MERRY CHRISTMAS Serving the Heart of Central Alberta for 106 years
VOLUME ONE-HUNDRED SEVEN
PM40011853 R08546
NUMBER FIFTY-TWO
STETTLER, ALBERTA
December 25, 2013
PRICE — $1.09 Plus GST
Food for thought at Christmas LISA JOY Independent reporter
LISA JOY/Independent reporter
Thanks to community generosity, the shelves at Stettler and District Food Bank and full for the needy Christmas season. “I don’t think our clients have gone wanting for very long,” said board chair Betty Birch.
The shelves at Stettler and District Food Bank are stocked full with an abundance of groceries, as volunteers gear up for the Christmas rush. “We are so well-supported at this time of year,” said Betty Birch, chair of the food bank board. “Lots of organizations and businesses collect at their Christmas parties or events. We’ve had boxes of stuff coming in. “Starting about the middle of November, it seems like there is stuff coming in constantly.” The RCMP charity checkstop two weeks ago brought more staples, grocery stores have made donations, and random individuals have contributed turkeys, Birch said. On Monday, the Albertz Prairie Railway Excursions’ steam trains chugged along the hour-long ride with four boardings to help the food bank, as individuals were asked to give $5 or a food donation as the cost of the ride, as part of the Night Before the Night Before celebrations. The fire department runs a community food drive each fall to help restock shelves, Birch said. The food bank serves about 100 households, or 300 people, year-round. “It’s about the same (each year),” Birch said. “It goes up and down over the year. Over the last few years, there has been a definite increase, but nothing major, and it does fluctuate a little bit.” Some food-bank users only come once, but there are regulars, she said. “They are allowed to come twice a month if there are children in the household and once a month if there are only adults in the household.” With monetary donations, the food-bank volunteers buy milk, eggs and meat throughout the year. “In the spring, we can be running low on some perishable items that would come in during food drives or Christmastime.” September is also a busy time for the food bank, with supplies being depleted. “It’s generally a busy time because of the expense of going back to school,” Birch said. “That’s our low period.” Anyone needing to access the food bank can do so by showing up at the food bank, located at Stettler United Church at 4820 — 51 St. on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 1 and 3 p.m. Donations to the food bank can be dropped off at the United Church, or by contacting Birch at 403-742-0732. “I want to emphasize the appreciation that we have for the support we get from this community and surrounding areas, both in food and finances,” she said. “It has kept us operational. We have never had to fundraise. Between the food drives and the donations from other people, we have kept afloat. I don’t think our clients have gone wanting for very long.”
Mayor reflects on Stettler’s stable growth ROBIN TARNOWETZKI Independent reporter
The past year showed promise for Stettler, Mayor Dick Richards said in a year-end interview with the Independent. Richards is encouraged about what he describes as a revitalization in the commercial and industrial sectors in Stettler. He believes that the town doesn’t need major changes, despite a stagnant population. “We just need to stick to the same path,” said Richards, who remained mayor after he was unopposed in the October municipal election. “We’ll continue to provide above-average facilities and service for belowaverage taxes.” In the past year, Stettler has managed to maintain property taxes and utility fees that have been below the median per capita, the mayor said.
Recreationally, the town produced multiple teams that became provincial champions and “put Stettler on the map,” Richards said. A new town council was formed this fall, with three newcomers joining the veteran councillors. “Replacing half of any council is a big transition,” Richards said. “We’re really pleased with the way things have pulled together … it’s nice to get the injection of three new and energized members of council that bring different points of view.” Multiple projects were completed in Stettler in 2013. The most obvious ongoing improvement is the renovation of the Stettler Recreation Centre (SRC). Richards is excited that, come February, “we’ll be able to enjoy a new, revitalized facility.” The revamped SRC includes an expanded library and a newly paved parking lot. Continued on Page A3
CHASE ROSLAND/Independent reporter
A brief but poignant Christmas message greets passersby outside Christ-King Catholic Church in Stettler.
Church services commemorate Christmas ROBIN TARNOWETZKI Independent reporter
St. Peter Lutheran Church Christmas service on Tuesday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m.
Evangelical Free Church of Erskine Tuesday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m.
For those people planning to attend Christmas services in Stettler this year, most of the churches have options available to commemorate the season. Among the Christmas church services scheduled in Stettler and Erskine this week are:
Stettler Alliance Church Tuesday, Dec. 24, at 6:30 p.m. with carols, scripture and candle-lighting.
Word of Life Centre Monday, Dec. 23, free soup and chili, 5 to 7 p.m., service at 7:15 p.m.
St. George’s Anglican Church Tuesday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m. with a candlelight service and Eucharist.
Stettler Community Church Tuesday, Dec 24, at 5 p.m.
Church of God in Christ Mennonite Wednesday, Dec. 25, at 10 am.
More Independent . . . more often . . .
Christ-King Catholic Church Mass on Tuesday, Dec. 24, at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 25, at 11:15 a.m.; and Jan. 1, at 9 a.m.
Stettler United Church Tuesday, Dec 24, at 7 p.m. Other — Grace Fellowship Baptist Church; Heartland Cowboy Church.
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