January 24 Tofield Mercury

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Volume 106 Issue 21

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Human waste and garbage found with thrift donations Page 2 Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Excitement builds for expansion as Tofield Golden Club celebrates 50 years Jana Semeniuk Staff Reporter

A planned $1.5 million expansion for the Tofield Golden Club could not have come at a better time.

With membership numbers exploding and a 50th anniversary year, treasurer Jim Robichaud said 2024 is starting off on the right foot.

“Our membership is going to quadruple, no questions about it,” said Robichaud. “We're already seeing it. When I came here a year ago, we were at 18 members, now we're at 110 or 115. Within the next 10 years, half our population are going to be seniors in a lot of areas, especially rural Alberta, so we’ve got to deal with that right now. We became an association in 1974 (and this year is our 50th anniversary year).”

Since making a presentation on Nov. 14 to the Tofield Town Council, Robichaud said the Tofield Golden Club have been busy making plans for their ‘Tofield of Dreams’. He added that the Town of Tofield has agreed to support the project by selling the Golden Club their existing building for a dollar in addition to funding the blueprints and conceptual drawings for the additions which are expected to cost approximately $40,000.

He said the Tofield Golden Club is in need of a complete overhaul from doubling the size of their facility to redefining the club itself. He said he has travelled across the province and spoken to other seniors’ clubs to see how they are managing. “(I wanted to find out) how are they dealing with creating enthusiasm, excitement and purpose for seniors. And they said, it's very, very difficult,” said Robichaud. “They shared a story with me that, years ago, our parents couldn't wait to be 65. And when they got to be 65, they proclaimed, ‘I'm a senior, I’m retired, I'm really going to enjoy the golden years, I'm really going to live’. Today in 2024, they don't want to associate with being ‘a senior’. There's a stigma. They don't want to be 65-year-olds, they don't want to go into a dormant state in life. They want to be excited. They want to take on the world.

And in the type of facilities that we and all the other senior centres in the province have, we don't have

The junior high Ryley Rebels hosted their first home basketball game of the season against Viking on Wednesday, Jan. 17. The girls’ game was fairly close throughout, with the score tied at 18 at the end of the third quarter, but they lost to the Viking Vixens with a final score of 18-21. The boys’ team also scored 18 points, but lost to the Viking Norsemen 18-64. “The Ryley girls and boys teams have tremendously improved since the beginning of the season. (Assistant Coach) Jen (Hilsabeck) and I continue to feel so proud of everyone for the hard work and dedication that is given at every practice and every game, from both the players and their families. Our next home game is January 29 against Daysland,” said Kady McKinney, the coach for both the girls and boys junior high basketball teams. Pictured above: Ryley Rebel #9 Sasha Hilsabeck-McKinney blocks a Vixen player.

KARI JANZEN PHOTO

the facilities to accommodate their mindset.”

Robichaud said that seniors today are more active and healthier than in previous decades and want to belong to a club where they can try new activities.

“They want to be active, they want to play pickleball, badminton, they want a gymnasium to work out. And that's what brought this all about,” he said.

Additionally, since the council meeting in Nov., Robichaud said the dimensions of the new addition had to be adjusted. He said the building will not only accommodate activities for the seniors but will also act as a disaster relief centre and make use of solar energy.

“It was going to be 100 feet long and 55 feet wide, but it’s too long to fit onto the lot. So I cut 20 feet off the front end of it and made a gymnasium off to the side. So what we are going to have is 80 feet wide and 88 feet long,” said Robichaud. “It's a very secure building, it's going to be a steel structure, it's going to be a disaster relief, capability building.

We’re (also) going with solar panels. (This building) is not just open to seniors, its open to everyone.”

Robichaud said the project will be done in phases,

and the next steps include a survey of the three-lot property. An estimated date for ground-breaking has not yet been determined.

Tofield Golden Club treasurer Jim Robichaud holds conceptual drawings (in addition to a photo of a group of happy seniors) for a planned $1.5 million expansion of the 50-year-old club which will include a JANA SEMENIUK PHOTO gymnasium.

Page 2 - The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Busy B sorters find human waste and garbage in donations Kari Janzen Staff Reporter

Busy B Bargains, Tofield’s non-profit secondhand store, is looking for more volunteers and cleaner donations.

Busy B is thankful for the community that supports the organization in numerous ways. However, receiving donations includes sorting through garbage and soiled clothes.

Treasurer and volunteer Debby Mosby says that this is not a new issue but has been a problem for many years.

Oftentimes garbage will be found within the bags and boxes, and items may reek of animal and even human waste. As well, Busy B asks that only clean clothes be donated.

Mosby said years ago Busy B did have a washer and dryer, but that is no longer the case and is not feasible, given the volume of donations they receive.

Currently, Busy B spends over $500 each month taking garbage and large items that are

damaged or broken to the landfill. Furniture, appliances, exercise machines, and water coolers are among the donations that must be taken to the dump.

“Furniture that is broken is probably the biggest culprit. We received a damaged ottoman that was stained and smelled terrible. Just gross, cat pee furniture.

We receive things that don't work, like blenders or coffee makers that are missing parts. Not only do we have to take water coolers to the dump, we have to pay for the Freon, which is another $25 charge. Large exercise equipment typically doesn’t sell and they are cumbersome to move,” Mosby said.

Many of Busy B’s current volunteers are seniors and have difficulty moving extremely large and heavy boxes or overfilled bags.

“We’ve received boxes of books a man could hardly carry. We're all pretty strong, but it was unbelievably big, and

filled solid with books.

Huge garbage bags full of blue jeans are also extremely heavy,” said Mosby.

Busy B currently has about 40 volunteers who take shifts working at the two locations, but they are always looking for more helping hands. Mosby said the number of volunteers could be attributed to more people needing to find employment.

“I think everyone is finding more people have to work. There are double income families and so we're losing that volunteer base. The majority of volunteers here are seniors and there isn't that next group of people coming up,” she said.

Busy B is currently looking to hire permanent part time staff to ensure consistent help.

“It will take away from what we are able to give away, but we're drowning in the sorting room back there. It's gone on for months, and it's not getting better,” said Mosby.

Every Monday unsold clothes and household

goods are removed and replaced with new items.

These donations are distributed to Haiti Arise, street people, Honduras and Africa We Care.

“We have a team that takes down everything Monday nights, and on Tuesday all the new clothes go up. We bag up what is not sold and it goes to Africa. The group we work with is called Africa We Care, and they physically deliver the clothing,” Mosby said.

As items come in, some are set aside for Haiti Arise and are not put out for sale. “(For example,) we don't put water-stained glasses out; they get boxed up and stored away to be sent to Haiti Arise. They come and get it, sell it in weight to Value Village, and then use the money to build hurricaneproof houses. It’s different than how Africa We Care works, because they keep the donations whereas

Haiti Arise sells it,” Mosby said.

In the last five years Busy B has given funds and item donations to over 50 local groups. Busy B’s mission is “To help as many people in as many places and as many ways as humanly possible,” and they work with many other organizations to pursue that mission.

People come from all over to support Busy B and purchase the secondhand items at very low prices.

“We have people that drive from Red Deer and Beaumont to deliver their stuff because of what we do. We sell for so cheap, plus we give money away. Two years ago, we gave just over $40,000 away. Last year we had to do some major repairs.

These new floors were $15,000, we had to do some work on the water lines, and fixing two roofs ate up (our funds) but we're ready to give donations again,” Mosby said.

Donations such as mattresses, box springs, large appliances, and toilets, as seen in the picture above, are not accepted at Busy B. Busy B asks that donors respect their guidelines and dispose of such items properly.

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The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - Page 3

Busy B Donation Guidelines Firstly, Busy B would like to thank the community (individuals, businesses, volunteers and workers) for all the support that Busy B receives. We would not be “Busy B” without your help.

Times are a changing, we no longer have the volunteer base we once had and the volume of donations has increased (especially since Covid).

The Board needs to support the hard-working volunteers and workers while continuing with our objectives.

Besides the generous donations here are ways the community can continue to help and support us so we can keep costs down and donate those funds to worthy causes within our community.

1. Take your garbage (especially large items) to the landfill yourself. We are currently paying over $500/month to take unusable, broken, incomplete items to the landfill. There are dumpsters throughout Tofield to take smaller items that are garbage.

2. Do not pack large boxes or overfill huge garbage bags. Large boxes full of books are heavy for everyone, but especially our senior volunteers and workers. Please pack donations in reasonable sized containers.

3. We have not accepted appliances, mattresses, box springs, and used toilets for many years.

Please respect our guidelines and dispose of those items properly.

4. Electronics that don’t work (appliances, TV’s, printers) – they don’t magically work when they are donated to us. Because of all the different types of electronics, we don’t have the storage or manpower to keep parts and assemble new from old. Recycle these items responsibly too.

5. Condition of clothes – we try to repurpose damaged clothing but are not willing to sort or handle clothing in a bag that reeks of animal or human waste. The whole bag gets thrown out for safety. Please donate clean clothes.

6. Toy boxes – we receive multiple boxes of dumped contents of toy boxes. Contents include broken toys, clothing, used diapers, food scraps and anything else that was in the toy box. We do not have the personnel to sort this type of donation. Please throw out the broken parts, bag “like” items so we can offer your donation for sale at a reasonable price.

7. Furniture – please drop off any furniture (in good shape) at Busy B North.

Thank you to all the people who are kind and considerate with their donations. There are many that support the work of Busy B and we appreciate you beyond measure.

Busy B has done some major repairs in the last year (floors, waterlines, roofs) but hope we can now move forward and begin donating profits again.

Groups and organizations can contact Busy B (busybbargains@gmail.com) or drop in for a form with donation request for Board review.

Busy B Bargains (both locations) are hiring two permanent part-time workers for

HELP WANTED

Monday to Saturdays daytime shifts with approximately 14 hours/week. Minimum wage.

Must be willing and able to: • Work independently at multiple tasks • Handle cashier duties • Provide good customer service • Able to carry bags and boxes (within store and from the drop off shed) • Cleaning duties if required (floors, bathroom, garbage)

Drop resumes at Busy B North to the attention of Scott (4920 52 Ave., Tofield) Deadline: February 2, 2024.

Page 4 - The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Holden Council decides to implement green light bylaw Kari Janzen Staff Reporter

The Village of Holden held their first monthly council meeting of the new year on Monday, January 15 at the Village Office. Following a presentation with an electric vehicle charger representative, council talked about the letter from the Minister of Environment regarding the potential of a 2024 drought.

“They want a decision on whether we ask Highway 14 Regional Water Services Commission to discuss this issue and impress upon the commission the need to devise a plan, or should we direct administration to communicate with the residents to impress upon the need to conserve water during the next year due to an impending drought situation,” said Mayor Tyler Beckett.

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Rosemary Offrey suggested both motions be made, which council did.

“Highway 14 is responsible for supplying our water, but we are responsible for using our water.

If council makes the first motion, I'll write a letter

to Highway 14 requesting that Highway 14, along with our representatives that sit on the commission, should come up with a plan,” Offrey said.

Council then looked at the ground water monitoring report for 2023 from Nichols Environmental, and moved to continue with them in 2024. When the question of how long the monitoring will need to continue for, Councillor Milt MacGregor said until the wells are clean.

“It will be in perpetuity until such time as there will be no more indication of pollution. The colour maps indicate that there are wells in the area that are cleaning up,” he said.

CAO Offrey said the summary provided on the report says two of the wells look good, and one is still a concern.

“They want to monitor that again this coming year. The other thing that was noted is that when Highway 14 did the water line on 51st Avenue, they destroyed one of our wells, so it can't be used. They may need to drill another well to be able to monitor that

area,” said Offrey.

Council accepted the notice of Beaver Emergency Services Commission’s (BESC) approved operational budget for 2024 as information, and discussed implementing the green light bylaw in the village.

“This is the vehicle equipment regulations that allow volunteer firefighters, only when responding to an emergency, to turn on a green strobe light on their vehicle to allow others to know that they are responding to an emergency,” Beckett said.

“This bylaw is required in order for them to use it within our village boundaries. BESC allows it, Beaver County allows it, and we need to enable it otherwise anyone using it within the town limits is technically breaking the law,” said Beckett.

Mayor Beckett further explained that the green light does not require other road users to move, and does not permit the volunteer firefighters to break any laws.

“It is just simply allowing them to turn it on to let others know that they are trying to respond to a call where seconds could

Tofield Senior Lodge manager stepping down Jana Semeniuk Staff Reporter

Tofield Senior Lodge manager Lynette Warawa is stepping away from her role as manager to pursue another position with Tofield Family and Community Support Services. Her last day at Tofield Senior Lodge is Jan. 26.

Warawa said she has been with the lodge for 11 years and said she will

miss the seniors she sees every day.

“It has been the most rewarding job in the world. These residents are my family,” she said.

“That's going to be really hard to leave them.”

Warawa said although she is sad to leave the lodge, her new role with FCSS will still have her working with the senior population.

“That’s where my heart is. My heart is with the

seniors,” she said.

Warawa said coworker Barb Layman will be stepping into her position until a new manager is hired.

matter, and it must only be used during an emergency.”

Council directed administration to create the green light bylaw for review at February’s meeting.

Councillor MacGregor introduced discussion on the village website, indicating that at a museum meeting it was understood that the organization did not have its own page. However, the website was pulled up and displayed the contrary.

“As far as I know, there's not an organization in the village that isn't mentioned on our website, with a write up.

If any of those organizations that you're involved with are concerned about what they can't find on a website, send them to see me so that I can show

them and walk them through it,” Offrey said.

Councillor MacGregor suggested that each councillor, when they attend their meeting with their groups, mention the website and see if any changes need to be made.

Council also decided to allow administration to move forward with the idea of offering salt and sand to village residents for the safety maintenance of public sidewalks, as there has been significant ice buildup.

“Ice melt, apparently the price has gone through the roof, is very expensive.

Amber (Kostyk, administrative assistant), Dave (Marko, public works foreman) and I came up with the idea of offering residents the potential use of free salt and sand. Obviously,

that’s going to affect the budget a little bit, but we don't expect it to affect a lot. I need council’s permission to be able to implement a free salt and sand idea for sidewalk use,” Offrey said.

Council also approved the change of the Village’s slogan from ‘Share the charm of country living’ to ‘Holden has heart.’

“When we did our strategic plan, we came up with a new tagline, ‘Holden has heart.’ The Economic Development Committee (EDC) wants to do some advertising and we're suggesting that we need a new logo that incorporates this new tagline. We will try to get the kids involved at the school for a logo contest,” said Offrey.

Members of the Royal Canadian Legion Ryley Branch No. 192 would like to thank the following organizations and individuals for their generous donations to our annual poppy campaign.

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The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - Page 5

Successful lunch for Golden Club Tofield Arena to move to Phase 2 Kari Janzen Staff Reporter

The Tofield Golden Club held a soup, sandwich, and sweets lunch on Friday, January 19.

Nearly 90 people were served including those who sat down to eat and visit, and those who ordered takeout.

“We were very happy with the turnout. The cold weather didn’t deter most people from coming. Some ordered takeout to eat at their place of work but most people ate at the Golden Club while they visited, some staying for over an hour,” said club member Lynn Hryhirchuk.

Hryhirchuk said seven members were in the kitchen on Thursday making the corn chowder and hamburger vegetable soup, preparing for about 100 people.

“It isn’t just kitchen work that makes

these events a success. We had about 15 different members doing all kinds of jobs on Friday.

“Signs are put up around town, someone has to handle the money at the door, tables have to be set up and taken down, floors have to be washed and garbages need to be taken out,” Hryhirchuk said.

The money raised from their events go towards paying utility bills.

“Our heat and gas bill last month was over $900 and it wasn’t very cold out, so we are worried about what our next bill will be,” she said.

Hryhirchuk also said the club tries to have one special event every month, with the exception of June and July.

“We have three events in May and two in August, taking June and July off.

We will have a Valentine’s Day tea in February, and will have another soup and sandwich in March.”

Tofield Golden Club held a soup, sandwich and sweets lunch on Friday, Jan. 19 with over 90 people served. Pictured above are club members preparing sandwiches in the kitchen.

The sweets table was a hit for those in attendance.

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Tofield will use a Community Facility Enhancement Grant in the amount of $433,056 to move in the second phase of upgrades in Tofield Arena including the Zamboni room and possibly changes in the concession area.

“The arena upgrades were always planned to be done in stages,” said Tofield Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Jeff Edwards.

“With this funding we can certainly now move forward with the building of a new Zamboni room.”

He said the existing Zamboni room was at the end of its useful lifespan and from a safety perspective there were concerns identified and changes had to be made.

“The northeast portion of the building is where the new Zamboni room will probably go,” added Edwards.

He said the concepts still had to go back to the Tofield Ag. Society for final approval but both the Town of Tofield and Beaver County were on board for their shared funding of the project.

Edwards added there had been some talk of putting a stand-alone concession booth outside which could also serve the horse club and stampede.

He added that the concession could possibly be moved to where the meeting room is now and construct a new conces-

sion area which could allow access to the outside as the need required.

Edwards added that discussion was still very much in early stages.

He said once the concepts are all approved and the Ag. Society agrees construction could begin as early as April or May, but he stressed full approval had to be obtained beforehand.

He said designs were being discussed on moving ahead with the concession plan.

In addition to the CFEP grant Tofield and Beaver will each provide $216,028 to match the grant. Edwards added some additional fundraising in the community may take place.

The Tofield Arena is more than 50 years old so upgrades are necessary to keep the important community centre operating safely.

New lines and a concrete floor and some chiller work was completed over two years starting in 2022 and completed in 2023.

A reflective ceiling and heat pump were also upgraded at that time.

“This is a very exciting project,” said Edwards. “Any time you can better a facility and see what it does to bring back to the community is a great thing.”

He added even after the new Zamboni room is built and any changes to the concession set up done, there would still be smaller upgrades on an ongoing basis.

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Page 6 - The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

OPINION

Want to have your say?

Write a Letter: news.tofield@gmail.com (all opinions must be signed to be published)

JOHN’S RANT

A brother is always part of you

Sometimes even as you get older you get a first.

It happened to me last Monday.

My nephew phoned me before I was up in the morning. He texted me me and said “phone me.”

When I hadn’t answered the phone he also left a message. This was unusual for him.

His message said, “Phone me as soon as you get this message, Uncle John.”

Something was up. He never called me Uncle John. It was always UJ. So after getting a coffee I called.

He answered, we exchanged some pleasantries, and he said, “My dad died yesterday.”

This hit me hard.

While it didn’t surprise me in some ways … his dad had been in poor health for several years, but it still came as a shock.

I had never had a brother die on me. He was 73… three years older than me.

He was the middle kid in our family of three kids.

Suddenly I was still.

My brother gone, it wasn’t really expected and I never got a chance to say, “Goodbye… I love you.”

Now, I never will.

We often talked over the phone.

“Texting will not be tolerated,” was his abrupt message as he didn’t like new technology.

So we conversed in the time honoured method where our talk was honest, upfront and personal.

Still for a week I’ve been trying to come to grips with his passing.

I remember playing table top hockey as kids.

There were two teams on our hockey game - the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs.

He had declared, as the older brother, he had first choice and he chose Montreal.

That left me with Toronto and I’ve been a life long Leaf fan ever since.

We wore that game out playing each other and eventually graduated to shooting the small puck at each other down the long hall at the top of the stairs in our Brampton home.

Neither of us lost an eye but there were cuts and scrapes involved in this game that could get physical.

As I write this this I’m listening to the Rolling Stones “Out of Our Heads” LP. That was one of his first albums which somehow many years ago ended up in my collection.

My brother lived for the Rolling Stones. Maybe

going further... he worshipped the band.

He went to Los Angeles, Edmonton, Toronto, and I believe Regina to see his favourite band.

Surprisingly, Keith Richards has outlived my brother. Who would have thought that?

He also lived for skiing when he wasn’t working.

He travelled the Rockies from Jasper to Utah and Northern California finding snow to try.

When we first began skiing in Brampton on the hill across from Calvert's, which is now Centre St., he laughed at me as I continually fell down. I still don’t ski, but he had such a love for the sport. Skis and skates were alien to my body but I could play baseball, lacrosse, and football, which I did with great enthusiasm.

Not Gord. He skied and rode motorcycles.

His kids where bungee corded to him and their mom on the slopes, from as soon as they could walk. And their love for skiing continues to this day.

He loved his cars and motorcycles as well.

My dad bought an

Austin Seven in the early sixties for my sister to drive in. She had trouble with the stick shift, but my brother mastered it quickly.

He and I had previously run our dad’s abandoned ’59 Chev three-in-the-tree around our three acres of land shifting and trying some practice jumps with the car.

After the Austin he bought a souped-up mini Cooper which was subsequently stolen when he was working a job in Toronto.

He loved his European cars and car racing, things I also enjoyed alongside him.

When I took more to the cars, he took more to motorcycles.

From his first 125 cc Kawasaki to his Honda four cylinders to his Triumphs and more - he loved to ride.

He worked as a radiographer and made good

money to support his family. Unfortunately his time apart from family and some of the habits he developed undermined the family and eventually after his kids graduated colleges the family dissolved. But he still did love them.

He loved his three grandchildren, although he didn’t see them often.

My parents raised their three children, my sister, brother and me, as very independent beings. We loved each other, living together as kids, and that has continued throughout the years although we don’t live close together.

My sister is in Ontario, my brother was in Calgary and I’m in Fort

Saskatchewan.

When my birthday rolled around in October we all got together for dinner in Calgary.

For my sister and myself that was the last time we saw my brother alive.

So, so long Gordo … brother, father, grandfather.

You’ll be missed by your family and those you touched during you life.

You were a good person.

JOHN MATHER

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The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - Page 7

LOOSE ENDS My Dump Chair

Carol Livingstone Tofield Mercury Columnist

When we purchased our new sofa and loveseat back in November we were given a de-

livery date of Dec. 22nd.

That didn’t happen and all we got was ‘no there are no deliveries scheduled for that day,’ or any others we asked about.

First we were frustrated, then angry. Then we found ‘the fine print’ which was not fine at all, just so tiny you needed a magnifying glass to read it – that we should be prepared for a 5 to 7 week wait. The delivery was finally made, exactly 7 weeks after purchase. I’m

still wondering why they assured us we’d have it in time for Christmas.

Telling us we’d get delivery sometime in January would have been more honest and we could have put up our Christmas tree.

So our new stuff is finally here and we’ve been enjoying it for almost a week. The room looks quite handsome, except for the corner where I spend my time in my dump chair, which is

what I call the lift chair that does all the heavy lifting when I need to get back on my feet.

It sort of makes me feel like I’m in the back of a dump truck but fortunately I have control of the remote so chances of my sliding out like a load of pea gravel are slim. It’s all about foot placement (and socks that won’t slip).

It isn’t a handsome chair, it’s big and heavy and upholstered in a

blue-ish fabric so rough I almost get a gravel rash right through my clothing. It used to be situated with all my stuff at arm’s length – magazines and crossword books, afghan to cover my legs, Kleenex and chewing gum, a small table to hold the tea tray after supper and only a step and a half away from my walker – but now nothing is where I need it and the cluttered corner looks like a rat’s nest.

Not a good look right next to our new furniture, called classy, stylish, modern, attractive, and even sexy by visitors. I call it ‘so long 1980s.’

I’m trying to make some changes, with an eye on eliminating the eyesore aspect but since ‘honey, I shrunk that darn chair’ is not on the agenda maybe I’ll have to be satisfied with tossing a couple of quilts over the whole mess and calling it art.

RCMP Report RCMP investigating business broken into in Holden January 1 – Tofield RCMP responded to a multi vehicle collision on Highway 14 at Range Road 192. Upon arrival, a 34 year old male was located deceased at the scene. A second male was located with life-threatening injuries. The injured male was transported via STARS air ambulance to a hospital in Edmonton. Preliminary investigation revealed that the two men got out of their vehicle following a collision and were struck by a passing motorist.

January 3 – Tofield RCMP were on patrol when they witnessed a truck drive into a set of garbage cans in the Tofield area. Tofield RCMP attempted to initiate a traffic stop but the driver failed to stop for police. Tofield RCMP located the male at his residence who was showing signs of impairment. The driver was arrested and subsequently provided breath samples that were over the legal limit.

Tofield RCMP charged (48 year old) Brett TORPE with Impaired Operation

over 80 mg/% of a motor vehicle and criminal flight from police.

January 5 – Tofield RCMP received a complaint of a break and enter to a business in the Beaver County area.

Tofield RCMP were advised that electrical cable and components were stolen. The matter is still under investigation.

January 8 – Tofield RCMP received a complaint of a transformer pole located on a vacant rural property was broken off. The transformer appeared to be stripped

Attempted ‘Grandparent Scam’ lands one male in police custody On Wednesday, January 17, the Strathcona County RCMP Property Crime Unit (PCU) were alerted to an ongoing grandparent scam, where an unknown individual was attempting to defraud a 93-year-old male of $11,000 CAD. The unknown individual, posing as the victim’s grandson was claiming they needed

bail money to be released from jail.

Investigators were able to determine that the victim’s grandson was not in jail and an investigation was launched.

On Thursday, January 18, the Strathcona County RCMP PCU arrested one male attempting to collect the money from the victim.

Chad Michael Beck, a

38-year-old resident of Edmonton, AB was charged with: • Fraud Over $5,000, contrary to section 380(1)(a) of the Criminal Code of Canada.

Beck was remanded into custody and was scheduled to appear in St. Albert Provincial Court at 9:30 a.m, on Monday, January 22.

of copper wire. The matter is still under investigation.

January 12 – Tofield RCMP received a complaint from a rural resident regarding a utility trailer found behind some trees. Police attended and determined the trailer to be stolen.

The trailer was towed and the owner was notified. The trailer was stolen from a Saskatchewan business.

Matter is still under investigation.

January 14 – Tofield RCMP were on patrol when they noticed suspicious tracks leading through a fence into a farm. A stolen trailer was

located among some trees. The trailer was towed and the owner was notified. Trailer as stolen out of Killam, Alberta. Matter is still under investigation.

January 15 – Tofield RCMP received a complaint of a local business in the Holden area being

broken in to. Several small tools and supplies were taken. Matter is still under investigation.

Tofield RCMP ask that if you see any suspicious activity to please report it immediately by calling your local RCMP complaint line.

Tofield RCMP

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Page 8 - The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Sales Rep suggests level three EV charger for Village of Holden Kari Janzen Staff Reporter

During Holden Council’s monthly meeting on Monday, January 15 they listened to a presentation from D.A.D. Sales representative, Jason Oostenbrink, over Zoom. At the November meeting Council discussed the logistics of what installing an electric vehicle (EV) charging station could look like for the community and directed administration to seek grant funding and a knowledgeable consultant to help with the decision process.

D.A.D Sales is a sales agent for FLO in Alberta.

“FLO is a Canadian manufacturer that’s been around for 14 years, which is basically the lifetime of EV and EV infrastructure. We have about a million charge cases (number of vehicles charged) every single month and we have just under 100,000 chargers sold within all of our portfolio. FLO boasts 98 to 99 per cent uptime, which is the time an EV charger is up and available to charge a vehicle. If you invest in a charger and it’s not able to do what it's supposed to do, that becomes a very expensive paperweight,” Oostenbrink said.

As for market conditions, Oostenbrink said Alberta is a late adopter of electric vehicles, and there are several reasons for that.

“The bulk of the vehicle registrations for electric vehicles are in Quebec, Ontario and BC. Typically, they have warmer climates, they are more congested, and their provincial governments support the infrastructure. We see the adoption rate going up quite a bit in those provinces, and we are seeing, year over year, the adoption continue in Alberta. Of the vehicle registrations in Alberta, 1.4 per cent are currently EV or plug in hybrid EV.” Oostenbrink said that as of last year, 10.3 per cent of new vehicle registrations in Canada are electric vehicles.

“One big reason Alberta

is a late adopter is because we’re an oil and gas province. There is a bit of a stigma associated with EV. I know a lot of guys feel like we're trying to come into their space, but that's not really the case.

We're looking for a merge between oil and gas, and EV. As well, there's less financial incentive for people to convert over to EV. Typically, we see lower gas prices in Alberta. Because we're an oil and gas province, it's cheaper here,” he said.

The province of Alberta does not currently have any incentives for people to convert to EV. Holden CAO Rosemary Offrey said there was a grant available to local governments a couple years ago which covered 100 per cent of the cost to purchase and install an electric vehicle charger.

“A lot of municipalities across the province went for it, but Holden didn't. I did reach out to the provincial government to see if there's anything available for EV charging, and at this point, there is not,” she said.

Oostenbrink said FLO’s chargers ae very durable and are designed to work at extremely cold temperatures.

“All of our hardware is aluminum construction, very durable, -40 degree rated. The last thing you want is to have a charger not able to work in -40, which is what we just experienced,” Oostenbrink said.

Oostenbrink went over three charging options and their varieties. He suggested that the best option for Holden would be the SmartDC charger, which is a level three charger.

“Level two chargers require the vehicle to convert the power from AC to DC to charge the vehicle. A level three charger converts the power itself, it does the rectification process from AC to DC, and then we pump DC straight into the battery.

That way you’ll be able to charge between that one to two hour range. A level two charger can take anywhere from six to 10 hours to charge a battery from empty. Level three

chargers are typically on the side of highways or anywhere people are commuting,” Oostenbrink said.

While there is not any provincial funding right now, through FLO up to 50 per cent of the cost of the charger and installation can be covered by a grant through Enercan Energy Management and Pollution Probe.

"Alberta is not really promoting this as much as other provincial governments are, so there's no provincial funding at this time. The federal government is trying to mandate that by 2035, all vehicle sales are going to be electric. I would imagine that the provincial government is going to have to keep up with that by encouraging infrastructure, adoption, and installation. I think that will come, it’s just not here yet.

“You also have to get an electrical contractor to come do an evaluation of the cost of install, because the 50 per cent coverage of funding will cover the full cost of the unit and the cost to install,” Oostenbrink said.

Following the presentation Council discussed the potential funding through the Enercan grant, as well the potential of using other grants available. Mayor Tyler Beckett suggested fund-

ing for an EV charger could come from various grants, although Offrey said some grants cannot be stacked.

“You can tackle it three different ways: one, it could be climate, EV, etc.

Two, you can do it as in-

frastructure, or three, you can do it as marketing the village and bringing people in,” Beckett said.

Council accepted the presentation as information.

“I think it'd be a good idea to see what the com-

munity capacity grant can be used for. We can get together a list of our priorities that fall within its scope and go from that direction, so that we have all of our ducks in a row and all the information,” Beckett said.

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A NNUAL G ENERAL M EETING OFCO-OP BBEAVER C OUNTY S EED C LEANING EAVER C OUNTY S EED C LEANING -OP B EAVER C OUNTY S EED C LEANING CC - OP OO For September Sale: Common Seed on Oats, p.m. at 7 & Held October November 1, 2024 February Thursday, Pony Oats and Barley Open by appointment only at the Holden Complex

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A Free Weekly Publication Serving All of Beaver County Wednesday, November , 2023, Volume 16, Issue 46 Wednesday, Wednesday January February24, 16 2024, 2022 Volume17, 15 Issue04 7

Cargill closing Viking facility as of Jan. 31 Patricia Harcourt After serving the community for many years, Cargill Ltd. is closing its doors for good as of Jan. 31. The closure of the crop input facility and grain elevator will result in the loss of four jobs for the community, as well as business from area producers.

“Four positions were impacted by the closure,” stated Bridget Christensen, Cargill spokesperson.

“Employees were given two months working notice, offered severance and encouraged to reapply to open positions within Cargill.”

She added: “Impacted employees also have been provided access to career transition services.”

The reason for the closure is unclear; however, Christensen said it

occurred following a review process.

“We continually evaluate our assets to ensure they are safe and provide the best efficiency and value,” explained Christensen. “As part of that review process, the decision was made to close Cargill’s facility.”

Once the doors close at the end of the month, the next step has yet to be determined. “The future of the facility has yet to be determined,” she said.

It was the second to operate as a Cargill elevator in Viking over the years, with the first facility sold 14 years ago.

In 2010, the smaller of the company’s two grain elevators was sold to Providence Grain Solutions.

Providence bought Cargill’s Viking ‘B’ concrete elevator, which was located on CN track off Highway 14.

Cargill kept its “Viking West elevator” located half a mile north at the junction of Highways 14 and 36.

Christensen said Cargill acquired the current facility, now slated for closure, from Agricore United (now part of Viterra) “sometime in the 2000s.”

The closure of this second facility will end Cargill’s involvement in the grain industry in Viking and area.

“Farmers that typically delivered to Viking will now have the choice to deliver to Camrose or Vermilion,” Christensen said.

County looks to upcoming conventions to garner support Patricia Harcourt Beaver County is once again looking to future meetings to garner support for projects and gain learning opportunities.

Discussion at the Jan. 17 council meeting centred on possible opportunities to meet officials and provincial ministers at upcoming events.

Most importantly would be the Rural Municipalities Association (RMA) spring convention to be held March 18-20 in Edmonton.

Councillors agreed meeting with Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver was opportune for the county.

Council discussed the need to bring a list of topics, including the issue of the Local Government Fiscal Framework (LGFF) as sug-

gested by Reeve Kevin Smook (Division 1) and Councillor Lionel Williams (Division 2).

Williams noted that “some municipalities are not happy with” the program, but Beaver isn’t in that position.

“ABmunis helped the government “design and finalize the creation of Alberta’s newest municipal infrastructure program,” according to its website but is not positive about the change in programs from MSI. LGFF replaces the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) for capital funding to help municipalities with maintaining, improving or developing infrastructure in provincial municipalities.

Beaver County has a more positive attitude towards the new program.

“We probably came out with a win with LGFF,” said Deputy Reeve Gene Hrabec (Division 3).”

After receiving LGFF funds from the province prior to 2024, the county saved part of it for future needs, he said: “We couldn’t get all we wanted but we’re okay with it…

We came out ahead from where we expected.”

Other issues that council could talk about while meeting with ministers at the convention was funding for libraries, the need for an assessment model review, long term grant funding, water management as it relates to agriculture, and water supply as it relates to the county’s economic development needs.

“That’s plenty for a 15-minute window,” said Reeve Smook, referring to the length of time the meet-

ing would be with the minister.

CAO Kayleena Spiess suggested the meeting with McIver start on a positive note using the county’s successes as an opener. “Ministers like that,” she said.

And Williams suggested also discussing the LGFF on a positive note. “We should tell them it’s okay for Beaver County,” he said.

Reeve Smook agreed. stating the change to LGFF “could have been worse, it’s a good thing to open with.”

Other conventions discussed as opportune times for meeting officials included the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies (ASSST) in Edmonton Feb. 1-3, and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) in Calgary June 6-9.

2 - Beaver County Chronicle, January 24, 2024

ƺƏɮƺȸ !ȒɖȇɎɵ ǣɀ ƬɖȸȸƺȇɎǼɵ ƏƬƬƺȵɎǣȇǕ ɀɖƫȅǣɀɀǣȒȇɀ ǔȒȸ Ɏǝƺ ǔȒǼǼȒɯǣȇǕ‫ي‬

«I¨‫׏׎ٮגא׎א‬XzI« ٫ ǼƏƬǸ zɖǕǕƺɎ nƏǸƺ ٢ zn٣ ۭ !Əȅȵ nƏǸƺ ٢!n٣ !ƏȅȵǕȸȒɖȇƳ ȵƺȸƏɎǣȒȇ ƏȇƳ xƏǣȇɎƺȇƏȇƬƺ !ǼȒɀƺɀ Iƺƫ ‫ גא׎א ًד‬٫ ƺƏɮƺȸ !ȒɖȇɎɵ ǣɀ ǼȒȒǸǣȇǕ ǔȒȸ ƬƏȅȵǕȸȒɖȇƳ ǝȒɀɎɀ ɯǝȒ ɯǣǼǼ ƫȒɎǝ ȒȵƺȸƏɎƺ ƏȇƳ ȅƏǣȇɎƏǣȇ zn ƏȇƳ !n ƬƏȅȵǕȸȒɖȇƳɀِ «Iª‫א׎ٮגא׎א‬XzI« ٫ nƏȇƳǔǼȒȒƳ ۭ ƺƏɮƺȸ !ȒȇɎȸȒǼ ³ƺȸɮǣƬƺɀ !ǼȒɀƺɀ Iƺƫ ‫ גא׎א ًד‬٫ ƺƏɮƺȸ !ȒɖȇɎɵ ǣɀ ǼȒȒǸǣȇǕ ɎȒ ȒƫɎƏǣȇ ƬȒȇɎȸƏƬɎƺƳ ɀƺȸɮǣƬƺɀ ǔȒȸ nƏȇƳǔǼȒȒƳ ƏȇƳ ƺƏɮƺȸ ƬȒȇɎȸȒǼِ «Iª‫ב׎ٮגא׎א‬XzI« ٫ (ɖɀɎ !ȒȇɎȸȒǼ ³ɖȵȵȸƺɀɀƏȇɎ ۭ áǣȇɎƺȸ ³ƏȇƳ xǣɴǣȇǕ !ǼȒɀƺɀ hƏȇ ‫ גא׎א ًחא‬٫ ƺƏɮƺȸ !ȒɖȇɎɵ ǣɀ ɀƺƺǸǣȇǕ ɀɖȵȵǼǣƺȸɀ ɯǝȒ ƬƏȇ ȵȸȒɮǣƳƺ ƳɖɀɎ ƬȒȇɎȸȒǼ ɀɖȵȵȸƺɀɀƏȇɎ ƏȇƳ ɯǣȇɎƺȸ ɀƏȇƳ ȅǣɴǣȇǕ ɀƺȸɮǣƬƺɀِ ¨ǼƺƏɀƺ ǔǣȇƳ ƬȒȅȵǼƺɎƺ ǣȇǔǔȒ ȒȸȅƏɎǣȒȇ ǔǔȒ Ȓȸ ƏǼǼ ȸƺȷɖƺɀɎɀ Ȓȇ Ȓɖȸ ɯƺƫɀǣɎƺ ‫ ڽ‬ɖɀǣȇƺɀɀ ‫« ڽ‬ƺȷɖƺɀɎɀ ǔȒȸ ¨ȸȒȵȒɀƏǼɀ ۭ ªɖȒɎƺɀ ǔȒ

ƺƏɮƺȸ !ȒɖȇɎɎɵ ɵ ǣȇɮǣɎƺɀ ɵȒɖȸ ȒȸǕƏȇǣɿƏɎǣȒȇ ɎȒ ǴȒǣȇ Ȓɖȸ ȵȵȸȒɮƺƳ !ȒȇɎȸƏƬɎȒȸ nǣɀɎٍ çȒɖȸ ȒȸǕƏȇǣɿƏɎǣȒȇ ƬƏȇ ƏȵȵǼɵ ǔȒȸ ȵȸƺ‫ٮ‬ƏȵȵȸȒɮƏǼ ƫɵ ƬȒȅȵǼƺɎǣȇǕ Ɏǝƺ ǔȒȸȅ ǔȒɖȇƳ Ȓȇ Ȓɖȸ ɯƺƫɀǣɎƺ ɖȇƳƺȸ ɖɀǣȇƺɀɀ ‫« ڽ‬ƺȷɖƺɀɎɀ ǔȒȸ ¨ȸȒȵȒɀƏǼɀ ۭ ªɖȒɎƺɀ ٢Ȓȸ ɀƬƏȇ Ɏǝƺ ª« ƬȒƳƺ ƏƫȒɮƺ٣ ƏȇƳ ɀƺȇƳǣȇǕ ǣɎ ɎȒ ǣȇǔȸƏɀɎȸɖƬɎɖȸƺ۬ƫƺƏɮƺȸِƏƫِƬƏ ɎȒ ƫƺ ƬȒȇɀǣƳƺȸƺƳ ǔȒȸ ǔɖɎɖȸƺ ɯȒȸǸِ

!ȒɖȇƬǣǼ xƺƺɎǣȇǕ RǣǕǝǼǣǕǝɎɀ ‫ ٮ‬hƏȇɖƏȸɵ ‫גא׎א ًו׏‬ ¨ȒǼǣƬɵ ۭ ɵǼƏɯ !ǝƏȇǕƺɀ !ȒɖȇƬǣǼ ȸƺɀƬǣȇƳƺƳ Ɏǝƺ ȸƺǼƺɮƏȇɎ ƺɴǣɀɎǣȇǕ ȵȒǼǣƬǣƺɀً ƏȇƳ ƏȵȵȸȒɮƺƳ ȇƺɯ ȵȒǼǣƬǣƺɀ Əɀ ǔȒǼǼȒɯɀ‫¨ ي‬ȒǼǣƬɵ ُ! «¨‫ ח׏׎ٮ‬٫ ¨ƏɵȅƺȇɎ Ȓǔ ƬƬȒɖȇɎɀً ¨ȒǼǣƬɵ ُ! «¨‫ ה׎׎ٮ‬٫ !Əɀǝ !ȒȇɎȸȒǼً ¨ȒǼǣƬɵ ُ! «¨‫ אא׎ٮ‬٫ ¨ɖȸƬǝƏɀǣȇǕً ¨ȒǼǣƬɵ ُ¨(‫ ז׎׎ٮ‬٫ àƺȸǣǔǣƬƏɎǣȒȇ Ȓǔ !ȒȅȵǼǣƏȇƬƺً ¨ȒǼǣƬɵ ُ!xx‫ ב׎׎ٮ‬٫ ¨ȸȒƬǼƏȅƏɎǣȒȇɀً ¨ȒǼǣƬɵ ُJ à‫ ׏׎׎ٮ‬٫ ƬǸȇȒɯǼƺƳǕƺȅƺȇɎ Ȓǔ ÁȸƺƏɎɵ ³ǣɴً ¨ȒǼǣƬɵ ُR«‫ ח׎׎ٮ‬٫ 0ȅȵǼȒɵƺƺ ÁȒɎƏǼ !ȒȅȵƺȇɀƏɎǣȒȇِ !ȒɖȇƬǣǼ ȵƏɀɀƺƳ ƏǼǼ Ɏǝȸƺƺ ȸƺƏƳǣȇǕɀ ȸƺƏƳǣȇǕɀ Ȓǔ ɵǼƏɯ ُ‫ וג׏׏ٮבא‬٫ «ƺɮȒǼɮǣȇǕ nǣȇƺ Ȓǔ !ȸƺƳǣɎً Əɀ ɯƺǼǼ Əɀ ƏǼǼ Ɏǝȸƺƺ ȸƺƏƳǣȇǕɀ ȸƺƏƳǣȇǕɀ Ȓǔ ɵǼƏɯ ُ‫ דג׏׏ٮבא‬٫ Iƺƺɀً «ƏɎƺɀ ۭ !ǝƏȸǕƺɀِ ÁȒǔǣƺǼƳ ۭ ȸƺƏ RƺƏǼɎǝ IȒɖȇƳƏɎǣȒȇ !ȒɖȇƬǣǼ ƏȵȵȸȒɮƺƳ Ə ǕȸƏȇɎ Ȓǔ ‫ ׎׎אًב׏ڟ‬ɎȒ Ɏǝƺ ÁȒǔǣƺǼƳ ƏȇƳ ȸƺƏ RƺƏǼɎǝ IȒɖȇƳƏɎǣȒȇِ Áǝƺ xƏȸƬǝ ‫« ًגא׎א ً׎א‬ƺǕɖǼƏȸ !ȒɖȇƬǣǼ xƺƺɎǣȇǕ ɯƏɀ ȅȒɮƺƳ ɎȒ xƏȸƬǝ ‫ًוא‬ ‫ ًגא׎א‬ɎȒ ƏǼǼȒɯ !ȒɖȇƬǣǼ ƏȇƳ ƳȅǣȇǣɀɎȸƏɎǣȒȇ ɎȒ ƏɎɎƺȇƳ Ɏǝƺ «ɖȸƏǼ xɖȇǣƬǣȵƏǼǣɎǣƺɀ Ȓǔ ǼƫƺȸɎƏ ³ȵȸǣȇǕ !ȒȇɮƺȇɎǣȒȇِ ƳȅǣȇǣɀɎȸƏɎǣȒȇ ƏȇƳ !ȒɖȇƬǣǼǼȒȸ ƬɎǣɮǣɎɵ «ƺȵȒȸɎɀ !ȒɖȇƬǣǼ ȸƺƬƺǣɮƺƳ Ɏǝƺ ƏƬɎǣɮǣɎɵ ȸƺȵȒȸɎɀ ȵȸȒɮǣƳƺƳ ƫɵ ƳȅǣȇǣɀɎȸƏɎǣȒȇِ 0ƏƬǝ !ȒɖȇƬǣǼǼȒȸ ƏǼɀȒ ǕƏɮƺ Ɏǝƺǣȸ Ȓɯȇ ȸƺȵȒȸɎ Ȓǔ ȅƺƺɎǣȇǕɀ ƏȇƳ ƺɮƺȇɎɀ ƏɎɎƺȇƳƺƳ ǣȇ Ɏǝƺ ȵƏɀɎ ȅȒȇɎǝً ǣȇƬǼɖƳǣȇǕ‫ ي‬àƺɎƺȸƏȇɀ RǣǕǝɯƏɵ ɀɀȒƬǣƏɎǣȒȇً hȒǣȇɎ !ȒɖȇƬǣǼ xƺƺɎǣȇǕً ƺƏɮƺȸ 0ȅƺȸǕƺȇƬɵ ³ƺȸɮǣƬƺɀ !ȒȅȅǣɀɀǣȒȇً ƺƏɮƺȸ IȒɖȇƳƏɎǣȒȇً ÁȒǔǣƺǼƳ XȇɎƺȸ‫ٮ‬xɖȇǣƬǣȵƏǼ !ȒǼǼƏƫȒȸƏɎǣȒȇً RȒǼƳƺȇ ³ƺƺƳ !ǼƺƏȇǣȇǕ ¨ǼƏȇɎً ƺƏɮƺȸ 0ȅƺȸǕƺȇƬɵ xƺƳǣƬƏǼ ³ƺȸɮǣƬƺɀً z³á ٢zȒȸɎǝ ³ƏɀǸƏɎƬǝƺɯƏȇ áƏɎƺȸɀǝƺƳ ǼǼǣƏȇƬƺ٣ً ÁȒǔǣƺǼƳ áǣȇɎƺȸǔƺɀɎً xǣȇǣɀɎƺȸ «ǣƬ xƬXɮƺȸ ƏȇƳ ÁȒɯȇ Ȓǔ ÁȒǔǣƺǼƳ ȅƺƺɎǣȇǕً xǣȇǣɀɎƺȸ «ǣƬǸ áǣǼɀȒȇ ‫ ٮ‬ȵƺȇ RȒɖɀƺً xƺƏǼɀ Ȓȇ áǝƺƺǼɀً ƺƏɮƺȸ !ȒɖȇɎɵ àǣƬɎǣȅ ³ƺȸɮǣƬƺɀً ƺƏɮƺȸ «ƺǕǣȒȇƏǼ ¨ƏȸɎȇƺȸɀǝǣȵ xƺƺɎǣȇǕِ IȒȸ ȅȒȸƺ ǣȇǔǔȒ IȒ ȒȸȅƏɎǣȒȇ Ȓȇ ǣɎƺȅɀ ƳǣɀƬɖɀɀƺƳ ƏɎ Ɏǝƺ !ȒɖȇƬǣǼ xƺƺɎǣȇǕ٦ ȵǼƺƏɀƺ ȸƺɮǣƺɯ Ɏǝƺ ǕƺȇƳƏ ¨ƏƬǸ ǸƏ ƏǕƺ ǔǔȒ Ȓȸ Ɏǝǣɀ ȅƺƺɎǣȇǕ Ȓȇ Ɏǝƺ !ȒɖȇɎɎɵ ɵ ɯ ɯƺ ƺƫɀǣɎƺ٫ zƺɯ ƏȇƳ‫ٱٱ‬Ȓ Ȓȸ ƏȅƺȇƳƺƳ ¨ȒǼǣƬǣƺɀ ƏȇƳ ɵǼƏɯ ɯɀɀ Əȸƺ ɖȵǼȒƏƳƺƳ ɎȒ Ɏǝƺ ɯƺ ɯƺƫɀǣɎƺ ƏǔǔɎɎƺȸ Ɏǝƺ ƺɵ ɵ ǝƏɮ ɮƺ ƺ ƫƺƺȇ ɀǣǕȇƺƳ٫

ʿ˔ˡ˗˙˜˟˟ ʙ ˅ˬ˟˘ˬ ˇ˥˔ˡ˦˙˘˥ ˆ˧˔˧˜ˢˡʭ ʨʣʤʤʪ ˅˚˘ ˅˗ ʤʪʦ ʛʻˊˌ ʫʨʧʜ ʵˢ˫ ʦʥʥʟ ˅ˬ˟˘ˬʟ ʴʵ ˇʣʵ ʧʴʣ ˊ˘˘˞˗˔ˬ˦ ʬʭʣʣ˔ˠ ʠ ʧʭʦʣˣˠʮ ˆ˔˧˨˥˗˔ˬ˦ ʢ ˆˇʴˇˆ ʬʭʣʣ˔ˠ ʠ ʦʭʣʣˣˠʮ ʶ˟ˢ˦˘˗ ˆ˨ˡ˗˔ˬ˦ ˁ˂ˇʸʭ ˖˨˦˧ˢˠ˘˥˦ ˠ˨˦˧ ˔˥˥˜˩˘ ˔˧ ˟˘˔˦˧ ʤʨ ˠ˜ˡ˨˧˘˦ ˣ˥˜ˢ˥ ˧ˢ ˖˟ˢ˦˜ˡ˚ʮ ʴ˗ˠ˜ˡ˜˦˧˥˔˧˜ˢˡ ˕˨˜˟˗˜ˡ˚ ˀˢˡ ˧ˢ ʹ˥˜ ʫʭʣʣ˔ˠ Ϟʧʭʣʣˣˠʟ ʶ˟ˢ˦˘˗ ˙˥ˢˠ ʤʥʭʣʣ ʠ ʤʭʣ ʣʣˣˠ ˇˢ˟˟ ʹ˥˘˘ʭ ʤʡʫʨʨʡʥʥʤʡʥʣʦʫ ˃˛ʭ ʪʫʣʡʩʩʦʡʥʣʦʫ ʿ˜ˡ˗˕˥ˢˢ˞ ˇ˥˔ˡ˦˙˘˥ ˆ˧˔˧˜ˢˡʭ ʨʤʣʣʫ ˅˚˘ ˅˗ ʥʣʤ ˃˛ʭ ʪʫʣʡʩʩʥʡʥʪʣʧ ˇ˨˘˦ ʤʣʭʦʣ˔ˠ ʠ ʨʭʦʣˣˠʮ ˇ˛˨˥˦ ʤʤʭʦʣ˔ˠ ʠ ʩʭʦʣˣˠʮ ˆ˔˧ ʤʣʭʦʣ˔ˠ ʠ ʨʭʦʣˣˠ ˇˢ˙˜˘˟˗ ˇ˥˔ˡ˦˙˘˥ ˆ˧˔˧˜ˢˡ ˡʭ ʨʤʣʦʥ ˅˚˘ ˅˗ ʤʬʤ ˃˛ʭ ʪʫʣ ʣʡʩʩʥ ʥʡʥʪʦʤ ˊ˘˗ʟ ʹ˥˜ ʙ ˆ˔˧ ʤʣʭʦʣ˔ˠ ʠ ʨʭʦʣ ʣˣˠ ˠ ˉ˜˞˜ˡ˚ ˇ˥˔ˡ˦˙˘˥ ˆ˧˔˧˜ˢˡʭ ʤʥʨʣʦ ˇ˪ˣ ˅˗ ʧʫʣ ˃˛ʭ ʪʫʣʡʪʤʫʡʪʬʨʩ ˇ˨˘˦ ʤʣʭʦʣ˔ˠ ʠ ʨʭʦʣˣˠʮ ˆ˔˧ ʤʣʭʦʣ˔ˠ ʠ ʨʭʦʣ ʣˣˠ ʾ˜ˡ˦˘˟˟˔ ˇ˥˔ˡ˦˙˘˥ ˆ˧˔˧˜ˢˡʭ ʧʩʧʤʫ ˅˚˘ ˅˗ ʤʤʦ ˃˛ʭ ʪʫʣʡʥʥʩʡʩʫʣʥ ˊ˘˗ ʤʤʭʣʣ˔ˠ ʠ ʨʭʣʣˣˠʮ ʹ˥˜ ʤʤʭʣʣ˔ˠ ʠ ʨʭʣʣˣˠ ˃˟˘˔˦˘ ˡˢ˧˘ʭ ʴ˟˟ ˧˥˔ˡ˦˙˙˘ ˘˥ ˦˧˔˧˜ˢˡ˦ ˘˫˖˘ˣ˧ ˙˙ˢ ˢ˥ ˧˛˘ ˅ˬ˟˘ˬ ˇ˥˔ˡ˦˙˙˘ ˇ˥ ˘˥ ˆ˧˔˧˜ˢˡ ˔˥˘ ˖˟ˢ˦˘˗ ˢˡ ˆ˧˔˧˨˧ˢ˥ˬ ˛ˢ˟˜˗˔ˬ ˬ˦ ˦ʡ ƺ Ə ɮ ƺ ȸ ! Ȓ ɖ ȇ Ɏ ɵ ۴ ‫ ׎ ד ٮ ׎ א ׏ ד‬Ɏ ǝ ³ Ɏ ȸ ƺ ƺ Ɏ ً Ȓ ɴ ‫ « ً ׎ ג ׏‬ɵ Ǽ ƺ ɵ ً Á ‫ ׎ ג ׎‬۴ ‫ ׎ ב ו ב ٮ ב ה ה ٮ ׎ ז ו‬۴ ƫ ƺ Ə ɮ ƺ ȸ ِ Ə ƫ ِ Ƭ Ə

Beaver County Chronicle, January 24, 2024 - 3

Xx¨ «Á zÁ ( Á Á0³ hƏȇɖƏȸɵ ‫ז׏‬Ɏǝ‫ي‬ ‫¨ ב‬x‫ ي‬ǕȸǣƬɖǼɎɖȸƏǼ ³ƺȸɮǣƬƺ ȒƏȸƳ xƺƺɎǣȇǕ IƺƫȸɖƏȸɵ ‫ו‬Ɏǝ‫ي‬ ‫ ׎בيח‬x‫ ي‬JȒɮƺȸȇƏȇƬƺ ƏȇƳ ¨ȸǣȒȸǣɎǣƺɀ !ȒȅȅǣɎɎƺƺ xƺƺɎǣȇǕ IƺƫȸɖƏȸɵ ‫׏א‬ɀɎ‫ي‬ ‫ ׎בيח‬x‫« ي‬ƺǕɖǼƏȸ !ȒɖȇƬǣǼ xƺƺɎǣȇǕ

áR Á³ R ¨¨0zXzJ Xz È« ! xxÈzXÁç ȒȒǸ !Ǽɖƫ ‫ ٮ‬IƺƫȸɖƏȸɵ ‫ה‬Ɏǝ nȒƬƏɎǣȒȇ‫« ي‬Ȓɀɀ !ȸƺƺǸ !ȒȅȅɖȇǣɎɵ RƏǼǼً ‫« ׏ג׎׏בד‬Ǖƺ «Ƴ ‫׏ח׏‬ «ɖȸƏǼ ƫȒȒǸ ƬǼɖƫ ɎǝƏɎ ȅƺƺɎɀ Ɏǝƺ ǔǣȸɀɎ ÁɖƺɀƳƏɵ Ȓǔ ƺƏƬǝ ȅȒȇɎǝِ xƺƺɎǣȇǕɀ ȸɖȇ ǔȸȒȅ ‫¨ו‬x ‫¨ז ٮ‬xً ƏǼǼ ƏǕƺɀ ɯƺǼƬȒȅƺٍ (ƏȸɎɀ zǣǕǝɎ ‫ ٮ‬áƺƳȇƺɀƳƏɵ ƺɮƺȇǣȇǕɀ ƏɎ Ɏǝƺ «ɵǼƺɵ nƺǕǣȒȇ ‫¨ ׎בيו‬x‫¨ ׎׎ي׎׏ ٮ‬x nƺǕǣȒȇ ȅƺȅƫƺȸɀǝǣȵ ȇȒɎ ȸƺȷɖǣȸƺƳً ƏȇƳ ƏǼǼ ɀǸǣǼǼɀ ǼƺɮƺǼɀ ɯƺǼƬȒȅƺٍ (ƏȸɎɀ ƏɮƏǣǼƏƫǼƺ ɎȒ ǼƺȇƳ ǣǔ ȇƺƺƳƺƳِ IȒȒƳ ǔȒȸ ÁǝȒɖǕǝɎ ‫ ٮ‬Jǣɮƺ Ə !Əȇ ÁȒƳƏɵ ‫ ٮ‬IȒȒƳ (ȸǣɮƺ ÁȒǔǣƺǼƳ‫«ٮ‬ɵǼƺɵ IȒȒƳ ƏȇǸ ƳƺɀȵƺȸƏɎƺǼɵ ȇƺƺƳɀ ƬƏȇɀ Ȓǔ ǔȸɖǣɎِ !ƏǼǼ ‫ ׏׏דבٮאההٮ׎זו‬ƏȇƳ ǼƺƏɮƺ Ə ȅƺɀɀƏǕƺ ǣǔ ɵȒɖ ɯǣɀǝ ɎȒ ƳȒȇƏɎƺ ‫ ٮ‬Ə ɮȒǼɖȇɎƺƺȸ ɯǣǼǼ ȸƺɎɖȸȇ ɵȒɖȸ ƬƏǼǼِ !ƏȸƺǕǣɮƺȸɀ (ȸȒȵ‫ٮ‬Xȇ JȸȒɖȵ ‫ ٮ‬hƏȇɖƏȸɵ ‫ ׎׏ ً׎ב‬x ‫ ٮ‬zȒȒȇِ àǣǸǣȇǕ ³ƺȇǣȒȸɀ !ƺȇɎȸƺِ IȒȸ ȅȒȸƺ ǣȇǔȒ ƬȒȇɎƏƬɎ àǣǸǣȇǕٖ ƺƏɮƺȸ I!³³ ƏɎ ‫גא׎גٮהבבٮ׎זו‬ ÁȒǔǣƺǼƳ ‫ ٮ‬ÁǝɖȸɀƳƏɵɀً ‫¨ ח ٮ ז‬x ƏɀƺȅƺȇɎ Ȓǔ ƏȸƳȒ nɖɎǝƺȸƏȇ !ǝɖȸƬǝً ‫ וד ובוג‬ɮ ɮƺً ÁȒǔǣƺǼƳِ àǣǸǣȇǕ ‫ ٮ‬áƺƳȇƺɀƳƏɵɀً ‫¨ ׎בيו‬xً ñȒȒȅ ȒȵɎǣȒȇ ƏǼɀȒ ƏɮƏǣǼƏƫǼƺِ JȒǼƳƺȇ àƏǼǼƺɵ nɖɎǝƺȸƏȇ !ǝɖȸƬǝً ‫ הד ואבד‬ɮƺً àǣǸǣȇǕِ ǝɎɎȵɀ‫ٖ​ٖي‬ ٖ​ٖƏȸƺƏ‫זו‬ƏƏِȒȸǕٖȅƺƺɎǣȇǕɀٖ‫׏‬ ٖ‫ٖבٮוג׏‬ ³ɖƫȅǣɎ ɵȒ ɵȒɖȸ ƺɮƺȇɎ‫ٱ‬ Ɏ‫ٱ‬ɀ ‫ٱ‬ɀ٦ ɀ٦ ȅƺƺɎǣȇǕɀ ƏȇƳ‫ٱ‬ Ƴ‫ٱ‬Ȓ ‫ٱ‬Ȓȸ ǕƏɎǝƺȸǣȇǕɀ ɎȒ Ȓɖȸ ƺɮƺ ɮƺȇɎɀ ƬƏǼƺȇƳƏȸ Ȓȇ Ɏǝƺ ɯƺƫɀǣɎƺ٨ hɖɀɎ ǝƺƏƳ ɎȒ Ɏǝƺ ɯƺƫɀǣɎƺ٦ ɀƬȸȒǼǼ ƳȒɯȇ ɎȒ Ɏǝƺ ƬƏǼƺȇƳƏȸ٦ ɯƺ ȸ٦ ƬǼǣƬǸ ɎȒ ɮǣƺɯ ƏǼǼ ƺɮƺ ɮƺȇɎɀ٦ ɀ٦ Ɏǝƺȇ ǝǣɎ Ɏǝƺ ³ɖƫȅǣɎ Əȇ ƺɮƺ ɮƺȇɎ ƫɖɎɎȒȇ٨

(0à0n ¨x0zÁ ¨0«xXÁ³ Áǝƺ ǔȒǼǼȒɯǣȇǕ (ƺɮƺǼȒȵȅƺȇɎ ȵȵǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇɀ ǝƏɮƺ ƫƺƺȇ ¨¨« à0( ٢ƺɴƬƺȵɎ ɯǝƺȸƺ ȒɎǝƺȸɯǣɀƺ ȇȒɎƺƳ٣ ƫɵ Ɏǝƺ (ƺɮƺǼȒȵȅƺȇɎ ɖɎǝȒȸǣɎɵ ɖȇƳƺȸ Ɏǝƺ ȵȸȒɮǣɀǣȒȇɀ Ȓǔ nƏȇƳ Èɀƺ ɵǼƏɯ zȒِ ‫ ً׏׎זٮזח‬ɀɖƫǴ ƫǴƺƬɎ ɎȒ Ɏǝƺ ȸǣǕǝɎ Ȓǔ ƏȵȵƺƏǼ ɎȒ Ɏǝƺ ³ɖƫƳǣɮǣɀǣȒȇ ƏȇƳ (ƺɮƺǼȒȵȅƺȇɎ ȵȵƺƏǼ ȒƏȸƳٖnƏȇƳ ƏȇƳ ¨ȸȒȵƺȸɎɵ «ǣǕǝɎɀ ÁȸǣƫɖȇƏǼِ ¨¨0 n (0 (nXz0 ȵȵƺƏǼ ȒƳɵ ȵȵǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇ zȒِ ȵȵǼǣƬƏȇɎ nƏȇƳȒɯȇƺȸ nȒƬƏɎǣȒȇ (ƺɮƺǼȒȵȅƺȇɎ

I0 «È «ç ‫ גא׎א ًו‬ n¨«Á ‫ ג׎׎׎(ٮגאٮ׎א׎׎א׎‬ x J 0ȇƺȸǕɵ nɎƳِ !« IƏȸȅɀ nɎƳِ ¨ǼƏȇ ‫ ٕזאחא א׏א‬ǼȒƬǸ ‫ ٕ׏‬nȒɎ ‫ ב‬ǼȒƬƏɎƺƳ ǣȇ z0‫ٮח׏ٮ׏דٮד׏ٮ‬á‫ ג‬ (ǣɀƬȸƺɎǣȒȇƏȸɵ ȸɵ Èɀƺ ٫ zƏɎɖȸƏǼ «ƺɀȒɖȸƬƺ 0ɴɎȸƏƬɎǣȒȇ Èɀƺɀ ƏȇƳ Áɵȵƺ XX ٫ IȒɖȸ ٢‫ג‬٣ zƏɎɖȸƏǼ JƏɀ JƺȇƺȸƏǼ XȇƳɖɀɎȸǣƏǼ Èɀƺɀ ٫ Áɵ Ɏɵ Ȓǔ ‫ ׎חח‬Ǹá ٢ɀƺƏ ƬƏȇɀ ‫ٮ‬ JƺȇƺȸƏɎȒȸɀ ƬȒȅƫǣȇƺƳ ƬƏȵƏƬǣɎɵ ƺƏƬǝ ƫƺǣȇǕ ‫דِ׏‬ȅ ɴ ‫גِא‬ȅ٣ ƏȇƳ ȇƺ ٢‫׏‬٣ (ƏɎƏ ¨ȸȒƬƺɀɀǣȇǕ IƏƬǣǼǣɎɵ Ɏɵ ٢ɀƺƏ ƬƏȇ ‫גِא ٮ‬ȅ ɴ ‫גِא׏‬ȅ٣ ٫ ƏƳƳƺƳ ɎȒ ƺɴǣɀɎǣȇǕ ɯƺǼǼɀǣɎƺ ɯǣɎǝ ɯƺǼǼ ƏȇƳ ƬȒȅȵȸƺɀɀȒȸ

¨¨0 n (0 (nXz0 ȵȵƺƏǼ ȒƳɵ ȵȵǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇ zȒِ ȵȵǼǣƬƏȇɎ nƏȇƳȒɯȇƺȸ nȒƬƏɎǣȒȇ (ƺɮƺǼȒȵȅƺȇɎ

I0 «È «ç «ç ‫ גא׎א ًו‬ ³( ‫ ד׎׎׎(ٮגאٮ׎א׎׎א׎‬ IǼɖƺȇɎ ³ȒǼƏȸ JȒȸƳȒȇ ǣɎǸƺȇ ƏȇƳ (ƏȸǼƺȇƺ ³ɮƺȇƳɀƺȇ ¨ǼƏȇ ‫ ٕזזחא אזו‬ǼȒƬǸ ‫ ٕג‬nȒɎ ‫ א‬ǼȒƬƏɎƺƳ ǣȇ z0‫ٮ׎אٮ׎דٮואٮ‬á‫ ג‬ ȸɵ Èɀƺ ٫ ³ȒǼƏȸ !ȒǼǼƺƬɎȒȸً «ȒȒǔ xȒɖȇɎ ٢‫ חאِהבב‬ǔɎ ǔɎ‫א‬ (ǣɀƬȸƺɎǣȒȇƏȸɵ ǣȇ ƏȸƺƏ ɎȒ ƫƺ ȅȒɖȇɎƺƳ Ȓȇ ƺɴǣɀɎǣȇǕ ǕƏȸƏǕƺ٣

¨¨0 n (0 (nXz0 ȵȵƺƏǼ ȒƳɵ ȵȵǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇ zȒِ ȵȵǼǣƬƏȇɎ nƏȇƳȒɯȇƺȸ nȒƬƏɎǣȒȇ (ƺɮƺǼȒȵȅƺȇɎ

«ç ‫ גא׎א ًג׏‬ I0 «È «ç ³( ‫ ב׎׎׎(ٮגאٮ׎א׎׎א׎‬ ȸƺȇɎ ¨ǣƬƏȸƳ ٢ ȅȅȒȅƺȇɎȒ٣ RɖƫƺȸɎ ƏȇƳ hɖǼǣƺ Jǣƺɀƺ ¨ǼƏȇ ‫ ٕז׎ד׎ אדו‬ǼȒƬǸ ٕ nȒɎ ‫ ו‬ǼȒƬƏɎƺƳ ǣȇ zá‫ٮ׎אٮ׎דٮאבٮ‬á‫ ג‬ (ǣɀƬȸƺɎǣȒȇƏȸɵ ȸɵ Èɀƺ ٫ JƺȇƺȸƏǼ !ȒȅȅƺȸƬǣƏǼ Èɀƺ ٫ ‫ ټא׏‬ɴ ‫ټהב‬ ȵȒǼƺ ɀǝƺƳ ɯǣɎǝǣȇ Ə ‫בא‬ȅ ɴ ‫אא‬ȅ ȒɖɎƳȒȒȸ ǝƏȇƳǕɖȇٖȵǣɀɎȒǼ ɀǝȒȒɎǣȇǕ ȸƏȇǕƺ ɯǣɎǝ ‫׎׏‬ȅ ǣȇ ǝƺǣǕǝɎ ƫƺȸȅ ƏȇƳ ȅǣȇǣȅɖȅ ‫ ټז‬ǣȇ ǝƺǣǕǝɎ ȵƺȸǣȅƺɎƺȸ ǔƺȇƬƺ

¨¨0 n (0 (nXz0 ȵȵƺƏǼ ȒƳɵ ȵȵǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇ zȒِ ȵȵǼǣƬƏȇɎ nƏȇƳȒɯȇƺȸ nȒƬƏɎǣȒȇ (ƺɮƺǼȒȵȅƺȇɎ

I0 «È «ç «ç ‫ גא׎א ًג׏‬ ³( ‫ ה׎׎׎(ٮגאٮ׎א׎׎א׎‬ ȸǣƏȇ RȸƏƫƺƬ RȸƏƫƺƬ IƏȸȅɀ nɎƳِ zá‫ٮד׏ٮ׎דٮז׏ٮ‬á‫ ג‬ (ǣɀƬȸƺɎǣȒȇƏȸɵ ȸɵ Èɀƺ ٫ ³ƺƬȒȇƳ Ȓȸ ƳƳǣɎǣȒȇƏǼ (ɯƺǼǼǣȇǕɀ ٢‫גחדًב‬ ɀȷِǔɎ ǔɎِ ɎɯȒ‫ٮ‬ɀɎȒȸɵ ȸɵ ǝȒɖɀƺ ɯǣɎǝ ƏɎɎƏƬǝƺƳ ǕƏȸƏǕƺ٣

áƺ‫ټ‬ȸƺ ǼȒȒǸǣȇǕ ǔȒȸ ɀȒȅƺ ƳɵȇƏȅǣƬً ȅȒɎǣɮƏɎƺƳ ɎƺƏȅ ȅƺȅƫƺȸɀ ɎȒ ǴȒǣȇ Ȓɖȸ ɎƺƏȅٍ áǝƏɎ‫ټ‬ɀ ɵȒɖȸ ɀɖȵƺȸȵȒɯƺȸٍّ ƳȅǣȇǣɀɎȸƏɎǣɮƺ ɀɀǣɀɎƏȇɎ ‫ ٮ‬IǼȒƏɎƺȸ ɀɀǣɀɎƏȇɎ ǕȸǣƬɖǼɎɖȸƏǼ IǣƺǼƳȅƏȇ ‫ ٮ‬ǕȸǣƬɖǼɎɖȸƏǼ ³ƺȸɮǣƬƺɀ ¨ȸȒǴƺƬɎ !ȒȒȸƳǣȇƏɎȒȸ ‫ ٮ‬0«¨ IǣȇƏȇƬƺ ³ƺƏɀȒȇƏǼ !ȸƺɯ xƺȅƫƺȸ ‫ ٮ‬ǕȸǣƬɖǼɎɖȸƏǼ ³ƺȸɮǣƬƺɀ IȒȸ ȅȒȸƺ ǣȇǔȒȸȅƏɎǣȒȇً ƏȇƳ ƳƺɎƏǣǼɀ Ȓȇ ǝȒɯ ɎȒ ƏȵȵǼɵً ɮǣɀǣɎ Ȓɖȸ ɯƺƫɀǣɎƺ ‫ڽ‬ JȒɮƺȸȇȅƺȇɎ ‫! ڽ‬Əȸƺƺȸɀ

ȇɵ ȵƺȸɀȒȇ ɯǣɀǝǣȇǕ ɎȒ ƏȵȵƺƏǼ Əȇ ƏȵȵǼǣƬƏɎǣȒȇ ȅƏɵ ƳȒ ɀȒ ƫɵ ɀƺȸɮǣȇǕ ɯȸǣɎɎƺȇ ȇȒɎǣƬƺ Ȓȇ Ɏǝƺ ȵȸƺɀƬȸǣƫƺƳ ǔȒȸȅ ٢ɀɎƏɎǣȇǕ ƫɵ ȸƺƏɀȒȇɀ ǔȒȸ Ɏǝƺ ƏȵȵƺƏǼ٣ ɎȒ Ɏǝƺ ȸƺǼƺɮƏȇɎ ƏȵȵƺƏǼ ƫȒƳɵِ IȒȸ ǣȇǔȒȸȅƏɎǣȒȇ Ȓȇ ǝȒɯ ɎȒ ƏȵȵƺƏǼ ƬƏȇ ƫƺ ǔȒɖȇƳ Ȓɖȸ Ȓɖȸ ɮƺǼȒȵȅƺȇɎ ‫ڽ‬ ɯƺƫɀǣɎƺ ɖȇƳƺȸ ³ƺȸɮǣƬƺɀ ‫¨ ڽ‬ǼƏȇȇǣȇǕ ۭ (ƺɮƺ ȵȵƺƏǼǣȇǕ ¨ǼƏȇȇǣȇǕ (ƺƬǣɀǣȒȇɀ IɖȸɎǝƺȸ ǣȇǔȒȸȅƏɎǣȒȇ ȸƺǕƏȸƳǣȇǕ Ɏǝƺ ƏƫȒɮƺ ƳƺƬǣɀǣȒȇɀ ȅƏɵ ƫƺ ȒƫɎƏǣȇƺƳ ǔȸȒȅ Ɏǝƺ !ȒɖȇɎɵ ǔǔ ǔǔǣƬƺً «ɵǼƺɵً ǼƫƺȸɎƏِ

‫ בא׎א‬Xz «0àX0á IǣȇƳ ǣɎ Ȓȇ Ȓɖȸ ɯƺƫɀǣɎƺً ɖȇƳƺȸ Ɏǝƺ JȒɮƺȸȇȅƺȇɎ ȅƺȇɖِ ¨ȸǣȇɎƺƳ ƬȒȵǣƺɀ Əȸƺ ȇȒɯ ƏɮƏǣǼƏƫǼƺ ǣȇ Ɏǝƺ Ȓǔǔ ǔǔǣƬƺٍ

³ɎƏɵ ǣȇ Ɏǝƺ ǼȒȒȵٍ

xƏǣǼǣȇǕ ǼǣɀɎ JƺɎ ȇƺɯɀً ȅƺƺɎǣȇǕ ǝǣǕǝǼǣǕǝɎɀً Ɏǝƺ ȸȒƏƳ ƬȒȇɀɎȸɖƬɎǣȒȇ ɀƬǝƺƳɖǼƺً Ɏǝƺ !ǝȸȒȇǣƬǼƺً ƏȇƳ ȅȒȸƺ ‫ ٮ‬ƳǣȸƺƬɎ ɎȒ ɵȒɖȸ ǣȇƫȒɴٍ

áƺƫɀǣɎƺ

³ȒƬǣƏǼ ȅƺƳǣƏ

XȇǔȒȸȅƏɎǣȒȇ Ȓȇ !ȒɖȇɎɵ ȵȸȒǕȸƏȅɀ ƏȇƳ ɀƺȸɮǣƬƺɀ ƬƏȇ ƫƺ ǔȒɖȇƳ Ȓȇ Ȓɖȸ ɯƺƫɀǣɎƺً ƏǼȒȇǕ ɯǣɎǝ Ɏǝƺ ǼƏɎƺɀɎ ȇƺɯɀِ

IǣȇƳ ɖɀ Ȓȇ IƏƬƺƫȒȒǸً æ ٢ÁɯǣɎɎƺȸ٣ً XȇɀɎƏǕȸƏȅً çȒɖÁɖƫƺً ƏȇƳ nǣȇǸƺƳXȇِ

ƺ Ə ɮ ƺ ȸ ! Ȓ ɖ ȇ Ɏ ɵ ۴ ‫ ׎ ד ٮ ׎ א ׏ ד‬Ɏ ǝ ³ Ɏ ȸ ƺ ƺ Ɏ ً Ȓ ɴ ‫ « ً ׎ ג ׏‬ɵ Ǽ ƺ ɵ ً Á ‫ ׎ ג ׎‬۴ ‫ ׎ ב ו ב ٮ ב ה ה ٮ ׎ ז ו‬۴ ƫ ƺ Ə ɮ ƺ ȸ ِ Ə ƫ ِ Ƭ Ə

4 - Beaver County Chronicle, January 24, 2024

Beaver Council grants STARS presents to County Tofield Health Foundation $13,200 in support for 2024 Patricia Harcourt Beaver County Council approved a grant of $13,290 to the Tofield and Area Health Services Foundation at council’s regular January 17 meeting.

Council had awarded a grant to the Viking Health Foundation of $6,800 in December. The amounts are based on population figures for each service area. Tofield service area has 66% of the county’s population and gets the larger share of the funding due to this factor. Viking service area has 34% of the population, based on 2023 census figures.

The funds stem from a $20,000 amount set aside for helping the two foundations representing hospitals on either end of the county - Tofield in the west and Viking in the east.

Both foundations must provide a copy of financial statements and projects to be used by the county grant money.

Tofield’s foundation provided a list of projects that have been accomplished since their report last year, including the purchase of a Smart Drive power assist for increased mobility for $8,000; a large top load washer for long term care for $3,500; a medication cart with locked meds

drawer and internet capacity for $8,500; a transfer cart used in conjunction with the medication cart for $4,700; a bath chair used with a lift to assist long term care residents for $2,500 and Phase 2 of the transformation project in long term care for $29,971.

“Many of the items we’ve purchased over the past few years are featured in the Health Foundation calendar we created for 2024,” stated foundation Chair Brenda Chehade, in her letter to council.

“In addition, our Health Foundation partnered with the Rural Health Professions Action Plan (RhPAP) and the Community Attraction and Retention Committee to host a High School Skills Day at the Ryley Community Centre, giving students a taste of what to expect if they pursue a career in health care,” she said.

“Our board also participated in a Strategic Planning Day to help determine the future direction of our Foundation,” Chehade added.

The foundation’s stated mission was “ro preserve and enhance the role of the Tofield Health Centre and associated providers of health care services to Tofield, Ryley, Holden, Beaver County and surrounding communities.”

New policy gives county admin. purchasing authority up to $75,000 Patricia Harcourt Beaver County Council passed a new policy at the Jan. 17 regular meeting that gives administration purchasing authority for any items with a cost of up to $75,000.

Anything over $75,000 must be brought to council for approval.

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Kayleena Spiess told council she had the authority to approve a $50,000 purchase, for example, but offered to consult with council on larger purchases such as these.

In that way, she could keep council “in the loop” on purchases made by administration, she said.

“Over $75,000 it comes to council for approval,” she said. The new policy is designed to increase efficiency and streamline the process, she added.

“The main purpose of this policy is to allow administration to purchase assets in a fair, ethical, and legal manner and provide competitive pricing for the county,” stated Ryan Arndt, general manager of corporate services.

“Administration aims to find the best value for Beaver County while

minimizing administrative time,” he said, adding only cost overruns and change work orders over a nominal percentage on items already approved in the interim or final budget would require the CAO to notify council.

A motion by Councillor Pederson (Division 5) to rescind the old purchasing policy was passed.

Then.a motion by Deputy Reeve Gene Hrabec (Division 3) to approve the new purchasing policy was also passed.

The motion included amendments to increase the “exemptions threshold” in policy guideline 2b) to $1,999 and the “small purchase” threshold in the administrative procedure from $250 to $1,999.

This change allows items of up to $1,999 to be purchased without requiring a tender. Hrabec also felt the originally proposed $250 threshold for small item purchases was too low as many commonly needed items now cost much more, citing a simple pump as “easily” costing $1,000.

Arndt said the items under that $2,000 threshold “still get approved by the general manager (but) doesn’t have to go to tender.”

A presentation was recently made from STARS to Beaver County. Glenda Farnden, STARS Senior Municipal Liaison, presented a picture of their new Airbus H145 helicopter to Reeve Kevin Smook, in recognition of the County's ongoing support of the vital services provided by STARS. PHOTO SUPPLIED

You are invited to attend the

12th Red Serge Ball Saturday, March 16 Killam Community Hall at the

Cocktails at 5:30 p.m.

Supper at 6:30 p.m.

Special performance by the RCMP Regimental Band & Dancers Live and Silent Auctions followed by a dance featuring

The River Jacks

Tickets $50 Table of 8 - $400 Grab your tickets by scanning this code For more info, email: flagstaffvsu@gmail.com *Only 250 tickets available

Proceeds for Flagstaff Victim Services, and Parents for Fun in Flagstaff Society

Poster designed by The Community Press

The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - Page 9

Hrycyk family continues long tradition of music Jana Semeniuk Staff Reporter

When Joe Hrycyk’s Starlite Band, took the stage at the St. Michael Malanka last weekend, band leader Michael Hrycyk was carrying on a family tradition over 125 years old. In 1918, Hrycyk’s grandfather, Philip Hrycyk, played the dulcimer in his family’s band with his sister Phyllis on guitar and brother John on the drums. The drums and dulcimer were built by Philip’s brother Paul.

“It’s where it all started,” Hrycyk said, as he flips through old black and white family photos. He smiled and pointed to one, showing his dad as a young man in a stark white shirt and black bow tie posing with three other band mates and a fiddle tucked under his chin.

“See here? Here’s his band (that) he started in 1954,” Michael said proudly.

The Joe Hrycyk Starlite band has been rocking the halls of Lamont County and beyond for decades, making several friends, meeting musicians and seeing careers blossom along the way. In 2000, the band held their second reunion, the first was in 1996, inviting past members, friends and family to celebrate the Starlites’ history and their future.

Along with organizing a celebration, they put together a keepsake book of stories and photos which included a story detailing Hrycyk’s late father Joe’s history.

As the story is told, Joe’s fascination with the fiddle was inspired by Fred Samborsky; a local fiddle player who played with a band at house parties and weddings where Joe attended with his family.

History repeated when Hrycyk was a boy. Only instead of being dazzled by a fiddle player at weddings and dances, Hrycyk couldn’t take his eyes off the accordion player.

“When I was a little guy, I always would go with Dad to weddings and stuff like that. He dragged me around and there was a fellow by the name of Alec Leduc,” said Hrycyk. “I guess he was my idol. He just impressed me. I fell in love with the way he

played the accordion, and that was my instrument.”

Hrycyk said he started taking lessons when he was 10 years old from a man who still plays with him in the Starlite band today.

“Stan Ostafie was my accordion instructor,” he said. “He played with us (at Malanka) and in my dad’s band too, way back when.”

Another former member of the Starlites band from the early 60s was a sixyear-old girl with an incredible voice named Gloria Kolmatyski, who joined with her older brother Paul. The Kolmatyski’s, both on vocals, played several dances with the Starlites, and made a record with them in 1963.

It was the first of four records for the band in total, although the only one with the Kolmatyskis, and the last one the band recorded was in 2003.

Hrycyk, who is the same age as Gloria, remembers a day around 1966 when they met the famous Tommy Hunter at an event in Edmonton.

“I can remember because I was there,” said Hrycyk. “We were behind stage and he brought his guitar in and he squatted down and he was playing while she sang for him.

And he listened to her.

And then before you knew it, he took her on. She moved down to Toronto did a bunch of shows down there. And from there, she moved down to Los Angeles. She wrote a whole bunch of songs for movies. And she's in Los Angeles right now.”

Today Gloria Kaye has been married to music composer Richard Bellis since 1980 and has enjoyed a long career singing and writing songs for several movies.

Meanwhile, Hrycyk’s own family grew along with the members of his band. Today, Hrycyk enjoys playing in the band with his son Shawn, 45, on drums, and grandsons Wyatt, 16, on bass, and Isaac, 14, who plays guitar.

Additionally, the band also includes long-time members Larry Bucholz on guitar, who has played with the Starlites since 1990, and Lisa Gould who has been with them on the fid-

dle since 2009. Hrycyk said Gould began with the Starlites when Joe had surgery and was unable to perform.

“He'd had some surgery.

And he wasn't able. Then slowly he kept going down. He played a few times, but it was pretty tough for him,” said Hrycyk. “(At the) Ukrainian Heritage Village (in 2014) he struggled with that very much. That was actually his last (performance).”

Joe Hrycyk passed away on Sept. 9, 2016 at the age of 84.

Today, Hrycyk is filled with pride watching his grandchildren take part in the long-held musical tradition and said that his 10year-old granddaughter, Ariel, is also currently taking violin lessons.

Hrycyk’s grandson, Wyatt, said that he feels proud to be a part of a fifth-generation family band.

“It feels awesome. (I’m very proud),” he said. “We will (carry on the tradition).”

Hrycyk took out a worn violin case, snapped it open, and pulled out a shiny violin. The violin belonged to his father, Joe and was one of two that were left to the family when Joe passed away.

Hrycyk examined the violin carefully, looking for a

date he was sure was stamped somewhere on the instrument.

“Here it is,” he said tipping the violin so he could

read an inscription. “(It was made in) 1928 and he bought it for $128.50 from an F. Kucy. It was rebuilt and varnished in 1978 by

Peter Jakubowski.”

The Joe Hrycyk Starlite band plays the St. Michael Malanka every Jan. in addition to event bookings.

The next generation Hrycyk's Starlite Band; (L-R) Issac (guitar)14, Shawn (drums) 45, Maci (singer) 12, Ariel (violin) 10, Wyatt (bass) 16 and Michael Hrycyk.

ELAINE HRYCYK PHOTO

Church Directory Bardo Lutheran Church Salem Mennonite Church Worship: Sundays at 10:30 AM 49232 Rge Rd 184 Tofield, AB Pastor Calvin Andringa Sunday Worship Services: In Person – 10:00 AM Streaming – 10:00 AM Livestream available at: tofieldalliancechurch.com

We find joy and hope when we are joined to and rooted in Christ!

Pr. Peter Beckman www.bardolutheranchurch.ca 780-662-2762 • 5907 - 49 Street 5609 48th St. - 780-662-3411 TOFIELD COMMUNITY CHURCH 4619 - 57 Ave

(780) 662-3 3166

Sunday Worship Service 10:30am www.tofieldchurch.com Lead Pastor:

Jon Stewart Children/Youth Pastor:

Nathan Nichols

Tofield United Church 4832 - 53 Ave, Tofield

Sunday Worship Service @ 10 am in person or via zoom/phone

for more information call 780.662.3471 or email tofieldunited@gmail.com

Pastor Mark Loewen 780-662-2365 Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 am Sunday Worship 10:45 am

St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Parish Pastor: Fr. Jim Corrigan Sunday Mass @ 11 A.M. 5523 - 50 st. Tofield, Ab.

Coffee and snacks after Mass, everyone welcome!

Contact Wendy @ 780-232-5300

Page 10 - The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Business & Professional Services Directory Affordable Weekly Advertising! Sizes range from $50-160 per month

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The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - Page 11

REMEMBER WHEN Future Artists From left: Aaron Beange,Tyler Tiedemann, Carla Schacher, and Tyler LʼHeureux display their different coloured ice that created this sculpture at the Rainbow Family Daycare in Tofield.

The weather has been very suitable for such an activity.

This photo appeared in the Tofield Mercury on January 26, 1993.

Business & Professional Services Directory

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Affordable Weekly Advertising! Sizes range from $50-160 per month

Meat Packers

Roofing

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HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Saturday 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

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Phone 780-662-4842 for Appt.

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Stop in or call us today to place your order!

Phone: 780-662-4046 Email: adsmercury@gmail.com

Page 12 - The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

L

THE LAMONT

Affordable Advertising with

The

Classifieds

CLASSIFIED AD RATES

$14 minimum for first 25 words, 45¢ per word thereafter (G.S.T. not included) PICTURE BOLD $10 $5 Go into The Community Press for an extra $5 ALL CLASSIFIED ADS MUST BE PREPAID BEFORE INSERTION unless customer has an account in good standing. All advertising subject to the approval of the Publisher.

WEEKLY REVIEW 780-336-3422 vikingreview@gmail.com

TOFIELD MERCURY 780-662-4046 adsmercury@gmail.com

LAMONT LEADER 780-895-2780 lmtleader@gmail.com

COMING EVENTS COMING EVENTS Caregiver’s Drop-In Group Viking Seniors Centre (5024 53 Ave Viking) Fall Dates: Jan. 30 Feb. 6, 13, 20, 27 10 a.m. to Noon Free of Charge!

•If you are, were, or will soon be a caregiver for a loved one, please join us for a morning of information, discussion, support, and activities •Care recipients welcome to attend with their caregiver •For more information, please contact VBFCSS at 780-3364024 Brought to you in partnership

by Viking/Beaver FCSS, Government of Canada, and The Town of Viking tfnc

EADER

Serving

Lamont

county

3 papers for the price of 1!

COMING EVENTS COMING EVENTS

FOR SALE FOR SALE

SERVICES SERVICES

SERVICES SERVICES

Tofield Golden Club Annual General Meeting Friday, January 26, 2024 Tofield Seniors' Centre 5004 54 Ave Potluck at 11:30 a.m.

Meeting to Follow.

Agenda Includes: ELECTION of Officers Memberships Available Prior to AGM. TM4c

Looking for Trees? Brian’s UPick has some for sale and will be available in the Spring.

•Poplar - Sundancer - Fast growing, disease resistant.

Planted in 2021, 2022, and 2023. $10 a foot.

•Laurel Leaf Willows Ranges from 4 feet to 16 feet in height. $10 a foot.

•Acute Willows - 2 to 4 feet in height. $35 per tree.

Call Brian at 780-678-0053

Painting Quality Residential and Commercial Interior Painting Betty Tkaczyk 780-632-8749 ________________________ Carpet and Upholstery cleaning - residential and commercial. Truck mount unit, sewer backup, and flood cleaning. Auto and RV Cleaning. Call John and Sheri at Fancy Shine Auto and Carpet Care at 780-384-3087 ________________________ Roy's Handyman Services.

Flooring, Trim work, basement finishing, decks, fences, kitchen cabinet installs and carpentry work. Call 780-2323097

Need to re-order: •Company Forms?

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Call your local paper with your print order today!

CARD OF OF THANKS THANKS CARD The family of Leo Stewart would like to thank everyone for thinking of us during the difficult time of his passing.

Your expressions of support and heartfelt condolences made through cards, calls and texts; flowers; visits and food brought to our houses all meant a great deal to us.

We would also like to thank Pastor Chris, Rose Mae Kjelland and grandsons, Jack Brooke, Extendicare for Leo’s care, and all the memorial donations that were sent in Leo’s memory.

Lastly, we could not have made it through this past month without the support and assistance of our extended family. You truly went above and beyond ensuring that the details were looked after, even before we thought of them.

Joan, Joanne, & Doug.

FOR RENT RENT FOR For Rent in Viking: Four bedroom home. $1100/month.

Detached garage also available. Ph/Text: (403) 461-4350 ________________________ Townhouse for Rent in Viking 3 bedroom 1.5 bath. Call for more info 780-385-5287 ________________________ For Rent in Viking: 3 bedroom house; 2 bathrooms; washer/dryer.

Available immediately. Call 403-4614350.l FOR SALE SALE FOR Wheelchair Ramp, aluminum frame - mint condition. $3000 780-895-7458 4p

SERVICES SERVICES Drywall Taping/ Ceiling Texturing 40 years experience on the job, from commercial buildings to new homes to home renovations. No job too small.

Experienced Killam drywall taper/texturer here to help you with any job, big or small.

Don't want to do it yourself? Give me a call! Willing to travel anywhere in the county.

I also do ceiling textures.

Flagstaff Taping & Texturing Murray Cholowsky Call or text at 780-385-1251

tfnc ________________________ Come see our beautiful, well maintained country Cemetery located at 21338 Twp. Rd 550 in Josephburg. We offer burial and cremation plots as well as columbarium niches for sale.

Please contact the Josephburg Community Church @ 780998-9331 for more information.

WEEKLY REVIEW 780-336-3422 vikingreview@gmail.com TOFIELD MERCURY 780-662-4046 adsmercury@gmail.com LAMONT LEADER 780-895-2780 lmtleader@gmail.com

Caught You Looking!

Advertise in the Classifieds today!

The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - Page 13

ANSWERS ACROSS: 1. LADS 5. CHIC 9. PILEUP 11. LEANER 13. ANTWERP 15. TACITLY 16. LEE 17. SOUTH DAKOTA 19. PURL 21. ALARY 22. NIN 23. PEAR 25. STOB 26. DEC 27. DRAT 29. UNITES 31. DRYS 33. GROG 34.

PEERED 36. DORR 38. POD 39. ONUS 41. TEES 43. ERR 44. SAMAS 46. ELEA 48. DECAPITATED 52. INN 53. ASININE 54. EERIEST 56. MENACE 57. SALVES 58. TEST 59. BLED ANSWERS DOWN: 1. LINEUP 2. ALTERED 3. DEW 4. SUES 5. CECA 6. HAIK 7. INTONES 8. CELTIC 9. PALP 10.

PROA 11. LADYBIRD 12. RYAN 14. PULS 15. THRONG 18. TATU 20. LARDED 24. RARE 26. DEGREE 28. TYROSINE 30. TOOT 32. SENATE 34. PORCINE 35. DUMA 37. RELIEVE 38. PRESET 40. SATE 42. SENSED 43. EDAM 45. SEES 47. ANTS 49. ANAS 50. PICT 51. DRAB 55. ILL

Blanket Alberta Ads take approximately 10 days to process _______________________ EMPLOYMENT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES OPPORTUNITIES

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SPRUCE POINT PARK Association now accepting applications for the position of: PARK MANAGER, 2024 season, May 1st to September 15th (end date flexible).

Spruce Point Park Campground and Marina is located on Lesser Slave Lake approximately 285 kms northwest of Edmonton, AB near Hamlet of Kinuso.

Manager must live on site in own RV unit. Full-service lot provided. For complete job description package please call 780-775-3805 or e m a i l sprucepointpark@gmail.com . Closing date: Until a suitable candidate is found. _______________________ FEEDAND AND SEED FEED SEED

HIP/KNEE REPLACEMENT. Other medical conditions causing TROUBLE WALKING or DRESSING? The Disability Tax Credit allows for $3,000 yearly tax credit and $30,000 lump sum refund. Take advantage of this offer. Apply NOW; quickest refund Nationwide: Expert help. 1-844-4535372. _______________________ SERVICES SERVICES

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FIREARMS WANTED FOR OUR 2024 AUCTION PROGRAM: Rifles, Shotguns, Handguns, Antiques, Militaria, Collections, Estates, Single Items. For Auction, or Possible Purchase: Toll-Free 1-800-694-2609, Email Us @sales@switzersauction.co m or Visit Us @ www.switzersauction.co m.

29. Brings together 31. Ancient city in Thrace 33. Sailors' spirit 34. Looked into 36. Muckraking woman journalist Rheta 38. A type of cast 39. One’s responsibility 41. Where golfers begin 43. Make a mistake 44. Semitic Sun god 46. Ancient Italian-Greek colony 48. Beheaded 52. A place to stay 53. Unwise 54. Most supernatural 56. “Dennis” is a famous one 57. Ointments 58. Exam 59. Leaked blood

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24. Infrequent 26. Temperature unit 28. Hydrophilic amino acid 30. Honk 32. Legislative body 34. Swinish 35. Russian assembly 37. Take over for 38. Put in advance 40. Satisfy 42. Felt 43. Dutch cheese 45. Witnesses 47. Strong insects 49. Gasteyer and de Armas are two 50. Ancient people of Scotland 51. Cheerless 55. Sick

These blanket classified ads are produced through a joint agreement by The Community Press, Viking Weekly Review, Lamont Leader, Tofield Mercury and Alberta Weekly Newspaper Association (AWNA).

These ads appear in all AWNA member papers (120 papers) for the cost of $269.00 (+gst) for the first 25 words, $8.00 per word over 25. To place a blanket classified, call a CARIBOU PUBLISHING representative at 780-385-6693 or email ads@thecommunitypress.com.

_______________________ BUILDINGS BUILDINGS FOR SALE SALE FOR

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CLUES ACROSS 1. Chaps 5. Currently fashionable 9. Collision 11. More slim 13. European city 15. Implicitly 16. The side of something that is sheltered from the wind 17. The Mount Rushmore State 19. Gold or silver wire cord 21. Muscles along insects’ diaphragm 22. Trent Reznor’s band 23. Sweet juicy grittytextured fruit 25. Broken branch 26. Indicates ten 27. Expression of annoyance

_______________________ FEEDAND AND SEED FEED SEED

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Page 14 - The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Local senior celebrates 104th birthday with family Jana Semeniuk Staff Reporter

Local senior Alec Kowalski celebrated his 104th birthday on Jan. 16 at the Tofield Senior Lodge. Kowalski said he credits his longevity to God. “You pray lots and just ask God to let you live and let you be healthy,” he said.

Kowalski said he was adopted as a child after his mother passed away and he grew up on a farm near Bodo AB. Kowalski said he didn’t enjoy going to

school and finished for good in grade eight.

“I didn’t like school at all,” he said laughing. “I only went to grade eight.”

Kowalski farmed and was living with an uncle in Radway when he met his wife Hilda. They were married for 66 years and had four children. Kowalski said he and Hilda did a lot of travelling before she passed away in 2016.

“We were all over Washington D.C, southern states and all over Alberta,” he said. “We travelled a lot.”

Kowalski also developed a skill for

carpentry and concrete work in his younger years. He had his own concrete business for 21 years and built three of the homes in Edmonton his family lived in.

Today Kowalski has 10 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and six great great grandchildren.

In terms of advice for the younger generation, Kowalski said there’s only one way to have a long and healthy life.

“Just ask God to let you live and let you be healthy. You’ve got to ask,” he said. “I used to get very bad dreams

every night. Then I said my prayers in the evening and said to God, ‘Don’t give me bad dreams’, and since then I’ve never had another one.”

Kowalski with his wife Hilda in 2004.

Tofield Senior's Lodge resident Alec Kowalski celebrates his 104th birthday with his daughter Jeanette Doherty Jan. 16.

Did you have a baby in 2023?

Enter our Contest!

We will celebrate the babies born in 2023 in our Feb. 7th, 2024 issue. Your baby’s photo will appear in our special BABIES OF 2023 feature for FREE! Send a clear photo of your baby, email to: adsmercury@gmail.com, or send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the TOFIELD MERCURY, Box 150, Tofield, AB. T0B 4J0, or you can also drop it off in person.

Remember to add baby’s name, birth date, and the names of the proud parents and mailing address.

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The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024 - Page 15

Minor Hockey Report: 14-point weekend for Asher Montgomery Kerry Anderson These are some of the results from Minor Hockey League games held recently. (Please note that scores and scoring is taken from the websites, and some game scores and scoring is dependent on proper league entries.)

Tofield U11 Titans (172-0) travelled to Redwater and beat the home team 10-1 on Saturday.

On Sunday the team travelled to Viking Carena and won a close 6-5 game. In Redwater the Titans jumped in front 6-0 in the opening frame.

Chase Ferron got a hat trick and a 5-point game.

Other scorers were; Jenna

Lungal (2g 2a), Hunter Jackson (2g 1a), Shane Kyle (2g), Cooper Olson (2a), Kehgan McCabe (1g), Dominic O’Brien (1a), and Max Jeffrey (1a).

Logan Barmentloo got the win in goal with 25 saves and a .962 save percentage game. On Sunday at Viking, Titans jumped in front 4-0 in the first frame before the home team got on the board. Viking fought back with one in the first, two more in the middle period, and then took the lead with two in the third. Jenna Lungal tied the game 5-5 with 3:35 remaining and Chase Ferron got the winner at 17:36. Kehgan McCabe

Intersection Safety Month highlights caution, right-of-way rules Kari Janzen Staff Reporter

January is the month when the Alberta Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) encourage all users of the roadway to exercise extra caution around intersections. A media release from the Alberta RCMP says that most often intersection collisions are caused by failing to stop at a stop sign, a red light, or turning left when it is not safe to do so.

“Intersections are hightraffic areas that require motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians to exercise caution and maintain Right of Way rules. The most frequently identified improper driver actions contributing to casualty collisions are failing to obey a stop sign, failing to stop at a red light, and unsafe left turns,” the release said.

Cpl. Willis of the Tofield detachment says the Tofield area saw several accidents occurring at intersections in 2023, one of which resulted in a casualty.

“Coming to a complete stop and checking your surroundings is the most important thing when it

comes to intersections. We have had several collisions at intersections this past year including one fatality,” Cpl. Willis said.

The media release also offers a variety of safety tips for drivers and pedestrians, including obeying all traffic signs and signals, ensuring you are using your own turn signal, remembering the Right of Way rule, which is to yield to the vehicle to your right, and leaving extra space between your vehicle and the one ahead.

The government of Alberta’s statistics show intersection accidents tend to increase during the month of January, often linked to winter driving conditions.

“One in four collisions on Alberta roads occurs at an intersection, resulting in thousands of dollars in damages, countless injuries and needless deaths each year. Preventable collisions are largely due to driver error, such as driving too fast for conditions, making an improper left turn, failing to stop at a stop sign or disobeying a traffic signal. We all have a responsibility to ensure our roads are safe for everyone.”

scored twice, as did Shane Kyle. Assists went to; Max Jeffrey and Chase Clark. Logan Barmentloo got the win in goal.

Tofield U11 5/6 Titans (15-5-1) won two games on Saturday and another on Sunday. At Frog Lake, Titans skated to an 18-1 win over a short-handed team; then beat Cold Lake 11-1. On Sunday the Titans beat Cold Lake again, this time 8-2. Scoring over the weekend were; Asher Montgomery (10g 4a), Ayden Komarnisky (5g 3a), Kylie Riddell (2g 3a), Griffin Neufeld (6g), Easton Kallal (4g 3a), Fin Montgomery (7g 2a), Brodie McLeod (1g), Ruby Montgomery (1g 2a), and Bentley Ruzycki (1g 1a).

Hayden Thom was in goal for the three wins.

Tofield U15 Titans (9-94) beat St. Paul on Friday at Tofield Arena 7-3, then dropped a close 3-2 decision at home to Lloydminster.

On Friday, Tofield jumped in front 50 before St. Paul got on the board late in the second period. Tofield had seven different scorers in the game; Gabriel Thorson (1g 2a), Logan Suchy (1g 1a), Ben Fleming (1g 1a), Marshall McLeod (1g 1a), Merek Fritz (1g 1a), Avery Klassen, and Steven Cardinal. Assists went to; Gavin Lutz (2a), Brandon Jardine, and Hunter Madro. David Cardinal made 37 saves for a .925 save percentage game. On Saturday, Titans tied the game up twice, the second time early in the final frame.

Lloyd scored with 5:56 re-

maining and held on for the win. Gabriel Thorson and Logan Kropp scored for Tofield. Merek Fritz (2a) and Phenyx Ladwig picked up assists.

Tofield U18 Titans (133-1) won two games over the weekend. On Saturday, Titans hosted and defeated Plamondon 4-3 in an exciting back and forth game tied at three going into the third when Brody Van Engelen scored 3:19 into the final frame to get the winner. It was Brody’s second goal of the game. Also scoring were; Owen Rennie (1g 1a) and Nicholas Tooke.

Assists went to; Ty Rude, Brady Suchy, and Josh Swedberg. Jacob Bigney got the win in goal. On Sunday at Wainwright, Titans shutout the home team 8-0. Evan Suchy and

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Brody Van Engelen both scored twice. Other scorers were; Owen Rennie (1g 1a), Noah Peterson (1g 1a), Josh Swedberg (2a), Nicholas Tooke (1g), Carter Olson (1g), and Ryan Conrad (1a). Jacob Bigney stopped all 30 shots for the shutout win.

Tofield’s Emmytt Yurkowski picked up an assist in his Sherwood Park Squires U17 AAA 40 win over Bulldogs on Saturday. On Jan. 17 Emmytt got a goal and an assist in this team’s 5-4 win over Leafs.

Tofield’s Ty Yoder got a goal in his NAIT Ooks’ 20 win over BC on Saturday.

Cale Helfrich got two goals in his Strathcona U15AA Warriors 6-2 win over Sting on Saturday.

Page 16 - The Tofield Mercury, Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Production of

Music by

Lyrics by

Book by

Alan Menken

Howard Ashman & Glenn Slater

Doug Wright

Based on the Hans Christian Andersen story and the Disney film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written & directed by John Musker & Ron Clements.

Originally produced by Disney Theatrical Productions Disney’s The Little Mermaid is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI).

All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. www.mtishows.com

EVENING PERFORMANCES Thursday to Saturday Thursday to Saturday February 8 to 10, 2024, 7:00 pm

February 15 to 17, 2024, 7:00 pm

MATINEE PERFORMANCES Saturday and Sunday, Saturday and Sunday, February 10 and 11, 2024, 1:00 pm TICKETS: Adults $42

February 17 and 18, 2024, 1:00 pm

I Students/Seniors $38 I Child (Age 13 + under) $20 Ticket prices include GST and Box Office Fees

4501-50 Street, Camrose • Phone 780.608.2922 www.camroselive.ca • Performances at Cargill Theatre