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News Advertiser
January 27, 2021
www.NewsAdvertiser.com
Myrnam River Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club Receives Funding from County of Two Hills Michelle Pinon News Advertiser When it was suggested to Addam Saruk to apply to the County of Two Hills for $15,000 to fund some of the Myrnam River Ridge Riders Snowmobile Club’s ongoing projects he felt it was a real shot in the dark. “Usually we get $1,000 to $1,500 annually from the county, and that helps pay for insurance on the club’s groomers and cabins. This year we didn’t receive it (recreation grant) because they gave us the $15,000. I was very surprised with the donation…I totally didn’t expect this. With all the work we did this year it will pay for it and more,” explained Saruk, who has served as Club President since 2005. He went on to say, “The county actually worked on our behalf through the Alberta government to get the old CP rail track to use so we spent money on signing it. We got signposts and there is a trestle bridge so we have to build railing on it.
This Weeks Numbers Saturday, January 23, 2021
13 30 37 44 48 49 19
Friday, January 22, 2021
1 14 19 20 22 25 46
EXTRA: 1816093
EXTRA: 4114035
Saturday, January 23, 2021
Friday, January 22, 2021
5 17 21 29 41 43 46 EXTRA: 1816093
4
11 21 23 25 28 41 43 10 EXTRA: 4114035
The County of Two Hills cheque presentation on December 23, 2020. Pictured from left to right are: David Trachuk, Councillor Murray Phillips, Addam Saruk and Dennis Maksymiuk. (Myrnam River Ridge Snowmobile Club/Submitted Photo)
So, part of the money went to the railing, and because of that trail we built a new warm up cabin and fire pit area. On one of our other cabins we put a roof on it and built a deck. The money paid for all that stuff.” Saruk said they have a three year lease, and the track runs from Myrnam, along Highway 881 east to Highway 41 which is three miles east of Derwent, approximately 17 and a half miles of railroad tracks. He also serves as Vice President of the Alberta Snowmobile Association, (ASA) and says the club is growing and is pleased with the progress it’s making on its plans. “We added 45 kilometres of trail this year. We’re up to about 165 kilometres of trail now. All maintained and groomed.” Saruk added, “We have a group in Mannville who’ve been piggybacking on us until they can build their numbers. We’re working on a trail from the Village of Myrnam right to Mannville to add 23 miles, almost 40 kilometres, and eventually extend the trail from
Mannville to Vermilion to create a loop in the area. We also have a trail west of Myrnam across North Saskatchewan River and it does link up to St. Paul and the Iron Horse Trail which includes 350 kilometres of marked trail.” The club has also applied for a Communities Facility Enhancement Program, (CFEP) grant. It has received letters of support from the County of Two Hills, Village of Myrnam, Alberta Snowmobile Association, and Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk. “We applied for just under $34,000. It’s a matching 50/50 grant.” Saruk said the grant would allow the club to purchase a side by side with tracks on it to pull a groomer. The club currently has 115 members. “It’s the most we’ve ever sold (memberships) and we have no snow.” Saruk said the number of memberships usually increases with the amount of snowfall, but with all the excitement in the area with the new cabin and all the new trails, there has been greater interest.
Agriculture Tech - CONTINUED from PAGE 7 and data platforms. Students will operate and adapt the technology and data systems on Lakeland’s StudentManaged Farm – Powered by New Holland. “Graduates of the program will bring unique skill sets into the workforce by blending both agriculture production and agricultural technology expertise. Industry feedback indicated there is a shortage of agricultural professionals who can interface between the two disciplines – our degree program will fill that gap,” says Josie Van Lent, dean of the School of Agriculture Technology and Applied Research. “We greatly appreciate the support and help from industry in the development of this program.” Courses offered in the bachelor of agriculture technology program include emerging technologies in ag, economics of precision agriculture,
precision farming global positioning essentials and GIS for agriculture decision making, as well as specific courses related to the integration and use of ag technology in crops and livestock systems, farms and ranches. The curriculum looks at all platforms and all equipment brands. Students will specialize in either crops or livestock technological applications. The bachelor of agriculture technology program is the culmination of several years of consultation, research and development, says Crowe. It was established in response to demand from industry and students. More than 40 agricultural organizations and companies were consulted during an independent industry needs assessment. A student survey indicated strong interest in a degree program and identified curriculum interests in the area of agriculture technology.
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