Ponoka News, March 25, 2015

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CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY Vol. 67, No. 13 | WEDNESDAY, MAR. 25, 2015 | 403-783-3311 | EDITORIAL@PONOKANEWS.COM

Dressage show sets new attendance record in Ponoka Story on page 32

Wyman and Small Hardware Store operating along Railway Street, Ponoka in 1918.

Story on page 5

Northern lights magic Stargazers had a wonderful treat Tuesday, March 17 to 18 with aurora borealis displays all across North America.

Photography buffs and astrologists took time to enjoy the glow of the northern lights. This image was taken on a farm west of Ponoka Wednesday night.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

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2 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Town and county want clarity on MGA changes

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Both the Town and County of Ponoka are unsure how proposed changes to the Municipal Government Act (MGA) will actually affect them in the future.

In the last two years, the province has sought feedback from stakeholders on how municipalities operate. The MGA provides rules on taxation, governance and other areas and proposed changes touch just on the surface of some of the bigger issues.

Last week the provincial government announced proposed amendments to the MGA, but Mayor Rick Bonnett feels there is not enough information there. Those proposed changes only provide some guidance as to how a municipality does business.

“You’ll get five or six different interpretations as to what’s in the act,” said Bonnett.

He says these changes are less detailed than what he hoped for. To try and tackle this, the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA) and the Alberta Association of Mu-

nicipal Districts and Counties (AAMDC), of which the town and the county are respective members, have a memorandum of understanding to work together on the MGA. Elections and the MGA The anticipated election this year is another concern.

“The big question last week was what if it all dies on the election paper?” asked Bonnett.

“You’ll get five or six different interpretations as to what’s in the act.”

Rick Bonnett, mayor

One area both Ponoka County CAO Charlie Cutforth and Bonnett both wanted to see some clarity on is taxation.

“My biggest concern is with the assessment taxation end of things,” said Cutforth.

He says municipalities are under strict guidelines as to how they tax businesses. He suggests commercial taxes fall under one category, so a

small home business is taxed the same mill rate as a large corporation.

Cutforth says there is not much in the proposed amendments for him to be certain of how that is going to work.

“We all want to know the details.”

Bonnett feels the reason municipalities are restricted on taxation is because of fear of abuse, but Cutforth thinks there are ways to tier the taxation levels for different types of businesses.

“Ultimately, the taxpayers will decide if we’re doing it right,” said Cutforth.

If taxpayers are unhappy they will show it in elections, he added.

Cutforth feels government officials are electioneering for the anticipated spring elections.

From Bonnett’s perspective, the potential to derive taxation funds from a different area would be a benefit to small communities.

To get all the wants and needs, which includes recreation and infrastructure improvements in town, Bonnett suggests a cool $100

million will get the job done.

However, the town is limited to how it taxes residents and businesses.

Ponoka County Reeve Paul McLauchlin is pleased that councillors were able to provide comment and thoughts on the MGA, but the proposed amendments so far are on the easier issues to deal with.

The last major change to the MGA was in 1994, said McLauchlin, but since then the Alberta population has grown by two million. He feels it is important to make these changes.

He suggests the big issues of taxation and dealing with off-site levies are big areas which need to be tackled.

“What’s next is what I’m interested in,” said McLauchlin.

The challenges of how a municipality taxes residents and businesses may become a big issue, he added, especially in light of the expected $7 billion shortfall in the budget.

Proposed amendments include: • Enhancing accountability and transparency: this provides increased

accountability and a code of conduct for elected officials. Also there is the potential for a municipality to seek feedback on public participation.

• Enabling more efficient operations: taxpayers may see changes to how a municipality advertizes public notifications.

• Enhancing municipal viability: this would require municipalities to have a minimum three-year operating plan and a fiveyear capital plan. Also a streamlined amalgama-

tion process is proposed.

• Strengthening intermunicipal planning: this seeks clarity on the hierarchy of plans for municipalities, which includes specificity over what plan takes priority over another. These plans could relate to area structure plans, municipal development plans and inter-municipal development plans.

Another area of focus includes dealing with administration of off-site levies.

Rod Fox

… Strong, Stable, Compassionate, Conservative

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PONOKA NEWS 3

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Power out for some hours after semi hits power pole

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Residents and businesses in different areas of Ponoka were out of power for some time after a semi tractor knocked over a power pole last weekend.

Town electric crews were called to the scene by the Shell Gas station on Highway 2A Friday, March 20 at 11:14 a.m.

The 27-year-old male driver from Mayerthorpe attempted to turn his 2000

Kenworth truck around but did not have enough room.

Police charged the man with failing to ascertain space for movement.

Truck stolen from industrial area Police are looking for suspects who broke into a building in the Southwest Industrial Park.

Culprits broke a gate to get into the compound where they subsequently took a white 2001 Dodge Ram with a welding deck on the back. The matter is still under investigation.

Graffiti artist nabbed A call of a man spraypainting the side of a building in the downtown area resulted in an arrest.

Police were called Friday March 20 at 3:45 p.m. to the location and they charged a 20-year-old Maskwacis man with mischief under $5,000.

Marijuana found in vehicle Members of the Integrated Traffic Unit nabbed a motorist with no insurance, registration or licence last week.

They stopped the 25-year-old Stony Plain driver in a 2012 Chrysler on Highway 2 near Lacombe Friday, March 20 at 5:40 p.m. A small amount of marijuana was found in the vehicle and charges are pending on the man.

Garage door opener stolen from garage Police are investigating a theft from a garage on 40 Street and 50 Avenue.

The theft occurred overnight on March 19 and not only did culprits take the garage door opener but they also stole a BMX, a skateboard, solar lights and even the cat litter.

The side door was

broken from a previous break-and-enter and the matter is under investigation.

Teen received ticket for texting and driving Motorists called police over an erratic driver March 21 at 2:10 p.m. on Highway 2 near Ponoka.

It is reported a red 2006 Saturn was weaving in and out of traffic and witnesses state the driver, a 19-yearold woman from Bashaw, was texting while driving.

Police say she admitted to the offence and she received a ticket for using a cell phone while driving.

Vehicle hits road sign Members of the traffic unit charged a 27-year-old Calgary man with driving a vehicle into a physical barrier March 22 at 9:50 a.m.

The driver attempted a lane change and lost traction and control of his

vehicle when it rolled and ended on its side. It is believed he suffered minor injuries.

Employee takes cash from store Officers arrested a 26-year-old Ponoka woman after she allegedly took

cash from the store’s till.

The call came in March 23 and she was charged with theft under $5,000.

If you have information on any crime call Ponoka RCMP at 403-783-4472 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-8477.

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Ponoka Golf Club Pro Shop: 403-783-4626 E S T. 1 9 3 6

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REMINDER: Deadline for early pay memberships is April 1 2015 GOLF MEMBERSHIP AND DAILY RATES

Police are looking for these two individuals over an incident at Shoppers Drug Mart recently. Contact the RCMP should anyone know these people.

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LAST WEEK WE SHOWED YOU THE GRIP. Now the next step is GETTING INTO THE PROPER SETUP WITH GOOD POSTURE to have the best chance of making consistent golf shots.

1. Majority of the bending is done in the waist.

2. Back must be fairly straight and head is up to allow shoulder turn.

3. Stick that butt out!

4. Arms hang from shoulders so that they are clear of the chest.

5. Knees are slightly bent.

6. Weight is distributed evenly on your feet.

NEXT WEEK WILL BE THE BACKSWING.

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4 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Religion Keep the faith in the Sun, snow will melt away

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.wordoife.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

Rob McArther Word of Life Church Spring is here.

In Ponoka, we have been fortunate to have survived this winter relatively unscathed. By comparison, the people of Eastern Canada, specifically in the Maritimes are still digging themselves out from their latest bout with winter.

Having grown up on the north coast of British Columbia, I can relate a little bit. In fact my hometown of Kitimat was in the national news back in February,

as they came within centimeters of breaking the Canadian record for a 24hour snowfall. When the dust, or perhaps more appropriately, the snow had settled, Kitimat was buried under almost two meters of snow. The last time they had been hit by a comparable amount of snow, I was away at Bible College. My parents sent me pictures of my brother stepping from the roof of the house onto the snow that was literally at the same height. That’s a lot of snow.

Writing from my experience growing up there, I can state that when you live in that sort of environment and the white stuff begins to pile up, different people can respond in different ways.

Many will start digging.

They can’t sit still. The very real fear of the pressure on their house will compel them to get up on their roof and dig. Then there are others situated on streets with impassable roads who will still compulsively insist on clearing the area around their parked cars. The illusion of being in control is alluring.

For some people under the deluge of snow, the situation can become almost unbearable. Faced with the claustrophobic walls of white growing around them by the minute, thoughts can easily fuel fear. What if?

What if the power doesn’t come back on? What if it gets really cold? What if we run out of food? What if the snow doesn’t stop?

The group who usually handles the snow the best, has to be the children. It’s awful tough to get to school when you have to navigate three feet of snow. As kids when we would have “Snow Day� time off, we would tunnel into the enormous mountains like gophers, popping up only to go in for lunch or attack a neighboring fort with snowballs.

Now regardless of how bad the situation is, there is one universal truth for everyone – eventually the sun will come out and melt away all the snow, (in Kitimat, the sun was more often than not, aided by several inches of rain). No matter how bad it gets, the snow won’t last forever.

How well do you han-

dle circumstances when life dumps two meters of trouble on you? Do you compulsively go about your business in an effort to somehow feel like you are in control of the situation?

Or are you crushed by the anxiety of what might happen next? Or do you live with a childlike simplicity and trust that things will work out? Do you believe the torrents will subside and the sun will come out?

In reference to the coming savior Jesus, the prophet Malachi said “The Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings, for all who revere the Lord.�

No matter what circumstance is piling up around you, hope of salvation found in Jesus Christ can be ever present for you. The sun will rise. Perhaps appropriately, the celebration of the resurrection of Christ happens in the Spring, ‌ when all the snow is gone.

If you can relate to the kind of trouble in life that dumps like a north coast snowfall, why not put your trust in Christ? The Sun of righteousness is more than able to melt your snow.

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. 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

PONOKA NEWS 5

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Reflections of Ponoka

Their early skills helped to build our bright future

BY MIKE RAINONE FOR THE NEWS

At the turn from the 18th to the 19th century, the area which we now so proudly call home began to grow and prosper very quickly as immigrant families and individuals from across the oceans and North America invaded our province to get a piece of the new Alberta Advantage. Their gruelling trek into an unknown land was obviously a very scary experience, but once settled, they all worked very hard together and shared their skills to help establish, progress and slowly build the villages, the towns, the country districts, the cities and the great province that we now enjoy and benefit from so much each and every day.

This Wyman and Small Hardware Store were operating along Railway Street Ponoka in 1918, and served customers from Town and County for many years. A lot of the hundreds of articles that they sold were made by local craftsmen like Herb Rees, who invented many amazing items, and was also known to be able to fix just about anything that broke down.

Photo and story (Herb Rees) Photo from Red Brick School History book

The arrival of the Rees family Among the early families who came into the Ponoka area were Joseph and Martha (nee Davies) Rees, who arrived in 1910 from South Wales with their children Herbert, David, Maggie and Tom. In the same year, they purchased the N.E. 1/4-3442-25-W4 from W.L. Steele, then later in 1918 purchased the south quarter from Mr. Fraser. As well as all the many countless challenges that these hardy pioneers had been forced to face all year round, that same area of the Rees quarter had been ravaged by a tornado in 1911, which cut a 100 foot swath through the heavy bush, flattened buildings and killed cattle.

Their eldest son Herbert would develop an amazing skill at a very young age of tinkering with bits and pieces

and inventing things, then in 1912, he would build a machine shop near the road on the farm. The very ambitious young man, who also held one of the few marine engineer’s certificates in the province, found himself too far from town to make a good profit, so Herb moved into Ponoka, where he built and opened the Ponoka Engineering Works in the south end of the community. His shop, which he faithfully operated until 1930 had the very first steel planeing machines, which, of course, Herb likely built himself.

His skills soon became very much in demand far and wide, and he would be involved a great deal in the initial planning and construction of the Provincial Mental Hospital. Along the way Herb would build

an operational clock, a toy steam engine, a cannon of World War I vintage, as well as many other fine precision machines that were admired and enjoyed by residents of the rapidly growing community, districts, and a host of visitors. The Town of Ponoka also relied heavily on Mr. Rees to keep their early fire engines and other equipment in working order.

When George Gordon, the editor of the Ponoka Herald weekly newspaper received the exciting word at 2 a.m. on November 11, 1918 that the war was over, it would be Herb Rees who would immediately contact the Mental Hospital to immediately turn on the power to the town so that the gala celebration could begin. You see, in those days the town received all of its electrical

power from the hospital, but that first contract agreed that it would be shut off for certain hours during the night.

During World War I, Herb would serve as an instructor in airplane engines at Camp Borden, during which time Milt Stevens ran the popular Ponoka shop.

Herb’s magnificent steel cannon, which had a breech diameter of 1 ½ inches an overall length of four feet six inches and weighed 180 pounds, was fired for the very first time that afternoon, and found a permanent home next to the busy Canadian Pacific Railway Station. In 1922, when the Prince of Wales was passing through Ponoka on the train, Herb’s two sons Jim and Art decided to welcome the royal visitor by firing the cannon as a salute, shocking the huge crowd,

and drowning out the music of the local community band.

During the commotion that followed, Herb had to make a hasty explanation to the wave of RCMP and detectives who swiftly converged on the scene. In 1931-32, Herb and his wife and two sons left Ponoka after many successful and colorful years to join his father and mother Joseph and Martha in Vancouver. After writing this story I have one question: Whatever happened to that glorious cannon and some of the other great inventions of Mr. Rees and so many other great artists of our past?

Hopefully some have been preserved for the pleasure of many generations in our museums or other public places, while others will eventually find their rightful place on our history honour roll.

The Ponoka Engineering Works continued to operate under the direction of Mr. Billy Bressuilik, another brilliant machinist who had joined Herb Rees in 1929 from Russia. A Mr. Jackson took over the business in 1938-39, after which it was occupied by a kindly Norwegian gentleman, Mr. Theodore Toft, who ran his blacksmith, lathwork and welding shop for many more years. Your Reflections in the Ponoka News will continue to salute our founding families, colorful individuals, businesses, and characters, along with historical events and milestones, as long as we continue to receive the great pictures, information, story ideas, and support from our faithful and always much appreciated readers from far and wide.

Remember When...

Photo courtesy of Fort Ostell Museum

This 1969 photo was taken early one morning along Ponoka’s ‘elevator row’, where a fire completely gutted the Pioneer Grain facility. Notice the brave fireman on top of the long ladder pouring water into the structure, while in the background members of the Ponoka Volunteer and Alberta Hospital Fire Departments work together to battle the flames. As many as 10 elevators served our area farmers for many decades, and several of them would suffer the same sudden fate.

6 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Opinion

How much is left for future generations?

Program has announced a series of findings that came as a result of the research undertaken as part of its activities.

The report warned that in just 15 years, the world will have a 40 per cent deficit of fresh water.

Ongoing urbanization,

Mustafa Eric

Editor It was as if Mother Nature meant to make a statement when more than five inches of snow fell in central Alberta overnight on March 21, the first day of the spring.

Being Albertans, most of us might not have even noticed that the snowfall coincided with start of the flower season as we are more than used to having long winters.

But the way Atlantic Canada has been battered by successive snowstorms over the last two months must have proven to even the toughest of the climate change deniers that it is obvious by now, thanks to our actions, climate patterns are being radically altered.

With the current pace of change in the balance of the natural weather cycles, it seems it will not take too long to witness much more extreme weather phenomena taking place, creating drought in certain parts of the globe while causing floods in others.

Last Sunday was the World Water Day as declared by the United Nations. To mark the occasion, the organization’s World Water Assessment

“With the current pace of change in the balance of the natural weather cycles, it seems it will not take too long to witness much more extreme weather phenomena taking place, creating drought in certain parts of the globe while causing floods in others.”

seventh or eight largest economy in the world on its own right, where some estimates say there is only one year’s supply of fresh water left if the current pace of consumption continues.

According to a map published as part of the report, Canada is among the safest regions in the world in terms of the security of fresh water resources.

The question is what to do with that security: Should our country continue to produce bitumen contributing to climate change, thereby adding further to potentially drought

creating conditions while wasting fresh water with fracking technologies and bitumen production?

Or as one of the more technologically developed economies of the world, should Canada look into the possibility of advancing technologies in the field of renewable energy sources?

As some Canadian media outlets reported recently, the government of Stephen Harper has spent $24 million of taxpayers’ money to advertise Canadian oil in the US market over the last two years, and because the oil in this coun-

try is produced by private companies, our corporate interest-promoting prime minister has apparently taken that money out of our pockets to help big oil sell more of its products.

With this kind of approach to natural resource exploitation, it is hard to see how Canada can contribute to any effort to leave a more livable earth to future generations.

“Only when the last tree has died and the last river been poisoned and the last fish been caught will we realize we cannot eat money,” says the famous Cree prophecy.

With the corporate greed instead of farsighted wisdom dictating policy to governments not only in Canada, but throughout the world, one really wonders if this vicious cycle of plundering the earth could ever be stopped.

A recent study says since the first emergence of Homo Sapiens on the African continent 125,000 years ago, some 108 billion people lived and died on earth. With the current level of our high-tech, advanced and destructive lifestyle, will there be enough resources for another 108 billion to live?

rising living standards and increased use of fossil fuels are said to be among the various factors that will lead to scarcity of fresh water in the next two decades.

Interestingly enough, the findings of the report were announced in California, the state with the biggest economy in our southern neighbour,

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

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PONOKA NEWS 7

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Alberta will weather unstable oil and gas market

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Sinking oil prices and people losing their jobs off is a cause for concern but one analyst is confident the Alberta economy will bounce back; it’s just a question of when.

Ian Glassford, chief financial officer with Servus Credit Union, spoke to members of the Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce, Tuesday, March 17 on dealing with the low oil prices in the marketplace. He suggests in certain parts of Alberta people are being laid off but many of those labourers are from other provinces.

“There’s a cushion in Alberta, because there is more

demand for trades,” said Glassford.

While companies are making some tough decisions to stay afloat, they also might need to think long-term strategies in dealing with the low prices. He says some analysts suggest the economy will bounce back after six months but Glassford could not guarantee that.

He feels the real problem relates to supply and demand.

“How it plays out is how you sort out the supply and demand.”

Despite the current troubles, Glassford feels Alberta’s long-term economic picture will be strong considering the demand for oil and how the province has survived past financial downs. He says the short to mid-term picture is not as clear and companies will need make some tough decisions.

Glassford did not advocate laying off employees unnec-

essarily but also cautioned that employers may need to consider that as an option. He suggested if a company has 16 employees but can only survive the economic upheaval by keeping 14, that may need to be looked at.

“You’re not doing any good if you go bankrupt,” he cautioned. “You’ve got to stay in business, never lose sight of that.”

Glassford also recommended people not be overly concerned about the housing market. He says there are reports showing an influx of homes for sale but the number of of houses being bought is dropping. While paying attention to those numbers is important, Glassford says there has not been a mass migration of people, which would affect prices in the housing market.

He feels homeowners may be putting their buildings on the market to see if they can get top dollar for their property.

Ian Glassford, CFO with Servus Credit Union spoke with members of the Ponoka and District Chamber of Commerce at Cilantro and Chive Tuesday, March 17 about Alberta’s economic outlook.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

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 Real Services for Residents Starting next week, Pole-Tech Ltd. will begin inspecting Wooden Utility Poles in town. Electrical Regulations specify that Wooden Power poles must be inspected every seven years. The Town wants to be sure that poles are in good shape. This includes treating the poles to prevent wood rot or insect infestation. Four crews will be working around town doing such work as: overall visual safety inspections; above ground inspections; partial excavation; sounding and boring. They will also conduct field inspections, evaluations, treatments, pole marking and data collection, and will report back to the Town as they carry out their work. If you have any questions, please contact Public Works: 403-783-0159

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Summer Labourer Positions Parks, Public Works and Summer Facility Attendants (Visitor Information Centre).

Visit www.ponoka.ca for more information on these positions. Submit your resume to: Town of Ponoka, 5102-48 Avenue, Ponoka, AB. T4J 1P7 or email to HR@ponoka.org

EARTH HOUR 2015 Join millions of people across the world who switch lights off for an hour – to raise awareness for the planet.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Summer Waste Transfer Station Hours Begin April 1, 2015 Tuesday through Saturday – 10 am to 6 pm Excluding Statutory Holidays – Closed Good Friday, April 3

Report a Pot Hole / Sidewalk Repair Have you noticed a pot hole on your street or back lane or have a sidewalk that is in need of repair?

Please visit our website: www.ponoka.ca and fill out the Community Feedback Form, or call Public Works at 403-783-0159 with the location, so we can add it to the repair list. Thank you for your assistance.

EVENTS AND RECREATION Aquaplex Update

PSC Broncs News Kassidy McCurdy 30 Hour Famine

What would you do if you had to go days or even weeks without eating? Some people live with that fear every day. At Ponoka Secondary Campus, a group of students from grades 9-12 are going to be able to catch a glimpse of what it is like. On the weekend of April 10-11, students will go 30 hours without eating. Recently a representative from the World Vision offices located in Calgary came to our school because she was amazed at the amount of money our school has been able to raise over the past eight years. While there, she told organizer Brady Teeling that for a school and town our size we are one to the top schools in Alberta. Over the past eight years we have been able to raise between $7000 and $9000 dollars a year. This would not be possible without the support and the serious commitment made by the students, organizers, and sponsors. If anyone is interested in helping us continue supporting this great cause, please consider donating to World Vision’s 30 hour famine. You can log on to www. famine.ca to make a difference.

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

www.psc@wolfcreek.ab.ca

Spring Break Lessons • March 30 - April 2. Register Now! FREE Spring Break Public swim sponsored by Tim Horton’s!!

For more information and schedules visit http://www.ponoka.ca/community/recreation/aquaplex

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.

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

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 DID YOU KNOW...???

Your civic address must be displayed on your property, both on the front and back. Civic addresses are used by our public works department as well as emergency services to locate your property.

Not displaying your civic address could result in delays for these services in assisting you.

A volunteer firefighter may carry on or in a vehicle, a lamp that produces intermittent flashes of green lights and may operate the lamp in the Town of Ponoka if that vehicle is proceeding to a fire or other emergency. If you see a vehicle with a green light flashing on its dash, please pull over to the side of the road, and let the vehicle pass.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

8 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Hamilton family grapples with the loss of a son

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

The tragic death of Tom Hamilton in an avalanche has reverberated through the community of Ponoka.

Tom, 29, was snowmobiling with three friends in McBride, B.C. Saturday, March 21 when the snow started to break apart from right beneath him. He and another friend, Curtis Fries from Sherwood Park, were unable to escape the avalanche in time and they were buried.

“As he was turning around, the avalanche let loose underneath Tom,” explained his father Jim. “The whole plateau let loose.”

He said the other two snowmobilers were able to locate Fries’ emergency beacon. They were able to dig him out but he succumbed to his injuries. The four riders had proper safety equipment.

Search and rescue crews searched for Tom’s body, but they had to call off the search as the evening wore on. He was found the next day approximately 15 metres under where Fries was found. Hamilton said their emergency beacons were right on top of each other, which made it difficult to locate Tom’s body.

“That we get to bring him home and give him a proper burial is huge to me and to his wife,” said Hamilton. “Until he’s found, you’re praying he’s alive. You know it’s not likely.”

Tom a recognized figure in Ponoka Tom leaves behind a young family with

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his wife Amanda and two young children, Kaitlyn and James.

As his children will never know what their father was like, Amanda has requested people who knew Tom write a story about him and his life. As they grow older, she hopes to pass on these stories to her children.

Tom’s death has also created a void in Hamilton’s life; not only was he his son, but Tom and Hamilton were partners at Hamilton’s IGA. “I’m scared,” said Hamilton simply. “I don’t know how I can do it without him.”

He has received hundreds of emails and calls from the many people who knew Tom and each one has been about the lasting memory he had on them.

Tom could be found in many parts of Ponoka. While he was a fixture at the store, he was also a big advocate of community events. He was past-president of the Ponoka Kinsmen and was always busy during Ponoka Stampede.

Tom’s good nature and work ethic is another thing Hamilton is proud of.

He told the story of Tom working at a plant picking lettuce some years ago. Tom had to take on extra work to cover a sick employee and in an effort to be efficient, Tom managed to do the work of two people.

That work ethic got other staff members in trouble and he was told to reduce the workflow.

“So he got his back up and the next

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Hamilton said they were in the midst of planning a surprise birthday party for Tom, who was going to turn 30 on April 30.

In the meantime, Ponoka Kinsmen, where Tom Hamilton served as president between 2011 and 2013, has announced that a decision was made to dedicate the toboggan hill, which the deceased was so instrumental in creating, to his memory. It will be called the Tom Hamilton Memorial Hill.

The funeral service will be held Monday, March 30 at 3 p.m. at the Stagecoach Saloon, Ponoka Stampede Grounds.

Donations may be made to the Robson Valley Search and Rescue and Lacombe Parent Link.

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The death of Tom Hamilton has shocked many people who knew him. Here is a Christmas photo of Tom with his wife Amanda and two children, James (left) and Kaitlyn.

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day he bribed the kid beside him to move down one and he did three rows to prove a point. And he got fired,” explained Hamilton fondly.

It was this kind of work ethic that Hamilton loved about his son, who was on his way to being a fourth generation owner of Hamilton’s IGA. Hamilton said most families don’t make it past three generations.

“We found a way to make it work,” he said.

Tom was getting so good at the job that when Hamilton was dealing with an injury last year, his son handled it well. “We actually made more money when I was at home with my bad leg than we did when I was there,” said Hamilton.

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Legion 55 Plus representative Vern Dick (second from left)

PRESENTS A $500 DONATION TO THE PONOKA LIONS CLUB for the operation of the Lions bus.

Accepting the cheque is Lion Donna Hopper, Lion secretary Dixie Tyndall (far right) with Lion bus driver Frank Thomaser.

PONOKA NEWS 9

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

A tribute to Tom Hamilton

BY ROB MCARTHUR

During the summer of 2003, I had the great privilege to get to know Tom Hamilton. Tom had recently graduated high school and had started attending our church youth group.

As a pastor, in only his second full year on the job, I was greatly encouraged by the sudden attendance of a young man with the local pedigree of someone like Tom. However, as I got to know him, I discovered there was much more to Tom than just being the son of a successful local businessman.

Tom immediately took to our small group of young people and got involved from the get go. He volunteered to chaperone a trip to the World Waterpark

at West Edmonton Mall. As we stood in line for slides, Tom would regale me with stories of the grocery business. He was an imposing figure. At well over 6’2”, most of the young people looked up to him, literally.

Anyone who had the pleasure to know Tom can recall his savvy for all things to do with computers. Our church was in its infancy in all areas “tech”.

Tom was generous with his time and installed new drivers and programs that would make our digital transition a success. When I would ask for a bill for the programs he had purchased or work he had done, he would refuse. He insisted that his contribution to the church would be from the things in his life that he was passionate

about.

That fall as Tom attended RDC, I would often catch a ride with him down to Red Deer. At the time, my wife was teaching in Wetaskiwin and as a single vehicle family, I needed transport to a weekly staff meeting in Red Deer. Tom was more than happy to oblige. Not one to miss an opportunity to talk about Christ, I would often steer our conversation toward eternal things. In time, Tom made a decision to accept Christ as his Lord and Savior. A short time after, I walked with him into the waters of Baptism as he made the decision to follow the example of Jesus and be baptized.

This past weekend when I learned that Tom had been taken in a tragedy,

I felt absolutely gutted. I considered the loss his wife and the new family must be experiencing. I thought about his father, mother and sister. I reflected on the enormous loss that the community of Ponoka has now been faced with, the loss of Tom’s contribution.

It’s tough.

But then I remember the decision that Tom made. I remember leading him in that all important prayer that acknowledged his need for a savior. And I remember the faithfulness of Christ. Psalm 145:13 says “For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.

You rule throughout all generations. The Lord ALWAYS keeps his promises; He is gracious in all he does.”

Though our loss is

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great, I am encouraged by the words of the Apostle Paul from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14. “And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people

who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.”

Rest in peace, Tom.

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10 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Funds to help with improvements at the Legion

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Members of the Ponoka Legion were pleased to hear they received funds from the federal government to make improvements in their building.

The announcement was made Tuesday, March 17

by Wetaskiwin MP Blaine Calkins during the Legion’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. He told the crowd that the Legion will receive $22,055 from the New Ho-

rizons for Seniors Program, which is intended to help seniors maintain a good quality of life, said Calkins.

Legion president Sybil Evans said she can’t wait to use the money to put in new flooring, buy new chairs and do a few other minor improvements to the building.

She said they first applied for the grant last summer when they heard about it.

When she heard the application was approved, she

could hardly contain her excitement. Evans said the flooring in the Dominion Lounge is the original carpet of the building.

Calkins feels supporting the Legion is important considering many of its members are seniors. “Seniors are the ones that have a lifetime of experience.�

He says the New Horizons program also provides support for elder abuse awareness.

HOP INTO SAVINGS!

Getting closer to a new playground: MLA Rod Fox presents a cheque of matching funds of $150,000 to the Ponoka Elementary School playground committee Thursday, March 19 at the new elementary school. Here (l-r) vice-principal Nicole Rawlinson, Jennifer Bartley, principal Lois Spate and Layna Palechek hold up the cheque. Fox asked for special consideration last year when the committee submitted the application.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

Fundraiser planned to help man with long-term injury

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

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When he was 18-years-old, Kevin Trahan, now 51, suffered a rig accident that changed the course of his life forever.

Trahan, who used to live in Ponoka, was pulled into a spinning oil rig kelly and he is dealing with compensation issues and painkiller addictions since then. To help Trahan out, a group of individuals are hosting a fundraiser to help get his life on track.

Organized by Wendy David, the event is called Brothers Keeper and will be held at the Stagecoach Saloon Saturday, April 25. David says support has been strong. “People came out of the woodworks,� said David.

Community members have donated artwork and other items for a silent auction and David

has created a Facebook event under the same name as the fundraiser. She says the biggest goal is to help Trahan improve his quality of life.

Because of the accident, Trahan has had issues with his arms and legs and the use of painkillers has made things worse, said David.

She hopes to raise $8,000 to get him into a facility that will help him deal with the effects of the painkillers. “We’re trying to get him into some physical therapy,� she said.

For her, the focus is on Trahan and improving his life. “There’s something about the man that everyone loves.�

Tickets for the event, which starts at 7 p.m., are $30 and will be on sale at the door. “My goal is to pack the house,� she concluded.

Ponoka Riparian Restoration PROGRAM LAUNCH Thursday, April 9, 4:30-8:30pm ‹Â?•Â?‡Â? ‘Â?Â?—Â?‹–› ‡Â?–”‡ǥ ‘Â?‘Â?ƒ (with demos down at the Battle River)

*SUPPER PROVIDED*

Ponoka County and Town of Ponoka residents: Join us to learn more about this exciting new initiative.

All are welcome!

This is a free event, but please register by contacting Sarah at 1-888-672-0276 or sarah@battleriverwatershed.ca

We want to work with YOU to improve the health of the Battle River and its tributary streams in Ponoka County and the Town of Ponoka. Funding is available to support landowner and community projects that achieve this goal. Attend the program launch to learn more about the program and how you can get involved!

Along with our partners: ‘™• ƒ�† ‹•Š ‘�‘�ƒ ‘—�–› ‘™� ‘ˆ ‘�‘�ƒ

”‡› ‘‘†‡† ‘”ƒ‰‡ ••‘…‹ƒ–‹‘� Ž„‡”–ƒ ‰”‹…—Ž–—”‡ ƒ�† —”ƒŽ ‡˜‡Ž‘’�‡�–

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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

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

March

s s e n ad

PONOKA NEWS 11

M CONTINUES...

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YOUR LEGACY TEAM

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Leanne Burton Sales Consultant

12 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Stop idling, go on driving It’s no secret that Canadian winters can be brutally cold, but did you know that you shouldn’t idle your car to warm it up?

It’s true. The best way to warm up your engine in the cold is to gently drive.

You’ve likely been told

that it’s important to let your engine run for a few minutes before driving away, and years ago that was true. Older cars did need a bit of time to warm up because the carburetor couldn’t always get the right mix of air and fuel into the engine when it was

cold. But carburetors were replaced by fuel injectors starting in the 80s, so unless you drive a car that is more than 30 years old, it’s time to change your bad habit.

Not convinced? Here are a few facts about winter idling: Modern engines are best

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warmed up by driving Even in cold weather, the best way to warm up your engine is to drive away.

Today’s fuel-injection technology relies on sensors to supply fuel to the engine and these sensors adjust to temperature, so you should only need a maximum of 30 seconds of idling before driving away.

Idling wastes fuel Idling for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting your engine, and it gets you zero kilometers per litre. Idling to warm up your car simply wastes fuel and increases emissions, which is bad for both the environment and your wallet.

You shouldn’t need to warm up your engine oil If you’re worried that you need to heat up your engine oil before driving

in the winter, don’t. If you follow your owner’s manual and use the correct type of oil for your vehicle and climate, there’s no need to worry. Modern synthetic motor oil can flow at temperatures as low as -40 degrees Celsius, so your car should get the oil it needs as soon as you start your car.

Idling can damage your car When your engine is cold, the fuel injectors supply it with more fuel. Idling your engine, therefore, forces it to operate in a very inefficient, fuel-rich mode that can cause excessive engine wear and damage components including the cylinders, spark plugs and exhaust system.

Idling is bad for your health A cold engine produces more unburned hydrocar-

bons. Idling your engine to warm it up releases harmful emissions that have been linked to cancer, diabetes, cognitive degeneration, and heart and lung disease – nasty stuff! This is especially dangerous if you idle in your garage. Even with the garage door open you are putting yourself and your family at risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Idling your car is completely unnecessary – even in the cold. In extreme temperatures, using a block heater or plugging in your car are far better alternatives. So stop buying into the myth and make the right choice for your car, your wallet, your health, and your environment.

Have questions? Talk to your local service advisor today or visit www.BeCarCareAware.ca.

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PONOKA NEWS 13

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

The fab five driving habits you simply must adopt Are you saving up for some new bling? Why not adopt a turn-key solution that starts behind the wheel of your car.

Did you know that just by adopting more fuel-efficient driving habits you could

cut your consumption by as much as 25 per cent and therefore keep more money in your pocket? Imagine the bling that would bring.

So the next time you head out on the road, adopt these fab five driving techniques:

1. Accelerate gently 2. Maintain a steady speed 3. Anticipate traffic 4. Avoid high speeds 5. Coast to decelerate By driving green, you could save hundreds of dollars at the pump each year and stay on trend. You could also avoid costly speeding tickets, bumper repairs, insurance hikes and even prevent unnecessary wear on your vehicle. What better proof is there that conserving energy and the planet can

be simple, safe, cost-effective and blingworthy?

You can find more tips for eco-driving on the Natural Resources website at www. vehicles.nrcan.gc.ca and www.nrcan.gc.ca/ energy/efficiency/transportation/cars-lighttrucks/buying/16223.

A&J

Automotive Repair Owner/Operator: Al Dickhaut

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shocks engines transmissions rear-ends tune-ups

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6701 - 46 Avenue (located at First Call Towing)

Quality 2009

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We are an approved repairer for all major insurance companies

After your home, your vehicle is one of the biggest investments you’ll make, and it’s important to you that it says in tip-top shape.The experts at Integra Tire Ponoka understand, because they feel the same way! So you can count on us to deliver exceptional service and superior products with honesty and integrity every time. After all, it’s in our name.

Book your spring maintenace with us today, and we’ll be sure your vehicle can take on whatever spring throws at it.

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6403 44 Avenue, Ponoka AB located in the Southwest Industrial Park Where QUALITY is not just a word, it’s OUR NAME! Ph: 403-783-3456 Fax: 403-783-3402 email:qpaint@telus.net

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14 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

First Choice Auto & Truck Repair LTD Ponoka Towing

• Mechanical repairs on all makes & models of vehicles • Licensed vehicle inspection facility • Heavy truck & trailer repairs • 24 Hr. towing service 4215 - 67 Street

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Towing: 403-783-0700

Collision Centre

YOU HAVE A CHOICE!

Fuel efficiency tests are changing for model year 2015 Up to now, fuel consumption ratings were based on two tests conducted in laboratories, but beginning with model year 2015, manufacturers have been using an improved testing procedure to determine the fuel consumption ratings of new light-duty vehicles.

The federal government has announced new test methods that result in fuel consumption ratings, which are more reflective of typical Canadian driving conditions and styles.

These new methods add to the old city and highway

tests by integrating three new tests that account for air conditioner usage, cold temperature operation and driving at higher speeds with more rapid acceleration and braking.

The new five-cycle testing results in fuel consumption ratings that are on average 10-20 per cent higher compared to the old ratings, but are more representative of typical on-road driving conditions and styles.

While it can get confusing when comparing the same 2014 and 2015 model, be aware that

manufacturers are not producing less fuel-efficient vehicles but rather that the new test methods used to determine the fuel consumption ratings are simply more reflective of on-road driving conditions and styles.

You can find information about fuel-efficient vehicle choices and tips for eco-driving on the Natural Resources website at www. vehicles.nrcan.gc.ca and www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/ efficiency/transportation/ c a rs - l i g h t - t r u ck s / bu y ing/16223.

Your Complete Automotive Service Centre - Government inspection service facility for all commercial and out of province inspections. Also, service for all makes of cars & trucks - gas or diesel

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For appointment call:

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403-783-6804

or stop by at 5503 - 54 St., Ponoka

PONOKA NEWS 15

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Sisters are doin' it for themselves – even when it comes to car maintenance In today’s world, women are not only becoming more influential in deciding what cars to buy, they are also taking over the traditionally male responsibility of maintenance and repairs.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, currently more than 65 per cent of customers who take their vehicles to a repair shop for service are women, and some repair industry experts estimate that the average may actually be closer to 80 per cent.

Ladies, we have influential buying power and spend over $200 billion on new cars and mechanical vehicle servicing each year, but how much do we truly know about what's under the hood of our cars and what care they require?

The truth is, you don’t have to be a mechanical genius to keep your car running into the six digits, but car care does require a determined mindset, so here’s a crash course on how to better take care of your car!

Get your oil changed on schedule Consult your owner's manual for the proper mileage at which to have your engine oil serviced.

Procrastinating on your oil change can lead to oil sludge build up and internal engine wear.

Focus on fluids During your oil change service, have your fluids properly topped off and check your transmission,

brake, power steering, and cooling system fluid levels every six months. Improper fluid levels may cause premature wear and failure of important parts on your car as well as overheating.

Check out the battery Most shops will check your battery for free upon request, so have it checked twice per year and replace it as necessary. A weak battery may leave you stranded at the worst possible time.

Pay attention to the tires When you drive, your tires play a large part in how the car handles, what kind of gas mileage you get, and whether or not you can stop when you need to.

If your tires aren’t properly inflated or don’t have enough tread, they won’t be able to perform the way you expect them to, which can make driving dangerous.

Don’t forget the brakes!

Having your brakes checked at every service occasion may save you valuable time and money in the future. At the very least, you should have your entire brake system inspected once per year. Ask your technician for your brake specifications to ensure that you and your family remain safe on the road.

How about the wipers?

Old and worn out wipers can affect your visibility during adverse weather conditions. Your wiper blades should be replaced twice a year or when cracked, cut, torn,

This paper is

% 0 0 1 le b a l c y c e R

streaking or chattering.

Inspect your headlights Check your headlights every so often to ensure that they operate properly and have your local automotive service provider check that they are aimed properly. Effective headlights are key to seeing and being seen.

Replace your belts and hoses A broken belt or hose can leave you stranded, or worse, cause severe engine damage. Have your belts inspected for cracking or fraying and your hoses for cracking or leaking. Have your timing belt replaced at the manufacturers recommended mileage interval.

While we might not want to replace our own spark plugs or change our own oil, we can cer-

tainly save ourselves a lot of trouble by engaging in regular preventative

maintenance. If we can save a lot of money for a little effort, we're bound

to think it's worth it - after all, sisters are doin' it for themselves, right?

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16 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Air Cadets honoured at Dining in Night

BY AMELIA NAISMITH

The 65 Squadron Ponoka Royal Canadian Air Cadets’ 19th annual Dining in Night was an evening to celebrate the vast accomplishments of the squadron over the last year and served as an opportunity

to give the cadets some live experience in military mess dinners.

“The purpose of the evening is to show the cadets, and their parents and families and friends, what a military mess dinner is all about,” said Cpt. Tracey Fiedler, commanding

officer 65 Squadron Ponoka.

“It gives them an appreciation,” she added.

The event also brings the Air Cadets and military community together, as well as the community of Ponoka, to commemorate the cadets.

In the past year, the 65

Squadron gained a band. “It’s awesome,” said Fiedler.

The squadron’s range team took first at zones and is heading to provincials. The biathlon team also competed in zones. In the effective speaking program, two cadets attended zones. The drill team is winning competitions and squadron also boasts a fun

event team.

“We’ve actually had some pretty neat things this year,” said Fiedler.

“Last year, we won top squadron so I hope that we continue that and win that again this year,” she added.

“I’m very proud of all these kids, the staff, the parents, the support that we have at our

Sunrise Village Ponoka will be hosting a

Daffodil Tea Thursday, April 2 • 2:00pm – 4:00pm Entertainment provided by the “Sunshine Cloggers”

Lemon Tarts and refreshments will be provided.

Daffodil bundles will be available to buy.

All proceeds raised go to support the Canadian Cancer Society.

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Cpt. Tracey Fiedler, commanding officer 65 Squadron Ponoka, uses her time with the mic to regale those who attended the 65 Squadron Ponoka Royal Canadian Air Cadets 19th annual Dining in Night with the accomplishments of the cadets over the past year.

Photo by Amelia Naismith

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squadron as a whole.”

Three cadets received their graduating pins at the dinner: WO2 Tyler Gaudet, FSgt Logan Newton and WO1 Kelly Fielder.

Royal Canadian Legion #66 Branch Ponoka president Sybil Evans also attended the dinner and had a few words of encouragement for the cadets.

“It’s an honour to be associated with this squadron,” she said.

The squadron was also given two flight simulators last year, which helps ease the pressures of having to handle the 55 cadets in the program.

In attendance were many military personnel and aged out cadets. While it is not a requirement they attend the dinner, Fielder says they keep coming back to stay a part of the program.

“They want to be there. I think it shows excellent support in the program itself,” she explained.

Another aged out cadet in attendance was the squadron’s guest of honor for the evening, retired Lt. Col Tom Sand.

After leaving the program, Sand joined the Canadian Forces. In his year of services he has accumulated more than 6,000 patrol flight hours.

In his many roles and many great accomplishments, he has served as a deputy commanding officer, training squadron officer commander and staff officer. Sand has carried out his duties in the United States, Italy and Afghanistan.

“Usually we try to find someone who has some aviation background or some air cadet background,” said Fiedler. “So retired Lt. Col. Sand was an excellent choice.”

“I started out my career in cadets and it did me very well, I chose the Air Force,” said Sand. “And it will suit you very, very well for whatever you decide to do to.”

“It has done wonders for all the youth in Canada that have been involved,” he added.

Sand told the audience that by age 14, he knew where he wanted to go in life and the Air Cadets got him there. He added the lessons he learned in the program also helped him through the second transition of his life when he retired from the Air Force.

“What it taught me …was the possibilities. You’re only limited by your imagination,” said Sand.

PONOKA NEWS 17

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Rural health report recommends a return to health districts

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

A new government report calls for a return of health districts; the same ones that were amalgamated into Alberta Health Services (AHS) seven years ago.

The report, called Rural Health Services Review, was released last week after a committee met with communities across the province to seek input on rural healthcare in Alberta.

Vermilion-Lloydminster MLA Richard Starke was the chairperson of the committee and he suggests rural residents have been frustrated with the centralization of services.

Centralizing healthcare was intended to reduce costs and bureaucracy, but that remains doubtful considering Alberta Health Services remains one of the largest costs in the Alberta budget.

Starke said feedback that stood out was people want an “increased level of accountability and input in decision making.”

That was one reason for recommending eight to 10 health districts, while AHS will still function to make larger deci-

sions. The cost of implementing that remains unclear.

Another area Starke heard concern was regarding Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

He said rural residents are finding response times to be slow as crews get drawn into larger centres for hospital transfers.

The recommendations would require rural EMS crews discharge patients no later than one hour after arrival at the ER and not be diverted from calls outside of their region while en route to their home base. Starke says these EMS recommendations may need to be acted on immediately.

That would include developing a system of nonemergency transport within the province, which Starke says is already being used in some areas.

These initiatives come about two years after a Health Quality Council of Alberta review to consolidate EMS service delivery in the province and to create a borderless system.

Starke is unsure the challenges that will be faced when implementing points in the report, but he suggests rural communities will need to work

together to provide quality healthcare. He suggests it is inefficient for two nearby communities to offer the exact same services.

“The truth of the matter is if there is a greater collaboration of more communities, a greater result can be achieved,” explained Starke.

As an example he suggests one community may have the equipment and specialists to handle orthopedic work, another could deal with obstetrics and a third could specialize in mental health. “If you try to do everything you’re going to end up doing nothing,” he opined.

Other recommendations in the report provide suggestions for sharing of specialized services, continuing care, dealing with mental health and addictions and recruitment.

Infrastructure is also discussed in the report, which recommends a full inventory of existing facilities be conducted, in consultation with communities on how those facilities should be used.

To read the report visit www.health.alberta.ca and click the Improving rural health care link.

Town council looks at behaviour bylaw

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Town councillors considered options on a draft behaviour bylaw that will deal with troublemakers in town.

Council looked at potential changes to the draft behaviour bylaw that could deal out fines for individuals Tuesday, March 17 during a committee of the whole meeting.

Some issues in the behaviour bylaw deal with urinating in the streets, fighting in public, panhandling, spitting in public and loitering.

Mayor Rick Bonnett said the fines in the bylaw are meant as a deterrent for potential troublemakers.

“It’s for the two per cent, not the 98 per cent,” said Bonnett.

Ted Dillon, director of protective services, told councillors that many of the issues in the draft bylaw give police an option to deal with individuals without it becoming a criminal code issue. If the person is a minor, they can still receive a fine but will not have to go through the courts.

Bonnett said the bylaw also gives the police the right to speak with a person who breaks one of the bylaws. He hopes it will also stop people from fighting, especially if they know they will receive a $250 fine for fighting in public.

Coun. Carla Prediger would like to hear

from Ponoka RCMP with their thoughts on the bylaw. No decisions were made as this was a committee of the whole meeting.

Snow removal Councillors also looked at putting more “teeth” into the snow removal enforcement policy and snow and ice removal from sidewalks.

Bonnett suggests that a fine for not removing snow from a sidewalk may get homeowners to clear their sidewalk. “I don’t want to fine people, I want to get them motivated.”

Dillon told council that the ultimate responsibility for clearing a sidewalk falls on the homeowner. If there are renters, the responsibility is still on the homeowner. He said the biggest challenge in enforcement is when there are several snow falls in a short period of time.

Dillon suggested that for any complaints on snow removal council, or the individual raising a concern should complete an occurrence report.

This will ensure the town can track the issue and see if it has been rectified.

On all the discussions regarding handing out fines, council requested administration change the wording from “may” fine a person to “shall” or “will” fine a person.

Council passed first reading on the bylaw last year, giving time to look at making changes to the draft and receive feedback on it.

PUBLIC NOTICE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE COUNTY’S LAND USE BYLAW

Bylaw No. 1202/15

Lacombe County Council has given first reading to Bylaw No. 1202/15 the purpose of which is to amend the general regulations the County’s Land Use Bylaw. The amendments are being proposed to provide greater clarity to the regulations, address any issues which have arisen since the last amendments to the Bylaw and to support the new policies outlined in the Hamlet of Mirror Area Structure Plan. Examples of some of these amendments being proposed include: x x x x x x x

A new definition for ‘kennel’ is being added to the definitions; Increasing the minimum standards in the landscaping regulations; Changing the required landscaping from m² (ft²) to linear frontage; Reducing the setback between Recreational Vehicles and Park Models to 3 m (10 ft) Adding campground minor, major, and intermediate to the H-C Commercial District and H-PR Recreational District in the Hamlet of Mirror; A new HR3 Residential District (Hamlet of Mirror) which allows for larger lots of up to 0.4 ha (1 ac) and communal wastewater servicing; and Two (2) non-resident employees to be permitted to work in a major home based business in the proposed HR3 Residential District (Hamlet of Mirror).

A copy of the Bylaw with the proposed amendments may be obtained from the County’s Planning and Development Department or by visiting the County’s website at www.lacombecounty.com.

Anyone wishing to comment on the proposed Bylaw amendments will have an opportunity to do so at a public hearing which has been arranged for: Date: Time: Place:

Thursday, April 9, 2015 9:00 AM Lacombe County Administration Office located 2½ miles west of Highway 2 at the intersection of Spruceville Road and Highway 12

If you are unable to attend the hearing, written submissions can be made to the County. You will, however, need to ensure that your comments are received by the County prior to the date of the hearing. Your comments can be sent by email to info@lacombecounty.com, by fax to 403-782-3820 or by mail to RR 3, Lacombe AB T4L 2N3. All submissions will be public information.

For more information, please contact the Planning and Development Department.

Dale Freitag, RPP, MCIP Manager of Planning Services

Ponoka Stampede & Exhibition Association SEEKING YOUNG LADIES

FROM AGE 18-23 INTERESTED IN BEING

MISS PONOKA STAMPEDE 2015 CANDIDATES WILL HAVE THE FOLLOWING ASSETS:

-

Horsemanship Public speaking Be familiar with RODEO Outgoing personality Ability to attend events and make appearances

Successful applicants will be interviewed by a selection committee WINNER TO RECEIVE

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Trophy Saddle & Breast Collar Trophy Buckle Wardrobe Possibility to compete for Miss Rodeo Canada Application forms are available at ponokastampede.com Forward to: Ponoka Stampede Assoc.

Box 4336, 5616 - 39 Ave. Ponoka, AB T4J 1R7 Resumes accepted until 4pm on April 1, 2015

18 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Hamburglar sentenced in Ponoka court

BY AMELIA NAISMITH

A man received a sentence of 14 days in custody at the Ponoka provincial court Friday March 20, after pleading guilty to attempting to steal hamburger patties from a local grocery store.

Ponoka RCMP was called to Hamilton’s IGA on Monday, March 16 due to the complaint about a man who had slipped the patties into his jacket.

Upon arrival, RCMP discovered the object of the complaint was James Anhorn, 57, of the Samson Cree Nation, known to members as a nuisance in town. He was heavily intoxicated at the time of the incident.

It was a customer who made the complaint and when confronted, Anhorn handed over the hamburgers and was co-operative until police ar-

rived.

Anhorn’s last shoplifting conviction was in 2012 when he received 30 days in custody. It was the same sentence the Crown sought in this matter.

Anhorn has been in custody since the Monday offence, and with eight days credited to his time he will remain there for another six days following his sentencing.

Possession of controlled substance A man who pled guilty to three counts of possession of a controlled substance was sentenced to pay a $250 fine and an additional victim surcharge of 30 per cent.

For the offence, Jessy Godin had been offered alternative measures. However, he failed to act upon the opportunity and it was revoked and sentencing proceeded on March 20.

On Aug. 16 2014, a Ponoka RCMP member detected to odor of cannabis coming from another vehicle as it and the cruiser passed each other on the street.

The member pursued the vehicle, still smelling the odor, and performed a traffic stop.

Behind the wheel was Godin and a female passenger was observed putting something under her seat.

A strong odor could now be detected coming from the vehicle and the RCMP noticed Godin acting nervous. He was detained and arrested.

The passenger pulled an approximately six gram bag of marijuana from under the seat. Godin admitted it was his and that he and his girlfriend had consumed some recently.

Godin had no prior record.

Possession of illegal cannabis

A man was given a $250 fine with a 30 per cent victim surcharge after pleading guilty to five counts of possession of a controlled substance.

Tyler Gravelle was also given the opportunity for alternative measures but failed to act upon it.

On July 2 2014, at approximately 8 p.m., an RCMP officer on patrol on Highway 53 west of Ponoka was approached by an oncoming vehicle with mounted light bar with an intensity which seemed to exceed regulation.

The vehicle was stopped and in speaking with the driver, Gravelle, the RCMP offiocer could detect the odor of cannabis inside the vehicle.

At first Gravelle denied the smell but when the RCMP persisted he pulled out a hidden roach. A search of the vehicle produced more roaches, seven grams of cannabis,

HEY ALBERTA, DO YOU KNOW A GREAT VOLUNTEER? The Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association (AWNA) and Direct Energy are now accepting nominations for the 2015 Alberta Volunteer Citizen of the Year Award to recognize someone who goes above and beyond to help others in the community.

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rolling papers and a grinder.

Gravelle had no prior drug record.

Impaired driver refused breath samples, sentenced After pleading guilty for driving while impaired and refusing to provide a breath sample, a man was sentenced to a one-year driving prohibition and two $1,500 fines.

On Feb. 8, Ponoka RCMP received several complaints of erratic driving northbound on Highway 2 toward Ponoka.

The Crown Prosecutor told the court the gray Chevrolet pickup, driven by Austin Jones, was all over the road almost hitting the ditch and a guard rail.

The marked RCMP cruiser pulled up the truck and the member observed Jones behind the wheel, eyes almost shut, smoking a cigarette.

Parked on the Ponoka access was an SUV with a person beside it. The RCMP feared the Jones was going to hit the person and used the air horn several times to warn the person.

Once the vehicle was stopped, Jones was arrested and handcuffed. He was unsteady on his feet and belligerent.

Inside was a half empty 40 ounce bottle of alcohol and an empty mickey. The court was told Jones was on his way to Edmonton from a party in Calgary the previous evening.

He was still intoxicated.

At the Ponoka detachment Jones refused to provide a breath sample, despite being informed refusing could lead to criminal charges.

In the detachment’s phone room, instead of calling legal aid, Jones first began working out and later was trying to sleep. He was placed in a cell to sober up.

In court, Jones disagreed with the facts he almost hit the ditch and guard rail. Judge G. Yake was informed the Crown would not rely on the facts excluding those two and sentencing proceeded.

“You’re lucky, fortunate, you didn’t kill yourself or anybody else,” said Yake.

“You’re very lucky you’re not one of those people who have hurt and killed somebody. Hopefully this will be a mistake you don’t repeat,” he added.

The charge of dangerous driving was dropped upon acceptance of the first two charges.

Wetlands are home to hundreds of plants and animal species–including one-third of Canada’s species at risk.

Learn more about wetland conservation and restoration at ducks.ca 15034DD0

INDIGENOUS EDUCATION AWARDS PROGRAM

Supporting tomorrow’s

Leaders ATCO Pipelines is offering awards, bursaries and scholarships to Indigenous students from Alberta demonstrating leadership and commitment to further development.

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ATCO Pipelines is committed to supporting the development of young leaders in the communities where we own pipelines and facilities.

Deadline to apply is August 1

Find out how to apply: ATCOPipelines.com/indigenousawards For more information, please contact ATCO Pipelines Corporate Communications at 403.245.7300 Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn

WANTED! 2015 Rimbey Rodeo Queen Contestants Rimbey Rodeo July 10, 11 & 12 If you are a horse crazy cowgirl, love to have fun, and between the age of 16 -21 please contact: Jessica Husband at 403-783-1102 for more information.

Closing date is April 6, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 19

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Inclusive education continues growth in WCPS

BY AMELIA NAISMITH

With Action on Inclusion and inclusive learning now a fully integrated practice in Wolf Cree Public Schools (WCPS) education, assistant superintendant of Inclusive Learning Services Amber Hester visited the board of trustees during its Tuesday, March 17 meeting to update them on its successes.

Alberta Education began the push for inclusive learning three years ago, and Hester says without much instruction, divisions were given a rubric to develop the concept.

“When I first got here, I gave the rubric out to staff.

We needed to build pretty much all of it,” said Hester.

From this came the division’s Action on Inclusion handbook and its pyramid of interventions, “…and then the process for that whole learning (to) connect,” said Hester.

“In this process we built a very tight structure and the structure is something that has become our framework,” she added.

The model and practices the division built were so comprehensive that they went beyond the framework of Alberta Education, which became interested in what the division was doing and set up time for a presenta-

tion.

“That was just a huge affirmation for our team,”said Hester.

Following the presentation, Hester says a stream of requests from other school divisions came in wanting to learn how and what WCPS was doing. “It was a little bit overwhelming after the second day of requests,” said Hester.

In the future, Hester is hoping to make a similar presentation to the trustees.

“The inclusive education indicators is the measurement tool by which the government has asked us to measure some of the inclusive processes and there are three faces to it,” said Hester, referring to teachers, community and students.

Hester says a number of presentations have also been made to school councils, upon request, to keep the channels of communication open.

Trustee Bob Huff would like to see information presented to the board that is result based. “How effective is this working because one can read all the dynamics … one can say we’re putting trillions of dollars into this, but are the kids benefitting?”

“I think what’s most important is we see some results,” he added.

Community donations: The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #66 Ponoka recently made a mass donation to three different organizations in town. The Lions Club received $700, the Wheel Chair Van Society received $700 and $1,000 went to the Ponoka Elementary School Playground Fundraising Committee.

L to R: Legion president Sybil Evans, Ponoka Wheelchair Van Society president Nell Liddle, Lions Club president Vance Adams and Legion ways and means chairman Dorothy Houghton.

ASKER LADIES AID

SPRING BENEFIT FOR DERYL & PAT SPELREM SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2015

7:30 PM is now accepting applications for the 2015-2016 school year

phone: 403.783. 6563 fax: 403.783.6687 e-mail: office@ponokachristianschool.com

www.ponokachristianschool.com

ASKER LUTHERAN CHURCH EAST OF PONOKA ON HWY 53 Asker Ladies Aid group is hosting a bene?t with all proceeds going to Deryl & Pat Spelrem. Deryl & Pat have been part of the Asker and Calumet communities for many years. Deryl su ers from MS and is needing a more permanent solution to his declining health. Pat is facing serious health issues as well.

The Bene?t will o er pie, a bake table and auction items. Please come and support. If you cannot be here, you can send a cheque payable to Asker Ladies Aid at RR1 Site 20 Box 13, Ponoka, AB T4J 1R1.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: DEANNA BLOOMQUIST @ 780-372-3640

20 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

New requests challenge WCPS, St. Thomas Aquinas agreement

BY AMELIA NAISMITH

The St. Thomas Aquinas Roman (STAR) Catholic school division is looking to renew its transportation contracts with Wolf Creek Public Schools (WCPS) for another five years. However, WCPS has concerns with how the Catholic division wants to proceed.

“Our agreements expire at the end of this year. There are some troubling requests

that they’ve made,” said WCPS secretary-treasurer Joe Henderson.

STAR hold two contracts with WCPS for Ponoka, rural and urban busing, and another two along the same lines for Lacombe.

One concern is the WCPS and STAR school day calendars do not match up. In the past, when WCPS buses have run about five routes on days the division did not school, STAR was

billed.

STAR wants changes in the contracts that would bind WCPS to provide buses on days the two calendars do not match without billing the division, says Henderson.

“I donít think we want to necessarily go there.”

Board chair Trudy Bratland reminded the trustees that last year WCPS recommended that the Catholic Schools align their calendars to match.

Henderson told the board he did not see the division getting out of providing rural transportation of the Catholic students, but if STAR holds hard to its requests, the better option may be having the two divisions provide separate urban busing.

He says with that there is an issue of students “hopping” the bus to attend Father Lacombe Catholic School, but added most of the busing requests in Lacombe are to

go to Ecole James S. McCormick School.

The division generates approximately $80,000 in additional transportation grants. “Because we have joint agreements with the Catholic board,” said Henderson.

“It’s incentive to have us work together, so that factors in a bit,” he added.

“As much as I would like to keep a positive relationship with our Catholic

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neighbors, I think we would have to be very careful to sign a transportation agreement that would costs us, either in being fair to our own students and parents or in costing Wolf Creek money,” said Lacombe/ Blackfalds trustee Barb Walker.

The board had a meeting with STAR on Monday, March23 when the matter was scheduled to be further discussed.

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$199,500 ~ Call Todd to view

$325,000 ~ Call Todd

- 1060 sq ft, 5 bdrms/ 2 baths - Fully finished basement upgrades! 2 Kitchens - Many upg Ready; Quick - Move in R Possessio Possession - Thi This iis one to SEE!!

NORTH END ACREAGE

SOLD

- North side of Ponoka on pavement - 2 acres w great building potential!

- Gas, power & phone at road - Feels like country; convenience of town!

$99,900 ~ Call Bob

$229,000 ~ Call Bob

MOVE IN READY

- 1472 sq ft 1.5 storey home on OVERSIZED lot compl - Home completely reno’d & spacious add addition added in 2000 - Fully fenced, large deck, double garage & detached dou gorgeous mature landscaping ma

MOVE IN READY

SOLD EXECUTIVE HOME

- 4 – Level Split - 1,692 Sq.Ft. - Large Country Kitchen - Enclosed Sunroom - Too Many Extras to List $380,000 ~ Call Deb

- Both sides available to own - 1020 sq ft with 2 bdrms & 1 bath - Convenient one level living - Open floor plan

$252,000 each Call Jane or Lacey

$269,900 ~ Call Jane

$214,900 Call Jane

CALLING ALL INVESTORS

JANE WIERZBA

- Central Location

$379,900 Call Bob

PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP

TODD REED

Assoc. Broker

AFFORDABLE FAMILY HOME - 1120 sq ft, 5 bdrm & 2 bath

$129,900 ~ Call Todd

$158,500 Call Jane or Lacey

MOVE-IN READY

Associate

- Only minutes to the lake

Call Bob for more info

MOBILE HOME ON ITS OWN LOT!

BOB TILTGEN

- New flooring on main floor - Single garage, fenced yard - Move in ready!!! $245,000 ~ Call Lisa

$228,000 ~ Call Lisa

UPGRADED CONDO

Proud sponsors of RDC Arts Programs

LOTS OF POTENTIAL!

- 791 Sq. Ft. Bungalow - 2 B/R, 1 Bath - Single Car Garage - New Shingles in 2014 - Great Fixer Upper! $125,000 Call Deb

TO VIEW A COMPLETE LIST OF OUR PROPERTIES AND VIRTUAL TOURS PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT

www.ponokaproperties.com

PONOKA NEWS 21

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Golden Leisure Lodge receives funding for fire sprinklers

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Residents will be able to sleep a little more soundly at Golden Leisure Lodge after the announcement that funds for a fire sprinkler system were approved.

The announcement came Tuesday, March 17 at the lodge by LacombePonoka MLA Rod Fox who said $770,000 has been set aside for the project.

“I can tell you that seniors are a big priority with our premier,” said Fox. Lodges across Alberta built before 1990, when building codes did not require fire sprinkler systems, are receiving money to improve fire safety in the building. Management of the lodge falls to the Rimoka Housing Foundation, which has hired the Bethany Group to manage operations at all of the Rimoka buildings.

Rimoka chairperson Paul McLauchlin said last fall management bodies were asked to determine what it would cost to install a sprinkler system. His initial thoughts that it would cost millions of dollars were wrong, which he was

Alastair Mackenzie and Sybil Evans placed 6th in 18 teams at the Royal Canadian Legion Cribbage Provincials in Wainwright, in the Division 4 cribbage pair competition, held March 13 and 14.

Submitted photo

pleased to see.

“I think it will provide us with the safety and protection we need,” said McLauchlin.

He said the goal is to install the systems as soon as possible and planners need to look at the different types of systems available before making a decision.

There are two possible options: a dry sprinkler system that suppresses the oxygen in the air in the event of a fire or a wet sprinkler system. McLauchlin says whatever is decided on the suppression will buy seniors much needed time in the event of a fire.

“First and foremost is to protect the collective good,” he said.

Planning is expected to start right away.

Deb Stevens Associate Broker

real estate central alberta

BOB TILTGEN 403-704-0644

real estate central alberta 6000 - 48 Ave., Ponoka

6000 - 48 Ave., Ponoka

NEW ON THE MARKET TO BE MOVED

A MUST SEE! REDUCED

$ • • • • • •

1253 sq ft Bungalow, 4 bdrms & 2 baths Beautifully done, numerous upgrades 10’ ceilings, hardwood & fireplace NEW appliances & Birch Cabinets Fenced, Landscaped & detached dbl garage Close to Hospital & School

$339,900 $

79,900 Call Deb!

- 4 B/R, 2 Baths - New Paint, Flooring, Furnace, Windows & Baths - Great Location!

JOHN W. LOW Agencies Inc. 403-783-5512

GET READY FOR SPRING!

7 ACREAGES AVAILABLE. Beautiful building sites just a short drive south of Ponoka in Jada Estates.

REDUCED PRICE Building restricitons make Call Wayne this property an exclusive 403-704-0864 area for upscale homes.

RED

D UCE

COMMERCIAL

Call Wayne 403-704-0864 Great location on main street of Ponoka. Total space

NEW LISTING

COUNTRY LIVING AT IT’S BEST.

DEER CREEK

Choice country acreages 3 km Ponoka. Treed, open & walkouts available. Owner may conside trades. Acreages can be Call Brian 403-783-5512 completely serviced if so desired.

VACANT LOT

$69,000 Call Wayne 403-704-0864

$

146,900 Call Deb!

4 bedroom, 3 bath bungalow with walkout basement and triple garage. Located on 5.93 Call Annette for details acres only minutes from town.

403-704-7023

2750 sq. ft. building and lot only. $139,000

Great opportunity to build your dream home or duplex in north end of town. Mature neighbourhood.

PRICED TO SELL AT

- 1997 Mobile Home - Open Floor Plan - 3 B/R, 2 Bath - Vaulted Ceiling and Skylight - Nice, Bright Living Area

GET PACKING!

Call Bob

5118 - 50th Street, Ponoka 1-800-392-8658

403-704-3152

5 ACRES Located north of Ponoka with 2000 16 X 80 manufactured home. Ideal country setting.

ASKING PRICE

$269,000

Call Brian 403-704-7018

TOTAL COUNTRY

WEST OF PONOKA Productive 1/4 section.

A variety of building lots available from treed open to walk-outs. Located 1.5 miles from Ponoka. Range from 2 – 3.5 acres. Beautiful country setting.

Call Brian 403-704-7018

Call Brian 403-704-7018

real estate central alberta

would like to WELCOME

Lacey Gregory as the newest addition to their team of Associates.

Lacey is relocating from Wetaskiwin and is looking forward to meeting people in the community and assisting with their real estate services. She brings with her, previous experience, and a zest for working with clients looking to buy or sell.

Lacey will be working in partnership with Jane Wierzba, to provide their client with the ultimate in customer service.

Feel free to stop into the office to say hello!

Please Recycle Your Paper!

6000 - 48 Ave. • 403-783-5007 WAYNE McGARVEY

BRIAN HATALA

ANNETTE DODDS

SHAWNA LOW Broker

PROFESSIONAL REALTORS OF JOHN W. LOW AGENCIES INC.

(Beside The Old Iron Horse Restaurant)

www.ponokaproperties.com

22 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Farm & Ranch

Bulls selling for top dollar at Angus auction

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Black Angus bulls went for big dollars at an auction at the Calnash Ag Event Centre last week.

Harold and Dorothy Reich, who live and farm close to Bashaw area, held

their annual auction at the ag centre Wednesday, March 18 with one Angus bull selling for $11,000.

Their son Kolton Kasur was working the auction and he has never seen prices like this for cattle. “It seems to be all the sales that I’ve

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Potential buyers watch as bid-taker Andrew Reeleder looks for a top bid Wednesday, March 18 at the Calnash Ag Event Centre. Harold and Dorothy Reich held their annual black Angus bull sale the ag centre.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye been to this year have been up $2,000 to $3,000 per bull,” said Kasur.

The Reich bulls are bred for their size and ability to bring a bigger animal into

the herd, he explained.

Ranchers looking to put extra weight into their calves

Oil & Filter Sale March 1 – 31 Spend more time getting it done — and less at the parts counter.

Monday, April 27 - Farm Sale for John Fawcett - Bluffton, Alberta Saturday, May 9 - Unreserved Real Estate & Farm Sale for the estate of Glen Fawcett June 19 - 35th Annual Summer Machinery Consignment Sale - Rimbey, Alberta June 28 - Unreserved Real Estate, Shop Tools & Furniture Sale for Sandra Koenig - (Location: 5114-51 Ave Rimbey, Alberta)

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in the fall usually look for these types of bulls at a sale.

“A lot of guys want that big, thick body with lots of volume and whatnot, so that it’s going to be able to pass that on to his calves,” said Kasur.

When the calves go to market a producer should expect more money for their animals as they are bought based on their weight. With global demand for beef growing and producers still catching up, buyers are willing to pay good money for the animals.

“Cattle numbers in general are down,” said Kasur.

Several years ago many producers sold their business, which has also helped create the demand. “Now there’s just not the numbers there in the countryside to produce the beef demand that there is in the world.”

Kasur said he noticed the upswing in prices last spring and they have continued to grow ever since.

“Hopefully it’s here to stay.”

He is pleased to see ranchers and producers, who decided to stick it out with the industry, receiving some reward for their patience and efforts.

The average sale price at the auction was $7,923 with prices mostly in the $7,000 to $8,000 range. Kasur is also diversifying into Simmental cows at his K Three Ranch.

PONOKA NEWS 23

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Marching through acres Students learn valuable

Brennan Turner FarmLead More chatter about new crop acres continues help the grain market trade sideways as we moved past the halfway point in March. It’s estimated that American producers are currently holding 55-60 per cent of their 2014/15 corn crop and about 20 per cent of their soybean crop (that’s a lot of bushels of corn left to sell while any shortfall in soybean supply will likely be substituted by South American supplies). Ultimately, analysts are all focused on acreage estimates and weather forecasts for the northern hemisphere. While parts of the U.S. Midwest are expected to get rained on this week, dry conditions are continuing to be seen throughout the rest of March in major winter wheat regions from Kansas down to Texas (remember though, wheat is a weed!).

Two legitimate farmerbased pre-seeding surveys came out recently for U.S. acreage numbers from Allendale Inc. and Farm Futures.

Allendale expects corn acres are seen falling to their lowest level in five years at 88.5 million acres while Farm Futures is forecasting 88.34 million acres. This is well down from last year’s 90.6 million acres planted and the U.S.D.A.’s estimate of 89 million acres last month at their Outlook Forum. Purdue University estimates that it’ll cost about $446 US/acre to grow corn this year (on average soil), compared to just $228 US/ acre for soybeans. Accordingly, Allendale expects U.S. soybean acreage at 86.05 million while Farm Futures says that it’ll actually be 87.25 million acres. Both estimates are a significant hike from 2014’s 83.7 million acres and he U.S.D.A.’s Outlook estimate of 83.5 million. In all likelihood, the number will likely be around have 85

million handle in front of it.

As for wheat, Farm Futures says that 55.6 million acres of the cereal will get planted this year in the U.S, in line with U.S.D.A. expectations but fairly below Allendale’s estimate of 56.68 million acres. Allendale expectations are based of winter wheat acres falling by 1.95 million acres yearover-year (-4.6 per cent) to 40.45 million but some of that loss made up by spring wheat acreage at 14.5 million acres (up 3.7 per cent or 1.48 million acres year-over-year, most likely attributed to the drier spring). Of more significance for some Canadian producers is that Allendale forecasts U.S. durum acres to grow by 325,000 (or +23 per cent year-over-year) to 1.72 million. With acreage in Western Canada also rising by about 20 per cent from 2014, total American-Canadian durum acreage in 2015 could be up by about 10 per cent year-over-year.

Overall, the next month or so will likely bring some volatility to the markets as the trade tries to sort through all the noise of new acreage estimates coming out. Locking in on some of the good

basis levels we’re seeing right now isn’t a bad idea from my perspective. Also, look at locking in new crop acres with an Act of God clause seems to be a good bet (such deals available on FarmLead. com). Although other random opportunities are going to become available, keeping emotions in check and the long-term goal in mind is the proper course of action.

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 (1-855-3327653).

Jim E. Lysons,A. L. S., P. Eng. ALBERTA LAND SURVEYOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER R.R. #3, PONOKA, ALBERTA T4J 1R3 SUBDIVISIONS, PROPERTY BOUNDARIES, ROAD & DITCH DESIGNS, MUNICIPAL ENGINEERING CONSULTANT

RES: 403-783-6756

VJV MARKET REPORT MARKET REPORT MARCH 18, 2015

On Wednesday, March 18, 2015 - 3003 head of cattle went through our rings & 748 on the Canadian Satellite Sale - TOTAL - 3751

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

130.00-151.00 120.00-135.00 125.00-132.00 105.00-122.00 140.00-152.00 155.00-179.00

Feeder bulls 150.00-160.00 Good Bred Cows 2200.00-2950.00 Older Bred Cows N/A Good Bred Heifers: 1600.00-1800.00 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:

200.00-215.00 215.00-236.00 230.00-254.00 250.00-284.00 275.00-300.00 310.00-340.00 335.00-370.00 340.00-390.00

Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers

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

180.00-224.00 75.00-260.00 500.00-600.00 5.50-8.00 2.50-4.00 -

Rd Bales Rd Bales Rd Bales

180.00-202.00 205.00-220.00 220.00-240.00 235.00-258.00 250.00-285.00 285.00-310.00 305.00-345.00 330.00-370.00

60.00-90.00 30.00 45.00-

farm safety lessons

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Students at St. Augustine Catholic School received some important tips on farm safety last week.

Two days of classes were hosted by the Farm Safety Centre at the elementary school starting Monday, March 16.

The main purpose of the classes was to give students important safety tips through an interactive class, explained Carol Senz, west central region instructor.

“We let each child feel that they’ve been part of the discussion,” said Senz.

Each grade receives a different set of lessons, ranging from showing the importance of life vests in boats to having only one

person ride on a one-seat ATV. “We hope that teaching them young, they’ll grow up with that,” explained Senz.

So far the reaction has been quite positive. Senz said the students enjoy the classes and are quite involved in the interactive teaching. A big lesson for the young kids is understanding the importance of safety on ATVs. Senz said quad sales have been on the rise and with people buying them for recreation, the risks increase if safety steps are not followed. To counter that, Senz feels the classes will bring about positive safety discussions with parents.

Senz recalled one student recounting how he

couldn’t ride on a one-seat quad with his father because of lessons from the class.

“That is so important to get the parents on the same wavelength,” said Senz.

Each students in each grade came home with something that will help remind them of the lessons they learned in the class. Some kids even get stickers to help identify safety areas on the farm.

For Senz, the best part is when students start to understand. “When you’re presenting to them and you see, they get that ‘Aha!’ moment.”

The Farm Safety Centre has been operating since 1999 and Senz said instructors spoke with more than 10,000 students last year.

PONOKA COUNTY

FIRE SEASON REMINDER Regulations in effect April 1st to October 31st, 2015 Ponoka County is responsible for the administration of the Forest and Prairie Protection Act within the County. During the Fire Season, any person lighting a fire for any purpose, other than for burning household garbage or campfires, must have a valid fire permit.

You may be liable for fire suppression costs or penalties as provided by law for any damage that may occur while burning without a permit.

Most fire calls and associated costs can be easily avoided if precautions and extra care are taken. For example: • do not start a fire when weather conditions are conducive to a fire rapidly escaping out of control • establish a safe site for burning garbage in barrels • use a mesh screen over the top of the burning barrel to prevent the spread of sparks • keep grass around burning area mowed • never leave fires unattended Fire permits may be obtained free of charge from any one of the following Fire Guardians: Bryce Liddle SE 24-43-25-W4 783-8604 Mark Matejka NE 22-42-26-W4 783-6389 Doug Weir NW 27-42-27-W4 783-3713 Paul McLauchlin NW 32-44-2-W5 843-2675 Nancy Hartford NW 19-42-4-W5 843-3881 or from the Ponoka County Administration Office at 4205 - Highway #2A in Ponoka.

Please note – FIRE BANS may be implemented in extremely dry conditions. Listen for ban information on your local radio station or check the County website at www.PonokaCounty.com Charlie B. Cutforth Chief Administrative Officer

MARCH 27 - HORSE SALE & LONG HORN SALE @ 1:00PM Vold Jones & Vold Auction Co. Ltd. | Dawson Creek Auction Vold Jones & Vold Co. Ltd. © 2006 4410-Hwy 2A, Ponoka Alberta, Canada, T4J 1J8

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK!

24 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Will those pre-election promises be coming soon?

Here we go again. Any time in the very near future our flamboyant new Alberta Premier Mr. Jim Prentice will be calling an election to choose who will lead

us for another four years.

Even though this next election will cost us close to $30,000,000 dollars, it is always a crucial but exciting event when present

and wanna-be party hopefuls will invade the many constituencies for a chance to take a plush seat in the legislature as an elected member of our provincial

Ponoka Drop-In Activities 5015 – 46 Avenue

Mar 27 - Potluck 5:30pm. Bring a dish to share, table service and enjoy good company

Dennis Jones from Servus Credit Union will talk on “Recognizing Fraud.”

Apr. 19 @ 7pm- Gospel Concert with “Visions” Regular Jam Session every Saturday at 1:00pm PONOKA ART CLUB CLASSES 28 Mar Oils - Grant Ursuliak 25 Apr Pencil or Colored Pencil “Old Buildings & Cobblestones” - Frank Haddock 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 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 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!

government.

As we all know very well, since the last election, many of the ‘old school’ politicians have stepped down into the ‘pension penthouse’, the last premier suddenly left the building, and many of the Wild Rose opposition party have dashed across the floor into the comfortable Progressive Conservative fold. Then enter Jim Prentice, a former Harper favourite, who swept into the top post, then proceeded to ‘shake-up’ the much criticized party, sold off the airplane fleet, and of course, promised to make a whole bunch of positive changes for the future. Just a few weeks ago, the new premier openly suggested that all of us Albertans were overspending with our lavish life-styles. Is that not like the pot calling the kettle black, especially coming

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

PLAYING

March 27 - April 2

SCREEN #1

Cinderella 113 min 2:00 PM Sat & Sun 7:00 PM Daily Rated G

The Ponoka & District ct Chamber of Commerce rce is in need of entertainmentt for the upcoming

TRADE FAIR April 17 & 18 If you can: - sing - dance - play a musical instrument - or have any other type of talent please contact: Judy Dick, Ponoka News 403-783-3311 Email: manager@ponokanews.com or Les Jaster, Ponoka & District Chamber of Commerce 403-783-3888 Email: chamber@ponoka.org

SCREEN #2

Insurgent 119 min 2:00 PM Sat & Sun 8:00 PM Daily Rated PG

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

from the party in power that controls the purse strings, sets the budgets and whose job it is to get the best bang out of our hard-earned taxpayers’ dollars?

For the past few months, they are claiming that our great province is now in somewhat of an economic crisis because the oil prices have tumbled to below $50 a barrel, but were they, the party in power, being fiscally responsible when our ‘black gold’ was selling for $107, and why were there no plans already in place in advance to prepare for this sort of a ‘cash crunch’? Whatever the case, there will likely have to be a whole lot of hard work, planning, tough love and belt tightening to keep the good ship Alberta afloat, stabilized and steaming ahead long into what we all hope will be a bright future for each and every citizen.

The obvious priorities at the present time for our province must include a complete education and every opportunity to learn and advance for our youth from grade school to beyond graduation. As well, we must have quality and efficient health care system and the ongoing support for each and every resident of Alberta, from infants to seniors. As a senior, I am concerned that there is not sufficient support, staff, services and accommodations for an aging population, as well as vital ongoing assistance for those with special needs, and more housing and help for the growing list of homeless people.

We should really admire and encourage all those willing and enthusiastic candidates who have thrown their hats into the ring for the opportunity of representing the party of their choice in our next most vital provincial election. After receiving the Premier’s TV address to Albertans and accepting what they say will be a ‘hard-line’ budget next week, the election call will likely come shortly after, and then all the vigorous and red hot campaigning and usual lofty promises, lots of facts and probably a little fluff will come quick and fast all the way until the polls open. Once the election call comes loud and

Mike Rainone Hammertime clear, and it will soon, it is up to us, the always faithful and trusted taxpayers to get involved by attending the community forums, reading the papers and asking the candidates lots of questions.

Then for all of us, 18 years of age and over, it is our vitally important freedom of choice to get out on election day and mark our decision on the ballot for the leaders of our future. Thanks for doing your part.

A few quick facts. *Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots was really exciting this year, including the glitzy half-time show. All of the fans who took in that great Sunday football game must have also been really hungry, because they consumed 1.25 billion chicken wings and I can’t imagine how much beer it took to wash the goodies all down. *As sports fanatics, we will always admire a great team effort, win or lose, but some of the longstanding ‘winning streaks’ that have been established will go into the record books so that they will be remembered for a lifetime. While on holidays in Hawaii, I read that the Lahainualuna girls’ basketball team of the Maui Interscholastic League has won 106 consecutive games since 2008.

Even though March just might go out like a lion, we already have a head start on more sunshine, the quack grass is coming up, and the geese have arrived early, so put the snow-shovel way back in the comer of the garage, think spring, and have a great week, all of you.

PONOKA NEWS 25

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

G N !

I g n R u r P p S S s a h REBATES OF UP TO $10,000!

PLUS - GET FREE OIL CHANGES FOR THE FIRST 2 YEARS/40,000KMS! PLUS - 5 YEARS OF ONSTAR REMOTELINK APP FOR FREE!

2015 CHEV SIERRA 1500 DOUBLE CAB 4X4 MSRP: $39,515

2015 GMC TERRAIN SLE-1 AWD

2015 BUICK ENCORE AWD

MSRP: $32,345

MSRP: $31,845

SALE PRICE:

SALE PRICE:

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SALE PRICE:

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+ GST

+ GST

+ GST

Stk#15414

Stk#15313

Stk#15548

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2014

MODEL

YEAR

CLEAROUT

2014 GMC ACADIA

2014 BUICK ENCORE

2014 BUICK VERANO

MSRP: $39,290

MSRP: $39,510

MSRP: $27,120

SALE PRICE:

SALE PRICE:

SALE PRICE:

$32,288

$32,988

$21,588

+ GST

+ GST

Stk#14379

2014 BUICK VERANO BASE MSRP: $26,300

SALE PRICE:

+ GST

Stk#14777

2014 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 1LZ

2014 CHEVROLET CAMARO 1LT MSRP: $39,985

SALE PRICE:

MSRP: $64,522

$19,988

$30,988

SALE PRICE:

$49,991

+ GST

Stk#14936

+ GST

+ GST

Stk#14769

Stk#14666

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Disclosure: Not all vehicles exactly as illustrated. Lease payments on 2015 models include GST and are OAC. No first lease payment only applies to 2015 models only. Eg: Stk#15548 2015 Encore, Net Cap Cost $31,448,96, lease rate 0.5% for 48 months, residual is $11464.20, total interest payable during lease term is $202.35. All lease payments are calculated at 20,000kms/yr. See dealer for details. All 2014 prices are cash prices.

JOHN COURSER Sales

www.ponokachevrolet.com

KELLY VOLD Sales

SUSAN BELL Finance

403-783-4494 OR TOLL FREE 1-877-465-8279

26 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 27

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

WCPS, community partners sign landmark safety protocol

BY AMELIA NAISMITH

In a “groundbreaking” move, the Wolf Creek Public Schools (WCPS) division has signed a Community Threat and

Risk Assessment Protocol with several key community health and safety organizations.

At the WCPS board of trustees meeting Tuesday, March 17, Superintendent Larry

Jacobs, board chair Trudy Bratland, district social worker Barb Reaney, Joyce Crandall, associate director for Central Child and Family Services Red Deer regional office (representing

15034UC0

David Tunney, chief executive director for Central Child and Family Services), Alana Cissell, program manager for community addiction and mental health for the north-central area

(representing Dwight Hunks, executive director for Addiction and Mental Health Alberta Health Services central zone) and Steve Murray, Lacombe chief of police all signed the

protocol to commit to taking a proactive stance on ensuring safety for the divisionís staff and students.

Also on the signed document was the name of Leslie Bain, RCMP superintendent central Alberta district commander, although not present or represented at the meeting.

The partnership consists of WSPC; the RCMP detachments of Bashaw, Blackfalds, Ponoka, Rimbey and Sylvan Lake; Lacombe City Police; Child and Family Services and Addictions and Mental Health Alberta Health Services.

This new Threat and Risk Assessment Protocol focuses on immediate response, processes and preventative measures for safety both in schools and the communities.

“When we talk about a protocol we’re talking about something all these partners need to be aware of, have met about, provided feedback on, attended to any changes and eventually coming to an agreement of an organization,” said Hester.

The protocol itself contains the vision, statement of principles, key approaches, threat assessment response, activation of school and community teams, roles sharing of information, documentation, communications and fair notice for families.

“We’re lucky to have partners who are committed to collaboration. We are the only school division in Zone 4 who will have signed off protocols,” said Amber Hester, assistant superintendent of Inclusive Learning Services.

“The sharing of information I think, in past, would have been an area where we probably had maybe some barriers with our mandates coming together.

We’ve worked through those barriers,” she added.

“We send out from Wolf Creek Public Schools a fair notice letter to our families at the beginning of every year, indicating that we have these protocols,” she said. Until the protocols were in place, the division worked under a memorandum of understanding.

She says the rationales behind the threat risk protocol are to respond to student behaviors that may pose a potential risk of violence, reduce violence and reflect a safe and caring approaches.

“So it’s a little bit groundbreaking for us to actually have a document that is reflective of the mandates of all our partners and yet fluid enough that we can all work together,” she added; the protocol took approximately two and a half years to finalize.

Hester says the work and ideas that went into the protocol is reflective of the work of Kevin Cameron – who was specifically consulted for the task, “–nationally and internationally around threat risks and violence,” she explained.

“He is the guru . . . he’s responded to a variety of school shootings, for example,” said Hester.

28 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

PC forum opens candidates to the communities

L to R: Rod Fox, Larry Henkelman, Wayne Rempel and Peter DeWit all spoke at the Progressive Conservative Party candidates’ forum, Friday March 20, as the four candidates vying for the PC nomination for Lacombe-Ponoka riding.

Photo by Amelia Naismith

BY AMELIA NAISMITH

With a possible early provincial election in the making, the four candidates vying for the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party

nomination from the Lacombe-Ponoka riding took the opportunity on Friday, March 20 to connect with the public in an open forum held at the Morningside Community Hall.

Ponoka

VISITOR’S GUIDE

2015

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Candidates Peter DeWit, Rod Fox, Larry Henkelman and Wayne Rempel answered a variety of questions on topics ranging from education to post-secondary education to taxes.

DeWit told the forum participants he would look to common sense and leadership to keep the small rural municipalities from being overlooked by the provincial government.

“Alberta is at a crossroads in its history . . . but the recent collapse in energy prices has created some economic difficulties for our province,” said DeWit. “I was born and raised on a farm and deep down I’m still a farm boy. I understand the value of hard work and perseverance and I know what it takes to build a successful business,” said DeWit. Fox currently sits at the Legislature as the Lacombe-Ponoka MLA and he faced a lot of backlash when he crossed the floor to the PC Party.

“For the last three years, I’ve had the humble honor and privilege of representing you in the Alberta legislature,” said Fox. Fox stresses that he has been a lifelong Conservative and purchased his first membership in 2003. Under WetaskiwinPonoka MP Blaine Calkins, Fox served in the Wetaskiwin Conservative Electoral District Association for three terms.

In his time in politics, Fox says he has built relationship and endorsements within

the government and it is that base he would use to represent the constituency at the provincial level.

Henkelman says he is looking to bring his experience in governance, business and agriculture to represent Lacombe-Ponoka at the provincial government.

“I can be a team player. I can work with town councils, I understand councils,” said Henkelman.

Speaking from personal experience, Henkelman says he knows an entity cannot rely on just one source of income to support the province. In the past, he owned three furniture stores but had to consolidate to one when the economy dipped in the 1980 in order to have the business survive.

Rempel told the audience he has been a PC supporter for all his life.

“The time has come to take what I’ve learned being involved in municipal politics and apply that to represent the people of Lacombe-Ponoka constituency,” said Rempel.

In his opening speech, Rempel named senior care, efficient health care and education as some of his main focuses.

He says he is also looking to promote diversity among the government to help keep the pressures of a low economy off the working people.

“We need to stop relying on high oil prices to balance our budget,” said Rempel. continued on page 39

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PONOKA NEWS 29

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

WCPS closes home education program

BY AMELIA NAISMITH

15034MF0

In order to save the Wolf Creek Public Schools school division approximately $65,000 annually, the division’s home education program has been essentially disbanded.

“I’m redrafting the home education admin procedure to move us out of that particular process,” said superintendent Larry Jacobs.

“I’m down to having almost everybody in a blended program,” he added.

Jacobs says he needed the resources and skills tied up in the home education program to move literacy and numeracy forward.

“It’s a very expensive program and it doesn’t have a lot of people that are participating in it.”

In closing the program, Jacobs made sure the students involved had other opportunities in the division or were directed to other cyber programs.

“So that’s why I had them working in Outreaches, or there’s schools in a blended program, which is part home, part school.”

Divisions granted school closing power School boards have recently been granted to authority to close down schools based on their own administrative procedures.

“I talked to a number of superintendents and I’m going to probably start building one (procedure) in the next six months,” said Jacobs.

WCPS already has a similar process, which Jacobs is going to expand upon. When closing a school, the division begins with an internally developed viability assessment, then follow with the provincial procedure.

“The closing of a school is very unique to a school division and a community,” said Jacobs. He added it was too cumbersome and inefficient to have a generic, provincewide procedure.

30 PONOKA NEWS

Sports

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Midget B Westpro Stampeders league champions

BY MUSTAFA ERIC

Ponoka’s Midget B Wespro Stampeders won the Tier 4 league championship last Thursday, March 19 with a score of 7-6 over Stettler Storm in what could be a textbook description of the term “comeback” in any competitive sport.

With the Ponoka boys having won the first game of the best-of-three series on the road and lost their home game to Storm, the decisive game was played in Stettler.

The first period of the game ended with a 1-0 lead for the hosts and when the second period began, Storm scored three more in quick succession making it to a four-point cushion as the clock ticked past the midpoint of the second period, with Ponoka fans wondering whether they drove all the way there to see a resounding defeat.

Just into the last five minutes of the second period, however, James Lea scored for the Ponoka boys, a goal that became something of a magic wand: Stampeders were fired up by their first point and scored four more, two of them within a matter of 60 seconds in the third, leaving the hosts Storm in a state of complete shock.

Noah Spelrem, Rian VanDerWesthuizen, James Lea with his second and Lewis

McDowell were responsible for the 5-4 lead the Ponoka boys commanded as the game clock showed the sixth minute of the third period.

Then came the last three minutes, a true nailbiter period, in the real sense of the word: Lewis McDowell scored again to make the score 6-4, a minute later Storm responded making it 6-5 and repeated the feat 44 seconds left to the buzzer. Now the score was tied at six apiece, and as both benches and fans started to think that there would be overtime, Kolby Rattray of Stampeders put an end to those expectations just 33 seconds left in the game by scoring from close range and sealing the final result at 7-6, killing championship hopes of the Storm.

There was huge jubilation by the visitors at the end of the game, fans of both teams were glad to see high class hockey from their youth and hosts were sad to have lost their opportunity to raise the championship banner.

Stampeders head coach Brian Korchinski said the hosts had played better at the beginning of the game and that was the main reason for the big lead the Storm had opened. But he attributed the win and the championship to “great team play”.

Team play was apparently not enough,

Lewis McDowell scores his first, Stampeders’ fifth goal to take the lead in the third period of the championship game at the Stettler Recreation Centre on Thursday, March 19.

Photo by Mustafa Eric

however, for the Wespro Stampeders to gain a foothold in the semi-finals in the provincials in Kneehill played over the weekend,

March 20-22. Ponoka boys lost three games they played against CNN Spurs, hosts Kneehill and Pincher Creek.

Lacoka Bantam girls made sure last Thursday, March 19 on home ice in Lacombe that the fate of the league championship series with Stettler Bantam girls would not be the same as the provincial championship game played a week earlier and closed the best-of-three series in the second game by winning it 3-2 in the third overtime period, claiming the league title. “It was a huge accomplishment to sweep the best-of-three series in two straight against the team that had just won the provincial banner days earlier, and also had a regular season record of 27-1,” said coach Mark Sieben. The Lacoka girls came back from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 until the last minutes of the third period when Stettler girls equalized and the game went to a third overtime. The winning goal for the Lacoka girls came just 30 seconds from the end of the third OT. Submitted photo

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PONOKA NEWS 31

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Large crowds support midget Wolves during provincials

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Finding a place to stand was nearly impossible during the Midget A Fountain Tire Wolves’ first game of the Hockey Alberta provincials last weekend.

The Wolves hosted the Midget B provincials from Thursday, March 19 to 22 and large crowds came out to support the team each time they played. The weekend was an opportunity to showcase Ponoka’s Midget A team and organizers used Ponoka’s first game to recognize past players.

Before playing against the Viking Gas Kings, a memorial was held for three Ponoka Minor Hockey Association (PMHA) players: Brett Wiese, Brandon Schur and Copper Tonneson.

The untimely deaths of these three young men left a mark on many in Ponoka’s minor hockey community and the association wanted to recognize them with a ceremony. Bantam coach Dwayne Rausch, along with PMHA president Julie Feragen and vice-president Geoff Tatlow presented banners of the players’ jersey numbers to parents and family members in front of a large crowd.

Tournament chairperson Laurie Jansen said the PMHA felt it was important to honour their lives. Those banners will be hoisted in the arena wall for posterity.

Organizers open doors to the public

The Ponoka Minor Hockey Association took time Thursday, March 19 to remember three former players, all who had untimely deaths: Brett Wiese, Brandon Schur and Cooper Tonneson. (l-r) PMHA president Julie Feragen, Kim and Harvey Raspier (family of Brett Wiese), Murray and Gail Schur, Dwayne Rausch, past-president Chad Cissell, Sheryl Vold, Clint Tonneson and vice-president Geoff Tatlow.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

After the Town of Ponoka waived the arena rental fees, tournament committee organizers decided to open the games to the public. Jensen feels the decision to do that created an open atmosphere and she said there were many times the stands were full of hockey fans.

Jansen says the arena was full many times over the weekend parents and hockey fans cheering on their teams.

“We decided that this was about the boys playing hockey,” said Jansen.

Third year players on all teams were recognized at the end of their games on Saturday with a small gift.

“The third year gifts were a huge hit.”

“It was really an emotional time for some of those players,” she added.

Support was strong from the community and Jansen said businesses and individuals stepped up to help out with plans.

Wolves couldn’t get to semi-finals Competition was fierce over the weekend with many close games leaving the Wolves scrambling to make a spot in the semifinals.

To make a semi-finals berth, the Wolves had to defeat the Westlock Warriors on their Saturday game by nine points. The Warriors, however, put on a strong performance and the Wolves ended up tying the game 4-4, which put an end

to their chances.

Captain Jordan Wombold said hosting was a great experience for the entire team.

Coach Ryan Koehli said despite their overall provincials performance, this was the first time every single player was in full uniform and on the bench. The team had to deal with injuries most of the season and played a third of it with only 10 players.

“Our game on Thursday night was the first time all season the entire team had dressed and been on the bench together,” said head coach Ryan Koehli.

He said the team enjoyed playing in front of large crowds.

The Wolves tied their first game 4-4 against the Viking Gas Kings, the eventual provincials winners. They lost their second game 7-3 against the Vermillion Credit Union Tigers and then tied against Westlock.

Wombold said the biggest focus for players against Vermillion was trying to stick to the basics of hockey. He said the team got into some penalty trouble.

There are 12 players aging out of the midget team this year.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT

Referee honoured for decades of service Since 1982 Danny Baron has been calling hockey games and he was honoured for his years of service during Midget B provincials in Ponoka.

Baron was recognized for his dedication to the game in front of a large crowd Saturday, March 21 at the Ponoka Culture and Recreation complex.

The provincial tournament, hosted by the Ponoka Fountain Tire Wolves, was among the last of the games Baron officiated.

What did Baron enjoy the most about being a referee? “It’s the camaraderie,” he answered simply.

With more than 30 years wearing the black and white stripes, Baron has seen kids grow up and then their kids now into the game, which

has been a fun experience.

Baron said there are too many good memories to count from over the years and he feels there is a strong group of officials in Ponoka who are dedicated to the game of hockey.

While he was not completely surprised by the announcement, he was pleased to see so many referees he has officiated with. “I didn’t expect all of them,” said Baron.

For the younger players just getting into being a referee, Baron advises they enjoy the experience and try to learn from the older refs. “Learn little secrets of where to be and what not to do,” he recommended.

While being a referee may be tough at times, Baron suggests the younger officials ask questions to the more experienced ones.

2015 Referee Danny Baron was recognized last weekend at the Midget B provincials in Ponoka for his many years of referring for hockey teams in Ponoka. Here he watches during a game.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

MIDGET HOCKEY

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE

Platinum Sponsor Town Of Ponoka Gold Sponsor Ponoka Minor Hockey Silver/Game Sponsors County of Ponoka Canyon Technical Services CT Inspection Services Wedins Team & Corporate Ponoka Cooperative Oils Ltd. Cilantro and Chive Ponoka Jr. B Stampeders McDonalds Bronze Sponsors Will’s Welding Ponoka Rotary Club CIBC Vold Jones Vold Auction Co. Bob Ronnie Catering Boston Pizza Embroidery ‘N’ Stuff Big Picture of Design Inc. Strand Printing Shoppers Drug Mart Canadian Linen Ponoka News We Believe In Sports Sponsors SIRRS LP Dr. Leslie Gill Dolman Dental Ponoka Physiotherapy Ponoka Fertilizer Dr. Rick Barr Cervus Equipment Accu Publishing Johns Place

32 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Dressage show sets new attendance record in Ponoka

BY AMELIA NAISMITH

The Parkland Area Alberta Dressage Association (PAADA) Dressage Daze II show, the second of a series of three in Ponoka, saw a record setting number of entrants in the event over the weekend.

With 58 competitors partaking in the show, PAADA hired three extra judges not long before the event weekend to keep up with all the action.

“This is the biggest first day show we’ve ever had,” said show manager Shelagh Hohm.

“I think it’s because people are happy with the facility,” she added, referring to the Calnash Ag Event Centre.

The three shows, the first of which took place Feb. 15 and the final one scheduled for May 2 and 3, are also a good place for riders to warm up their horses before the summer show season.

The Sunday, March 22 show had two competition rings going, one featuring the provincial show and the other the National Silver Show.

“The provincial show, riders don’t have to be members of Equine Canada,” said Hohm.

“The level of competition is just a little bit higher at the National Silver Show,” she added.

The provincial show also features western dressage riding. “It’s very popular,” said Hohm.

Many of the horses brought to the show are

With 58 competitors the Parkland Area Alberta Dressage Association held its largest ever first day show at the Calnash Ag Event Centre on Sunday, March 22.

Photo by Amelia Naismith

competing for the Canadian Pan Am Games team.

Hohm says the show adheres to riders of all ages, with some competitors as young as eight. “It’s a very good show for people who want to come and compete and try new levels.”

During the show, judges were looking at every movement of the horse to see how well trained it is,

but they also look for the harmony between horse and rider. This makes the dressage show as much about the sport and the relationship between horse and rider as it is about the competition.

Each winner is awarded a ribbon and approximately a dozen show champions would be named at the show.

PONOKA MINOR SOCCER ASSOCIATION

OUTDOOR

REGISTRATION

2015

We are still accepting registrations for House League and competitive soccer.

Registration forms available at the Ponoka Aquaplex or online.

REGISTRATION ACCEPTED UNTIL MARCH 31, 2015

Ponoka Broncs boys fight hard at provincials

BY AMELIA NAISMITH

For the second year in a row, the Ponoka Secondary Campus senior Broncs boysí basketball team attended provincials, and while they did not win a medal, the boys still saw a significant win.

Provincials were held in Fort McMurray, March 19 to 21, and the Broncs played three games over the course of the tournament.

“We lost our first game to Peace Wapity and that took us out of the medals immediately,” said coach Blaine Haines. The boys also lost their final game, against Barrhead, by two points.

However, the Broncs beat the host school, Holy Trinity, 81-50 in their second game. Despite playing hard during each of the games Haines says it was just a struggle on the court.

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“The ball was just not falling for us,” he said.

“I’m very proud of this team. (We’re) a little short on talent but what huge hearts,” he added.

The tournament was also the final high school basketball games for the team’s seven graduating seniors: Dillon Parsons, Justin Braithwaite, Jordan Labrie, Tavis Lee, Dawson Dease, Ryan Haines and Keenan Haines.

Haines says in their time on the team, the boys have won multiple tournament championships, a zone championship and competed in provincials twice.

“It doesn’t get much better than that in the world of high school basketball.”

“We’d like to thank Ponoka Secondary Campus for all it’s support, as well as the community for getting behind us during our zone championship playoffs. In short, thanks Ponoka,” said Haines.

Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 33

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Obituaries

Inez Palechek

Dec. 12, 1920 - Mar. 22, 2015

On March 22, 2015 Mrs. Inez Palechek of Ponoka passed away at the age of 94 years.

Inez is survived by her children Phillip (Janet) Palechek, Patricia (Frank) Cissell, Garry (Joanne) Palechek, Dianne (Joe) Dodds, and Allen Palechek (Darlene Gartner); grandchildren Desireé, Kira, and Troy Palechek, Chad Cissell, Chantelle Godfrey, Stephanie Jaffery, Jennifer Bartley, and Joa and Shayna Dodds; ten great-grandchildren; as well as many other relatives and friends. Inez was predeceased by her husband Charles and sisters Eilleen and Virginia. A Prayers Service will be held at Ponoka Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 25 at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Augustine’s Catholic Church on Thursday, March 26 at 1:00 p.m. Memorial donations in memory of Inez can be made to The Arthritis Society or to CNIB. To express condolences to Inez’s family, please visit www.womboldfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements Entrusted To PONOKA FUNERAL HOME

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Obituaries

STEVEN DERKSEN SR. Steven Derksen Sr. was born in Holland, and moved to Morningside when he arrived in Canada and then to Edson, where he lived until his Peaceful passing, Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at the age of 81. He is survived by his children Jean (Murray), Joan (Martin); Sonia (Barry), Steven (Dallas); eight grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; siblings John T. (Marie) Derksen, Phil (Marg) Derksen, grandnephew Chase Derksen, John A. (Rita) Droog, Inger Droog Randles; numerous nieces and nephews; other relatives in Canada and Holland; and companion Karen and family. He was predeceased by wife Alida, brother Dirk, sister Frances, nephew Bruce Derksen; his parents Jan (Anna Christina Hendrikse) Derksen; and his stepmother Anthonia Droog (van Havesaat). Funeral services were held March 16, 2015 in Edson. Donations can be made to the charity of your choice.

HARVEY GRANT WACHNUK

~ A Wombold Family Funeral Home ~

Harvey Wachnuk was born April 6, 1951 in Russell, Manitoba.

He passed away February 14, 2015 in Ponoka General Hospital at the age of 63 years old. At the age of one, the family moved to Alberta. Harvey graduated at the Olds Junior Senior High School in 1970.

Through-out his work career Harvey was a meat cutter, baker, carpenter, a drywaller and painter. He was his own doctor, lawyer and was able to reconstruct and to fix and make just about anything.

For the past 21 years Harvey resided in Ponoka, Alberta.

He referred to himself as a “solitary man”. The only constant part of his life was his work which came easy and always did a perfect job. Another passion was for the great out doors and being one with nature as he enjoyed camping, fishing, hiking with various family, friends nieces and nephews.

Harvey’s artistic side lead him to sketching portraits of family, buildings and landscapes. His knowledge covered a vast area of writings, journaling and quotes from famous authors.

He was predeceased by his parents Harry and Dora, and a brother, Murray. Harvey is survived by brothers and sisters; Duane Wachnuk, Cheryle Bouvier, Shelley Wachnuk, Debbie Rose, Barry Wachnuk, Leona Cook, Beverly Halladay, Linda Thiem, Carol Wieger and Dianna Levagood.

With love and great sadness, you will be missed.

Rest in peace Harvey.

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HILDA PARENT On February 16, 2015 Mrs. Hilda Parent of Ponoka passed away at the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre at the age of 77 years. Hilda is lovingly remembered by her children Deb (Bill) White, Brian (Lori) Parent, and Donna (Randy) Hammond; grandchildren Kari (Dan) Kammerlock, David (Jordis) Parent, Amanda (Aaron) Sluchinski, Nicole (David) Reynolds, Janelle Parent, and Kimberly Parent; great-grandchildren Aubree Reynolds and Nathan Kammerlock; sister Irene Kistenfeger; sisterin-law Veronica Saken; as well as many other family and friends. She was predeceased by her husband William, brother Walter Saken, and brother-in-law Joe Kistenfeger. A Funeral Service celebrating Hilda’s life was held at the Ponoka Funeral Home at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, February 20th with the Interment Service following at the Forest Home Cemetery. Memorial donations are gratefully accepted to S.T.A.R.S.. To express condolences to Hilda’s family, please visit www.womboldfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements Entrusted To PONOKA FUNERAL HOME

HENDERSON Larry Keith June 17, 1942 - Mar. 5, 2015

Larry Keith Henderson, 72, of Lacombe, AB passed away on March 5, 2015 in Kona, Hawaii surrounded by his loving family. Larry is survived by his wife Linda, his son David, his daughter Lori (Jeff) Forsyth, two grandchildren, Kolby and Dylin Forsyth, his brother Harold (Connie) Henderson, nephews James Henderson and Tim (Trish) Henderson and family, niece Catherine Henderson, sister-in-law Kay (Toshiya) Uchida and family, brother-in-law Sam (Sue) Koyanagi and family. He was preceded in death by his father Ted (1981) and his mother Winnie (1997). Larry was born on June 17, 1942 and raised on a farm where his love and keen interest in agriculture began. After graduating from Vermilion College in 1962, he worked on a farm in the Peace River area and from there for Alberta Wheat Pool. In 1967, Larry began a 32-year career with Farm Credit Corporation retiring in 1999. Larry met his wife Linda in Brooks, AB and married on October 11, 1975. Larry was thrilled with the arrival of Lori in 1982 and 13 months later David.

Grandchildren added to his happiness with Kolby in 2008 and Dylin in 2010. Curling, baseball and travel were his passion along with his vegetable garden. He proudly shared the bounty of the garden with family and friends.

In retirement, Larry volunteered with the Ponoka Foodgrains Project and had the eye-opening opportunity to visit projects supported by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank in Nicaragua and Honduras. He was very involved with the Missions Committee of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Larry will be laid to rest at Fairview Cemetery in Lacombe, AB. A memorial service for Larry was held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Ponoka, AB on Thursday March 19, 2015 at 2 pm. Donations in Larry’s memory can be made to the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, Box 767, Winnipeg, MB R3C 2L4, Trinity Lutheran Church, 5501 54 Avenue, Ponoka, AB T4J1L8 or Prostate Cancer Canada, 2 Lombard St 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON M5C 1M1.

Condolences may be made by visiting www.wilsonsfuneralchapel.ca WILSON’S FUNERAL CHAPEL & CREMATORIUM

serving Central Alberta with locations in Lacombe and Rimbey in charge of arrangements.

Phone: 403.782.3366 or 403.843.3388 “A Caring Family, Caring for Families”

In Memoriam

In loving memory of GLORIA J SNIDER March 26, 2014 Still loved, still missed, still very dear.

Love forever Diane, Neil and Family

34 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2015

announcements

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What’s Happening #50 - # 70

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

LEVERICK In Loving Memory of Taylor Robert Leverick of Bluffton, Alberta, born on December 3, 1998 in Red Deer, Alberta, who passed away at the Stollery Children’s Hospital, Edmonton on Sunday, March 15, 2015 at the age of 16 years.

Taylor accomplished many things in his short time with us.

Sports were always important to him, and he found himself competing in many different activities from gymnastics and swimming to soccer, baseball, hockey, boxing, badminton, lacrosse, basketball, snowboarding, and even motocross racing. Taylor’s family and friends were very proud of him when he earned a spot on the Zone 4 2012 Alberta Summer Games lacrosse team, and traveled to Lethbridge to compete.

He loved to be ‘on the road’, and was especially proud to purchase his own truck, working weekends and summers to save enough money. Taylor also loved spending time with his family, especially his younger brother, Thomas who was never far from his side. He had such a gentle nature and became a loyal friend to many, often becoming like another son to many families. Taylor was a compassionate young man and was always very proud of other’s achievements ahead of his own. He loved to visit and always had time for everyone, young or old.

Taylor will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by his parents, Rob and Leanne Leverick of Bluffton; his special brother and best friend, Thomas Leverick; his maternal grandparents, Gordon and Lorraine McFadden of Bluffton; and his paternal grandfather, Fred Leverick of Lethbridge. He will also be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by his treasured aunts, uncles and cousins: Brian and Shelley McFadden and their daughter, Katelyn of Bluffton; Jason and Penny Leverick and their daughter, Violet of Lethbridge; Chad Leverick of Lethbridge; and Jan and Steve Gross and their son, Lane of Ponoka; in addition to numerous other relatives, community members, and a host of cherished and dear friends. Taylor was predeceased by his paternal grandmother, Alfreda Morin in 2009.

Coming Events

ART WALCHESKE 1934 - 2004 As time goes by without you and days turn to years they hold precious memories and thousands of tears.

The moment you died our hearts were torn in two.

I often lie awake at night and take a walk down memory lane with tears upon my cheek.

Remembering you is easy I do it every day.

We hold you in our hearts and the heartache never goes away Not a day goes by that we and all your friends don’t mention your name.

You were very special and no one can replace you.

Your love of wild life and nature was one of a kind.

Rest in peace. Till we meet again.

Phyllis Walcheske and family.

BIG BROTHERS AND BIG SISTERS

Mentors make a

difference 403-783-3112

WEISMILLER, Donald Paul

Nov. 11, 1926 - Mar. 26, 2005

A Public Memorial Service in Celebration of Taylor’s Life was held at the Peter Lougheed Community Centre, Rimbey on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. with the Reverend Deborah Laing and the Reverend Lorne Schellenberg officiating. Cremation took place at the Central Alberta Crematorium, Red Deer. In Loving Memory of Taylor, a Trust Fund for Thomas’ Education has been set up at ATB Financial, Box 918, Rimbey, Alberta T0C 2J0. Please make payable to ‘Robert Leverick In Trust’. Memorial tributes in his memory may also be made directly to STARS Head Office, 1441 Aviation Park N.E., Box 570, Calgary, Alberta T2E 8M7; or to the Stollery Children’s Hospital, c/o Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, 1502 College Plaza, 8215 - 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2C8. Condolences to the Leverick Family may also be expressed by e-mail to: special_reflections@telusplanet.net

It’s been 10 years since we lost the anchor to our family, but we carry you in our hearts every day.

You left us with rich memories which have sustained us, and your inspiration guides each of us every day. We will forever love you and miss you.

Your family

Funeral and Cremation Arrangements for the Late Taylor Robert Leverick entrusted to the care of

Meetings

59

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

OBERHAMMER FUNERAL CHAPELS LTD.

1-403-843-4445

Reached a Milestone?

Share the news!

52

Reached a Milestone?

Share it!

W

hether it happened Yesterday or Today, Whatever you want to say, To celebrate your special day...

1-877-223-3311

~ Say it with a classified

ANNOUNCEMENT 309-3300 1-877-223-3311

Email: classifieds@reddeeradvocate.com

1.887.223.3311

Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 35

59

Meetings

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

52 Street & 52 Ave. Ponoka.

403-783-4347 403-783-3442

Garage Sales Ponoka

+

A Star Makes Your Ad A Winner!

MOVING/ DOWNSIZING SALE

CALL:

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

Restaurant/ Hotel

Household goods, shop tools, etc Saturday, Mar. 28 9:30am to 4:30pm 3629-44 St.

52 Northcott’s Spring Tea & Bake Sale April 1 at 2:00 pm Includes: Refreshments, Desserts, Door Prizes, 50/50

Admission $3.00 CLASSIFIEDS GOOD FRIDAY & EASTER Hours & Deadlines Office & Phones CLOSED Friday April 3, 2015 PONOKA NEWS Publication Date: WEDNESDAY APRIL 8, 2015 Deadline is: MON. APRIL 6 @ NOON BASHAW Publication Date: WEDNESDAY APRIL 8, 2015 Deadline is: WED. APRIL 1 @ NOON CALL CLASSIFIEDS 403-309-3300 classifieds@ponokanews.com

59 Ponoka Co-operative Oils Ltd.

4700 - Highway 2A, Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1K3

Kinsmen Recreation Centre Small Meeting Room N.W. Corner

7:00 p.m. Thursday, April 2, 2015 Financial Statements Ending December 31, 2014

Coming Events

Caregivers/ Aides

710

WANTED

Live-in caregiver for elderly lady in Ponoka Call 403-783-2397 or 403-318-4222

Clerical

You’re Invited to

Meetings

Employment #700 - #920

720

SMALL COMPANY NEEDS Assistant to Manager. Self-starter candidate: Proficient in office duties, bookkeeping, payroll, & task as assigned. Located: Rural east central Alberta.

Competitive wages. Apply: Box A c/o Vermilion Standard, 4917 - 50 Ave., Vermilion, AB, T9X 1A6.

755

Farm Work

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

Oilfield

800

KEYERA is looking for a Plant Operator to join our Nevis Gas Plant.

The Nevis Gas Plant is a first class steam plant and a sour gas processing facility located approximately 50 km east of Red Deer.

- Minimum of 3-5 years sour natural gas operations experience - Experience with inlet compression, gas sweetening, compression, fractionation, lean oil systems, power boilers, sulphur plant, refrigeration, DCS and product storage will be considered assets - Preference will be given to a 2nd Class Steam Ticket or a 3rd Class with positive progression towards a 2nd Class Please visit www.keyera.com for more information

52

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

820

Cameron Bay Holdings Inc. o/a McDonalds’s in Ponoka an Red Deer (Gasoline Alley East and West) is now hiring full time and part time Food Service Supervisors.

Wages are between $13.75 to $16.00 per hour, depending upon experience and qualifications.

Benefits (dental, disability, life and group insurance benefits) and opportunity for job advancement.

Candidates must be able to work a variety of shifts and have 3 to 5 years previous experience. Must be able to supervisor up to 20 crew. Part-time applications will be accepted from Canadians and Permanent Residents. Apply in person 4419 Hwy 2A, Ponoka, 37479 Hwy 2, Red Deer, and 37428 Hwy 2, Red Deer or email resume to cbay22@telus.net or fax to 403-783-4251.

Sales & Distributors

830

NEW HEALTH CANADA approved health & safety products - Looking for sales representatives in Alberta. 2) Breakthrough Wellness Healthy Aging Products and more Sales business’.

Contact: freddouglas912@yahoo.com or phone 780-437-4920.

TIRED OF the boom and bust of the oil patch?

If it’s time for a career change to sales and you have high personal standards in both integrity and work ethic our recession proof industry may be the perfect fit. Call Larry Hrynew Managing Agency Director with Heritage Education Funds Inc. today at 1-888-713-7377, ext. 2224.

850

Trades

NOW HIRING STEEL STUD FRAMERS Light/Heavy Gauge Framing. Must have experience. Great opportunity for long term employment. Email: info@lwbsi.com or Fax: 403.668.1142

Professionals

Trades

850

HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE Class 1 or 3 Operators. Full-time and Part-time positions available. Openings in several Alberta areas.

Fax resume to Carillion Canada 780-449-0574 or email: mcroft@carillionalberta.ca.

Positions to start April, 2015. Please state what position and location you are interested in.

JOURNEYMAN Heavy Duty Mechanic. Target Excavating Inc., Box 642, Provost, AB, T0B 3S0.

Further information call Harvey Booker 780-704-0059.

Whatever You’re Selling...

We Have The Paper You Need!

CLASSIFIEDS 1-877-223-3311

Trades

850

PEMBINA RIVER Natural Gas Co-op Ltd. Employment Opportunity Natural Gas Utility Operator. We are seeking the right individual to join our team as a full-time employee. Experience in the operation of a Natural Gas Distribution System is preferred. Computer skills, strong public relations and a willingness to learn are also important for this position. For those without experience we are willing to train the right individual.

We offer a competitive salary, benefit package and pension plan. Only applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Please send resumes to Pembina River Natural Gas Co-op.

Attention: General Manager. P.O. Box 122, Jarvie, AB, T0G 1H0 or email: pemgas@mcsnet.ca.

Fax 780-954-3844.

Deadline for resumes is April 6, 2015.

Classifieds Your place to SELL Your place to BUY Trades

AG EQUIPMENT

Rimbey Implements Ltd.

Al York

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

Rimbey, AB

Fax: (403) 843-3430

ANIMAL SERVICES

850

Is looking for a LICENSED AUTOMOTIVE TECH The successful candidate must be able to excel in a fast paced environment.

In addition to a full tire shop our mechanical services include: brakes, wheel alignments, suspensions, air conditioning and full maintenance packages.

If you have a positive attitude and an excellent work ethic we want to hear from you Please email resumes to JWitvoet@integradtire.com Or fax ATTN: J. Witvoet 403-783-4975 Or drop off at 6220 48 Ave, Ponoka ATTN: J. Witvoet

810

30

PER WEEK

Call 403-783-3311 AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

Northcott Care Center

is currently seeking caring and motivated

Registered Nurses

Quali¿cations and skills include: • Must be a graduate of an accredited nursing program with current CARNA registration.

• Experience in long term care an asset.

• Ability to work both independently and as a team in a multi-disciplinary environment.

• Excellent leadership, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.

This space could be yours for $

“care in the community”

Full-time permanent & casual positions.

Competitive wage, travel allowance, health and dental bene¿ts, RRSP program and a positive working environment!

Located on the east side of Ponoka, overlooking the scenic Battle River Valley, Northcott Care Center is a 73 bed nursing home committed to providing quality care to the residents of our community.

We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss your employment future.

If you are interested in starting a new and rewarding career, please fax your resume to 403-783-6420 or call 403-783-4764. Email: tserle@northcottcarecentre.com Website: www.qualicarehealthservices.com

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

36 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2015

PLUMBING SHANDALL PLUMBING LTD. 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

Business Opportunities

870

Business Opportunities

870

HIGH CASH PRODUCING vending machines. $1.00 vend = .70 profit. All on location in your area.

Selling due to illness. Call 1-866-668-6629 for details.

SAWMILLS from only $4,397. Make money & save money with your own bandmill. Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free info & dvd: www.NorwoodSawmills.com/ CLASSIFIED Want Ads do 400OT. 1-800-566-6899 more things for more people ext. 400OT. than any other form of advertising. Phone 1-877Start your career!

223-3311 See Help Wanted

880

Misc.

Help

Are you stuck in a boring, dead end job???

Are you are a person who enjoys a challenge, working hard, and the satisfaction of a job well done at the end of the day?

Are you looking for a winning team that you can grow and build your future with?

If so, we want to get to know you better!

A leading manufacturer of Dairy Feed is currently seeking a Production/Labourer Employee Full Training will be provided Forklift experience and a Class 3 driver’s license an asset, but not necessary.

Email/Fax Resumes to: Mark.bishop@nutri-source.ca 403-948-4578

Business Opportunities

880

Misc.

Help

Employment Training

THE DISABILITY Tax Credit. $1,500 yearly tax credit. $15,000 lump sum refund (on average).

Covers: hip/knee replacements, back conditions & restrictions in walking and dressing.

1-844-453-5372

880

Misc.

Help

CARPENTER’S HELPER Ponoka area. Wage dependant on experience.

403-391-8385 SEEKING A CAREER in the Community Newspaper business? Post your resume for FREE right where the publishers are looking. Visit: awna.com/for-job-seekers.

Employment Training

900

INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT Operator School. In-the-seat training. No simulators.

Real world tasks. Weekly start dates. Funding options. Weekly job board!

Sign up online! iheschool.com.

1-866-399-3853.

MASSAGE CAREER - At Alberta Institute of Massage we deliver exceptional training, inspire learning, and ignite passion for knowledge!

“AIM for Success!”

403-346-1018. Now enrolling for May and September full-time and distance learning programs.

Misc.

Help

403-963-5000

870

880

Ponoka is looking for a

Service Advisor The successful candidate will be selfmotivated, able to multi-task, and have superb customer service skills.

Automotive experience is an asset but we will train the right individual. No night shifts.

We offer paid GM Training, full benefits package, and a great work environment.

Looking for someone to start immediately.

Please send resumes to: hr@adamsgm.com

890

Volunteers Wanted

Business Services #1000 - #1430

PONOKA LIONS CLUB REQUIRES

BUS DRIVERS This Is A Volunteer Position With Honorarium • Class 1 license • Clean abstract required • Mechanically inclined • Shared schedule with other drivers

Reaching 6000

Allowance not cutting it ?

households weekly

Apply with resume and abstract to Ponoka Lions Club – ponokalions.ca or phone 403-340-9247 for more info

JOIN THE

Only candidates selected for interviews will be contacted

For just

$30 per week this space could be yours!

PONOKA NEWS Carrier Team!

This paper is

GET SOME

EXERCISE EARN EXTRA

MONEY

403-783-3311 BOTTLE DEPOT

% 0 0 1 le a Recycl b Employment Training

PONOKA BOTTLE DEPOT

900

MEDICAL TRAINEES needed now! Hospitals & doctor’s offices need certified medical office & administrative staff! No experience needed! We can get you trained! Local job placement assistance available when training is completed. Call for program details!

1-888-627-0297.

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 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-athome career today!

Farm Equipment

1168

Sunterra Farms is seeking to rent 5000-6000 finishing spaces. Ideally to be managed by the owner/ operator. Site/barns would be flowed all in all out. For further info contact Mark Chambers 403 820 4188.

Landscaping

1240

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.

1260

Legal Services

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.

900 Funded in part by the Government of Canada.

Funded in part by the Government of Canada.

Open Monday - Saturday 10 am - 5 pm

Closed Sundays & Holidays We Now Recycle Milk Cartons for Deposit

3, 5520 Hwy 2A (Across from Husky)

403-783-6875 SALES & SERVICE

AND WIN

PRIZES! Reliable carriers are automatically entered into a monthly draw WIN an additional $50!

Keep up the good work and your name will be entered to win a $400 GIFT CERTIFICATE! Each week the PONOKA NEWS reaches residents where they live, work and farm. In town our papers are delivered door to door by reliable carriers and WE COULD USE MORE HELP.

If you are interested in a LOCAL ROUTE please contact

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

SUSAN WHITECOTTON at 403-783-3311

12345 NOW TAKING ONLINE APPLIACTIONS APPLICATIONS ONLINE Are you a Métis student in the last year of post-secondary studies, or an apprentice in technical training? Now you can apply for financial assistance from the comfort of your couch/car/cafe.

Visit apply.rupertsland.org on your computer, tablet or mobile device!

Of if you’d still like to talk to us you can! Call toll-free at 1-888-486-3847 or visit metisemployment.ca to find the office nearest you.

MÉTIS YOUTH SUMMER PLACEMENT PROGRAM 12345

If you’re a Métis youth between 15 – 30 years old, and going back to school this fall, Métis Training to Employment Services can give you the assistance you need to land that summer job where you can gain employable skills and the pay cheque you deserve.

Call 1-888-48-MÉTIS (1-888-486-3847) online at: www.metisemployment.ca

Funded in part by the Government of Canada.

PONOKA NEWS 37

Wednesday, Mar. 25, 2015

Misc.

Services

1290

Misc.

Services

1290

NEED TO ADVERTISE? Province wide classifieds.

Reach GST (based on 25 words or less). Call this newspaper NOW for details or call 1-800-282-6903 ext. 228. over 1 million readers weekly. Only $269. +

DO YOU WANT YOUR AD TO BE READ BY 100,000 Potential Buyers???

TRY

Classified Advertising

Personal Services

Unplanned pregnancy may be difďŹ cult to face.

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

NEW IN TOWN?

CANADA BENEFIT GROUP. Do you or someone you know suffer from a disability? Get up to $40,000. from the Canadian Government.

Toll free 1-888-511-2250 or www.canadabenefit.ca/ free-assessment.

LET US PUT OUT THE MAT Pet Services 1318 FOR YOU! Be sure to call CLINKERS

KENNELS

SERVING CENTRAL ALBERTA RURAL REGION

CALL 1-877-223-3311 Misc.

Services

1315

1290

* Quality Boarding for your dogs & cats *Proof of vaccinations and advance bookings required

Roofing

1370

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.

Auctions

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 www.bigstrapperauctions.net

Buy & Sell #1500 - #1990

Auctions

1530

MEIER SPRING Classic Car & Truck Auction.

Saturday & Sunday, May 2 & 3, 11 a.m.

6016 - 72A Ave., Edmonton. Consign today, call 780-440-1860.

Welding

1410

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. 102; EGauctions.com.

UNDEVELOPED LAND in Okotoks, Alberta. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, April 29 in Edmonton.

80+/- acres just North of Okotoks town limit.

Currently Zoned A Agricultural District. Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; rbauction.com/realestate.

Welding

1410

403-783-6272

Attention: Farmers

1350

Need RV or Self Storage?

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

Also RV storage.

Secure compound.

Call Keith at

Berni's Refrigeration

First Call Towing

and Appliance Service

783-3636

783-4880

Misc.

Services

1290

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

MAIN: (403) 783-7591 FAX: (403) 783-8178 Website: www.harbinwelding.com E-mail: bharbin@telus.net

Window Cleaning

1420

Window Cleaning

Place your ad in this newspaper and12345 province wide $

995 plus GST/HST

Value Ad Network

EquipmentMisc.

1400

Well Drilling

1400

Well Drilling

1660

1420

Semi loads of pine, spruce, tamarack, poplar.

Price depends on location.

Lil Mule Logging 403-318-4346

Agricultural #2000 - #2290 Farm Equipment ..............2010 Haying Equipment ............2020 Tractors ............................2030 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

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

for Sale 1760 1400 Misc.

)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

12345

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

Customizable and secure. From storage to workspace.

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

Steel containers from 8' - 53'. 20' & 40' skids with optional 4' landings available. Mount with twist locks.

")' )2/.

View our 29 patented and patent pending inventions online at

www.1800bigiron.com

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 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

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

Family Friendly Dentistry

1620

EASY!

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

Well Drilling

DR. STEVE CALDER BS C DDS

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

Consign now! Call 403-669-1109; www.wheatlandauctions.com

Firewood

Squeezthee MOST out of your advertising dollars with a combined circulation of over 800,000 for only...

RIMBEYDENTALCARE

GUN & SPORTSMAN AUCTION. March 28 at 11 a.m. Firearms, ammo, accessories & more!

Unreserved! No buyers fee! Hwy 14 Wainwright, Alberta. Scribner Auction, 780-842-5666; www.scribnernet.com.

LOGS

We can deal with your refrigeration problems quickly, efficiently and reasonably

DENTISTRY

GRAVEL PROPERTY w/River Frontage, Spruce View, Alberta. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, April 29 in Edmonton.

148+/- acres titled, gravel pit w/stock piles, North Raven River frontage, 65+/- acres cult, fenced, $4800 SLR. Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; rbauction.com/realestate.

www.clinkerskennels.ca

Rental Misc

1530

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.

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.

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

Auctions

780 440 4037 | SEACAN.COM

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

403-783-0663 HEATING

“Committed to your comfort�

Robin Esau

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

robin@KlesAir.com www.KlesMechanical.com

Advertise your business in the Business Directory!

HEATING & EAVESTROUGHING

Commercial - Residential Installations - Repair

3912 - 66 St, Ponoka www.wcmltd.ca

403.783.3501 wcmltd@telus.net

ROOFING

Livestock

• RooÀng • Siding • SofÀt • Fascia • Windows • Sheds

403-740-6081 VETERINARY SERVICES

Bovine Veterinary Services On-Farm Mobile Veterinary Services

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

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

Feb. 1, 403-348-6594

2190

* RIVERSIDE APTS. *

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.

SQUARE hay bales, horse hay quality, 90% meadow brome, 10% alfalfa, no rain, plus second-cut alfalfa. 403-741-4353

CETA CerƟĮed Dairy and Beef Embryo Transfer Herd Health

Phone 403-391-1684 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

For Rent #3000 - #3200 Houses/ Duplexes

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

Reaching 6000 households weekly

For just

$30 per week this space could be yours!

403-783-3311

3020

AVAILABLE APRIL 15 4 bdrm house in Ponoka $1100/mnth plus D.D. Plus utilities Call 403-783-1801 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 Southwest Industrial Park 4102-64 St., Ponoka 403-783-5200

3060

1 bdrm, 1 bath apt suite Appliances incl $800 plus DD & utilities N/S, N/P, No partiers Plenty of parking available

Ultrasound-aided ReproducƟve Programs

ʹͶ

Suites

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

Grain, Feed Hay

ROY’S ROOFING & SIDING

2100

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

Suites

3060

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 Large 2 BDRM bsmt. suite in PONOKA incld’s util’s, washer/dryer, no pets, non partier, N/S. Working tenant only. 403-704-1645

FOR RENT

780-898-7290

Houses For Sale

4020

Houses For Sale

4020

RENO’D FULL DUPLEX in Ponoka.

3 bdrm., 1 bath per side. $257,000. 403-963-0204

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

Houses For Sale

4020

PERFECT STARTER HOME

3260

3 BEDROOM DUPLEX IN PONOKA c/w fridge, stove, washer & dryer No Pets, Non smoking $950.00/month $950.00 Security Deposit Available April 1, 2015 Phone (403) 704-6903 3 BEDROOM DUPLEX IN PONOKA c/w fridge, stove, washer & dryer No Pets, Non smoking $1050.00/month $1050.00 Security Deposit Available beginning of April, 2015 Phone (403) 704-6903

This immaculate 3 bdrm, 2 bath mobile, with all new windows and open floor plan includes window coverings, appliances, carport, and chain link fence. Home owner will look at rent to own to qualified buyers.

Call Audrey Bannister A.L.L. STARS REALTY LTD.

1-780-352-1317

NEWLY RENOVATED IMMEDIATE POSSESSION

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

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

WATER WELL DRILLING SERVICES Prime location next to green space. This 4 level split, 4 bedrooms, huge living room, plus family room and YES even a MAN CAVE, includes appliances, over sized lot and double garage.

Call Audrey Bannister A.L.L. STARS REALTY LTD.

Condos/ Townhouses

Realtors & Services..........4010 Houses for Sale................4020 Houses Wanted ................4030 Condos/Townhouses ........4040 Acreages ..........................4050 Acreages Wanted ............4060 Farms/Land ......................4070 Farms/Land Wanted ........4080 Manufactured/ Mobile Homes ..................4090 Income Property ..............4100 Commercial Property ......4110 Industrial Property ............4120 Cottages/Resort Property ..4130 Businesses for Sale..........4140 Buildings for Sale ............4150 Lots for Sale ....................4160 Out of Town Property ......4170 Investment Opportunities ..4180 Mortgages Bought/Sold....4190

Dr. Murray Jacobson Dr. Clayton West Dr. Ashley Shannon

$30

Central Alberta’s Largest Car Lot in Classifieds

Real Estate #4000 - #4190

Ponoka Veterinary Clinic

THIS SPACE COULD BE YOURS FOR

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

403-357-0287

Houses/ Duplexes

VETERINARY SERVICES

1-780-352-1317

4040

Email: darcysdrillingservices@hotmail.com

• Bright 2 bdrm 1bath condo • At TAMARACK COURT

151,500

• Great floor space and storage area

Lisa Suarez Royal LePage - Lifestyles Realty 403-782-3171

Misc.

Automotive

• water wells drilled & serviced • new pump & pressure system installations • all types of pump repairs • well shocking Darcy Schmidt Ph: (403) 783-2220 Fax: (403) 783-8828

FOR SALE $

Darcy’s Drilling Services

5240

Trailers Cost Less in Davidson 12345

1-877-213-8008 Davidson, SK www.fasttoysforboys.com

WATER WELL SERVICE

ECKLUND

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

Advertise your business in the Business Directory!

PONOKA NEWS 39

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Houses For Sale

4020

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.

HIDDEN GEM

Enjoy the seclusion of this quality, 5 bdrm., 3 bath, Exe. home, furn., 4 + att.

Garage, PRIVATE Boat DOCK! Offered under Appraised Value at 749K !

Be HERE for MAY LONG! Dori Westin, Coldwell Banker Ontrack Realty 403-357-9010

Acreages

4050

4090

4430

Manufactured Homes

Money To Loan

CROSS COUNTY HOMES. Check out our show homes that are ready for Spring possession. Or custom build in only 8 weeks to match your own inspiration! Visit us in Acheson. 780-470-8000; www.crosscountryhomes.com.

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.

TIRED OF RENTING? Own a new 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1520 square foot modular in Poplar Grove Village! Immediate occupancy available.

Just $918/mo. mortgage payment! Toll free 855.463.0084, online at www.jandelhomes.com or email us sales@jandelhomes.com

Buildings For Sale

4150

STEEL BUILDINGS “Spring Sales with Hot Savings!” All steel building models and sizes are now on sale. Get your building deal while it’s hot. Pioneer Steel 1-800-668-5422; www.pioneersteel.ca.

Public Notices

Public Notice #6000

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

6010

PONOKA COOPERATIVE OILS LTD 4700 Hwy 2A • Ponoka, AB T4J 1K3

For Sale by Tender 2003 Freightliner FL112 Truck 216,000 kms 9974 Hours Mercedes 350 HP 13 Speed Eaton Fuller Transmission 14,000 lb Front Axle 40,000 lb Rear Axle Air Brakes AM/FM Stero

HIGH and DRY

4 Acres, 1 Mile E of Caroline, Trees on N Property Line, Power to Property, $129,000.

Dori Westin, Coldwell Banker ONTRACK Realty 403-357-9010

4090

Manufactured Homes

75 HOMES BUILT and ready for delivery. Take an additional $5,000 - $7,500 off all stock. 20’ X 76’ models, loaded with options. Toll free 1-855-463-0084; www.jandelhomes.com.

CHOOSE FROM 8 Brand New Triple M 20x76 kitchen special spec manufactured homes starting at $138,500 and save over $5000! For more information call United Homes Canada 1-800-461-7632 or visit our site at www.unitedhomescanada.com

Public Notices

Dual Fuel Tanks

Financial #4400 - #4430

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

Money To Loan

4430

BANK SAID NO? Bank on us! Equity Mortgages for purchases, debt consolidation, foreclosures, renovations.

Bruised credit, self-employed, unemployed ok.

Dave Fitzpatrick: www.albertalending.ca.

587-437-8437, Belmor Mortgage.

Truck has five compartments 16,800 Litre aluminum tank Single fuel pump Truck and tank sold as a unit as is Highest or any tender may not be accepted

Tenders close March 31, 2015 Please submit tenders to the above address Or email: coopoils@telus.net Any questions please contact Clayton at 403-783-4288

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.

6010 Wolf Creek Public Schools Request for Proposals - External Auditor

Wolf Creek Public Schools seeks proposals from interested public accounting ürms for the provision of independent audit services in accordance with the requirements of Section 149 of the Alberta School Act. The Request for Proposal and copies of the Division ünancial statements may be obtained on the Wolf Creek Public Schools website at www.wolfcreek.ab.ca Proposals will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, April 24, 2015.

The lowest proposal will not necessarily be accepted. The Board reserves the right to request additional information from companies and to decline any or all proposals made.

Proposals must be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly marked “PROPOSAL FOR EXTERNAL AUDIT” and addressed to: Joe Henderson, CGA, CSBO Secretary-Treasurer Wolf Creek Public Schools 6000 Highway 2A Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1P6 Faxed and email proposals will be not be accepted.

Community meets PC candidates at forum continued from page 28 Question period At the beginning of the evening, the candidates were asked why they feel they are qualified to make the tough decisions it would take to be the Lacombe-Ponoka nominee.

DeWit told the audience, as a business owner, he’s accustomed to making tough decisions to ensure the success of an entity.

“I think making decisions is based on information. “I’m a systematic person, I do my research.”

Fox feels his time serving as an MLA has given him the experience needed, as well as the experience that came in his decision recently made to rejoin the PC Party. “The most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make is joining the governing party.”

He says one may not always have all the information but the best candidate would gather as much as they could to make the best call in a tough situation.

“You make decisions based on the safety of the people in your community.

I’m not afraid to make difficult decisions as long as it’s there to protect the majority of the people,” said Henkelman.

Rempel says his guide when it comes to making those decisions is choosing the path that is best for the taxpayers.

The candidates were also asked of their opinion on the process of how schools are chosen to be built and modernized.

“I would hope our government is taking a look at the proposals coming through and saying where is the greatest need,” said Rempel. If he gets the opportunity to serve as MLA, he promises to take a closer look a the process and go to the school boards for wisdom.

“Basically I think a lot of the decisions should be coming from the school boards,” said Henkelman.

In the last two and a half years, Fox has spent his time advocating for schools in this matter. “The way to do this is go with your local school board . . . from the local school board, you go to the local community administration.”

“The school boards are in a perfect position to make the right decision locally,” DeWit agreed. “I would advise to empower school boards more and not less.”

Extra!

Extra!

Read all about it in the

When it comes to the increasing cost of post-secondary, Henkelman feels the costly affair should see better support from the government. “There has to be some help with the education.”

Rempel says the government should be looking to save costs in other areas of the budget. He also feels an emphasis on educating Alberta’s youth should be a priority so they can properly take their place in the workforce as the baby boomers retire.

“The last thing you want to do is save money on education because education is very important,” said DeWit. He would advocate the government to keep a careful eye on which programs can sustain higher tuition prices through demand needs.

Fox feels a solution could come from bringing more degree granting programs to local institutions such as Red Deer. This would allow students to live at home while attending school and act as a cost saving measure When it comes to the idea of a sales tax, Fox told the audience Premier Jim Prentice is not in favour of it. “Although, we can’t anticipate what’s in the budget,” he cautioned.

As a businessman, Henkelman is not in favour of a sales tax. “We don’t like it.

It’s an unfair tax,” he explained, as he feels low-income earners would be affected the most.

“It wouldn’t matter to me, because I don’t pay it. When you have a corporation or a business you have a lot of write offs, so guess who you’re going to be taxing?

You’re going to be taxing the low-income people,” he added.

Rempel made his point by saying no one wants a sales tax and on that basis alone, he knows how he would need to advocate of the people of his constituency.

DeWit feels it is a matter that would need further discussion. “I think it’s very important to maintain our Alberta advantage.”

“We should not be afraid to put all the options on the table,” he added.

The advance poll for the PC nomination takes place Wednesday, March 26 at the Morningside Hall, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The general poll is Saturday, March 28 at the Ponoka Drop-in Centre and at the Lacombe Memorial Centre, Servus Room, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. at both locations.

40 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Hammy’s SPIRITS

OPEN

10 AM - 11 PM 7 Days A Week

LAKEVIEW CELLARS VIDAL ICEWINE THE DREAMING TREE CRUSH

1399

$

750 ML

12

$

99 EACH

EACH

KNOB CREEK 9YR OLD SMALL BATCH BOURBON

COPA DE ORO MEXICAN COFFEE LIQUEUR 750 ML

NEW AMSTERDAM VODKA ASSORTED FLAVOURS

1499

$

200 ML

EACH

750 ML

18

$

750 ML

36

$

99 EACH

99

EACH

MCWILLIAM’S HANWOOD ASSORTED VARIETIES 750 ML

2/$2000

BUDWEISER, BUD LIGHT OR KOKANEE

OR

355 ML 24 PACK CANS

38

$

99 EACH

ALBERTA PREMIUM WHISKY 750 ML

18 $ 2799 $

99 EACH

1.14 L

LAMBS NAVY, PALM BREEZE OR WHITE RUM 750 ML

18

$

99 EACH

1049

$

EACH

SMIRNOFF ICE ASSORTED FLAVOURS 330 ML 4 PACK BOTTLES

2/$1600

OR

BODACIOUS SHIRAZ OR PINOT GRIGIO 750 ML

2/ 15 $

OR

00

7

$ 99 EACH

EACH

Bay #5, 4502 - 50th St. • 403-783-2333 Prices in effect Wednesday, Mar. 25 to Tuesday, Mar. 31, 2015 Prices do not include GST or deposit. We reserve the right to limit quantities

7

$ 99 EACH