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Your Independent Local Newspaper Established in 1918 VOLUME 104: ISSUE 40
www.tofieldmerc.com
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 8, 2022
Local businesses impacted by price hike Nonnie’s Grill of South Cooking Lake is one of many MOUSH JOHN Editor
Rene Fredeen and her husband Eric just celebrated the second anniversary of their restaurant. They started Nonnie’s Grill and Artisan Shop during the pandemic, an endeavour they had planned months ahead in 2019. “When the pandemic hit, we decided we still wanted to be of service to the community and pushed ahead with take-outs, closing our space to dine-ins according to restrictions,” Fredeen said. “However with the continual increases in gas prices, as well as the continual
rise in prices of supplies it is not an annual review any more, it has now become a review that occurs more regularly, and this is no different for us. “Due to this we recently had to look at the price of Wing Wednesdays and Saturdays that occur all day; we tried to delay an increase for our WING DAYS but we can no longer continue with this practice so we have had to raise our prices from eight dollars a pound to nine! We try not to increase the prices too often as we want to make dining out affordable for our customers, but the unfortunate side effect of
inflated costs is that there has to be cost saving measures made in other areas too.” As the only restaurant in the community of South Cooking Lake, which is about 20 minutes west of Tofield, Fredeen said that they appreciated customers’ and patrons’ patience. Joined by her sister Holly in the kitchen, who goes by ‘Kitchen Troll’ lovingly, Fredeen said, “If customers come into Nonnie’s Grill and Artisan Shop during the day and find that there is only one staff member working who is cooking and serving, we ask them to be a little pa-
tient with us.” According to Fredeen, they have had to cut costs on their staffing too. “This is one of the areas that we have had to make adjustments as well, because during the day the sales are not as regular as we would like them to be. With decreasing sales and increasing costs it becomes a matter of making adjustments on the fly. Of course if business picks up we would look into bringing on staff and that in itself has also been a task that has become daunting because of the panContinued on Page 15
Seen here is owner of Nonnie’s Grill and Artisan Shop, Rene Fredeen, holding a box of lettuce from Tofield’s Vertical Roots. She supports local vendors and stocks and displays their items in her store.
Health Foundation and CARC chairs thank healthcare workers MOUSH JOHN Editor
It was Rural Health Week from May 30 to June 3, and once again the Tofield and Area Health Services Foundation was unable to host an event to honour
the many people who have built the community healthcare pillars. “On behalf of the board of trustees, I would like to thank all of the healthcare workers and professionals for another year of helping our local residents
with their health needs and concerns,” said Foundation Chair Brenda Chehade. “We appreciate all that you do to help us stay healthy!” The Community Attraction and Retention Committee (CARC)
Chair, Cyndy Heslin, added, “I can’t emphasize enough that it is a combined community effort by Tofield, Ryley, and Beaver County to raise awareness of the importance of rural health to our residents. “We have partnered
l a CLOVERLODGE u n n A
with RhPap for years to help bring awareness of the need for rural health in Alberta, especially during the Rural Health Week. We showcase our community champions, healthcare professionals, and those that work hard to promote the
need for supports for rural health.” Heslin was recently at the Spring Forum with AHS for their Health Advisory Councils, and said that AHS reiterated their commitment to Continued on Page 7
STAMPEDE
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1 ADMISSION FOR 2 GREAT EVENTS! Rodeo
Starts Saturday: 4 pm Sunday: 1 pm
Located jjust north orth of the Viking g Golf G Course C in the th he NE corner off Vik Viking kiing ng For more information, call 780-385-8847 or 780-385-0556