Ponoka News, March 11, 2015

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CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY Vol. 67, No. 11 | WEDNESDAY, MAR. 11, 2015 | 403-783-3311 | EDITORIAL@PONOKANEWS.COM

Lacoka Girls host Bantam provincials Story on page 25

Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Mah Poy celebrated their 62nd anniversary in 1958.

Story on page 5

Fairytale Actors with the Alberta Opera toured through Ponoka schools Tuesday, March 3 with their modern version of the fairytale Rumpelstiltskin. Here Rumpelstiltskin kicks off a game show in the play at St. Augustine Catholic School. Please see our story on page 17.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

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2 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Shoppers enjoy sunny weather during spring sale

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Last Saturday ended up being the perfect time to host a spring sale at the Ponoka Legion with crafters and shoppers filling up the main auditorium in sunny and warm weather.

The event was hosted

by Arie Guthrie, who said she wanted to give home-based crafters and businesses a chance to get into spring with a fun sale. As the owner of a home-based business,

Guthrie said she has always had a challenge finding a venue to sell her wares, so rather than wait, she decided to host her own. “It turned out pretty good,” she added.

Guthrie decided to go with crafters and businesses that people would not normally see at a show and it appeared to have drawn a large crowd of happy spring shoppers.

“At shows, there’s always the same typical, standard ones (vendors), but this one I brought in a

lot of people that haven’t advertised online. I had to do a lot of digging to find them,” said Guthrie.

“Everybody is really nice and happy to be here,” she added.

Guthrie feels springtime is an ideal time to host a show and she hopes to host more in the future.

She has other show days intended to benefit food banks planned for the near future in Millet; one on Mother’s Day and one in June.

PONOKA SKATING CLUB presents

“The Good, The Bad & The Ugly” at the Ponoka Recreation and Culture Complex FRIDAY, MARCH 13

SATURDAY, MARCH 14

SOLO SHOWCASE

CARNIVAL PERFORMANCE

Millie Schmidt has a look at some fancy clothes with help from Julie Manary Saturday, March 7 at the Ponoka Legion during a Spring Sale.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

ONLY ONE SHOW!

At 7:00 pm

At 11:00 am

Tickets $2 available at the door

Tickets $5 available at the door

Flowers & Gifts available for purchase COURTESY OF

PC Alberta Lacombe-Ponoka Constituency Lacombe-Ponoka Progressive Conservative Association

Pathways to Opportunity Our children enjoy tremendous potential.

This part of the world offers more opportunities to current students no matter what dream they are dreaming.

NOTICE OF NOMINATION MEETING The Lacombe-Ponoka PC Association is seeking nominations for individuals interested in becoming the candidate to represent the constituency and the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta in the upcoming election. The nomination period to obtain information, complete the nomination papers, and pay the nomination fee will commence at 12:00 Noon on March 11, 2015 and close at 12:00 noon on March 18, 2015.

POTENTIAL. We see it in our youth. We provide it in our community.

Publishes: March 25 Deadline: Friday, March 20

Candidates Forum: Morningside Hall, Friday, March 20, 2015 from 7:00–9:00pm Nomination Voting Meetings: March 26, 2015, Advance Poll, Morningside Hall, 3:00–8:00pm March 28, 2015, Ponoka Drop-in Centre 3:00–8:00pm March 28, 2015, Servus Room, Lacombe Memorial Centre, 3:00–8:00pm Ballot Counting will be at the LMC starting at 8:30pm on March 28 Voters shall be members in good standing of the PCAA, must ordinarily reside within the boundaries of Lacombe-Ponoka Constituency, be a Canadian citizen in good standing, and be at least 14 years of age. When voting, members must show a PCAA Membership Card and two (2) pieces of identiücation, at least one of which must be photo identiücation. The boundaries of ‘Constituency’ can be found at:

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Publishes: March 25 Deadline: Friday, March 20

www.electionsalberta.ab.ca Interested parties may obtain further information, sets of nomination papers, and details of the nomination process from the Nomination Chairperson,

TO BOOK YOUR SPACE CALL 403-783-3311

Dorothy Ungstad at dungstad@xplornet.com or at 403-783-2276.

OR EMAIL sales@ponokanews.com

PONOKA NEWS 3

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Man attempts use of pepper spray on police officer

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

A Ponoka Mountie had to move quickly to disarm a man who pulled a can of pepper spray on him.

The officer was on patrol Sunday, March 8 at 1:45 a.m. when he saw a man walking on 50 Street partially in the lanes of traffic. The 29-year-old from Maskwacis put his hands in his pockets when the officer approached him and pulled out a can of pepper spray. The officer moved quickly to disarm him and make an arrest.

Police have charged the man with assault to a peace officer with a weapon, possession of marijuana and unauthorized possession of a prohibited weapon. He was also in breach of conditions not to be in possession of a weapon.

Lucky to be alive Two motorists are lucky to have received only minor injuries in a double vehicle rollover last week.

Emergency crews responded to a call of a two-vehicle rollover March 6 at 8 a.m. where an eastbound black Chevy pickup failed to stop at an intersection on Secondary Highway 795 and Township Road 444 and collided with a white Lexus RX 350.

Both vehicles subsequently rolled into the ditch where the drivers sustained minor injuries and were released at the scene.

Police charged the 39-year-old female driver of the Chevy pickup with failing to stop at a stop sign.

Ponoka woman drives over park bench Police charged a Ponoka woman with impaired driving after she drove over a bench across from the Rimoka Lodge last week.

The 39-year-old woman was found sitting in her vehicle Monday, March 2 at 5 p.m. when officers arrived at the scene of the collision. She was arrested and taken to the detachment where she provided two blood-alcohol samples of .22 and .20.

Impaired drivers on Highway 2 Members of the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit stopped two impaired drivers on Highway 2 last week.

One case involved a 2012 VW Jetta being driven in an

erratic manner. Officers witnessed the car being driven at 130 km/h March 4 at 11:40 p.m. when it sped off at speeds of 171 km/h. Officers turned on their emergency lights and the man pulled over.

The driver, a 26-year-old man from Airdrie, was arrested and he provided two bloodalcohol samples of .11 and .10.

The other impaired driver arrested was a 60-year-old man from Bowden earlier in the day.

Calls from concerned motorists on Highway 2 helped locate his car, which is reported to have swerved on the road and into a ditch and then back onto the highway. He provided samples of .15 and .13.

20-year-old Ponoka man assaults woman Police have charged a 20-year-old Ponoka man with assault causing bodily harm last week after punching and kicking a woman to the ground.

Officers attended a home on the 5400 Block of 55 Street March 4 at noon and determined there is a past history

with the couple. Investigations determined the man punched the woman and then kicked her while she was on the ground.

Theft suspect found dead in Calgary There were two calls made to police last week regarding a suspicious man going through people’s property March 3 in the morning. continued on page 11

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4 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Religion

Ten Commandments are about God’s will realized on earth as in heaven

Your Guide To Local Houses of Worship

CHURCH DIRECTORY Associated Gospel Churches of Canada

CHURCH OF THE OPEN BIBLE Pastor Jerry Preheim • Pastor Matt Sealy 3704 - 42 St. Ponoka 403-783-6500 Worship Service 11:00 a.m. • churchoftheopenbible@telus.net

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH PONOKA Sr. Pastor Paul Spate

Erin Dirsten - Fac. Youth & Family Min. & James Crosina - Fac. of Community Life

5109 - 57 Ave. Ponoka www.fbcponoka.org

403-783-5533

Bible Discovery Hour 9:30 a.m.

Worship Service 10:30 a.m.

NEW COVENANT BAPTIST REFORMED CHURCH Currently meeting at Ponoka Christian School 6300-50 St. Worship Service Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Everyone Welcome! phone: 403-783-6962 • www.baptistreformedponoka.org

PARKLAND REFORMED CHURCH South on 2A, West on Spruce Road 403-783-1888 Worship Service 10:00 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.

Rev. Mitch Ramkissoon www.parklandurc.org

PONOKA WORD OF LIFE CHURCH Pastor Rob McArthur

403-783-5659

Sunday @ 10:30 a.m.

Corner of Hwy 53 & Hwy 2A (former Crossroads Restaurant)

www.wordoflife.ca

PONOKA UNITED CHURCH Minister: Beatrix Schirner

ponokaunited@shaw.ca

Sunday Service 10:00 am.

5020-52 Ave. Ponoka

Phone: 403-783-4087

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH

Beatrix Schimer Ponoka United Church

As I write this I have just returned from leading worship for a group of seniors.

I asked them to call out any of the Ten Commandments they could remember. They did well, and included Jesus’ summary: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. And: You shall love your neighbour as yourself.”

(Matthew 22:37-39) Too often I hear about these commandments from those who don’t attend church, who justify them-

selves by saying, “I follow the Ten Commandments; I’m a good person.” But the Ten Commandments are not about “being a good person,” but rather being a faithful person who is part of a community that holds its identity in the God revealed in Jesus Christ.

God spoke these commandments, known as the Decalogue, or Ten Words, not to an individual, but to a people redeemed from abject slavery. They are a gift from God instructing an entire people in how to be free and faithful. They describe how to be in a covenant relationship with God. The covenant we are most familiar with is the marriage covenant. Promises are made to be loyal to each other, and to respect and cherish each other. And so it is with our relationship with the Creator.

God’s gift to God’s people is the “Words of Life” - guiding us to create a community that is life-giving and Godcentered.

Have you been trying to recall the Commandments?

Let me refresh you: 1. You shall have no other gods besides me.

2. You shall not make yourself idols, nor bow down

PASTOR DAVE BEAUDOIN 6230-57 Ave. Ph. 403-783-6404 Saturdays 9:30 - 12 Noon dsjjb@xplornet.com ponokaadventist.ca

SONRISE CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH Pastor W. Delleman Worship Service 10:30 a.m.

Getting to Know the Outreach

½ mile south of Centennial Centre for Mental Health & Brain Injury

403-783-6012 • www.sonriseponoka.com

ST. AUGUSTINE CATHOLIC CHURCH Fr. Chris Gnanaprakasam, S.A.C. Mass Times: 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 9:00 a.m. Sunday

5113 - 52 Ave., Ponoka, T4J 1H6 403-783-4048 stachurch@shaw.ca

ST. MARY’S ANGLICAN CHURCH Rev. Donna Willer Rev. Marty Tuer, Honourary Assistant 5120 - 49 Ave. Ponoka

403-783-4329

Sunday Service: Holy Eucharist 10 a.m. www.stmarysanglicanponoka.com

TRINITY EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 5501 - 54 Ave. Ponoka 403-783-4141 Sunday Service: 10:30am Sunday School: 10:30am Pastor Tim Graff • trinityponoka.ca

ZION CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP Pastor Fred Knip 9 miles east on Hwy 53 403-782-9877 Jr. Church during service for children Sunday Service 10:30 am

Carolyn Ramey: After teaching for years in many Ponoka Schools, I am now transitioning to retirement. I really enjoy both the staff and students here at the Ponoka Outreach. The greatest part of my job is getting to know the students, working with them and being part of a staff that is dedicated and caring.

Friday, March 13 In lieu day—No school for students Monday, March 16 Attendance by appointment Wednesday, March 18 Night School—All staff here

to them, nor serve them.

3. You shall not swear falsely, using my name.

4. Remember the day of rest and keep it holy.

5. Honour your father and your mother.

6. You shall not murder.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness.

10. You shall not covet anything that is your neighbour's.

(Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:1-21) To stray from the Ten Words is to move toward “Death” in one of its many guises. We often think of the ultimate Word: Do not murder.

Well, we probably haven’t literally taken a life, but perhaps we have diminished a life with our choices, actions, or speech.

The road to death is marked by misplaced loyalties, (worshipping career or money instead of a living God.) Our God is a living God, not something carved by human hands (idols). Too often the third Word, Do not take the Lord’s name in vain, is misunderstood as cursing. But no, it is about making a vow or promise using God’s name to support it. Jesus would say, let your yes be yes and your no be no. (Matthew 5:33-37) In other words, speak simply; honour your word.

In our culture, it seems the Word to honour the Sabbath has fallen by the wayside. Most shopping is open on Sundays, as are sporting events. In structuring our time this way, we

exercise economic injustice, refusing workers the right to rest one day a week. As well, by not establishing a day of rest, we lose our balance, we fail to feed our souls.

Honouring our parents is not so much a Word for young children as it is to ensure that we care for our parents in their old age. Adultery leads to shattered families; stealing leads to destroyed trust, lying leads to betrayal, and coveting leads to greed.

Our entire financial system is based on advertising that endorses coveting; our politicians urge us to SPEND. With a bit of reflection we can see that not obeying God’s Ten Words, leads us away from life and into many small deaths, into actions that are soul destroying for ourselves or others The One who is our Source loves us, and our faithful response is to create a society that is more loving and more life-giving rather than death-dealing.

We do it through living that demands our careful attention as we go about the everydayness tasks of being human. We support our faithful actions through prayer, which keeps us connected to our God. We are called to obey the “Ten Words” - the commandments - not only in our personal lives, but in our public life, letting their wisdom inform our workplace and our electoral vote.

The Ten Commandments are not so much about us being “good people”, as it is about us creating a society that reflects God’s values, that is in some ways, God’s will done on earth as it is in heaven.

PONOKA RISING SUN CLUBHOUSE

Community Blue Box Program For $12.00 per month We will pick up your paper, clean tins, glass, No. 1-5 plastic and cardboard.

We also pick up cardboard from local businesses.

For more information on these programs please call

403-783-5810 Weekdays

PONOKA NEWS 5

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Reflections of Ponoka

Ponoka’s early ambitious Chinese connection

BY MIKE RAINONE FOR THE NEWS

Thousands of Chinese immigrants sought a new life in North America in the latter 1700s, many of whom over a decade later sought wealth and adventure in the Fraser Valley gold rush, while over 7000 went to work for $1 a day helping to build over 200 miles of the first Canadian Pacific Railway track through the

rugged Rocky Mountains.

Moving into the 19th century, countless more Chinese families welcomed the exciting opportunities, paid $100 a head to enter Canada, and then slowly blended into the many new villages, towns and cities that were popping up everywhere.

Welcome to Ponoka.

Jimmy Mah Poy arrived in Canada in 1902 after teaching school for a number of years in Canton, China.

Remember When...

Photo courtesy of Fort Ostell Museum

The Canadian Pacific Railway Dam, located on the Battle River just across the street from the Royal Hotel is Ponoka’s oldest historical sight. It was built of logs in the late 1800s as a spillway which permitted the massive logs from Pigeon Lake to float over on their way to the three sawmills just downstream, as well as creating a deep reservoir from which the windmill would pump water up to the wooden tower on the hill, and then pumped into the massive locomotive steam trains that came into Siding 14 daily.

After working in the coal mines around Victoria, B.C. for two years, he moved to the new Town of Ponoka, Alberta. In 1905, Jimmy opened the B.C. Cafe at the corner of 51 street and 50 Avenue in the Purdy Building, and was joined by his wife in 1912. In 1915, the ambitious couple moved to a small building near the Bank of Commerce and opened a shoe repair shop, which they operated until 1928.

The very same year, their next adventure included the construction at the same location along Railway Street of the palatial Union Cafe, which they operated until 1943, when it was taken over by their son Hong and his wife Lorna Mah Poy. Along the way, six children were born into the family, including daughters Song, Winnie and Lucy and sons Hong, Glen, and Gale, who later blessed them with 12 grandchildren. The grand old couple continued to work in the growing Ponoka family businesses until 1953, and then later retired to B.C., where Jimmy passed away in 1959 and Mrs. Mah Poy in 1965.

The first laundry business in Ponoka was opened

by Mah Chung on Railway Street in the very early 1900s. As a young boy, Frank Young, who would later become the chief engineer at the provincial mental hospital, recalled that he was the Chung’s delivery boy in 1906, and at that time a freshly laundered shirt, undershirt, drawers and socks would cost the customer 25 cents. The gentlemen of the community always brought in their white collars to Chung to be laundered and starched stiff and shiny for a fee of a nickel. He was a true Chinese country man, wearing a pig tail as was the early custom, but later succumbed to the new fashion style of the wild-wild west. The popular Mah Chung Laundry would serve Ponoka and district until 1944 when it was sold to Mr. Jack Stickel.

The Club Cafe was opened by Messrs. Mah

Mr. and Mrs. Jimmy Mah Poy celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in Ponoka in 1958. Since Jimmy’s arrival here from Canton, China in 1902, they raised their six children, as well as establishing many local businesses and ventures that have been proudly carried on by the family generations for well over 100 exciting years. Many of the structures that they built still stand and operate today as historical landmarks of our community.

Photo submitted

Chew and Mah Bow in the Leland Hotel in the early 1920s, and then in 1926 the family purchased the lot where Steele’s Lumber and Machinery had been directly across the street and built a very smart restaurant. Eating out was very private in those days, and the Club Cafe offered its clientele private booths surrounded by dark red velvet curtains.

As well as a great host, Mah Bow was also a curling fanatic and helped to promote the game in and around Ponoka, as well as later getting involved with several partners in the operation of our first Pool Hall on Chipman Avenue. Their posh and popular restaurant on Chipman Avenue operated until well into the 1940s when Bow was forced to retire due to ill health and Chew went to Vancouver.

Howard Lee and Hong Mah arrived in Ponoka in 1964 and together as partners took over the Leland Hotel Cafe. They continued in this thriving enterprise for several years, and then later purchased the land directly across the street known as the Baadsgaard property. In June 1971, a new building was completed containing a coffee shop and dining room, which they called

the Valley Inn Restaurant.

This family eatery, complete with plush booths and juke boxes, became very popular, offering a great Chinese and western menu that featured eat in and take out from sunrise until late into the night for the tavern and party crowd.

In the middle of the ‘dirty 30s’ a young gentleman by the name of Jack Mah Ming and Jimmy Mah Poy purchased the Bank of Montreal building, then moved his dry cleaning plant there as well as adding a fine line of men’s clothing. Later the business would become exclusively Men’s Wear, and after World War ll, Jack’s son Glen Mah Poy and his wife took over the store and completely remodeled it in 1951, including apartments on the upper floor. Hong Mah Poy then built another new building on the corner of 50 street and 51 Avenue, where he opened a modern dry cleaning facility, which, years later, was operated as New Glo Cleaners by the next generation of the family, Doug Mah Poy. In a small room of the early 1900 Mah Chung Laundry, Ponoka`s first shoe repair shop would later be operated by his son Mah Hong Len, who came to

Canada at a very early age with very little money in his pocket, could speak absolutely no English, but luckily he had a tag in his pocket declaring his final destination as Ponoka, Alberta. After many hours in customs, Hong Len finally made it here, became very good in his trade and served local customers until 1945. I will never forget when we lived in a little house along 53 Avenue over 30 years ago, there was a Chinese gentleman and his wife who lived across the alley, and every morning would slowly walk up the alley to their tiny shoe repair shop behind the old Algar building on Railway Street. I took my shoes and boots there many times, and when I could finally make him understand, he would smile and say, “I fix”, and he would always make them better than new. Over those many exciting decades and to the present day, countless Chinese and families of other nationalities have made Ponoka and district their home, have mingled and mixed among the growing population, offered and shared their trades, skills, and traditions, and helped to make our community the successful, hospitable, and proud legacy that it is today.

6 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Opinion

Do our politicians know what they are doing?

Mustafa Eric

Editor The politician that the old guard leadership of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives thought would save the party might ultimately hit the final nail in its coffin: When Jim Prentice announced his candidacy for the leadership of the PCs, many hopefuls simply withdrew from the race, leaving the tracks wide open for the Ottawahardened politician to run to the finish line without any serious challenge. He did, and won the leadership and we all know what he came up with last week: the biggest blunder of any PC politician in living memory, blaming all Albertans for the spending decisions his predecessors made and led the province to the current mess. With a leader like Mr. Prenctice, PCs may not even need an opposition to lose the election.

At the national level, Stephen Harper’s new defense minister is at pains trying to explain to Canadians how a Canadian Forces member was killed in so called “friendly-fire” on Friday, March 6. But before that fatal incident, doesn’t

Mr. Harper have some more fundamental explaining to do to the citizens of this country? Like what happened to the promise that the Canadian Forces deployed in Iraq would not be involved in any combat operations and who is the Canadian contingent there really supporting? Are we helping Kurdish formations who are trying to carve out a nation for themselves in northern Iraq, northeastern Syria and southeastern Turkey? Are we supporting Iraqi national army whose allegiance to the central government in Baghdad is quite questionable? Has there been any significant success in pushing the Islamic State from the territories it occupies to justify any extension of the Canadian contingent’s mission there? Exactly what did Sgt. Andrew Doiron die to achieve?

So much political and military controversy might be a little too much for our relatively quiet social and political life in this country.

But something that happened last month, without a lot of fanfare and excitement, has much wider and long-term repercussions for the future of this country as an agricultural nation.

Bill C-18 reached royal assent two weeks ago and became law in the latest example of Stephen Harper’s brazen preference of corporate interests over those of the citizens, in this case the farmers, of this country. With that law, this government has agreed to empower the multinational companies to hold Canadian farmers hostage for

decades to come.

This week, the rest of this column is reserved to National Farmers’ Union’s statement to explain the damage inflicted on the nation’s farming community by this new law: From now on, seed companies’ exclusive rights to control new varieties of seed have been expanded, they have gained new ways to collect royalty revenue from farmers and a longer, twenty-year royalty collection period (twenty-five years for tree and vine varieties).

“By announcing Bill C-18’s passing at the headquarters of a private seed company, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz clearly signaled that the Agricultural Growth Act will primarily benefit agribusiness corporations,” said Jan Slomp, National Farmers Union (NFU) President.

“The new law enables the government to erode and even eliminate the “farmers’ privilege” to save and re-use seed on their own holdings through regulation. The Act’s “essentially derived” clause also gives seed companies the right to control future varieties created by other breeders who use a protected variety as part of the breeding process,” said Ann Slater, NFU Vice President, Policy.

“Private plant breeding in Canada is dominated

by Monsanto, DuPont Pioneer, Syngenta, Limagrain, Land O Lakes, KWS, Bayer Cropscience, and Dow AgroSciences, all multinational corporations

Judy Dick Manager 5019A Chipman Ave., Box 4217, Ponoka, AB. T4J 1R6 Phone: 403.783.3311 Fax: 403.783.6300 Email: editorial@ponokanews.com Published every Wednesday by PNG Prairie Newspaper Group in community with: Regional Publisher, Fred Gorman

manager@ponokanews.com

with headquarters outside of Canada,” noted Terry Boehm, Chair of the NFU Seed and Trade Committee.

“These companies stand to gain the most from the Agricultural Growth Act and related changes to seed regulations and research funding. Farmers, however, will pay more for seed, and in future may have to pay end-point royalties on their whole crop, including feed and forage fed to their own livestock.”

“Canada’s efficient

and effective public sector plant breeding system, which includes Agriculture Canada research scientists, has produced most of our important cereal varieties,” Boehm added. “The federal government’s decision to stop public funding to the variety development level in important cereal crops means that now seed corporations will decide which new varieties will be commercialized, and will reap the royalty payments under this Act.”

“Restrictions on farmers’ seed saving, and the massive transfer of wealth from farmers to seed companies that will follow, are not necessary for the development of useful new varieties,” said Slomp. “It is a shame that Canada’s government has decided to pass a law that will enrich some of the wealthiest and most powerful global corporations at the expense of Canadian farmers and the biodiversity of Canada’s food system.

Mustafa Eric Editor

Jeff Heyden-Kaye Reporter

Amelia Naismith Reporter

Karen Douglass Sales

Susan Whitecotton Administration

editorial@ponokanews.com

reporter@ponokanews.com

rovingreporter@ponokanews.com

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admin@ponokanews.com

All editorial content, advertising content and concepts are protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is forbidden.

PONOKA NEWS 7

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Town Times

Ponoka, AB T4J 1P7 Ph: 403-783-4431 | Fax: 403-783-6745 | Email: town@ponoka.org Or Check us out Online: www.ponoka.ca

NOTICES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS Important Reminder! To avoid a ticket or a tow, please obey the NO PARKING signs in place to allow Town Crews to work safely and completely clear snow from our streets.

Residents have 48 hours to clear the sidewalk in front of their homes and properties after a snowfall. The bylaw relating to these activities is Traffic Bylaw 200-06. We have posted it on the home page of our website for your convenience. The 2015 Snow Removal Routes Map is also posted on the home page - www.ponoka.ca.

Thank you for doing your part to make us all Ponoka Proud!

EVENTS AND RECREATION What’s up at Ponoka FCSS...

For more information or to register for any of the following events please contact Shelly Van Eaton 403.783.4462 Lunch & Learn with Money Mentors (sponsored by Ponoka FCSS) March 12th 12-1pm at Ponoka FCSS Boardroom - Tackle Debt March 26th 12-1pm at Ponoka FCSS Boardroom - Break the Cycle April 9th 12-1pm at Ponoka FCSS Boardroom - Credit I.Q. April 23rd 12-1pm at Ponoka FCSS Boardroom - Enrich Your Kids (adults only at course please) Seniors needing FREE transportation to go walking at the Ag Event Centre Any Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm, call Shelly @ 403.783.4462

Road Trips!

Squad Run: Mayor Rick Bonnett (right) gives Lori Falkiner, organizer of the first annual Ponoka #65 Air Cadet Squad Run, a sponsorship cheque of $500, Wednesday March 6. The run takes place Saturday, May 2 with 10, five and three kilometer options beginning at 10:30, 10:35 and 10:40, respectively. Each route begins at the Ponoka Scout Hall and those wishing to participate can sign up online at www.events.runningroom.com or in person at the Running Room located at the Red Deer South Common.

Photo by Amelia Naismith

PSC Broncs News Written by Allecia Verheire Broncs World Tour was a life-changing trip, though it may appear an exaggeration to many reading, those who have gone with Mr. Labrie will agree. This trip isn’t like anything you will find in other districts and schools, this isn’t for sightseeing and shopping, nor is it visiting landmarks photographed in our textbooks. BWT is an emotional connection for each student, Veteran, and our town. Soldiers, who walked these streets, attended the schools in our county; who went to their church of choice on Sundays, and had jobs in the community. Each student, who, must not only show a dedication to school, but have a letter of reference from another community member, is assigned one of these soldiers, and must uncover the hidden or forgotten story of these men and women’s lives. Sometimes, when standing at our soldiers graves, telling our little group, and anyone else who may wish to take a moment to listen, about who our soldier was, we can find such great detail as to what their last meal was. Others are not so lucky. I find that here we can become detached. In school and on Remembrance Day we hear the numbers; how many left home, how many were wounded, and how many casualties. It can become easy to forget that isn’t a whole. That number on a piece of paper isn’t the same as seeing its representation laid out over hills and valleys by marble markers, each with a man’s name inscribed on its surface. Being on the tour with Mr. Labrie and making it personal really brings home the message and importance of remembrance. I do think the way that the trip is made personal for each one of us makes it that more impactful and will resonate in our lives. Getting to experience Europe with the different languages, cultures, and customs is eye opening by itself, but you could always make that adventure on your own.

Last but hardly least, the bond that each group makes while traveling together is that of a true fellowship, at the same time we all grow individually, and broaden our understanding of the world we live in.

This Week At PSC March 11 - March 17 March March March March

11 12 13 14

– – – –

Sr. Girls/Boys Playoӽs Jr. High Play Performances Grad Retakes, Blood Typing Sr. Boys/Girls Zones

Please visit our website for all upcoming events and exciting news!

www.psc@wolfcreek.ab.ca

FCSS will cover transportation costs, individuals wanting to go pay the cost of their ticket.

Please call ASAP to guarantee tickets! $63 March 12th: The Gospel Side of Elvis, starring The Blackwood Quartet fronted by a childhood friend of Elvis who sang at his mother’s funeral - Red Deer $57 March 22nd: Sadie Flynn Comes to Big Oak DINNER THEATER – Red Deer $25 April 18th: The Wardens - Banff music trio – Tees Hall

Volunteer Tax Clinics coming • March 17th 9:30-Noon (Seniors Drop In) • April 1st 1:30-3:30 (FCSS Office) • April 9th 9:30-Noon (Seniors Drop In)

Library News LIBRARY PHOTO CONTEST: Ponoka Jubilee Library wants to see your photos! Take your best LIBRARY THEMED digital photo, and submit it to the Library between March 1st-March 31st for your chance to win a KOBO Aura 6” eReader. It could be a photo of someone reading, a pile of books, or even of Charlie the Library Cat, as long as it relates to the Library. Full details/rules and entry forms are available at Ponoka Jubilee Library (5110 48 Avenue), or on our website at www.ponokalibrary.prl.ab.ca. Good luck!

DESSERT WINE TASTING: Ponoka Jubilee Library is hosting its 4th Wine Tasting! ‘Uncorked’ is a dessert wine tasting session and is being held on Saturday April 18th, starting at 7:00 pm. It will feature 8 different dessert wines from around the world along with food pairings. Tickets prices are $40/per person, and can be purchased at the Library at 5110 48 Avenue. All participants must be 18+. Tickets are limited, so gets yours today!

CANADIAN FIREARMS SAFETY COURSE: Ponoka Jubilee Library is hosting a Non-restricted Canadian Firearms Safety Course on Sunday April 26th from 8:00 am – 5:30 pm. You must pre-register, cost is $120.00/person. Space is limited. Go to www.albertafirearmscourse.com for more information, or contact the Library at 403-783-3843.

STORY TIME: Ponoka Jubilee Library invites children ages 3–6, along with their parents to take part in Story Time. Hear a story, make a craft, and learn about your library. Mondays at 2:00, Fridays at 11:00, no registration or payment required.

Like us on FACEBOOK to stay up to date on all our events!

Aquaplex Update Spring Break Lessons • March 30 - April 2. Register Now! Spring Break • Tim Horton’s FREE Public Swim For more information and schedules visit http://www.ponoka.ca/community/recreation/aquaplex

Public Skating:

Proudly sponsored by Ponoka Lions Monday - Thursday: 11:30 am - 1:00 pm Saturday & Sunday: 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm **Shinny Hockey on Weekdays only** Outdoor Rink Hours are Dawn - 11pm, please use responsibly.

COUNCIL UPDATES & BYLAW INFO Next Town Council Meeting March 17, 2015 @ 7 pm.

Visit our website @ www.ponoka.ca for copy of the agenda.

DID YOU KNOW...???

• Recycle glass reduces related air pollution by 20% and related water pollution by 50%.

If it isn’t recycled it can take a million years to decompose.

• If all the households in Canada switched from hot-hot cycle to warm-cold, we could save the energy comparable to 100,000 barrels of oil a day. Remember to launder only when you have a full load.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars.

You have to let go at some point in order to more forward.” ~ C.S. Lewis

8 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Ponoka born woman celebrates centennial birthday

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Over 100 family and friends came to celebrate the centennial birthday of Ponoka born Opal Spelrem (nee Vold).

The momentous occasion was marked Saturday, March 7 at the Asker Lutheran Church with many of Spelrem’s family in attendance. Organized by her daughters Sylvia Bystedt and Janet Van Housen, the new centenarian’s actual birth date was just a couple of days earlier on March 5.

Letters of congratulations came from as far away as England from Queen Elizabeth, as well as from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Premier Jim Prentice, Wetaskiwin MP Blaine Calkins, Lacombe-Ponoka MLA Rod Fox, the governor general, the lieutenant governor and Mayor Rick Bonnett, explained Bystedt.

Determining her full family tree took some consideration as Spelrem has five children, who had 13 of their own children, one of whom had two more children; earning Spelrem the distinct honour of being a great, great grandmother.

Van Housen said her mother was a teacher at a rural school and then at Mecca Glen School for some years and was born the same year as the church was constructed, which was September 1915. “She was very involved as a school teacher,” Van Housen said.

“I think it’s remarkable that she made it to 100 years and all of these people showed up,” she added.

Bystedt put together a poster full of old photos of Spelrem for everyone to see, one of which shows a young baby Spelrem just a few months old about to be baptized. There was some speculation among family members that Spelrem may have been the first baby to be baptized at Asker Church, but no one could say for certain.

Bystedt recalled her mother was always busy and was known for hosting wonderful parties for family and friends. “She’s always been so interested in so many things,” said Bystedt.

While Spelrem cannot get around like she used to, both of her daughters agreed their mother has been a strong source of inspiration to the family.

Opal Spelrem takes a look at the special birthday cake for her centennial birthday Saturday, March 7 at the Asker Lutheran Church. She was born the same year the church was built.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

Upcoming Shows

Ponoka

VISITOR’S GUIDE & BUSINESS DIRCTORY From the Ponoka Stampede to the beautiful Battle River valley, Ponoka offers many attractions to tourists and visitors. The Ponoka News will be publishing a 2015 Ponoka Visitor’s Guide in May. Presented in pony-tabloid format with a full colour glossy cover, the 2015 Ponoka Visitor’s Guide will provide essential information for visitors and tourists who come to our community.

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Back Cover: $1135 Inside Front: $885 $885 With a distribution of 10,000 copies, the 2015 Inside Back: Ponoka Visitor’s Guide will be circulated to visitor Cover Deadline: information centres throughout Alberta, as well as April 24, 2015 at 12 NOON local hotels, motels, bed & breakfast facilities and retail shops.

Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to promote your products and services.

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PONOKA NEWS 9

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

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10 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Tech team brings new skills to teachers one school at a time

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Teachers at the Wolf Creek Public Schools have been getting in-classroom training to get them up to speed with integrating technology into their teaching.

Technology integration leaders Kylie Kissel and Janice VanCampen spent time updating the board of trustees during a meeting Wednesday, March 4 on what it has been like to be right in the classroom alongside teachers and students.

“Day-to-day, we’re working mainly with teachers and the technology coaches to build up their capacities,” explained Kissel.

He says the skill levels of each school and teacher is at a different place and their goal is to spend one to two weeks working directly in a school. The purpose of them being in the classes is to give teachers much-needed technology support.

VanCampen added that being in a school for a longer period of time has helped build trust in the process and the teachers are gaining confidence in their own abilities because of it. “There’s a whole lot of shifts going on,” she stressed.

Rather than inundate teachers and school administrators with information, the team is taking a more comprehensive approach to technology integration into education, added Greg Esteves, technology integration director.

“You can’t just go from zero to a fully developed model,” said Estevez.

He suggests often times people look for a silver bullet solution but there are situations where using technology is not the best method of teaching. VanCampen added that specific steps must be followed to ensure a safe and fulfilling integration experience.

Kissel said the goal is to give students a critical eye and, “how do we get kids to think critically about what they’re seeing on the Internet?”

If students are on the right path, Kissel says they will be able to gather information and know how to handle it responsibly. Smart phones and tablets are making it easier to gather that information quickly.

“Although this is a consumption device, you have to look at how it can be a productive device,” said Kissel, referring to a smart phone.

Technology is moving at such a fast pace that new jobs are being created every year to deal with the new ideas, said Kissel. He referred to a quote from writer Alvin Toffler who said, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”

VanCampen added that the use of Chromebooks in the school is not to teach students how to use them necessarily, but to give them the skills needed to learn in a fast-paced environment. “You can approach the same problem in about 10 different ways,” she explained.

The best part for Kissel and VanCampen is seeing teachers buy into the program. Both attribute that engagement to them being in the classrooms ready to help no matter the skill set. Their next step is to get some teaching out to parents who may not know much about technology.

The two have co-founded a community site on Google Plus called GEG Alberta for teachers to connect, share and learn from each other’s successes.

WCPS school board considers specific goals for the future

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Wolf Creek Public Schools superintendent Larry Jacobs presented a draft document at the regular meeting of the board of trustees on Wednesday, March 4, outlining four major focus areas for the trustees to consider as the division moves forward in adjusting to the curriculum changes being introduced by Education Alberta.

The document, prepared as instructed by the board, outlines four specific areas: • Literacy and numeracy • Teacher excellence • Student and staff wellness • Equitable access to resources Jacobs said some of the points in the document are practiced at WCPS for some years.

Literacy and numeracy This is one of the most important areas for both Jacobs and trustees.

“It’s an absolutely imperative direction to go for students that are struggling but you’ll notice also it’s part of a ministerial order in Inspiring Education,” said Jacobs.

He suggests there are ways to determine a student’s growth with tools such as Read 180 and Literacy for All. Grades 7 to 12 are showing the biggest struggle with reading and the division is putting in much effort to improving that skill.

“We’re gathering all those strategies together and we’ll be able to show you the types of strategies that teachers are using

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explained.

Jacobs suggests the survey will help define directions WCPS needs to go to get student and staff engagement.

Equitable access to resources Determining equitable access to resources was one area Jacobs feels is difficult to assess.

In the draft document, Jacobs feels the impending Alberta Budget 2015 announcement and other factors will create a challenge to do this at WCPS. “This is an extremely difficult initiative because of the staffing and programming capability of our smaller school sites, which will be compounded by the impending budget reductions forecast by the province,” writes Jacobs.

“No matter what we do, our small school sites will not be able to offer programming choices that are offered at our larger and more efficient sites,” he added.

Jacobs suggested one option for trustees to consider is bringing students in smaller schools to the larger ones for specific projects.

“It’s easier for me to create equitable opportunities for students than it is for schools,” he told trustees.

Boards of trustees’ focus Board of trustees chairperson Trudy Bratland said in an interview these priorities are in no particular order but more to give them a chance to align priorities with WCPS’s vision.

“The biggest challenge is the equity piece,” said Bratland. “Because of the sizes of the schools and the offerings of the schools.”

A rural school will not have the same offerings as École Secondaire Lacombe Composite High School. She suggests this issue of funding for smaller rural schools is more of a provincial issue.

She feels for better opportunities to occur, the province must consider changes in its funding model.

Trustees did not make any decisions on the document as they wanted time to read it over.

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with their skill set,” said Jacobs.

Teacher excellence Sometimes interviewing a candidate as a teacher may not bring the best results, explained Jacobs.

A person may know the right phrases and terms to use to get them into a school but he suggests the best experience, something WCPS already does, in evaluating a teacher is by seeing them in the classroom.

“While we can propose outcomes/strategies that will move the concept of ‘teacher’ excellence forward, I would also suggest that we consider that ‘excellence’ cannot stand alone; it must be measured in reference to demonstrated evidence of performance capability,” explained Jacobs in the document.

Jacobs told trustees that schools spend a lot of time with first year teachers to help them transition and gain knowledge of the goals of WCPS. Student and staff wellness Jacobs wants to ensure mental health and wellness of both students and staff is considered.

He said the board of trustees’ main focus was on students but Jacobs said staff had not been considered as in depth.

“What I ask us to consider is maybe expanding that a little bit and allow me to bring some tools into play,” said Jacobs.

Lack of involvement from teachers usually means they are feeling underappreciated. Jacobs said he wants to find supports for teachers by providing questionnaires on how they feel.

“The trouble is, and we do this all as a people, when things are going well we don’t say anything,” said Jacobs.

He referred to a saying regarding positive and negative feedback and how many positive comments are needed to undo the impact of a negative comment.

“So if a person perceives that they are not doing a good job, it takes seven to 10 powerful comments before their self-confidence raises back up again,” he

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PONOKA NEWS 11

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

NDP lines up candidate for Lacombe-Ponoka constituency

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

NDP candidate for Lacombe-Ponoka constituency Doug Hart.

Photo submitted

Alberta’s New Democratic Party (NDP) has a candidate for the LacombePonoka constituency in the prospective spring provincial elections.

Ponoka’s Doug Hart was acclaimed as the NDP candidate during a nomination meeting Friday, March 6 at the Lacombe Memorial Centre. For Hart, it is

not just about running. “I’m announcing my intention to win,” he said in an interview.

He suggests Albertans may be unhappy with the how Wildrose Party members crossed the floor to the Progressive Conservatives.

Hart feels both groups did a disservice to voters and says Albertans are eager to see a strong vocal opposition.

“Everybody wants a stronger opposition but they

want the opposition to come from the neighbouring constituencies,” he added.

He wants to see a better way of funding for rural communities since much of the province’s revenue comes from outside the two large cities of Edmonton and Calgary. “We’re producing the oil, the gas, the poultry and the grain,” he observed.

Per capita funding must be redefined, says Hart, as

rural communities have different economies of scale.

Another subject Hart will be speaking to voters about is how the provincial government has looked at dealing with a large economic shortfall.

Hart feels the government’s suggestion of applying a sin tax and cutting services from hospitals and schools is unimaginative.

He suggests large corpora-

tions should be expected to pay more in taxes to help alleviate the strain.

Rural colleges and universities should have the opportunity to provide agricultural degrees not just certificates. “Why aren’t those degree programs where the agriculture is supplied,” he asked.

A provincial election date has yet to be set.

RCMP briefs

15032OS0

Feel good about your money.

continued from page 3 One call was in relation to the man on Range Road 260 at a feedlot asking if the company was hiring. When told that they weren’t, the man was seen going through people’s vehicles. At about the same time another call came in that a man, matching the same description, was at a nearby home looking for gas.

Police found his cell phone at the home and were able to determine his identity. He was a person of interest in a breakand-enter on Arbor Park Road recently. He was not located by police but was found several days later dead in Calgary.

His death is not believed to be suspicious.

Police looking for credit card fraudsters Police are looking for culprits who used a stolen Visa credit card to purchase prepaid credit cards Jan. 25 and 25 at a Ponoka gas station.

The suspects used the stolen card to make the purchases and it took the credit card company some weeks to determine its use was fraudulent and Ponoka RCMP was subsequently notified.

Copper wire stolen from welding truck Police are looking for suspects involved in the theft of $1,000 worth of copper wire from a welding truck last week.

The truck is reported to have been parked at a local motel overnight of March 4.

Generator stolen from septic field A $13,000 generator was reported to be stolen from a shed on the Ponoka septic fields the same night as the copper wire was stolen. Police say the generator is a Wacker G25 model and some hand held radios were also taken.

Ponoka RCMP and the Integrated Traffic Unit took 69 calls for service.

If you have information on any crime call Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

12 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Students meet reading goal, duct tape teacher to wall

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Students at the Ponoka Christian School had a blast duct-taping one of their teachers to a wall after meeting a goal of reading for more than 25,000 collective minutes in the month of February.

Inclusive education teacher Laureen Sandin said students held an I Love to Read event where they raised money for Bibles for Missions and had a goal to read for more than 25,000 minutes. If they did, teacher Joel Longard agreed to be taped up to the

Congratulations

Nenita Buhat Nenita is recognized for her upbeat friendly personality and open--minded attitude.

Employee of the Month Students at Ponoka Christian School are eager to tape up teacher Joel Longard Thursday, March 5 after reaching a reading goal of 25,000 total minutes read in February.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

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school’s gym wall.

Not only did they reach their goal, they surpassed it; all the students read for more than 27,000 minutes in February, said Longard.

The school also donated $420 for the Bibles for Missions store in Ponoka.

Sandin said parents helped track their children’s progress but the initiative to read came from the students themselves. After everyone got a chance tape up Longard, the final test came and Sandin said the tape worked and Longard stayed stuck to the wall.

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PONOKA NEWS 13

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

New elementary school means new transportation arrangements place to park was one of the biggest challenges of the planning. “We have to put quite a lot of staff into the building,” he said.

For the future some consideration has been given to developing a parking lot on

BY AMELIA NAISMITH AND JEFFERY HEYDEN-KAYE

Over the Ponoka Elementary School’s spring break, March 28 to April 6, the operations of the school will be transferred into the former Diamond Willow Middle School building and this leads to a new arrangement for student pickup and drop off as well as staff parking.

“Our intent is to ensure we provide an efficient plan for the safety of our students and staff and concurrently utilize our new site in the most efficient manner possible,” said superintendent Larry Jacobs, in a press release dated Feb. 25.

The Wolf Creek Public Schools (WCPS) division, in conjunction with the Town of Ponoka and the RCMP, is looking to implement five major adjustments to the school’s transportation system.

Buses will continue to use the parking lot west of the Brick Building. The lot can be accessed by Highway 2A so buses will not impede traffic flow on 48 Avenue. Keeping 48 Avenue uncongested was a focus of the division as well as the RCMP. This is mainly for safety reasons, as 48 Avenue has three crosswalks students can use and the division appeals to drivers in the area to make sure to follow proper rules of the road.

Students from the buses will have access to the new Ponoka Elementary School building via a path running south from the parking lot to the school.

“Specialized busing for some of our students will be to a restricted area directly in front of the school. This area will be properly signed to that it does not interfere with other traffic considerations,” said Jacobs in the press release.

In order to keep the public and parents informed on the new transportation practices, the division is going to use signs to relay the needs of WCPS, the town and the RCMP. Along 48 Avenue, signs will advertise student drop off and pickup times. From 8 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. the street will be for pickup and drop off only, no parking allowed.

Any vehicles parked in the area during those times will be subject to ticketing by the RCMP. However, during other times of the day, the area will be used as visitor parking for the school.

Signs will also be placed in front of the new school, west of the gym entrance, designating a special needs or handicapped drop off area. Vehicles will need an access permit to allow them to park for an appropriate amount of time.

The area directly in front of the school, which used to be a parking lot when the building

A map illustration depicting transportation zone uses that will come into effect when the Ponoka Elementary School moves into the former Diamond Willow Middle School building at the end of the month.

Photo courtesy of Wolf Creek Public Schools

was a middle school, has been converted solely into an emergency lane. It is not to be used for student pickup and drop off and non-approved vehicles in the emergency lane may be ticketed.

“Other signage will be placed on the cement meridian at 48 Avenue that disallows left lane turns into and out of the area directly in front of the school. This has been designed to ensure student and staff safety and promote efficient traffic patterns during the day,” said

Jacobs in the press release.

The third point the division wants to make to the public is that pickup and drop off areas are still available along 54 Street.

“There’s always been tremendous need by the parents to be close to the building to drop off children,” said Jacobs in an interview with Ponoka News.

Staff parking lots will be located to the west of the new building and along the east side of the Pink Building. Jacobs says managing the approximately 50 vehicles needing a

the east side of the new building. This would give room to teachers’ cars and some guest parking. Jacobs feels that may be a year down the road before the division has a concrete plan.

The future use of the Pink Building may also affect how

the school can use 54 Street. Jacobs says the school divisionís first goal is to have community groups use it. “When we move out of a building like that, the board wants it not to be part of our maintenance plan,” said Jacobs.

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Thank You for making the 2015 Bowl For Kids Sake a success!

We are completely touched and overwhelmed by the level of support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ponoka received to our Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser. $22,500.00 was raised for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ponoka & it wouldn’t have been possible without the support & generous donations from the following people, businesses & organizations!

GOLD SPONSORS

• Cervus Equipment • Servus Credit Union • Ponoka Lions Club • Ponoka News • Will’s Welding

• Remax • Jorgenson Homes • Meindertsma Family • Ponoka Order of the Royal Purple #27

SILVER SPONSORS • Sunken Bridge Meat Processing • Don Pederson Construction • Rowland Parker & Associates • Master Bowlers Association of AB

• Central Office Supplies • Telus • ATB Financial • Shoppers Drug Mart • Sommer Home Hardware & Building Centre

BRONZE SPONSORS

• Ponoka License & Registry • Strand Media

• Adams Chevrolet • No Frills Gas Bar

Bowling Teams

• Galloway Oilfield • Sunny 94FM • Ponoka News • Seafield Ladies • Golden Age Bowlers Association • Ponoka Elementary School • Ponoka FCSS • Crawford Agencies • St. Augustine’s School • The Co-operators • BMO Bank of Montreal • Servus Credit Union • Melissa Wilson & Friends • Kathy Kirk & Family • Cassandra, Allie & Friends • County of Ponoka • Town of Ponoka • Jorgenson Family • Central Vet Clinic • Central AB Buccaneers • PSC Broncs • Boston Pizza • Bob & Company Catering • Ponoka Fish & Game • Legacy Ford • Ponoka Chrysler • Ponoka Kinsmen • Little Treasures Day Home

Refreshments

• Subway • Boston Pizza • Dominoes • McDonalds • Bob & Company Catering • JAX Steakhouse & Bar

Prizes

• Ponoka Stampede Association • Hamilton’s IGA • Calaway Park • Edmonton International Raceway • Heritage Park Historical Village • Royal Tyrell Museum • AB Sports Hall of Fame • West Edmonton Mall • The Keg Steakhouse & Bar • Cynthia Scott • Bower Place Shopping Centre • iHotel • Flowers for You • Susan Whitecotton • Lazy “F” Livestock • Arbutus Nursery • Paige Raugust • Ponoka Bookstore

Thank you

• Discovery Wildlife Park • Mackenzies No Frills • Pixie Photo • VIA Rail • Perry’s 2 for 1 Pizza & Pasta • John’s Place • Ponoka Physiotherapy Accupuncture Clinic • Reynolds Alberta Museum • Walrus & Carpenter • Legacy Ford • Steel Magnolias • Ponoka Community Golf Club • McDonalds • Rabbit Hill Snow Resort • Your Dollar Store With More • Ponoka Hair Loft • Siding 14 Gallery • Telus SPARK • Telus World of Science Edmonton • Cilantro & Chive • The Brick • Tim Hortons

Volunteers

• Heather Patterson • Nicole Maxwell • Desiree Hildebrandt • Paul Spate • Kelly Sperber • Darcy Stingel

to our MC Darcy Stingel and to Leisure Lanes Bowling Centre for hosting our event!

14 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Man fined for driving quad drunk

BY AMELIA NAISMITH

A 29-year-old man received a $1,300 fine and one-year driving prohibition after pleading guilty to driving over .08 alcohol limit and driving an uninsured off-highway vehicle.

Martin Jones, of Ponoka, appeared at Ponoka provincial court on Friday, March 6 to face the consequences of his actions.

On Feb. 14, 2015, at approximately 11:30 p.m., a Ponoka RCMP member patrolling 50 Street saw what he thought was a snowmobile pull wildly onto the street.

The machine was actually a quad and was sliding and fishtailing before reaching 50 Street; it continued down the road in that manner.

A three-wheeled ATV was following the quad and the RCMP member turned on his lights, pulling up to the two vehicles.

The RCMP officer spoke to the driver of the quad, Jones, who admitted the vehicle was not insured.

The officer observed Jones’ slurred speech and glassy eyes; he also was not wearing a helmet.

At that point, the RCMP officer exited the vehicle to further speak with the two men and smelled alcohol on Jones’ breath. Jones said he and his friend had been drinking earlier that evening.

Jones was arrested, he was confused and did not seem to understand why he was being arrested or that the quad was considered a vehicle, explained the crown prosecutor.

He was taken to the detachment and provided two .16 breath samples.

Jones told the court at the time of the incident he was approximately one and a half blocks from his house and had spent the majority of the evening as a passenger on one of the ATVs. He claimed, however, when the female driver of the quad got it stuck, she walked home and he took over driving.

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PONOKA NEWS 15

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

BBBS fundraiser bowls over set goal

BY AMELIA NAISMITH

With 33 teams from the involved, Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) Ponoka was able to surpass its $20,000 goal set for the annual Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser.

The event is the organization’s main fundraiser of the year, says program director Morgen Chernick. With a possible few more pledges expected, the fundraiser brought in approximately $20,500.

“All the funds raised

in the community go to programming and administration costs,” said Chernick. BBBS runs five programs; site-based mentoring, community-based mentoring, teen mentoring, Go Girls and Game On. Last year’s bowling event resulted in approximately $20,200.

While this year took people back in time, with a medieval dress theme, modern money was still pouring in from different bowlers and their sponsors.

“I think it went fabulous. The support from the community has been amazing,” said Chernick.

With Alberta’s current economic challenges, Chernick says BBBS would not be able to operate the way it does without the community’s assistance.

“It’s been very overwhelming and very much appreciated. There’s no way we can pull this off without the community support,” said Chernick.

Ponoka Legion Branch 66, 55 Plus Club member Vern Dick (right) presents Norm Schiewe, a member of the Ponoka Wheelchair Van Society with a $500 donation towards the purchase of two new vans. The Ponoka Wheelchair Van Society is looking for new members and their annual meeting takes place on March 23 at 7 p.m. at Seniors Drop-in Centre.

Ponoka hotel receives industry award Canalta Ponoka, along with 20 other Canalta properties in Alberta, has been designated as an Employer of Choice by the Alberta Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA), A press release issued by the hotel chain says the Employer of Choice designation is awarded when a hotel has distinguished themselves as a leader in human resources best practices amongst other tourism employers, setting themselves apart by ensuring the organization is doing the right things to create and sustain a productive and motivated workforce.

“In order to receive this designation, the Canalta Ponoka had to pass an internal audit of their organization’s policies, procedures, structures, resources and strategic direction (looking overall at how these con-

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tribute to the success of the organization), as well as an employee opinion survey,” the press release said.

It quoted Brooke Christianson, Vice President of Canalta Hotels, as saying “This is a great honor for our hotels as we know that people have a wide range of employment opportunities. This is a testament to how we are living our mission of leading successfully to provide our team members with a fun and caring environment focusing on teamwork.”

Canalta Hotels is a family owned and operated company with head offices in Drumheller, Alberta. Beginning with one hotel in 1976, the company has grown over the past three decades and today employs more than 2500 people across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Thrift Store

5006 - 50th St., Downtown Ponoka

Bibles for Missions 403-790-0012

Thank you to Ponoka Christian School for their generous donation of $420, proceeds from their “I Love to Read” project for the month of February.

All proceeds from Bibles for Missions Thrift Stores go to our joint ministry partners The Bible League Canada, and are used to help transform peoples’ lives through the living Word of God. New in Store - large License Plate Collection, dating back to 1922.

We presently have Home Support Aids including Sask Pole, Ultra Matic Bed, and Rotating Bedside Handrail.

Thank you to our many donors and customers!

Your donations are very much appreciated.

Donated with love: Left to right: Maia Hoogers, Emily David, Kristen Hyink and Cassandra Moulton, all Ponoka Secondary Campus students, present Ponoka Youth Centre program co-ordinator Andrew Heinrichs with a $200 donation the school raised during Valentines Day week fundraisers. The school chose the Youth Centre in support of the Friendship Week, and the relationship between the two parties.

Photo by Amelia Naismith

After 45 years with the RCMP Cpl. David Heaslip is being put out to pasture!

Please join us is saying farewell on Saturday, April 18 at 7:00 pm Hudson Green There will be snacks & refreshments* Tickets $15/ea Children 10 yrs & under Free Tickets available at RCMP Ponoka until Friday, April 3 *There will be a toonie bar

16 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Communication is key when dealing with cultural differences

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Some of the biggest misunderstandings at the workplace with people from different nationalities stem from not knowing each other’s culture, which leads to frustration.

In some cases, people will lose their job due to that miscommunication.

This is why Lionel Laroche, owner of Multicultural Business Solutions, feels the best fix is knowing how different cultures work. He spoke to students at Maskwacis Cultural College Friday, Feb. 27 to give them an idea of what it means to work in an English Canadian work environment.

Laroche himself has firsthand experience of what it means to be in a workplace with a different culture and have coworkers resent him for his seemingly brash nature. Coming from France, Laroche says he was working in California some years ago and was used to being somewhat blunt about his

subordinates’ work.

“That would not be my intention, but that would be my impact on you,” told Laroche to the class.

Specific skills in different cultures will help a person move forward in their job: technical skills and soft skills have different impacts in different areas. The former relates to direct knowledge of the job and the latter relates to strong interpersonal skills.

This is how Laroche defines soft skills: • Your ability to work with other people.

• Your ability to manage yourself, time, motivations and emotions.

• The ability to manage the system.

Laroche said in most Asian countries, it is the technical skills that gets a person promoted but in Canada, while technical skills are important, a person is usually promoted to a higher position because of the soft skills.

“Somebody can be technically brilliant without others

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liking to work with them,” said Laroche.

Likewise in most Asian countries employees see the boss as the person who has the final say. Sometimes confusion and frustration can happen when Asian immigrants move to Canada and they have the all the skills to be promoted yet a person with a lower education gets the job.

“The higher you are in a Canadian organization, the more important soft skills are to your success,” said Laroche.

He says it is important for employers and employees to have a clear definition of how their performance is measured.

If they do not, the employees usually feel they are being mistreated or profiled.

What tends to happen is employees become resentful and they start to look for other jobs or speak with their peers from the same culture. He says it is like the blind leading the blind because neither understands the culture.

He recalled a time when he asked a Canadian for advice and while he did not understand why, it helped him find solutions to communication problems at work.

“All of this because we have different ideas of what being a good manager and being a good employee is,” said Laroche.

He recommends specific tools to help in these situations: • Awareness is 50 per cent of the solution; • Patience is a virtue; • Communication is not only sending a message, but seeing it is received; • Continue to monitor your impact on people; • Stop and clarify when the impact you have is not what you want; • Monitor a person’s emotional state to see if it impacted them negatively; • Don’t act on negative feelings; • Analyze your own emotions to identify what triggers them; • Separate impact from intention; • The Golden Rule: treat others as one would like others to treat oneself, should be replaced by the Platinum Rule: treat others the way they would like to be treated.

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PONOKA NEWS 17

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Alberta Opera presents Rumpelstiltskin to Ponoka schools

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Students at St. Augustine Catholic School and Mecca Glen School were in for a cultural feast last week during Alberta Opera’s presentation of Rumpelstiltskin.

Actors with Alberta Opera put on the play Tuesday, March 3 that told the story of Rumpelstiltskin with a modern gameshow twist. In the play, Mr. and Mrs. Miller are presented as the happy couple who had everything they could ever want until Mr. Miller loses his job and the young family finds themselves on the verge of losing everything.

In comes Rumpelstiltskin to save the day with a Price is Right style gameshow with Mrs. Miller as the contestant. But the only way to play is by giving him something of value to her.

The play had fun plot twists and turns with some students helping out as crew or actors for specific scenes.

St. Augustine Catholic School teacher Angela Meyer said students in small, rural communities may not have a chance to see as much arts as in larger centres. “Lots of children don’t get the opportunity to go to shows. Tickets cost money and sometimes it’s not in the budget . . . so this brings the stage to them.”

She enjoys seeing the students getting a chance to be on stage in front of the school.

“They (actors) are very interactive for the students,” said Meyer.

Also in the crowd were high school students in the middle of rehearsals of their presentation of Seussical, a musical by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty presenting popular Dr. Seuss stories in one play. Meyer had her actors study the Alberta Opera actors and present her with a play assessment.

She suggested this was an ideal time to see how an actor needs to be larger than life while managing costume changes and keeping all their lines straight. Meyer has 20 students in her play program this year.

This is the third time St. Augustine was able to bring the Alberta Opera to the school. Meyer said the parent council paid for a portion of the event.

Actors with the Alberta Opera toured through Ponoka schools Tuesday, March 3 with their modern version of the fairytale Rumpelstiltskin. Here a detective (Mat Bittroff) gets a shake down from cereal boxes, played

by Larissa Pohoreski and Billy Brown.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

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18 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Our grand old sport of curling has really changed Mike Rainone Hammertime

I was quite shocked last week when I walked down the hall several times in our 99-unit condominium and there was absolutely no one to be seen. When we got together later in the front lobby the discussion was not about the weather, oil and gas prices, the hot world news, or politics...it was mostly about

curling.

For those of us who played this great sport over the years or are still slipping and sliding and tossing rocks, we all must admit that it has changed a great deal, especially at the now elite and competitive level. What is now really great, especially for spectators of all ages,

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is the fact that the games are so much more exciting from start to finish, with many more rocks in play, resulting in a lot of absolutely thrilling and unbelievable shots. Just like all those other professional sports that we watch, curling at all levels, men and women, has now given us our own teams and superstars that we can cheer for at the provincial, national and world level all winter long.

As well as those great hackto-hack shootouts that go every weekend these curling stars are now taking their show to Banff and the glitzy casinos of Las Vegas for the thrilling ‘Skins’ games.

This new generation of the ‘roar of the rings’ has created household heroes such as the Howards, the Martins, the Gushues, the Joneses, the Jacobs, the Homans, the Koes and a whole lot more up and coming fast young foursomes who are trying desperately` to sweep their way onto the world curling stage. What a great treat it is to see thousands of fans sitting in the stands watching the curling on the arena ice or jumbo-tron, as well as all of us rock-and-roll couch fanatics back home, who can now actually listen in as those super curlers and announcers discuss the next shot, then we can make our choice and hope that no-body swears when the microphone is on.

Here are some of my favourite memories from hanging around our friendly Ponoka and district curling rinks way back when, and I am sure that many of you will also have lots of the same to share. *League curling was al-

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ways a great time, whether men’s, mixed or ladies’, but the best tales are told after surviving those wild weekend bonspiels. No matter what rink you visited, town or country, the coffee and the chilli pots were always on, and there were lots of rambunctious fans sitting behind the glass cheering on their favourite teams. If you had the early draw on one of those nifty two-sheeter rural rinks the morning frost might make it tough to get the first few rocks from one end to the other, but she soon ‘keened up’ and that natural ice might go perfectly straight, or swing and sway like a hula gal. Whatever the case, win or lose, everyone gathers in the lounge after the game to share a few more ‘shots’ and to celebrate a great time among friends. *How many can remember the equipment and wardrobe we had for curling in the old days? What about the now ancient ‘corn brooms’, which were a nightmare for ice-makers as they shed straws in all directions, then mixed with all the ashes, because you were allowed to smoke and play then, so there were ‘picks’ a-plenty. Gone are the wooden seats and ashtrays that were attached to the dividers along the side of each sheet, and do they still have those noisy spinning shoe cleaners? You usually wore a warm woolen sweater to the rink, because it was always cold out there on the ice, and while some curlers were lucky enough to have fancy curling shoes, most used pull-on sliders.

*Back in the 50s60s and beyond, many of us will recall playing in the annual Ponoka Town and Country Bonspiel, a great week-long curlfest that combined as many as 100 teams made up of businessmen, farmers, and many others. It didn’t really matter if you weren’t that good a curler, because we were there to socialize and have fun, with some even showing up with the kitchen broom and the game footwear was whatever was available in the closet. Now those noisy cloth brooms have been replaced by the fancy push ones and they also have matched rocks with lights, but they still have to holler at their mates to sweep or to stop, and you have to finish the game on time. *Whatever the case with all this hype and success on the competitive curling scene across our nation, I really hope that the Canadian Curling Association is giving back some funding to our city, town, and good old country curling clubs where the fun all started so many decades ago, and where the future rock stars are born.

Seasonal support, promotion and funds are needed for our learn-to-curl youth programs, to make curling a school sport, to keep our vibrant seniors curling for many happy years, and to encourage new teams and members to take part in a keen season of curling and camaraderie with old and new friends. Go ahead and enjoy another hour of sunshine, don’t be afraid to think spring, and have a great week, all of you..

PONOKA NEWS 19

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Anti-Alberta politics Dear Editor, Things are bad on earth; so bad that many of the more sensitive souls are not able to bear another minute of the dysfunctional insane out-

of-control, man-made world and so are choosing to leave this world. That may not bother many people, but I take it as as a sign of just how bad things really are in this world.

Of course, most people are accustomed to the state of affairs in this world, especially to the crazy-making in Canadian and provincial politics; so accustomed that they

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can’t even imagine that justice, equality, health, peace, beauty and such things could be more than just airy-fairy ideals.

Alberta could so easily

(except maybe weatherwise) be a heaven on earth. We have the natural beauty of the various landscapes; we are blessed with many natural resources; we have a diverse

population with the potential (of) creativity, vision, and will to solve any of our problems and make this a great place for all to call home.

But we have been so used to being abused that we continue to grant power to those who further abuse us and grossly mismanage our resources. I found it unbelievable that Premier Prentice (on CBC) would blame Albertans for the consequences of decades of PCons mismanagement, and then belittle our indignity and have his two henchmen (Mandel and Campbell) defend him even though they said they weren’t aware of this issue that dominated cybernews. Who votes for people such as them who are so blissfully unaware and unconcerned with something that so profoundly impacted any Albertan who was aware of what happened?

Prentice certainly didn’t speak for me when he said “All of us have had the best of everything.” If you continue to support and vote for this man who said that we are all responsible for the financial mess Alberta is in, you are not much different than the abused woman who stays with a man that beats her and then blames her, saying “You made me do it.”

We wonder why women don’t leave such abusive relationships. Likewise, I wonder why the majority of Alberta voters keep voting in leaders who abuse them and care way more about staying in power and about their own financial gain than they do about the wellbeing of Albertans and Alberta. The reason for both is that over time, they have become so used to abuse, disease, dysfunction and crazy-making, that they can no longer even imagine the possibility of a better life, let alone know how to go about creating a better life, one where they are respected, valued, where their needs, concerns, contributions, dreams, and gifts are welcomed, acknowledged, appreciated, understood, accepted, and valued.

Forty-plus years of PCon rule has gotten Alberta into a very sad state of affairs. If this is acceptable to you, continue voting and empowering them. But if you find this totally unacceptable, why not take a chance and consider voting for a political party that hasn’t yet been proven to be failures at managing Alberta’s affairs. For sure, no other party could do worse than the PCons and their anti-Alberta attitude/politics.

Evone Monteith Ponoka

20 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

35TH ANNUAL SPRING MACHINERY CONSIGNMENT AUCTION FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2015 • RIMBEY, ALBERTA

Selling equipment to all four Western provinces and the Northern USA. Listings are now being accepted for the Spring Machinery Consignment Auction.

All items must be listed by Tuesday, March 17, 2015 to be included on our Sales Posters, Newspaper, Radio Advertising, Web Page and extensive mailing lists.

Listings Already Include Farm Dispersals for Lloyd Tulloch of Crestomere, Alberta, Bill Walker of Falun, Alberta & Jan Slomp of Rimbey, Alberta. Plus an Antique Collection of Allis Chalmers Equipment from Elvin Gladwin of Bentley, Alberta.

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Taking the first turn: Lindsay Beach makes a turn on Garth, Sunday, March 8 during the Don Laing Trailer Series. Beach’s time was 18.175 in this run.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

NEW LOCATION. SAME GREAT PEOPLE. NEW LOCATION 3600 HXZ 2A 4PVUI

Ponoka, "# 5 + + Across from the Calnash Ag Event Centre 0pen GPS CVTJOFTT .POEBZ March 16th.

PONOKA NEWS 21

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Worse for where?

Brennan Turner FarmLead The U.S.D.A. came out with their latest winter crop conditions, showing goodto-excellent (G/E) ratings that were mostly the same as January in major growing states, despite a fairly cold February. Kansas, the biggest wheat grower in the U.S., saw G/E levels drop by two points from January to 44 per cent, but that’s still 10 points better than the same period last year. Most analysts agreed that it was a pretty wild ride for winter crops in February with sharp changes in weather throughout the month, also causing slowdown in fieldwork for those in very southern states. Overall,

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most eyes are on Eastern Europe when it comes to winterkill as tougher January weather is setting up for a crop with the worst conditions in a few decades in northeastern Ukraine and southern Russia. Between this and where basis levels are currently at in Western Canada, locking in a basis and selling cash on the rallies continues to be a recommended strategy.

More producers are asking about the durum price outlook as values have fallen significantly from their mid-winter highs. What we can expect is more acres going in this year everywhere, including Mexico, where it’s speculated that U.S. millers will source from when high quality stocks get a little tighter in the late spring-early summer months. That being said, there’s a small chance (less than 20 per cent in my opinion) we could see a bounce at that time but it’s more likely that prices will continue to trend downwards to new crop levels,

which we’re currently seeing around $7.50/bu for a #3 or better contract (areadependent).

The first estimates from A.B.A.R.E.S, the Aussie U.S.D.A., suggest farmers in the Land Down Undaa will take off a bigger crop in 2015/16, despite drier conditions persisting. 24.4 million tonnes are expected to get harvested, a three per cent increase from past year’s 23.6 million-tonne crop but the growth is mainly due to a four-year high in seeded acres, at 34.3 million. As a result, exports could increase to almost 18 million tonnes, a fair improvement from 2014/15’s 16.9 million tonnes. Comparably, Aussie canola production is seen falling by four per cent year-overyear to 3.26 million tonnes.

Staying in oilseeds, the International Grains Council recently decreased their expectations for the E.U.’s rapeseed crop to 21.2 million tonnes (-11.7 per cent from last year’s record crop). In turn, the price

ratio between wheat and canola is starting to swing in favour of more canola acres this spring. While the U.S. and South American crops are putting significant bearish pressure on the global oilseed complex, canola has been saved by the sinking Loonie. Soybean prices did see a rally thanks to Brazilian truck drivers protesting high diesel prices for a second straight week. Ironically, diesel wasn’t getting delivered to farms, which would slow the harvest pace but the government has stepped in, fining some truck drivers thousands of dollars for every hour their rig stays idled on the road in addition to relaxing tolls and other fees truckers were paying to move goods. Overall, with movement of commodities worsening in Brazil, major soybean and corn buyers are likely looking to where more reliable service is available, like the U.S., although strong Greenback remains a bit of a deterrent.

To growth,

Brennan Turner President, FarmLead.com Brennan Turner is originally from Foam Lake, SK, where his family started farming the land in the 1920s. After completing his degree in economics from Yale University and then playing some pro hockey, Mr. Turner spent some time working in finance before

starting FarmLead.com, a risk-free, transparent online and now mobile grain marketplace (app available for iOS and Android).

His weekly column is a summary of his free, daily market note, the FarmLead Breakfast Brief. He can be reached via email (b.turner@farmlead.com) or phone (1-855-332-7653).

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22 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

CFIB: Threat of new provincial sales tax still looms Seventy-four percent of entrepreneurs say it would be harmful to their business The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) warned that the Alberta Government may still be considering introducing a provincial sales tax (PST), and released new survey data about the negative impact the tax would have on small business.

“We believe there is still a distinct possibility the Alberta government will introduce a new provincial sales tax

in their upcoming budget. It’s true the Premier has said it won’t happen. But he has to say that. If the government was indeed going to bring in a sales tax, they certainly wouldn’t telegraph it in advance”, remarked Richard Truscott, CFIB Vice President for Alberta and BC. Business owners were asked in CFIB’s 2015 pre-budget survey: Do you agree or disagree with the following

VJV MARKET REPORT MARKET REPORT MARCH 4, 2015

On Wednesday, March 4, 2015 - 2679 head of cattle went through our rings and on our Canadian Satellite sale 138 - TOTAL - 2817

SLAUGHTER CATTLE D1 - D2 cows D3 - D4 cows Good Holstein cows Medium Holstein cows Heiferettes Bologna Bulls

137.00 -150.00 120.00-138.00 125.00-142.00 105.00-115.00 150.00-170.00 140.00-155.00

Feeder bulls 160.00Good Bred Cows 2200.00-2650.00 Older Bred Cows N/A Good Bred Heifers: N/A Cow/calf pairs (younger) N/A Cow/Calf pairs (older) N/A

STOCKERS AND FEEDERS Good Feeder Steers 1000 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 900 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 800 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 700 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 600 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 500 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 400 lbs Plus: Good Feeder Steers 300 lbs Plus:

NONE 218.00-231.00 220.00-239.00 240.00-258.00 270.00-290.00 300.00-330.00 320.00-345.00 340.00-375.00

Dairy Steers Baby Calves Dairy Type: Baby Calves Beef Type: Hay: Sq Bales Straw: Sq. Bales Greenfeed: Sq. Bales.

170.00-200.00 125.00-525.00 275.00-650.00 1.00-8.75 1.00-1.25 -

Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers

NONE NONE 210.00-222.00 230.00-248.00 260.00-282.00 280.00-310.00 280.00-320.00 300.00-350.00

DISPERSAL FOR

Galarneau Land & Cattle FRIDAY, MARCH 20 @ NOON

– 525 BRED COWS – (60% Black/40% Red)

Black Angus bulls out July 15 - pulled Sept. 20

Selling on Satellite March 18 550 Calves Rd Bales Rd Bales Rd Bales

55.00-90.00 22.50NONE

MARCH 20, 2015 BRED COW SALE - DISPERSAL OF 525 BRED COWS

For more information and to consign please call VJV office 403-783-5561 or office@vjvauction.com Regular Sales every Wednesday

Vold Jones & Vold Auction Co. Ltd. | Dawson Creek Auction Vold Jones & Vold Co. Ltd. © 2006 4410-Hwy 2A, Ponoka Alberta, Canada, T4J 1J8

Vold Jones & Vold Auction Co. Ltd. 4410-Hwy 2A, Ponoka Alberta, Canada, T4J 1J8

REICH ANGUS RANCH

statements regarding the introduction of a new provincial sales tax?

A new provincial sales tax would be harmful to my business • 74 per cent agreed, 14 per cent disagreed, 12 per cent said don’t know I trust government to spend the tax revenue wisely • 9 per cent agreed, 84 per cent disagreed, 7 per cent said don’t know Future governments would increase the rate to make up for budgetary shortfalls • 69 per cent agreed, 13 per cent disagreed, 18 per cent said don’t know Business owners were then asked: What impact would the introduction of a provincial sales tax have on your business?

• 79 per cent said there would be added administration time and cost • 64 per cent indicated there would less investment back into the business • 63 per cent pointed to negative impact on sales • 32 per cent said a reduction in staffing (e.g. hours, number of employees) • 9 per cent mentioned other • 7 per cent stated they don’t know • Only 5 per cent said no impact Truscott went on to challenge Premier Prentice to strengthen his commitment not to bring in a PST. “The Premier should unequivocally state that he will resign as provincial leader if he breaks his own promise and a PST is unveiled on budget day. That simple statement would help calm the fears of many entrepreneurs that a sales tax is still under active consideration by the Alberta government.”

LAZY S LIMOUSIN & CHAROLAIS BULL SALE 35 bulls on offer

2 Year Old Black Angus Bull Sale Wednesday March 18, 2015 - 1pm

2 year olds & Yearlings

Calnash AG Events Center- Ponoka , Alberta

Saturday, March 28, 2015 7:00 pm Rimbey Agriplex

40 Hereford/ Angus X

25 Powerful Black Bulls Ready To Go To Work on your Cow Herd

Replacement Heifers

Harold & Dorothy Reich Kolton Kasur & Bailey Whyte Ranch: (780) 372-2175 Harolds Cell (403) 783-0207 Koltons Cell (780) 387-8376 RR#1 Bashaw Alberta T0B 0H0

Catalogue available at www.reichangusranch.ca

Stan & Ty Skeels Vykki Johns 403-704-0288 lazyslimousin@gmail.com

Guest Consignor: Runaway Ranch Kurt Wilkie Arlene Butler 403-318-3579

PONOKA NEWS 23

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Islamic State: The Worst Case Contingency

BY GWYNNE DYER

It’s often a good idea, when faced with a really frightening situation, to model the “worst case” outcome and see how bad it could get. That can be quite bad, but it’s rarely as bad as the half-formed fears that build up if you don’t actually analyse the problem. Like Islamic State, for example.

It began with the conquest by an Islamist group called ISIS (Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) of various bits of territory in eastern Syria in 2011-13.

Its founders were almost all Iraqis who had got their start fighting the American occupation of their country. They were allegedly in Syria as volunteers in the struggle to overthrow Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship, but they actually spent their time conquering territory held by other rebel groups.

Once ISIS had created a territorial base in eastern Syria, its fighters surged back across the border into Iraq in June, 2014 and captured Mosul, Iraq’s third-largest city. First the Iraqi army and then the much better respected Kurdish army crumbled in front of them. In July ISIS declared the border abolished and proclaimed the foundation of the “Islamic State” in the conquered parts of both Syria and Iraq.

A few days later the leader of ISIS, Abu Baqr al-Baghdadi, declared in a sermon in Mosul’s great mosque of al-Nuri that he is the caliph to whom all Muslims owe obedience. It was a bold step (there has been no caliph since 1924) but it had great resonance among those many Muslims who linked the collapse of the Islamic world’s power and prosperity to the neglect of its traditional religious institutions and values.

Since then, Islamic State has conquered no more territory. Its one big offensive, against the Kurdish enclave of Kobane along the Turkish border, was defeated after thousands of ISIS fighters died in the attempt to take it. Aircraft from the US, other Western countries, and various conservative Arab countries patrol the skies over Islamic State, bombing anything that looks even vaguely military. Yet it still scares people to death.

One reason is its sheer ferocity and endlessly inventive cruelty. It crucifies people, hacks their heads off, burns them alive and posts videos boasting about it all. It attracts large numbers of recruits from the Sunni Muslims in the Arab lands now included in Islamic

State, but also thousands of eager volunteers from other Muslim countries and from the Muslim diaspora in the West.

Moreover, it is collecting pledges of allegiance from like-minded Islamist fighting groups in other Muslim countries, each of which lends a little more credibility to its claim to be the new caliphate.

The first wave of pledges came in November, when Islamist groups in Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Yemen and Saudi Arabia declared that they acknowledged al-Baghdadi, now calling himself Caliph Ibrahim, as their leader and guide.

Little more has been heard from the Yemeni, Saudi and Algerian groups, but the Egyptian group, Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis, controls parts of the Sinai peninsula, regularly attacks the Egyptian army, and was officially designated a “province” (wilayat) of the Islamic State in November.

Libya, where Islamist groups have been gaining ground in the civil war, was carved into three further “provinces” at the same time.

In late January a former commander of the Pakistani Taleban and ten other jihadi leaders from Pakistan and Afghanistan also acknowledged al-Baghdadi’s authority, and declared that they constituted the new IS “province” of Khorasan, taking in those two countries and ”other nearby lands”.

Then last Saturday Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the militant group Boko Haram, which controls much of northeastern Nigeria, also pledged allegiance to Islamic State: “We announce our allegiance to the caliph... and will hear and obey in times of difficulty and prosperity. We call on Muslims everywhere to pledge allegiance to the caliph.” It’s definitely catching on, but how far can it go?

Well, not much further, probably. It is striking that all the new “provinces” of Islamic State, like most of the original ones, are in mainly rural areas, often sparsely populated, and with few natural resources (except some oil, in Libya’s case).

They are areas that corrupt and autocratic governments, many of them distracted by civil war, will simply abandon for the short term as not worth bothering about.

For Islamic State to seize big metropolitan areas and their resources would require a level of popular support in those areas that is unlikely to emerge. Big cities are full of relatively sophisticated people

with something to lose, and are unlikely to see Islamic State as an attractive solution for their problems.

Without the big cities and their communications facilities like airports, harbours, major highways (which usually go through the cities) and the like, there can be little effective cooperation between the widely dispersed “provinces” of Islamic State. They will have to go on fighting their own wars with little outside help, and some they will lose.

The broader struggle against Islamist extremism will probably continue for at least a decade, and impose heavy costs on the people of the Middle East. But ultraradical organisations like ISIS and Boko Haram are likely to break up in bitter theological disputes a lot quicker than that.

Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries.

Ponoka Capitol Theatre 4904 - 50th St. Ph. 403-783-3639

Invasive mussel species cause for concern Our first event of 2015 was our annual Awards and Fund Raising Banquet. The weather was good and we had a great turnout as we had an overflow crowd. The food was very good a usual. There was a good variety of our own Canadian products; thanks to our cooks who always do an outstanding job. Keep that up and we will put you on regular.

There were lots of silent auction items to bid on and we had a strong competition among the bidders - good to see. The animal race was very close this year. There was lots of cheering for the different racers. The fund raising was very good and we have some projects we will be working on this summer, so the proceeds will help us do improvements at the club.

The Alberta Fish and Game Conference was held in Lethbridge Feb. 19 -21. Based on our membership of over 840, our club was eligible to send as many as 8 voting delegates this year. We sent four delegates: the current President and three past Presidents who are still active members and current executives.

There were many different concerns discussed about our fish and big game in Alberta. One of the concerns was about invasive species of mussels that are coming across our border into Alberta. There are wash stations being set up at border crossings so any one coming into Alberta with any kind of equipment that might

have been in contact with these species must clean and wash their equipment before they are allowed to enter Alberta.

The number of grizzly bears is estimated at about 1000 in Alberta. The do not increase very fast as the females only breed about every three years. The elk population is increasing quite fast in parts of Alberta where they have been established for quite a while.

Some places are having problems with predators, such as wolves and cougars that can be hard on elk and deer population.

Looks like the snow is going pretty quick now. There was very little snow from Olds to Lethbridge when we went to the conference, which was nice as the roads were clear.

I read an article recently about elk that were transplanted from Banff and a couple of the western states to Kentucky a few years ago - they now figure they have at least 10,000 elk there. Looks like they have adapted to that country real well.

We will be starting archery and trap season very soon, so check with someone pretty soon and come out and have a go at tuning up your skills after winter.

See you soon.

Robert Greene Publicity Chairman

“PIE & A PINT” St. Patricks Day Tuesday, March 17th at the Ponoka Legion from 11:30 am - 7:00 pm

March 13 - 19

PLAYING

Join us for green beer, mulligan stew or chicken Joi Jo pot pie & more typical Irish home cooking!

SCREEN #1

y Entertainment by Hugh Kelly

Focus 105 min 2:00 PM Sat & Sun 8:00 PM Daily Rated 14A

SCREEN #2

Kingsmen

Faith and begorrah, the Leprechans will be waiting!

Ponoka Drop-In Activities 5015 – 46 Avenue

129 min 2:00 PM Sat & Sun 7:00 PM Daily Rated 14A

Mar 15 - Gospel Concert 7:00pm. Featured singer - Michael W. Prusak plus Elvis Gospel Tributes by Al Muir & New Song Band Mar 27 - Potluck 5:30pm. Bring a dish to share, table service and enjoy good company Regular Jam Session every Saturday at 1:00pm

Releasing Friday March 20

Pickleball cancelled until spring. Watch for announcement of start up.

Billiards - Weekdays 1:00pm. Mon through Sat – 50 cents per game. Honour system Monday Bridge 1:00pm Monday Whist - 1:30pm Monday Yoga - 6:30pm NEW PROGRAM Tuesday Canasta - 1:00pm NEW PROGRAM Tuesday & Thursday Exercise class 9:30am Tuesday Shuffleboard - 7pm.

Wednesday Sewing Guild 9:30am to 4pm Wednesday Cribbage 1:00pm Wednesday Yoga - 6:30pm NEW PROGRAM Wednesday Duplicate Bridge 7:00pm Thursday Floor Curling - 1:00pm.

Thursday Weaving 1:00pm Welcome to drop-in to see how it’s done Thursday Bridge 1:00pm Thursday Art Club Drop In Noon to 4pm Friday “500” 1:00pm Saturday Yoga 9:30am NEW PROGRAM

HOME Rated G

AGES 1264 $9.00 AGES 211 & SENIORS $7.00 TUESDAYS & MATINEES $6.00 3D $3 EXTRA

PONOKA ART CLUB CLASSES 21 Mar Watercolor Landscapes - Frank Haddock 28 Mar Oils - Grant Ursuliak Classes held at Drop In Centre - 10am - 4 pm Cost $25.00 paid at class Contact Lyla Lang Langford 403-783-1887 or Bernice Edwards 403-783-6858

Memberships available for 2015 - $10.00 per person. To rent our facility contact Dorothy @ 403-783-3027 or George @ 403783- 3514 or leave a message @ 403-783-5012. Rentals are increasing and we would like to invite our town administration, business groups, and general public (Wedding, funeral, and Birthday groups), to inquire about rentals services and prices early in their planning. We may fit your bill!

24 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Sports

16 junior basketball teams battle it out in league championships

BY PONOKA NEWS STAFF

Basketball teams in the Wolf Creek league battled it out Friday, March 6 to Saturday, March 7 to take on winners in the CWAJHAA league from the week before.

Games were played both days at the Ponoka Secondary Campus gym with eight boys and eight girls teams, explained coordinator Adam Troitsky.

The purpose of this tournament is to determine who the top team in the league was for

boys and girls. The east schools never play the west schools during the regular season, so this is our playoff, explained Troitsky, who doubles and the coach for the Mecca Glen girls.

Girls’ results: Mecca Glen defeated Bluffton in the final and Rimbey defeated Father Lacombe in the bronze game.

Boys’ Results: Father Lacombe defeated Lacombe Junior High in the final and

Lacombe Christian defeated St. Augustine in the bronze game.

CWAJHAA teams face off in finals For the CWAJHAA teams, qualifiers were held Feb. 27 and 28 and this weekend the winners from that tournament will represent Wolf Creek Friday, March 13 and March 14.

Bluffton and Mecca Glen girls will represent Wolf Creek at 1J girls CWAJHAA in Rocky Mountain House.

Father Lacombe, Bentley and Mecca Glen will represent Wolf Creek at 1J boys CWAJHAA in Bentley.

Rimbey, Lacombe Christian and Ponoka Secondary Campus junior teams will represent Wolf Creek at 2J girls CWAJHAA at David Thompson Secondary School.

Lacombe Christian, St. Augustine and Rimbey will represent Wolf Creek at 2J boys CWAJHAA at St. Augustine Catholic School.

Broncs girls advance to next round of basketball playoffs

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

The senior girls’ Broncs basketball team was firing on all cylinders last week defeating the Sylvan Lake Lakers 43-18.

They played against the Lakers at home Wednesday, March 4 during league playoffs and the girls showed just how much they wanted the win.

They didn’t let up the pressure on the full court press, which helped create forced errors giving the Broncs possession of the ball.

“The defense in the first half was very good,” said coach Adam Troitsky.

He feels the Broncs had a tough time finding a hole in the Lakers’ zone defense, but they managed to sink baskets despite that.

Their persistence was so strong that by the end of the third quarter the score was 35-9. The Lakers managed a big three-point shot

just at the end of the buzzer. However, that wasn’t enough for the beleaguered Lakers to manage a win.

“I was appreciative that we came out hard in the beginning,” said Troitsky.

He recalled the recent game against Wetaskiwin where the Broncs knew it was going to be a challenge. “We knew something was on the line tonight, too and we didn’t play afraid,” he explained.

The next round of playoffs was against Camrose Monday, March 9.

Troitsky said they lost to Camrose by nine points in league play and he knew it was going to be a tough game considering they had come to watch the Broncs and Lakers playoff game.

Senior girls lost to Camrose 50-39 on Monday night, March 9.

Nathaniel Padilla, of the St. Augustine Kings junior basketball team reaches for a layup Friday, March 6 during the Wolf Creek Championships basketball tournament at Ponoka Secondary Campus. St. Augustine lost in the bronze medal game.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

Buccaneers off-season update SUBMITTED BY TODD LEWIS

Lindsey Gartner, with the senior girls Broncs basketball team, takes a shot Wednesday, March 4 against the Sylvan Lake Lakers. The Broncs won 43-18.

Ponoka Office: 403-783-3315 Bashaw Office (Tues): 780-372-3627 Wetaskiwin Office (Mon & Thurs): 780-352-6488

SERVICES OFFERED • Personal & Corporate Income Tax Planning • Tax Return Preparation • Accounting & Audit Services• Estate Planning • Business Advisory Service• Government Program Assistance

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

In preparation for the 2015 season, the Central Alberta Buccaneers have been busy practicing indoors as well as participating in numerous community events.

Over February and March, the team has gathered for indoor skills and drills sessions in preparation for approaching season. The Bucs coaching staff has been pleased with the strong turnout of new and returning players. “It’s great to get together with the guys and shake off the rust before season begins” explained a veteran Buc in between drills. While the team is practicing without full-contact equipment (pads and helmets), time spent on the gym floor is essential for regular season preparation.

In addition to indoor practice, the team has organized group workouts

at their sponsor gym, Body Basics, in Red Deer.

Each Saturday, rookie and veteran players exercise according to football-specific weight programs. When asked about his training, Stettler native, Kale Volker, said “it’s gone great. With our workout programs, I’ve dropped twenty pounds and am way faster.” As an outside linebacker, this enhanced fitness will surely play dividends to the Bucs 2014 Special Teams MVP’s performance this season.

The Bucs have continued to strive for involvement within the community during the off-season. For February, the Buccaneers spearheaded the first annual AFL Blood Drive - a league-wide blood donation that included the involvement of four other rival teams. Twenty members of the Bucs Family donated on Feb. 7. continued on page 26

INTERESTED IN JOINING A SERVICE CLUB?

ons.ca i l a ok pon

PONOKA NEWS 25

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Lacoka Girls host Bantam provincials

BY AMELIA NAISMITH

Lacoka Warriors Bantam team defeated the Camrose Bantam Female team 3-1 in an away game on March 7.

Meg Crawford, Paige Poison, and Jaymee Klinger each scored once.

The following day the girls fought their way to a shutout when they beat Camrose 3-0.

Zoe Lorenz-Boser, Jaymee Klinger and Kelli- Rai Sieben each scored in periods one, two and three, respectively.

The Warriors are also set to host Alberta Hockey Provincials in Lacombe, March 12 to 15.

Lacoka Peewee Female team narrowly lost to the Warburg Wolves in a March 4 playoff game with a 2-1 result.

Cassandra Klinger scored the teamís only goal, in the third period.

The following day the team managed to only score once, losing to Warburg 7-1.

Kirsten Krzywy earned the teamís sole goal.

Maskwacis Peewee Female Hawks faced an 8-0 shutout when the team was defeated on March 7 by Camrose.

Lacoka Midget Female team lost 5-3 to the Camrose Midget female team in an away game on March 7.

Danica Poison, Lindsay Jansen and Abby Sim each scored once.

The following day the girls were shutout by Camrose, 2-0.

Ponoka Quality Paint/McDonalds Atom tier 2 team dominated the Red Deer Phone Experts in a Saturday, March 7 playoff game, held in Red Deer. Ponoka came out on top with a 7-4 win.

Josh David earned himself a hat trick and Luke Simanton, Kael Street, Braedan Broullette and Wyatt Avery all scored once.

The next day the team narrowly won a playoff home game agaisnt Red Deer Motors 4-3.

Adam Hoag, Austin Griffiths, Kael Street and Luke Simanton all scored once each.

Ponoka Calnash Trucking Atom tier 5 team beat the Sylvan Lake Atom B2 Lakers in a playoff home game 5-4 on Friday, March 6.

Kevin Krammer brought home two goals and Trace Tonneson scored twice.

Maskwacis Peewee A Hawks tier 1 team doubled its opponent’s score in an 8-4 playoff win against the Red Deer Elite Sportswear, held in Red Deer on Sunday March 8.

Ethan Smallboy scored the team’s first goal as well as the

Putting on the pressure: Lacoka Bantam Warriors player Kelli Rai Sieben puts the pressure on Sunday, March 8 during playoffs against the Camrose Bantam girls. The Warriors won the series and advance to finals, which will be played after provincials. The Warriors host provincials this weekend in Lacombe March 12 to 15.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

first point of the game, on a power play. He went on to score twice more. Anika Deschamps, Rielly Mackinaw, Jason Jr. Mackinaw, Kaedin Larocque-Wolfe and Rhodes Buffalo all scored once each.

The team also won its game the following day with a doubled score, beating the Lacombe Peewee A Rockets 2-1 in a home game.

Kaedin Larocque-Wolfe scored in the second period and Naslund Ermineskin earned a point in the final period.

Ponoka Peewee Elks Peewee tier 3 team narrowly lost a playoff home game to the Bashaw Peewee Stars, 9-8 on March 7.

Joel Hollingswoth scored five times, while Levi Busat, Braeden Toporowski and Cyle Laing each scored once.

The following day the team once again lost by one to the Bashaw Stars, 8-7.

Joel Hollingsworth, Connor Hoag, Cyle Laing, Levi Busat, Colter Bresee, Jake Simanton and Braeden Toporows-

ki each scored once.

Maskwacis Peewee B Hawks tier 5 team was defeated 9-3 by the Sylvan Lake Peewee B1 Lakers in an away game, Thursday March 5.

Pierce Cutarm scored twice and Carter Wildcat brought the number to three.

Maskwacis Peewee C Hawks tier 5 soundly defeated the Eckville Peewee B Eagles 13-3 in a March 8 home game.

Cole Brown and Elias Morin both scored five times; Tashawn Samson, Tyson Ward and Xavier Browm each scored once.

Maskwacis Midget B Hawks tier 4 team was beaten by the Stettler Midget C team, 9-4 in a home game on March 6.

Triston Rattlesnake scored twice while Daniel Mackinaw and Taylor Bull both scored once.

The team lost again to Stettler the following day, 11-5.

Triston Rattlesnake earned a hat trick and Larenz Saddleback scored twice.

True Spirit of Hockey Day to be hosted at Ponoka Elementary School Hockey Alberta and Tundra Process Solution Ltd. Have announced that in collaboration with the Ponoka Minor Hockey Association and Ponoka Elementary School, a True Spirit of Hockey Day will be marked in Ponoka on Friday, March 13.

According to a press statement, the event is being held in conjunction with the 2015 Hockey Alberta Provincial Championships.

Ponoka is hosting the championship tournament for the Midget B division.

On Friday, March 13, a number of fun activities, allowing students to learn about hockey and teamwork will be hosted at the school.

The press release says the goal of the day’s activi-

ties is to celebrate a shared love for hockey and the community that supports the sport, help Alberta’s students to learn more

about hockey, create excitement around hockey in schools, and highlight playing opportunities available to students in each commu-

nity.

The Midget B provincial championship will be held in Ponoka March 1922.

PONOKA T TIM HORTON HORTON’S S MITE

abl e u l a V T S O M

E LAYER OF TH

EAR

CONGRATULATIONS Lucas Busat

Voted MVP of the season by his Mite teammates. Lucas has been working very hard every practice and on his rink at home. With over 50 goals this season he has been a key part to the fantastic season the Ponoka Mites have had this year. Keep up the hard work and good luck next year in Novice.

Sponsored by Busat Enterprises Ltd

26 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Curlers show off their finest costumes at women’s bonspiel

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Running almost at full sprint to catch up to the rock, sweepers (L and R) Melodie Wood and Jennifer Bartley try to keep up in their fancy costumes as Jesse Gad watches on Saturday, March 7 in Ponoka.

One of the fun parts of the women’s bonspiel is the costumes teams wear and the camaraderie created because of the event.

The Ponoka Curling Club’s women’s bonspiel was help Saturday, March 7 with six rinks taking part in the fun day, explained organizer Tamara Huzar. “We do it for the fun. We do it to get out and be in the community.”

She says there were door prizes and cash prizes for the top teams. While the number of rinks competing was relatively small, she says the bonspiel has always been a good experience.

Teams dressed up in creative costumes to add some levity to the day. Huzar was pleased to see a new team join the ranks of the women’s league.

“We have a brand new team … young blood out there having a great time,” she explained.

Getting involved is something Huzar recommends to anyone who is interested.

The league usually plays Tuesday nights and Huzar feels it is an ideal sport to learn while still having a strong social aspect to it.

“Anyone can take up curling at whatever age. From seven to 70,” explained Huzar.

She says more experienced players still have the opportunity to be competitive if they desire. “The bonspiel you play for the fun and the kinship and the good time to follow.”

The women’s league held their windup Tuesday night, March 10 as Ponoka News went to press.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

Ponoka Community Golf Club E S T. 1 9 3 6

Pro Shop: 403-783-4626

www.ponokagolf.com I email: rob@ponokagolf.com

REMINDER: Deadline for early pay memberships is April 1

TIPS FROM THE GOLF GUYS Rob MacPherson & Ryan Moore After a long winter do yourself and your golf swing a favour by doing these stretches at least 3 days a week. Benefits of preseason stretching is to increase flexibility which will help you pick up club head speed and translate into more distance. Another benefit to preseason stretching, it will help eliminate early season injuries as we all tend to “over do it” first few times out.

Ponoka’s medal winners in 5-pin bowling at 55 Plus Games: (Left to right) Sylvia Hitchcock, Bronze in the 65+ Ladies Singles; Frieda Hoffmann, Gold in 70+Ladies Singles; Linda Seitz, Gold in the 55+ Ladies Singles, and Eric Andersen, Gold in the 55+ Men’s Singles. Zone 4, which covers Ponoka area, ended up with 16 medals, including seven gold at the recent games in Lethbridge.

Buccaneers off-season update

Get our new Golf Club app at the App Store and Google Play

continued from page 24 The ladies at Red Deer Blood Services were professional and, to the relief of some of the first-time donors, were gentle while taking the Buc-blood. The team’s next donation is scheduled for early April. Any who are interested in donating with the Bucs are encouraged to contact the team via its website, www.cabucs.com, or through social media.

On Feb. 27, the Buccaneers entered a team into the Ponoka Big Brothers Big Sisters “Bowl for Kids’ Sake” fundraiser. It was the team’s fourth year in row entering the fundraiser and, to no one’s surprise, the Bucs’ bowling skills still hadn’t improved.

However, despite demonstrating some questionable bowling skills, they were still able to raise over $600 for BBBS. Later this month, the Bucs are hosting their official AGM and information night.

On March 21, any interested players and volunteers are encouraged to come to the Red Deer Lodge at 7 p.m. in order to find out all info pertinent to the Buccaneers 2015 season. The team’s executive will discuss logistics – schedule, fees, locations, etc – and the coaching staff will explain team philosophy, values, and goals. Any who are interested in becoming a Buc (as a player or volunteer) are more than welcome to attend.

PONOKA NEWS 27

Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2015

REACH OVER 217,000 READERS With one of these great deals!

6 PACK 8 PACK

Announcements

What’s Happening

50-70

County

CLASSIFIEDS CALL TOLL FREE:

ADPACK ALL IN 1

Employment

700-920

5019A Chipman Ave. Box 4217 Ponoka, AB T4J 1R6

Services Directory

1010-1430

Items Buy/Sell

1-877-223-3311

Agriculture

150-194

2010-2210

FAX: 403-783-6300

announcements

Rental & Real Estate

5010-5240

What’s Happening #50 - # 70

SCHLINES Elma Francis May 5, 1918 February 26, 2015 Elma was born May 5, 1918 in Lacombe to Ruth and Otto Schlines. She was the only child and grew up on the family farm in the Turville area. The Veevers girls, Alice Hand and Rose Winslow, were neighbors and lifetime friends. Elma moved to Ponoka in 1967 and lived with Uncle John P e n n i n g ton. She was subsequently employed at the Alberta Hospital Ponoka until her retirement. She was predeceased by her parents, and friend Alice Hand (2012). She is survived by Rose Winslow and her Ponoka friends. Elma chose to have no funeral or service and these wishes have been respected.

Arts & Crafts Shows ..................50 Class Registrations....................51 Coming Events ..........................52 Lost ............................................54 Found ........................................56 Companions ..............................58 Personals...................................60 Bingos........................................64 Fitness & Sports ........................66 Happy Ads .................................70

deWit The family of Lillian (Gene) deWit would like to express heartfelt thanks to F.C.S.S., Home Care and Rimoka Staff. To Dr. Chan and the staff on Acute for the excellent care Mom received. To Reverend Schirner for the lovely service, the Anglican Church Ladies for providing lunch. To Sheila and Marlon for all your help with the final arrangements. Also thank you for the donations in Mom’s name.

In Memoriam

Coming Events

BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS

Mentors make a

difference 403-783-3112

GAIL HOLBEN Feb. 26, 1945 - Mar. 11, 2014

Meetings

1.877.223.3311

Reached a Milestone?

Celebrate it!

Cherish it!

Share it!

1-877-223-3311

59

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Monday night meetings at the Anglican Church Ponoka 8:30 p.m. Phone 403-783-0719 for info.

THURSDAY AA Meetings at 8:30 p.m. in the Catholic Church basement.

52 Street & 52 Ave. Ponoka.

403-783-4347 403-783-3442

52

Just had a baby?

Tell everyone with a Milestone Announcement

Forever gone Never forgotten Fred and Family

6010

Meetings

William “Bill” Baron Bill Baron was born on September 6, 1929 in Stony Plain, Alberta to parents Anna and Adam Baron and passed away on February 28, 2015 at the Rimbey Hospital and Care Center at the age of 85 years. William “Bill” Baron is survived by his wife Elizabeth and five sons; Danny (Bev) Baron and daughter Breanne (Jerry) Dhaliwal (grandchildren Soraya, Kaelan and Kiara) and son Jeremy; Dwayne (Janice) Baron and children Justin (Jolene), Adam, Kayla (Kory); Greg (Dalene) Baron and son Connor; Mark (Dana) Baron children, Andrew, Jesse, Lexi, and Trevor; Lionel (Charmen) Baron and children Shayna, Bryan and Kameryne. Bill was predeceased by his parents; his grandson Gavin Dale Baron; his brothers Val, Otto and George and his sisters Bertha McDonald and Olga Seely.

A Funeral Service was held on Friday, March 6 at 11:00 a.m. at the Peter Lougheed Center in Rimbey, Alberta with Pastor Mark Schultz officiating. Interment followed at the Forest Home Cemetery in Ponoka, Alberta.

Donations in Bill’s name are gratefully accepted to The Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center Drive, St. Louis, MO 63141. To express condolences to Bill’s family, please visit www.womboldfuneralhomes.com Arrangements Entrusted To PONOKA FUNERAL HOME ~ A Wombold Family Funeral Home ~ 403.783.3122

Public Notice

EMAIL: classifieds@ponokanews.com

Card Of Thanks

Obituaries

Vehicles

3000-4310

59

Ponoka Wheelchair Van Society

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Monday, March 23 at 7:00 pm

Senior Drop In Centre Everyone Welcome!

AL-ANON WEEKLY MEETING FOR FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF ALCOHOLICS. Tuesdays 8 p.m.

Neighborhood Place 5110 - 49 Ave., Ponoka For more info 403-783-4557

ALATEEN

Weekly meetings Tuesdays @ 8 p.m.

Neighborhood Place 5110 - 49 Ave. Ponoka For more info.

403-783-4557 or 403-783-8371

Employment #700 - #920 Caregivers/Aides................710 Clerical ..............................720 Computer Personnel ..........730 Dental ................................740 Estheticians........................750 Hair Stylists ........................760 Janitorial ............................770 Legal ..................................780 Medical ..............................790 Oilfield ................................800 Professionals......................810 Restaurant/Hotel ................820 Sales & Distributors ..........830 Teachers/Tutors..................840 Trades ................................850 Truckers/Drivers ................860 Business Opportunities......870 Miscellaneous ....................880 Volunteers Wanted ............890 Positions Wanted ..............895 Employment Training ........900 Career Planning ................920

Farm Work

755

DAIRY Herdsperson required for fulltime permanent position on dairy farm near Bashaw Alberta. Duties include monitoring cattle health, balance feed rations, artificial insemination, general farm duties as milking and feeding. Experience required 1-2 yrs min. as herd manager. Post secondary agriculture diploma.

Wages start at $25.00 per hour. Please apply by email to Henk Oosterink RR # 1, Bashaw, T0B0H0 evalleydairy@xplornet.ca Start your career!

See Help Wanted

FAMILY dairy, grain, beef farm looking for a motivated full time worker.

Must be reliable and able to work long hours during season. Duties incl’d. manage & handle cattle, robot milking system, fieldwork. Housing avail.

Wages based on exp.

403-783-8740 email; stammcanada@gmail.com West of Ponoka, AB.

28 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2015

AG EQUIPMENT

Medical

790

Restaurant/ Hotel

820

Restaurant/ Hotel

820

Truckers/ Drivers

860

Misc.

Help

880

Misc.

Help

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION is an in-demand career in Canada! Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get the online training you need from an employer-trusted program.

Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-888-528-0809 to start training for your work-athome career today!

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880

CAMERON Bay Holdings ROADEX SERVICES INTERESTED IN the Inc. o/a McDonalds’s in requires O/O \’9f tons, 1 Community Newspaper Ponoka and Red Deer tons and 3 tons for our RV business? Alberta’s weekly STA M P E D E (Gasoline Alley East and division and O/O Semis newspapers are looking West) is now hiring full and drivers for our RV and for people like you. Post time and part time Food general freight deck your resume online. FREE. THE RUSTY PELICAN is Service Supervisors. division. Paid by direct Visit: awna.com/ now accepting resumes for Wages are between deposit, benefits and for-job-seekers.

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LINE COOKS at depending upon experiBorder crossing required all stations. MUST HAVE: ence and qualifications. with valid passport and is Employment Candidates must be able clean criminal record.

Training to work a variety of shifts • 2 yrs. relevant exp., 1-800-867-6233; now completion of High www.roadexservices.com. and have 3 to 5 years preMEDICAL TRAINEES School, be reliable, vious experience. Must be INTERIOR HEAVY needed now! Hospitals & self motivated, work able to supervisor up to 20 EQUIPMENT Operator doctor’s offices need well under limited Business crew.

Part-time applicaSchool.

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Canadians and Permanent Real world tasks. Weekly experience needed! We NEED TO ADVERTISE? start dates. Funding can get you trained! Local Residents. Apply in person Salary is $14 - $18./hr. 40 4419 Hwy 2A, Ponoka, Province wide classifi eds. options. Weekly job board! job placement assistance hr. wk. dependant on exp.

37479 Hwy 2, Red Deer, Reach over 1 million Sign up online! available when training is and 37428 Hwy 2, Red readers weekly. Only iheschool.com. completed. Call for 733644 Ab Ltd. Deer or email resume to $269. + GST (based on 25 1-866-399-3853. program details!

O/A The Rusty Pelican cbay22@telus.net or fax to words or less). Call this 1-888-627-0297.

403-783-4251. newspaper NOW for MEDICAL Location of employment: details or call TRANSCRIPTIONISTS 4105 2079 - 50 Ave. 1-800-282-6903 ext. 228. are in huge demand! Train Red Deer, AB T4R 1Z4 with the leading Medical SAWMILLS from only email: Transcription school. Learn $4,397. Make money & bennett2014.bkkp@ from home and work from save money with your own gmail.com home. Call today. bandmill. Cut lumber any or Call 403-347-1414 1-800-466-1535; dimension. In stock ready or Fax to: 403-347-1161 www.canscribe.com. to ship. Free info & dvd: Only candidates selected info@canscribe.com. www.Norwood for an interview will be Sawmills.com/400OT. contacted.

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400OT. THE DISABILITY Tax Trades Credit. $1,500 yearly tax credit. $15,000 lump sum REDHEAD EQUIPMENT refund (on average). currently has career Covers: hip/knee replaceopportunities available for ments, back conditions & qualified Equipment Clerical restrictions in walking and Business Services Service Technicians, Parts dressing 1-844-453-5372. #1000 - #1430 and Sales staff in our Saskatchewan locations. CLASSIFIED Want Ads do If you’re looking for a more things for more people Ponoka Office Classifieds...costs so little stable, long-term career, than any other form of visit www.redheadequip- advertising. Phone 1-877Saves you so much!

Position Available ment.ca and apply today! 223-3311 LOON RIVER First Nation, Part-time located 170 kilometres north of Slave Lake, Duties will include data entry, answering Trades Alberta, requires phones and light cleaning.

Community Health Registered Nurse for fullApplicant must have computer knowledge Our Wetaskiwin Distribution time permanent position beginning April 1, 2015. and a high standard of customer service.

Centre currently has the Graduation from Please drop resume off at accredited nursing school, following opportunity... current CARNA #2, 6000 – 48 Ave., Ponoka registration, immunization Attn: Kate certificate, three years experience in public or Application deadline March 16, 2015 community health nursing preferred. RAI assessment training considered asset.

Benefits, pension, Come be a part of the nations most visible and safest fleet in Medical business vehicle, Canada. subsidized accommodation available. Closing date: Home Hardware, a part of Canada for over 40 years and now March 13, 2015. Send cover letter, resume, with over 1,000 stores across Canada. We offer long term secure CARNA registration, Wetaskiwin Value Drug Mart is looking for a driver’s abstract, RCMP employment with competitive wages, bonuses, medical and dental Information Check and coverage, and a company pension.

Child Intervention Check to health@loonriver.ca Required Qualifications: Experience as a Pharmacy If you are interested in becoming part of the great team at Home Technician or certification from an accredited SURESPAN Power Ltd. Hardware, drop off an application to 6410 - 36 Street, Wetaskiwin or has an immediate opening Pharmacy Technician program; excellent for an onsite HSE organizational skills and detail orientation; strong email resume to: hrwetaskiwin@homehardware.ca Coordinator in Red Deer, communication skills; demonstrated customer AB. See our web site for service experience; strong motivation to succeed; full details & apply online. proficient computer/data/entry skills. We are a busy www.surespan.com

870

HIRING

900

P/T and

Al York

General Manager Cell: (403) 783-0593 Bus: (403) 843-3700

Rimbey, AB

Fax: (403) 843-3430

ANIMAL SERVICES

F/T

This paper is

cashiers

% 0 0 1 le Recyclab

Please drop

850

off resumes in person or fax

720

403-783-8273

850

PLUMBING

Truck / Trailer Mechanic

Afternoon Shift working 4 - 10 hr shifts.

790

Certified Pharmacy Technician

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

A & J AUTOMOTIVE A & J AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR 6701 - 46 Ave. 6701 46 Ave. Ponoka, AB - T4J 1J8 Ponoka, T4J 1J8 (403)AB783-8755 (403) 783-8755 Al Dickhaut Owner/Operator Al Dickhaut Owner/Operator

This space could be yours for $

30

PER WEEK

Call 403-783-3311

pharmacy and you will work in a highly efficient team environment that uses cutting edge technology to best serve their patients.

Please forward your resume to Wetaskiwin Value Drug Mart: 5215A-50 Ave., Wetaskiwin, AB T9A 0S7

wetaskiwin@valuedrugmart.com Coming Events

TELL it all! Tell it well! Make your ads sell for you by giving full description of goods or services offered. Include prices and terms. Phone 1-877-223-3311 for a friendly ad taker.

52

hrwetaskiwin@homehardware.ca Volunteers Wanted

The Crossing Resort Icefields Parkway 12345

The Spring Fling

Only $49.00 per person per night including breakfast, based on double occupancy! Affordable Mountain Getaways! Offer valid from April 17 through May 31, 2015. To qualify, room must be booked by April 30, 2015.

New Bookings Only

www.thecrossingresort.com

1-800-387-8103

890

Is someone at your local paper an exceptional community volunteer?

Nominate them for the 12345 George Meyer

LEADERSHIP AWARD

Visit www.awna.com/leadership-award for details & nomination form Nominations Close March 31, 2015

Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2015

Carpentry

1062

JOURNEYMAN CARPENTER FOR HIRE

Specializing in new home construction, home renos, decking, fencing.

Also commercial building & renos.

25 YRS EXPERIENCE

CALL GARY 403-704-3641 Misc.

Services

1290

PONOKA NEWS 29

Landscaping

1240

Legal Services

REFORESTATION NURSERY SEEDLINGS of hardy trees, shrubs, & berries for shelterbelts or landscaping. Full boxes as low as $0.99/tree. Free shipping. Replacement guarantee.

1-866-873-3846 or www.treetime.ca.

Misc.

Services

1290

Used appliances available

CRIMINAL RECORD? Think: Canadian pardon.

U.S. travel waiver.

Divorce? Simple. Fast.

Inexpensive. Debt recovery?

Alberta collection to $25,000. Calgary 403-228-1300/ 1-800-347-2540.

Misc.

Services

Refrigeration

Our Hostess will bring gifts and greetings, along with helpful community information.

and Appliance Service We deliver and install your purchases.

403-783-4880 Welding

1315

REFORM PARTY. Alberta’s new compassionate, socially and fiscally conservative party is looking for candidates for the upcoming Alberta Provincial election expected April 27. Call Party Leader Randy Thorsteinson 403-264-1105; www.reformalberta.com or facebook.com/ ReformAlberta.

1318

NEW TO YOUR CLINKERS COMMUNITY KENNELS ? * Quality Boarding for

Berni's

1410

1290

Personal Services

Pet Services

Six month warranty

Welding

1260

1410

Be sure to call

your dogs & cats *Proof of vaccinations and advance bookings required HOURS: Mon - Thurs 9 am - 12 Noon; 4 pm - 6 pm; Fri. 9 am - 12 Noon; 4 pm - 7 pm; Sat. 9 a.m. - 12 noon; Sun. 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. & 4 - 7 p.m.

403-783-6272

www.clinkerskennels.ca

Rental Misc

1350

Need RV or Self Storage?

Heather Goodwin 403-704-3647 heathermccg@shaw.ca

• B-PRESSURE • PIPELINE • OILFIELD • ASME Section VIII Division I VESSEL FABRICATION & PIPING • SHOP/PORTABLE • CNC PLASMA CUTTING • ALUMINUM • SHEARING & FORMING

Personal Services

1315

MAIN: (403) 783-7591 FAX: (403) 783-8178

GET BACK on track!

Bad credit? Bills?

Unemployed? Need money? We lend! If you own your own home you qualify.

Pioneer Acceptance Corp.

Member BBB. 1-877-987-1420; www.pioneerwest.com.

Website: www.harbinwelding.com E-mail: bharbin@telus.net

Buy & Sell #1500 - #1990 Aircraft ..............................1510 Antiques & Art ..................1520 Auctions ............................1530 Bicycles ............................1540 Building Supplies ..............1550 Business Machines ..........1560 Cameras & Accessories ..1570 Children’s Items ................1580 Clothing ............................1590 Computers ........................1600 Concert & Event Tickets ..1610 Equipment - Misc. ............1620 Equipment - Heavy ..........1630 Tools ................................1640 Farmers’ Market & Food Basket......................1650 Firewood ..........................1660 Lumber ............................1670 Garden Supplies ..............1680 Lawn Tractors ..................1690 Health, Dietary, Beauty ....1700 Household Appliances......1710 Household Furnishings ....1720 TV’s, Stereos, VCR’s ........1730 Hot Tubs & Accessories ..1740 Jewellery ..........................1750 Kid’s Deals........................1755 Misc. For Sale ..................1760 Musical Instruments..........1770 Music Lessons..................1780 Piano & Organs ................1790 Office Supplies ................1800 Pets & Supplies ................1810 Pet Services ....................1820 Cats ..................................1830 Dogs ................................1840 Sports Cards ....................1850 Sporting Goods ................1860 Collectors’ Items ..............1870 Swap, Barter & Trade ......1880 Travel Packages ..............1900 Wedding Supplies ............1910 Recycled Products............1920 Wanted to Buy ..................1930 Items to Give Away ..........1940

Auctions

8’ X 10’ mini storage units available for rent.

Also RV storage.

Secure compound.

Call Keith at

www.bigstrapperauctions.net

783-3636

1400

Misc.

Services

1290

Misc.

Services

1290

Squeezthee MOST out of your advertising dollars Place your ad in this newspaper and12345 province wide $ with a combined circulation of over 800,000 for only...

995

COLLECTIBLE AUCTION Sunday March 15, 10 a.m.

Bowden Lions Hall Bowden, AB Rifles, Vintage Knives, Coins, Stamps, Glassware, China, Commercial embroidery machines, Dolls, Vintage toys, Tools, Household misc.

Check web for pictures and full listing Pilgrim Auction Service 403-556-5531 pilgrimauction.com COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION. 5th Annual Edmonton Motor Show Collector Car Auction.

April 10-12. Edmonton Expo Centre. Over 80,000 spectators. Over 80% sold last year. Consign today.

1-888-296-0528 ext. 103; EGauctions.com.

COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION. 9th Annual Red Deer Speed Show & Collector Car Auction.

March 13 - 15, Westerner Park. Special Guests Rick & Kelly Dale - American Restoration. Dan & Laura Dotson - Storage Wars.

Consign today.

1-888-296-0528 ext. 103; egauctions.com.

EXECUTIVE BUNGALOW - 3842+/- sq. ft. on 33.98 title acres & 5.50 Acre Lot w/32, 440+/- sq. ft.

Commercial Industrial Buildings. Ritchie Bros.

Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, May 7, Getkate Property near Lethbridge, Alberta. Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; rbauction.com/realestate.

GRAVEL PROPERTY w/River Frontage, Spruce View, Alberta. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, April 29 in Edmonton. 148+/acres titled, 65+/- acres cult, gravel pit w/stock piles, North Raven River frontage, fenced, $4800 SLR. Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; rbauction.com/realestate.

MEIER SPRING Classic Car & Truck Auction.

Saturday & Sunday, May 2 & 3, 11 a.m. 6016 - 72A Ave., Edmonton. Consign today, call 780-440-1860.

Well Drilling

Well Drilling

1400

1400

RURAL WATER TREATMENT (Province Wide) Tell them Danny Hooper sent you

)RON &ILTERS s 3OFTENERS s $ISTILLERS s 2EVERSE /SMOSIS h+ONTINUOUS 3HOKv #HLORINATOR 0ATENTED 7HOLE (OUSE 2EVERSE /SMOSIS 3YSTEM

12345 7ITHIN MILES OF %DMONTON

7ATER 7ELL $RILLING 2ED $EER #ALGARY .EW 'OVERNMENT WATER WELL GRANT STARTS !PRIL

EASY!

1290

1530

MEIER GUN AUCTION. Saturday, March 21, 11 a.m., 6016 - 72A Ave., Edmonton. Handguns, rifles, shotguns, hunting and fishing equipment. To consign call 780-440-1860.

Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association toll free 1-800-282-6903 x228 email andrea@awna.com or visit this community newspaper

JAMES AVERY “Reasonable rates on all your plumbing needs�

Gas Fitting - Home Renovations - Drain Cleaning -24 HOUR SERVICE5306 - 60 ST, PONOKA, AB T4J 1K7 PH: (403) 783-6372 • FAX (403) 783-6345

BOBCAT SERVICES Sur-B Enterprises Ltd.

BOBCAT SERVICE • Snow Removal • Driveways & Parking Lots • Post-Hole Augering - 6, 9, 12, 15 • Corral Cleaning • Gradingor&Cell: Construction Call Jim Ashbough 403-783-2764 403-588-0599 Jack 403-783-5283 or Cell: 403-588-0597 Call JimSurbey Ashbough 783-2764 or Cell: 588-0599 Jack Surbey 783-5283 Cell: 588-0597

OVERHEAD DOORS

www.doorsondemand.ca

403-963-5000 Reaching 6000 households weekly

For just

$30 per week this space could be yours!

403-783-3311 BOTTLE DEPOT

PONOKA BOTTLE DEPOT Open Monday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm

")' )2/.

We Now Recycle Milk Cartons for Deposit

www.1800bigiron.com

3, 5520 Hwy 2A (Across from Husky)

403-783-6875

1760

SALES & SERVICE

WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR? ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

12345

plus GST/HST

Value Ad Network

SHANDALL PLUMBING LTD.

4IME 0AYMENT 0LAN / ! # FOR WATER WELLS AND WATER TREATMENT

View our 29 patented and patent pending inventions online at

Misc. for Sale

PLUMBING

Closed Sundays & Holidays

The easy way to find a buyer for items you want to sell is with a Classified want ad. Phone 1-877-2233311

Misc.

Services

1530

AUCTION Sales Wed. @ 6 pm.

Antique sales 1st. Sun. of the month @ 1 pm. Mar.1 Moose Hall 2 miles south of Ponoka on 2A WE BUY FOR CASH. 403-304-4791 Check website for full listings

First Call Towing

Unplanned pregnancy may be difďŹ cult to face.

Well We care. For conďŹ dential help call Drilling 403-343-1611 (24 hrs.)

Auctions

Customizable and secure. From storage to workspace.

Steel containers from 8' to 53'.

20' & 40' skids with optional 4' landings available. Mount with twist locks.

780 440 4037 | SEACAN.COM

Motorcycles & ATV’s Tues - Fri: 8:30 am-5:30 pm Saturday: 9 am-3 pm

403-783-5185 1-800-662-7135 Fax: 403-783-4635

30 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, Mar. 11, 2015

DENTISTRY

RIMBEYDENTALCARE DR. STEVE CALDER BS C DDS

Family Friendly Dentistry Box 1100 4905 50 St. Rimbey, AB T0C 2J0

Ph. (403) 843-2173 Fax: (403) 843-2607

DENTAL CARE BIRCHLAND DENTAL CLINIC PRACTICE OF DENTISTRY

4037835225 • 4037835235 5118 - 51 Ave., Ponoka, AB T4J 1R5

DR. HUGH PORTER • DR. RICK BARR • DR. JEFF BARR DR. GREG EDWARDS • DR. STELIAN LISMAN DR. DAVE CHORKWA

- General Dentistry - Orthodontics - Cosmetic Dentistry - Bonding - Veneers - Bleaching - White or Gold Fillings - Crown and Bridge - Implant Restorations “WE ENTHUSIASTICALLY WELCOME NEW PATIENTS”

EYE CARE

1530

Auctions

WHEATLAND AUCTIONS Spring Consignment Auction. April 18, 10 a.m. in Cheadle, Alberta. Farm Agricultural equipment, vehicles, heavy #2000 - #2290 equipment, RVs, etc.

Farm Equipment ..............2010 Consign now! Call Haying Equipment ............2020 403-669-1109; www. wheatlandauctions.com. Tractors ............................2030

Building Supplies

1550

METAL ROOFING & SIDING. 30+ colours available at over 40 Distributors. 40 year warranty. 48 hour Express Service available at select supporting Distributors.

Call 1-888-263-8254.

EquipmentMisc.

1620

A-STEEL SHIPPING Dry Storage Containers. Used 20’ & 40’ Seacans high cube & insulated containers 40’ HC. Winter Specials in stock now. Self unloading delivery. Phone toll free 1-866-528-7108; www.rtccontainer.com.

Firewood

1660

LOGS

Drs. Heimdahl, ZoBell & Kallal 403-783-5575 1-800-662-7168 WWW.4YOUREYESONLY.CA

-

•

5120-51ST AVE, PONOKA

ADVANCED EYE HEALTH & VISION EXAMS CONSULTATION & REFERRAL SERVICES DESIGNER EYE WEAR & CONTACT LENSES INSURED MEDICAL EYECARE SERVICES NOW AVAILABLE FOR ALL AGES

NEW PATIENTS ALWAYS WELCOME

OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday 8AM - 12:30PM • 1PM - 5PM

BOBCAT SERVICES

BRUCE’S BOBCAT Large & Small Jobs ANYTHING ANYT & EVER EVERYTHING

403-783-0663 HEATING

Livestock

Semi loads of pine, spruce, tamarack, poplar.

Price depends on location.

Lil Mule Logging 403-318-4346

AN EXCELLENT CHOICE WHERE YOUR AD REACHES RURAL READERS

CALL 1-877-223-3311 CLASSIFIEDS HOT-LINE Livestock

Combines & Headers ......2040 Fertilizer Equipment..........2050 Misc. Farm Machinery ......2060 Equipment Wanted ..........2070 Farm Custom Work ..........2080 Farm Auctions ..................2090 Livestock ..........................2100 Livestock - Exotic..............2110 Sheep ..............................2120 Poultry ..............................2130 Horses ..............................2140 Horse Boarding ................2150 Riding Supplies ................2160 Horse/Stock Trailers ........2170 Pasture Wanted ................2180 Grain, Feed, Hay ..............2190 Seed Grain ......................2200 Seeding & Tillage ............2210

Farm Equipment

2010

CALF WARMER

Robin Esau

Ph: 403-782-7722 Fax: 403-782-7499

BAR-DALE LIMOUSIN, ERSKINE, AB. 40, two year old virgin bulls for sale at the farm.

Fully guaranteed.

Call Carole Barclay at 403-742-4825, Terry 403-740-5037 Ricky 403-740-5711. email bardale@xplornet.com RED and black Angus bulls, semen tested and delivery can be arranged.

E & L Ranching in Bowden, Eric @ 403 391-2259. Evenings @ 403 224-2396 SHORTHORN bulls for sale, reds, roans and whites. Semen tested and delivery within 100 miles. www.prospecthillshorthorns.com Les & Shelley Peterson, 780-877-2444.

2130

Poultry

ORDER NOW For Pick Up on April 18, 24 or 25.

19 weeks old Isa Brown laying hens.

Linden, AB 403-546-3130

Best designed on the market, with 110 volt UL rated heater circulates hot air around calf. Head boot allows calf to breath fresh air when required and cow Horses can see calf. See video at smucker.net Call Dean VARIETY of horses, halter Ebbert 403-347-2797 broke and green broke, $800 and up 587-984-8704

2140

Livestock

2100

30 Bulls For Sale

Registered Yearlings

Black Angus Call Jim (780)

387-6050

REPUTATION Shorthorn yearling bulls, halter broken, quiet, reasonably priced. Call Jennifer 403-704-6121

2100

LLB Angus 29TH ANNUAL

BULL & FEMALE SALE MARCH 14, 2015

“Committed to your comfort”

2100

at the farm, Erskine, AB

Offering over 600 head of Quality Angus Cattle

Grain, Feed Hay

2190

2nd. CUT ROUND bales, Alfalfa Timothy Brome mix, $110/bale; 780-975-3313 FOR SALE: Alfalfas, Clovers, Grasses plus Hay, Pasture, Reclamation and Lawn Mixtures. Early order discount - Book now!

No charge custom blending. Call 1-800-661-1529 or esther@ hannasseeds.com.

HEATED CANOLA buying Green, Heated or Springthrashed Canola. Buying: oats, barley, wheat & peas for feed. Buying damaged or offgrade grain. “On Farm Pickup” Westcan Feed & Grain, 1-877-250-5252.

+

A Star Makes Your Ad A Winner!

CALL:

1-877-223-3311 To Place Your Ad Now!

+ Acreages/ Farms

HEATING & EAVESTROUGHING

For Rent #3000 - #3200

Acreages/Farms ..............3010 Houses/Duplexes ............3020 Condos/Townhouses........3030 Manufactured Homes ......3040 Four Plexes/Six Plexes ....3050 Suites ..............................3060 Cottages/Seasonal ..........3070 Roommates Wanted ........3080 Rooms for Rent................3090 Motels/Hotels ..................3100 Offices ..............................3110 Stores/Commercial ..........3120 Industrial ..........................3130 Warehouse Space............3140 Garage Space..................3150 Storage Space ................3160 Land ................................3170 Pasture ............................3180 Mobile Lot ........................3190 Misc. for Rent ..................3200

Wanted to Rent #3250 - #3390

Acreages/Farms ..............3255 Houses/Duplexes ............3260 Suites ..............................3270 Rooms..............................3280 Manufactured Homes ......3290 Housesitting Wanted ........3300 Garage Space..................3310 Storage Space ................3320 Stores/Commercial ..........3330 Office Space ....................3340 Industrial ..........................3350 Warehouse Space............3360 Resorts & Cottages..........3370 Pasture/Land....................3380 Mobile Lot ........................3390

Houses/ Duplexes

3020

4 BDRM. house, Ponoka on quiet cul-de-sac, fully fenced yard, det. single garage, fresh paint, new blinds, 5 newer appliance, ceiling fans in every room, fully dev. bsmt., 3 1/2 baths, absolutely NO Pets or smokers. $1500. rent/sd., tenant pays all utilities. Min. 12 months lease. Avail. immediately.

403-619-5758

4 Plexes/ 6 Plexes

3050

3 BEDROOM IN 4-PLEX, IN PONOKA. 4 appliances. Close to swimming pool & seniors drop-in Centre, no pets, mature tenants only 403-783-5493

3060

Suites

Basement suite for rent, close to downtown Ponoka. C/W fridge, stove, microwave, washer and dryer. Non-smoking, no pets. $700.00/mo + $150.00/mo for utilities, $700.00 DD. Ph. 403-783-6009

3010

BEAUTIFUL LOCATION!

Canada’s Largest Angus Production Sale

robin@KlesAir.com www.KlesMechanical.com

Advertise your business in the Business Directory!

250 Black & Red Angus Bulls • 150 yearling bulls • 100 two-year-old bulls 375 replacement heifers • 100 purebred yearling heifers • 250 commercial Black & BWF heifers • 25 commercial bred Black & BWF heifers LEE, LAURA & JACKIE BROWN TRISH & TIM HENDERSON Box 217, Erskine, Alberta T0C 1G0 Phone: 403-742-4226 Fax: 403-742-2962 llbangus@xplornet.com catalogue online www.llbangus.com

Commercial - Residential Installations - Repair

3912 - 66 St, Ponoka www.wcmltd.ca

403.783.3501 wcmltd@telus.net

ROOFING

ROY’S ROOFING & SIDING • RooÀng • Siding • SofÀt • Fascia • Windows • Sheds

403-740-6081 VETERINARY SERVICES

Bovine Veterinary Services On-Farm Mobile Veterinary Services Ultrasound-aided ReproducƟve Programs CETA CerƟĮed Dairy and Beef Embryo Transfer Herd Health

Phone 403-391-1684 ʹͶ

Dr. Bruce Wine

TREE MULCHING Hillbilly Tree Mulching Ltd. • FENCE LINES • CUT LINES • POWER LINES • PIPELINES • BRUSH & BUSH • STUMPS MULCHING TO SUIT ALL NEEDS

Doug Casey

Can do trees up to 15” wide

1.403.318.0498 1.403.358.0452

VETERINARY SERVICES

Southwest Industrial Park 4102-64 St., Ponoka 403-783-5200 8 a.m. - 5 p.m Mon. to Sat. • Open late Thursday 24-hour Emergency Call Dr. Bill Frischke • Dr. Kelly Loree • Dr. Leighton Coma Dr. Trevor Hook • Dr. Jasmine Hardy

$

389,900

• Walkout 1068 sq ft bungalow on 12.83 acres ½ mile off Hwy 795 • 3 bdrm, 2 bath, open concept with vaulted ceilings • New carpet in main floor bdrms • Wood burning fireplace, cold room, 20' x 12' deck off dining area

• 32' x 24' triple garage, 12' x 10' shed, 40' x 30' horse barn, 8' x 12' storage shed • Well pump was changed in 2013.

• Acreage is mainly fenced and backs onto ravine

Call Daryl Abram or Harry Pederson Royal LePage Gateway Realty Leduc Office: #5, 5110-50 St Office: (780) 986-8407 | dabram@royallepage.ca “I am NEVER too busy for your referrals”

Reaching 6000 households weekly

For just

$30 per week this space could be yours!

403-783-3311

PONOKA NEWS 31

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

VETERINARY SERVICES

Ponoka Veterinary Clinic Dr. Murray Jacobson Dr. Clayton West Dr. Ashley Shannon

Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 5 pm Sat. 9 am - 4:30 pm

24 Hr. Emergency 403-783-4348

5502 - Hwy 2A Ponoka, AB

T4J 1M1

THIS SPACE COULD BE YOURS FOR

$30

PER WEEK.

CALL 4037833311 PLUMBING

PONOKA PLUMBING & HEATING • JOURNEYMAN PLUMBER REQUIRED We now carry a complete line of Ritchie Stockwater parts 5110 -50 Street Box 4414 Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1R7

Hours of Business: Monday - Friday 7:30 8:00 am - 5 pm

JESSE ZINTER Office - 403-783-5489

3060

Suites

AVAILABLE APRIL 1 Large 2 bdrm suite on main floor Close to downtown $800/mnth $800 D.D. plus utilities, N/S,N/P 403-341-9707

CHOOSE FROM 8 Brand

site at www. unitedhomescanada.com.

PONOKA 1 bdrm. clean quiet adult building, no pets $735/mo. plus power avail., heat/water incld.

Feb. 1, 403-348-6594

Businesses For Sale

* RIVERSIDE APTS. *

GLASS business in Central AB. $380,000 in sales in 2014. Includes all stock/vehicles, franchise.

5 yrs. established.

403-783-1020 for info

Newly renovated 1 & 2 bedroom units in Ponoka: 3724-45 Street.

403-357-0287

AVAILABLE APRIL 1 Bachelor suite $600/month Utilities included 403-790-6011

Pasture

PASTURE FOR RENT at Alder Flats. Holds 25 head per month. Cross fenced with dugouts for water.

403-652-0327.

• Install & Service Pumps • Shock Wells • Pressure Systems Serviced & Installed Home: (403) 783-3712 Cell: (403) 704-3413

Advertise your business in the Business Directory!

STEEL BUILDINGS/METAL BUILDINGS 60% off!

20x28, 30x40, 40x62, 45x90, 50x120, 60x150, 80x100, sell for balance owed! Call 1-800-457-2206; www. crownsteelbuildings.ca.

Automotive Services ........5010 Antique & Classic Autos ....5020 Cars ..................................5030 SUV’s................................5040 Trucks ..............................5050 Heavy Trucks....................5060 Vans/Buses ......................5070 Motorcycles ......................5080 Campers ..........................5090 Motorhomes......................5100 5th Wheels........................5110 Holiday Trailers ................5120 Tent Trailers ......................5130 Utility Trailers ....................5140 ATV’s ................................5150 Boats & Marine ................5160 Snowmobiles ....................5170 Tires, Parts & Accessories ......................5180 Auto Wreckers ..................5190 Vehicles Wanted ..............5200 Car/Truck Rental ..............5210 Recreational Vehicle Rental ..............................5220 Trailer Rental ....................5230 Misc. Automotive ..............5240 RV’s ..................................5300

Heavy Trucks

Financial #4400 - #4430

5060

1997 FREIGHTLINER single-axle, water truck, Allison automatic and 1996 International 4900 singleaxle septic truck, 27K in recent upgrades. Both trucks in excellent condition. $28,500 each or best offer. 780-690-2506

Misc.

Automotive

Money To Loan Real Estate #4000 - #4190

Public Notices

WATER WELL SERVICE

Water Well Service

4150

Transportation #5000-5300

5240

FREE SCRAP and truck removal including farm machinery. We pay cash at our yard.

1-780-914-7560; www.sturgeonbusparts.ca.

Investments ......................4410 Money Wanted ................4420 Money to Loan ................4430

Darcy Schmidt Ph: (403) 783-2220 Fax: (403) 783-8828

ECKLUND

Buildings For Sale

4140

3180

Darcy’s Drilling Services

Email: darcysdrillingservices@hotmail.com

BRAND NEW, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 1520 sq. ft. manufactured home in Ponoka! Only $173,885!

Immediate possession available. Toll Free 855.463.0084, online at www.jandelhomes.com or email us at sales@jandelhomes.com

New Triple M 20x76 2 BDRM in kitchen special spec PONOKA incld’s manufactured homes util’s, washer/dryer, starting at $138,500 and no pets, non partier, save over $5000! For more information call United N/S. Working tenant Homes Canada only. 403-704-1645 1-800-461-7632 or visit our

WATER WELL DRILLING SERVICES

• water wells drilled & serviced • new pump & pressure system installations • all types of pump repairs • well shocking

4090

Manufactured Homes

4430

DO YOU NEED to borrow money - Now? If you own a home or real estate, Alpine Credits will lend you money - It’s that simple. 1-877-486-2161.

Public Notice #6000

Public Notices ..................6010 Special Features ..............6050

6010 FARM LAND FOR SALE BY TENDER

The following property located in Leduc County, Alberta is offered for sale by tender, subject to the restrictions on the existing title, namely:

1.

2.

3.

N 1/2 of SE 22-49-1 W5 (containing approximately 80 acres) S 1/2 of SE 22-49-1 W5 (containing approximately 80 acres) NW 23-49-1 W5 (containing approximately 160 acres)

12345

NORMAL ADJUSTMENTS APPLY ON CLOSING.

Further information can be provided by contacting Walter A. Moskal at 3801A-51 Ave (P.O. Box 1680), Lloydminster, Alberta S9V 1K6 (780) 875-7671.

TENDERS must be made in writing accompanied by certified cheque for 5% of the the tender price as a deposit, payable to ROBERTSON MOSKAL SARSONS - “IN TRUST” and identified as “Tender re: Estate of Walter Kremko - File 5446.13324 WAM” the “highest” or any tender not neccessarily accepted, but in the event of acceptance the successful tender will be notified and unsuccessful tender deposits returned.

The terms of sale shall be cash with the balance payable no later than 30 days after acceptance by the estate.

Tenders will be received by the undersigned until 12 o’clock noon on Friday, March 27, 2015 at the following address: ROBERTSON MOSKAL SARSONS Barristers & Solicitors 3801A - 51 Avenue P.O. Box 1680 LLOYDMINSTER SK/AB S9V 1K6

Welcome Home!

Celebrating the birth of your child? Share your happy news with family & friends with a special announcement in the classifieds.

1.877.223.3311

Who is Jim Prentice really listening to?

It certainly isn’t Ralph Klein’s ‘severely normal Albertans’ STEPHEN MURGATROYD TROY MEDIA COLUMNIST

Let’s ask a simple question. When the Wildrose Premier of Alberta says “he is listening to Albertans” who is he actually listening to?

We don’t really know, but we can guess. Given that he has ruled out all of the solid recommendations of all of the leading economists, including the very smart people associated with the Premier’s Council on Economic Strategy, we know he is not listening to those who have studied the problem.

We also know that he is not listening to those who have day-to-day direct contact with those Albertans most in need.

That would be social workers, health workers, teachers, community development workers, foster care parents, mental health workers, First Nations outreach workers.

The fact that he says that many of these people are overpaid (he never says the same about bankers, oil and gas executives, engineers, and corporate executives) tells us he is not talking to them.

Nor is he listening to the growing number of poor people in Alberta, to single parent mothers, the growing number of working poor or those who struggle with three jobs to pay rent and put food on the table.

He is not listening to Public Interest Alberta or the Parkland Institute which champions the issues faced by these people.

So who is left? Well, his own caucus members feel “left out”, at least according to some. He is not sitting down with the NDP, whoever

remains in the Liberal Party or the Alberta party and asking “what can we agree to do which will really transform our economic position and end our dependency on oil and gas revenue?”

So I am left with the working assumption that he is listening to a select group of oil and gas executives (and their bankers) who are telling him to keep their taxes low, to keep royalties crazy low, not to introduce any new taxes on sales and to argue that all of this is in the name of “competitiveness”. I also think he spends his evenings in an echo chamber listening to himself.

This is why we have the broken Ralph Klein message and really poor thinking. This is why we are going to see conflict between those with power and those without. This is why he will take on the public intellectuals who challenge him and the bloggers who will be key to laying out an alternative narrative, given that our political opposition seems “dead in the water”.

No doubt a response to this will be that Albertans are being “surveyed”. Really. Look at the questions NOT ASKED in that survey and, more significantly, read the last statement on the survey, which makes it a political statement. Also, ask what difference these surveys will make to the policies, which come out of the echo chamber.

As one of my respondents has suggested, we are past the time of trying to help the Wildrose Government and Premier hear us. We need to start using street politics to get them to understand in just how many ways they are misunderstanding Alberta.

Stephen Murgatroyd is a consultant in innovative business and education practices with a PHd in psychology.

32 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Hammy’s SPIRITS

OPEN 10 AM - 11 PM 7 Days A Week

MONDAVI WOODBRIDGE ASSORTED VARIETIES

BUSHMILL ORIGINAL (TRIPLE DISTILLED) 750 ML

2399

$

750 ML

EACH

2/$1600 OR

8

$ 49 EACH

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE GIN

NAKED GRAPE ASSORTED VARIETIES

3/ 20

BACARDI BREEZER 330 ML 12 BOTTLE

00

1899

$

3499

$

750 ML

$

EACH

OR $749

EACH

EACH

CUPCAKE ASSORTED VARIETIES

SMIRNOFF VODKA

750 ML

750 ML

2/$1900 OR

1999 $ 2899 $

9

$ 99 EACH

EACH

1.14 L

MILLER GENUINE DRAFT

EACH

355 ML 18 BOTTLE

3199

$

EACH

KAHLUA

CROWN ROYAL WHISKY

CAPTAIN MORGAN SPICED RUM

750 ML

750 ML

24 $ 99 34

25 $ 3599 $

1.14 L

99 EACH

1.14 L

EACH

21 $ 99 34 $

99 EACH

1.14 L

EACH

$

750 ML

99 EACH

1.14 L

EACH

Bay #5, 4502 - 50th St. • 403-783-2333 Prices in effect Wednesday, Mar. 11 to Tuesday, Mar. 17, 2015 Prices do not include GST or deposit. We reserve the right to limit quantities