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December 16, 2015 STETTLER, ALBERTA
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Sports
Wildcats girls win their weekend tournament See story p.17 Community Dancing and Christmas crafts at annual Craftapalooza
p.2 District
See story
Not a brown Christmas after all See column
p.18
Directed by Rhonda Sylvester, members of the Gracenotes Choir perform in one scene of the ‘There’s Christmas in the Air’ in the sold-out evening show at Performing Arts Centre (PAC) on Saturday, Dec. 12. Please see our story on page 9. Photo by Moush Sara John
Cost of keeping old facilities running weighed against cost of new facilities STACEY LAVALLIE INDEPENDENT REPORTER Discussions over plans for the new County of Stettler offices and workshop dominated the county council’s Wednesday, Dec. 12 meeting, though final decisions were delayed until January at the request of absent councillor Ernie Gendre. Gendre, who wrote in ahead of his absence to explain a medical emergency had prevented him from coming, was revealed to be going into surgery for an unspecified ailment, as reported by councillor Joe Gendre. After a brief discussion, council voted to delay decisions about the new county property until January so Ernie Gendre could be present. The county quietly purchased land earlier this year with an eye to building a new
county facility, as the current county facility is at capacity, with projected growth anticipated. The facilities are also older, with the workshop nearing five decades, and the administration building nearing three. Troubles facing the administration building include lack of office space for current staff members, let alone projected growth, council chambers too small to accommodate more than a small audience, not enough meeting rooms, washroom capacity, and deficient cabling for both electrical and Internet. The old shop facility is old and not expandable, with several issues with its bays — not large enough, doors not wide or tall enough, wash bay too small, not enough bays, no drive-through bays — and storage issues. The county heard a presentation from Will Woodward and Brad Quintilio, from
Scott Builders, who went over the plans for the new administration building and workshop, but council was divided on how to proceed — all at once or in phases. The cost of the new building, originally estimated between $11 million and $14 million, doesn’t include the profits upon the sale of the old county building and property. Council heard about additional troubles plaguing the workshop, troubles that must be fixed if staff is going to continue to work there. If staff will be moving into new facilities in the near future, those fixes can be patches — but if the building of the new facilities are going to be delayed, more investigation into the problems and potentially more expensive fixes will be necessary, Rick Green, director of engineering, said. ^ continued on page 4
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015
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Christmas angels, with their sparkling halos, dance in the second annual Danceology dance at the Stettler Library on Saturday, Dec. 12.
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Dancing and Christmas crafts mark annual Craftapalooza
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Readers and advertisers are advised of the Independent’s Christmas and New Year’s deadlines and publication schedule: Dec. 23 edition Advertising deadline: Thursday, Dec. 17, 5 p.m. Dec. 30 edition Advertising deadline: Wednesday, Dec. 23, 5 p.m. The Independent office will be closed Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
It was a crafty Saturday at the Stettler Public Library, with young dance artists showing off their craft before joining other children in crafting at the annual Craftapalooza. For the second year in a row, Rhonda McCulloch brought her youngest Danceology students out to dance for family, friends and public at the idea, with little tap-dancers, hip-hopsters and ballerinas prancing over the library floor, to the applause of the crowd. McCulloch noted that for some of the dancers who started just this year, this was the first performance in fronat of an audience. After the dance, the children headed
over to the Learning Atrium to take part in Craftapalooza, an event that’s been going on for roughly a decade. “I’ve been doing it so long I’ve lost track,” Crystal Friars, coordinator, said. Children could head to any of the six different crafting stations, which had them creating a range of Christmas crafts, from wreaths to tree ornaments. About 40 kids showed up this year, a “great” turn out for the free event, which also offers up snacks and drinks. This week is the final week of Christmas activities at the library before the Big Day itself, with the final Craft til Christmas happening today, Wednesday Dec. 16, at 4 p.m. at the library. Saturday has the Christmas Movie Marathon, which starts at 10 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015
STETTLER INDEPENDENT 3
Scotiabank raised $1,000 for the Association of Communities Against Abuse (ACAA) through a bake sale, and presented it to executive chair Judilonne Bebe (extreme left) on Monday, Dec. 14.
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Dec. 23rd 12:00-4:00 p.m. Giving back to you, our customers
Photo by Moush Sara John
Grow-op busted west of Stettler STACEY LAVALLIE INDEPENDENT REPORTER A marijuana grow-op bust in early December resulted in police seizing plants worth an estimated $93,000, though police are still on the lookout for the growers. Const. Bethany Simpson of the Bashaw RCMP said that the Bashaw RCMP and ALERT Green Team North served the warrant around 3 p.m. on Dec. 3, but that no one was at the residence. The investigation continues, and police have “persons of interest” that they are trying to contact. The residence had 76 plants growing inside, with another two plants growing in an adjacent greenhouse. Grow-op equipment valued at roughly $7,000 was also seized. Police are looking to the public to augment its investigation, asking anyone with information to phone the detachment at 780-372-9739, or anonymously contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Would you like a criminal record with that? Two men, believed to be brothers, are facing a slew of criminal charges after being caught using stolen credit cards at McDonalds. On Dec. 14, an off-duty RCMP member recognized two men that had been captured on video surveillance at the Stettler McDonalds using stolen credit cards, and contacted on-duty colleagues, who came and arrested the two men. The cards were stolen from unlocked vehicles, or from homes via unlocked garages, RCMP Sgt. Phil Penny explained, reminding people to lock their homes and vehicles. The use of the cards had taken place earlier in the same week as the arrest. Jessie Reader, 21, and Russell Reader, 23, both of Lloydminster, are facing more than 15 charges after investigation into the incident at McDonalds linked them to several local break-and-enters and local fraud, police noted. The two are slated to appear in Red Deer provincial court on Dec. 15.
Duck hunt mistake costly for hunters STACEY LAVALLIE INDEPENDENT REPORTER An unfortunate series of misunderstandings netted a trio of hunters from the southern United States a handful of fines, prohibitions and their quarry. Sam Lee appeared in court for the three hunters as agent, as Richard Cutler III, William Finch and James Smythe had returned to the United States. The court heard that on Oct. 15, the three hunters were hunting near Hwy. 601 when a wildlife officer spotted them hunting and decided to do a spot-check. He found the three men with 12 ducks, and went over their paperwork with them and realized they did not have the proper licences to hunt migratory game. The officer seized the ducks and charged the men. The three men had gone to the trouble of getting their licences to hunt, and had made a trip of it, Lee told the courts, explaining that there had been no deliberate poaching or malice. Instead, the three men had thought they had all the necessary paperwork in place, and the poaching was in error. Regardless, the law was broken and each hunter was fined $800 plus the 30 per cent victims surcharge, were handed hunting prohibitions, and had to forfeit the 12 ducks, which were seized at the time of the charge. Man too impaired to walk to cruiser A man was literally so impaired that he stumbled while getting out of his vehicle and needed help from RCMP to the cruiser after a 911 call sent Bashaw police out to get him on Oct. 30. The court heard that Kenneth Robertson, 60, had parked on an approach to the highway, where a witness observed him. Believing the man to be drunk, the witness phoned 911. When the Bashaw RCMP arrived, they found Robertson sitting in his running car, a bottle of open whiskey in between his knees. In addition to the open alcohol container, Robertson was showing obvious signs of impairment. When police asked him to exit his vehicle, he stumbled, and then needed help to the cruiser.
It was Robertson’s first appearance, and he pleaded guilty to the charge of care and control of a vehicle while impaired. The early plea, combined with the fact Robertson wasn’t driving, were mitigating factors in his sentence, Judge G.E. Deck said. However, Robertson’s high level of intoxication — borne out by a blood alcohol level of 130 — was an aggravating factor. In the end, Robertson was given a $1,000 fine plus the 30 per cent victims’ surcharge, and given until the end of June to pay. In addition to that, Robertson’s licence was suspended for 12 months.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at the Evangelical Free Church of Erskine December 24 at 6:45p.m. An evening of music and celebration. Everyone is Welcome. For information call 403-742-3384
Christ-King Catholic Church Mass Times Thursday, Dec. 24 - 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 25 - 11:15 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, 2016 - 9:00 a.m.
(4916 – 54 Street)
• Flock of Shepherd’s Sheep • Fire Pit • Candy Bags • Hot Chocolate • Hot Dogs and
• Santa will be here!
WELLS FURNITURE “Thanks to all our customers” St. George’s Anglican Church Christmas Eve Candle Light Family Service December 24 at 7:30p.m. Advent Lessons and Carols Sunday, December 20 at 10:00a.m. Christmas Lessons and Carols Sunday, December 27 at 10:00a.m.
4817 – 50 Street, Stettler
COMMUNITY CHURCHES Attend the church of your choice. CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST MENNONITE Sunday School – 10 a.m. Service – 10:45 a.m. 10 miles south on 56 and 2 miles east
Minister Keith Klassen - 403-742-4048 Minister Lorne Toews - 403-742-8824
EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH OF ERSKINE
STETTLER ALLIANCECHURCH Morning Worship – 10:30 a.m. Pastor Scott Whitford Associate Pastor Brad Epp Associate Pastor Tyler Ans 6109 - 41 Ave.
403-742-1135
STETTLER COMMUNITY CHURCH
10:30 a.m. – Worship Service with Children's programming up to grade 6.
Sunday Services – 10:30 a.m. & 5 p.m. www.stettlercommunitychurch.org
Lead Pastor: Rev. Ross Helgeton Youth Pastor: Emmett Aronson
Pastor Nolan Haring 5717 - 50 Ave.
403-742-5020
403-876-2419
STETTLER UNITED CHURCH ST. GEORGE’S - 51 Street 403-742-3387 ANGLICAN CHURCH 4820www.stettlerunitedchurch.org Sunday Worship — 10 a.m. Thursday Worship — 7:30 p.m.
The Rev. Dr. Carolyn Langford, Incumbent 4817 - 51 St.
403-742-2149
ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCH Sunday Worship Service – 10:30 a.m. Children's Church – 10:30 a.m.
5712 - 48 Ave.
403-742-3211
Church service – 10:30 a.m. Nursery care, children & youth programs. Everyone welcome! Minister Jan Richardson Minister Lyn Lamers
4 STETTLER INDEPENDENT
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Clearview board expresses concerns with Bill 8
County weighs costs continued from page 1 How ratepayers felt about the costs involved continued to be a theme in discussion, with some councillors leery of tackling the project all at once, being more inclined towards delaying the project or going in phases, while others said building now would be the best use of money. CAO Tim Fox pointed out that with interest rates right now, borrowing is very feasible and attractive, as is the state of the industry. With the economic slump, there’s more competition for the few proposals that come up, meaning the county could likely receive more competitive bids if they went for the process now. Expensive repairs to the half-a-century-old workshop seemed like it would be “chasing bad money with good,” councillor James Nibourg said, noting that continually patching the aging facility would be a consistent drain on the taxpayers’ wallet. “Not spending money is not saving money,” councillor Les Stulburg noted, saying that while County has healthy reserves, it doesn’t do the county any good if it can’t be used for projects like this.
The county has two options for funding, one which is borrowing, or one which is a mix of reserves and borrowing, with the latter project coming in at an estimated $11.5 million, and the former $14 million. Decisions about the facility were in the end delayed until January. Budget meetings begin The county held its first budget presentations on Monday, Dec. 15, going through purchases and budgets with an eye to eliminating a near-million deficit. No one from the public attended the open meeting. Council heard that the fire department is down from 12 volunteers to eight, with fire chief Mark Dennis saying that he expected it would be tough to recruit new members due to the economy. He hoped, however, by promoting their training program, they can interest some new blood. Recreation funding was also eyeballed, with some discussion about revamping its funding method in the coming year. Council also was told that some of its reserves should be used up, though all depart-
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ments have been tasked with cutting costs. Cost of Living Adjustments County was split on whether or not to adjust employee wages to factor in cost-ofliving, with the motion being defeated 4-3. In the end, the dissenting voice had the vote because they felt it wasn’t appropriate to raise wages, which in turn would down the line either raise taxes or take money away from other projects, and that wouldn’t be fair to tax payers in the current economic climate. County photo contest winners The winners for this year’s photo contest were announced at council, with the calendar in which the photos are featured also debuting. To celebrate the county’s 60th anniversary, the calendar was in black and white. Each winner received a Heart of Stettler gift certificate and a framed print of their winning photo, with the first place winner receiving a larger photo and an iPad. Winners Marlaine Duncan – January Sandy Clark – February, October Lynne Snodgrass – March Mariefe Corado – April Faith Shuckburgh – May Glenn Munden – June and August Alice Visscher – July Amanda Holden – September Avery Chick – November Shauna Klassen – December Alma or Ray Keen – Cover Theresa Tanner – Honourable Mention Darlene Tanner – Honourable Mention
MOUSH SARA JOHN INDEPENDENT REPORTER The Clearview Public Schools board of trustees has expressed concerns regarding Bill 8, ‘Public Education Collective Bargaining Act’, which allows government to be part of the bargaining process. According to a statement by the board, Clearview division is concerned that Bill 8 leaves out local school boards and local Alberta Teachers’ Association (ATA) in bargaining teacher contracts. “Sections 8, 9 and 10 spoke of the provincial government and provincial ATA deciding what they deemed as ‘central’ and ‘local’ matters,” said board chair Cheri Neitz. “Schools boards were left out of this first step of the bargaining, and the Bill spoke of setting up a Teacher Employer Bargaining Association, so-called TEBA, but in the session attended with government employees from Alberta Education, they did not know who would be appointed to TEBA, so the uncertainty of not
knowing who or if boards would be involved in TEBA held concern for us.” Clearview Public Schools has sent a letter to Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, Minister of Education David Eggen, and all MLAs stating their position that local school boards should retain exclusive responsibility for bargaining teacher collective agreements. “School boards are locally and democratically-elected by Alberta communities and represent the best option to bargain with school teachers,” added Neitz. “This Bill took out the ‘local’ representing our community, parents and students and put in ‘central’ the provincial government.” Bill 8 was brought to the floor on Nov. 26 and passed quickly on Dec. 8 with amendments. “The amendments now include school boards in the process of determining local and central matters,” said Neitz. “We are told now that TEBA will comprise of school board and government representatives.” According to Neitz,
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Clearview Public Schools trustees are uncertain how it will change the landscape of education in the future as the Bill was passed first without any regulations written to go with it. “A thorough consultation process with regulations worked out prior to the passing of Bill 8 would have allowed us to better understand the impact it would have on us,” said Neitz. “We now wait for the regulations to be written and then see how that will impact our students.” According to Neitz, the Bill 8 came out with not enough time to gather quality input from boards. “Consultations were held a few days after the Bill was released and then it passed within less than a week after that,” said Neitz. “Our board wants to work with the government, but our concern is for our students and how their education will be affected.” Expressing the voice of the Clearview Public Schools board as a whole, Neitz said, “We have worked well with our local ATA representatives and would like to continue with the good relationship working out what is best for our students, our teachers and all our staff of Clearview Public Schools.”
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015
STETTLER INDEPENDENT 5
Kickflip into Christmas brings laughter to packed crowd BY STACEY LAVALLIE The Stettler Community Hall was packed with people and laughter on Saturday, Dec. 12, as the community gathered together to support its Skate Park. The annual fundraiser consists of a dinner followed by entertainment by YukYuks and dancing. There wasn’t an empty seat in the house, unless it was when people returned to the buffet to enjoy a second helping of the catered meal. This year, the Skatepark Association raised roughly $14,000, which will go toward its $100,000 Phase 3 plans for the skatepark site.
Stacey Lavallie/Independent reporter
Yuk Yuks comedian Derek Sweet performs at the fourth annual Kickflip into Christmas dinner, which raises money for the Stettler Skatepark Association.
According to association vice-president Heidi Fraser, the association has about $65,000 towards its goal, once the newly raised money is considered. They also purchased solar lights for the skatepark site, which has been very popular since its opening last year. “Numbers were slightly down this year, but we also decreased the number of tickets available,” Heidi said. “We saw a change in who came. In the past, businesses would bring their employees for a Christmas party, but this year we saw an increase in people coming as individuals or with friends.” She said the split was about 50/50.
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6 STETTLER INDEPENDENT
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Science may have a say in the Bill 6 dispute The way tempers have flared among the farming communities and the refusal of the NDP government to back down on the matter of Bill 6 seem to be pointing to a politically hot winter and even spring in the weeks and months ahead, with a potential to lead to serious instability in the province. After announcing the amendments to Bill 6, which apparently were thought by the government enough to ease the concerns of the agricultural sector, the NDP majority in the provincial legislature voted to pass Bill 6 into law last week, prompting further fiery protests from both Wildrose Party and farmers. There have been protest rallies in many towns and along the highways with calls for NDP government to step down. The anger over the pas-
sage of Bill 6 into law has gone to such lengths that there have been threats against the lives Premier Rachel Notley and leading NDP politicians, forcing main opposition Wildrose Party’s leader Brian Jean to appeal to his supporters and objectors to the legislation to stop threatening violence. “These kinds of comments cross all bounds of respect and decency and have absolutely no place in our political discourse,” he said in a Facebook message. It goes without saying that the extreme militancy of the reaction on the part of the hot-headed opposition supporters to the adoption of Bill 6 at the provincial legislature is disturbing to put it mildly. But it also raises some deeper concerns, as well, and those concerns relate to the fundamentals of the democratic governance in
the province of Alberta. Looking at the unfolding situation from a long-term perspective, one can easily note that the source of the conflict is a piece of legislation impacting an area that has never been touched by the 44-year-long Progressive Conservative political dynasty. Having ruled the province for so long, the PC governments may have perceived the farm safety and farm labor regulation issues as matters that would best be left untouched and as a result farming communities may have developed an understanding that those areas are destined to remain outside the jurisdiction of provincial governments and legislation. But having won the election on a pro-labour platform, NDP has apparently decided that Alberta should be brought on a par
with all the other provinces and territories of the country when it comes to ensuring the safety and rights of farm workers. At this point, it seems necessary to determine how much of the concerns of the farming communities are justified and how much of them are exaggerated as a result of misperceptions. One document protesting Bill 6 and making its rounds on the Internet asks “how and if the family farm way of life is a viable one for us.” To say that Bill 6 threatens a whole way of life in this province seems to be a little too alarmist. For a healthy discussion on the matter, it seems all stakeholders should make an effort to ensure that first and foremost cool heads prevail and provocative language is avoided and for this to happen,
politics should be stripped of the debate on the real content. If the government wants to regulate labour practices in an industry where 112 lives were lost over the last six years, then this regulation is clearly necessary to prevent further loss of life and to ensure that if there is loss of life, regulations are in place to protect those who are left behind. At this juncture, it might be a good idea to involve academia in the discussion to bring an educated analysis and suggest possible solutions to the conflict. We have ample sources of research, knowledge and expertise in the universities and in a hotly debated, highly political and controversial dispute, science may well be the best guide to show the parties the right path to choose.
Grizzlies are returning to the prairies … helped along by preservation group agendas
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Your humble columnist is not a fan of bears and is particularly annoyed when taxpayer money is spent on preserving them and their habitat. In my view, bears serve no practical purpose except as carrion eaters and tourist attractions. They are a menace to livestock and people and no one has lamented their disappearance from the prairies, their original habitat. Therefore it came as a complete surprise to find out that there is a predator preservation group in southeastern Alberta dedicated to what seems like expanding the range of grizzly bears back into the prairies. To be fair, the Waterton Biosphere Reserve Association (WBRA) is not just involved in predator conservation. Its overall mandate seems to be the preservation of the natural habitat around Waterton National Park. But one becomes suspicious of an organization that was mainly created by Parks Canada bureaucrats. Also, most of their partners in the organization are other government
departments, quasi-government agencies, green lobby groups and universities. And oh yeah, there are some local landowners, farmers and ranchers involved with the group. The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is also involved having purchased thousands of acres of adjacent land and tied up thousands more through conservation easements. If you add the perspectives of those vested stakeholders together, you might suspect that there is a hidden agenda. That agenda would probably not include the long term survival of ranching and livestock grazing. A recent film by the WBRA called `Sharing the Range’ shows how the group is involved in encouraging the well-being of predators - mainly bears. They sponsor programs to reduce bear attractants and increase barriers to feed, deadstock and livestock to reduce lethal interaction between bears and land owners. Bear damage is a major economic cost to farmers and ranchers in
the area. The activity of the WBRA may be one of the reasons grizzly bears are coming out of their mountain ranges onto the prairies. For the past ten years, landowners in the Pincher Creek and Cardston areas have been reporting a whopping increase in bear encounters. Part of the problem is a moratorium on grizzly hunting on both sides of the border, without that control these predators were bound to increase. It’s been suggested that grizzlies are also moving up from Montana, with grizzlies sighted as far as Fort Benton which is hundreds of miles from the Rocky Mountains. That’s not too far from the Cypress Hills near the Alberta-Saskatchewan border which is an ancestral home to the prairie grizzly. It’s just a matter of time before they show up in such protected areas. All of that will be to the chagrin of Environment Canada, who in a 2008 report on endangered species, stated that the prairie grizzly would never re-establish itself on its original
ranges. But they are doing just that by breaking out of the Pincher Creek area. Groups like the WBRA are just facilitating that expansion with their preservation programs. The land conservation groups no doubt help the bear preservation cause by restricting any lethal control measures on land they own or manage. Clearly there have been livestock losses to grizzly bears in the southeast area. Landowners and ranchers have been placated somewhat by WBRA programs, but that only goes so far. Livestock loss compensation payments help but program problems are coming to a head; the burden of proof of loss is too high and compensation levels are too low. The concern is that if the compensation problems continue ranchers may bail out of the WBRA, seeing it as nothing more than a front to put them out of business in favour of wildlife. That’s seen a proposal to change the compensation parameters – by you guessed it – less proof of loss and higher com-
Ahead of the heard
WILL VERBOVEN
pensation levels. It’s not yet approved but it better happen soon if the WBRA wants to keep ranchers on board. It brings to light an approach taken by some American wildlife groups who pay premiums over and above livestock compensation levels to bring ranchers on side to accept predator preservation measures. That’s caused landowners and ranchers to embrace those measures knowing that if losses do occur, they well be more than fairly compensated. It’s an incentive program that appears to work. But no matter, with no lethal control, sooner or later you can expect there are going to be more grizzlies closer to your home. I wonder how long city folks will put up with that menacing development once grizzlies start showing up in their backyards.
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
STETTLER INDEPENDENT 7
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8 STETTLER INDEPENDENT
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Stettler Elementary School hosts Christmas concerts MOUSH SARA JOHN INDEPENDENT REPORTER The Stettler Elementary School (SES) students entertained their friends and families as they celebrated the season’s festivities by hosting their concert all through last week. Grades 2, 3 and 4 were divided into two groups and performed on Tuesday and Thursday, while students from Grade 5 and 6 performed on Wednesday. “For our Grade 2, 3 and 4 concerts, our music teache, Mrs. Kirb, selected and
wrote large portions of the script and then found songs to go with it, so that each class would have an important role to play in the concert,” said SES principal Sharon Fischer. “The songs were rehearsed during music classes and Mrs. Boyd and Mrs. Kirby worked with the actors and actresses during recesses and lunch hours to prepare them for the concert.” Grade 5 and 6 teachers worked with their drama classes to decide upon the script and to write the reader’s theatre portion of the concert, while the music
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teachers chose the songs that their students sang and worked with the students during music classes. The line dance was performed by all Grade 5 and 6 students and was worked on collaboratively and during some of the lunch hours. Mrs. Kirby is the Grade 5 music teacher and Mrs. Norman the Grade 5 drama teacher, while Mrs. Bromley is the Grade 6 music teacher and Ms. Wagers is the Grade 6 drama teacher. “Having all of our students take part in a very meaningful way in our concerts is always a highlight, especially seeing the joy on the faces of our parents and grandparents,” said Fischer. “Our students and teachers work very hard to put the concerts together, and it is our gift to the parents and grandparents and is one small way that we can show the audience how very much we appreciate them.” Having two of the Grade 6 students, Cody Paulsen and Chloe Shingoose play guitar along side of their music teacher, Mrs. Bromley was also a highlight of the concerts. “Our staff work hard to put together amazing shows and our students do such an incredible job of performing for the jammed packed audiences,” said Fischer. “The musical expertise that happens in the Performing Arts Centre (PAC) is much greater than anything I could offer, so I appreciate all that is done, and if we are able to continue to put on concerts of this quality, I will continue to be thrilled!” Grades 2, 3 and 4 concerts were entitled ‘Let it Be Christmas’ and both the acting and the singing worked around that theme. The Grade 6 drama class wrote a Reader’s Theatre type performance that featured young characters in the community, who happened to have the same names as all of the office staff at our school, and the lessons learned through that script reflected the seven habits that are a part of the SES ‘Leader in Me’ program.
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Dr. Lisa Lopez Hearing loss doesn’t have an age. Be proactive, and get your hearing tested annually. Have your hearing aids disappointed you in the past? Do you think hearing aids don’t really work?
Grade 6 students, Cody Paulsen (left) and Chloe Shingoose accompany their music teacher Mrs. Bromley on the guitar during the performance of their concert on Wednesday, Dec. 9.
With a genuine desire to ensure patient satisfaction and her 20 years of experience, Lisa is happy to be working with patients in Stettler and Area doing her best to have them hearing and communicating with their loved ones.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015
STETTLER INDEPENDENT 9
Erskine school students host Readers’ Theatre MOUSH SARA JOHN INDEPENDENT REPORTER Erskine School students of grades 5 and 6 put together a version of ’T’was the Night Before Christmas’ on Thursday, Dec. 10 at the school as a readers’ theatre production, supervised by librarian Sheri Morbeck. The students were divided into five groups and the plays were a spin off from the famous poem ’T’was the Night Before Christmas’. All the students who participated in the plays also take part in playing crib with members from the Erskine community once a week. “The majority of these kids had never played cribbage before we started at school,” said Morbeck. “But they have learned the rules very quickly, and are doing very well, and now we have a weekly competition for the ‘highest hand’.” With 26 students from grades 5 and 6, Morbeck divides them into three groups. “Because this is such a large group, I put them in three smaller groups, and group 1 engages in recycling all the paper, another group engages in
recycling the bottles and drink containers, and the third group plays crib with Erskine community members, once a week,” said Morbeck. “And we keep rotating the activities.” According to Morbeck, crib helps them to enhance their Math skills. “Improving their Math skills is always a benefit, and learning how to interact with adults is a great life skill,” added Morbeck. “We have never had a club at the school before where outsiders came in, so we thought it was only appropriate to have a little Christmas party to thank them and celebrate the season with them!” Morbeck came up with the idea of a Readers’ Theatre, because it incorporates reading and interacting with others very well. “Approximately a dozen adults come in to play crib once a week and they were all invited, but only seven were able to attend, “ said Morbeck. “This was a great experience for the kids as they had only one hour and a half to learn their lines, and put the entire production together. T’was a great time.”
‘There’s Christmas in the Air’ mesmerize crowds at PAC MOUSH SARA JOHN INDEPENDENT REPORTER With the festive season upon us, young members of music director Rhonda Sylvester’s Gracenotes choir, aged five to 18 and grouped as Rhapsody Girls, Tiny Tenors and Tiny Gracenotes, took to the stage on Saturday, Dec. 12 for two shows, charming crowds at the Performing Arts Centre (PAC) with their rendition of ‘There’s Christmas in the Air’. While Gracenotes choir ranges from ages 13 to 18, Rhapsody Girls and Tiny Tenors range from nine to 12, and Tiny Gracenotes are aged between five and eight. Students from Stettler, Castor, Bashaw, Erskine and Coronation make up the membership of the choirs. “This year was our 21st annual Christmas concert held in Stettler,” said Rhonda Sylvester. “We had set rehearsal times once a week for each group, but when it comes to concert and festival preparation, rehearsals are increased.” The preparation for the Christmas production began back in July. “It takes hours of seaching for interesting, fun and challenging music and it starts in the beginning of July and once I find about six or seven songs I really like, I start to develop a theme around the song selection and then add to it,” said Sylvester. “A typical Christmas concert usually hosts between 26 to 33 songs”
After the Christmas Concerts the choirs are officially on Christmas break until they meet again in January. “Earlier this season, the older Gracenotes Choir hosted the Alberta Youth Choir and special guest vocalists at the Alliance Church, so they have been a very busy group, learning and memorizing music and choreography,” added Sylvester. Earlier this year, in May 2015 the Gracenotes Choir and the Rhapsody Girls and Tiny Tenors competed in the Provincial Choral Festival in Edmonton, where both groups were given top honours and first place rankings in their prospective classes. Growing up in Stettler, Sylvester first started singing under the tuteleage of Elain Pitt and sang with Pitt’s Pets Choir. “From there I continued to study music at Red Deer College, graduating with Vocal Performance degree, and University of Alberta at Augustana Campus, graduating with Bachelor of Music Vocal Performance,” said Sylvester. “I also have my music degree levels from Royal Conservatory of Toronto and Conservatory Canada, Ottawa.” The choirs were accompanied by Sherry Rempel. Sylvester thanked the volunteers and parents for their support. “Many parent volunteers are behind the scene helpers and without them, the concerts would not be possible,” said Sylvester.
Grade 5 and 6 students of Erskine School performs Readers’ Theatre on Thursday, Dec. 10. Photo by Moush Sara John
Farm and ranch families spoke. We’re listening. The Government of Alberta has amended Bill 6 to respond to farm families’ concerns. Amendments to the Enhanced Protection for Farm and Ranch Workers Act will assure farming families of their ability to pass on traditions to their kids: the next generation of producers. That’s how this province was built. The new legislation will not affect: 15122DG1 •
purely family-owned and operated farm and ranch operations, even if family members are paid,
•
families’ ability to teach their children about farming and farming traditions,
•
kids’ participation in 4-H programs, or
•
neighbours who volunteer to help each other out.
The new Act will reflect legislation in other provinces that: •
protects the safety of waged workers and helps prevent workplace accidents, and
•
compensates waged workers, or those workers’ families, in case of disabling injury or death on the job.
Family farms continue to flourish in all other provinces with similar legislation. Ours will too.
Learn more at work.alberta.ca
10 STETTLER INDEPENDENT
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
COP21: Cheering and fearing The climate deal that almost 200 countries agreed to in Paris on Saturday was far better than most insiders dared to hope even one month ago. The biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, China and the United States, are finally on board. There is real money on the table to help poor countries cut their emissions and cope with warming. They have even adopted a target of holding the warming to only +1.5 degrees C, instead of the limit of +2 degrees that was the goal when the conference opened. So the thousands of delegates who spent two weeks dickering over the details of the deal in a drafty exhibition hall north of Paris felt fully justified in cheering and congratulating one another on a job well done. Given all that, it’s a pity that the deal won’t actually stop the warming. The plus-two limit was always too high. It began as a scientific estimate of
when natural feedbacks, triggered by the warming that human beings had caused, take over and started driving the temperature much, much higher. It was actually quite a fuzzy number: at somewhere between +1.75 C and +2.25 C, the feedbacks will kick in and it will be Game Over. So +2.0 C, for political purposes, became the limit. Beyond that, governments told us, we would have “dangerous warming”. Nonsense. We are having dangerous warming now – bigger storms, worse floods, longer droughts – and we are only at +1.0 C. At plus-two or thereabouts, what we get is catastrophe: runaway warming that can no longer be halted just by stopping human emissions of carbon dioxide. Nature will take over, and we will be trapped on a one-way escalator that is taking us up to +3, +4, +5, even +6 degrees. Hundreds of millions or even billions of
people would die as large parts of the planet ceased to be habitable by human beings. If you don’t want to risk unleashing that, then you don’t want to go anywhere near +2, so the official adoption by the world’s governments of +1.5 degrees as the never-exceed limit is a major step forward. But note that they have only pledged “to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5C,” not to succeed. The hard-and-fast promise is still not to go past +2 – and there is not even any guarantee that that will be achieved. In order to avoid a debacle like the one at the last climate summit in Copenhagen six years ago, nobody even tried to put enforceable limits on national carbon dioxide emissions this time. Each country was just invited to submit the emission cuts that it is willing to make. The sum of all those promised cuts (if the promises are kept) is what we will
get by way of global emission cuts in the next five years. United Nations experts did the math, and concluded that these emission cuts fall far short of what is needed. If this is all that is done, then we are headed for at least +2.7 degrees C – or rather, for a lot more, because of the feedbacks. None of the negotiations at the Paris conference changed those numbers, or even tried to. So are we doomed to runaway warming? Not necessarily. Most of the negotiators know that the cuts which are politically impossible now may become quite possible in five or ten years if the cost of renewable energy goes on dropping, if techniques like carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) become economically viable – and if people are sufficiently frightened by a climate that is getting wilder and less predictable by the year. So there is a review pro-
cess built into the treaty. Every five years, starting in 2018, there will be a “stock-taking” exercise in which everybody’s progress in cutting their emissions will be reviewed, and everybody will be encouraged to increase their commitments and speed up their cuts. Whether they will actually do that depends on political, economic and technological factors that cannot yet be calculated, but fear is a great incentive, and there is no government on the planet that is not frightened by the prospect of major climate change. In fact, most of them would have gone a lot further in Paris if they were not nervous about getting too far ahead of public opinion at home. Public opinion will eventually change, because there is going to be a very large amount of damage and suffering in the world as we move past +1.0 and head up towards +1.5. Will it change fast enough to allow governments to act
Think Globally
GWYNNE DYER
decisively and in time? Nobody knows. Will new green technologies simply sweep the field, making fossil fuels uneconomic and government intervention unnecessary? Nobody knows that either, although many people pin their hopes on it. We are not out of the woods yet, but we are probably heading in the right direction – and it would be right at this point to put in a good word for that much maligned organisation, the United Nations. It is the only arena in which global negotiations like this can be conducted, and its skills, traditions and people were indispensable in leading them to a more or less successful conclusion. Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries.
Deficits in good times lead to trouble in bad times Trudeau government has rejected the successful policies of the Chretien government in exchange for deficit-financed spending and higher taxes Donation to
Darrel Baltimore accepts donation from Laurie and Dwight Myshaniuk of Heartland Auto & Industrial Supply.
Kidsport wishes to thank Heartland Auto & Industrial Supply for their donation to the program!
BY JASON CLEMENS, NIELS VELDHUIS AND MILAGROS PALACIOS TROY MEDIA COLUMNISTS While the Liberals campaigned on a marked increase in federal spending financed by deficits, Canadians view this approach more negatively than they did during the election campaign, according to a recent Angus Reid poll. Canadians are indeed wise to be skeptical. Running deficits during recessions is understandable as revenues decline and spending increases. However, governments that prudently manage their finances purposefully return to balance as soon as possible once the economy recovers. Failing to do so places the country’s finances at risk should the economy experience a slowdown or another recession. The current federal plan includes deficits for the next four years before gradually returning to balance in 201920. As part of the plan to balance the budget, the Liberals need to overcome a host of issues, which include finding $3 billion in “internal savings” within four years, pulling back spending in the third year of their plan (far easier said than done, particularly heading into an election) and overcoming the current deterioration in federal finances highlighted by the fall financial update. In addition, repeated studies have shown that the tax hike on upper-earners likely will not raise the planned amount of revenue. Even if the new government is able to overcome these hurdles, there is still a fatal error in their fiscal plan: it ignores the business cycle - the ebbs and flows of the economy that are outside of the government’s direct control. Consider that Canada has experienced a recession, or at the very least an economic slowdown, on average, every eight years since 1980. (Interestingly, a similar pattern exists in the U.S.).
Recessions impact the federal treasury in two ways. First, they reduce revenues. The deep recession in the early 1980s reduced revenues by 3.2 per cent in just one year while revenues fell 1.8 per cent over two years during the mild recession of the early 1990s. The slowdown (not technically a recession) of the early 2000s saw revenues fall marginally. In the most recent recession, revenues dropped by almost 10 per cent between 200708 and 2009-10, a portion of which is explained by the government’s introduction of personal income tax and GST rate reductions in 2006. Recessions also cause federal spending to automatically increase. There are a number of programs, often referred to as automatic stabilizers, which increase in times of economic slowdowns without any intervention or change in policy. One example is Employment Insurance. As unemployment increases, spending on EI increases. In the most recent recession, for instance, spending on EI increased $7.3 billion over the three years between 2007-08 and 2009-10, which included both the automatic increase in spending due to the rise in unemployment as well as expanded benefits (policy change). If the experience of the past three-plus decades holds, Canada will likely experience an economic slowdown or worse, a recession - over the next two to three years, in which revenues of the federal government actually decline. Such an event means that the revenues projected by the Liberals will not come to fruition and spending will be higher than planned. In other words, the deficits will likely be much higher than currently planned meaning that reaching a balanced budget in 2019-20 will require deep cuts to spending and/or much larger tax increases. The likelihood of such actions one or two years out from an election is slim. Continued on page 14
Wednesday December 16, 2015
STETTLER INDEPENDENT 11
Preparing to welcome the man in red suit CRYSTAL FRIARS STETTLER PUBLIC LIBRARY The countdown to the man-in-the-red-suit’s arrival is down to nine days. The Stettler Public Library has some events coming up to help you get on the nice side of the big man. Check these out. Thursday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. marks the last Tech Time for Seniors in 2015. Bring in your computer, tablet, phone, eReader, camera or other device and we’ll help you figure it out. The library’s second annual Holiday Movie Marathon is on Saturday, Dec. 19 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Come see family favourites all day. Popcorn will be served. For those of you looking for something to keep the kids entertained in the week after the jolly man’s visit, the library is the place to be. The kids can make, take, create and break things—a perfect way to get rid of excess energy. All these events require pre-registration. Call the library at 403- 742-2292 to get in on the fun. Join us on Monday, Dec. 28 at 1 p.m. for Rub-a-DubDub. Bring items (your thumb, a plastic fish) to make molds of. Then create your own awesome custom soaps. Also make scented bath salts to go with your soap. Limit of 20 participants. Your chance to be destructive happens on Tuesday, Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. with Take Apart Tuesday. Spend some time taking apart appliances and electronics to see
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what’s inside. Then build a fun model robot with the parts. Limit of 10 participants. On Weevil Wednesday, Dec. 30 at 1 p.m., you will learn to solder. Have you ever seen a weevil? It’s a pretty under-appreciated beetle. We’re going to solder LED lights onto a metal weevil to make light-up eyes. Ages nine and up only. Limit of 10 participants. Please pre-register at the library. Thursday Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. brings you Marble Mania. Make a LEGO marble run, a paper tube marble run and more. There are going to be so many items that you can make your marble run with that you might be here all day. Limit 15 participants. The staff at the library likes to celebrate Fun Food Friday and we want everyone to join in. However we will be closed on Friday, Jan. 1, so we are going to have Food Science Saturday on Jan. 2 at 1 p.m. Make liquids into edible spheres, fizzy edible powders and more! Limit 15 participants. Please take note of our holiday hours. We will be closing at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve and we will reopen on Monday, Dec. 28 at 10 a.m. We will close at 4 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and reopen in 2016 on Saturday, Jan. 2 for our regular hours. Keep an eye out for additional activities on our website (spl.prl.ab.ca) and Facebook page. And if you have an activity you’d like to do/see at the library feel free to approach us!
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015
What child IS this? Faith & Reflection ROSS HELGETON
403-742-5020 • REVRH@TELUS.NET What Child Is This was written by an insurance company manager by the name of William Chatterton Dix (1817 1898). Dix, at the age of 29, was afflicted with an illness that nearly took his life. He was confined to bed for many months, leading to a severe depression. However, these hardships in turn, led him to a spiritual renewal and the spiritual renewal inspired him
to write several hymns. What Child Is This was one of them. The lyrics are sung to the tune of Greensleeves, which was a popular English folk song at the time. The title poses a question that is both legitimate and intriguing. What Child is this? Dix answers the question by saying that “this is Christ the King.” His answer is spiritually astute and biblically accurate. However, it is far
from comprehensive. In the space that remains, I would like to make a few theological additions (also far from comprehensive). Who is that baby in the manger? That baby in the manger, according to Hebrews 1:2 is “…appointed heir of all things.” This means that God has given everything to His Son. From the depths of the ocean to the highest peak of the mountains, to the farthest
Do your ears need glasses? Hearing loss can make you blind to life’s joys.
reaches of the cosmos – it is all His! Why wouldn’t everything belong to Him? For in the very next phrase, in the same verse, we read that, “…He (Jesus) made the universe”. John, 1:3 reiterates the same truth saying, “Through Him all things were made… nothing was made without Him”. The baby in the manger, as the Creator of all, entered His creation. Moving a little further along in the Hebrews 1 passage, to the third verse, we read that Jesus is “the radiance of God’s glory, and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.” In addition to Jesus being the sustainer of all that is, He is also the visible manifestation of God on this earth. If we want to know what God looks like, we look at Jesus (best accomplished by reading about Him in the Bible). In the following verse, we discover that the child in the manger became the Savior on the cross. It states that, “After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3). This alludes not only to His finished work, but His current work, for we read in 1 John 2:1 that with Jesus on the right hand of God “…we have an advocate with the Father— Jesus Christ…” The next time you hear
Dix’s popular hymn, try shifting the emphasis to a different word. Instead
of saying, “WHAT child is this?” try, “What child IS this?”
STAND OUT FROM THE CROWD
Advertise your business in the local newspaper!
Thank you to our community for coming out and supporting our annual Tinsel N Tears
Don’t miss out, get your ears checked today. Lisa Layden, Registered Hearing Aid Practioner
(L to R) Betty Jean Goodkey, Calvin Blauel, Corinne Nattestad, Sharon Kempf, Dean Ross, Shannon Shirley, Verna Rock and Barry Haner
~ We are so humbled at the evenings continued success and are pleased to have you share with us. In the flurry of the season…..may you find time to remember and to celebrate. ~
Stettler Funeral Home & Crematorium Main Street, Stettler
403-742-4504
“Where Every Life Lived Is Worthy Of A Celebration” Locally Owned and Operated #1499770 AB Ltd.
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Federal revenues needed to avoid deeper deficits Continued from A10 Consider the following hypothetical. Assume Canada experiences a modest slowdown over the next two years as we did in the early 2000s. If federal revenues decline by a comparable amount, the annual hole in federal finances would be roughly $15 to 20 billion deeper than the currently projected deficits of $10 billion. Rather than put Canada’s relatively sound finances at risk, the Liberals ought to consider the experience of their predecessors, the Chretien government. Just over 20 years ago, the Chretien Liberals delivered the most important federal budget in a generation. After three decades-plus of consistent deficits, the Chretien government delivered a budget that cut spending by almost 10 per cent, reformed provincial transfers and federal programs, and placed the country on a path to a balanced budget in 1997, followed by tax relief and debt reduction for the following decade. As a result, the Chretien era was a period of great prosperity for the country. Unfortunately, the Trudeau government has rejected the successful policies of this period in exchange for deficit-financed spending and higher taxes. Canada’s economy will suffer from poorer performance as it did in previous periods when such policies were followed. In addition, borrowing money to finance spending during good times (i.e. when the economy is growing) means when the inevitable downturn happens our country’s finances will be that much worse. We’ve seen this show before (in the 1970s, ’80s and early ’90s), and unfortunately, we’re about to go through it again. Jason Clemens, Niels Veldhuis, and Milagros Palacios are economists with the Fraser Institute.
15122MF0
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
STETTLER INDEPENDENT 15
Rich table at Elks’ Christmas potluck LINDA STILLINGER BIG VALLEY BULLETIN The Big Valley Elks’ Christmas meeting and supper on Dec. 8 was a potluck this year and what a feast! Turkey, moose, elk, lasagna, mashed potatoes, great salads and desserts of all kinds. Thanks to all the donors. This was also a Pin Night, where long term members are recognized. Skip Hampton and Fred Holowat, though not in attendance, each
reached the 55-year mark. Receiving 50year pins were brothers Ernie Petrussa and Alan Webster, while Brother Larry Meyer reached the 40-year pinnacle. Alan Jacobsen presented Alan Berresford with his 20year pin and Brother Berresford then presented the other honorees. Congratulations to all for their many years of dedicated service. The Elks Bingos are over and deemed a success
even if the weather did not cooperate very well. Seventy-one people participated in Rumsey and 72 in Big Valley. Thanks to all for the much appreciated support. Feb. 13 is Elk Night at the Oil Kings Jr. Hockey game in Edmonton. Tickets and transportation has been arranged for a contingent to go. If interested, give Alan Jacobsen a call as tickets are limited. An Elks committee has arranged for a Yuk-Yuks
comedy show to come to Big Valley on Feb. 27. The Royal Purple Ladies will provide supper. This should help break up the winter doldrums. Posters will soon be out, so plan on attending. Arrangements have been made to deliver Christmas cakes to seniors’ lodges in Drumheller and Stettler. This annual tradition is looked forward to and enjoyed by the residents. Annual disbursements
were made to the Elk charities I Star (stuttering program), Elks Fund for Children and the Elks Foundation. They also made their annual donation to the Valley Whistle as this is the means to get the Elks message out. Thank you Linda and the Village of Big Valley. Club 200 winners were Zane Bartley, Tammy Webster, Ezra Neilson and David Lattery. Thirteen players came out for crib at the Big
Valley Inn on Sunday, Dec. 13. Teresa Greig won first, Mary Wilkie won second and Lawrence Wilkie won third. Dianne Haughton took home the booby and Mary Wilkie won the regular draw. Next Sunday, Dec. 21 will be the Christmas finale with delicious eats following the games. This is the last crib tournament until Jan. 3, 2016. Merry Christmas to all and have a safe and happy holiday season.
Halkirk ladies celebrate Christmas in Castor ROSE KOENRAADT AND DOROTHY ANDERSON HALKIRK HERALD The Castor IODE held their Christmas party last Wednesday with several women from Halkirk joining in on the festivities.
FCC forum was held in Red Deer last Tuesday. People from Halkirk and surrounding areas were among the thousand people there to listen to the motivation talks given by Jon Montgomery
(Amazing Race host), Arlene Dickenson (Dragons Den) and Ryan Walters (hockey player). Melody and Dale Kent along with Lisa and Rick Kent helped Greg and Laura Kent move
to their new acreage outside Bonneville. Notice then next time you’re in Halkirk, they now have the Christmas lights up on the power poles. Mabel and Stan Wheeler joined the
Anderson family in Stettler last Sunday to celebrate their early Christmas dinner. Devan Johnson and Sidney Jordan were playing with the Stettler bantam girls in the tournament this
past weekend, the girls won B side. The area once again got a blast of snow with a little rain first which made the roads quite icy, with several people ending up in the ditch.
Christmas concerts entertained the community SHARON FISCHER STETTLER ELEMENTARY NEWS It is the season to be busy, and that it has been at Stettler Elementary School. The students have worked and rehearsed and finally had an opportunity to showcase all of their talent at our Christmas concerts. Grade 2, 3, and 4 students were divided into two groups that each performed three times in one day. These performances were held at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on both Tuesday and Thursday last week. Then on Wednesday, Dec. 9, our Grade 5 and 6 music and musical theatre classes shared their talents with the public during the Christmas concerts that they too worked hard to put together. All of these concerts were supremely successful and set the bar pretty high for our band
students and kindergarten/Grade 1 students to compete with this week. On Monday, Dec. 14, our Grade 5 and 6 band students took part in the very successful “Night of the Bands” held annually and under the direction of Mr. Eric Rahn. Then the next night, half of our kindergarten and Grade 1 students entertained parents, grandparents, and the general public with their cute and very well rehearsed concert. Tonight, Wednesday, Dec. 16, the other half of our youngest students will be on stage and ready to perform at 6:30 p.m. Other activities that have been keeping us busy include visits to the seniors’ residences in town. We had our kindergarten students sing and make crafts with seniors at Paragon Place, Points West, Heart
Haven, Willow Creek on Wednesday, Dec. 9, as well our Grade 4 students continued to visit and play crib with the seniors. These students visited the seniors again yesterday, and delivered cards and candy canes along with their visit and crib playing. Also this week, we have Grade 6 students visiting Heritage House on Wednesday, and Grade 1s visiting on Thursday. We always learn so much from the experienced members of our community. In other news, Friday, Dec. 11, saw us dress in green as the kindergarten students took part in “Grinch Day”. That day, we were also honoured to receive a visit from Brent Schiffner and his family as he presented a cheque from Ember Resources Inc. to our school. We sincerely appreciate the
support and will use this money to keep our school actively moving forward with “The Leader in Me” program.
The staff and students at Stettler Elementary School wish each and every one of you a very merry Christmas, and
sincerely hope that this holiday
season
brings
much joy to you and your family.
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16 STETTLER INDEPENDENT
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Friday is the day for Santa dancing with kids PATTY STEEN RUMSEY RECORD It is with a sad heart that I have to spread the news of two of our community members that have passed away. Irene Duncan’s funeral was held last Friday, Dec. 11 with a huge crowd in attendance to honor her full life and many contributions to the communities of Big Valley and Rumsey. Alex Ross passed away last week surrounded by his family, I haven’t heard when his funeral will be. Alex spent all his life in the Big Valley area helping many families with their water wells, drilling them, repairing them and generally knowing all about each and every one of them. His knowledge will be greatly missed along with the man himself.
There have been too many funerals lately far and wide, I hope we will be able to hold onto our loved ones now. The Rumsey Christmas Party with Santa will be held this Friday evening, Dec. 18 starting at 7 p.m. Remember to bring a gift for Santa to share with your little one, there will be elves in the kitchen to help make sure that the present gets to Santa in time. He will be busy dancing and celebrating Christmas with the children in the hall throughout the evening. I would like to pass on that I have heard through the grapevine that Donna Sengaus and Judy Nelson are recovering nicely from having knee surgery recently. I am glad to hear you are doing well. I hope you enjoy this
funny little story that is so typical of little children: A guy was packing for a business trip and his three year old daughter was having a wonderful time playing on the bed. At one point she said, “Daddy, look at this,” and stuck out two of her fingers. Trying to keep her entertained, he reached out and stuck her tiny fingers in his mouth and said, “Daddy’s gonna eat your fingers,” pretending to eat them and then went back to packing. He looked up again and his daughter was standing on the bed staring at her fingers with a devastated look on her face. He said, “What’s wrong, honey?” She replied, “What happened to my boogie? Have a great week.
GOOD HEALTH ISN’T CONTAGIOUS. INFLUENZA IS. CHANCES ARE YOU WILL BE EXPOSED TO INFLUENZA THIS SEASON. 15122KA0 Protect Yourself. Protect Others. Get Immunized.
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Castor
Not a brown Christmas after all LES AND ROSEMARY STULBERG BYEMOOR/ENDIANG NEWS In last week’s column I mentioned it looked like the possibility of a brown Christmas. It didn’t take Mother Nature long to prove that theory wrong. The district received a large dump of snow on Wednesday, with more added since. The thick blanket of snow and hoar frost covered trees has created a picture-perfect winter wonderland. Eric and Maureen Smith have returned home from an enjoyable trip to Las Vegas. Kent and Tamlin Kobi along with their two year old son Riley and seven month old daughter Keira of Sydney, Australia are visitors with Kent’s parents Russ and Linda Kobi and other family members. It was the first time the children got to experience snow. The Kobi family took in the Polar Express train ride at Aspen Crossing and has many other plans for their Dec. 5-30 visit. Mark and Julie Jones, along with daughter Dixie and family, are home from a wonderful vacation to San Diego, California where they also visited with Mark’s sister Sheryle and family.
Congratulations to Ben and Jimilee Ayotte on the birth of their son Sullivan John Ayotte on Dec. 8. Congratulations also to grandparents Jim and Lee Carothers. Many Endiang and Byemoor seniors attended the annual Seniors’ Dinner sponsored by the Endmoor Drop-in Society on Thursday at the Byemoor hall. They enjoyed a delicious traditional turkey dinner. The seniors were treated to a Christmas program provided by the kindergarten and Grade 1 – 3 classes of the Byemoor School. As well, the classic tunes of Country Friends provided a delightful afternoon of entertainment. Many thanks to the Endmoor drop-in group for hosting this event once again. Endmoor Vipers girls’ hockey team had a busy weekend, playing a double-header in Byemoor on Saturday against Leduc with two very close games. The Vipers tied one 2-2 and lost the other by a score of 2-1. On Sunday, the Vipers played Camrose to a 1-1 tie, again in Byemoor. The Vipers are currently in top spot in their league — way to go, girls! The Clearview school
bus drivers held their Christmas party in Byemoor on Sunday afternoon at the hotel. Skip Mappin provided horsedrawn wagon rides about town. Games, visiting, Chinese gift exchange and a tasty roast beef supper served by the hotel rounded out the day. We send birthday wishes to Lois Ballinger, celebrating her 89th birthday on Dec. 20. Upcoming events — Dec. 17 — Byemoor School Christmas Concert at 7 p.m. at Byemoor hall. Dec. 19 — Scapa Christmas Concert beginning with a potluck supper at 5:30 p.m. (meat supplied). All additions for the program welcome. Contact Thelma at 403854-2393 for further info. Dec. 23 — St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Christmas service at 7 p.m. Christmas trivia — “North American children put out stockings at Christmas time. Their Dutch counterparts, however, put out shoes.” — “A traditional Christmas dinner in early England was the head of a pig.”
Byemoor Beef Club news BAILEY MUSGROVE In the month of November, the Byemoor 4-H Beef club had one meeting on Nov. 8 that included weigh in. We also went to play cards at the Byemoor seniors’ center on Nov. 17. All of the members enjoyed learning how to play crib. We started the month of December with a meeting and event on the 5th. On Dec. 5, the Byemoor
Beef club held our annual tree sale, starting at noon, at Santa Day in Byemoor. We had good weather for the afternoon outside as well as a good sale. In the meantime, inside the hall we prepared candy bags for the kids, decorated the Christmas tree and had a club meeting. At 2 p.m. Santa arrived at the hall. All of the kids had great time
coming up to get their pictures taken on Santa’s knee and a candy bag. This year, along with the Christmas trees, we also sold pails of ice melt as a fundraiser for our club. Thank you to everyone who came out to support our club by buying ice melt, a Christmas tree, or getting a picture with Santa. We hope to see you back next year!
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Sports
STETTLER INDEPENDENT 17
Wildcat girls win the weekend home tournament BY MOUSH SARA JOHN STETTLER INDEPENDENT The Wildcats girls’ basketball team once again displayed some great performance on court to win their home tournament beating Rocky Mountain House Rebels by over 20 points in their final game on Saturday, Dec. 12. T h ey p l ay e d Wetaskiwin in their first game, winning it convincingly. “We are still playing 5 on 5 off, which is nice with 14 players,” said coach Kim Poapst. “But, some of the obstacles that we face are the different level of player skills, which in a way is also a positive because there has been tremendous improvement in skills and players have gained confidence with our new additions from last year.” Although in their final
game against the Rebels, Wildcats were always in the lead, towards the end of the first half they started stepping up their offence and scoring more often. “There has been a lot of improvement in offensive skills from all our players,” added Poapst. “Our offensive rebounding is excellent.” As Wildcats prepare for their next game later this week, Poapst wants the team to focus on their inbound game in the opposition’s front court. “In our next game our goal is to know what to do without being told,” said Poapst. “An example would be playing zone on an inbound in the opposition’s front court.” According to Poapst, the highlight from the weekend win was the six Grade 5 cheerleaders and the Stettler
Elementary School (SES) kids watching their first game on Friday, and thinking it was a “great game”. “We have had great parent support with food and refreshments for our referees, coaches and scorekeepers,” added Poapst. Wildcats girls take on Sylvan in their next game on Wednesday, Dec. 17. Wildcats boys win weekend tournament beating Hawks The Wildcats boys played a great game against the Hawks, defeating them 73-51 in their final game, winning the tournament on Saturday, Dec. 12. Their first game was against Bashaw, which they won 50-40. In their second game they beat George McDougal from Airdrie 83-49.
Wildcats player tries to score as opponent Rocky Mountain House Rebels player makes an attempt to block her in their final game on Saturday, Dec. 12. Wildcats beat Rebels convincPhoto by Moush Sara John ingly in a well-fought game.
Wildcats celebrate their success with year-end banquet BY MOUSH SARA JOHN STETTLER INDEPENDENT The Stettler’s varsity football team Wildcats celebrated their season with a banquet evening of awards, honours and recognition on Thursday, Dec. 10 at the William E. Hay Stettler Secondary Campus cafeteria. Recognized at the League All-Star awards night earlier in the week on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at the Memorial Centre in Lacombe were some of the key players of the team – Jordan Lane, Alex LeBlanc, Hunter Berger, Kyle Lawrence, Jens Lohmann, Teron Garbutt and Clayton Page. The awards night saw many of the Wildcats being priased for their efforts. Awards are decided by the coaching staff and depend on individual conduct both on and off the field, based on qualities like leadership, hard work, commitment, dedication, team work, athletic ability and personality. The awards list for the Wildcats banquet night was as follows.
Most Valuable Player – Jordan Lane Best Back – Austin Rosland and Teron Garbutt Rookie Of The Year – Kameron Bainbridge Most Improved Player – Terry Burks & Matthew Sanders Captain’s Award – Jens Lohmann Most Versatile Player – Alex LeBlanc and Kyle Lawrence Best Lineman – Hunter Berger and Ty McCann Player Contributing the Most with the Least Recognition – Clayton Page and Russel Steen Most Dedicated Offensive Player – Jeremy Kirk and Cooper Smyth Most Dedicated Defensive Player – Keegan St. Denis The Wildcats Pride awards went to Eric Williams, Drew Cassidy and Will McDonald. Happy with his team’s performance this season, head coach Norbert Baharally said, “Yes, I was very pleased with our year and our record this past season.” “Making it to the League Finals is always our goal, but it was just unfortu-
Wildcats players pose for a group shot as they display their awards at the year-end banquet held on Thursday, Dec. 10 at the William E. Hay Stettler Secondary Campus cafeteria. Photo by Moush Sara John nate that our only two losses this year were at the hands of the same team, Sylvan Lake.” Already looking ahead and what can be improved, Baharally wants to focus on recruiting players for next season. “We do have some significant Grade 9 players that will be joining our
program next year but I would like to get some more bodies,” added Baharally. “Ideally, I would like to have a roster of 35 to 38 players.” According to Guy Neitz, with each year being a “little different” because of the type of players that come in, coaches need to make the necessary ad-
justments that they hope will be successful for the team and the players. “This year we knew that we were very short of offensive and defensive line players, and our returning running back Austin Rosland was coming off a serious injury from a car accident that he was still feeling the
affects of,” said Neitz. “Then to add to this our backup for Austin broke his collar-bone just before fall camp started, and so our success this year was because we had a lot of very athletic and skilled players that could play multiple roles on both sides of the ball.” continued on page 18
18 STETTLER INDEPENDENT
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Lightning suffers No gold but lots of double setback fun for Stettler girls in weekend tournament
BY MOUSH SARA JOHN STETTLER INDEPENDENT
even started.” “But we don’t make excuses in our dressing room and to be frank we compounded our problems by not showing up with the mindset that we still had a chance to win,” added Brandl. On Saturday, as the Lightning took on the Red Deer Vipers, Dylan Houston scored the first goal in the first period, assisted by Steven Fletcher and Chandler Knibb, taking the scoreboard to 2-1. The Vipers came back in the second period, relentlessly attacking the Lightning defence and taking the score to 5-1. But, Lightning came back strong in then third period, scoring another four goals, with Houston scoring three. The first being an unassisted shot from Derek Muhlbach, the second by Dylan Houston, assisted by Kieran Rost and Derek Muhlbach, the third by Dylan Houston with a pass from Rylee Jacobson, and the fourth goal was once again scored by Houston with a pass from Muhlbach. “We took a step back and hit the reset button before we went into Red Deer on Saturday night,” said Brandl. “We got a few of our sick players back into the lineup and called up Ethan Rost from the local midget program so our lineup was a lot closer
Stettler Lightning suffered heavy setbacks in road games over the weekend as they took on Airdrie Thunder on Friday, Dec. 11 and Red Deer Vipers on Saturday, Dec. 12, losing to both teams by a huge margin of 12-2 in the first game and 6-5 in the second. Friday night in Airdrie was a complete washout for Lightning as the opponents inundated their defence with four goals in the first period, two in the second and six in the third. Although Lightning fought back, scoring in the second period with goals from Andrew Shirley, assisted by Chandler Knibb and Cody Wright, and Matt Johannson, assisted by Cody Wright and Derek Muhlbach, which took the scoreboard to 6-2, it was not enough. “It was a tough weekend for us with a pair of road losses against two strong opponents in Airdrie and Red Deer,” said Gavin Brandl. “Friday night in Airdrie was a complete debacle with the final score being 12-2.” With only 14 players dressed for the game because of injury and sickness, Brandl felt that Lightning was “behind the eight ball before the game
Mart
Stettl
uct er A ion
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SALE DATES Phone (403) 742-2368
Regular Sales ~ Tuesdays - 9 a.m. website: www.stettlerauction.ab.ca Box 1238, Stettler, AB
Note: Online bidding and viewing each sale at 11 a.m. see stettlerauction.ab.ca Friday, Dec. 18
NO SALE Rescheduled in conjunction with Tuesday, Dec. 22 sale. Tuesday, Dec. 22
LAST REGULAR SALE OF 2015 – Mixed feeders, slaughter and bred cattle.
Merry Christmas to everyone ~
Tuesday, Jan. 5/16
FIRST SALE OF 2016 Holiday office hours Open: Wednesday, Dec. 23 & Wednesday, Dec. 30 Panels, wind fence, feeders, sale and mineral for sale on retail basis.
ENJOY YOUR HOLIDAY SEASON!
Stettler Auction Mart (1990) Ltd. Lic. #00354 Auctioneers: Allen McMillan Dick Creasey Greg Johnson Scott Douglas Terry Silbernagel Office Administrator: Lona Benjamin Sales Reps: Greg Hayden - 403-740-9610; Jim Abel - 403-740-9609; Brad Lohr - 780-679-5500
to being as talented as it can possibly be.” According to Brandl. although the score ended up being 6-5 for the Vipers, “structurally speaking we were much better than Friday night and we played with heart, which was important to me after getting embarrassed the night before.” Looking ahead, Brandl said, “We find ourselves in the midst of a very tight playoff race, which means that every game from here on out is absolutely crucial.” “As hockey players, you can’t ask for anything more than to have every game be meaningful so we are going to make sure we take advantage of the situation and rise to the occasion.” With three games left before Christmas break, Brandl’s goal for the team is to be in possession of a playoff spot by then. “The community support has been strong all season thus far, so hopefully that is the case again for the home games this weekend and we will be sure to put forth an effort worth cheering for!” added Brandl. Lightning plays Mountainview on Friday, Dec. 18 and Three Hills on Saturday, Dec. 19. For both games the puck drops at 7.30 p.m.
BY STACEY LAVALLIE STETTLER INDEPENDENT There’s cutting it close, and then there’s cutting it close, as the Stettler Midget girls found out in the finals of their hockey tournament this weekend, where they beat out Calgary 2-1 with just half-a-second left on the clock. The Sunday, December 13 game came as the culmination of a three-day winning streak as the OK Tire Stettler Midget female hockey team played for the champion touque in front of an enthralled crowd of friends and family. Halley Adams put Stettler on the board with the first goal, but once Calgary tied it up, it was a battle for the tie-breaking goal that lasted right until the last minute of the game. Then, with the clock running down, at a time when many players give up the game as finished, Kierra Scollo zipped in and got the puck past the Calgary netminder, break-
ing the score and ending the possibility of overtime. To get to the A Finals against Calgary, the girls beat Calgary on Friday 8-0, then on Saturday beat High Prairie 8-0 and Edmonton 6-1. “We were pretty played out by Sunday,” Midgets manager Loreena MacGillivray said. “But we still came out with a win.” The Bantam girls weren’t as lucky, missing the A finals completely, though they came out on top in the B finals with a 3-2 shoot-out win over Okotoks. On Friday, the girls got off to a good start, beating Airdrie 7-1. Saturday was a stinker for the United Tank Stettler Bantam female hockey team though as they dropped an 8-1 loss against Wainwright, and then a 4-0 loss to Irma. The Saturday losses knocked the girls out of contention for the Bantam Champions toque, but they recouped over Saturday night to face
Okotoks the next morning. Goals by Hayden Friesen and Keely Adams kept the girls tied up with Okotoks, but despite desperate play, neither team could get the tie-breaking score, so the game went into overtime — which also went scoreless. After the overtime period completed, it went to a shoot-out. “They went through seven or eight shooters before they scored,” MacGillivray said. That shoot-out goal, by Willow Sorenson, earned the Bantam team the B finals win. As part of the annual tournament this year the girls’ teams hosted a food drive challenge, with the team bringing in the most food winning a pizza party sponsored by Stettler GM. A truck was front and centre in the lobby, its back full to the brim with donated food. The Airdrie team ended up beating out the hosts, though only by a smidge.
Wildcats celebrate Stormy their success weekend with year-end for Stettler banquet... hockey teams continued from page 17
BY STACEY LAVALLIE STETTLER INDEPENDENT It wasn’t a winning weekend for the Stettler Minor Hockey Association, who outside of its home tournament for the girls, saw only one win. The Stettler Midget A Storm was the winner of the weekend, with a 4-2 victory over Cochrane on Sunday, Dec. 13. Kameron Bainbridge, Mark Bengert and Matthew Sylvester scored for the team. The Atom B Storm travelled to Rocky on Dec. 13 to face the Warriors, losing 13-3 to the home team. Stettler side’s goals were scored by Stefan Oprea, Zach McCord and Kaden
Muhlbach. The Stettler Peewee B Storm headed to the home of the West Country Peewee Chiefs on Dec. 12, losing a close 4-3 match courtesy of two goals by Jason Muhlbach and a solo by Brady Petersen Stettler boys. The same day, the Bantam Storm hosted Hughenden Jets, losing 6-2, with goals by Liam McQuay and Ty Dowling for Storm. The Midget B Storm joined their Peewee cousins and played the Midget West Country Peewee Chiefs, and like the younger team, also lost. The 5-2 score was augmented by two goals by Evan Imbery for Stettler.
Neitz attributes the team’s stellar performance to the athletic ability of the players. “Their athletic ability afforded us the opportunity to use multiple offensive formations that we could protect the passer and throw the ball successfully,” continued Neitz. “This allowed us to be a little more balanced on offence and those same ideas allowed our athletes to attack on defence from multiple fronts as well, overall our kids played great and in many ways exceeded our expectations.” Baharally was “very proud of [the] guys this year for persevering and
sticking it out to the end of the year with us.” He also thanked the other staff and personnel who have been supporting his team throughout the season. “I would also like to thank our coaches, trainers, managers, parents and our community for their continued support of our Stettler Wildcat Football Program, because without everyone’s collective support throughout the year none of what we were able to accomplish would have been possible,” said Baharally. “Thanks to Patty Steen and Jo-Ann Lane for helping me to organize this year’s banquet.”-
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 STETTLER INDEPENDENT 19
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In Memoriam
Obituaries SCHIELKE Mr. Gustav “Gus” Schielke passed away on Tuesday, November 24, 2015 while in the Stettler Hospital at the age of 97 years. Gus was born on July 18, 1918 in Castor, AB. and grew up alongside of his sisters Hilda, Lil and brother Benny. Gus was a born mechanic and always had a vested interest in how things worked. He spent most of this life in automotive mechanics and managed 3 garages over the years. He also worked for various oil companies before retiring in Stettler, AB. Gus loved to tell stories, visit and be a funny prankster at times. Travelling was a passion and learning of new faces and places. He also loved to camp, fish and build things from scratch. Never a dull moment when Gus was busy with projects! Gus is survived by his companion and best friend Betty Cowie; step children Margaret (Merl) Steiger, Jenny (Dave) Schumann, Roberta Rouse (Brad Steinhoff), Betty-Jo (Del) Sheridan,Wendy Cowie (Darrel McLeod); step grandchildren: Nicole (Shawn) Siebold, Leanne (Dave) Harris, Breanne Schumann, Sarah Schumann, Corey (Ashley) Ventnor, Drew Rouse, Dallas (Tyler) Mayhew, Nick Sheridan, Chantel (Allan) Hewitt and Russell Simpson; step great grandchildren: Trevor, Clint, Kendall, Francis, Abigail, Emilia, Josey, Charlotte, Cheyanne and Brailynn; niece Margaret Quaschnick; nephew Randy (Debra) Schielke; other family and friends. A funeral service was held on Friday, November 27, 2015 at 1:00 PM in the Heartland Chapel of the Stettler Funeral Home with the Rev. Jack Schulze officiating. Special favourite recorded selections were played. The active pallbearers were Dave Schumann, Corey Ventnor, Merl Steiger, Russell Simpson, Del Sheridan and Brad Steinhoff. Honorary pallbearers were All Those Who Touched Gus’ Life. The interment took place in Lake View Cemetery, Stettler, AB Memorial donations may be made to the Alberta Cancer Foundation c/o Stettler Funeral Home, Box 1780, Stettler, AB, T0C 2L0. Sympathies may be forwarded to the family by signing the guestbook at www.stettlerfuneralhome.com. STETTLER FUNERAL HOME, 403-742-3422, entrusted with the care and arrangements.
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PLEASE READ YOUR AD Advertisers should read their ad the FIRST DAY IT APPEARS and report any errors in time for the next publication. The Stettler Independent is responsible for only the first incorrect insertion. RATES: Word Ads - 1st Week 25 Words 1-25 $16.32 each week after $14.28 additional words .27 cents ea. Garage Sale ads $21.85
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Coming Events
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52
AWNA’s Annual Symposium
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Stettler Rifle and Pistol Club Internationally Acclaimed Speakers
Advertising • Page Design Sales • Creative Cloud Software Journalism • Photography Full course descriptions online
www.awna.com/symposium
Monday, Jan. 4, 2016 @ 7 p.m. at Indoor Range Everyone welcome www.stettlergunclub.com 2016 Memberships are available at Source for Sports and the meeting
Old Tyme Dancing With Live Music & a Supper! Thursday, Dec. 17 “The Hub” (Upstairs at the Stettler Rec Centre) 6202-44 Ave. Dancing: 5-6 p.m. Hot Supper: 6 p.m. Dance: 7-10 p.m. Music By: Badlanders II Catered by: Catering By Sarah Tickets $20/person, Dance only $10/person Supper Only: $14/person Available at the door Sponsored by: Stettler Old Tyme Dance Club Everyone Welcome Young & Old!
THE LLOYDMINSTER EXHIBITIONS Pride of the Prairies Bull Show and Sale. March 6 - 7, 2016. Traditional halter and pen format. Entry deadline: January 5, 2016. For more information: www.lloydexh.com. 306-825-5571 or email Sam: sam@ lloydexh.com.
20 STETTLER INDEPENDENT Wednesday, December 16, 2015
52
Coming Events
Lost
wish kitchen & gift Bridal Registry Shayla Neitz & Ben Bennett Alyssa Gelech & Mark Molendyk Angela Shepherd & Dan Hiller Tannis Yuha & Buck McMillan Laura Hinkle & Tim Beswick-Arthur
Jan.2 Jan. 9 Feb. 4 Feb. 20 Apr. 11
Shop online www.wishkitchen.com Main Street Stettler • 403.742.8484
$5000 REWARD leading up to or for the finding of 14 missing simmental cows and 13 calves. Cows have a brand of TLX on the left rib and also possibly a brand of PG (‘G’ is backwards) on the left rib. Calves are probably unbranded. Went missing in Alliance/Sedgewick area. Phone 780-386-3745 or 780-888-1258.
Employment #700 - #920 Caregivers/ Aides
CLASSIFIEDS Christmas & New Years Hours & Deadlines Office & Phones CLOSED Friday, December 25 2015 Friday, January 1, 2016 STETTLER INDEPENDENT Publication Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2015 Deadline is: Friday, December 18, 2015 @ 12 noon Publication Date: Wednesday, December 30, 2015 Wednesday, December 23, 2015 @ 5 pm WEEKENDER Publication Date: Friday, December 25, 2015 Deadline is: Wed., December 18, 2015 @ 12 noon Publication Date: Friday, January 1, 2016 Deadline is: Wednesday, December 23, 2015 @ 5 pm CASTOR Publication Date: Thursday, December 24, 2015 Deadline is: Monday, December 21, 2015 @ noon Thursday, December 31, 2015 NO PAPER CALL CLASSIFIEDS 403-309-3300 classifieds@stettlerindependent.com
Personals
54
710
LOOKING for caregiver for 20 yr. old autistic boy, school type program, some hygiene, starting 2-4 hrs/day, builds to 8 hrs./day, 2 yrs. post secondary child care education plus at least 1 yr. exp. req’d. call 403-742-8749
820
Business Opportunities
870
Cameron Bay Holdings GREAT CANADIAN Dollar Inc. o/a McDonalds’s in Store franchise opportuPonoka and Red Deer nities are available in your (Gasoline Alley East and area. Explore your future West) is now hiring full with a dollar store leader. time and part time Food Call today 1-877-388-0123 Service Supervisors. ext. 229; www.dollarWages are between stores.com. $13.95 to $16.00 per hour, depending upon experience and qualifications. Candidates must be able Misc. to work a variety of shifts Help and have 3 to 5 years previous experience. Must be able to supervisor up to 20 ACADEMIC Express ADULT EDUCATION crew. Part-time applicaAND TRAINING tions will be accepted from Canadians and Permanent Residents. Apply in person JANUARY START 4419 Hwy 2A, Ponoka, 37479 Hwy 2, Red Deer, GED Preparation and 37428 Hwy 2, Red Deer or email resume to Would you like to take the cbay22@telus.net or fax to GED in your community? 403-783-4251.
880
Trades
850
BVT TRUCK AND TRAILER REPAIR
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is looking for a
Farm Work
755
F/T PEN CHECKER for general feedlot duties for large expanding feedlot in Sundre. Experience necessary. Fax resume to 403-638-3908, or call 403-638-4165, or email dthengs@hotmail.com
Medical
790
MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-athome positions available. Get online training you need from an employertrusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-athome career today!
MEDICAL TRAINEES needed now! Hospitals & doctor’s offices need certified medical office & administrative staff! No experience needed! We can get you trained! Local job placement assistance available when training is completed. Call for program details! 1-888-627-0297. CLASSIFIED Want Ads do more things for more people than any other form of advertising. Phone 1-877223-3311
60
Diabetes Online Survey Reaching out to Canadians living with diabetes The Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) and researchers from St. Michael’s Hospital are looking for people living with diabetes (type 1, type 2, gestational and prediabetes) and caregivers to participant in an12345 online survey. Your participation with help the CDA and researchers learn about your experience with diabetes. All responses will be confidential and will help inform the development of tools and resources for people living with diabetes. Each participant will be entered for a chance to win $100 cash (1 in 30 odds of winning).
Complete the short survey by visiting: http://fluidsurveys.com/s/cda2015/
Restaurant/ Hotel
Journeymen Heavy Duty Truck & Trailer Mechanic to join our team in Red Deer for our Evening Shift, Monday- Friday, 2:30 pm-11:00 pm. To join our team, please submit your resume to hr@slt.ca
WATKIN MOTORS FORD, Vernon, BC immediately requires an experienced Ford Diesel Technician. Go to: watkinmotors.com, About us, Employment, to review required qualifications.
Employment Training FUTURE AG INC. owns and operates 4 branches throughout Central Alberta selling and servicing CASE IH Agriculture equipment. We are currently looking for
Agricultural Technicians and/ or Heavy Duty Mechanics with Ag experience for our Stettler location. This is a fast-paced environment and ideal candidate would be able to work with minimal supervision, have the ability to take initiative and consistently demonstrate exceptional customer service. FUTURE AG INC. “People You Can Count On”, is offering the opportunity to grow in your career with a thriving company. We offer an exemplary benefits package, hourly salary from $27.50 to $30.00, annual work boot reimbursement, RRSP plan, sick days, monthly bonus and continuous professional training in a positive friendly environment. If you have a great attitude and integrity, FUTURE AG is offering you an exciting career opportunity. To apply, forward your resume to: Future Ag Inc. Attn: Markus Box 1510 Stettler, AB T0C 2L0 Fax 403-742-5626 hr@futureag.ca
Business Opportunities
870
GET FREE VENDING machines. Can earn $100,000. + per year. All cash-locations provided. Protected territories. Interest free financing. Full details. Call now 1-866-668-6629. Website: www.tcvend.com.
900
HEALTHCARE DOCUMENTATION Specialists in huge demand. Employers prefer CanScribe graduates. A great work-from-home career! Contact us now to start your training day; www.canscribe.com. 1-800-466-1535; info@canscribe.com. JOURNALISTS, Graphic Artists, Marketing and more. Alberta’s weekly newspapers are looking for people like you. Post your resume online. Free. Visit: awna.com/ for-job-seekers.
Accounting
1010
Accounting
1010
Automotive
1029
Chapman and Co. Ph:403-742-5979 Fax:403-742-3656 Box 1595, tree ee et, ett, 4907 - 50 Street, AB B Stettler A info@leschert.net
Numera
Professional Accountants LLP Guy Chapman, CA Chris Annand, CA Kendra Walgenbach, CA Naomi Roth, CGA
AUTO BODY REPAIR LTD.
Quality Collision Repair and Professional Service… Guaranteed!
P.O. Box 1328 4702- 51 Ave., Stettler Tel: 403-742-3438 e-mail: gchap@gchap.ca
Find out more about us at: www.brennanautobody.com Phone: 403-742-3555 4109 - 48 Avenue, Stettler
Tax & Accounting Services
4840 - 50 Street Stettler, AB
Phone: 403-742-3141 Automotive office@numeratax.com Corporate - Personal - Farm www.numeratax.com
Thorogood Pinches
&
Certified General Accountants 4814 - 49 Street, Stettler
403-742-5520 403-882-3740 (Castor)
Professionals
1029
Contractors
1100
JT AUTO BODY LTD. -Residential -Commercial -Farm Buildings -Renovations
“Serving Stettler & area for years” • Complete auto body repair & painting
Buzz Andersen
Call Curt or Rob
Serving Stettler area over 35 years
4606 - 40 St., Stettler
403-742-1330
Phone 403-742-2869
810
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER The Village of Botha and the Village of Gadsby are seeking an energetic, motivated, positive individual for the position of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to serve both Municipalities under a Community Partnership Agreement. Reporting to the Mayors and Councils the CAO is responsible for directing all operations of both Villages. For a complete job description please go to Botha’s web site: http://villageofbotha.com Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have: • A minimum 3 years of experience in Municipal Management and a certificate in Local Government or working towards certification • Excellent organizational, time management and communication skills, self-disciplined as well as a demonstrated team philosophy • Good interpersonal skills are required to deal with Council, contractors, the community and other municipalities • Extensive financial background, strong in budget preparation and financial reporting abilities • Proficient in information technology in particular Windows and Microsoft Office and Quick Books • A solid understanding of infrastructure, planning and development The Village of Botha invites interested applicants to submit their resumes and references along with expectation of compensation. The Village of Botha thanks everyone for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Business Services #1000 - #1430
Accounting
1010
G K D P
Gitzel Krejci Dand Peterson CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
4912 - 51 Street P.O. Box 460, Stettler, Alberta
403-742-4431 Toll free 1-877-742-4431 e-mail: gkdpca@gkdpca.com website:
www.gkdpca.com
Applications welcome until closing date or upon selection of a suitable candidate. Closing date: December 30, 2015 Submit application to: Village of Botha or Village of Gadsby Box 160, Botha AB T0C 0N0 Box 80, Gadsby, AB T0C 1K0 E-mail: vlbotha@xplornet.com E-mail: vgadsby@xplornet.ca
Business Opportunities
870
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Wednesday, December 16, 2015 STETTLER INDEPENDENT 21 Drafting & Design
1120
Furnace Cleaning
1193
Dust Devil
GALEN WIEBE RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DRAFTING AND DESIGN 4905 44 AVE., BAY 2, STETTLER
Call Ryan at
FAX: 866-305-5686 admin@railsidedesign.com
House Plan Design Glass Shops Small Commercial Shop Drawings As Builts rg
ika Ser Monrafting
Randy Long
D
1130
FINISHING TOUCH EXTERIORS LTD. 5”Continuous Eaves “Gutter Clean” Leaf Protection
403-742-2520 4607 - 59 St., Stettler
• Locks repinned & installed • Windshields repaired & installed • Residential & Commercial Windows & Doors • All your glass & screen needs Main St., Stettler Emergency 403-742-2665 403-742-3628
1210
Dr. E. LYNES Call Barry Harvey
*27 years experience*
Electrical
1150
All types of Electrical Installation & Maintenance Serving Stettler & Area since 1978
1193
Stettler Furnace Cleaning
Physiotherapy, Acupuncture & Massage “Keeping people in Motion...”
403-742-4533 Legal Services
1260
BRYON D. BALTIMORE of McCuaig Desrochers
Barristers and Solicitors Advocates 2401 Toronto Dominion Sq. Edmonton Centre Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2Z1 Telephone: 780-426-4660 Fax: 780-426-0982
LANDMAN REULE LAW OFFICE Lori R. Reule
4719 - 49 St. Stettler, Alberta
LL. B.
One block East of Scotia Bank
Stettler Professional Building
403-742-5810 or 403-742-6443
Comprehensive eye health and vision exams Top quality frames, lenses and contacts Treatment of eye disease, injuries and surgical co-management
403-742-5111
Furnace Cleaning
Chiropractor
Stettler Eye Care Dr. R. TROY NELSON
“If It’s Electrical We Do It”
PERFORMANCE
HEARTLAND GLASS
Health Care
403-742-8838
Bus.: 403-742-2553 Res.: 403-742-0370
• Residential • Commercial • Automotive Needs
(Beside A & W)
Eavestroughing
4912 - 51 Street Stettler, AB Open Mon. - Sat.
LTD.
“Your Service Specialists”
Phone: 403-742-6612 Cell: 780-935-0540 Email: mstahlberg@shaw.ca
Chiropractor -Gitzel Krejci Building
1196
C.R. GLASS
lbe Stah vice
1210
DR. D.G. BECKLUND
Furnace & Duct Cleaning
403-742-9823
PH: 403-742-4101
Health Care
Phone 403-742-2683 New patients welcome 309 3300
4819 51 Street
403-742-3411
ANDERSON LAW OFFICE
ourlaw2@telus.net
Well Drilling
Well Drilling
Need a Tell them Danny Hooper sent you
1400
Well Drilling
WATER WELL
1400
Roofing
1370
METAL ROOFING & SIDING. 32+ colours available at over 55 Distributors. 40 year warranty. 48 hour Express Service available at select supporting Distributors. Call 1-888-263-8254.
EquipmentMisc.
Misc. Services
1290
EASY ALBERTA DIVORCE: Free consultation call 1-800-320-2477 or www.canadianlegal.org CCA Award #1 Paralegal. A+ BBB Reputation. 26 years experience. Open Mon. - Sat. REACH OVER 1 Million Readers Weekly. Advertise Province Wide Classifieds. Only $269 + GST (based on 25 words or less). Call now for details 1-800-282-6903 ext. 228; www.awna.com.
Personal Services
1315
CANADA BENEFIT GROUP. Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000. from the Canadian Government. Toll free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canadabenefit. ca/free-assessment. HIP OR KNEE Replacement? Arthritic conditions? Restrictions in walking/dressing? Disability Tax Credit. $2,000 tax credit. $20,000 refund. For Assistance: 1-844-453-5372. IS someone’s drinking causing you problems? AL-ANON 403-346-0320
Plumbing & Heating
1330
• Complete Plumbing & Heating Services • Commercial and Residential • Water Conditioning & Pumps • 24 Hour Service Service Wise - We Specialize
Stettler Ph.
403-742-5237
Misc. for Sale
Aircraft ..............................1510 Antiques & Art ..................1520 Auctions ............................1530 Bicycles ............................1540 Building Supplies ..............1550 Business Machines ..........1560 Cameras & Accessories ..1570 Children’s Items ................1580 Clothing ............................1590 Computers ........................1600 Concert & Event Tickets ..1610 Equipment - Misc. ............1620 Equipment - Heavy ..........1630 Tools ................................1640 Farmers’ Market & Food Basket......................1650 Firewood ..........................1660 Lumber ............................1670 Garden Supplies ..............1680 Lawn Tractors ..................1690 Health, Dietary, Beauty ....1700 Household Appliances......1710 Household Furnishings ....1720 TV’s, Stereos, VCR’s ........1730 Hot Tubs & Accessories ..1740 Jewellery ..........................1750 Kid’s Deals........................1755 Misc. For Sale ..................1760 Musical Instruments..........1770 Music Lessons..................1780 Piano & Organs ................1790 Office Supplies ................1800 Pets & Supplies ................1810 Pet Services ....................1820 Cats ..................................1830 Dogs ................................1840 Sports Cards ....................1850 Sporting Goods ................1860 Collectors’ Items ..............1870 Swap, Barter & Trade ......1880 Travel Packages ..............1900 Wedding Supplies ............1910 Recycled Products............1920 Wanted to Buy ..................1930 Items to Give Away ..........1940
Auctions
1530
BIG STRAPPER AUCTIONS
1660
WANTED. Hannas Seeds seeking distributors for forage, turf, native and reclamation seed. Good commissions. Contact Esther at 1-800-661-1529 or esther.stigter@ hannasseeds.com.
FIREWOOD, PINE & BIRCH 4.5 kms. West of Stettler Call 403-323-0744 LOGS Semi loads of pine, spruce, tamarack, poplar, birch. Price depends on location of delivery. Lil Mule Logging 403-318-4346
Office Supplies
1800
WHITE 20LB BOND PAPER: 8.5 X 11 10 pkgs. of 500 sheets
$48/case Shop Stettler & Save! 403-742-2395 This paper is
%ble 0 1Re0 a l cyc
Haying Equipment ............2020 Tractors ............................2030 Combines & Headers ......2040 Fertilizer Equipment..........2050 Dec. 2, 9, & 16 Misc. Farm Machinery ......2060 Equipment Wanted ..........2070 at The Moose Hall, 2 miles south of Ponoka on Farm Custom Work ..........2080 Farm Auctions ..................2090 Hwy. 2A Livestock ..........................2100 ~~~~~ Livestock - Exotic..............2110 TO BOOK YOUR SALE Sheep ..............................2120 CALL 403-782-5693 Poultry ..............................2130 Check website for full listings Horses ..............................2140 www.bigstrapperauctions.net Horse Boarding ................2150 Riding Supplies ................2160 Horse/Stock Trailers ........2170 Pasture Wanted ................2180 MEIER GUN AUCTION. Saturday, December 19, Grain, Feed, Hay ..............2190 11 a.m., 6016 - 72A Ave., Seed Grain ......................2200 Edmonton. Over 150 guns Seeding & Tillage ............2210
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Suites
For Rent #3000 - #3200 Acreages/Farms ..............3010 Houses/Duplexes ............3020 Condos/Townhouses........3030 Manufactured Homes ......3040 Four Plexes/Six Plexes ....3050 Suites ..............................3060 Cottages/Seasonal ..........3070 Roommates Wanted ........3080 Rooms for Rent................3090 Motels/Hotels ..................3100 Offices ..............................3110 Stores/Commercial ..........3120 Industrial ..........................3130 Warehouse Space............3140 Garage Space..................3150 Storage Space ................3160 Land ................................3170 Pasture ............................3180 Mobile Lot ........................3190 Misc. for Rent ..................3200
Wanted to Rent #3250 - #3390 Acreages/Farms ..............3255 Houses/Duplexes ............3260 Suites ..............................3270 Rooms..............................3280 Manufactured Homes ......3290 Housesitting Wanted ........3300 Garage Space..................3310 Storage Space ................3320 Stores/Commercial ..........3330 Office Space ....................3340 Industrial ..........................3350 Warehouse Space............3360 Resorts & Cottages..........3370 Pasture/Land....................3380 Mobile Lot ........................3390
3020
BEAUTIFUL cottage $700/mo., plus utils., in Halkirk, AB. on large lot, 2 bdrms, newly reno’d 780-583-2380
3060
Spacious 1&2 bdrm units. Balcony, in suite storage, water & heat incl. Available immediately. New managers Frances or Mic 403-742-4448
Roommates Wanted
3080
ONE bedroom shared accommodations in Gadsby. Phone 403-740-3209
Storage Space
Agricultural Houses/ #2000 - #2290 Duplexes Farm Equipment ..............2010
UPCOMING SALES Wednesdays @ 6 pm.
- handguns, rifles, shotguns, hunting and sporting equipment. To consign 780-440-1860.
2190
HEATED CANOLA buying Green, Heated or Springthrashed Canola. Buying: oats, barley, wheat & peas for feed. Buying damaged or offgrade grain. “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain, 1-877-250-5252.
Firewood
Buy & Sell #1500 - #1990
Grain, Feed Hay
A-CHEAP, lowest prices, steel shipping containers. Used 20’ & 40’ Seacans insulated & 40’ freezers, Special $2200 Wanted: Professional wood carver needed. 1-866-528-7108; www.rtccontainer.com.
Phone: 403-742-4437 CRIMINAL RECORD? Think: Canadian pardon. U.S. travel waiver. Divorce? Simple. Fast. Inexpensive. Debt recovery? Alberta collection to $25,000. Calgary 403-228-1300/ 1-800-347-2540.
1620
3160
STETTLER MINI STORAGE Household, furniture, business records, etc. Various sizes. Protected by security alarm and fenced and lighted perimeter. Owner: Reg and Darlene Hunter 403-740-9283 or 403-742-3153
Pasture
3180
PASTURE & HAY LAND. 400 - 8000 acres of year round water supply. Full operational with management available. Central Saskatchewan. Crossfenced & complete infrastructure. Natural springs excellent water. Shortly ready to locate cattle. Other small & large grain & pasture quarters. $150k - $2.6m. Call Doug Rue 306-716-2671.
Real Estate #4000 - #4190
Realtors & Services..........4010 Houses for Sale................4020 Houses Wanted ................4030 Condos/Townhouses ........4040 Acreages ..........................4050 GREAT SNOWMOBILING Acreages Wanted ............4060 Farms/Land ......................4070 AND ICE FISHING Buffalo Lake/Rochon Sands Farms/Land Wanted ........4080 Manufactured/ Lakefront, extensively renovated, 3 bdrm. 2 full Mobile Homes ..................4090 baths, 5 new appls, extra Income Property ..............4100 large lakeside deck/back- Commercial Property ......4110 Property ............4120 yard, no pets, n/s, SD, 20 Industrial Cottages/Resort Property ..4130 minutes from Stettler, AB. Businesses for Sale..........4140 Ref’s Req’d. Avail. now. Buildings for Sale ............4150 1-403-742-0024 Lots for Sale ....................4160 Out of Town Property ......4170 HOUSE for rent in Stettler. Investment Opportunities ..4180 2 bedroom with yard. Mortgages Bought/Sold....4190
ee READ THE CLASSIFIEDS & Small dog or cat ok. $800 find just what you’re looking monthly. Available Jan. 15. Call 403-742-6467. for. 1-877-223-3311
Condos/ Townhouses
1760
3030
New Blackfalds Condo. 2 Bdrm/2 Bath. Main floor & 2nd floor options avail. 2 powered parking stalls. Rent $1,400. Pets negotiable. Ask about rent incentives. 403-396-1688.
but are short of cash??
Check status of 3 government grants/assistance worth up to $5000 or more EACH and CHECK BIG IRON’S $5000 WINTER DISCOUNT PACKAGE
P.S. We also drill for people who aren’t short of cash
4910 - 51 Street Stettler, AB T0C 2L0
Phone 403-742-2529
403-742-3418
1400
Gary G. Grant Law Office
5002 - 51 Ave., Stettler, AB
It’s simple to run a Garage Sale Ad in the Classified section and make quick cash. HOW can you make your Phone C l a s s i f i e d s phone ring & make some quick cash? Place your ad 1-877-223-3311. here. . .
Qualified and Reputable
1260
Brenda Anderson, B.Comm., LL.B.
Fax 403-742-2522
SIMPLE!
Legal Services
12345 Customizable and secure. From storage to workspace. Steel containers from 8' - 53'. 20' & 40' skids with optional 4' landings available. Mount with twist locks.
780 440 4037 | SEACAN.COM
Suites
3060
BEST RENTAL VALUE IN STETTLER 1 & 2 Bedroom, furnished kitchenette suites. All utilities, cable, internet. Avail. immediately Kimberly 403-690-5828
Condos/ Townhouses
4040
Need to Downsize? Brand New Valley Crossing Condos in Blackfalds. Main floor is 1,119 SQ FT 2 Bdrm/2Bath. Imm. Poss. Start at $219,900. Call 403-396-1688.
Manufactured Homes
4090
DOUBLEWIDE mobile home in Erskine, 1,479 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 1 1/2 bathrooms. Recently renovated & upgrades, covered deck, RV parking. 403-742-5868.
22 STETTLER INDEPENDENT
4090
Manufactured Homes
HARVEST SALE! Save $50,000 from the replacement cost of this 20 X 76 drywalled Grandeur Showhome that has to go! A sacriÀce at $124,900. Call Terry 1-855-347-0417 or email: terry@ grandviewmodular.com.
Public Notices
6010
Community Support Services ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS 403-742-4271; 403-742-1887
AL-ANON Buildings For Sale
4150
LOOKING FOR a shop? Post Frame Buildings. AFAB Industries has experience, expertise, reliability and great construction practices. For a free quote, contact Ryan Smith 403-818-0797 or email: ryan.afab@gmail.com.
Brenda 403-742-0990 Betty 403-742-5673
ALZHEIMERS SOCIETY 403-346-4636 Red Deer www.alzheimer.ab.ca
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT Pat Lattery 403-742-3759
BIG BROTHERS & BIG SISTERS ORGANIZATION 403-742-5437 during business hours
BRIGANTIA PLACE (formerly Camrose Women’s Shelter) 780-672-1035
Financial #4400 - #4430
Investments ......................4410 Money Wanted ................4420 Money to Loan ................4430
Money To Loan
4430
BANK SAID NO? Bank on us! Equity Mortgages for purchases, debt consolidation, foreclosures, renovations. Bruised credit, self-employed, unemployed ok. Dave Fitzpatrick: www.albertalending.ca. 587-437-8437, Belmor Mortgage.
CELIAC (Gluten Intolerance) Brenda 403-742-3067
COCAINE ANONYMOUS Pager toll-free (20 sec. response time) 1-403-357-6266
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS 403-742-4059
HOME SUPPORT STETTLER & DISTRICT 403-742-6568
NARCOTICS ANONYMOUS Hot Line 403-342-1444
STETTLER & AREA ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY SOCIETY (STABIS) For more information phone 403-742-6456
STETTLER FOOD BANK
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Village council to look at important bylaws LOUISE BELLAIR BOTHA BOOSTER Congratulations go out to all the winners at the last Bingo game of the year held Dec. 9. There will not be a Bingo evening now until Jan 6. 2016, so the committee would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and all the very best of everything in 2016.Hope to see everyone back after the beginning of next year. The quilting club also will be ending now until Jan. 11, so they to would like to wish everyone a very merry holiday season, and hope to see everyone back on the 11th. Usually the coffee hour continues through the festive season every Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. at the seniors’ centre and they would like to see everyone join them. This coming Tuesday, Dec. 22 is the first
day of winter, so hopefully everyone that loves winter can get out and enjoy themselves. The monthly village meeting which is usually held the last Thursday of each month will be held tomorrow, Dec. 19, due to the festive season, please attend.This important meeting will include several important items such as the third and final reading of the Water and Sewer Bylaw 412/15, the first reading to the new Land Use Bylaw 413/15 and the Subdivision Appeal Board Bylaw 414/15. Also the council will hold a committee meeting to prepare a 10 year capital plan as part of the Visibility Review Requirements.So please plan to attend this important meeting tomorrow starting at 7 p.m.
The Botha School has really been a hustling and busy place this month, which also includes their Christmas Concert, which will be held tonight, so please come on out to the Botha Hall and support all the students. CAO Eric Jerrard will be sadly missed as under his doctor’s recommendation, he is forced to give up his position as CAO to our little community. Eric has done a great job leading the administration and advising council, so he will be truly missed in this profession.The village members would like to wish Eric all the very best in the future. All the students and staff at the school plus all the village council would like to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and all the very best to you and yours in 2016.
Recreation Board meets tonight PAT KELM ERSKINE ENQUIRER It’s more like Christmas out there with the cooler air and the snow. The skating rinks are now ready for skating. Please remember to respect this facility along with the shack since it is expensive maintaining it.
The Erskine School will hold their Christmas concert Thursday, Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. There will be a bake sale after the concert. The Erskine Recreation Board will hold their Christmas meeting tonight at 7:30 p.m. Come and enjoy some goodies and find out what will be going on in Erskine in the next while.
Christmas hours at the Erskine Post Office — closed Thursday, Dec. 24 at 12 noon and will not open again until Tuesday, Dec. 29. There will be no mail delivery on Dec. 28 from Edmonton; it is a holiday for postal workers in lieu of Boxing Day falling on a Saturday. And I’m quite sure most workers will be glad of this break.
Betty Birch 403-742-0732
STETTLER CITIZENS ON PATROL
Transportation #5000-5300
RCMP office 403-742-3382 www.stettlercop.org
Teddy Bear sleepover at library Saturday
KASHEEN CLOUSON DONALDA DIARY The Donalda STETTLER HEALTH EMERGENCY LINE School will be 403-742-6568 holding their STETTLER PEOPLE FOR Christmas Concert SUICIDE AWARENESS Thursday, Dec. 403-742-2337 17, 2015 with the
STETTLER HANDIBUS 403-742-5858
Motorcycles
5080
WIN - 2016 Harley Davidson Dyna Wide Glide FXDWG103. 2nd $700/credit; 3rd $300/credit. Only 599 tickets printed. Three Early Bird Draws. $100/ticket. June 17 draw. Proceeds to support Motorcycle & Harley Programs, GPRC Fairview Campus. 1-888-539-4772; www.gprc.ab.ca. License #421307.
GET YOUR BUSINESS OUT THERE 403.742.2395
Public Notice #6000
Public Notices ..................6010 Special Features ..............6050
STETTLER READ & WRITE OFFICE 403-742-2999
T.O.P.S. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) Grace - 403-742-0681 Vivian - 403-742-3935
VICTIM SERVICES
show being held at the school and the concert starting at 7 p.m. The Donalda Library will be hosting their annual Library Teddy Bear sleep over on
GETTING THE RUN AROUND? CONTACT YOUR INFORMATION AND REFERRAL CENTRE Residents of Stettler and the surrounding area now have access to this free and confidential service. It provides information and referral on social agencies, government services, clubs and organizations, to best suit the caller’s need. Just Dial 403-742-1155
have questions. 1.403.883.2345 The Donalda & District Museum will be open for special Christmas hours from Dec. 21 to 23 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring the
family down and enjoy what our museum has to offer. The museum will be closed Dec 24-25. Birthday wishes this week go out to Bernice Dietrich,
Darryl Walker, Laia Chesla, Jack Dinsmore, Shianne Klatt, James Sehlstrom, Sandra Dinsmore, Darlene Dahl, and Marion Holtner. Happy birthday to all.
2015 year of changes in Gadsby PAULETTE HEER GADSBY/WESTWOODS NEWS
403-741-7841 CONFUSED?
Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015. Christmas crafts plus they will be watching a movie or two while enjoying fresh hot pizza. Call the Donalda Library if you
Reflections on 2015 saw a change of councillor and mayor in Gadsby. The Bruce Bignell Park started and put on hold for the winter, and the closure of the Gadsby District Hobby Cub. However, the Gadsby sewer project is completed much to the relief of the town council. Dale and Corina Derr, along with Shane and Denise Jacobson, have returned from a much enjoyed 10-day trip to Mexico. They
arrived home to snow and ice, but liked the break in winter. Corina and Denise’s mom Wilda had won the trip for four last year and the deadline for the tickets was fast approaching. Bill and Joyce Hansel enjoyed a day of card playing with Larry and Kathy Tuck. Then on Saturday, Karl and Grace Krautt were out for their annual birthday visit with Bill and Joyce. Another birthday party for Gloria and Stan Diegel on Friday night when grandson Elijah turned four. Mom and dad Ybiett and
Wade hosted with aunts and uncles Richell and Greg and family; Arden and Deanne and family were also all there. We send condolences to Greg and Richelle Skocdopole, Dixie and Jim on the passing of Lois Savage, Greg’s grandmother; Dixie’s mom. She was 90 years of age. An old fashion Sunday School Christmas concert was held at the Stettler Lutheran Church on Sunday. Percy and Paulette enjoyed birthday cake for Jesus after the service, dinner out and a day of fellowship with friends.
Please Visit Us Online at
www.stettlerindependent.com
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
STETTLER INDEPENDENT 23
CKCS Advent concert this week TARA KROES, GRADE 6 TEACHER CKCS celebrated its second week of Advent on Dec. 6. The Grade 6 class led the Advent celebration as we lit the second purple candle on our Advent Wreath, which represents peace. The Gospel spoke on how John the Baptist proclaimed the coming of the Lord, and told everyone to prepare their hearts by repenting and asking for forgiveness. Hannah Van Straten and Brandy Kennedy performed a small skit demonstrating the meaning behind “preparing” your heart. The girls explained that “preparing” means to “get ready”. But getting your heart ready for the Saviour is not the same as preparing your house for company. You don’t dust, vacuum or pick up dirty socks. It is as simple as reflecting on your life, and confessing any mean, selfish or wrong doings and asking for forgiveness. Students were asked to silently ponder how they could make their hearts ready for Baby Jesus. Amid the last minute shopping, travelling, and bustle of Christmas, CKCS encourages Stettler to also think on what you
may need to “clean” before you welcome Christ into your heart this Christmas season, and find God’s peace. CKCS students have been fundraising for our brother George this month. George is the school’s sponsor child. He is in Grade 8 and lives in India. He loves to play volleyball, sing and dance. Throughout the year, we have many fundraisers for him, but the annual Christmas ornament fundraiser is a favourite. Staff members donate Christmas ornaments that fill our Christmas tree in the foyer. For $1 students can put their names in the draw, and new winners have been chosen each week to pick an ornament off of the tree. The school is abuzz with excitement as we begin our full school rehearsals for our Christmas pageant “An Out-of-the-Box Christmas”. The musical is set on the day of the final dress rehearsal, but the actors open the costume shipment to find that they have been sent the wrong costumes for their Christmas story play. In this hilarious production, the kids must find
The main crew for Christ King Catholic School’s Advent concert. a creative way to ensure that the show goes on but can they really tell the Christmas story with cheerleaders, cowboys,
and superheroes? Come join the fun on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. All are welcome to come to the CKCS gym in order to kick
Contributed photo
off the Christmas season right with this heartwarming tale. All CKCS students have been hard at work to make this year the best
yet. Refreshments will follow afterwards. We are looking forward to sharing the reason for the season with everyone.
A lot of money raised for hampers REBECCA RAHN WILDCAT CORNER This week at William E.
Hay
Secondary
Stettler Campus,
basketball has started up and we have had a big tournament so far. The JV Girls got first place. Congratulations to
all. The Christmas Hamper money has been collected, so all our fundraising is over. The early total
is approximately $9,000 raised for the hampers. The Night of the Bands was on Monday, Dec. 14 and it was a big success.
Dec. 17 is ugly sweater day. We will also be having a fun day on the last day before the Christmas break, which is Dec.
18. That is all for the week and this year. I hope everyone has a very safe and happy holiday season and a Happy New Year!
Candor Realty Ltd. Ph. 403-742-4424
Fran Snowden
4908 - 51 Street
SOLD
Advertisers in this showcase section maintain Real Estate offices in Stettler, are members of the Red Deer & District Real Estate Board Co-op Ltd., and all offer full multiple listing services.
OLDER HOME WITH MANY UPGRADES Lovely kitchen, spacious living room, 3 bdrms/2 bath. Nice sunroom, covered deck & double garage. $169,900.
ACREAGE
3.2 ACRE PARCEL IN BOTHA. Well kept mobile with several upgrades such as new flooring, paint & shingles. Heated 32’ x 48’ shop. Ideal for mechanic. $285,000. Locally owned & operated
NEW
INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY! Nice sized duplex. Convenient location. Each level has 3 bdrms, kitchen, living room, full bath & laundry room. Newer windows & paint. $239,000
ACREAGE
3.25 ACRES NEW RED WILLOW 3 bdrm home with open concept kitchen, dining & living room. Fully finished bsmt, wrap around deck & heated shop. $385,000.
Karen Cannady
SOLD
VERY WELL KEPT 4 BDRM/2 BATH BUNGALOW. Close to schools and downtown. Great home for young family or retirees. Many recent renos. Double garage and fenced yard.$282,500.
STARTER
COZY BUNGALOW with 3 bdrm and 2 bath. Newer kitchen cabinets, shingles and siding only 2 years old. Large fenced yard and 2 garages. $184,900.
Visit us at www.century21.ca/candorrealty for more listings
24 STETTLER INDEPENDENT
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
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