 235.00-245.00 245.00-275.00 250.00-288.00 290.00-307.00 290.00-320.00 300.00-320.00

75.00-90.00 NONE

CALNASH AG EVENTS CENTRE JUNE

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