Vegreville News Advertiser - April 29, 2020

VOL. 73 NO. 18

73 YEARS OF SERVING THE COMMUNIT Y WEDNESDAY, April 29 2020 The Only Locally Owned News & Adver tising Media in Vegreville .

Arson Suspected in a Series of Fires

Bales situated on a property 53414 and RR 140 were set on fire on April 21. (County of Minburn/Submitted Photo)

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

A string of suspicious fires has given police reason to believe they are all arson-related.

Cpl. Robert Daisley of the Two Hills RCMP Department, said they along with Vegreville and

Vermilion RCMP Detachments are working together to investigate a series of six fires that were reported on the night of April 20-21.

Daisley added, “Police are also investigating whether these fires are linked to other arsons in the area.” To date, no one has been

charged. “If anyone has information that would assist with this investigation, they are encouraged to contact their local detachment or to call Crime Stoppers.

Mike Fundytus, Director of

Arson Suspected - CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

Vegreville RCMP Seize Drugs, Weapons

Phyllis Tarapacki Takes on the Lighter Side

See page 3 for story

See page 17 for story

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April 29, 2020

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COVID-19 Regional Updates Page 13

Canadian Geese Welcomed Page 19

RCMP files from April 20 - 26 Arthur Beaudette News Advertiser April 20 Miscellaneous calls including some community mental health act assistance, deer strike, and a Quonset fire that was not suspicious.

April 21 00:23 – Noise complaint in Vegreville.

Members attended and the homeowners agreed to turn the music down. No further complaints received.

03:33 – Call to respond to multiple active fires North of Vegreville. A hay bale, an abandoned outbuilding, and an unused barn at separate locations were set on fire. Under investigation.

11:17 – Report of the sign at the New Kiew Hall damaged with what appears to be gunshots. Under investigation. *** Other similar incidents should be reported to the police.

15:00 – An unknown 3rd party was encouraging a youth to self-harm. The parents found out and sought the assistance of the Police. The youth was offered help and no harm occurred.

15:14 – While on patrol, members noticed a vehicle with no license plate.

A traffic stop was conducted and it was determined that the driver had outstanding traffic safety warrants out of Edmonton. The driver was arrested and released with documents for court.

18:17 – Report of a fire in an alley in Vegreville. Fire responded and found a small fire smouldering. They extinguished what was remaining. No damage. It is possible that the fire was started from a discarded cigarette.

21:15 – Members responded to a report of a possible impaired driver near TWP 524 and Hwy 16a. Upon arrival, the members determined that the driver was not impaired by drugs or alcohol but may have been in medical distress. The driver was transported to hospital by members for evaluation.

21:07 – Call to report a suspicious vehicle on RR 142. Members located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop.

It was determined that the driver lived in the area and his neighbour was the one who thought he was suspicious.

22:08 – Report of suspicious people coming and going at an apartment in Vegreville. Members attended and it was determined that the individuals were there to deliver items to a resident.

April 22 13:22 – Report of someone possibly driving without a license. The vehicle was located and the driver attempted to

flee. The vehicle was stopped and contraband was found in plain view which initiated a full search of the vehicle.

A large quantity of various drugs were found along with cash. The individuals were arrested and held for a hearing. One individual was released by the JP and the other remains in custody. A search warrant was granted for the accused residence and more evidence of drug trafficking was found.

Additional charges were laid.

13:30 – Report of a possible break and enter at a rural property was reported.

Members contacted the property owner who indicated that the gate was like that and thanked members for checking.

14:01 – Report of a suspicious person at a rural residence. The person at the door left a business card and was looking for scrap metal. It was determined that the individual was representing a legitimate business out of Camrose that dealt in scrap metal.

No damage to the egg was discovered.

07:25 – Call to report a suspicious vehicle. Members attended and located the vehicle which was not stolen. There were occupants who indicated that they were lost going to Hwy 21 from Brooks and had run out of gas.

19:25 – Vegreville business reports suspected shoplifting.

Members attended and the clerk identified the vehicle parked nearby. A traffic stop was conducted and items were located but it could not be determined where the product came from. The driver was arrested on warrants for driving without insurance and released roadside with documents for court.

April 25

11:39 – Report of a break and enter to a garage in Vegreville. Entry was gained through the overhead door and a small dirt bike was stolen. Previous to this, a call had come in at 08:20 reporting a FOUND dirt bike. The bike was picked up at the detachment by the rightful owners.

18:54 – Members attend a domestic dispute to attempt mediation. One of the individuals was uncooperative and ultimately arrested for obstruction and mischief. He was lodged in cells until sober.

22:29 – Report of an argument.

Members attended and one roommate wanted the other to leave. Members advised both parties to consult with the Landlord-Tenant Advisory board as this is a civil matter.

April 26

Nothing of note

14:35 – Report of theft of fuel from a retail fuel outlet. Upon investigation, it was determined that approximately 9000 – 10000 litres of fuel was stolen directly from the underground tanks.

Under investigation.

18:05 – Report of theft of a motor vehicle. Members investigated and it was determined that the vehicle was taken without consent and stopped during the 13:22 call. The subjects from the 13:22 call were charged accordingly.

April 23

Nothing of note

April 24

00:59 – Call to report mischief at the Vegreville Pysanka. The caller indicated that there were 4 males throwing rocks at the egg. They left while the caller was on the phone with dispatch.

During the week there were 79 calls for service made in total including: 3 false alarms, 2 false 911s, 2 animal strikes and approximately 10 tickets from traffic enforcement.

Have questions about the blotter?

Reach out to us at blotter@newsadvertiser.com and we will do our best to provide answers to your queries.

april 29, 2020

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Vegreville RCMP Seize Drugs, Weapons After Suspicious Vehicle Reported Vegreville RCMP Submitted Vegreville, Alta. - On April 22, 2020 at approximately 3:00 p.m., Vegreville RCMP conducted a traffic stop in the town of Vegreville after receiving a report of a suspicious vehicle on Highway 16A near 67 Street.

A male that was known to police was spotted driving a car without a license. The car did not initially stop when police emergency lights were activated.

Police continued to follow the car when it pulled over into a parking lot and two occupants were arrested without incident. The vehicle was searched and drug paraphernalia was located. The owner of the vehicle later contacted

police and advised that the vehicle had been stolen.

On April 23, 2020 at approximately 5:00 a.m., a search warrant was executed at an apartment in Vegreville. Police seized what was believed to be crystal methamphetamine (254g), cocaine (12g), psilocybin (mushrooms), approxi-

mately $2500 in cash along with knives and ammunition.

Brendan Lebid (37) of Vegreville was charged 15 Criminal Code offences some of which include: •Flight from police officer •Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose

•Possession for the purpose of trafficking •Possession of property obtained by crime •Possession on a controlled substance (x4) Garth Munro (25) of Vegreville was charged with seven Criminal Code offences: •Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 •Possession for the purpose of trafficking •Possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose •Possession on a controlled substance (x2) •Failing to comply with a release order (x2) Lebid was remanded into custody after a judicial hearing and is scheduled to appear in Vegreville Provincial Court via CCTV today. Munro was release after a judicial hearing and is set to appear in Vegreville Provincial Court on July 6, 2020.

Vegreville Fire Department Conducts Controlled Burn Michelle Pinon News Advertiser Members of the Vegreville Fire Department conducted a controlled burn surrounding the Elk’s pond on April 22.

Kaleb Brink, Communications Coordinator for the Town of Vegreville, said the controlled burn was conducted to reduce the fire risk in the park. “We wanted to do this before the returning geese started to nest so as not to disturb their nests or goslings.

Members of the Vegreville Fire Department conducted a controlled burn around the Elk’s pond on April 22.

(Jennifer Clyne/Submitted Photo) 20051DG0

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The Villagers are Getting Restless Arthur Beaudette News Advertiser - Opinion As children in Spain step outside for the first time in six weeks, others across the world are becoming equally restless and also want out. Different countries and regions within countries are in different stages of the pandemic and there are an equal number of different approaches. As at least one part of China begins a 2nd quarantine and South Korea has issued statements that it is possible recovered patients are being reinfected, one theme is common. People are going stir crazy and want to get out of their homes and back to work.

What we have in Canada with regards to isolation is a far cry from some countries that have been hit very hard by the virus. Even in our region we seem to be an island in a mix of results across Alberta. With at most a few handfuls of cases, many do not see the threat despite the science. With that in mind, for some people, what we are experiencing seems to be little more than a disruption to daily routines.

For others, school and business closures mean yet unanswered questions as to when we can get back to work and what will be a new normal.

France has stated that while schools will open May 11th, restaurants, cafes, hotels, museums, and other sites will remain closed while festivals and events may be allowed after mid-July.

In Italy, plans are in place for May 4th to reopen parks,

Name: Skylar Graham Occupation: Stay-at-Home mother Likes: working with children, hanging out with my family Dislikes: being stuck at home, winter.

factories & building sites and allow people to visit relatives, but schools will not restart until September. Roman Catholic Bishops have provided a written protest to the Italian PM with regards to the ban on church services as the country recorded it’s lowest number of new cases since the beginning of the outbreak. Italy has the highest virus-related death toll in all of Europe at around 27,000.

The UK with over 20,000 deaths has (like most other governments) faced heavy criticism from its citizens. Most recently it stated that current lock-down measures would stay in place and this would be reviewed in May. Members of the UK scientific community estimate that there could be 100,000 deaths from Corona-virus in 2020 if lock-down measures were maintained only for high-risk groups such as the elderly.

Sweden which took a very different approach from it’s Nordic neighbours feels they may have the right solution for dealing with the pandemic. They implemented an outright banning of only large gatherings, with other services remaining open and a large public awareness campaigns for social distancing. Looking at death tolls alone, this does not prove to be effective. The logic from some is that as long as the healthcare system can care for people and not get overloaded, harsh lock-downs would only push the inevitable down the road. Current testing shows an increased number of people tested have produced antibodies but officials admit that it will not be clear for months if their strategy was indeed the right one.

The one major difference for Sweden is that with a more relaxed approach is that their economy hasn’t stalled like much of the rest of the world. Possibly at the cost of lives.

Among the highlights of relaxed lock-downs were New Zealanders lining up at fast food drive-throughs, Australia opened beaches and in the state of Georgia in the US, people enjoyed their gyms, fresh haircuts, and new tattoos.

Extended lock-downs and closures have the well-publicized effect of negative financial impact, but there are other lesserknown effects. While thefts and similar crimes are down because people are in their homes and criminals are not as mobile, domestic violence has increased and 50% of Canadians say their mental health has worsened. At the same time, more Albertans have stated that the weak economy (47%) is a bigger threat than the pandemic (40%).

In California, there was a bit of an anti-lockdown when people flocked to the beaches during a state-mandated stayat-home order. Across the US and Canada petitions and protests have started cropping up. We have no time line in Canada for the end, but no one really does. We are living in unprecedented times.

The villagers are getting restless. Let’s make the best of what we have and take the risk seriously while we move forward.

Tell me what you think. Email me at abletters@newsadvertiser.com

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Special Request to Suspend Rent and Utility Payments Granted Michelle Pinon News Advertiser Members of Vegreville town council voted in favour of suspending rent and utility payments for a business which leases property from the town during its April 15 meeting.

Paul Casey, Corporate Services Director for the Town of Vegreville, brought the request for decision forward stating, “The background is council received correspondence from a business leasing a premise from the Town of Vegreville requesting suspension of rent and utilities for a specified period of time.

Council discussed the correspondence in closed session at the legislative committee meeting on April 7, 2020. The financial implications is the town will defer rent and utility payments for a specified period under the terms and conditions discussed in the closed session.”

Casey said the business will be notified of council’s decision.

Mayor Tim MacPhee then requested a motion. Councillor Berry made the motion granting the request. MacPhee added, “We can’t have a lot of discussion about this because it was in closed session. So all those in favour? Carried.”

During a telephone interview on April 17, MacPhee reiterated that since the discussion was held in closed session, he is not allowed to comment on it, except to say, “It was something that I can guarantee that all of council felt it was very important.

He went on to say, “Because we haven’t agreed with this company on what the terms are going to be yet, so we cannot discuss it. What we did is we passed a motion regarding the offer, the package we put together in closed session, and we’re waiting for their response. If this negotiation goes well, and both parties are happy, then that information will come to light.”

Under Section 197 of the Municipal Government Act, states that councils and council committees, must conduct their meetings in public unless the matter to be discussed is within one of the

exceptions to disclosure in Division 2 of Part 1 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIP) sections 16-19. Items that would allow a council to close a council meeting, which include matters where a public disclosure could be harmful to: Third party business interest, third party personal privacy, individual or public safety, law enforcement, intergovernmental relations and economic or other interests. Public bodies should not: reveal confidential employee evaluations, disclose local public body confidences or advice from officials, or disclose information that is subject to any kind of legal privilege.

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April 29, 2020

from the pages of the vegreville observer

Compiled by Dan Beaudette

90 Years Ago – April 30, 1930

A large delegation from draymen of the town of Vegreville met the council with a complaint that their license fees are too high and that the fees did not restrict the number of draymen. Some residents of the town do draying in certain seasons when there is plenty of work and thus do the men out of work who are paying their fees, alleged the delegation. The decision was tabled till the next meeting.

A great deal of interest has been shown in the past in the bakery being erected on the corner of First street east, and third avenue, and this interest will culminate on Monday, May 5th, when the new building will be open for business. The bakery will be known as the Vegreville City Bakery and the wrappers on its bread will bear tasteful decorations bearing the initials V.C.B. Changes in the hours of beer parlors in all parts of the province are under consideration but nothing definite will be settled for probably ten days, states R.J. Dinning, liquor commissioner.

What is proposed is a change in the afternoon hours which might result in the parlors being closed from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m., or from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

75 Years Ago – May 2, 1945

Const. Murray Cottell, RCMP, who has been with the local detachment for about a year, is being transferred to Lake Harbour.

Edward C. Fisher of National Salvage called in to the Observer office this week and stated that the need for waste paper was great; 20,000 tons needed in Canada every month and that this paper would also be needed in the post-war period. The Boy Scouts of Vegreville are undertaking a campaign for a car load of paper (15) tons to be shipped in June, and seek the co-operation of surrounding towns and schools, who would like to help.

Peter Stursburg, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation correspondent in Europe, said that on the day northern Holland is completely liberated, 12,000 tons of food will be moved into the famine area. He said in many districts in Holland the staple food was raw daffodil and tulip bulbs.

Unanimous in their opinion the minimum salaries for qualified school teachers in Alberta must be set at $1,200 if a labor death in the province is to be avoided.

50 Years Ago – April 30, 1970

Baseball promotors in Vegreville met last week in an initial meeting that might see North-eastern Alberta withdraw from the Alberta Baseball Association. The decision could affect all minor baseball players in this part of the province. Reason for the move is the registration fee of $2.00 that the promoters consider excessive.

Mayor John Koshuta will preside at the official opening of the new premises of Raydon Motor Sales Ltd. marking a significant step forward in the automotive field of this community. The 7,000 sq. ft. plus building is designed to embrace the operations of both Raydon Motors Sales Ltd. and a sister company, Micro Motors Co. Ltd. The Warwick Post Office closes this week-end and the following information regarding the closing was submitted by D. Shyshiak, who from time to time has contributed articles. With deepest regret we see it disappear from this district and go into history the same way at its patrons and pioneers of more than a half century ago. Its closes by order of the Postal Department on April 30, 1970. The first postmaster was an American, Robert Woods from Inverness, Montana. The list then goes on: Rev. W.T. Cromb, R. McQuillan, R.L. Dunn, Miss Edna Dunn, Waldo Campbell, Algie Lank, Charles Burkholder, John Sidor and finally Mrs. Julio Dinwoodie.

25 Years Ago – May 2, 1995

Melanie Roeben, Jennifer Ives, Terina Humeniuk and Michelle Ruiz from St. Martin’s School are skipping to raise money for the Heart Fund. The event has raised $28,000 the past seven years.

Dale Lefebvre has been appointed permanent part-time fire chief for the Town of Vegreville.

It was third time lucky for the Vegreville & District Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber received its annual grant from the Town of Vegreville for 1995 after two earlier requests were deferred for more information. Council voted in favor of giving the $7,914 grant at its meeting Monday.

Smoking and subsequent throat cancer cost Joe Noonan his vocal chords and Adam’s apple. Joe talked to students at A.L. Horton School about the dangers of smoking.

School taxes will go down in local municipalities. The provincial government released its school mill rates Tuesday. The base general provincial rate will be 7.3 mills for residential property and 3.38 mills for non-residential property. Both numbers represent a drop from 1994 levels

Letters Welcomed

One role of the Vegreville News Advertiser is to promote dialogue on various issues of concern to area residents. We accomplish this by welcoming Letters to the Editor and allowing various issues to be debated through our pages. All letters must contain the writer’s name, address and phone number. Anonymous letters will not be printed, however the writer’s name may be withheld from publication in special circumstances deemed appropriate by the Publisher.

The Vegreville News Advertiser reserves the right to edit letters for length, clarity, spelling and grammar, taste or for reasons of potential libel. The Vegreville News Advertiser reserves the right to withhold letters from publication.

They Don`t Build Borders Like They Used To Dr. Constantine Passaris University of New Brunswick What do the global financial crisis of 2008, climate change, and the COVID-19 global pandemic have in common?

All three catastrophic events have confirmed that they don’t build borders the way they used to.

Today, national borders are no match for globalization. In effect, borders have been overpowered and outsmarted by globalization.

There’s no denying that the recent global pandemic has marginalized the efficacy of Canada’s national, provincial and territorial borders.

The modern border is porous, malleable, and surmountable. It’s not an effective deterrent for undesirable political, social, medical, or economic consequences. Borders aren’t preventing international influences from infiltrating a country’s domestic landscape.

The reason for this new normal is internetization. It’s a combination of global outreach and electronic connectivity that can jump borders.

Indeed, the word global has taken on a new meaning since the emergence of the Internet.

Global outreach has become more expansive and far-reaching. Internetization has eliminated physical restrictions with respect to communication and interaction. In effect, internetization has made time and geography irrelevant.

The Internet has also triggered an age of individual and collective empowerment that’s unprecedented in the history of civilization. It provides individuals, institutions, civil society, businesses, and governments with tremendous global influence and outreach.

Our past has lulled us into a false sense of comfort and security within our national borders. This is no longer realistic or pragmatic. The old days when borders served as a deterrent

from entry from any kind of foreign intrusion are behind us. Today’s borders are purely symbolic and simply serve as geographic markers.

All of this necessitates a redesign of the scope and substance of governance. Governance is being subjected to global forces unlike any time in human history.

It has become abundantly clear that globalization has resulted in diminished national and domestic autonomy. Indeed, the line between national and international linkages is blurred at best and fluid on most issues.

This doesn’t negate the need for domestic institutions and policies, it simply recognizes that their capacity to respond to international events can be constrained.

Global interdependence is the wave of the future, and national governments must manage their public policies with a diminished level of autonomy and sovereignty.

Global interdependence is a fact of life in the 21st century and our governing institutions need to adapt and evolve to embrace it rather than ignore its existence. An integrated and porous global environment exposes a country’s national governance architecture to new vulnerabilities and external shocks.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has once again demonstrated that globalization doesn’t respect a country’s borders. We truly live in what Marshall McLuhan called the global village.

Globalization is the signature mark of the 21st century. It’s here to stay and provides the context and explanation for everything going on around us.

The machinery of our governance and the orientation of our public policies must embrace a global mindset. Our future is global and there’s no turning back.

Dr. Constantine Passaris is a professor of Economics and an affiliate of the Canadian Institute of Cybersecurity at the University of New Brunswick.

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Town of Vegreville to Continue Closure of Recreational Areas Michelle Pinon News Advertiser The town will continue to keep its parks, ball diamonds, soccer fields and playgrounds closed for the time being.

Mayor Tim MacPhee stated, “We feel that we’ve committed ourselves this long and everyone is doing such a good job and our community is really safe right now, we don’t feel like it’s time to let our guard down right now and try to be clever. We’re hoping in the next couple of weeks the curve will start to flatten a little more in the province and some of the medical officials will give us some indication we will be able to look at some sort of recreation, especially for the kids. For the time being, we’re going to be status quo.”

Even though the provincial government has decided to allow camping at municipal and private campgrounds, the town has not opened its campground to date. MacPhee said the campground doesn’t usually open until May 1.

Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie ArmstrongHomeniuk stated, “Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health has advised that Parks facilities can only remain open if Parks staff have access to personal protective gear for cleaning. The government recognizes that

these scarce resources are needed in Alberta’s health-care and social services front lines, which is why facilities will remain closed. These restrictions are in place to help stop the spread of COVID-19 and are the same restrictions currently in place at national parks.

We are aware that some Albertans live in private campgrounds during the summer as their permanent residences. For now, private campgrounds can continue operating and providing access to the public, long as they take actions to protect workers, volunteers and patrons from the risk of transmitting COVID-19.”

The province issued a press release on April 17, stating that camping reservations at Alberta Parks has been suspended until the chief medical officer of health is confident the health and public safety risk from COVID-19 is reduced.

Alberta Parks will refund camping reservations up to and including May 19. The online reservation system is temporarily closed and no longer accessible for customers to cancel bookings on their own. Alberta Parks will begin notifying customers with existing reservations up to May 19 through a system-generated email.

Worried about your deposits?

Don’t be. As a Vision member, your deposits are 100% guaranteed by the Credit Union Deposit Guarantee Corporation. This means both the money you put in and the interest earned are safe and secure — up to any dollar amount.

These are extraordinary times. We know that during this time of turmoil resulting from COVID-19, financial concerns are top of mind for many. We’re here for you.

Contact your branch for info on financial options and visit us at whatsyourshare.ca/covid-19-update and on Facebook @VisionCreditUnion.

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All fees paid will be refunded, but customers are advised that refunds may occur in multiple transactions, and may take up to two weeks for processing.

Additional cancellations, including those after May 19, will be announced in the future.

Dispersed random camping on public land is currently permitted, but further restrictions may be necessary in the future as the COVID-19 situation continues to unfold. Additionally, campers should be aware that a fire and recreational off-highway vehicle ban is currently in place in the Forest Protection Area.

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COVID-19 Crisis Pummels Alberta’s Beef Industry Michelle Pinon News Advertiser COVID-19 is not just a health crisis, it’s an economic crisis that is crippling many industries, including agriculture.

The beef industry, one of the largest in Alberta, is fighting to remain viable. Melanie Wowk, Vice-Chair of the Alberta Beef Producers, (ABP), stated, “It is a huge, huge concern of the industry right now. We are looking at possible revenue losses of upward of $500 million by the end of June. It is very similar as to what happened during BSE. It’s pretty much catastrophic.”

Wowk, who ranches with her husband, near Myrnam explained, “We are not able to ship anything right now.

People that perhaps have cows that are open, that aren’t going to calve, bulls that they want to move; we can’t move any of that right now because of the lack of ability to process those animals now. The feedlots are full.”

Wowk pointed out that Cargill’s processing plant in High River, that has been temporarily closed, and JBS in Brooks, account for 80 percent of the cattle processed in Canada. “So you can imagine the backlog in just one day.” While consumers can buy directly off the farm, the problem is that the small processing plants are overbooked and can’t take any more cattle.

“The immediate need is to get meat on the shelves, and keep producers in business.”

She also wanted to reiterate that the meat that is on grocery store shelves is perfectly safe. “We want to make it clear that coronavirus is not transferred from animal to people or vice versa. “Most of these corona cases that are coming up are from person to person contact outside these processing plants. A lot of these people work together and ride together, and it’s got nothing to do with meat being contaminated.”

Wowk added, the BDP has also been trying to work not only with the provincial government, but also the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, who has been really lobbying the federal government to get some programs so that we at least can help each other out in the short term right now.

We are really pushing for a set-aside program. That really takes the pressure off the feedlots that have animals ready to go. It gives them some revenue which will help them to continue to feed those animals until the plants are up to full capacity again. It would also allow some relief for the cow-calf industry for things like cull cows and cull bulls.

The other two things we’ve talked to them about is ag. stability and ag. recovery. That again is what producers pay into and depending on your farm income, either triggers a payment or not. ABP has also discussed the possibility of having this crisis deemed an agricultural disas-

Melanie Wowk is the Vice-Chair of the Alberta Beef Producers and farms in the Myrnam area.

(Alberta Beef Producers/Submitted Photo)

ter in the province, which will trigger the ag. recovery program. “So that way everyone gets a piece of it, not just the producers who paid into it.”

Wowk said she would like producers to send a letter to their MLA’s. A sample letter appears on the ABP’s website, and it outlines their concerns and type of assistance that would be beneficial at this time. “We just feel the more people we have doing this, and the more support we have, that’s it’s a continual reminder to the provincial government that we’re in big trouble and we need some help.”

ABP represents more than 18,000 cattle producers in the province

How antibiotic use in cattle impacts soil and the environment News Advertiser

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The use of antibiotics in cattle is a subject of ongoing concern and debate. Furthermore, research suggests that antibiotic use could increase greenhouse gas emissions.

Antibiotics and soil carbon Researchers looked at soil that was

exposed to manure from cows treated with antibiotics. They analyzed it and compared it to soil exposed to no manure and soil exposed to manure from antibioticfree cows. While the exact cause isn’t clear, they found that the soil exposed to antibiotics stored less carbon than the others.

Why soil carbon matters High carbon levels are crucial to soil health. This is because soil that’s rich in carbon is much better at supporting the microscopic ecosystems on which plants rely for nutrients. In addition, when carbon can’t be stored in the soil, it’s released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas that plays a critical role in climate change.

The bottom line is that while manure is typically considered healthy for soil, the pre¬sence of antibiotics in it could mitigate the benefits. To ensure soil health, antibiotic use in cattle should be closely reviewed.

april 29, 2020

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Farmers’ Markets, Greenhouses, and Nurseries Deemed Essential Services Michelle Pinon News Advertiser The provincial government declared farmers’ markets, greenhouses, and nurseries as essential services on March 27.

As to what will happen on the local front this spring and summer, here’s what to expect.

Len Bullock, Director of the Pysanka Park Market, said June 25 will be opening night of the outdoor market. It will run from 5-8 pm rain or shine. All of the markets are scheduled for that time slot every Thursday evening until August 24.

The Vegreville & District Agricultural Society has been operating the Pysanka Park Market for the past four years and has between15 to 20 vendors on average. Attendance is usually between 280 to 320 people at every market. The first time they tracked attendance was in 2019, and the highest number of attendees at one market reached 440.

Bullock said they will have sanitization stations and observe physical distancing rules during the markets.

Marlene Giebelhaus, President of the Vegreville Farmers’ Market, said they usually open the season on the first Friday in April and run until the last Friday before Christmas. The reason the opening has been delayed, explained Giebelhaus, is because most of the vendors are elderly, and she did not want to compromise their health.

When the market is back up and running, there will also be new guidelines for hand sanitizing, physical distancing, monitoring of buyers, etc. Giebelhaus said she will be contacting the health inspector to gain more information and advice before deciding on a start date.

“I feel sad for the businesses that depend on the market.

But we decided not to open because of the severity of the virus and our demographic.” While Giebelhaus misses the market and being with people in the community, she recognizes the importance of being cautious so as not to jeopardize the health and safety of vendors and buyers.

The Vegreville Farmers’ Market normally operates every

Beverly McCarty smiles along with her enterprising granddaughter Emily during a market last summer.

The Pysanka Park Market in Vegreville will be opening on June 25. The market will run from 5-8 pm.

(Vegreville & District Agricultural Society/Submitted Photo)

Friday between 8:30 and 11:30 am with the exception of the first Friday of the month when it is open until 1 pm. The market has between six and 14 vendors on average. The market is run out of the Elks Hall.

Both markets in Vegreville are members of the Alberta Farmers’ Market Association. According to the association, there are 3,000 farmers’ markets in the province. These markets are approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Food Handling Permits are issued by Alberta Health Services.

Jeannie Windels, who owns and operates Skyline Greenhouse with her husband Jerry, stated, “We are very grateful for the government’s decision. Greenhouses produc-

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ing food and farmers’ markets providing that food are important in supplying the needs of our population during this difficult time. Many people are very eager and grateful to be able to buy local and to know the source.”

Windels went on to say, “We feel for owners and employees of businesses not considered essential and pray daily for everyone dealing with these tough situations.”

PAGE 10

News Advertiser

April 29, 2020

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CN Rail safety Initiative Focuses on Grain Truck Drivers

CN Police take a hands-on approach to safety by going out to grain elevators to speak with drivers. (Canadian Agricultural Safety Association/Submitted Photo)

Erin Kelly Canadian Agricultural Safety Association ‘It’ll never happen to me.’

It’s a phrase that far too many of us have thought far too often when it comes to railway incidents.

It’s that mindset the CN Police Service is looking to change with a new safety program focusing on a specific group that frequently

encounter railway crossings: grain truck drivers.

After analyzing data and realizing that a significant number of incidents occurring at crossings involved professional truck drivers, CN police started looking for ways outside of enforcement to change that trend.

“You can stop vehicles, you can ticket drivers, but it is more important to change attitudes and behaviours about crossings,” says Sergeant Paul Leaden, operations supervisor for the CN Police Service’s Prairie Division, which includes Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and northwestern Ontario.

CN police, recognizing that one of the best ways to help change those attitudes would be to meet drivers in their own environment, decided to take a hands-on approach and began going out to grain elevators in the Prairie Division to speak with them directly. “[CN police officers] are targeting the drivers while they are actually in the line loading up at the elevators,” Sgt. Leaden explains of the Grain Initiative endeavour.

“We have always been doing educational outreach, but we really shifted the focus to the grain industry and have been able to spread the safety message to these drivers in a very positive way.”

Has there Been Animal-toHuman Infection in Canada?

How safe is yo Canadian Agricultural Safety Association Submitted Working day in and day out, it’s easy to go into ‘autopilot’. We all do it. However, it can lead to unwanted consequences in a hazardous environment. Documenting the potential hazards on your farm, being aware of the risks, and putting controls in place can go a long way in protecting yourself, your workers and visitors. The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association has developed a Hazard Assessment Tool that guides farmers in cataloguing potential risks on their property. Throughout this process, we distinguish between hazardous conditions and hazardous acts. A hazardous condition is a hazard that can be observed, like an icy walkway. A hazardous act is a hazard that is created by a person or thing, such as rain or spraying water onto a walkway in freezing temperatures. Hazardous acts often result in hazardous conditions. We also found it important to categorize the various sources of risk. There are a number of risks that aren’t commonly considered, so reviewing the categories can help ensure a thorough risk assessment.

The risk categories outlined in the tool include: •Biological: bacteria, viruses, insects, plants, birds, animals, and humans, etc.

•Chemical: depends on the physical, chemical and toxic properties of the chemical •Ergonomic: repetitive movements, improper set up of workstation, etc.

•Physical: radiation, magnetic fields, pressure extremes (high pressure or vacuum), noise, etc.

•Psychosocial: stress, violence, harassment, time constraints, etc.

•Safety: slipping/tripping hazards, inappropriate machine guarding, equipment malfunctions or breakdowns

Submitted There is currently no evidence to suggest that this virus is circulating in animals in Canada. It is possible that some types of animals may be able to get infected with COVID-19, but it is not yet clear whether they would show symptoms.

There are still many unknowns about COVID-19 and this is an area

that remains to be studied and understood.

Until we know more, if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 and have contact with animals: •avoid close contact with them •avoid coughing and sneezing on the animals •have another member of your staff care for the animals •if this is not possible, always wash your hands before touching or feeding them •limit the animal’s contact with other people and animals do not snuggle or kiss them, or let them lick you, sit on your lap, or sleep in your bed.

The rank t extrem did ha Once identif called proces 1. Eli the h Contro trols s cedure (PPE) Haza your fa assessm purpos agsafet

april 29, 2020

www.NewsAdvertiser.com

e is your farm?

‘autowanted enting of the way in The eloped n cataughout condin is a way. A son or way in sult in ant to are a ed, so gh risk

The Hazard Assessment Tool will also prompt you to rank the likelihood of an incident to occur – from extremely remote to imminent - and the severity if it did happen – from serious injury or fatal to no injury.

Once the hazard has been ranked, you will want to identify how to control it. This is done using what is called the ‘hierarchy of controls’. The priority of this process is as follows: 1. Eliminating the hazard 2. Substitution 3. Isolating the hazard from the worker (or vice versa) 4.

Controlling the hazard through administrative controls such as job rotation, shiftwork, training, or procedures 5. Using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to protect the worker Hazard assessment is an important part of keeping your farm, your workers, and visitors safe. All hazard assessments should be documented for due diligence purposes. Our Hazard Assessment Tool can be found at agsafetyweek.ca under resources.

birds,

Anhydrous Ammonia Handle With Care!

Canadian Agricultural Safety Association Submitted While fertilizers share a common purpose, there’s no ‘one-size-fits-all’ instruction manual. Learning about the unique properties and precautions for each fertilizer used on your operation, could save time, money, and prevent serious injury.

Anhydrous ammonia, or NH3, is one of the most commonly used fertilizers. It’s low-cost, highly effective and contains one of the most concentrated forms of nitrogen with levels at 82%. However, it can also be highly hazardous.

Anhydrous means without water, and anhydrous ammonia can rapidly cause dehydration and severe burns if it combines with water in the body. Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, irritation to the eyes, nose or throat, burns or blisters. Exposure to high concentrations can lead to death. One deep breath of the gas can be fatal or cause severe damage to the throat and lungs. Needless to say, the handling and storage of NH3 requires special care.

One of the first ‘safety stops’ farmers would have to consider is the storage of the fertilizer. If it’s being the short term, it can cause workers to experience fatigue and shortness of breath. Long-term exposure can result in symptoms like congestion, coughing and wheezing and fre-quent respiratory infections such as colds, bronchitis and pneumonia. Over time, exposure to grain dust can lead to serious respiratory illnesses such as farmer’s lung, asthma, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

al and

set up

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e con-

Minimizing the risks

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Grain dust: an underrated health risk News Advertiser One of the most underrated health risks in the agricultural industry comes from long-term exposure to grain dust.

Grain dust is produced from the harvesting, drying, handling, storing and processing of grains like wheat, oats, maize and rye. In addition to particles of grain, the dust contains contaminants such as bacteria, fungal spores, insect debris, animal droppings and pesticide residues.

Effects of inhaling grain dust

Breathing in too much grain dust while working on farms has both immediate and long-term effects. In

News Advertiser PAGE 11

If you work in an environment where you’re exposed to grain dust, you can take steps to reduce your risk of developing a respiratory disease. Above all, make sure to wear the proper respiratory protective equipment (RPE) for the job you’re performing and inform your supervisor if you’re having trouble with your equipment. You should also stay informed about the risks of dust-related illnesses and take the time to train employees about what they can do to stay safe while working with grain.

stored on your property, the proper handling practices and treatment in the case of an incident should be detailed in your Emergency Response Plan. The local fire department should also be made aware of where the fertilizer is being stored.

When handling the fertilizer, we recommend that you not work alone. It’s also important that anyone handling or applying NH3 wear proper Personal Protective Equipment. This includes a face shield AND safety eyewear, gloves, and appropriate respiratory protection where appropriate.

Weather is an ever-present factor in farming, and the application of fertilizer is no exception. It’s important to pay special attention to the direction of the wind. If there’s an uncontrolled release of NH3, quickly move upwind to avoid exposure and shut down all ignition sources if safe to do so. In the event of an exposure, follow the first aid measures indicated on the Safety Data Sheet.

Special precautions should also be taken to prevent NH3 runoff from contaminating the surrounding environment.

PAGE 12

News Advertiser

April 29, 2020

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Funding Changes Announced for Rural Health Care Michelle Pinon News Advertiser Tyler Shandro, Alberta’s Minister of Health, introduced funding changes for rural physicians on April 24. Shandro said the changes would improve recruitment and retention of physicians in rural Alberta.

The decision came in the wake of mounting pressure by rural physicians, their advocacy group, the Alberta Medical Association, (AMA), and members of the public.

Back on April 15, a group of 10 doctors in Lac La Biche jointly filed a joint letter of resignation stating they would no longer cover emergency room and obstetric services at the hospital. The same happened in more than half a dozen other hospitals throughout the province.

While the AMA called the announcement a “very positive step” that would help physicians in the short term. It also stated that the lack of certainty, clarity and collaboration in the government’s approach with physicians would need to be addressed.

AMA President Dr. Christine Molnar also called on the Health Minister to reinstate the contract with physicians and return to negotiations in order to find” permanent, prudent and sustainable solutions” for Alberta’s health care system.

Dr. David Strydom, Chief Medical Officer at St. Joseph’s General Hospital and owner of the Vegreville Family Clinic, wanted to thank his patients and local residents for their support, and for writing to the MLA and the Health Minister.

Dr. Strydom said, “It seems like they (the government), changed everything back to how it was for rural physicians. We are obviously very pleased with that.

But we also still worry that they still might change it in the future. So all we ask is for the minister of health is to be transparent and honest and stop lying about the wrong information that he has and work with our AMA, so we can still work on saving money for the province. He has to interact with AMA and his staff, not just make decisions on his own. We just want to sit at the negotiation table and talk to him.”

I think a lot of doctors are still skeptical about what’s going to happen in the

future. So the government had to do some damage control. But I think there’s still going to be doctors that will change. They just want to see what we’re going to do, and if family physicians are still going to go ahead with their plans because of this thing. So we’ll see in a couple of weeks what the survey is going to say about that. Hopefully a lot of them will cancel that what they said they were going to do and remain in those areas because rural areas are still underserviced, not just by doctors, by all medical aspects.

Currently, there are six physicians practicing at the Vegreville Family Clinic. One other doctor is expected to return from maternity leave in the future, said Dr. Strydom. The clinic serves more than 8,000 patients.

Vegreville is also part of the Kalyna Primary Care Network which has between 11,00 and 13,000 patients.

Father’s Day Event Cancelled for 2020 Vegreville Agricultural Society Submitted April 10, 2020 - The Veg Auto & Industrial Supply Ltd. (Bumper to Bumper) Father’s Day Event is jointly sponsored by the Vegreville Agricultural Society and the Iron Runners Auto Club. It has been a highlight on Vegreville’s calendar for 28 years.

Co-chairs Derek Fox and Bill Smolak announced today that the 2020 event has been cancelled. “The health and safety of those who help run our great show, and those who come from far and wide to enjoy it, is our number one concern” Smolak said. “Hosting such

a large event at this time is just not possible given the important battle against the coronavirus.”

“We want to thank all of our sponsors for their continued support. We also want to encourage everyone to shop local to help the many great businesses we have in our area come through this and thrive in the future” said Fox. “On behalf of all our fans, I thank the Demo Derby drivers and the owners of the fantastic antique cars, trucks, tractors, motor-cycles, snow machines and big-rig semis that make our annual show such a great success. We look forward to seeing everyone next year on June 20, 2021!”

april 29, 2020

www.NewsAdvertiser.com

News Advertiser PAGE 13

Arson Suspected - CONTINUED from FRONT PAGE Protective Services for the County of Minburn, stated that: “On April 21 at 0234 the Vegreville Fire department was dispatched by 911 to a structure fire at 53402 RR 142. While on route to the fire 911 alerted us to a second structure fire on RR 140 near TWP 534.

It was later clarified that the second fire was a bale fire at 53414 RR 140. A third fire on RR 144 near Hwy 631 was discovered on April 21 at 11:00 am. The fire had been lit earlier in the morning (I’m assuming around the same time as the others, however, the weather conditions and fuel load were not favourable for fire development at that location. The strong winds had reignited the fire on the abandoned grain bins and they were reported and extinguished.

Upon notification of the second structure fire, Innisfree Fire was dispatched to provide mutual aid as well. Once we determined the first structure fire was too far along to save anything we diverted all but one unit to the second bale fire. It was determined Vegreville had enough resources so the Mutual Aid from Innisfree was cancelled.

Upon initial investigation of the fires and the time of day, weather conditions, and the amount of fires concurrently active in the same geographical area, it was unlikely that the fires were started by natural causes. So the RCMP was notified that the fires were possibly arson. RCMP were notified and made site visits to the fire in

Minburn County at approximately 9:00 am.”

This was not the first time there has been a string of fires. Fundytus said that throughout 2019 they had numerous fires similar to these in the Innisfree and Minburn area.

The Two Hills, Hairy Hill, and Willingdon Fire Departments were also kept busy during that same period of time, extinguishing five fires in the area of Twp 540, and between RR 145 and RR135.

“The loss that was encountered were old abandoned buildings and bale stacks stored along the ditch lines of the road,” stated County of Two Hills Regional Fire Chief Brad Straty.

He encourages area residents who may have seen anything suspicious to contact himself, Minburn Fire Chief Mike Fundytus, or the Two Hills RCMP Detachment. All of the fires are still under investigation.

Straty said landowners should be diligent in protecting their belongings.

He also recommends rural residents consider installing cameras in their driveways and on properties that have abandoned buildings.

COVID-19 Weekly Regional Update Michelle Pinon News Advertiser On April 23 Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw announced that gathering restrictions currently in place also apply to all one-time or annual summer events, including arts and culture festivals, agricultural fairs, and rodeos, major sporting championships and industry conferences. The orders in place prohibit gatherings of 15 or more people. The restrictions will continue to apply until evidence demonstrates that the spread is controlled.

A mobile contract tracing application: AB TraceTogether. The app is in the final testing phase and is expected to be available to all Albertans in the coming weeks.

Alberta joins the provinces, territories and federal government in announcing a program to help small businesses pay rent.

A total of 216 new cases were reported, bringing the number of confirmed cases to 4,696. There are 1,664 recovered cases, and 75 deaths.

These are the statistics for local geographic areas which include towns, villages and counties. The following were documented on April 27.

In Vegreville/Minburn County, there are: 2 case(s), 0 active, 2 recovered, and 0 deaths In Two Hills County, there are: 0 case(s), 0 active, 0 recovered, and 0 deaths In Lamont County there are: 0 case(s) 0 active, 0 recovered, and 0 deaths In Beaver County, there are: 2 cases, 0 active, 2 recovered, and 0 deaths (In the Town of Tofield there are: 2 cases, 0 active, 2 recovered, and 0 deaths.

In the Town of Viking there are: 0 cases, 0 active, 0 recovered, and 0 deaths.) *These numbers only reflect cases that have been tested and reported to Alberta Health.

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PAGE 14

News Advertiser

April 29, 2020

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MR. CLASSIFIED

Call toll free from anywhere in Alberta

1.800.522.4127 or fax to 780.632.7981

Ask the Guys Dear Classified Guys, Maybe you can help me figure this out. My friend was insecure about buying a used car, so he asked for my help. He made it very clear that with the price of gas these days, he wanted an economy sedan that got good mileage and was priced under $8,000. I spent two weekends calling classified ads and visiting dealer lots. Then, when I found a good deal, I gave my friend a call. Wasn't I surprised to find that he had bought a car on his own the week before?

And it was nothing like what he asked me to find! Instead, he bought a luxury car with leather seats, power everything and a big eight-cylinder engine. Then, to make matters worse, he spent twice as much as his $8,000 limit! Now I'm really angry.

I spent a lot of time trying to help him.

He offered to take me for a ride, but in all honesty, I wanted to speak my mind. Any suggestions on how to handle this?

• • •

Cash: First, you may want to

take a few deep breaths to calm down, or maybe a nice long drive would help!

Fast Facts Downhill Ratings

Duane “Cash” Holze & Todd “Carry” Holze 04/26/20 04/28/13 ©The Classified Guys®

Carry: It seems you and your friend had a few communication problems. He either didn't realize that you were spending so much time on the project or he somehow got caught up in the emotional process of buying a car.

Cash: While he may have started out thinking logically about his needs in relation to a vehicle, somewhere along the line he leaned more towards style and comfort rather than functionality.

Carry: It's easy to do. After all, there are a lot of choices out there from small gas-saving cars and hybrids to SUV's and high-end luxury cars.

Cash: Let’s face it. Any basic car, providing it runs, will get you

from point "A" to point "B". The difference between them is the amount of money you spend and the style in which they get you there.

Carry: Since your friend may be on a budget, the overpriced car with a higher insurance premium and larger gas bill may prove to be too costly. After he fills the tank a few times, don't be surprised if he asks for your help again.

Cash: You may have a right to be upset, but before you get too far along, talk to your friend and see if you can straighten out the misunderstanding.

Carry: And if you really want to shake him up a bit, just ask to borrow his new luxury car.

Many people look for a high fuel efficiency rating when buying a car. However, comparing newer models to older cars has become very difficult. The Environmental Protection Agency revised the fuel efficiency rating system that car manufacturers use in 2008. The new rating system takes into account real world speeds, seasonal changes (like driving in the summer or winter) and even driving with the air conditioner.

Although more accurate, the new rating system makes newer cars look less efficient than previous years.

Luxury at a Cost

Most of us would like to ride in luxury, but it does come at a cost.

Entry-level luxury cars have an MSRP of $29K to $36K. Midrange luxury vehicles can run up to $60K and high-end luxury cars up to $100K. The ultra luxury cars, such as Ferraris and Maseratis, top over $100K. While many of us would like to own one of these vehicles, some of us consider it a luxury just to have a car that doesn't break down.

•

•

Reader Humor Deluxe Package

The other day I walked out of the mall after finishing my shopping and stood looking at the sea of cars in the parking lot.

As I realized I had forgotten where I parked, a fellow shopper came out with the similar problem.

As we both stood dumbfounded at the endless lot, I suddenly heard the beeping of her horn. "There it is," she exclaimed.

Wondering if she had a car remote in her hand, I commented, "Now that's luxury. How much was it to add that option to your car?"

"Everything has a cost," she grinned. "That's my husband blowing the horn!"

(Thanks to Simone D.)

Laughs For Sale

•

Do you have a question or funny story about the classifieds? Want to just give us your opinion? Email us at: comments@classifiedguys.com.

Sounds like this Benz needs a nose job.

FOR SALE /C, ent, A rc e M edes B iesel, some D , D Leather, C damage. front-end er.

Best Off

www.ClassifiedGuys.com APARTMENTS Adult Only Buildings at 5310-46 St and 4917 – 61 Ave in Vegreville.

Bachelor, 1 & 2-bedroom suite. Rent start from $645 to $825, DD Same.

Rent incl. Water, heat and Energized pkg stall. Call 780-918-6328 or 780632-6878.

Willowbrook 3 bedroom, 1 bath townhouse for rent April 1st. Nice neighbors, fenced yard, ample parking and is directly south of A.L. Horton School.

Rent is $875.00. For additional information and to view this unit, please contact or Murray at (780) 603-7772 or Linda at (587) 280-1727. NS/NP Arlington Place – 1 bedroom and 2 bedroom suite available. Very clean suites, quiet building, respectful tenants, and laundry on each floor. Rent is $725.00 to $775.00 and includes heat, water. NS/NP. Contact Murray at (780) 603-7772, or Linda at (587) 2801727.

AUTOMOBILES

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES CASH WEEKLY WORKING FROM HOME. Could you use an extra $100 to $1,000 dollars a week simply by returning phone calls? No selling involved, call 773-819-7098 today!

COMMERCIAL For Rent: Main Street Vegreville store front. 3900+ sq. ft.

Landlord, motivated. Phone or text 780-632-0480

COMPUTERS VM SYSTEMS Looking for a new computer? VM SYSTEMS has all you’ll ever need in computers! Installation – Sales – Service – Internet. One call will get you in touch. Phone 780-632-2859 9am – 5pm.

2000 Windstar. Ex. engine & transmission. Body damage. For parts $750.

780-922-5999 2008 Dodge Calibar. Automatic.

Loaded. 150,000 Kms. Clean. $5200.

780-994-3005 2002 Honda Civic, Standard Drives Excellent Needs TLC $3200 780-9225999 Rare Super Charged 40th Anniversary Grand Prix. Loaded. $4700. Phone 780-994-3005 2010 damaged Dodge Caliber 125,000kms. Drives excellent. For parts. $1500. Phone 780-994-3005 2005 Mercedes Smart Car diesel, automatic, black, 192,000kms, $3900.

780-994-3005.

EQUIPMENT Retiring (equipment for sale) 875 Versatile tractor with 14’ (Degleman) mech angle dozer. Used very little.

Approx. 2500 hours on complete engine overhaul. New tires at same time. 20.8-38 duals radial planetares/ approx. 1000 hours on a new hydraulic pump, 90% of the time shedded.

1998-40’-820 flexicoil air seeder - 9” spacing and 550 lb. trip. Complete with a 1720 T behind air cart with a self-contained hydraulic system and a 20 horsepower motor (3 rollers).

Comes complete with a 2055 Valmar chemical applicator (like new). Cart and Valmar always shedded. Taking offers. Cell: 1-780-603-7754. After 8pm 1-780-632-7934

FEED

AIRLINES ARE HIRING - Get FAA approved hands on Aviation mechanic training. Financial Aid for qualified students - Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-686-1704 AIRLINE MECHANIC TRAINING – Get FAA Technician certification.

Approved for military benefits.

Financial Aid if qualified. Job placement assistance. Call Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-453-6204

Advertise your rental property here for as little as $7.95 per week!

New 3 bdrm duplex Vegreville. $685/mo. Call 780-275-0089. New developments.

Newly upgraded, partially furnished, 1 bedroom bungalow.

Available May 1st. $450 Rent + utilities, excluding water. $450 DD. No pets. References required.

Phone: 780-632-1941 Near Aquatic Center in Vegreville.

Approx 450 Sq Ft., 1 bedroom, fully renovated, kitchen appliances, washer/dryer, soaker tub. NS, NP. $600/m + utilities. Same DD. References required. Call or text 780-632-0480

3 Bdrm Mobile Home, N/P PH: 780-

LIVESTOCK

MOTORHOMES

Salers bulls for sale. Red, black &

1982 Dodge camper van. Loaded.

Raised roof. Excellent condition. No rust. Very low km. Call 780-6798929

tan. Very Quiet. Semen tested and delivered. Scattered spruce salers.

PH: 780-768-2284

Yearling and Two Year Old Registered Red & Black Angus Bulls. Semen Tested. Brownalta Farms. 780-603-4882 LAKEFORD Registered Polled Hereford and Red Angus Bulls for Sale! Top Quality from a herd with over 50 years production history.

Contact Dan Prichard 780-385-2298 or 780-385-5125 For Sale: Simmental & Speckle Park Bulls, Yearling & 2 year olds. Semen tested. Free delivery. Ph: 780-9130221, 780-914-2521, 780-349-1936

PRINTING The News Advertiser can help you with your personal and commercial print work needs: business cards, invoices, envelopes, posters and much more.

Phone: 780-632-2861 or email jobsubmit@newsadvertiser.com

TO GIVE AWAY

For Sale Registered Polled Hereford Bulls. Paul Dinisyk/PMD Polled Herefords 780-336-2675

208-9608 Wanted. Oats, Peas, Wheat, Barley, Canola: Dry, Wet, or Heated.

AlbertaFeedGrain.com 1-888-4838789

2 bdr house in Vegreville. Close to downtown. $800/mo includes water but other utilities extra. DD same.

Non-smoking. No pets. References

60 Round Hay Bales $50 Each * 70 Round Hay Bales $60 Each * 200 Round Hay Bales No Rain $65 Each.

Near Chipman 780-363-2147

required. Call or text 780-940-4951.

LAND FOR SALE

GRAIN BINS

For Sale: 1 quarter section pasture.

Custom Bin Moving 14’–19’ Hoppers/Bins. New and used bins for sale. Wayne (cell) 780-632-0455

EDUCATION

HOMES FOR RENT

HEALTH & FITNESS GENERIC VIAGRA and CIALIS! 100 Pills $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888889-5515 VIAGRA and CIALIS USERS! 100 Generic Pills SPECIAL $99.00 FREE Shipping! 100% guaranteed. 24/7 CALL NOW! 888-445-5928 Hablamos Espanol

MACHINERY For Sale: Brandt 835 Grain Loader Subaru 25.0 HP Engine - 105 Hours Call Walter at 780-603-1342

V

Farm For Sale 320 Acres. Approx.

MISC.

2006 Ford 4x4 Crew Cab. New tires. $4600. 780-994-3005

Reach millions of homes nationwide with one easy, affordable buy in the NANI Network! For more information go to www.afcp.org/nani

2000 Dodge Dakota V8, 4x4, farm truck. $1600. 780-922-5999

280 acres cultivated Pasture, trees and home place. Additional acres can be cleared and cultivated

572048 RGE RD 154 NE-17-57-15-4 SE-17-57-15-4. 6 miles east and 3

miles north of Andrew, AB. No. 1

soil yields excellent crops. Power.

For more information call Ken. 604454-7884

Land for sale 5.5 miles all pavement

North of Vegreville, currently in pasture but has potential. Gas well lease, dugout, power and well.

SW-20-53-14. 780-603-0305

TRUCKS

1993 Chev 4x4 Ext Cab. For parts. $650. 780-922-5999

SE-15-52-12-W4 (North of Ranfurly) Call Ron 780-215-8422

To Give Away: Fabric face masks, 780-768-2180

!! OLD GUITARS WANTED!! GIBSON, FENDER, MARTIN, Etc. 1930’s to 1980’s. TOP DOLLAR PAID. CALL TOLL FREE 1-866-433-8277 BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work… You reap the Rewards! Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 866-951-7214

2004 Dodge Dakota 4x4 loaded, superb condition. Low km. $6,500.

780-632-3527.

2002 GMC 4x4 HD ¾ ton Service Truck 340k $3500 780-922-5999 1997 Ford 7.3 Diesel, 4 x 4, missing transmission. Nice deck, $2800. 780922-5999 2004 Chev 4 x 4, new t/case, canopy, $3200. PH: 780-994-3005 2002 F250 Crew cab, 7.3 diesel.

Loaded. 410,000kms. $6500 PH: 780994-3005

april 29, 2020

News Advertiser PAGE 15

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MR. CLASSIFIED

Upgrades at 1.800.522.4127 Vegreville & District Co-op Call toll free from anywhere in Alberta

or fax to 780.632.7981

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The Vegreville & District Co-op upgraded its propane filling station this past week. (News Advertiser/Photo)

VCHS Principal Reveals the Process of Online Learning Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent

“When implementing a brand new learning model, it takes everyone time to adjust-teachers and students alike. We are making adjustments as we go and the process is going well,” stated Mr. Rod Leatherdale, Principal of Vegreville Composite High School.

Leatherdale went on to say that the students work at different paces and with very different means, and teachers take this into consideration as they plan the instructions.

When asked if students were as motivated as when they were in school, Leatherdale said, “Yes, although some have expressed the fact they miss being in the classroom with their teachers and learning together.”

“Online learning cannot replace the experience of learning in person and being together with classmates. For those students who find this model challenging, Elk Island Public School (EIPS) teachers are offering one-onone Google Meets or small online group opportunities. We are also using educational assistants to provide support through Google Meets or small online group opportunities, hangouts and phone calls,” Leatherdale said.

The advice he would give students is to learn as much as possible, keep up with assignments, and don’t hesitate to contact your teacher if you need help.

Leatherdale then added that there is a social aspect to online learning

because teachers engage with students through Google Meets, where students can see the teacher and one another. “But online learning cannot replicate the experience of being together with classmates, and we know our students are missing those connections. Hopefully, the difficult situation in which we all find ourselves will be resolved soon and we’ll be able to be back together again.”

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MLA Armstrong-Homeniuk Provides Update

Tributes MEMORIAM

OBITUARY

YUSHCHYSHYN, Finella September 4, 1946 - April 28, 2016 I thought of you today, But that is nothing new.

I thought about you yesterday And days before that too.

I think of you in silence, I often speak your name.

All I have are memories And your picture in a frame.

Your memory is a keepsake From which I’ll never part.

God has you in His loving arms, I have you in my heart.

Love Tabatha

ROBERTS, Micky November 26, 1956 – April 17, 2020 It is with heavy hearts his family announces the passing of Micky Roberts on April 17, 2020.

Micky is survived by his loving, devoted wife Margaret; three deeply loved children – Aimee, Susan (Jaysen) and Darryl (Maude). Also left to mourn his loss are his nine deeply loved grandchildren he was so proud of – Branden, Dameon, Samantha, Sarah, Nicholaus, Isabelle, Madelaine, Jacob and Katie. He is also survived by his dad John Nykolyszn and step-mother Jill; three siblings – Rick, Terry (Sheila) and Tammy Darmohray (Curtis) and their children. Micky will be missed by numerous additional family and cherished friends. Micky was predeceased by his father Aldon Roberts, mother Marianne Nykolyszn and granddaughter Abigail Lehman.

Due to the requirements for physical distancing at this time, a celebration of Micky’s life will take place at a later date. In the meantime, the family encourages you to sign the online book of condolences by visiting www. autumnrosefuneralhome.com AUTUMN ROSE FUNERAL HOME LTD. VEGREVILLE, 780-603-5800

YUSHCHYSHYN, Finella September 4, 1946 - April 28, 2016 In Loving Memory of My Wife Remember me with smiles not tears, For all the joy through all the years.

Recall the closeness that was ours, A love as “sweet” as fragrant flowers.

Don’t dwell on thoughts that cause you pain, We’ll see each other once again.

I am at peace….try to believe, It was my time….I had to leave.

But “what a view” I have from here, I see your face, I feel you near.

I follow you throughout the day, You’re not alone along the way.

And when God calls you…you will be, Right by my side…right here with me.

Till then, I’ll wait by Heaven’s door, We’ll be united….evermore Lovingly Remembered and Sadly Missed

By Charles and Family

KULMATYSKI, Eddie November 3, 1932 – April 28, 2014 We found a picture that is special We want to share with you To help us through the sad days When we might be feeling blue It’s hard to lose someone we love Memories can hurt so much But remembering the joys we shared We can feel his gentle touch May this picture remind you It’s okay to shed a tear But the love we shared Is still in our hearts So Eddie (Dad, Gido) Will always be near.

Lovingly remembered today and always, Victoria, Darlene & Family, Evelyn & Family

April 29, 2020

DESJARLAIS, Henry On April 23, 2020 Henry Desjarlais of Ranfurly passed away at the age of 68 years. Henry is survived by a special friend, Sylvia; two brothers and one sister: Buffalo, Louis, and Molly; numerous step-children and step-grandchildren.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a private Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Photos, memories and condolences may be shared through www.parkmemorial.com PARK MEMORIAL LTD. VEGREVILLE 780-632-2000 FAMILY OWNED FUNERAL HOME and CREMATORIUM

HOMENIUK, Jason Michael John March 25, 1979- April 23, 2020 On April 23, 2020 Jason Michael John Homeniuk of Willingdon passed away suddenly at the age of 41 years. Jason is survived by his loving wife of 11 years, Kristin; two daughters, Anna and Lily; parents, Larry and Carol Homeniuk; parents-in-law, Marg and Ken Donaldson; one sister, Jackie (Stojan) and their children, Jacob and Abbey; one brother, Todd (Jannel) and their children, Ayden, Cole and Ava; brother-in-law, Ryan (Dani) and their daughter, Claire; also numerous cousins, uncles, aunts, other relatives and friends.

Predeceased by his grandparents, Mary and John Homeniuk, and Grandma T. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In memory of Jason, donations may be made to: https://www.gofundme.com/f/inmemory-of-jason-homeniuk Photos, memories and condolences may be shared through www.parkmemorial.com PARK MEMORIAL LTD. VEGREVILLE 780-632-2000 FAMILY OWNED FUNERAL HOME and CREMATORIUM

PALAHNIUK, Samuel July 26, 1935 – April 26, 2020 On Sunday, April 26, 2020, Sam Palahniuk of Andrew, Alberta passed away at the age of 84 years.

Sam is survived by his loving family, children Kim (Norm) Kapicki and their family Marcus (Roxanne) Kapicki along with their son Maveric; and Dariel (Will) Krawchuk along with their son Jacob: Kathy

Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk Dear friends and neighbours, Our riding of Fort SaskatchewanVegreville is full of truly remarkable people. We just celebrated National Volunteer Week and I am proud of the many wonderful and dedicated volunteers that call this riding home. Our government has launched the Alberta Northern Lights Volunteer Recognition Program to honour the contributions of individuals and group throughout this province during COVID-19. Please visit https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-northern-lights-volunteer-recognition-program.aspx to nominate someone today.

COVID-19 continues to be a challenging time for many of us. If you are struggling, support is always available through the Alberta Mental Health Helpline at 1-877-303-2642. Updated information on COVID-19 and resources for coping can also be found at alberta.ca/covid19.

Our government is taking action to get Albertans back to work and looking ahead to economic recovery. The new Site Rehabilitation Program will provide grants to oilfield service contractors to perform well, pipeline, and oil and gas site reclamation. The program, which is expected to create 5,300 direct jobs for Albertans, will lead the cleanup

of thousands of sites here in our province. Applications for contracts by service companies will open May 1, and will help get Albertans back to work during a period of unprecedented challenges for the oil and gas industry.

Please go to https://www.alberta.ca/siterehabilitation-program.aspx to apply.

Thank you to those who have reached out to my office with your concerns around healthcare. My colleagues and I have been meeting with the Minister of Health to continue improving rural healthcare. Our government recently announced we are removing the cap on incentives through the Rural, Remote and Northern Program, increasing rural on-call rates, and freezing rural and family medical liability rates at $1,000 for rural physicians. We are also introducing a program to pay for 20 young Albertans from rural communities to attend medical school in exchange for working in a rural community for three years. These new investments will help recruit and retain physicians in rural areas of our province.

Thank you for doing your part to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Whether you are on the front-lines or staying home and practicing physical distancing your efforts are appreciated and we thank you for your sacrifice. We are all in this together.

A Snap Shot of History!

Spring 1962 St. Paul Hornet’s Playoff Run Vern Theroux Submitted I just got off work from setting bowling pins at La Salle Bowling Lanes. As I enter the Arena, the volunteer ladies are busy frying onions for the hotdogs.

This is the first year we get coffee in the new styrofoam cups, it all smells good.

It’s a cold day, the overhead blower heaters are just roaring, barely keeping up. Because I’m late, I know the game will be in the early parts of the second period.

I enter the rink area and study the scoreboard that’s at center ice. St.Paul Hornets 4, Vegreville Rangers 0. I can’t believe it, we had lost the first game in Vegreville 7 to 4 on a total point series.

Vegreville has some big guns playing for them this year: Ed Kassian who played with Penticton Vee’s world champions and Ruptash who last year played major junior with the Lethbridge Native Sons.

Just as I’m about to step up to the bleachers I have this sudden awful feeling in my stomach. I remembered that some of the light bulbs are burnt out on (Ken) Anderson: and Nick (Carmen) Palahniuk along with their son Lane; one brother Bill (Florence); four sisters Bessie Bidniak, Helen Trufyn, Evelyn Nemirsky and Claudia (Ernie) Gull; along with numerous relatives and friends. Sam was predeceased by his wife Gladys; parents John and Helen Palahniuk; siblings Mary (George) Andruik, Kate (Buck) Buchkowsky, Jean (Herb) Harris, Anne (Bill) Kurrik and Maxine (Bud) McAvany; brothers-in-law Walter Bidniak, Alex Trufyn and Peter Nemirsky.

Due to Covid-19 a private Funeral Service at the graveside will be held at the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church Cemetery at Kysylew with Archimadrite Gerasim Power officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the “Nativity of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church at Kysylew.”

To send condolences, please visit www.autumnrosefuneralhome.com AUTUMN ROSE FUNERAL HOME LTD. VEGREVILLE,780-603-5800

the scoreboard box west and north side.

St. Paul 4 Veg 3. The Hornets have come along way this year, all volunteers, no paid imports from the Golden Bears and they paid their hockey stick bill off at Bedard’s Hardware.

Bellerieve and Dehid are leading the league in points. This is a do or die situation, we need to win by four goals.

Larry Ruptash comes up the right side, let’s go one of his famous blistering slap shots, it comes off of Tardiff’s stick. The puck slithers up the boards and hits our trainer Dellaire in the wrist. All four watches that he is holding for the players are smashed. (Nick and Blanche at Central Jewellers will be busy this week).

Up in the press box, LH is telling the kids under the bleachers to stop wrestling, they’re making too much dust and the fans are complaining. I look up at the ceiling, all the exposed roofing nails are frosted, God it’s cold.

Third period, Laboucane skates up the right side and lets a hard one go from the blue line, Kolson can’t handle it. Final score: St. Paul 5, Veg 3. It was a great year, even though we lost.

We hear that the three players, Dehid, Hryciw, and Pundick from Two Hills maybe leaving us to go to Vegreville.

They’ve paved Highway 36 to the Lavoy junction but going to St. Paul is still all mud and some gravel. Vegreville has a new arena with artificial ice (old one burnt down). Bonnyville Pontiacs are putting artificial ice in their arena this summer and Cold Lake already has it.

Maybe someday we’ll get artificial ice?

Somebody also mentioned that for the St. Paul hockey awards, Clancy was trying to get Maurice Richard for the guest of honour. That would be the greatest year of hockey for a long time.

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Phyllis Tarapacki Takes on the Lighter Side of Isolation Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent Phyllis Tarapacki is a resident of Vegreville who said she always believes in being positive and making the best of every situation. She believes every person makes a difference.

So, when I selected her to participate in the Vegreville News Advertiser’s new feature, ‘The Lighter Side of Isolation’, she took extra measures to ensure I could speak to her and capture her photo while maintaining social distancing which is required since the COVID19 pandemic.

Phyllis used to be a member of the popular local band, Harmony, which was around for many years. Now for entertainment indoors, Phyllis started playing the piano and she practices three times a day, always singing along to the music.

Phyllis said music makes her happy and she believes music makes everyone

Phyllis holds the item she made which she wrote positive affirmation statements on.

(Rosanne Fortier/photo)

happy. “If people don’t have music in their heart, they are hurting for some reason,” Phyllis added.

She recently decorated the foyer in her house with a COVID-19 theme. “I

made a bunny out of different materials and took some other decor bunnies outside to express that bunnies are like people because two of the bunnies are wearing face masks which you should

do to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Yet, one bunny isn’t wearing a face mask. This is to show bunnies are like people; some people keep their distance away from others during this pandemic while other people don’t seem to understand why being careful is important. There is always that late straggler who is in a hurry or doesn’t care. Another decoration of a hedgehog has a mask on too,” Phyllis said “Also in the tree in the front, I hung a bag written, Happy Easter. As well, I took a circular saw blade and painted it different colors while I wrote positive affirmation statements which states, ‘Be kind, Be sensible, Be active, Be musical, Be careful, Be good, Be funny, Be sensible, Be helpful, and other expressions,” Phyllis explained.

And the, “Be Kind” décor she made for Pink Shirt Day is still on her fireplace outside too.

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Council Adopts Video Streaming for Meetings Michelle Pinon News Advertiser Even though COVID-19 prompted Vegreville town council to livestream its April 15 meeting, it won’t be the last time elected officials will be using this technology to record future meetings.

In fact, council decided to adopt a video streaming policy during the April 15 meeting. The objective, as stated in Town Manager Cliff Craig’s request for decision, is to allow “better accessibility of these meetings to a larger audience,” and will allow “more flexible and convenient access to council debate and decision.”

Craig also stated, “Livestreaming and posting recorded video eliminates geographic and time barriers which may prevent the public from attending council meetings, allowing for greater transparency and public confidence in the integrity and accountability of the deci-

sion-making process.”

The total cost of equipment to be installed in council chambers was quoted at $3,925. The link to view upcoming meetings will be under the ‘Your Government” tab on the town’s website.

Coun. Rudyk made the motion and commented, “I think it’s a great moved forward and using the pressures that we’re currently under to catapault us into the present as well as the future way of meeting is fantastic. I’ve seen other councils that have been very reluctant to use any type of technology, so I’m glad we’re using this opportunity to best use our resources to be transparent and available to our public. So congratulations on making sure we are available, and thank goodness most of us have access to fairly accurate access to internet.”

Canadian Geese Make Welcomed Return Michelle Pinon News Advertiser Canadian Geese have begun their seasonal migration back to Alberta.

Their familiar honking sounds can be heard from near and far day and night.

These geese were photographed in wetlands near the Village of Chipman on April 18.

There are at least eleven subspecies of the Canada Goose. The Canada goose is the largest species of true

goose. Its scientific name, Branta canadensis, means “black or burnt goose from Canada. The Canada goose can weigh between 7 and 14 pounds with a wingspan of 50 to 71 inches.

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Memories of Epidemics and Pandemics in Canada Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent The COVID-19 pandemic crisis is causing devastating effects throughout the world. Most of the people around today do not remember the last really serious and devastating pandemic of the Spanish flu which occurred from 1918-‘19. Yet, there were a few other epidemics and maybe even a lighter pandemic that people still retain memories of or have heard stories of their relatives and friends who experienced the direct effects of these diseases.

First, a pandemic is an outbreak of a disease that happens over a wide geographic area and affects an exceptionally high number of the population

whereas an epidemic is known to be a disease that spreads within a community or area within a specific period.

Fern Van-Den-Dolder, a resident of Vegreville, told another story of her maternal grandfather and uncle dying from the Spanish flu. Fern’s mother told her stories of how her mother had to raise and support two boys and two girls all by herself on a farm near Bashaw, Alberta. Fern’s grandmother also had to grieve the death of her husband who was in his thirties and her two-year-old son who died of the Spanish flu. My grandmother had to do everything on the farm by herself.

Then my mother was 12 or 13 and she had to quit school and work on the field

like a man.”

On a personal level, I remember my mother telling me stories of how her maternal grandmother and aunt died during the Spanish flu. So, my maternal grandmother lost her mother when she was just a baby and she had to grow up in an orphanage raised by Catholic nuns. My grandmother said they were good to her but she always missed not having a mother to teach her how to cook, do housework, and just how to be a woman in that generation.

During 1957-‘58, there was the Influenza Asian flu pandemic which had a death count of 4,000 people in Canada, and between one and two million people worldwide lost their lives to

Vegreville Food Bank Volunteer Recalls the Early Days Michelle Pinon News Advertiser Phyllis Warburton was one of the original members of the Vegreville Food Bank.

The oldest member is Alice Field, remarked Warburton, who also wanted to recognize fellow original members Mildred Reinheart, Sylvia Krawchuk and Nellie Highet.

Phyllis is 95 years young and still volunteers with the group. This was the first winter she did not go to the food bank regularly because she chose not to drive. “But I promised to come back in the spring.”

In the early days, Phyllis said they brought whatever they could spare from

their cupboards to take to the food bank that was operated out of the United Church. Phyllis said they were very fortunate to have the support of local farmers who supplied potatoes, carrots, squash, and beets in the fall.

The thing Phyllis enjoys most about volunteering is the companionship with fellow volunteers, and being able to work together to get things done. Over the years they have become like family.

Phyllis says the biggest change she has noticed is how the organization has grown in size and how it has adopted many more guidelines and regulations over the years. However, at its very heart are the dedicated volunteers.

In February of 1992, a food bank

task force was formed under the initiative of the Vegreville Ministerial Association to conduct a study to see if a food bank is needed in Vegreville.

Feb.19, 1993 The Vegreville Food Bank received its certificate of incorporation. In 2017, the food bank celebrated its 25th anniversary.

The location of the food bank has changed several times, it continues to serve a larger number of adults and children in Vegreville and surrounding area each and every year. The one thing that hasn’t changed, is the passion its volunteers exemplify in order to help people with the most basic of needs.

this flu. I remember my mother telling me the story of how she couldn’t get out of bed without passing out when she had this flu as one of the symptoms was weak knees.

I recall people reflecting on the past of how polio infection in the 1930s, 40s, and 50s changed the world by causing widespread vaccinations and mandatory screening pool chlorination throughout Canada by 1960.

Today, we will have to wait and see how the COVID-19 pandemic will change the world. Hopefully, it will be for the better on how we adapt and become educated on how to deal with epidemics and pandemics in the future.

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Citizens Adapt to COVID-19 Pandemic Restrictions Rosanne Fortier News Correspondent The COVID-19 Pandemic has placed many restrictions on citizens’ lives; most events have been cancelled and gatherings of more than 10 people have been banned, as well as, other rules have been put in place for people’s health and safety.

As to how some residents of Vegreville are adjusting to these changes, and what they are doing to stay content during this time, this is what they had to say.

Gladys Palahniuk said the COVID-19 Pandemic has really affected her life because she likes to volunteer a lot and keep active in the community. “I am doing social distancing from my family; I don’t see my children and grandchildren. I talk to them on the phone and text them, but it is not the same.

Then I used to enjoy meeting up with friends and going out for coffee in the morning, and now we haven’t gotten together for a while now.

People ask me if I am bored being all alone, but I have been doing okay. I have been doing things in the house that should have been done. I have constructed two history books on my family for both of my grandchildren. I have these books which have the whole history of my life on when I was born and as I was raised with my family, my school years, what career I pursued, how I met my husband, our dating time, our marriage, and the children we had, and then it finishes off with the two grandchildren that I had. I got the book as a Christmas gift from my grandkids one year and you fill it up with pictures and writing about the history of my life. So, I am content. I also read every day and every evening. Right now, I am reading Chicken Soup for the Soul’s books.”

The advice Phyllis would give others is to believe in God and keep their faith. “I keep telling my kids as long as you are a believer, we are going to get through all okay. But you have to believe and pray every night and every morning,” Phyllis added.

Whereas, another citizen, Gordon Miller mentioned his wife, Audrey and he were following the guidelines from the COVID-19 Pandemic by staying home. “We are doing church services by the computer, paying attention to the

news very carefully, and doing the rations according to recommendations.

We believe very much in the immediate prescribed advice from the government and health specialist, and we are trying to obey these. Hopefully this virus will reach its peak soon and we will be able to overcome it. I don’t feel bad about the restrictions. Obviously, they are uncomfortable, and they are creating something we are not used to, but I am in total agreement on the advice from the specialist, and I am not opposed to the restrictions that will make the virus be controlled sooner,” Gordon said.

When Gordon was asked what his wife are doing so that they are still happy, he said they listen to the television and do computer work and Audrey is busy in the home and he keeps busy at home and he goes out in the field to see what the fields are like for farming. “It is a pretty close to home lifestyle. But then when you realize the implications if society doesn’t abide by those rules; society length of staying in will be certainly larger. We believe everyone should abide by the rules. We are very much in-tune with the regulations required and we do our best to follow them for the society’s best as a whole.”