Serving the communities of Rimbey, Bentley, Bluffton, Winfield, Alder Flats and Buck Lake
Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013
Volume 15 Number 41
www.rimbeyreview.com
Forum allows public to question council By Treena Mielke
Rimbey Agrim Centre building committee members Ben Ostrem, Shirley Ingram, Tim Edge and Ziandra Vos, Ken Whitelock stand in front of the sign for the centre last Thursday. The trusses and steel for the building arrived last week and work is ongoing. The building is slated for completion next spring. Treena Mielke Photo
Agrim Centre building takes shape By Treena Mielke After years of behind-the-scenes planning, scheming and hoping, the directors of the Rimbey Agrim Centre are excited the trusses and steel for the building are here. “Let’s get started,” they are all saying, no doubt, ready to be on site watching when the first truss goes up and the action begins. “The trusses will be in this week and the building will soon start to take shape,” said director and building committee member Ken Whitelock. “We should see lots of manpower on site within a week.” Although action had been ongoing for some time behind the scenes the third phase of the centre was launched July 3 at the Rimbey Rodeo Grounds with an official sod turning ceremony. Represen-
tatives from Ponoka County, the Town of Rimbey and the Rimbey Agricultural Society were in attendance. The building committee, who continue to meet regularly, are grateful to these entities, not only for their attendance at the ceremony, but for their continued support and encouragement. “Although it seems somewhat like a daunting task, we are working diligently and consistently to make it become a reality.” Ponoka County, who has made no bones about its desire to help out Rimbey and the agriculture centre, contributed $1.2 million. CAO Charlie Cutforth says Ponoka County provided $1 million cash and purchased more land for project expansion.” Ponoka County Coun. Gawney Hinkley, who attended the sod turning, said “we love contributing to Rimbey and we
don’t have a problem contributing to agriculture anywhere in Ponoka County.” Mayor Sheldon Ibbotson also sees the centre as a positive for Rimbey, noting it will bring people in and provide a gathering place for residents to attend local events. The 60,000-square-foot Agrim Centre will include a riding arena, meeting space, boardroom, announcers box, concession and a grandstand to seat 900. The centre is to be multi functional and bring in spectators for various events as well as provide space for organizations such as 4-H clubs. The ag centre is to be built with an outside balcony. Builders will use green technology in the construction of a solar wall and rainwater will be used for the building’s non-potable water needs. Continued on page 3
Sheldon Ibbotson and Rick Pankiew, both running for mayor and each of the six town council candidates will have an opportunity to state their views and respond to questions from the audience at a political forum to be held at the community centre. Council candidates are incumbents Gayle Rondeel, Paul Payson and Jack Webb who are running against Einar Olsen, Dave Karroll and Matt Jaycox. The forum, to be chaired by David Cartledge of Toastmasters International (Red Deer) is to be held Oct. 16 beginning at 7 p.m. It is being sponsored by Rimbey Chamber of Commerce and Servus Credit Union. The two-hour forum will begin with the reading of the rules and regulations. Candidates will then voice their opening remarks at 7:15 p.m. Following a short break at 8 p.m. the audience will be invited to ask questions and the candidates will have the opportunity to respond. During the question and answer period, questions will be received from the floor in written or spoken form. The public will approach the microphone, identify themselves and address a question to one candidate. The public will then be given one minute to pose the question. Chamber of Commerce representatives will collect and read written questions and address the question to one candidate. The chairperson will use his discretion to balance written and spoken questions and each question directed at a candidate will be directed at another at the discretion of the chairperson. Answers to questions will be limited to two minute. At 8:45 the remaining written questions will be read and the candidates’ will give their closing summaries. The forum will end with the chairperson’s closing remarks.
Henry’s Restaurant
Comfort and Confidence. Tyler Jordan DD (Honours) Main Street Rimbey - Beside Bargain Shop
403.843.1110
403-843-2999
5501 50th Ave (West of Hospital)