CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY Vol. 68, No. 10 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016 | 403-783-3311 | WWW.PONOKANEWS.COM
Girls take bronze at curling provincials Story on page 22
The Provincial Mental Hospital was a total community Story on page 5
Bridal Gala beauties: Melilssa Schimpf gets ready to walk the runway Friday, March 4 at the Kinsmen Community Centre during the Ponoka Bridal Gala. Brides to be, and some grooms, checked out what vendors had to offer for the big wedding day. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
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2 PONOKA NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
County offers recycling option to residents PONOKA NEWS STAFF Ponoka County residents now have an option for their recyclables after the Town of Ponoka has announced its decision to close its downtown collections centre by the end of the month. After the announce-
Ponoka County has started collecting recyclables at its transfer site in the Southwest Industrial Park. Hours of operation are Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Photo by Jordie Dwyer
ment that the town would move its centre to the town transfer station, Ponoka County residents looked at other options available to them, explained county assistant CAO Tom Webber. County residents will now be able to take recyclables to the county transfer site in the Southwest Industrial Park. There are 16 bins that will be available for collection of recyclable items. Acceptable
will be closed Good Friday, March 25th
are plastic containers stamped with a recycle symbol, tin or aluminum cans, cardboard and non-glass drink containers. Webber said bins
Del’s Tax Service
Early deadline for the Wednesday, March 30th publication will be Thursday, March 24th at 5pm
Tax Preparation & Electronic Filing
The office will re-open Monday, March 28 at 8:30am
Del Abt
PONOKA GOLD RUSH FEBRUARY WINNER
Sunrise Village 4004 - 40 St. Cl. Ph: 403.783.2664
are marked with signs to show what material goes where. Other materials such, as glass and Styrofoam are not accepted. Demand for recycling is high after putting up the bins a few days early, Webber said three bins had already been filled. “People caught onto it immediately.” He is pleased with the update and said it will benefit everyone as it puts less materials into the landfill. Webber added that Empringham Disposal came with the best proposal for the county’s needs. The transfer site is open Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Volunteer Income Tax Clinics 2016 March 16, 2016
1:30 - 3:30 pm
Rising Sun Clubhouse (for residents)
March 23, 2016
8:30 am - Noon
Seniors Drop In Centre (for public)
March 23, 2016
2 - 4 pm
Rimoka / Legacy (for residents)
March 30, 2016
4 - 7 pm
Seniors Drop In Centre (for public)
April 20, 2016
9:30 am - Noon
Centennial Centre (for residents)
Are you eligible for this free service?
Paige Brose, Admin. Asst. with BB/BS presents Angie Lewis with a cheque for $1540.00. Angie was the lucky winner of the Ponoka Gold Rush Monthly Lottery for the month of February. You to could be a lucky winner! March draw will be Thursday, March 31st. Contact Big Brothers Big Sisters for more information.
You may be eligible if you have a simple tax situation and meet the suggested family income level. Taxpayer Family Income Individual $30,000 Couple $40,000 Individual with a dependant $35,000 For each additional dependant, add $2,500 to the suggested family income. Interest income must be less than $1,000.
Returns not eligible - Volunteers do not prepare returns for individuals who: • have self-employment income • have capital gains or losses • file for bankruptcy
• have business or rental income and expenses • have employment expenses • are deceased in the year
For more info contact Ponoka FCSS office 403.783.4462
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
PONOKA NEWS 3
Witness scares off suspected thieves
PONOKA NEWS STAFF
A witness may have contributed to the failure of a break-and-enter attempt at the No Frills parking lot on Thursday, March 3. RCMP were notified of the attempt by the witness who described to the police how a suspect was in possession of a flat tool and was prying on the door of
& CRUISE CENTRE
the vehicle. When the witness pulled up, a second suspect was observed as signaling to the first suspect to leave. Both suspects then left the scene in a 95-98 Xtracab Chev driving in southerly direction on Highway 2A. Upon examination, it was concluded that nothing appeared to be missing from the vehicle although damage was done to the passenger door. The file is still under investigation. Thefts of various nature Ponoka RCMP attended on Sunday, March 6 to a rural residence along Highway 795 upon a complaint of theft. Sometime during the night, unknown
suspects were understood to have entered an unlocked shop and stolen two dirt bikes. File is currently under investigation. The same day, a shoplifter was reported to police and a 24-yearold female from Ponoka was caught stealing perfume and other consumables when the alarm was set off as she was leaving a business on 50 Street. The female was transported to the Ponoka Detachment, where she was charged with theft under $5,000. She is to appear in court April 01. Also theft of liquor from a Ponoka business was reported to the police. Two First Nation males were found to
have stolen a 40-pound container of Silent Sam Vodka. One male was wearing blue headphones, red jacket and red pants. Second subject had a black toque with the slogan “whatever” emblazoned on the front. He was also wearing a black jacket with black pants. If you have information on these and other criminal activities, please
call the Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472. If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or by internet at www. tipsubmit.com. You do not have to reveal your identity to Crime Stoppers, and if you provide information to Crime Stoppers that leads to arrest(s), you may be eligible for a cash reward.
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4 PONOKA NEWS
Religion
Your Guide To Local Houses of Worship
Lost, but now found
CHURCH DIRECTORY Associated Gospel Churches of Canada
CHURCH OF THE OPEN BIBLE Pastor Jerry Preheim • Pastor Matt Sealy 3704 - 42 St. Ponoka 403-783-6500 Worship Service 11:00 a.m. • churchoftheopenbible@telus.net
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH PONOKA Sr. Pastor Paul Spate
Erin Dirsten - Fac. Youth & Family Min. & James Crosina - Fac. of Community Life
5109 - 57 Ave. Ponoka www.fbcponoka.org
403-783-5533
Bible Discovery Hour 9:30 a.m.
Worship Service 10:30 a.m.
NEW COVENANT BAPTIST REFORMED CHURCH Currently meeting at Ponoka Christian School 6300-50 St. Worship Service Sunday 10:30 a.m. Everyone Welcome! phone: 403-783-6962 • www.baptistreformedponoka.org
PASTOR TIM GRAFF Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
PARKLAND REFORMED CHURCH South on 2A, West on Spruce Road 403-783-1888 Worship Service 10:00 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. Rev. Mitch Ramkissoon www.parklandurc.org
PONOKA WORD OF LIFE CHURCH Pastor Rob McArthur
403-783-5659
Sunday @ 10:30 a.m. Corner of Hwy 53 & Hwy 2A (former Crossroads Restaurant)
www.wordoflife.ca
PONOKA UNITED CHURCH Minister: Beatrix Schirner
ponokaunited@shaw.ca
Sunday Service 10:30 am. 5020-52 Ave. Ponoka
Phone: 403-783-4087
SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH PASTOR DAVE BEAUDOIN 6230-57 Ave. Ph. 403-783-6404 Saturdays 9:30 - 12 Noon dsjjb@xplornet.com ponokaadventist.ca
SONRISE CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor W. Delleman Worship Service 10:30 a.m. ½ mile south of Centennial Centre for Mental Health & Brain Injury
403-783-6012 • www.sonriseponoka.com
ST. AUGUSTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH Fr. Shimit Abraham CFIC Mass Times: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 9:00 a.m. Sunday
5113 - 52 Ave., Ponoka, T4J 1H6 403-783-4048 stachurch@shaw.ca
ST. MARY’S ANGLICAN CHURCH Rev. Donna Willer Rev. Marty Tuer, Honourary Assistant 5120 - 49 Ave. Ponoka
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
403-783-4329
Sunday Service: Holy Eucharist 10 a.m. www.stmarysanglicanponoka.com
My high school years were a very turbulent time in my life. Although I was aware of God’s presence and had a good family, I still found myself feeling lost, battling to find myself and what I was supposed to do with my life. It was about this time of the year that I decided to run away from home and join the U.S. Marines. I wanted to prove myself and as a fairly quiet kid from Saskatchewan, this was a bold move.
I still remember climbing out my bedroom window very early in the morning and jumping in my pre-packed 74 Chevy Vega to head south to the US border. It was the perfect get away with no interruptions and no explanations. However, when I arrived at the border three hours later I was told that I couldn’t cross, but had to head to the US consulate in Winnipeg to get the proper documentation. Winnipeg was five hours away and so with a sense of disappointment I changed direction and began the journey there. As I made my way to Winnipeg I listened to music playing on the radio. As the hours went by, the words began to speak to me, reminding me of home and my family who knew nothing of where I had gone. It was evening when I came to Portage la Prairie and there I decided to spend the night. As I sat in the hotel room I felt compelled to phone home to let my parents know where I was, that I was okay. It was the least I could do. As the phone rang I hoped that it would be my mother who would
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answer rather than my father. My mother was the listener in the family and I felt I didn’t need any speeches from my father at that moment. My Father in heaven had other plans though. It was my father who answered and after some brief conversation he spoke words I will never forget. “Son, you do what you need to do, but know this, we will always be there for you and the door is always open. We love you.” After hanging up, I cried myself to sleep, recognizing that I had always had an identity: I was a beloved son. At that moment, it mattered less what I would do with my life because I had been set free by father’s love. Jesus told a similar story about a prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) who leaves his father, taking half of the inheritance, only to squander it and end up in the pits of poverty. The son eventually returns home expecting to be treated like a servant, but his father welcomes him home and says to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his
feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ Are you someone who is feeling lost, unsure of who you are or what you should do with your life? Are you someone who feels you have just messed up terribly? If so, I want to remind you that God loves you and has provided a home for you. All around you are churches made up of people whom God has found and called together to be reminded every week that they are loved. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. In Jesus Christ you are found, forgiven and through faith in Him you will find yourself and the life and salvation He has for you. Look to the left on this page and come to a church where you are invited to join others who were once lost, but are now found. Jesus is waiting to say ‘For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’
PONOKA RISING SUN CLUBHOUSE
Community Blue Box Program For $12.00 per month
Available for pick up at our location at Hwy 27 and Hwy 22
We will pick up your paper, clean tins, glass, No. 1-7 plastic and cardboard. We also pick up cardboard from local businesses.
Prairie Mulch & Bedding Company Ltd.
For more information on these programs please call
403-556-6440 • prairiemulch@gmail.com
403-783-5810 Weekdays
TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 5501 - 54 Ave. Ponoka 403-783-4141 Sunday Service: 10:30am Sunday School: 10:30am Pastor Tim Graff • trinityponoka.ca
ZION CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Pastor Fred Knip 9 miles east on Hwy 53 403-782-9877 Jr. Church during service for children Sunday Service 10:30 am
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
PONOKA NEWS 5
Reflections of Ponoka
The Provincial Mental Hospital was a total community BY YVETTE STACK AND MIKE RAINONE FOR THE NEWS For those of us who grew up in and around Ponoka in the 1950s/60s/70s, we watched the Provincial Mental Hospital grow at an overwhelming pace, were fortunate to become friends with so many of the staff and their families, and really appreciated how much that this first class Psychiatric treatment centre has complemented our community over the years. The day-to-day team effort at PMH Hospital furniture, patients’ clothing and linens were all made on site, as well as all the cooking and baking. The labour was all done by patients, under supervision of staff. Even some of the nursing care, feeding and meal service was done by patients, and in many ways this system worked very well. Patients were often able to work in their own trades and keeping busy, and contributing to the general wellbeing of the community was considered part of their therapy. Also, many patients who perhaps could have been discharged, had no homes to go to, so were content to stay at the hospital where they had a secure and safe place to live. Many of these patients had what was called parole, and were free to do what they wanted when they weren’t at work, as long as they returned to their wards when the whistle blew for curfew. They were also given a small stipend for their work. I suppose that in some ways, one could say that the patients were exploited, but I think that life was much better for psychiatric patients from the hospitals than it is now, where so many are living on the streets and have no opportunity to participate in meaningful work. At the entrance to the hospital grounds was a house for the supervisor of the septic tanks, which were across the road. In front of the main building were several acres of perfectly groomed flower beds, filled with multihued snapdragons, stocks, and asters. Walks of red gravel, with vine covered trellises and pergolas placed at regular intervals wound through the gardens, and in the fall, Chinese lantern plants whispered dryly in the chilly winds. The gardens were enclosed by meticulously clipped hedges of cotoneaster and honeysuckle. Beyond the last hedge were the fields of hay and in the later summer and fall there were wonderful haystacks on which children could climb, and then hide in all day, surveying the countryside unobserved by those unfortunates wandering around in the real world. In those simpler times, the children could disappear for an entire day and not be cause for any concern, unless they did not turn up for supper. Even then, parents were likely to assume that their child had stayed for supper at a neighbour’s, and wouldn’t begin seriously trying to track them down until bed time. Like the inhabitants of a monastery, our lives as residents on the grounds too, were regulated, not by bells
Photo courtesy of Fort Ostell Museum
This early 1930s photo shows the front of the Provincial Mental Hospital near Ponoka. On the left are the female 4-5-6 wards, while in the middle is the administration building (now Heritage) with the female 2 and 3 wards on the top floor. This main building also contained the business offices, staff dining room, doctors’ quarters, labs and operating rooms. Please notice the immaculate landscaping, which was proudly and prominently pampered throughout the grounds for many decades. calling us to prayer, but by different kinds of bells and whistles. Early in the morning, at 8 the first whistle went. This one sounded like a steam locomotive whistle, and it signalled the beginning of the work day for some of the staff. The next one sounded at noon, to mark the beginning of lunch hour for all the office staff and maintenance workers, and again at one o’clock, to call them back to work. At five o’clock there was a whistle for the end of the work day, and at dusk, the train whistle sound again, to call in all the patients who had parole and were out on the hospital grounds. Sometimes there would be a series of blasts from another whistle, and this was to let everyone know when a patient had escaped from the hospital. It was four blasts for male patients and five for a female, and for some reason, patients escapes were called elopements. Only a small percentage of the staff lived on the grounds. During the 1950s, the hospital housed about 1300 patients, and there were about 450 people on the
payroll. There were about 40 children of school age living on the hospital grounds, and although we didn’t realize it at the time, our childhood experiences were unique. Because we were almost three miles from the town, and very few families had cars, we had to get along with each other if we wanted anyone to play with. So for the most part, we overlooked personality and age differences, and stuck together, but I suppose this was the case in any small rural community. We had a bus to take us downtown to school, not once, but twice a day, for we came home for lunch. Lunch hour was one and a half hours, so there was plenty of time. Our fathers also came home at lunch time, to listen to the CBC news, and to eat a leisurely meal. In those days for most families, the noon meal was the main meal of the day. We knew it was time to run for the bus when the theme for the Proctor and Gamble Hour began. Please watch for more AHP memories later.
Remember When...
Photo courtesy of the Fort Ostell Museum
In the early 1930s, the Provincial Mental Hospital (PMH) introduced their first school bus, which would transport the children of the staff living on the grounds back and forth to the Ponoka Schools in town, as well picking up supplies and mail. The sturdy bus, which was originally owned by a rum-runner from Blairmore, was reconstructed in the hospital machine shop, and would serve until the 1950s when the Wolf Creek School system provided a bus to the PMH.
6 PONOKA NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
Opinion
What are politics for? MUSTAFA ERIC Editor
By the time this article has appeared in print, provincial government’s Throne Speech will have been delivered and the spring session of the Legislature will have begun, a session that promises to be somewhat acrimonious and tense. That promise mostly stems from the style of opposition the leader, Brian Jean of the Wildrose Party, has adopted. Mr. Jean and his MLAs appear to be in a rush to discredit everything the NDP government under the leadership of Rachel Notley has been trying to do. True, it is the task and responsibility of the opposition to hold a governing party to account, but it is also the responsibility of the opposition to keep in mind that, regardless of their affiliation, all MLAs should serve the citizens of the province. Wildrose Party announced this week that it was introducing legislation to allow the constituents to recall their MLAs. The press statement by the party quotes Wildrose Drayton Valley-Devon MLA Mark Smith, who will introduce upcoming Bill 201 for the recall, as saying “Albertans are the boss, not MLAs. There needs to be the tools in place for Albertans to keep their MLAs accountable in between elections.” Mr. Jean might be contemplating a campaign before the end of the year to ensure the recall of enough number of MLAs to force an early general election, one that
could put Wildrose in the driver’s seat by the time oil prices might start to rebound in about 18 months to two years. Can it work? It could, but at what cost? Clearly, Mr. Jean and his team are in a rush to build on the dissatisfaction of Bill 6 has caused among the rural population and would like to make things happen before the resentment over the issue wears off. But an early general election will cost millions of dollars to the taxpayers and in the end it may create more instability than it pretends to settle. One should not forget that the Progressive Conservatives are quietly working hard to restore their position of power, which they lost in May 2015. The widely circulated rumour is that the PCs have been telling the high level bureaucrats they have installed in the government machinery over the four decades they were in power to dig in their heels and wait for the return of the party to their governing position soon. Are the Willdrose racing against time to ensure that they will be able to unseat the current government before PCs muster enough strength to return to power? They could be, and because in the world of politics it is the ultimate goal to capture power, they are well within their rights to pursue strategies and tactics that will take them to the promised land. But among all these political calculations, where do the people of the province stand? Is all that politicking really serving the people who have been left unemployed over the course of last year
and a half because of the decline in the oil market? Are we able to find ways of generating revenues to create jobs through political maneuverings? Is there a time to focus on getting things done rather than bickering on how and why they should be done or are politics and attainment of political goals above the interests of the people they are supposed to serve?
Letter
On Mike Rainone’s article
In response to your article of March 2, it is apparent that you’re in need of education in the area of our history. Your article started with the statement that land designation for reserves was the result of the Riel Rebellion. This information is very wrong. As you should be aware, in 1692 Christopher Columbus got lost and he stumbled on this land where the Indigenous people that lived on the land since time immemorial, referred to as “Turtle Island”. Upon his arrival, assuming he had reached his intended destination, referred to the people as ‘Indians’ because he thought he had reached India. Fast track a hundred years to 1763 when King George lll issued the Royal Proclamation of 1763, which has been referred to as our ‘Indian Bill of Rights’ because this proclamation promised land security from the encroaching colonizers. This document prohibited sale of ‘Indian land’ unless it was to the Crown. Please google for more information on this particular topic. The Royal Proclamation of 1763 also gave the representatives of the Queen a framework for negotiation of treaties with the indigenous/original peoples. Although there were a number of treaties (sometimes referred to as Peace and Friendship Treaties) signed with the First Nations people, the numbered treaties are more important to note with reference to your article. From 1871 to 1923, the Crown entered into treaties with the various First Nations of what is now known as Canada. These are now referred to as the Numbered Treaties. [Please remember there was a Civil War in the United States and there were fears of this war in Upper and Lower Canada. Another contributing factor was the whiskey traders who were encroaching the land and making trades with the First Nations. Google for more information] The people of Maskwacis are part of Treaty #6 and this territory covers an area in Central Alberta (from the Rockies), Central Saskatchewan and into Manitoba. Very large tract of land. Treaty 6 includes among others, the Medicine Chest. Immediately after the signing of our treaties, the demand for land by the settlers, railway companies and others increased and there was immense pressure on the Department of Indian Affairs to ensure land was surrendered (remember the Royal Proclamation prohibited sale of land unless it was
5019A Chipman Ave., Box 4217, Ponoka, AB. T4J 1R6 Phone: 403.783.3311 Fax: 403.783.6300 Email: editorial@ponokanews.com Published every Wednesday by PNG Prairie Newspaper Group in community with: Regional Publisher, Michele Rosenthal
Judy Dick Manager
Mustafa Eric Editor
Jeff Heyden-Kaye Reporter
to the Crown). The pressure was so that amendments to the Indian Act were required and passed by the Laurier government to increase cash distributions to the First Nations for land surrender. Now, land surrender was conducted under questionable circumstances; if the Dept. of Indian Affairs were satisfied that the people were not living on the land they considered it to be abandoned. People may have been out hunting or visiting relatives in other areas. Some, like Sharphead, were largely affected by the effects of colonization and had succumbed to starvation or disease. Land surrender in many cases was not voluntary. My point to this, treaties were not the result of the Riel Rebellion. Riel and his followers reacted to news that Canada had sold land without the knowledge and consent of the First Nations people. That is another matter you should Google. The language of the people in Maskwacis is Cree, more specifically Plains Cree. It is not just an Indian language as you referred. There are many First Nations people in all of Canada and the United States and we all have a language. We have a history that spans thousands of years, we have a culture and traditions that have survived the loss of our main food supply the buffalo, residential school, the Sixties Scoop. We survived the continued efforts to assimilate us by banning our ceremonies, by prohibiting our children to speak their language in residential schools, by imposing a pass system whereby our people had to obtain a pass to leave the boundaries of the reserve, surviving the diseases brought on with infected blankets, by disenfranchising our women if they married a non-status person, by disenfranchising anyone who joined a religious order or who made efforts to gain a higher education. We still speak our language, we still practise our ceremonies and our culture is still very much alive. Please use proper terminology when you refer to our history, please research our history before you submit articles about us. Sincerely, Pat Swampy Mike Rainone’s Note: The wording in the article was “at the end of the Riel rebellion”, and not “because of the Riel Rebellion” and it only referred to the time period during which it occurred.
Jordie Dwyer Reporter
Karen Douglass Sales
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
PONOKA NEWS 7
Province announces funding for firefighter training Priority placed on regional collaboration BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Municipalities will be able to train their volunteer firefighters and receive grant money for it, thanks to a provincial training grant program. Municipal Affairs, which is in charge of the Office of the Fire Commissioner, announced Wednesday, March 2 in Ermineskin that $650,000 will be provided to 50 municipalities and four First Nations that host firefighter training sessions. Getting those funds will be possible if the municipality is part of some regional collaboration. The money won’t pay for any training program in full but will help reduce the overall cost of training. Among the attendees was Danielle Larivee, Minister of Municipal Affairs, and high ranked members of the Office of the Fire Commissioner as well as Chief Randy Ermineskin and firefighters with the Ermineskin Fire Department. “Most Albertans don’t know but the majority of firefighters in Alberta are volunteer firefighters,” said Larivee. She said the goal is to help give these municipalities and firefighters important emergency preparedness training. The funds from the Fire Services Emergency
Preparedness Program is an annual grant program that gives priority to regional collaboration. “It’s so important that we all levarage all the resouces that we have to the best capacity. Typically that means when we share together we all come out ahead,” said Larivee. Municipalities that do work together are looked at in a positive light and will be favoured in the grant process. Chief Randy Ermineskin said the funds will be of great benefit to the department. “It helps training and further capacities to help.” Volunteer firefighters will now be able to enhance their expertise and skills and bring further protection to the community and surrounding communities, he added. Ermineskin will receive $12,500 towards its firefighter training program. Both the town and county of Ponoka are part of a group called the Central Alberta Fire Training Association (CAFTA), which will allocate the money to departments that bring regional collaboration into their training. CAFTA will receive $25,500 that will go to its members in central Alberta. It is believed the money announced has been reduced compared to previous years.
Minister of Municipal Affairs Danielle Larivee (second from right) takes part in a firefighter demonstration Wednesday, March 2 with the Ermineskin Fire Department. The demonstration came after announcing funds for training to go to volunteer fire departments across the province. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
403-783-5501 • www.legacyfordponoka.ca
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8 PONOKA NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
Groups collaborate on new medical equipment purchase BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Collaboration from five community groups helped bring a new urine analysis machine to the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre. Contributors celebrated the purchase Thursday, March 4 at the hospital
with the representatives from the Ponoka Lions Club, Masons Britannia Lodge of Ponoka, Ponoka Elks, the Ponoka Legion and the Ponoka Kinettes taking part. Each group contributed $1,500 to the purchase of a Clinitek Advantus urinalysis machine costing $7,500.
Called the Pee Project Group, these five clubs banded together in a showing of what true collaboration can do in a small community. For Lorianne Hinton, lab and x-ray supervisor, this new machine will bring efficiency to the urine testing done in Ponoka, which
runs more than 1,000 urine tests a month. “It leaves us (room for) growth for moving forward,” she told attendees. Lions Club member Bill Chorney said when the
club was approached last fall by the hospital they realized some help would be needed. Discussion ensued with other clubs and in several months, the funds were ready.
“What we have today is a good demonstration of what hard work will get us,” said Chorney. “We always thought, ‘What a way to raise funds in a hurry,’” he added.
TOWN OF PONOKA Great Opportunities to get involved! Keep it real.
POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Town of Ponoka is seeking applications to fill two positions on the new Police Advisory Committee. We welcome applications for an additional member-at-large representative and a youth representative. The overall objectives of the Police Advisory Committee are to act as a liaison between Council, the R.C.M.P. Detachment, the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town of Ponoka and the citizens of Ponoka and foster responsible community actions towards the creation of a safe secure community. The Committee shall endeavor to do this by encouraging an environment, which allows for public concerns to be addressed by all affected parties. All persons appointed to the Committee must reside in the Ponoka community, and be 18 years of age. The youth representative must be at least 16 years of age. All committee members will undergo a criminal records review and suitability screening through the R.C.M.P. If you are interested in joining this Committee, please submit a completed application form on or before March 11, 2016 to the Town of Ponoka. Application forms are available at Town Hall: C, 4900 – 54 Street, Ponoka, AB T4J 1N8 or on the Town’s website: www.ponoka.ca Town of Ponoka C, 4900 – 54 Street, Ponoka, AB T4J 1N8 403-783-4431 town@ponoka.org Visit us at ponoka.ca or on Facebook and Twitter
Five community groups banded together to raise $7,500 for a new urinalysis machine at the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre. They celebrated the accomplishment Thursday, March 3. Presenting the cheque are (l-r) Lions Club member Bill Chorney, Masons Britannia Lodge secretary treasurer Dick Cameron, Kinettes secretary Kathryn Hall, Ponoka Legion Poppy Fund chairperson Marlene Perry, Lions president Jim Hamilton, hospital lab x-ray supervisor Lorianne Hinton, Elks exhalted ruler James Wing and Lions treasurer Bob Peters. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Helping You ~ Helping Your Family HELPING HANDS, a private agency, established in 1999 by Penny Leman, an LPN with 20+ years of nursing experience, in Drumheller, Alberta. In 2010, HELPING HANDS opened a Red Deer office, and now two of Penny’s daughters (also nurses) help manage these agencies! HELPING HANDS Central Alberta works as a bridge between the public and private sectors, providing subsidized care through many publicly funded programs: The Alberta Brain Injury Network, The Canadian Paraplegic Association, Veteran Affairs Canada and Canadian Mental Health Association, are just a few of the Public Agencies. HELPING HANDS is proud to support local communities by employing local people. In Ponoka they are proud to welcome Katie Cumberland, Randi Conn and Mandi Matherson to their team of excellent caregivers. These staff members have been a part of the Ponoka community for many years and are familiar faces around town. Whatever the elderly and/or infirm need they can get a “holistic helping hand” in their homes from our caring business. Senior Programs
Caregiver Support
We provide companionship and supports to those living in care facilities allowing We provide a variety of services to seniors or chronically ill adults living independently, them to maintain their highest degree of personal independence allowing them to remain at home for as long as safely possible versus moving into a by facilitating them to go out and take part in their communities. care facility before they are medically required to do so. Some examples are: We assist seniors in maintaining their independence with; • Continuing Care Companion • Light Housekeeping • Caregiver Respite • Laundry • Meal Preparation • Resource Counseling • Errands • Local Area Transportation HELPING HANDS CARE FOR PEOPLE! Call us at
403-346-7777 for more information or visit our website at www.helpinghandshomesupport.com! Like us on Facebook
for up to date information!
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
PONOKA NEWS 9
Recycling Program Shows Signs of Success It’s been about two months since Ponoka’s curbside recycling program began, and it’s already showing definite signs of success. Steady Increase in Recyclables Collected “We’ve seen a steady increase in the volume of recycling collected at the curb each week, and I’m getting calls from residents who are surprised by how much household waste they’re able to recycle,” says Town of Ponoka Operations Manager Jill Owen.
Questions about the Waste & Recycling Program can be directed to the Town’s Manager of Operations Jill Owen at 403-913-4817. For scheduling questions or to report a missed pick up, contact Public Works at 403-783-0159.
Recycling Tips What can you do to get into the recycling habit and recycle more at your home? Here are some helpful tips we’ve gathered from Ponoka residents and online information sites. Before the program started, Ponoka was recycling less than 10 per cent of its waste.“We • Monitor what goes into your garbage and identify recyclable items. know that number has increased. At the end of the year we’ll measure how much more our community is recycling,” says Owen. • Post a list of recyclable items on your fridge. Check the Town website for a detailed list. 60 Per Cent Waste Reduction Target • Buy products with a recycling symbol on them. Avoid Styrofoam. The goal set by the Town’s Waste Management Plan for 2016 is to reduce the amount of • Bring reusable bags to the grocery store. Recycle plastic bags. Most can be recycled. household waste trucked to the landfill by 60 per cent. That goal aligns with provincial government • If something’s still useable, give it away rather than throw it away. waste reduction targets. A report published by Alberta Environment estimates 80 per cent of • Set a recycling basket in every room. material sent to municipal landfills can • Talk to family members about what to throw into recycling baskets. be diverted.“It’s all about the need to • Keep a recycling bag in your vehicle to avoid throwing recyclables in the trash while ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ to help travelling. protect the environment for our children • Consider composting kitchen waste in a backyard composter. and future generations,” says Owen. For a list of items you can recycle under Ponoka’s new curb side program, visit the Town’s Public Feedback Welcomed website at www.ponoka.ca/community, click on Recycling, Disposal & Waste, and select New The Town continues to monitor its Residential Waste & Recycling Program 2016. new Waste & Recycling Program and welcomes your feedback. In the coming Rising Sun Clubhouse Blue Box Program Please remember, the Ponoka Rising Sun Clubhouse Blue Box Program is another great option months we will ask for formal input from residents on how well the program for curb side recycling. Town residents who register for this non-profit community program will is working and what improvements we not pay a recycling fee to the Town. For more information about the Rising Sun Clubhouse can make. Blue Box Program, contact 403-783-5810.
Ponoka Fire Department Weekly Report Last Week, the Ponoka Fire Department responded to two 911 calls: • 1 smoke investigation • 1 cooking incident It’s Fire Season: All outdoor fires in Ponoka, with the exception of approved fire pits, fire places and portable cooking devices, require a permit year round. All burning activities in Alberta’s Forest Protection Area, excluding campfires, require a fire permit from March 1 to October 31.
FEATURE NEWS COUNCIL UPDATES
PONOKA RECYCLING CENTRE TO MOVE ON MARCH 31 For the month of March, residents can continue to bring their recyclables to the downtown Ponoka Recycling Centre. The Ponoka Recycling Centre, located downtown across from the IGA, will move to the Town’s Waste Transfer Station on March 31.The Waste Transfer Station is located just outside the northeast corporate limits of Ponoka on 46 Street. For more information, please contact Manager of Operations, Jill Owen, at 403-913-4817.
NEXT MEETING OF COUNCIL: Tuesday, March 22, 2016, and Committee of Whole on March 17, 2016. Please note these meetings will be at 6 pm at the Ponoka County Boardroom. Agenda packages are posted on the website under ‘Town Hall’ in advance of every Council meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend.
HOMETOWN NEWS
Ponoka Season Ender 3 on 3 Hockey Tournament will be held March 21 – 24. Please contact Wes Amendt at wes.amendt@ponoka.org or 403-783-0118 for more information. Volunteer Opportunities – volunteers are needed for the following events. If you are interested, please contact wes.amendt@ponoka.org or call 403-783-0118 • Community Wellness Fair • Canada 150 Mosaic • Two Special Event Planning Committees for (Canada Day & Ponoka Day in the Park) Westview Park & Co-op Park Playground Development Meeting - March 9, 7:00 pm at the Hudson’s Green Activity Centre. Design options available from 5 different playground companies. Everyone welcome. Ponoka Parks, Recreation & Culture Advisory Committee - Accepting application for Town & Country representation. Applications available on Town of Ponoka website. Next meeting Wednesday, March 9 5:00-7:00 pm at Hudson’s Green Activity Centre. Ponoka Community Program Guide Spring/Summer Edition - Deadline for Submissions is March 31, 2016 For more info on any of these items contact wes.amendt@ponoka.org
Aquaplex News
• Designated lap lane all day (except during morning aquasize and swim club), pools are open all day (except during swim club). • Spring break lessons register now limited space! • We are offering a National Lifeguard course from March 28 - April 1, the cost is $225.00. • We are offering private swim lessons for all ages, anytime, any day (except during morning aquasize and swim club). • Due to the rise in fecal incidents at the pool we will be implementing a mandatory swim diaper policy. We have disposable swim diapers at a cost of $2 and reusable diaper covers for $20 (both are required for entry into the pool). • The Aquaplex is starting School Swim Lessons on March 14. Due to the school lessons we will be offering a lap swim and parent and tot swim from 11:30 to 1 pm during the day. There will still be a lap lane during family swims and public swims in the evenings and on weekends.
Town of Ponoka C, 4900 - 54 Street, Ponoka, AB T4J 1N8 Town phone: 403-783-4431 Town email: town@ponoka.org
10 PONOKA NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
Man pleads guilty to 2014 theft Crestomere School students compete of cash and weapons BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Sentencing has yet to be set for a man who pleaded guilty to theft of thousands of dollars in 2014. Christopher Slauenwhite admitted to the theft at Ponoka Provincial Court Friday, March 4 and must now wait for a pre-sentence report. Crown prosecutor Steve Degen told the court that Slauenwhite had entered the home subject to the crime and broken into a safe that stored firearms, including several hand guns and some long guns. There was also a large amount of cash estimated at $25,000 to $30,000 that was missing. Three pistols, including a Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum were also reported missing from the safe while three long guns remained.
Slauenwhite also pleaded guilty to a break and enter to a Ponoka home on June 20, 2015. Degen told the court that Slauenwhite entered the home by kicking open the door and took a few hundred dollars from the home. While he was in the home a resident entered the building and found Slauenwhite who fled the scene. Police were called and later located a fingerprint found to belong to Slauenwhite. Man ordered not to return to Ponoka A gas and dash while in possession of a stolen vehicle landed one man in hot water with the law. Kieran Matthews had already faced some jail time after being in possession of a stolen vehicle with firearms in it, which were also reported stolen. The
incident occurred on Dec. 19 after police heard reports that a stolen vehicle out of Calgary was in Ponoka with firearms inside. Officers located a vehicle with three individuals, none of whom were Matthews. Although they attempted to leave the scene, police stopped them, explained Degen. During the course of the investigation, police determined that Matthews was in another vehicle, also reported stolen that had firearms inside. He was located not long after the investigation began. Matthews also faced charges of a $55 gas and dash from the Husky gas station in Ponoka on Aug. 19. Matthews was found later that day in Camrose. Duty counsel David Paull said that Matthews is in the process of turning his
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life around and has no prior record. He explained to Judge William Andreassen that Matthews is getting help from his step father and suggested an order be given to stay away from the three individuals involved in the stolen vehicle case and not to return to Ponoka. The fact that Matthews has no record was something to consider, said Andreassen, but the possession charges were another issue. “It is serious because it does involve stolen firearms and a stolen vehicle.” Despite the absence of a previous criminal record, Andreassen suggested the court had to send a message in view of the seriousness of the situation. Matthews was given 46 days in jail and after having served 31 days already, would be given time and a half credit. Andreassen ordered Matthews to pay several victim fine surcharges plus an additional $500 fine for the gas and dash. He also ordered Matthews to pay the $55 as restitution to the Husky gas station. Matthews was given a 12-month probation and ordered not to be in possession of firearms for five years, to not have contact with the three other individuals and not to return to Ponoka.
for national award PONOKA NEWS STAFF Grade 7/8/9 students at Crestomere School are vying for national acclaim and they are hoping to receive some support in the form of votes from area residents for their entry to a video contest. Teacher Kayley Bowie, who led the students in the project, said the whole thing started when she received a brochure from Parks Canada at the beginning of the school year about a contest open to all Grade 8 classes throughout the country. “Since we are a 7/8/9 split class, all of my students qualified,” she said. The contest requires classes to create a one-minute video about a Canadian national park of choice. The video has to explain the selected park’s environmental or cultural significance for Canadians. The winning entry will reward the Grade 8 class that produced it with a five-day trip to Jasper, “which is not something we would be able to afford on our own,” Bowlie added. “I put all of the choice in my students’ hands. Each
PET OF THE WEEK
CANDIDATES WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING ASSETS:
• Horsemanship • Public speaking • Be knowledgeable about RODEO • Outgoing personality • Ability to attend events and make appearances Successful applicants will be interviewed by a selection committee WINNER TO RECEIVE
• Trophy Saddle & Breast Collar • Trophy Buckle • Possibility to compete for Miss Rodeo Canada Application forms are available at ponokastampede.com Forward to: Ponoka Stampede Assoc. Box 4336, 5616 - 39 Ave. Ponoka, AB T4J 1R7 Resumes accepted until 4pm on April 1, 2016
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of them chose a park and researched it, then shared their research with the class,” she went on. After discussing probably 15 different national parks, the students voted for the Wood Buffalo National Park in northern Alberta, which was researched and proposed by Grade 9 student Emma Rust. Emma said, “I had never heard of Wood Buffalo and wanted to bring attention to a park in Alberta other than Jasper or Banff. It protects endangered animals like the whooping crane and it is the largest national park in the world.” Further research and discussions followed to decide on what the video should depict and how, with all class going for a creative and original production instead of rap or a song. Then Bowie said she herself suggested a silent film to the class. “It took pressure off the kids who didn’t want to speak in front of the camera, and it allowed us to be comedic. My group has an amazing sense of humour,” she said. “Because we are rural, we were limited to filming everything at the school, so we had to think outside the box,” Bowie said of the production process. “All of our props were things the kids brought from home, including a fake Canada goose and a kayak. We utilized our green screen technology to help out with a few scenes. Every student got to be in the video and watch scenes being filmed. It was extremely difficult fitting everything we wanted to do into only one minute, but I think my students were very happy with the final results.” Commenting on their production, “We tried to take a unique spin on it by doing something different so we would stand out,” said Mackenzie Gillard in Grade 8. Grade 7 student Colter Bresee said “I like all the props we used, and all of the team scenes we filmed where we got to do things together.” To watch the video and to vote for the Crestomere School entry, visit http:// contest.myparkspass.ca
Spring Savings
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
PONOKA NEWS 11
EVENT
ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO MOVE
C1208
MSRP $21,164
16,900
SALE
$
C1197
MSRP $44,949
2015 FOCUS SE 2.0L 5SPD
MSRP $30,139
24,225
SALE
$
2015 TAURUS SEL LOADED
34,900
SALE
C1200
$
T0927
MSRP $84,414
2015 FIESTA ST HATCHBACK
MSRP $47,669
33,750
SALE
$
2015 F350 KING RANCH DIESEL
63,722
SALE
T1422
$
T1277
MSRP $80,619
2015 F150 CREW CAB XLT 5.0L
2015 F350 CREW CAB LARIAT DIESEL
64,109
SALE
$
T0927 2015 F350 ,SALE PRICE 63722 PLUS ADMIN FEE OF 499 ,AMVIC FEE 6.25 TIRE TAX 20.00 PLUS 5% GST (PAYMENTS INCLUDE ALL TAX AND FEES) FINANCED OVER 84 MONTHS AT 4.99% PAYMENT 441 BI WEEKLY, TOTAL INTEREST OF 12,724.69 TOTAL OBLIGATION WITH INTEREST 80289.30
P R E - OW N E D C L E A R O U T - H U G E M A R K D OW N S 2013 DODGE DART SXT 21000KM L0522
88
$
B/W 84MTHS
SALE
12,000
$
L0536
174
$
B/W 84MTHS
SALE
196
$
B/W 84MTHS
SALE
27,992
$
24,852 T1161A
261
$
B/W 84MTHS
SALE
L0459
188
$
$
2011 FORD EXPLORER T0912A
2014 CHEV EQUINOX LT AWD
B/W 72MTHS
2014 FORD F150 FX4 LUXURY CREW CAB
26,900
$
L0550
37,550
$
SALE
297
$
B/W 84MTHS
SALE
2011 DODGE RAM 1500 LARAMIE LONGHORN 2014 DODGE RAM ECODIESEL
42,901
$
T1161A 2014 F150 FX4, SALE PRICE 37550 PLUS 499 ADMIN FEE 6,25 AMVIC FEE PLUS 5%GST(PAYMENT INCLUDES ALL TAX AND FEES) FINANCE OVER 84 MONTHS OAC 4.99% PAYMENT IS 261 B/W TOTAL INTEREST 7549.00 TOTAL OBLIGATION 47633.04
“Let your Legacy start here.”
www.legacyfordponoka.ca
YOUR LEGACY TEAM
Pat Boardman General Sales Manager
Kelly Perras Finance Manager
Trevor Feragen Sales Consultant
Eric Dortman Sales Consultant
Berkeley Cottingham Sales Consultant
12 PONOKA NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
Students at Ponoka Christian School took part in a fun, yet unique, fundraising event on Tuesday, March 1 that paired older students with younger ones in the sleds to compete in a short-course race for bragging rights. Each student paid to participate with the $505 proceeds going to Habitat for Humanity Red Deer. The idea for the fundraiser came through the current Grade 6 novel study. Photo by Jordie Dwyer
2016 PONOKA
AGRICULTURE SUPPLEMENT MARCH 16, 2016 This supplement features the latest in: Farming • Livestock • Technology Seed & Feed • Crops • Equipment
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TO BOOK YOUR SPACE CALL 403-783-3311 • FAX: 403-783-6300
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
PONOKA NEWS 13
Ponoka senior on the hook for high-cost duct cleaning BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS A Ponoka senior is on the hook for a duct servicing bill that cost more than $1,000. When Elsie Unger, 83, had a furnace cleaner call to offer and clean her small one story duplex in January, she thought it would be an ideal time to make it happen. The next hour however, proved a time she wished she could forget after receiving a bill for $1,015.35 from Edmonton Indoor Clean Air. The bill breakdown shows two separate charges: • $597.45 for duct cleaning and inspection; • $417.90 for a deluxe furnace and cleaning inspection package. Upon seeing the first bill, Unger said the cost was too high, but was told there were several tasks done to clean the ducts. The bill checks off quite a few different tasks such as cleaning and conducting technical check ups. “I told him my furnace and hot water tank had been checked. That didn’t matter. They just ignored it,” said Unger. In an interview, company representative Kevin Cowan said they have been in the business for about 18 years and generally do work through word of mouth promotions. He declined to comment on this in-
cident but said that duct work does not include the furnace and water heater cleaning, which is the second charge. The base cost of the first charge is $349, which covers two to six hooks-ups, vacuum and air rake main ductwork and disinfectant. There
is an additional $220 — and then GST at $28.45 — added, but no itemization as to what that extra cost covered. Cowan said he did not have the full work order but claimed anything in addition would most-likely be for fuel surcharge to get to the location or for aer-
ator work or something similar. Cowan added that all employees will explain the furnace and water heater cleaning charges before invoicing. Unger said the furnace
36TH ANNUAL SPRING MACHINERY CONSIGNMENT
AUCTION
FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016 RIMBEY, ALBERTA Selling equipment to all four Western provinces and the Northern USA. Listings are now being accepted for the Spring Machinery Consignment Auction. All items must be listed by Wednesday, March 15, 2016 to be included on our Sales Posters, Newspaper, Radio Advertising, Web Page and extensive mailing lists. Listings Include a Unreserved Real Estate Auction for Melvin Bonertz - Selling a Lot with Buildings in Bluffton, Alberta.
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was cleaned last fall. While there, the employee presented Unger with the second bill of $417 and she said it took her by surprise, and she didn’t realize what it meant. A check of her
credit card bill showed the amount for two separate charges was collected and a further check of the invoice showed she had signed for both of them. continued on page 14
14 PONOKA NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
Ponoka senior Elsie Unger (right) poses with friend Irene Rausch holding an air duct cleaning bill that cost Unger more just over $1,000. After hearing of the incident Rausch offered to help.
10th Annual Red Deer Collector Car Auction & Speedshow 10th Annual 10th A 10th10thAnnual Annual
Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
High-cost duct cleaning
INDOORS WESTERNER PARK, RED DEER, ALBERTA
continued from page 13
Red Deer Collector Car Red Deer Colle Red Deer Collector Car Red Deer Collector Car Auction & Speedshow Auction & Sp Auction & Speedshow INDOORS WESTERNER PARK, RED DEER, ALBERTA Auction & Speedshow INDOORS WESTERNER INDOORS WESTERNER PARK, RED DEER, ALBERTA PARK, RE Red Deer CollectorINDOORS CarWESTERNER PARK, RED DEER, Red Deer Collector Car ALBERTA Red Deer Collector Car Auction & Speedshow Auction & Speedshow Red Deer Collector Car INDOORS WESTERNER ALBERTA PARK, RED DEER, ALBERTA PARK, RED Auction &DEER,Speedshow Auction & Speedshow
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“I thought I better pay it all,” said Unger. Friend Irene Rausch heard of the situation and offered to help. The two asked the police if they had any advice. Rausch said the police called the company to question them on the cost but said there was nothing illegal about the transaction. A check of the company at the Edmonton Better Business Bureau (BBB), where it is a member, shows a similar complaint was filed in October, 2015. The complainant alleges an employee wrote out an authorization invoice for $576.45 and then wrote out the cheque amount and had the customer sign it. The amount charged was $994.35, which was $417.90 INDOORS WESTERNER higher. After a back and forth detailed on the BBB website, the customer was eventually refunded the second amount. For her part Unger said she felt embarrassed after paying the extra charge. Her hope was to let people know to be fully informed when any contractor comes into a person’s home. After seeing the charge she changed her credit card number. “I wanted to just forget it,” said Unger. Cowan did say the company has done duct cleaning at her home in 2012.
INDOORS WESTERNER INDOORS WESTERNER PARK, , RED DEER,, ALBERTAPARK, RED DEER, ALBERTA
MARCH 11-13, 2016
Friday: viewing 5:00pm auction starts 6:30pm Saturday: viewing 9:00am auction starts 10:30am Sunday: viewing 10:30am auction starts NOON
NO RESERVE
NO RESERVE
Comfortable sitting area with tv NO RESERVE
1967 MUSTANG GTE 500 NO RESERVE 1970 PLYMOUTH SUPERBIRD ELEANOR 440 6 PACK
1966 CHEVELLE SUPER SPORT 396 SS 4 SPEED
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1960 IMPALA 2DR HARDTOP
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NORESERVE RESERVE NO 1968 GTO FACTORY 400 HURST
NO RESERVE
NO RESERVE NO RESERVE
1968 MUSTANG FASTBACK 4 SPD 1968 MUSTANG FASTBACK J CODE
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1957 FORD TBIRD ROADSTER NO RESERVE
1936 FORD CUSTOM HOTROD
COME SEE YOUR FAVOURITE STARS! NO RESERVE
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NO RESERVE 1969 DART 340RESERVE CONVERTIBLE NO
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CHRIS JACOBS
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DAN & LAURA DOTSON FROM STORAGE WARS
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7455136 rural 4x135.indd 1
2016-02-29 3:24 PM
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
PONOKA NEWS 15
Alberta rejects new charter schools Despite evidence of their widespread benefits BY DEANI VAN PELT AND LYNN BOSETTI TROY MEDIA COLUMNISTS Alberta Education Minister David Eggen recently rejected two applications for new charter schools - a school for special needs students and a Spanishlanguage school with an emphasis on science. That is unfortunate. There is room and demand for more charter schools in Alberta, the only province in Canada to allow such schools, and the research is clear about the achievement gaps charter schools fill. In light of Eggen’s own ministry’s finding that “overall, charter schools appear to have provided enhanced student learning outcomes as compared to similar schools and similar students enrolled in other jurisdiction types,” these two rejections should raise eyebrows among parents and taxpayers. The idea of public schools being independently operated and held accountable for meeting particular goals is relatively new and perhaps even more successful than anticipated. Since being proposed in 1988 by the then president of the American Federation of Teachers, charter schools have been introduced in 42 U.S. states and Washington D.C., enrolling roughly 4.5 per cent of students in those jurisdictions. Charter schools have become increasingly popular
with parents in Alberta since their introduction in 1994. The percentage of Alberta students enrolled in charter schools has more than tripled to 1.4 per cent since 1999. Yet, despite long wait lists, only 15 charter schools are allowed in Alberta at any one time (13 currently operate in the province). Because charter schools operate outside of the local school district and are governed by their own board of trustees, it might appear that they are not public schools. But unlike private schools, the province will shut them down if they don’t achieve the goals of their charter. Charter school funding is also unique. Unlike private schools, they may not charge tuition. They typically receive provincial funding for their operating expenses but not for their capital (building, etc.) expenses as they often lease unused space from the local school district. This means enterprising educators and community members collaborate to deliver innovative education programs without direct cost to parents and with lower cost to the taxpayer. Charter schools cost less on a per pupil basis and are closed down if they aren’t effective at meeting student achievement goals. Low performing schools don’t continue as drains on the system. Just what exactly is lost by granting a charter, especially when all the legal provisions for their existence are in place?
Fraud hits one in five small businesses CFIB helps businesses protect themselves during Fraud Prevention Month Fraudsters have scammed 20 per cent of Canadian small businesses in the past year. This alarming finding is contained in a first-of-its-kind report by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). The full report will be released on March 17. March is Fraud Prevention Month and CFIB is focused on helping businesses help themselves through education and access to resources. As a proud member of the Fraud Prevention Forum, a working group made up of CFIB, the Competition Bureau, and the RCMP, the month-long campaign and the publication
of the report aim to help small businesses protect themselves against such schemes as directory fraud, email phishing and payment fraud. “Fraud is a serious threat to unsuspecting small businesses and an ongoing challenge for our economy,” said Plamen Petkov, CFIB vice-president, Ontario and Business Resources. “The report will look at not only the financial cost of fraud to small businesses, but also non-financial impacts, including stress and aggravation for business owners.” Throughout March, CFIB will host webinars and provide tips, videos and
infographics to help business owners and their employees stop fraud, as well as detailed information on some of the most common types of fraud reported to CFIB’s experienced business counselors. “CFIB takes more than 27,000 calls a year from small business owners on various issues including fraud, so we are in a unique position to identify the latest scams that are making the rounds,” added Petkov. “Knowing what to look for is the key to prevention.” On March 9, CFIB will release additional survey data showing how many small businesses report fraud to the authorities.
The question becomes even more mindboggling when you stack the cost efficiencies alongside the research on the outcomes of charter schools. Charter schools are particularly well-equipped and effective at serving the needs of students of disadvantaged populations. While many studies show strong positive effects of charter schools on student achievement in general, the literature is very clear that charter school gains are particularly large for disadvantaged groups such as students with special needs, second-language learners, and at-risk youth. Charter schools serve families and students who are not well-served by the traditional public schools, and are effective and efficient in serving educational preferences not met elsewhere. Moreover, if the presence of charter schools exerts pressure on surrounding schools and school districts to improve, as literature on school choice demonstrates, they benefit not only those who attend charter schools but also students who do not. For the sake of all students and taxpayers, Minister Eggen should be cautious about thwarting innovative and enterprising approaches to designing and delivering education in Alberta. Deani Van Pelt is Director of the Barbara Mitchell Centre for Improvement in Education at the Fraser Institute and Lynn Bosetti is Professor of Education at UBC, Kelowna.
16 PONOKA NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
Students aim to reach for top spot at academic competition BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS If you know the answers to what the Beatles’ last album was and what
forms of plant ginkgo and yew are, then you might have what it takes. Central Alberta students from Grade 7 to 12 converged on PSC Tuesday,
SANDRA LYON Broker/Owner
TYLER FESSLER Associate
March 1 for the Reach competition that pits academic and trivia questions on students. continued on page 17
RIZWAN SYED
CHANELLE LYON
Associate
Associate
LISA BONE Associate
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Isabell Stamm (left) hits the buzzer Tuesday, March 1 during a Reach trivia and academic competition at PSC.
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Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
6000 - 48 Ave.
(Beside The Old Iron Horse Restaurant)
real estate central alberta SPRUCE MEADOWS ACREAGE - 2 acres
- Reversed Hillside Bungalow - 1350 sq. ft. - 3 B/R, 3 Baths - Private Setting - Lacombe/Ponoka Bussing
403-783-5007 EXTENSIVE UPGRADES
- 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths - Lots of room for the family! - Exceptional LLucas Heights location - Fully fenced yyard, brand new roof - Must be seen to be appreciated
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UPDATED BUNGALOW IN SERENE LOCATION - 5 bedrooms, 2 baths
- Lots of cosmetic updates! - New roof in 2015 - Incredibly private location walki trails near walking - Double ga garage
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$345,000 Call Lisa PERFECT FAMILY HOME
- 1244 sq ft with 5 beds & 3 baths
TOTALLY RENOVATED - Complete renovation
- Open floor plan, fireplace and main floor laundry
$344,900 Call Jane
$159,500 Call Jane
& trim - Detached 22'x24' garage - Fully finished up & down - Lrg deck looks over fenced yard
- 946 sq. ft, fully finished - 4 bdrms, 2 baths - 24 x 14 garage, treed/fenced yard - New H2O tank, 2010 roof - Backs on to Town ball diamonds
$255,000 Call Todd
$242,000 Call Todd
- 1388 sq ft, 5 bdrms & 3 baths - Fully finished ICF block basement - Gorgeous kitchen, Maple cabinets, Island & Pantry - Hardwood, tile, in-floor heat - 26x22 insulated/ heated garage - Well kept home, Great for a family!
$399,000 Call Bob
Associate
GREAT VALUE NEW PRICE
RIVERSIDE HOME
EXCELLENT SUBDIVISION - 4 lots available in beautiful area - Serviced & ready to build on - Priced to Sell - Very Affordable Lots!
$69,900 ~ $80,500 Call Bob
TODD REED
Assoc. Broker
- 1404 sq ft Mobile on its own lot - 3 B/R, 2 bath - Open living space - Double garage
JANE WIERZBA Associate
DEB STEVENS Assoc. Broker
LOTS OF POTENTIAL
FANTASTIC STARTER OR REVENUE! - Over 2100 sq ft developed REDUCED
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$125,000 Call Deb PERFECT HOBBY FARM!
- 12.16 acres NW of Rimbey - 1200+ sq ft bungalow - 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths - Numerous outbuildings - Private setting
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- Many improvements on main floor!
6 beds & 4 baths - Extensive upgrades & improvements
$179,900 Call Jane
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- Bright and clean - Many recent upgrades - 1146 sq ft, 2 bdrm, 2 bath - Large 65 x 145 lot - 22’ x 50’ Garage
IDEAL LOCATION
- 1299 sq. ft., 3 bdrms & 2 baths - Beautiful ½ acre lot! - Large Sunroom w/ Great views! - Detached double garage - Quiet area, close to Golf Course
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- 1420 sq ft bungalow - 5 bdrm, 3 bath - Fenced, landscaped, shed - Includes appliances
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TO VIEW A COMPLETE LIST OF OUR PROPERTIES AND VIRTUAL TOURS PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT
www.remax-ponoka.com
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
PONOKA NEWS 17
BBBS exceed goal at bowling fundraiser BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) struck gold at their annual bowl-a-thon fundraiser. The goal was to raise $20,000 at the Mardi Gras Soiree Bowl for Kids Friday, March 4 at Leisure Lanes but support from Ponoka residents and businesses topped the donations at $21,250. This is their biggest fundraiser of the year that benefits the mentoring programs at BBBS, explained executive director Beth Reitz. Bowling started in the afternoon and by 5 p.m. they were already halfway to their goal. Programs such as traditional mentoring, inschool, teen mentoring and the Go Girls and Game On programs will be able to benefit from the funds raised. Go Girls and Game On are examples of what BBBS offers. They are held in gender specific groups for students in Grade 6 to 8 hosted once a week in schools. “We talk about self-esteem, body image, bullying, all those types of things that help them be stronger personally as well as in relationships,” said Reitz. Andrew Heinrichs, teen program co-ordinator said the Game On pro-
More than $21,000 was raised at Big Brothers Big Sisters Mardi Gras Soiree Bowl for Kids Friday, March 4. Here PES teacher Erynn Rice has some fun while PSC students enjoy taking part. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye gram is developing into a fun environment for boys. “We try to sneak in a little body image, talking about self-esteem, talking about stress in your life,” said Heinrichs. Short term goals for the
programs are to give the boys and girls the ability to think for themselves in a positive light. The program is intended to make it a comfortable environment to talk about a positive body image.
Reach for top spot at academic competition continued from page 16 Teams were scattered through the halls of PSC answering questions such as: If a=3 and b=2 what is the value of a squared -b squared and What television show was a spin-off of All in the Family? Each team was comprised of a different age group and would receive a different set of challenges said organizer and social studies teacher Rob Haggarty. Questions included pop culture, math, science and literature, explained Haggarty. PSC, along with St. Augustine Catholic School and other central Alberta schools such as Bentley and Lacombe brought teams vying for bragging rights and a chance at zones and then to provincials. “The senior questions are pretty high level,” said Haggarty. Senior students deal with
more technical questions in the math and literature challenges. Trivia questions were tough as well for some teams who may not be familiar with 1970s pop culture. Haggarty said they start practicing in November. He enjoys the competi-
tion and suggests it gives students, not inclined to sports, a chance to compete for their school. Plus all the grade levels interact with each other, he added. The next round of the challenge will again be held at PSC on Tuesday, March 15.
Go Girls ialso brings discussion of self-esteem, explained BBBS program co-ordinator Morgen Chernick. The goal with both programs is to have kids be more accepting of themselves and others,
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18 PONOKA NEWS
WED, MARCH 9, 2016
4-H speakers move on to regional challenge PONOKA NEWS STAFF The speeches were given, the points were tallied and after the dust settled, four 4-H speakers from the area will move
on to regionals. Eighteen young members competed at the 4-H zones Sunday, March 6 speaking competition at the Ponoka Legion as part of the Communication
Skills program of the club. Young speakers in the junior, intermediate and senior categories came from clubs in Ponoka, Crestomere, Rimbey and
other nearby communities to show off their prepared and impromptu speaking skills, explained timer and teller Keith Kjenner. The top two seniors and intermediate
EASTER COLOURING CONTEST
speakers move on to regionals while the juniors are done for the season. The biggest challenge during the speech competitions was the impromptu speeches, he added. Sometimes the difference between a win or lose is as a result of the impromptu challenge. “It’s a deal breaker.” With the prepared speeches 4-H members have already practiced their subjects to the fullest extent and Kjenner suggests getting an edge will come from being able to speak on any subject with little preparation. “It shows that they’re quick thinking,” he explained. While all speeches need to have an opening, a closing and a body, Kjenner suggests the best way to prepare is to have family provide the most-ridiculous topics. He feels the speach challenges set members up for future life-skills and many, if not all of the 4-H projects need some type of communication skill set.
Junior winners: • Fi r s t : Nicole Groenveld, Winfield Beef speaking on Bill 6; • Second: Quinn GoingRycroft, Winfield Beef on Two Dollars and Half a Chicken. Intermediate winners: • First: Emma-Lee Rust, Crestomere Multi on Women’s Rights; • Second: Mackenzie Gillard, Crestomere Multi on Have You Ever Thought About it. Senior Winners: • First: Isabell Stamm, Crestomere Multi on Can You See Me? • Second: Megan Bolton, East Ponoka Beef on Brave or Confused. Senior regionals are set for Saturday, March 19 at 1 p.m. at Lincoln Hall and intermediates for Sunday, March 20 at New Norway.
Canadian Finals Rodeo may be moving from Edmonton
BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS
Age categories: 5 & under, 6 – 9 yrs & 10 – 12 yrs Prizes donated by:
Name: Age: Phone#: Entry deadline March 18. Drop off at Ponoka News 5019A Chipman Ave.
After 42 years of rodeo finals action, 2016 could be the last year the Canadian Finals Rodeo (CFR) will be hosted in Edmonton. Directors with the Canadian Pro Rodeo Association (CPRA) voted unanimously against a proposal presented by the City of Edmonton and Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) to keep the event in the provincial capital, explained CPRA general man-
ager Dan Eddy. Since the announcement was made March 1, Eddy says he has fielded multiple interviews with questions as to the future of the CFR’s new home. Negotiations were led by OEG, said Eddy. Initially, the groups went into discussions in early October, 2015, he explained but the first proposal submitted was not enough. “That was declined, but it gave us a starting point,” said Eddy. From there, he said two 60-day extensions were agreed for the sides to come to an agreement, but eventually the talks collapsed. The decision by the CFRA to seek a new venue has created a stir in the Edmonton community.
continued on page 21
ON NOW AT YOUR ALBERTA CHEVROLET DEALERS. AlbertaChevrolet.com 1-800-GM-DRIVE. Chevrolet is a brand of General Motors of Canada. Offers apply to the purchase of a 2016 Silverado 1500 Double Cab True North Edition, Colorado 2WD 2SA, and lease of a Silverado 1500 Double Cab 4WD 1WT, equipped as described. License, insurance, registration, administration fees, dealer fees, PPSA and taxes not included. Dealers are free to set individual prices. Limited time offers which may not be combined with other offers, and are subject to change without notice. Offers apply to qualified retail customers in Alberta Chevrolet Dealer Marketing Association area only. Dealer order or trade may be required. * Based on percentage growth in total Canadian sales of mid- and full-size pick-up trucks, calendar year to date (January to September, 2015), as reported by CVMA. † $10,000 is a combined total credit consisting of a $3,000 manufacturer to dealer delivery credit (tax exclusive) for 2016 Silverado 1500 Double Cab, $1,000 Owner Cash (tax inclusive), a $820 manufacturer to dealer Option Package Discount Credit (tax exclusive) for 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Double Cab 1LT equipped with a True North Edition, a $1,600 cash credit and a $3,580 manufacturer to dealer cash credit (tax exclusive) on Silverado 1500 Double Cab LT or LTZ, which is available for cash purchases only and cannot be combined with special lease and finance rates. By selecting lease or finance offers, consumers are foregoing this $3,580 credit which will result in higher effective interest rates. Discounts vary by model. ~ Visit onstar.ca for coverage maps, details and system limitations. Services and connectivity may vary by model and conditions. OnStar with 4G LTE connectivity is available on select vehicle models and in select markets. Customers will be able to access OnStar services only if they accept the OnStar User Terms and Privacy Statement (including software terms). OnStar acts as a link to existing emergency service providers. After the trial period (if applicable), an active OnStar service plan is required. ‡ Vehicle user interfaces are products of Apple® and Google® and their terms and privacy statements apply. Requires compatible smartphone. Data plan rates apply. ¥ Lease based on a purchase price of $34,258, including $952 owner cash (tax exclusive), $3,000 manufacturer-to-dealer delivery credit (tax exclusive), and a $1,000 bonus credit for a new eligible 2016 Silverado 1500 Double Cab 4WD 1WT. 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Credit valid towards the retail purchase or lease of one eligible 2016 model year Chevrolet car, SUV, crossover and pickups models delivered in Canada between March 1 and March 31, 2016. Credit is a manufacturer to consumer incentive (tax inclusive) and credit value depends on model purchased: $500 credit available on 2016 Chevrolet Sonic, Cruze LTD, Malibu LTD, All-New Malibu (except L), All-New Volt, All-New Camaro, Trax and 2017 Volt; $750 credit available on other 2016 Chevrolets (except Corvette, Colorado 2SA, Silverado 1500 and HD); $1,000 credit available on all 2016 Chevrolet Silverado’s. Offer is transferable to a family member living within the same household (proof of address required). As part of the transaction, dealer may request documentation and contact General Motors of Canada Company to verify eligibility. This offer may not be redeemed for cash and may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives. Certain limitations or conditions apply. Void where prohibited. See your GM Canada dealer for details. GM Canada reserves the right to amend or terminate offers for any reason in whole or in part at any time without prior notice. > Purchase price applies to new 2016 Chevrolet Colorado Extended Cab Base models at participating dealers in Canada. Purchase price of $23,215 includes Freight but excludes license, insurance, registration, dealer fees and taxes. Dealer may sell for less. Offer may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives. GM Canada may modify, extend or terminate this offer, in whole or in part, at any time without notice. See dealer for details. ¥¥ 2016 Colorado 2WD with available 3.6L V6 engine. Fuel consumption estimates based on GM preliminary testing in accordance with Government of Canada approved test methods. Refer to vehicles.nrcan.gc.ca for details. Your actual fuel consumption may vary. 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Colorado: comparison based on wardsauto.com 2015 Small Pickup segment and latest competitive information available at time of posting. Excludes other GM vehicles. ** The 2-Year Scheduled Lube-Oil-Filter Maintenance Program provides eligible customers in Canada, who have purchased or leased a new eligible 2016 MY Chevrolet (excluding Spark EV), with an ACDelco® oil and filter change, in accordance with the oil life monitoring system and the Owner’s Manual, for 2 years or 48,000 km, whichever occurs first, with a limit of four (4) Lube-Oil-Filter services in total, performed at participating GM dealers. Fluid top offs, inspections, tire rotations, wheel alignments and balancing, etc. are not covered. This offer may not be redeemed for cash and may not be combined with certain other consumer incentives available on GM vehicles. General Motors of Canada Company reserves the right to amend or terminate this offer, in whole or in part, at any time without prior notice. 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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016 PONOKA NEWS 19
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20 PONOKA NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
Flipping a coin Grains this morning were able to make some gains on short-covering and more weather headlines scaring the bears away. Drew Lerner of World Weather Inc. says that the longer it takes for El Nino to dissipate, the likelier that we’ll see
a drier spring in western areas of the Canadian Prairies. Conversely, Lerner suggested that when La Nina does make landfall, it will likely result in wetter conditions in Western Canada but drier conditions in the US southwest. When will
the exact shift of El Nino to La Nina happen? Flip a coin. While that weather debate rages, prospects for the South American soybean crop continues to increase with continued non-threatening weather, and with currency
Ponoka Drop-In Activities 5015 – 46 Avenue
Regular jam sessions every Saturday at 1pm Drop-ins welcome at all events. Mar. 20 7pm - Gospel Concert “Crystal Clear Ministries” - Crystal & Herb Taylor Nashville recording artist - for more info contact Trudy 403-783-4246 Mar. 24 - Thursday - Potluck & general meeting 5:30pm. Bring a dish to share, table service & enjoy good company Billiards - Weekdays 1:00pm. Mon through Sat – 50 cents per game. Honour system Monday Bridge 1:00pm Monday Whist - 1:30pm Monday Yoga - 6:30pm Tuesday Canasta - 1:00pm Tuesday & Thursday Exercise class 9:30am Tuesday Pickleball 6:30pm Centennial Centre - contact Janice Mackie 403-396-3160 Tuesday Shuffleboard - 7pm Wednesday morning - PIANO LESSONS FOR SENIORS (Sara Driedger 403-790-1980) Wednesday Sewing Guild 9:30am to 4pm Wednesday Cribbage 1:00pm Wednesday Yoga - 6:30pm Wednesday Duplicate Bridge 7:00pm Thursday Floor Curling - 1:00pm - New ball bearing rocks - come & try them Thursday Weaving 1:00pm Welcome to drop-in to see how it’s done Thursday Bridge 1:00pm Thursday Art Club Drop In Noon to 4pm Friday “500” 1:00pm Saturday Yoga 9:30am Memberships available for 2016 - $10.00 per person. To rent our facility contact Dorothy @ 403-783-3027 or George @ 403-783- 3514 or leave a message @ 403-783-5012. Rentals are increasing and we would like to invite our town administration, business groups, and general public (Wedding, funeral, and Birthday groups), to inquire about rentals services and prices early in their planning. We may fit your bill!
Ponoka has
talent
The Ponoka & District Chamber of Commerce would like you to showcase your talent at the upcoming
TRADE FAIR April 15 & 16 If you can: - sing - dance - play a musical instrument - or have any other type of talent please contact: Judy Dick, Ponoka News 403-783-3311 Email: manager@ponokanews.com or Les Jaster, Ponoka & District Chamber of Commerce 403-783-3888 Email: chamberp@telus.net
effects helping maintain the height of domestic prices, Brazilian 2nd-crop safrinha acres are likely also increasing. More wheat bulls are looking to Europe for the condition of the winter crop there, with concerns for winter hardiness the loudest in Ukraine, Poland, and parts of Germany and Romania. In my opinion, this headline continues to be best possible catalyst to a bump in prices, but it’s be tough for us to see more than 10 Per cent gains. We’re at the time of the year where the hope that the markets were going to go higher before road bans has turned to frantic concerns over moving something before and/or during Plant 2016. With grain prices subdued, there were opportunities to take advantage of over the past 2-3 months on various crops (whether it be locking basis or
Ponoka Capitol Theatre 4904 - 50th St. Ph. 403-783-3639
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March 11 - 17
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Gods of Egypt 127 min 2:00 PM Weekends 7:00 PM Daily Rated PG Violence, Frightening Scenes
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Cloverfield Lane 120 min 2:00 PM Weekends 8:00 PM Daily Rated 14A Brutal violence, coarse language
AGES 12-64 $9.00 AGES 2-11 & SENIORS $7.00 TUESDAYS & MATINEES $6.00 3D $3 EXTRA
straight cash sales) but many were speculating, not managing risk. Risk management doesn’t mean you’re selling your entire bin yard in these opportunities, but instead adapting your expectations versus just being greedy. This means knowing for certain what your cashflow needs are going to be in the next 6-9 months and then add 10 Per cent to those numbers just as a cushion. How many times have you wished you would’ve sold at least something (i.e 10 – 20 Per cent) after the markets went down and then you were forced to sell something for cashflow reasons? (Psst: remember the line “Make sales when you can, not when you have to!”) Conversely, if the markets do go up, you’re not kicking yourself for selling everything in a rush and still have something left sell! This is what we call risk management. Adaptability in these current grain markets is the name of the game and I challenge you to sit down over the next few weeks and review your plan for not only your remaining inventory but also expectations for the 2016/17 crop. This should technically be done quarterly, if not on a monthly basis but if you don’t have a plan yet, put pencil to paper ASAP, and look to move 10 or 20 Per cent of what’s left in the bins. We’re happy to help you price it on FarmLead.com but flipping a coin is not
BRENNAN TURNER FarmLead
hedging your price risk exposure to the market very well. To growth, Brennan Turner President & CEO | FarmLead.com Brennan Turner is originally from Foam Lake, SK, where his family started farming the land in the 1920s. After completing his degree in economics from Yale University and then playing some pro hockey, Mr. Turner spent some time working in finance before starting FarmLead.com, a risk-free, transparent online and mobile grain marketplace (app available) that has moved almost 150,000 MT in the last 2.5 years. His weekly column is a summary of his free, daily market note, the FarmLead Breakfast Brief. He can be reached via email (b.turner@farmlead.com) or phone (1-855-332-7653).
Royal Canadian Legion Branch #66 Ponoka
WATCH THE BRIER ON THE BIG SCREEN TV Sunday, March 13 12:30 pm
“PIE & A PINT!” Thursday, March 17 11:30 am – 7:00 pm Enjoy Green Beer, Mulligan Stew, Chicken Pot Pie And entertainment too! 3911 HWY 2A
403-783-4076
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
PONOKA NEWS 21
Canadian Finals Rodeo may be moving continued from page 18 “We’re just continuing to move forward with a request for proposal process,� said Eddy of their plans. He declined to provide the names of potential cities as future hosts but says there are five cities “within reach� that have at least a 13,000 attendance capacity needed to host the CFR. Eddy said the average number of daily attendance at the CFR is 16,000. What the exact deal is and why it was declined remains unknown as Eddy claims the information cannot be provided due to a non-disclosure agreement. However, OEG chairman Bob Nicholson was interviewed by Edmonton Sun in the March 2 edition, providing some of what was being offered including a bigger purse of $2 million from $1.589 million, a stock contract offered at $750,000 from $540,000 and hosting fee rights proposed at $300,000 from $68,000. Eddy claims those numbers are “inaccurate� although wouldn’t say how and did not provide further
details. He added that Edmonton is still being considered in the CPRA’s new request for proposals but Nicholson has said publicly that time may have passed. Both Nicholson and Eddy claim they have received calls from interested parties; for the former it is for
new attractions and for the latter it is from other cities. Eddy said the CPRA’s focus remains to find the best deal for athletes, stock contractors and to ensure the fans have an event they can enjoy. He suggests there is an estimated $78 million economic spin off from the CFR.
VJV MARKET REPORT MARKET REPORT MARCH 2, 2016
On Wednesday, March 2, 2016 - 3025 head of cattle went through our rings TOTAL - 3025
SLAUGHTER CATTLE D1 - D2 cows D3 - D4 cows Good Holstein cows Medium Holstein cows Heiferettes Bologna Bulls
105.00-113.50 90.00-100.00 80.00-93.00 75.00-85.00 145.00-165.00 120.00-152.00
PLANNING A SPRING AUCTION? 7$.( $'9$17$*( 2) 285 <($56 ,1 7+( $8&7,21 %86,1(66 :( &21'8&7 $/%(57$Ă&#x161;6 /$5*(67 6,1*/( '$< )$50 0$&+,1(5< &216,*10(17 $8&7,21 +(/' )285 7,0(6 3(5 <($5 )25 7+( 3$67 <($56
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Feeder bulls 130.00-152.00 Good Bred Cows Older Bred Cows 1,400.00-2,000.00 Good Bred Heifers: Cow/calf pairs (younger) Cow/Calf pairs (older) -
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161.00-180.00 175.00-191.25 185.00-205.00 195.00-224.00 215.00-250.00 236.00-269.00 265.00-280.00 275.00-300.00
Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers
145.00-175.00 165.00-185.00 185.00-200.00 189.00-205.00 199.00-215.25 210.00-234.00 232.00-265.00 145.00-275.00
Dairy Steers Baby Calves Dairy Type: Baby Calves Beef Type: Hay: Sq Bales Straw: Sq. Bales Greenfeed: Sq. Bales
135.00-165.00 150.00-275.00 550.00-700.00 5.50-9.50 1.00-2.00 -
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Vold Jones & Vold Auction Co. Ltd. | Dawson Creek Auction Vold Jones & Vold Co. Ltd. Š 2006 4410-Hwy 2A, Ponoka Alberta, Canada, T4J 1J8
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The Ponoka 4-H District Council would like to THANK the following sponsors of 4-H Public speaking
PONOKA
Without your generous support such events would not be possible.
22 PONOKA NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
Sports
Girls take bronze at curling provincials BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS
PSC girls’ skip Nikki Smith watches closely as a rock makes its way to the button Thursday, March 4 during provincials curling in Ponoka. The girls earned a bronze medal, the first time for Ponoka since 1994. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
For the first time in 26 years, Ponoka has landed a medal in a provincial curling tournament. Three Ponoka Secondary Campus teams curled their way through a challenging provincial tournament Thursday, March 3 to 5 with the girls landing a bronze medal for their efforts. Skip Nikki Smith said she was pleased the team could come out with a medal as three of its members are graduating this year. “This is Ponoka’s second win overall.” The last time Ponoka earned any medal in curling was a Ponoka women’s team in 1994, said Smith, and being able to nab a medal means a lot to the team. Getting to the playoffs seemed likely after the girls were undefeated in the regular round. The only team that caused them any trouble was Sundre, forcing the game to go into an extra end. The girls ended up beating Sundre 8-7 in the regular round. Coming into playoffs, the girls ended up coming short against Morrin losing 10-4. Smith said they gave up a couple of big ends against Morrin, which affected their confidence. This led them to play Sundre again in the bronze medal match. Coming into the eighth end, Ponoka was up 7-4 against Sundre. All they needed to do was take out their opponent’s rocks to make it harder to score. This way there were very few rocks in the end to cause them trouble. Once it was clear Sundre couldn’t score enough, they called the game. Playing on Sheet 6 caused some added challenges for
the opposition. Several times, Sundre attempted a shot that ended up going wide to the left and right of their intended shot. Ponoka had prepared for Sheet 6 and it paid off. “The sheet can be very unpredictable … We figured out the ice early,” said Smith. The boys and mixed teams didn’t make it to playoffs both ending up with records of one win and two losses. Boys’ skip Matthew Jones said their first game against Manning was their biggest challenge, which they lost 9-2. Their second game against Slave Lake was a much tighter score, but still a loss at 8-7. “It was back and forth and just amazing ends,” said Jones of the game. A win against Slave Lake would have been possible had a takeout shot landed its mark. Despite the loss Jones said they went in to have fun over the course of the weekend. He was pleased with their 7-5 win against Claresholm after securing four points in the third end, which helped their overall total. Mixed team coach Andrew Jones said their first game proved their strongest winning 6-3 against High Prairie. “It was a good opening game. All of our team came out.” Their second game against Westlock was an 11-9 loss but at one point the team was down six points. Andrew said the thing that helped the mixed team was a positive attitude. “They have fun. That’s the biggest thing,” said Andrew. Their final game against Taber was a close 9-8 loss. It all came down to the final rock, said Andrew. The mixed team had a chance to take out Taber’s rocks and secure the win. “It missed and bumped theirs (Taber) in for two.”
Celebrating accomplishments: The Central Rage U13 girls’ volleyball team celebrate a strong performance at provincial Alberta volleyball tournament. The team finished fifth out of 32 teams at the tournament held Feb. 27 and 28. The team was seeded third in its pool of four and won all the games in their pool. Pictured are (l-r) Kiana McLean, Bailey Donison, Victoria Lockridge, Atom Roos, Gina Mercer, Cydney Newton, Lezah McGinnins and Kyrie Hemingson. Missing is Sam Little. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
PONOKA NEWS 23
More minor hockey teams dropped from playoffs PONOKA NEWS STAFF More Ponoka minor hockey teams dropped off from playoff competition last week with many players putting their skates and sticks away until the next regular season. Fountain Tire Midget Wolves were eliminated after three back-toback losses, two on the
road and one at home to Rocky Royals and will now start their off-season break. The first game of the series was played in Rocky Mountain House on Wednesday, March 2, when the Wolves tried hard but could not achieve a comeback after the first two periods dominated by the hosts, and when they put in the effort in
the third, it was too little too late 6-5. In the second game in Ponoka on Saturday, March 5 , Rocky Royals proved to be even more efficient than the first game in moving the puck and defeated the Wolves 6-4. The third game in Rocky on Sunday was a much drier affair in terms of scoring, but a
still tough game went to the hosts again: 3-2. As for the Ponoka Peewee Quality Paint and Collision, they were also eliminated by the Rocky Mountain House team in two games, the first being played on Friday, March 4, when Ponoka boys lost at home 8-4. Rocky Ice used the home ice advantage in the second game the next day
to finish the series with an 8-2 win. In the Atom Division, Tier 2 McDonalds Atom lost to Battle River Knights 6-0 in their home game on March 5 and 10-3 in the away game the next day while
Tier 5 Calnash Trucking Atom lost to Sylvan Lake Lakers 7-6 on March 5 in the away game of their series and could not extend the series to the third game when they failed to bring the 4-3 score to a tie.
Ponoka’s Peewee Quality Paint and Collision goalie Ethan Sharp makes a daring save Friday, March 4 in a league playoffs game against Rocky Mountain House. Ponoka lost the series. Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
UP-TO-DATE NEWS WWW.PONOKANEWS.COM
Cory Fillinger of senior boy Broncs attempts a five-foot jumpshot during their home game against the Rocky Mountain House Rebels on Wednesday, March 2. Broncs lost 76-46. Photo by Mustafa Eric
ANNUAL PONOKA SKATING CLUB presents
“A little bit of this and a little bit of that” at the Ponoka Recreation and Culture Complex FRIDAY, MARCH 11
SATURDAY, MARCH 12
SOLO SHOWCASE
CARNIVAL PERFORMANCE
At 7:00 pm Tickets $2 available at the door Flowers & Gifts available for purchase COURTESY OF
ONLY ONE SHOW!
At 11:00 am Tickets $5 available at the door
BIRD HOUSE BUILDING Saturday, March 19 at Lake PoÀanga DOORS OPEN AT 9 AM BIRDHOUSE BUILDING STARTS 10 AM - Lunch provided by PFGA - Youth must be at least 4 years old & have parental supervision
GUEST SPEAKER
Myrna Pearman - Ellis Bird Farm. Noted biologist writer & photographer For more information or to register call: Dale 403-783-2207 or Christine 403-704-4430 EVERYONE WELCOME! Our mission is to promote through education programs, the conservation and utilization of ðsh and wildlife and to protect and enhance the habitat they depend on. Visit our website: www.ponokaÄshandgame.ca
24 PONOKA NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
Butterfield brothers inducted Olympic hopeful into Alberta Sports hosts fundraising Hall of Fame boot camps BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Ponoka cowboys Brian, Bud (Vernon) and Tom Butterfield received special recognition for their dedication to the sport of rodeo. The announcement came from the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Monday, Feb. 22. Blake Butterfield was able to attend the induction ceremony and represent his dad, Tom, who passed away some years ago. Ranching and the sport of rodeo was something the Butterfields had in their blood. In their early days living in Ponoka, Brian said they learned to ride a horse almost as soon as they could walk. They needed the horses to get to school, he explained. “In those days you kind of had to make your own sport,” added Bud. Bulldogging, or steer wrestling, seemed to come as a natural sport to the two brothers. While Brian and Bud became heavily involved in the sport of rodeo, their older brother Tom worked behind the scenes as a planner for the Ponoka Stampede and the calf in-
Brian Butterfield dustry. All three have received numerous awards and acclaim. Perhaps the most proud moment was being inducted into the Canadian Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. In 1996, all three were inducted; along with high placement in bareback riding, Brian landed four steer wrestling championships and the Canadian All-Round Championship; Bud earned a total of six steer wrestling championships and Tom was recognized for his work with the Canadian Professional Rodeo Association CPRA. Both Brian and Bud were active in the Cowboy’s Protective Association and Brian served as CPRA president for one year in 1958. Blake said his father
Bud Butterfield
Tom Butterfield
The photos of Brian, Bud and Tom Butterfield at the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame sit along side each other after they were inducted in 1996. All three were inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame on Monday, Feb. 22. Photo courtesy of the Canadian Professional Rodeo Hall of Fame.
was instrumental, along with a dedicated group of cowboys, in getting the CPRA out of financial trouble and setting it up for success. His father had a cowboy way of living. “The harder you work, the more successful you are,” explained Blake. “I’m not sure where the sport would be without his input,” he added. For Brian, being in rodeo was in his veins. “You’ve gotta rodeo for the love of the sport.” It seems the three were inseparable. They start-
ed a feed lot business together, were inducted in the rodeo hall of fame together and although Tom couldn’t be there in February, all three were part of the recent group of inductees to the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. What Brian said he would like to see grow in the sport is increased sponsorships that will bring bigger financial benefit to the athletes. What sets rodeo apart from the rest of the sports, added Bud, is: “You are your own man.”
Olympic hopeful and Ponoka-raised Isatu Fofanah is hosting two fundraising workout classes with help from Rip’n Ronnie’s Fitness to help pay for her training. The sessions will be held at Rip’n Ronnie’s gym. Photo submitted BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Fitness buffs looking for a good workout will be able to get some handson training from Olympic hopeful Isatu Fofanah. The Ponoka-raised sprinter is training twice a day, six days a week in preparation for Team Canada tryouts set for July, but with the training camps, sprint meets
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and vigorous workout routines comes a high cost. To help pay for that, Fofanah is hosting two fundraiser boot camps with help from Rip’n Ronnie’s Fitness. Camps are set for Saturday, March 12 and 19 from 2 to 3 p.m. at the gym and organizers are asking for a $20 donation, or more if desired, to have Fofanah show them the ropes. Her goal is to “hopefully get people moving and changing their lifestyles and getting into shape.” While much of her training work is timed, Fofanah says she will get people into core workouts. “It’s a full body circuit workout that’s going to incorporate squats with dead lifts and light weights,” said Fofanah. For his part, Rip’n Ronnie’s owner Sheldon Ronnie said the company has always supported Ponoka’s athletes through free memberships and in Fofanah’s case, they have also donated funds to help with her goals. He said it’s not often people get to work out with an Olympic calibre athlete but added that all fitness levels are welcome. For more information call the gym at 403-7907476.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
PONOKA NEWS 25
Ponoka’s Marilyn Chidlow now a hall of famer BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Ponoka’s own Marilyn Chidlow has been inducted in the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. The announcement was made Monday, Feb.
22 at the hall of fame building in Red Deer where Chidlow, along with Brian, Tom and Bud (Vernon) Butterfield were inducted. Chidlow was inducted for her dedication to the sport of figure skat-
Ponoka’s Marilyn Chidlow was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Monday, Feb. 22 for her dedication to the sport of figure skating. Here she poses at her home in town Feb. 26 . Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
ing in Canada. Indeed, CanSkate, the watchdog for standards of training and development for figure skaters across the country grew in part thanks to her influence. In an interview, Chidlow said she received the call early in February that she was to be inducted and it came as a complete surprise. She developed a love of the sport as a young girl in Winnipeg, Man. “I can remember my first carnival. I was a Dalmatian dog.” She found her way to Edmonton and then Red Deer and eventually to Ponoka. “I could remember really striving for the tests I took because then we could skate indoors,” said Chidlow of her experience with skating in Edmonton. Life continued on for Chidlow who moved with Glen to Ponoka in 1973 to start a chiropractic service. Helping the Ponoka Skate Club was something she enjoyed. “We coached the little babies and the mom and tot program,” she recalled. This was the beginning stage of Chidlow’s deep involvement as a volunteer instructor with the training program for coaches and skaters. Chidlow was first asked to join the Ponoka club’s board and eventually the provincial board and to the top with Skate Canada.
out-of-town customers where they live WWW.PONOKANEWS.COM
Speed skater faces loss at nationals competition Page 23
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30
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NITY CONNE CTING THE COMMU| EDITORIAL@PONOKANEWS.COM
, JAN. 22, 2014 | 403-783-3311 Vol. 66, No. 4 | WEDNESDAY
Calumet Curling Club celebrates 60 years Page 14
Reflections of Ponoka A life dedicated to sports, family, and community Story on page 5
Rainbow face
durWilla Loveseth gets her face painted ing Family Day festivities at the Ponoka Feb. Culture and Recreation Complex 17. There were many events throughout 8. Ponoka. Photos can be seen on page Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Canada, as a volunteer, put Chidlow in the limelight and she said it was a tumultuous time for skating. The Canadian press bit into the decision and how it was handled. She was challenged as someone who let the Canadian team down in national newspapers and news shows. “It was a really low moment for us in sports.” Skaters she had helped nurture in the training program were hurt by that judging scandal. Seeing them at the podium receiving the silver medals is something that haunts Chidlow to this day. On a positive note, Chidlow used the lessons in Salt Lake City as a tool to help drive change in the judging system. “It provided us with a new judging system that can
be measured,” she said. Because of that issue she stayed on as president until 2006 and feels there is some vindication for the skaters who were eventually awarded gold medals. What kept her steady throughout the whole process, from training young coaches and tot skaters to being under the media spotlight was the athletes. “We just wanted to make it better for future athletes,” she said. Chidlow’s efforts in Salt Lake City earned her a bronze participation medal. Looking back at the the ups and downs and Chidlow says she is proud of the work Skate Canada did and for the advances made in training and in judging at a professional level.
Ponoka
VISITOR’S GUIDE
2016
& BUSINESS DIRECTORY Y
Reach PONOKA
In 1992 she was vice-president of Skate Canada, and eventually president from 2000 to 2006 and past-president from 2007 to 2013. With a group of dedicated planners, she helped develop the CanSkate program that is the main standard of training and development. Her focus has always been to benefit the skaters. Her dedication to the sport cannot be questioned. During the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics Chidlow, found herself in the middle of a media frenzy. The infamous decision that saw Canadian skaters Jamie Salé and David Pelletier awarded silver medals despite a strong performance put judges and their decisions into question. Being president of Skate
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PHONE: 403-783-3311 FAX: 403-783-6300
WWW.PONOKANEWS.COM
From the Ponoka Stampede to the beautiful Battle River valley, Ponoka offers many attractions to tourists and visitors. The Ponoka News will be publishing a 2016 Ponoka Visitor’s Guide in May. Presented in pony-tabloid format with a full colour glossy cover, the 2016 Ponoka Visitor’s Guide will provide essential information for visitors and tourists who come to our community.
COVER INCLUDES FULL COLOUR
Back Cover: $1140 Inside Front: $890 $890 With a distribution of 10,000 copies, the 2016 Inside Back: Ponoka Visitor’s Guide will be circulated to visitor Cover Deadline: information centres throughout Alberta, as well as April 22, 2016 at 12 NOON local hotels, motels, bed & breakfast facilities and retail shops.
Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to promote your products and services.
DISPLAY ADS Business Card: $110 1 ⁄4 Pg (31⁄4”x5”): $185 1 ⁄2 Pg (63⁄4”x5”): $330 Full Pg (101⁄4”x5”): $610 Advertising Deadline: April 22, 2016 at 12 NOON All ads include full colour.
PLEASE CALL FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK YOUR SPACE: 403-783-3311 • FAX: 403-783-6300
26 PONOKA NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
China: Another Chairman Mao?
GWYNNE DYER Think Globally
Opening the National People’s Congress in Beijing last Saturday, Prime Minister Li Keqiang set China’s growth target for the coming year at 6.5-7 percent, the lowest
in decades. Only two years ago, he said that 7 percent was the lowest acceptable growth rate, but he has had to eat his words. He really isn’t in charge of very much any more. The man who is taking charge of everything, President Xi Jinping, is now turning into the first one-man regime since Deng Xiaoping in the 1980s. The “collective leadership” of recent decades has become a fiction, and Xi’s personality cult is being vigorously promoted in the state-controlled media. Xi has also broken the truce between the two major factions in the Chinese Communist Party, who might be called the “princelings” and the “populists”. Xi, as the son of a Communist Party revolutionary hero who ended up as vice-premier, is princeling to the core. His centralising, authoritarian style is typical of this privileged breed.
The populists, like Li Keqiang, are generally people who grew up poor, usually in the interior, not in the prosperous coastal cities. They rose to prominence more by merit than by their connections, and they are more alert to the needs of vulnerable social groups like farmers, migrant workers and the urban poor. Most of them have come up through the Communist Youth League, and are known in Chinese as tuanpai (“the League faction”). Frightened by the non-violent demonstrations that challenged the Communist Party’s monopoly of power in 1989, for almost three decades these two factions have carefully shared power and never attacked each other in public. Xi has now broken that non-aggression pact, authorising open attacks on the “mentality” of the Communist Youth League in the media. The friction between the
Welcome to the new world of adult colouring
MIKE RAINONE HAMMERTIME
I was really interested to see a recent article explaining that millions of women and some men of all ages have become hooked on the new enjoyable and totally stressless craze of ‘Adult coloring.’ Apparently, this unique hobby and casual pastime started way back in the 1960s, and booming sales are now being realized for the intricately designed coloring books that have been designed especially for adults only. These quality and artfully laid out books come in all subjects and cultures to suit the creator, and these include nature and wildlife scapes, themes, characters and heroes from at home or throughout the world. The colors of our youth No matter how old or in which generation we may
now be, absolutely all of us will fondly remember the early adventures of our youth when we colored and scribbled for countless hours, especially on those cold, wet or sick stay-indoor days. As little duffers just out of diapers, we colored, drew, painted and dribbled on everything in sight, including paper, pets, magazines, walls, books, toilet paper and all the rest. Occasionally, we may have even tried to eat those crayons or stuff them up our nose, but we quickly learned that this was a no-no, and that treats tasted much better. It was always a special reward to be able to glue our very own creations in the family scrapbook or tape it on the frig, especially those really neat cards that we so carefully drew and colored at home or in school, especially for family birthdays, Valentine’s and Christmas. Later we got to tackle those magnificent coloring books, which contained so many pages of cartoons, action heroes, Disney characters, cars, trucks, birds, animals and so much more on which we spent hours alone or with friends transforming them into lots of neat pictures and characters in the wild and wonderful colors of our own choice. I will always recall at our house that my dad loved to dabble in ‘Paint by numbers’, where you really had to stay within the lines, be neat, and clean up the
brushes after each color. On nice days, we would dash outside, join the gang and use colored chalk to design amazing pictures and designs on the neighbourhood’s sidewalks, walls and playgrounds, which were likely the humble beginnings of the now popular and really wild graffiti era? The drop-in coloring sessions that have been formed are now being hosted at libraries, club-rooms or at the homes of the participants, but can also be organized for gatherings at long-term care centres, hospitals, clubs and on and on. Many who take part have whole-heartedly agreed that these ‘coloring sessions’ are ideal for changing mental gears, relaxing and exploring their creative sides while also enjoying some quality time for coffee, cookies and keen camaraderie with friends and neighbours. Maybe a few neat ideas for some future adult coloring get-togethers could include color the next U.S.A. President in naughty and wild colors of Hilary and Trump, color our Canadian Government in shades of dark red and long strokes of free-spending, and color our Alberta economy in shaky tones of black and blue, but eventually in the red with the NDP… Check the library for more info on the ‘coloring set’, and now that it looks like spring is just around the next slushy corner, just go ahead and have a great week, all of you.
factions has grown so great mainly because the Chinese economy is stumbling towards a crisis. Neither faction has a convincing strategy for avoiding the crisis, but each has come to believe that the other’s political style – authoritarian for the princelings, populist for the tuanpai – will make matters worse. The Communist Party’s dictatorship is founded on an unspoken contract with the population: we will provide constantly rising living standards, and in return you will not question our authority. But no economy can grow at 10 percent a year forever, or even at the currently advertised rate of 6.5-7 percent. In fact, China’s growth rate actually collapsed about seven years ago, but it has so far been hidden by a binge of debt-fuelled investment. When most of the world went into a deep recession after the financial crisis of 2008, the Chinese regime artificially kept the country’s growth rate up by raising the proportion of GDP devoted to investment in infrastructure to an incredible 50 percent. In the following five years, China was building a new skyscraper every five days. It
built more than 30 new airports, subway systems in 25 cities, the three longest bridges in the world, more than 10,000 km (6,000 miles) of high-speed railway lines, and 40,000 km. (26,000) miles of freeways. Tens of thousands of high-rise residential towers went up around every city. But the new towers remain largely empty, as do many of the freeways. These are investments that produced jobs at the time, but will not produce an adequate return on investment for many years, if ever. And to finance all this, the government let the country’s debt burden explode, from around 125 percent of GDP in 2009 to 220 percent now. All of this investment has been counted in the GDP figures, but up to half of it, or maybe even more, is bad debts that will eventually have to be written off. If only half of it is bad debts, then China’s GDP growth in the past five years has really been around 2 percent, not 7-8 percent. The crisis can be disguised for a while longer by printing more money, which the regime is doing. But that is putting downward pressure on China’s currency, the
yuan, which is currently over-valued by around 15-20 percent. Devaluation would give a temporary boost to China’s exports, but it could also trigger an international trade war that would drag everybody’s economy down. So at the moment China is spending $90 billion in foreign exchange each month to keep the value of the yuan up, but even with its immense foreign exchange reserves that is an unsustainable long-term policy. Sooner or later there is going to be a “hard landing”, and the regime’s very survival may be at risk. There is no evidence that President Xi Jinping has a better strategy for mastering this crisis than the rival faction, but the storm is obviously approaching and he is battening down the hatches. In his view, that means taking absolute power and building a personality cult of a sort that has not been seen in China since the demise of Mao Tse-tung. He is certainly not a vicious megalomaniac like Mao, but he clearly believes that he will need total control to get through the storm without a shipwreck. Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries.
Share your stories through library’s new project BY JACLYN BERRY
For those of you on Facebook, have you ever checked out the page ‘Humans of New York’? It’s a very interesting page that shows the people of New York, one story at a time. We at Ponoka Jubilee Library think the concept is so good that we’d like to steal it, and focus on featuring the citizens of Ponoka. We know people out there have many good stories to tell: where they’re from originally and how they ended up in Ponoka, how they met their spouse, their hopes and dreams for the future, the hard times they’ve gone through, etc. We are looking for people who are willing to share their stories with us, so they can be featured on our Facebook page, either with their name and picture or anonymously. If you are willing to take part in ‘People of Ponoka’ please contact
Jaclyn Berry, Library Manager at jberry@prl.ab.ca or stop by the library to chat. And feel free to check out the HONY page online, or borrow the book ‘Humans of New York: Stories’ by Brandon Stanton from the library to get a better idea of what we have in mind. We want to remind everyone that this Saturday, March 12 at 2 p.m. we, along with Ponoka Parent Link, are presenting ‘Coming Together: Legacy of Residential Schools’. We ask parents and professionals to join us at the Ponoka Elementary School learning common area, for an afternoon centred on building relationships and understanding between aboriginal and settler families. The afternoon will begin with aboriginal voices, as an elder from Maskwacis shares her experiences at one of these residential schools. Andrea Dyck, our facilitator, will then present a program that she has put together which shows us a picture of that time in our history. We hope that engaging with these speakers will promote understanding, dialogue and discussion to aid in building relationships. We must,
as a community, contribute positively to the necessary and important work of healing and reconciliation. Traditional refreshments of bannock and tea will be served, please register at either Ponoka Jubilee Library or Ponoka Parent Link Centre. We hope to see many people come together for this very important event. For those of you who are currently looking for work, we want to let you know that we have six public computers available for use on which you can create resumes, and search and apply for jobs. We also offer printing/ photocopying and faxing services for a fee, as well as scanning and emailing for no cost. We suggest that if you know when you are going to be at the library to call and book a time in advance to ensure that a computer is available for you, otherwise they may be busy when you arrive. Simply call us at 403783-3843, and we’ll be happy to help you. Coming soon: From bestselling author Laura Childs comes another book in the Tea Shop Mysteries, ‘Devonshire Scream’.
PONOKA NEWS 27
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
County
CLASSIFIEDS
REACH OVER 217,000 READERS With one of these great deals! 6 PACK 8 PACK
Announcements
What’s Happening
50-70
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ADPACK ALL IN 1
Employment
Services Directory
700-920
Items Buy/Sell
1010-1430
5019A Chipman Ave. Box 4217 Ponoka, AB T4J 1R6
Agriculture
1500-1990
2010-2210
FAX: 403-783-6300
announcements
Coming Events
52
Coming Events
MASS Ellen Lorena Mass was born on October 8, 1922 in Welsh, Alberta. She passed away in Lacombe on February 21, 2016. She is lovingly remembered by her sons Larry, James, Hugh, Robert, and Martin and their families; her sister Hilda Stickle; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her husband Ernest; her daughter-in-law Cathy; her parents; her four brothers and three sisters. In lieu of flowers, any donation may be made to the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ponoka for their missions and Stepping Stones programs. A Funeral Service was held at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church on Tuesday, March 1st at 1:00 p.m. with Reverend Tim Graff officiating. To express condolences to Ellen’s family, please visit www.womboldfuneralhomes.com
+
A Star Makes Your Ad A Winner! CALL:
1-877-223-3311 To Place Your Ad Now! Coming Events
52
BEACH Darlene 1939 - 2016 Darlene was born in Lacombe the 8th child of Owen and Clara Pierson on July 6 1939. She took her schooling in Morningside. On May 17th 1956 she married Raymond Beach and they lived in the Morningside area their entire lives. Darlene loved going for long country tours, playing cards, doing crossword puzzles and picking berries with her daughters and granddaughters. Darlene is survived by her children Sharon (Harry), Danny (Edith), Johnny (Shelly), Brenda (Greg), Bonnie (Steve), grandchildren Cecil (Jennifer), Les (Candace), Pamela (Alden), Clayton, Melissa, Natasha, James, Josie, Jonathon, Emily, Jessica, Evan, Christel (Earl) and Justin, great grandchildren Jack, Olivia, Jasey, Nickoli, Gunner and August. She was predeceased by husband Raymond Beach and her son Cecil Beach. Funeral Services were held from Wilson’s Funeral Chapel, 6120 Highway 2A, Lacombe, AB. on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 1:00 PM. Interment followed in the Fairview Cemetery, Lacombe, AB. Expressions of sympathy may be made by visiting www.wilsonsfuneralchapel.ca WILSON’S FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM of Lacombe and Rimbey in charge of the arrangements. 403-782-3366 403-843-3388 “A Caring Family, Caring For Families” For 40 years
CLASSIFIED N.E. BUY • • • • • • •
Ponoka News Stettler Independent Bashaw Star Castor Advance Weekender Lacombe Express Pipestone Flyer
Starting at 25 words for $53.55 Call toll free 1-877-223-3311 or Local 403-309-3300
Sat., March 19 – 10am – 4pm Sun., March 20 – 12pm – 3pm At the Ponoka United Church (5020 52 Ave)
Registration: 9:30am Sat. morning Cost: $25/person or $50/family
Meetings
PONOKA NEWS Publication date: Wednesday, March 30 DEADLINE: Thursday, March 24, 2016 @5 pm CALL CLASSIFIEDS 403-309-3300 admin@ponokanews.com
52
GET MORE COVERAGE WITH YOUR AD JUST ASK FOR THE
CLASSIFIED N.W. BUY • • • • • •
Ponoka Rimbey Eckville Sylvan Lake Lacombe Pipestone Flyer
Starting at 25 words for $45.90 Call toll free 1-877-223-3311 or Local 403-309-3300
S
59
Tuesday, March 15, 2016 – 7:00 pm Hudson’s Green Activity Centre Open To the Public We are looking for New Board Members and Volunteers Please call for an Application! Our mission is to provide support, referral and information to victims of crime or tragedy. PO Box 4068 5120- 50 Ave, Ponoka, AB T4J 1R5 ponokavictimservices@shaw.ca
Ph: 403-783-6539
Janitorial
Office & Phones CLOSED Friday, March 25, 2016
Coming Events
2016 Annual General Meeting
Payable at the door
CLASSIFIEDS EASTER Hours & Deadlines
Vehicles
Public Notice
5010-5240
The easy way to find a buyer for items you want to FOR fast results: Classified sell is with a Classified Want Ads. Phone 1-877- want ad. Phone 1-877-2233311 223-3311.
In conjunction with
A Two-Day Introductory Workshop to Musical Theatre Dance
52
JUST ASK FOR THE
Klaglahachie Fine Arts Society PRESENTS
3000-4310
GET MORE COVERAGE WITH YOUR AD
#50 - # 70
Arts & Crafts Shows ..................50 Class Registrations....................51 Coming Events ..........................52 Lost ............................................54 Found ........................................56 Companions ..............................58 Personals...................................60 Bingos........................................64 Fitness & Sports ........................66 Happy Ads .................................70
Rental & Real Estate
6010
EMAIL: classifieds@ponokanews.com
What’s Happening
Obituaries
1-877-223-3311
Meetings
59
PONOKA WHEELCHAIR VAN SOCIETY
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Monday, March 21 at 7:00 pm
Senior Drop In Centre
EVERYONE WELCOME!
AL-ANON WEEKLY MEETING FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF ALCOHOLICS. Tuesdays 8 p.m. Neighborhood Place 5201 - 49 Ave., Ponoka For more info 403-783-4557
ALATEEN
Weekly meetings Tuesdays @ 8 p.m. Neighborhood Place 5110 - 49 Ave. Ponoka For more info. 403-783-4557 or 403-783-8371 ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Monday night meetings at the Anglican Church Ponoka 8:30 p.m. Phone 403-783-0719 for info. THURSDAY AA Meetings at 8:30 p.m. in the Catholic Church basement. 52 Street & 52 Ave. Ponoka. 403-783-4347 403-783-3442
EASY!
The easy way to find a buyer for items you want to sell is with a Classified want ad. Phone 1-877-2233311
770 Employment Opportunity
Custodian Lacombe County is looking for a Custodian to perform custodial services and basic building repair and maintenance within the Administration office to ensure an attractive, clean and safe environment for those occupying and visiting the building. This position is full-time, 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week. The hours of work are typically Monday - Friday from 3:00pm to 11:30pm but may be changed for the right individual. This is a temporary position with a possibility of turning into a permanent position. This opportunity includes a comprehensive health and dental benefits package, a health/wellness spending account, professional development opportunities, and a supportive and healthy work environment. Full details of the position may be found under Employment Opportunities on our website at www.lacombecounty.com. Applications, including salary expectations, are welcome until March 24, 2016 to: E-mail: hr@lacombecounty.com | Fax: 403.782.3820 | On-line: www.lacombecounty.com
28 PONOKA NEWS
AG EQUIPMENT
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
60
Personals
Dr. FRANCOIS BOTHA has moved his practice to the Rimbey Medical Clinic, as of February 1, 2016 and is accepting new patients. Call 403-843-2256 to book an appointment.
READ BY 100,000 Potential Buyers???
Rimbey Implements Ltd.
TRY
Classified Advertising SERVING CENTRAL ALBERTA RURAL REGION
Al York
General Manager
CALL 1-877-223-3311
Medical
Employment #700 - #920 Caregivers/Aides................710 Clerical ..............................720 Computer Personnel ..........730 Dental ................................740 Estheticians........................750 Hair Stylists ........................760 Janitorial ............................770 Legal ..................................780 Medical ..............................790 Oilfield ................................800 Professionals......................810 Restaurant/Hotel ................820 Sales & Distributors ..........830 Teachers/Tutors..................840 Trades ................................850 Truckers/Drivers ................860 Business Opportunities......870 Miscellaneous ....................880 Volunteers Wanted ............890 Positions Wanted ..............895 Employment Training ........900 Career Planning ................920
Cell: (403) 783-0593
Rimbey, AB
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.
Sales & Distributors
830
LAEBON HOMES is looking for a full time Community Sales Manager to be responsible for both our communities in Ponoka & Lacombe. For more info visit laebon.com or email kwilkie@laebon.com
850
Trades
Bus: (403) 843-3700
Farm Work
Fax: (403) 843-3430
FEEDLOT in Central Alberta seeking F/T employee for feed truck operator and machinery maintenance. Send resume to fax: 403-638-3908 or e-mail to: dthengs@hotmail.com
Business Opportunities
NOW hiring one beekeeping assistant to start immed., and 3 honey extractors to start mid June. Must be physically fit and have driver’s licence. Great for high school and post-secondary students. Wage range $15-$17/hr. 403-843-3595
CONTROL YOUR FINANCIAL future selling Watkins products. Watkins has provided stability & high income for its associates for over 145 years. Join for less than $50. 1-800-279-6104. Email: watkinse@telusplanet.net.
ANIMAL SERVICES Ponoka IN-HOUSE GARAGE SALE WED. MAR.16th – SUN. MAR. 20th 5110 – 56 AVE. - FRONT DOOR PLEASE WED, THUR & FRI – NOON to 8 P.M. SAT & SUN – 9 A.M. to 4 P.M. (OR TILL IT’S ALL GONE!)
Business Opportunities
CONCRETE SERVICES
WETASKIWIN READY MIX •
755
790
Place your ad in this newspaper and12345 province wide $ with a combined circulation of over 800,000 for only...
This space could be yours for
35
$
PER WEEK plus $2.25 webcharge
Call 403-783-3311
plus GST/HST
Value Ad Network
870
A & J AUTOMOTIVE A & J AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR 6701 - 46 Ave. 6701 46 Ave. Ponoka, AB - T4J 1J8 Ponoka, AB T4J 1J8 (403) 783-8755 (403) 783-8755 Al Dickhaut Owner/Operator Al Dickhaut Owner/Operator
995
Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association toll free 1-800-282-6903 x228 email andrea@awna.com or visit this community newspaper
Business Opportunities
870
FREEDOM FOR SALE. Lease to buy. Nine hole executive golf course, serviced campground, family venture with 4 bedroom house. Turn key operation; www. rosebudgolfcourse.com; albert.nelson. clark@gmail.com. 403-823-5877. GREAT CANADIAN Dollar Store franchise opportunities are available in your area. Explore your future with a dollar store leader. Call today 1-877-388-0123 ext. 229; www.dollarstores.com. NEW EXCITING mini VLT’s. Produce buckets of cash monthly. Attracts customers like money magnets. Locations provided. Ground floor opportunity. Full details call now 1-866-668-6629. Website: www.tcvend.com.
Misc. Help
880
RIMBEY IMPLEMENTS LTD.
PLUMBING SHANDALL PLUMBING LTD. JAMES AVERY “Reasonable rates on all your plumbing needs” Gas Fitting - Home Renovations - Drain Cleaning -24 HOUR SERVICE-
403-304-7770
5306 - 60 ST, PONOKA, AB T4J 1K7 PH: (403) 783-6372 • FAX (403) 783-6345
BOBCAT SERVICES Sur-B Enterprises Ltd.
BOBCAT SERVICE • Snow Removal • Driveways & Parking Lots • Post-Hole Augering - 6, 9, 12, 15 • Corral Cleaning • Grading & Construction Call Jim Ashbough 403-783-2764 or Cell:783-2764 587-729-0092 Call Jim Ashbough or Cell: 588-0599 Jack Surbey 783-5283 Cell: 588-0597
OVERHEAD DOORS
REQUIRES A PART-TIME WARRANTY/SERVICE WRITER Experience an asset but will train right applicant
EMAIL OR FAX RESUME TO: heinzstalder@rimbeyimplements.ca
FAX: 403-843-3430
Gerald & Tina Owners
#4, 3616 67 St. Ponoka, AB www.doorsondemand.ca
403-783-2454
ACADEMIC Express
Squeezthee MOST out of your advertising dollars
Residential Commercial • Agricultural
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES
870
870
•
OPEN MONDAY TO SATURDAY Ph: 587-786-3142 780-352-4301 dmarkevich@wrmconcrete.com
MEAT CUTTER. Experienced, full-time Super A Lumby, BC. Fax resume to 250-547-2028 or email: sheardown34@shaw.ca. Call Scott 250-547-2236.
Business Opportunities
Ponoka Golf Club E S T. 1 9 3 6
NOW HIRING
Looking for motivated customer service oriented people.
POSITIONS AVAILABLE:
FOOD & BEVERAGE • Servers • Line cooks
• Prep cook / dishwashers • Beverage cart operators
PROSHOP • Clerks • Power cart & driving range attendants
Drop off resume to club house 9 am – 5 pm or email rob@ponokagolf.com 403-783-4626
ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Spring Start GED Preparation Morning, afternoon , evening classes in Red Deer and Central Alberta Gov’t of Alberta Funding may be available. 403-340-1930 www.academicexpress.ca ASPHALT PAVING COMPANY long established in Edmonton requires Salesman, Foreman and Workers for work in the city. Must have extensive experience with all aspects of paving and equipment operation. 780-466-7763. INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT SCHOOL. Hands-On Tasks. Start Weekly. GPS Training! Funding & Housing Available! Job Aid! Already a HEO? Get certification proof. Call 1-866-399-3853 or go to: iheschool.com.
Employment Training
900
HEALTHCARE DOCUMENTATION Specialists are in huge demand. Employers want CanScribe graduates. A great work-from-home career! Train with Canada’s best-rated program. Enroll today; 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.
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE FOR JUST
35 PER WEEK. $
PLUS
$2.25 WEBCHARGE
REACHING 6000 HOUSEHOLDS PER WEEK.
BOTTLE DEPOT
PONOKA BOTTLE DEPOT Open Monday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm
Closed Sundays & Holidays We Now Recycle Milk Cartons for Deposit
3, 5520 Hwy 2A (Across from Husky)
403-783-6875 SALES & SERVICE
Motorcycles & ATV’s Tues - Fri: 8:30 am-5:30 pm Saturday: 9 am-3 pm
403-783-5185 1-800-662-7135 Fax: 403-783-4635
PONOKA NEWS 29
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
DENTISTRY
RIMBEYDENTALCARE DR. STEVE CALDER BS C DDS
Family Friendly Dentistry Box 1100 4905 50 St. Rimbey, AB T0C 2J0
Business and Services Directory Legal Services
Ph. (403) 843-2173 Fax: (403) 843-2607
DENTAL CARE
Business Services #1000 - #1430
Caregivers
DENTAL CLINIC 403-783-5225
5118 - 51 Ave., Ponoka, AB T4J 1R5
www.birchlanddental.ca • DR. RICK BARR • DR. STELIAN LISMAN - General Dentistry - Orthodontics - Cosmetic Dentistry - Bonding - Veneers - Bleaching - White or Gold Fillings - Crown and Bridge - Implant Restorations
“WE ENTHUSIASTICALLY WELCOME NEW PATIENTS”
EYE CARE Drs. Heimdahl, ZoBell & Kallal 403-783-5575 1-800-662-7168 WWW.4YOUREYESONLY.CA
-
•
1060
HELPING HANDS Home Support for Seniors • Cooking • Cleaning • Companionship At home or a facility
403.346.7777
1180
Flooring
NEED FLOORING DONE? Don’t pay the shops more. Over 20 yrs. exp. Call Jon 403-848-0393
5120-51ST AVE, PONOKA
ADVANCED EYE HEALTH & VISION EXAMS CONSULTATION & REFERRAL SERVICES DESIGNER EYE WEAR & CONTACT LENSES INSURED MEDICAL EYECARE SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE FOR ALL AGES
NEW PATIENTS ALWAYS WELCOME
OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 8AM - 12:30PM • 1PM - 5PM
This space could be yours for
35
$
PER WEEK plus $2.25 webcharge
Call 403-783-3311 HEATING
1210
Health Care
HIP OR KNEE Replacement? Restrictions in walking/dressing? $2,500 yearly tax credit. $40,000 in tax refunds. Disability Tax Credit. For assistance. 1-844-453-5372.
1210
Health Care
1260
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.
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.
AN EXCELLENT CHOICE WHERE YOUR AD REACHES RURAL READERS
CALL 1-877-223-3311 CLASSIFIEDS Health Care
1210
Two Step Foot Care
Professional Foot Care for Seniors and Diabetics Clinics at Ponoka Professional Pharmacy Call 587-991-4132 For An Appointment Aileen Charchun LPN twostepfootcare@hotmail.com
Robin Esau
Ph: 403-782-7722 Fax: 403-782-7499
robin@KlesAir.com www.KlesMechanical.com
Advertise your business in the Business Directory!
Misc. Services
1290
Misc. Services
Misc. Services
1290
JUST MOVED?
1290
Used appliances available Six month warranty
Berni's Refrigeration and Appliance Service
1318
* Quality Boarding for your dogs & cats *Proof of vaccinations and advance bookings required
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.
403-783-6272
www.clinkerskennels.ca
Rental Misc
1350
Need RV or Self Storage? 8’ X 10’ mini storage units available for rent. Also RV storage. Secure compound. Call Keith at
Heather Goodwin 403-704-3647 heathermccg@shaw.ca
The right place to find the right person for the job.
First Call Towing
403.887.2331
783-3636
1315
Welding
1410
Welding
1410
Unplanned pregnancy may be difficult to face. We care. For confidential help call 403-343-1611 (24 hrs.)
• B-PRESSURE • PIPELINE • OILFIELD • ASME Section VIII Division I VESSEL FABRICATION & PIPING • SHOP/PORTABLE • CNC PLASMA CUTTING • ALUMINUM • SHEARING & FORMING
SIMPLE!
Well Drilling
MAIN: (403) 783-7591
1400 Need a
Tell them Danny Hooper sent you
FAX: (403) 783-8178 Website: www.harbinwelding.com E-mail: bharbin@telus.net
Well Drilling
1400
Well Drilling
WATER WELL
1400 but 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 Time Payment Plan O.A.C. for water wells and water treatment 12345
RURAL WATER TREATMENT (Province Wide) Iron Filters • Softeners • Reverse Osmosis • “Kontinuous ShoK” Chlorinator
We deliver and install your purchases.
403-783-4880
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
It’s simple to run a Garage Sale Ad in the Classified section and make quick cash. Phone Classifieds 1-877-223-3311.
1-800-BIG IRON (244-4766) View our 29 patented and patent pending inventions online at www.1800bigiron.com
P.S. We also drill for people who aren’t short of cash
900
MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employer-trusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!
Buy & Sell #1500 - #1990
HOURS: Mon - Thurs 9 am - 12 Noon; 4 pm - 6 pm; Fri. 9 am - 12 Noon; 4 pm - 7 pm; Sat. 9 a.m. - 12 noon; Sun. 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. & 4 - 7 p.m.
Our Hostess’ Gifts and Information are the Key to Your New Community.
Personal Services
Pet Services
CLINKERS KENNELS
CANADA BENEFIT GROUP - Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? G et up to $40,000 from the Canadian Government. Toll free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canadabenefit.ca/ free-assessment.
Mobile Foot Care Nurse
“Committed to your comfort”
Employment Training
*Big Iron drills all winter long* *check rig availability in your area
1530
17 QUARTERS OF FARMLAND near Brant, Alberta. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, March 24 in Lethbridge. Quality land, good perimeter fences, lots of water & surface lease revenue. Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; rbauction.com/realestate. 2237 +/- ACRES GRAZING LEASE near MacKay, Alberta. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, April 27 in Edmonton. 375 AUMs, natural water throughout. Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; Broker: All West Realty Ltd.; rbauction.com/realestate.
BIG STRAPPER AUCTIONS at The Moose Hall, 2 miles south of Ponoka on Hwy. 2A. Resuming weekly sales Wed.’s @ 6 pm. Antique sale 2nd. Sun. of Month April 10 @ 1 pm. TO BOOK YOUR SALE CALL 403-782-5693 or 403-304-4791 Check website for full listings www.bigstrapperauctions.net
UNRESERVED GUN & Sportsman Auction. March 12, 10 a.m. Firearms, ammo, taxidermy collection & more! 121 - 15 Ave. Hwy 14, Wainwright, Alberta. Scribner Auction, 780-842-5666; www. scribnernet.com.
30 PONOKA NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
HEATING & EAVESTROUGHING
Commercial - Residential Installations - Repair
3912 - 66 St, Ponoka www.wcmltd.ca
403.783.3501 wcmltd@telus.net
This space could be yours for
Auctions
Volunteers Wanted
35
Call 403-783-3311
On-Farm Mobile Veterinary Services Ultrasound-aided ReproducƟve Programs CETA CerƟĮed Dairy and Beef Embryo Transfer Herd Health
Phone 403-391-1684 ʹͶ
If interested please stop by the clubhouse at 5216 - 50 St. for an application and ask for Amanda
1530
ESTATE AUCTION Sun. March 13, 9:30 a.m. with coins Bowden Lions Hall, Bowden A.B. Coins, Paper Money, Collectibles, China, Furniture, Yard & Garden, Check the web for full listing & pictures. Just too much to mention Pilgrim Auction Service 403-556-5531 www.pilgrimauction.com
+
A Star Makes Your Ad A Winner! CALL:
Hillbilly Tree Mulching Ltd.
PASTURE & GRAZING LEASE near High Prairie, Alberta. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, April 27 in Edmonton. 80 Acres Pasture & 2 Parcels Grazing Lease. Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; Broker: All West Realty Ltd.; rbauction. com/realestate SHOP & OFFICE COMPLEX - Millet, Alberta. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, April 27 in Edmonton. 27,730+/- sq. ft. industrial shop & office complex - 40 +/- title acres. Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; Broker: All West Realty Ltd.; rbauction.com/realestate.
880
Supervisor/Lifeguard/Instructor
1.403.318.0498 1.403.358.0452
VETERINARY SERVICES
Southwest Industrial Park 4102-64 St., Ponoka 403-783-5200 8 a.m. - 5 p.m Mon. to Sat. • Open late Thursday 24-hour Emergency Call • Dr. Kelly Loree • Dr. Leighton Coma • Dr. Trevor Hook • Dr. Jasmine Hardy • Dr. Candace Wenzel
The Town of Ponoka supports our staff in certification, training and development. Opportunities for advancement within the Town and Aquaplex are available.
1680
REFORESTATION NURSERY SEEDLINGS of hardy trees, shrubs, & berries for shelterbelts or landscaping. Spruce & Pine from $0.99/tree. Free shipping. Replacement guarantee. 1-866-873-3846 or www.treetime.ca.
Misc. for Sale
1760
SAWMILLS from only $4,397. Make money & save money with your own bandmill. Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free info & dvd: www.NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT. 1-800-566-6899 ext. 400OT
1770
SOUND EQUIPMENT Incl. mikes, remotes,
* plus 10.6 % in lieu of vacation and holidays, as well as shift supervisor, evening and weekend shift differentials. Health and Dental benefits available after one month
The Town of Ponoka thanks all applicants in advance, however, only those being considered will be contacted.
Ponoka Veterinary Clinic Dr. Murray • Murray Jacobson, DVM • Jacobson Clayton West, DVM Dr. Clayton West • Nicole Macdonald, DVM • Katie Graves, DVM Dr. Ashley Shannon
Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 5 pm Sat. 9 am - 4:30 pm
24 Hr. Emergency 403-783-4348
5502 - Hwy 2A Ponoka, AB
T4J 1M1
Advertise your business in the Business Directory! PLUMBING
PONOKA PLUMBING & HEATING • JOURNEYMAN PLUMBER REQUIRED We now carry a complete line of Ritchie Stockwater parts 5110 -50 Street Box 4414 Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1R7
Hours of Business: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 5 pm 8:00
JESSE ZINTER Office - 403-783-5489
WATER WELL DRILLING SERVICE
Open to offers 403-783-3683
1790
RESTORED UPRIGHT PIANO
1900
Salary: Instructor AUPE Class 8 $17.94 to $20.83 depending on experience
VETERINARY SERVICES
speakers, music stands, large sound board, leather cases
To be effective in the performance of this position, an individual would require Excellent condition the following knowledge and skills: 403-783-3683 • National Lifeguard Certification • Water Safety Instructor Certification (WSI) Travel • Standard First Aid/Aquatic Emergency Care Packages • Basic Rescuer CPR SAVE 30% on our Heart of • Experience supervising aquatic staff the Arctic Adventure. Visit Inuit Communities in • Lifesaving Instructor, Water Art and Pool Operator I would be an asset Greenland and Nunavut • Excellent verbal and written communication skills aboard the comfortable
Shifts available include days, evenings and weekends. Applicants are asked to specify their availability for shifts in their cover letter. The successful candidate will also be required to submit a satisfactory Criminal Record Check.
403-783-3311
LOGS Semi loads of pine, spruce, tamarack, poplar, birch. Price depends on location of delivery. Lil Mule Logging 403-318-4346
Duties and responsibilities of this position may include: • Participate in the delivery of aquatic programs and provide “on deck” Piano & supervision of the pool area. Organs • Participate in the daily operation and maintenance of the facility. • Act as a shift supervisor as required
For just
Plus $2.25 webcharge
1660
FOR SALE
Keep it real.
Applicants are asked to submit their cover letter and resume to HR@ponoka.org with Lifeguard as the subject. Position will remain open until filled.
this space could be yours!
Firewood
Musical Instruments
Reaching 6000 households weekly
$35 per week
1620
A-STEEL SHIPPING CONTAINERS. 20’, 40’ & 53’. 40’ insulated reefers/freezers. Modifications possible windows, doors, walls, as office, living work-shop, etc., 40’ flatrack/bridge. 1-866-528-7108; www.rtccontainer.com.
Garden
The Town of Ponoka is seeking applicants for an experienced Supervisor/ Lifeguard/Instructor.
Can do trees up to 15” wide
EquipmentMisc.
1-877-223-3311 Supplies
Dr. Bruce Wine
TREE SERVICE
Doug Casey
Auctions
890
is requiring a volunteer to serve on the Board of Directors. Meetings are once a month breaking for the summer.
Misc. Help
• FENCE LINES • CUT LINES • POWER LINES • PIPELINES • BRUSH & BUSH • STUMPS MULCHING TO SUIT ALL NEEDS
1530
Ponoka Rising Sun Clubhouse Society
PER WEEK plus $2.25 webcharge
Bovine Veterinary Services
Auctions
COLLECTOR CAR COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION. 10th Annual AUCTION. 6th Annual Red Deer Collector Car Edmonton Motor Show Auction & Speed Show. Collector Car Auction. April March 11 - 13, 2016, 8 - 10. Edmonton Expo Westerner Park. Special Centre. Over 80,000 specGuests: Dan & Laura tators. Over 85% sold last Dotson - Storage Wars; year. Consign today. “Horny” Mike - Counting 1-888-296-0528 ext. 102; Cars; Chris Jacobs - OverEGauctions.com. haulin’. Consign today. 1-888-296-0528 ext. 103; The easy way to find a egauctions.com. buyer for items you want to sell is with a Classified want ad. Phone 1-877-2233311
$
VETERINARY SERVICES
1530
198-passenger Ocean Endeavour. Call for details! 1-800-363-7566 or visit www. adventurecanada.com. (TICO#04001400).
READ BY 100,000 Potential Buyers???
TRY
Classified Advertising SERVING CENTRAL ALBERTA RURAL REGION
CALL 1-877-223-3311
• Water wells drilled • Water wells serviced 403-783-2220 WEBSITE@DARCYSDRILLING.COM
WATER WELL SERVICE
ECKLUND
Water Well Service • Install & Service Pumps • Shock Wells • Pressure Systems Serviced & Installed Home: (403) 783-3712 Cell: (403) 704-3413
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE FOR JUST
35 PER WEEK. $
PLUS
$2.25 WEBCHARGE
REACHING 6000 HOUSEHOLDS PER WEEK.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016 Livestock
Agricultural #2000 - #2290 Farm Equipment ..............2010 Haying Equipment ............2020 Tractors ............................2030 Combines & Headers ......2040 Fertilizer Equipment..........2050 Misc. Farm Machinery ......2060 Equipment Wanted ..........2070 Farm Custom Work ..........2080 Farm Auctions ..................2090 Livestock ..........................2100 Livestock - Exotic..............2110 Sheep ..............................2120 Poultry ..............................2130 Horses ..............................2140 Horse Boarding ................2150 Riding Supplies ................2160 Horse/Stock Trailers ........2170 Pasture Wanted ................2180 Grain, Feed, Hay ..............2190 Seed Grain ......................2200 Seeding & Tillage ............2210
Livestock
2100
BAR-DALE LIMOUSIN, ERSKINE, AB. 40, two year old virgin bulls for sale at the farm. Fully guaranteed. Call Carole Barclay at 403-742-4825, Terry 403-740-5037 Ricky 403-740-5711. email bardale@xplornet.com
PONOKA NEWS 31
2100
CHARLOIS bulls, Red Angus bulls, Red Angus X Simmental 780-582-2254 Forestburg CUSTOM Made Heavy Duty PANELS WINDBREAKS, made out of 2 3/8 or 2 7/8 pipe, 24’ long. Also, custom made gates, bale feeders, bunk feeders and other requests. PH: 403-704-3828. PUREBRED red and black Angus bulls. 1 and 2 year olds. Semen tested and delivered. Vicwin Farms 403-784-3517, 403-318-7363.
2190
BRIGHT SEED WHEAT BARLEY CERT. HARVEST-HRS CERT.COPELAND-MALT CERT. REDWATER-HRS CERT. COWBOY-SILAGE CERT.FOREMOST-CPS CERT. COALITION-FEED FABA BEANSPEAS-CERT. LIMERICK FLAX-CERT. SOREL SEED OATS CALL DAVE HM.780-855-2240, CEL. 780-678-6329
Suites
3060
FOR RENT
HARVEST MANOR 1 bdrm, 2 bdrm & bachelor studio Working individual
403-704-3327 403-870-3899
FOR RENT
AVAILABLE NOW! 1 bedroom suite Utilities included $825/month
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.
403-790-6011
2180
For Rent #3000 - #3200
WANTED PASTURE TO RENT unsupervised or supervised. Interested in long term rent. 403-740-5197
PONOKA 2 bdrm. well maintained quiet adult building, no pets $790/mo. + power, heat/water incld. avail. immed. Brian 403-348-6594
3020
RED and black Angus bulls, will be semen tested and delivery can be arranged. E & L Ranching in Bowden, Eric @ 403 391-2259. Evenings @ 403 224-2396
Pasture/Land Wanted
Livestock
2100
LLB Angus 30TH ANNUAL
BULL & FEMALE SALE MARCH 12, 2016 at the Farm, Erskine, AB
Offering over 700 head of Quality Angus Cattle Canada’s Largest Angus Production Sale
• 150 yearling bulls • 100 two-year-old bulls • 100 purebred yearling heifers • 300 commercial Black & BWF heifers • 60 purebred & commercial bred heifers LEE, LAURA & JACKIE BROWN / TRISH & TIM HENDERSON Box 217, Erskine, Alberta T0C 1G0 Phone: 403-742-4226 Fax: 403-742-2962 llbangus@xplorenet.com catalogue online www.llbangus.com Misc. for Sale
Grain, Feed Hay
Houses/ Duplexes
Available April 1
Executive style 3 bedroom upper suite in duplex Suitable for working person or couple Oak kitchen 5 appliances All utilities and cable and internet included $1300 per month plus D.D N/P, N/S Call 403 341-9660 See Red Deer Kijiji for photos and e-mail AVAILABLE Immediately, 3 bdrms., 2 1/2 baths, house one block from general hospital. 5 appliances, double car garage. $1500. dd. Rent $1600. + utilities. 403-783-3064 GULL LAKE, Poulson pasture, beautiful 10 yr old log home, 2 bdrm.. 2 baths inÁoor heat,6 appls., deck & patio, gas Àreplace, $1500/mo, incld’s satellite tv, high speed internet & water. Avail. immed. 403-318-3746 NEWER 3 bdrm. townhouse, 6 appl., 3 bath, walk-in closets, deck, lrg. laundry storage room, 403-704-1221
Suites
3060
PONOKA 1ST MONTH FREE
3 bdrm., 4 appl., n/s, no pets, new paint, lino and blinds, in Riverside area, avail. imm., $995/mo., d.d. same, heat incl., 1 yr. lease min. 403 -619-5758
1760
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
Available Immediately 2 bdrm suite $900/mnth Utilities incl 403-790-6011
PONOKA, 2 bdrm. suite in Riverside. Fridge, stove, shared laundry. $675.. rent/dd. gas & water incl’d. Absolutely N/S, no pets, Avail. imm. **RENTED**
* RIVERSIDE APTS. * Newly renovated 1 & 2 bedroom units in Ponoka: 3724-45 Street. 403-357-0287
Pasture/ Land
3380
WANTED
4090
Manufactured Homes
NO MATTER WHO you are, we have a home that Àts your lifestyle at United Homes Canada. Over 40 years of experience in providing the best value in quality modular and manufactured housing. Call 1-800-461-7632 or visit www.unitedhomescanada.com to discover how we can help you Ànd your new home.
Buildings For Sale
4150
POLE BARNS, Shops, steel buildings metal clad or fabric clad. Complete supply and installation. Call John at 403-998-7907; jcameron@ advancebuildings.com.
Financial #4400 - #4430 Investments ......................4410 Money Wanted ................4420 Money to Loan ................4430
Money To Loan
4430
GET BACK on track! Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed? Need money? We lend! If you own your own home - you qualify. Pioneer Acceptance Corp. Member BBB. 1-877-987-1420; www.pioneerwest.com.
Summer pasture for mares & colts or cows & calves. Contact Jerry Dodds
403-783-0303
Public Notice #6000 Public Notices ..................6010 Special Features ..............6050
Real Estate #4000 - #4190 Condos/ Townhouses
4040
NEED to Downsize? Brand New Valley Crossing Condos in Blackfalds. Main Áoor is 1,119 SQ FT 2 Bdrm/2Bath. Imm. Poss. Start at $219,900. Call 403-396-1688.
Public Notices
6010
TENDER FOR CARETAKERS OPEN CREEK DAM CAMPGROUND From May 1, 2016 to September 30, 2016 For contract details please contact: MARC DUBIELEW
Farms/ Land
4070
5 PARCELS OF FARMLAND near Altario, Alberta. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, April 12 in Provost, Alberta. Fenced land, natural spring water. Contact Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; rbauction.com/realestate. PASTURE & HAY LAND. 400 - 8000 acres of year round water supply. Full operational with management available. Central Saskatchewan. Crossfenced and complete infrastructure. Natural springs excellent water. Shortly ready to locate cattle. Other small and large grain and pasture quarters. $150k - $2.6m. Call Doug Rue 306-716-2671; saskfarms@shaw.ca.
Rare book for both kids and adults to know more about the Pope
Phone: 403-704-3780 Email: marcdubielew10@hotmail.com Mail: Rimbey Fish and Game Association PO Box 634 Rimbey, AB T0C 2J0
Lowest tender will not necessarily be chosen. DEADLINE FOR TENDERS MARCH 15, 2016
+
Whatever You’re Selling... We Have The Paper You Need! CLASSIFIEDS 1-877-223-3311
TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER The Bookworm Getting something in the mail is a lot of fun, isn’t it? What was the last thing you got from the mailman? Maybe a birthday card with money. Maybe you got a postcard from Grandma or a package from your Auntie. Getting mail is a nice surprise, even for Pope Francis. He receives letters from all over the world, as you’ll see in “Dear Pope Francis.” Imagine being the guy who brings mail to Pope Francis. That’s what Antonio Spadaro did one day: on a “hot August afternoon,” he took thirty letters written by children from all over the world, and gave them to the Pope. Then Spadaro waited for answers, which he knew the Pope was eager to give. “…these are tough questions!” the Pope said. Even so, he knew just what to say. Pope Francis loves children, and he likes to talk with them and see their drawings. He remembers how it was when he was young: he liked to dance the tango, he liked soccer, and he recalls what it’s like when people you love argue. Don’t argue, he says. “That will be good for everyone.” In his answers to the letters, the Pope explains a few mysteries: a Canadian boy wanted to
know what God did before the world was created. A boy from Argentina wanted to know how Jesus decided on twelve men as Apostles, instead of more. A Nicaraguan girl wanted to know if bad people have guardian angels. A boy from Syria asked the Pope if the world might be “as it was in the past…” Lots of kids asked personal questions of the Pope: What makes him happy? Does the Holy Father feel like a father? What was the hardest thing he ever had to do? If he could perform miracles, what would he change? And then there are the really tough things: a Chinese boy asked if his grandpa will go to heaven. One child wanted to know if God can feed poor people. A Peruvian boy wanted to know where the miracles are. And an Australian boy asked if his mum in heaven has grown angel wings… Out of the mouths of babes? I think so; the questions inside “Dear Pope Francis” are sweet and innocent, but heavy in nature and they may be issues that you wrestle with, too. That means you’ll likely enjoy what you read, just as much as your child will. The Pope you see from video and visits is inside this book: there’s love and joy here, as well as gentle humor and a delightful amount of insight on his life and personal thoughts. Fr. Spadaro, in his afterword, tells what it was like to spend an afternoon with the Pope, where the letters came from, and how this book came to be. For 6-to-13-year-olds, that makes the Pope more accessible. For adults, there’s a lot of comfort and wisdom in this book. For both of you together, “Dear Pope Francis” will get your stamp of approval. “Dear Pope Francis” by Pope Francis, in conversation with Antonio Spadaro, S.J.; Tom McGrath, Project Managing Editor c.2016, Loyola Press $18.95 / higher in Canada 72 pages
32 PONOKA NEWS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2016
Hammy’s SPIRITS
OPEN
10 AM - 11 PM 7 Days A Week
LUCKY LAGER
MOTT’S CLAMATO EXTRA SPICY OR ORIGINAL CAESAR
355 ML 15 CAN
$
355 ML 4 BTL
8
$ 99 EACH
FAMILIA GASCON MALBEC
YELLOW TAIL SHIRAZ 750 ML
8
$ 99 EACH
750 ML
8
$ 99 EACH
CAPTAIN MORGAN SPICED RUM 750 ML
22 $ 99 34
$
NAKED GRAPE ASSORTED VARIETIES
99 EACH
1.14 L
17
750 ML
3/$2000
99 EACH
STARBOROUGH SAUVIGNON BLANC 750 ML
9
$ 99 EACH
OR
J&B RARE SCOTCH 750 ML
23
$
99 EACH
FIREBALL CINNAMON WHISKY 750 ML
22
$
99 EACH
EACH
7
$ EACH 49
NEW AMSTERDAM VODKA
1999
$
EACH
CROWN ROYAL WHISKY 750 ML
26 $ 99 37
$
99 EACH
1.14 L
Bay #5, 4502 - 50th St. • 403-783-2333 Prices in effect Wednesday, March 9 to Tuesday, March 15, 2016 Prices do not include GST or deposit. We reserve the right to limit quantities
750 ML
EACH