Rotary lottery winners cash in HRHS set for student farmers market

It pays to be a supporter of the Rotary Club of Lloydminster.

Dan Thurlow and Rhonda Lafond are among 12 lucky people who hit the jackpot buying a $100 Dream Vacation lottery ticket to raise funds for Rotary. They both bought their winning tickets from Rotarian Daryl Benson.

Thurlow, who won the grand prize Cree Lake Lodge fishing package and Lafond, who won the Vancouver four-night round trip, opted to take the cash option.

A cheque for approximately $9,000 was presented to Thurlow and one for about $1,900 to Lefond by Rotary president, Anita Schmidt, at Monday’s meeting.

“The Dream Vacation was great. It didn’t sell out, but we’re happy with the sales for our fundraiser,” said Schmidt.

The draw was made live during Rotary’s Lobsterfest funding dinner earlier this month when Thurlow’s ticket was declared the winner.

“I was pretty excited,” said Thurlow as a firsttime ticket buyer.

He says he likes to fish, but with the prize money, he can fish or go anywhere instead of the fly-in prize vacation.

Thurlow says he will probably use the money to take a trip, with the destination to be worked out with his family.

“We’ll figure it out,” he said.

Lafond got a text during Lobersfest notifying her about her windfall.

“I was pretty excited,” she said with the cash a no-brainer for her instead of the four-day trip to Vancouver.

“I didn’t know who to take. I thought it would be good to put some stuff into my house instead,” she said.

Other vacation winners were Dwayne

Hippe, West Coast Classic Rocky Mountaineer Tour; Karen Hilts, Mayan Riviera sevennight vacation, and Mitch Gregory, New Orleans four-night trip.

Katie Thackeray won the Nashville fournight trip while Bob Nielsen won the New York City four-night package with Mark Acorn snagging a Niagara Falls four-night trip.

Kelsey Mercer-Gatzke, Rebecca Willetts, Cindy Womacks and Garry Hirtle each won $1,000 gift certificates.

There never seems to be a lack of excitement at Holy Rosary High School (HRHS) as staff and students prepare for the school’s firstever farmers market.

On May 25 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m., a total of 28 student and staff vendors will be set up at HRHS showcasing their small businesses.

The public is encouraged to come out, with cash in hand, and see what amazing creations these young entrepreneurs and their teachers have to offer.

“We always knew we had talent here and we had kids that kinda already had side hustles and we wanted to showcase that,” said HRHS phys-ed teacher and market organizer

Becky Grassl. “We put it out there and asked for applications, and the stuff we got in is mind-blowing. We have 28 vendors, including everything from baking to Dungeons and Dragons kits, we have crocheting and sewing, buns, specialty drinks, and supper items will be there.”

Grassl also noted she told her husband she may come home from the event flat broke after seeing some of the applications for booths.

“I looked at my husband and said ‘This isn’t going to be good because I’m going to spend so much money … I’m going to be broke,” she said with a laugh.

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