Ponoka News, December 09, 2015

CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY Vol. 67, No. 50 | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015 | 403-783-3311 | WWW.PONOKANEWS.COM

Hat trick of losses a self-fullfilling prophesy for Stampeders Story on page 25

Some nifty little memories of our Ponoka history Story on page 5

Recycle and waste Amanda Henderson-Kada (standing), executive director of the Ponoka Rising Sun Clubhouse, answers questions Monday, Dec. 7 on the town’s new recycle and waste management program set to start Jan. 4. Please see our story on page 2.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

Residents pack Kinsmen Centre to understand new waste management program

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS The Kinsmen Community Centre was full to the brim on Monday, Dec. 7 with town residents who were curious to learn more about the recycle and waste management program that is set to begin Jan. 4.

The open house organized by the town brought together residents who had lots of questions and concerns about the new program, among them how street front pick-

ups will affect residents who have their garbage collected in back alleys and if the two week collection pickup for garbage is too long to wait.

Residents could submit their questions in writing or speak directly to organizers.

Among the speakers was Dave McPhee, director of operations and property services for the Town of Ponoka, and representatives from Green for Life Environmental (GFL), the company hired to run the waste management and recycle program.

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Also in attendance was Amanda Henderson-Kada, executive director of the Rising Sun Clubhouse, which has been in charge of the blue box recycle program in Ponoka for the last 18 years. Henderson-Kada was optimistic about the new program.

“Moving forward I do understand that there is an opportunity for us to co-exist,” she said.

Later she confirmed that about 75 per cent the clubhouse’s existing customers

had reaffirmed their business and she added that about 25 to 30 new customers had signed up, which she was pleased with.

In an earlier interview, Henderson-Kada explained while the new way the recycling program is to work would create some free capacity for their workforce because sorting would no longer be required, it would still be diffiuclt for them to take on too many new customers. “Our priority will be our existing customers,”

Dave McPhee, director of operations and property services for the Town of Ponoka, answers questions Monday, Dec. 7 on the town’s new recycle and waste management program set to start Jan. 4.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

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she said.

The biggest questions that appeared to be on everyone’s lips was, “Why?” To answer that McPhee provided some background to the town’s recycling and how it compares to the rest of the province.

He said the province has required municipalities to have 60 per cent of waste go to recycle streams by 2015.

When he started several years ago, McPhee said he determined that the town was not reporting its waste streams to the province and was recycling less than 10 per cent of its waste, even with the recycle station downtown.

He said over 90 per cent of municipalities in Alberta have now been implementing mandatory recycling programs, and Ponoka has now joined the list.

The challenge one resident saw is with large families on a bi-weekly schedule. McPhee said the intention with two week pickup is to encourage recycling but added that there may be other options for residents like having two garbage bins. As the program has yet to begin, planners will have room to re-evaluate the process.

“What I’m asking the community is to work with us.

Let us know,” offered McPhee.

One metre space needed for pickup Chris Duiker, who oversees community pickups with GFL, said the reason for the one metre diameter space is to ensure a safe pickup of the 65 gallon garbage cans.

The special cans, with large wheels, are designed for easy transport over snow to the street. Automation makes it cheaper for residents to col-

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lect garbage and for recycling, using the clear blue or clear garbage bags, there will be one more collector throwing bags into trucks.

Two specific products are not recyclable: Styrofoam and glass. While Styrofoam may have a recycle symbol, Duiker says it is not. Glass is the same. “Some communities are accepting it but there is no recyclable product for it,” explained Duiker.

Another area of concern was over back alley pickups.

McPhee said there are some alleys that trucks will not fit in safely. Some of that has to do with aging infrastructure and new equipment.

However, there may be areas where special accommodations need to be made, he added.

Despite these challenges GFL will conduct annual surveys on collections in town to determine problem areas.

Duicker added that while they do have some pickup guidelines and they will be working closely with residents and the town to find a system that works for everyone. “There’s ways to make things work,” said Duiker.

Recycle as much as needed There is no restriction on how much can be recycled.

Duiker said the company does request a rinse of cans but they will collect them if not rinsed. “We prefer that you rinse them. The only reason for that is food debris attracts birds,” explained Duicker.

Town staff confirmed during the meeting that most grocery stores and hardware stores in town will sell the clear blue or plain clear garbage bags for recycling.

Compost collection There was some confusion over composting as the green bins supplied by GFL had stickers showing household foods could be composted.

McPhee clarified there was an error when sending the bins as the town can only collect yard waste during the summer months for its compost site. Duicker added that the summer months were designated for yard waste collection as that is the time plants grow.

Hazardous waste such as paint cans and aerosol cans are now accepted at the town’s transfer site and residents will be able to drop them off for free year round.

Duiker said since the program is new to Ponoka, for the short term the company will collect everything. As things progress he said residents may see a sticker to provide feedback on what is working and what isn’t.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 3

Police arrest man in possession of stolen vehicle Clues searched in death of Maskwacis woman

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE Reports of a suspicious man landed him in trouble with Ponoka RCMP. The call came in Sunday, Dec. 6,when officers located Jesse Cecka in posession of a stolen truck from Red Deer. As the investigation continued officers, located tools used for breaking in to homes, say police.

Among the other items located were several sto-

len credit cards and mail belonging to 15 residents in the Ponoka County area.

Police charged Cecka with 26 counts of possession of stolen property related to the find. He is remanded in custody until his court appearance set for Friday, Dec. 11.

Woman dies of injuries Maskwacis RCMP investigators seek the public’s assistance in the death of Christy Crane, 25, who was

found injured Dec. 6 on a rural, gravel road in the Samson Cree Nation.

At the time police said Crane was taken to hospital for treatment, but she was later reported as having succumbed to her injuries the following day.

Police said they could not conclude whether the nature of her death was

A Ponoka man was fortunate to walk out the way he came in last week.

Scott Wiebe, 26, pleaded guilty at Ponoka Provincial Court on Friday, Dec. 3 to one count each of driving while disqualified, driving without insurance and failing to appear in court and nearly wound up leaving the courtroom in handcuffs if not for the judge accepting the man’s explanation.

Instead, Wiebe was handed almost $3,500 in fines as well as an additional one year driving ban.

According to the facts presented by the crown, back on Jan. 8, 2105, an RCMP officer in an unmarked vehicle spotted a vehicle known to belong to Wiebe - who had his licence suspended nearly three months earlier for an impaired driving conviction - parked at the 7-11 in Ponoka.

The officer believed Wiebe may be driving it, so he waited and the pulled over the vehicle after it left the parking lot.

Wiebe was found driving the car, which was also found to no longer have insurance.

While admitting he was driving when

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he shouldn’t have been and that the car wasn’t insured, Wiebe provided an explanation to the court that seemed to satisfy the judge to the point where it kept Wiebe out of heading to jail.

He told the court, prior to sentencing, that the car had been parked at his place of employment - a job he has since lost due to transportation issues - since his impaired conviction, but that day he was told it had to be moved and Wiebe felt there was no other option than to do it himself, adding he knew he shouldn’t have done it.

Judge J.B. Mitchell stated during sentencing that he took Wiebe’s explanation at face value, adding he had no reason to doubt Wiebe’s version, and also noted it isn’t the most egregious example of this type of offence as well as the fact Wiebe has had to find a new job as a result.

“Like I tell all of the people that appear before me that are convicted and suspended from driving, there is always the chance that you will go to jail if you are caught behind the wheel without having your licence,” stated Judge Mitchell to Wiebe. continued on page 4

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Explanation helps man stay out of jail

BY JORDIE DWYER PONOKA NEWS

criminal and a statement said an autopsy was to be conducted later alongside putting out an appeal to the public for assistance.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact

CA L L T O DAY F O R I N F O R M AT I O N

PONOKA D E N T U R E

Maskwacis RCMP are looking for any information related to the death of 25-year-old Christy Crane.

She was found injured on a rural road on the Samson Cree Nation and later succumbed to her injuries.

Photo supplied by Maskwacis RCMP

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Orlando, Florida and love of their country and family.

– Oct. 23 – When Bourdain encouraged people to get traveling to another out of their comfort zone when visiting country, it’s important to a new destination and “eat what’s truly embrace their culture, especially offered”. Be grateful and polite on the EUROPEAN 2009 when it comes to the local cuisine, road, he said.” said Anthony Bourdain, American chef, TOURS MOTORCOACH Theresa was joined by other travel cookbook author, and star of CNN’s executives from around the world at this PARTS UNKNOWN, to an audience of large industry gathering held this year at more than 900 travel professionals MAGICAL RIVER in CRUISES the Omni Orlando Resort at Champions October in Orlando, including Theresa Gate. In addition to Anthony Bourdain ON EUROPE’S WATERWAYS Turner from Direct Travel & Cruise and a series of business and industry Centre, Ponoka. speakers, conference delegates Theresa was attending the annual learned of new products and programs conference of Ensemble Travel Group, developed by Ensemble, all designed to a member-owned organization of significantly enhance their customers’ approximately 850 top-tier, independent vacation experiences and improve travel agencies in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Direct their agency’s business practices and Travel & Cruise Centre has belonged profitability.

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4 PONOKA NEWS

Religion

Your Guide To Local Houses of Worship

The best news

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

MATT SEALY Church of the Open Bible

We live in a world filled with tragedy.

If there’s anything this hurting world desperately needs, it is good news. Not

only the world in general, but individuals need good news because their lives are often filled with suffering and sorrow.

The Christmas story as told by Luke offers not only good news, but the best news in the world.

The angel told the shepherds, “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:10-11).” The best news in the world is that Christ the Lord has come as the Savior for all.

Maybe you’re thinking, “That’s nice, but to be quite honest, it doesn’t relate to the problems I’m facing. This story doesn’t touch the things that I struggle with on a daily basis.” But if you’re thinking that, you don’t understand the significance of this news as it relates to

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

www.wordoflife.ca continued from page 3

PONOKA UNITED CHURCH ponokaunited@shaw.ca

Sunday Service 10:00 am.

5020-52 Ave. Ponoka

Phone: 403-783-4087

SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH 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. Shimit Abraham CFIC 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

you personally. The news that “there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” is absolutely the best news there is or ever could be. It’s the best news because God Himself came to be your Savior. He came to give you forgiveness and salvation through the gracious gift of Himself. He came to give you peace and hope through His amazing love. He came to bring you “great joy.”

Since this good news is for you it demands a personal response. Each one must respond as the shepherds did that night. They didn’t say, “Wow, that was a cool experience” and sit there the rest of the night with their sheep.

They didn’t sit around discussing what they had heard. They immediately responded to the news by believing what God had revealed to them through

the angel. Their faith was demonstrated by their going to Bethlehem to see it for themselves and then to return, glorifying and praising God. What about you?

How will you respond to the simple but profound message that the baby Jesus, born in Bethlehem, is Christ the Lord, a Savior born just for you? That is absolutely the best news in the world, no matter what your situation in life.

Jesus didn’t leave heaven and come to this earth and go through the suffering of the cross just to give you a boost or a few tips on how to have a happy life. He knew that we desperately needed a Savior.

In a world filled with more and more bad news, may we each cling this Christmas to this good news that a Savior was born for you and me.

Court briefs

403-783-5659

Sunday @ 10:30 a.m.

Minister: Beatrix Schirner

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

“The real consequence for you though is another conviction, an extended driving ban and some big fines.”

One-year ban A 32-year-old man from the Louis Bull First Nation ended up with the minimum penalty allowable along with a lengthy period of probation after the judge believed there was a better way to deal the case.

George Twins pleaded guilty to one count each of driving with a blood alcohol level over 0.08 and driving while unauthorized after he was seen weaving across several roads in downtown Ponoka around midnight on Saturday, Nov. 7 and found to have a blood alcohol level of 0.23. Twins also didn’t have a licence, as it had not been reinstated after a previous impaired conviction.

Twins received $1,200 in fines and one year ban on driving along with an 18-month probation that has several restrictions placed on him, including alcohol treatment.

The crown did ask for fines nearing $3,000 to go with an 18 month driving ban. However, Judge Mitchell expressed concern with that suggestion after finding out Twins has a large family, is unemployed and has a significant alcohol problem.

“What are you doing gunned to the gills at midnight with six kids at home? The party is over and you need to put your big boys pants on and grow up. And with no job, the likelihood of such an unrealistic financial penalty being a deterrent and getting paid off is slim, yet the toolbox I have to deal with this is limited. However, I think we can do something better than $3,000 in fines,” said Judge Mitchell before sentencing Twins.

“Despite what happened, I believe probation would perhaps be useful if you can come to grips with your alcohol problem and employment troubles. Hopefully, this will go a long way to redirecting you in a more positive direction.”

One month jail A former Ponoka man will spend some further time behind bars as a result of pleading guilty to charges of shoplifting and failing to appear in court.

Andrew Rain, 35, now living in Ma-Me-O Beach, admitted to stealing a number of pills from the Shoppers Drug Mart in Ponoka back in June of 2014 and then not showing up for his trial that was set for Oct. of 2014.

Rain was handed a 30-day jail sentence with 12 days credit for the time he had already spent in jail.

Rain’s lawyer explained that his client has not been in trouble since that incident, and moved away specifically so he would no longer be involved with the drugs and alcohol lifestyle he had been leading.

Judge Mitchell was pleased to see the man’s change, but added the charges combined with his previous record left him little choice but to send him a message with a term in jail.

Time served A woman who is five-months pregnant and having to deal with some other personal issues was cut a substantial break after pleading guilty to charges of shoplifting and failing to appear in court.

Chelsea Rain, 22, from Ponoka, was sentenced to eight days in jail - which amounted to time served - after calling the crown’s suggestion of a $500 fine impractical given the circumstances. Rain was charged for taking several personal hygiene and makeup items from Shoppers Drug Mart back in May of 2014 and then not showing up for a pair of court appearances that same year.

In handing out the sentence, Judge Mitchell took into account Rain’s present situation of trying to regain her independence after getting out of what could be considered a controlling relationship and support her two young children with another on the way as well as the relatively small value ($69) of items taken.

PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR PAPER!

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 5

Reflections of Ponoka

Some nifty little memories of our Ponoka history

BY MIKE RAINONE FOR THE NEWS Throughout the early growth on the Alberta Prairies, each community, big or small, including our own Town and County of Ponoka, has

proudly developed their own unique personalities, stories, characters and events that should always be told and never forgotten. As I browse each week through the history books, I really

Remember When...

Photo courtesy of Memories Remain 1999

2015 will mark the 34th anniversary of the Ponoka Secondary Campus’ sponsorship of the local Santa’s Anonymous campaign. In this delightful 1999 photo, the high school students celebrate with Santa and have always been most appreciative of the amazing community support that they have always received. As always they are looking forward to helping others have a very Merry Christmas with the jolly delivery of treats in and around Ponoka in mid-December.

Photo courtesy of Fort Ostell

Dick Slater and his congenial drivers faithfully served the 7 days- a week year round dray delivery service from the Canadian Pacific Railway Station to countless stops and tasks around Ponoka with this magnificent team of horses from 1920 to 1968 when the station closed. Also shown in the photo are driver John Benson on the left and proud owner Dick Slater on the right. look forward to finding so many delightful vignettes of our colorful past, which I can, in turn, share with you in words and pictures. *In the very early days most weddings and even funerals were held in the local hotels because the first churches were too small to hold everyone who wished to attend. *The first sitting of the very popular and long-standing Ponoka Burn’s Night celebration was held in the posh dining room of the Royal Hotel, at which Mr. George Gordon, founder of the Ponoka Herald was quoted as announcing in all his Scottish wit that “from all the lumps on main street, you can sure tell that Ponoka is no one horse town.” *Horse racing was very common in the early days, and the hardy contestants from in and around Ponoka and the Hobbema Indian Reserves made many a mad dash on their steeds from Alger’s Store on the corner of Railway Street to the bottom of Fisher Hill, with many a friendly ‘wager’ placed. *The business of the Ponoka Town Council was always front and centre on many subjects of local interest. In 1914, they received a letter

from irate citizens concerning the pollution in the Battle River, and then on February 2, 1917 a public meeting was held to discuss the question of a local municipal hospital, which wasn’t completed until 1947. *In 1918, the thriving Town of Ponoka was thrilled to welcome the community’s first veterinary surgeon and dentist Mr. W. F. Scott, who worked on the horses downstairs in Larsen and Peterson’s Stable, and then tended to those citizens with tooth problems in the upstairs office. Chester Matuisch, the son of Mr. L. B. Matuisch was the first known flood victim of the Battle River in 1905, and a Mr. Greenison sold tombstones and made to order coffins in the early days of long ago. *With steady growth and successes, the Town grew rapidly with the cost of expenses and amenities steadily on the rise. In 1915, the business tax assessment of the community was $19,008, but by 1971 had risen to $759,530. Early pioneer George Bowker sold enough lumber to build the entire town during the 1920s, and also opened the first funeral home while Walter Gee harvested from his

gravel pit just west of town for many years, and shipped it by the train load throughout the province. *When the Town of Ponoka was incorporated in 1904, the staff consisted of the secretary-treasurer and one gentleman who served as the handyman and the policeman.

With substantial growth along the way, in 1937 an electrician was added to the staff and the monthly payroll was $500, but then by the 1970s, the town staff had grown to 24 regular employees with a monthly payroll of $16,000. *Throughout the years, the fine folks of Ponoka and district have always displayed big hearts and deep pockets when it came to helping others, gathering together to prepare care hampers for our soldiers overseas in two world wars, sending tons of food and supplies to families in southern Alberta who had been ravaged during the ‘dirty 30s’ by several years of devastation and poverty due plagues of grass-hoppers and army worms, loved to hold house raising-bees, and so much more. One stormy and cold December, when the roads were bad, dear old Santa Claus made his

annual much-anticipated visit to Ponoka in a helicopter, which landed at the C.P.R. parking lot and was followed by a gala afternoon festive family party. Nobody ever complained about train whistles in those days, because it meant that the supplies, the mail and visitors were coming to town, and that all was well down the line to the rest of the world. *Three of the biggest milestones of our colorful history along the way included: the first telephone pole across the street from the Royal Hotel in 1903, water and sewer in 1948, and the gas being piped into town in 1946. The gas prompted a grand celebration hosted on 50 street with a huge bonfire hosted by the Ponoka Volunteer Fire Department, who had collected all the obsolete ‘outdoor biffies’ just for the occasion.

We have only just touched on some of the ‘magic moments’ of our history, but with your ongoing assistance, hospitality, and community pride through several proud generations, we will continue to share these cherished tales of then and now for as long as all of us are willing and able.

6 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

Opinion

How will Notley sail the boat?

MUSTAFA ERIC Editor It is wise to see and admit a mistake and try to correct it, but sometimes the mistakes inflict much too damage that might prove impossible to undo.

Whether provincial government’s Bill 6, in its initial form, will turn out to be that kind of a mistake, only time will tell; but one thing is certain for anybody to bet their boots on: Wildrose and, if they can, Progressive Conservatives will try to milk this cow

until the voting day in the next provincial election.

Rachel Notley’s NDP government has been apologetic ever since the uproar by the farmers and ranchers made the leadership of the governing party realize the impropriety of the unnecessarily hasty steps to legislate in a highly sensitive area of provincial politics.

Not only have both ministers, Minister of Jobs, Skills and Training, the main architect of the botched legislative draft and Minister of Agriculture made statements expressing regret for having taken a wrong step, but Premier Notley herself appealed to all farmer communities in an open letter to be patient until the amendments could be introduced to Bill 6.

And the amendments, as announced last Monday, seem to be far reaching enough to satisfy the main concerns of the farmer and rancher communities.

According to the statements by Lori Sigurdson,

Minister of Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour, and Oneil Carlier, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, the amendments will make sure that owners of farms and ranches and their family members, as long as they choose to do so, will be exempt from Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations and Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) coverage. Put simply, the requirements for regulatory coverage under the new shape of Bill 6 will be only for those individuals who work on the farm in return for a wage.

Given this clarification, neither 4-H activities will be curtailed, nor children or neighbours or friends helping with farm work will come under the protection of the worker-designated regulations.

Given that Alberta is still the only province in the country without legislation protecting agricultural workers, the need for regulatory arrangements to protect the rights of em-

ployees working on farms is obvious.

And this is agreed by most of the stakeholders.

But Wildrose seems to be dissatisfied with the changes. After the announcement of the amendments, Wildrose MLA for Rimbey–Rocky Mountain House–Sundre riding Jason Nixon said more consultation was needed before any legislation on the matter and he called on the government to either kill Bill 6 or send

it to legislative committees for review.

It is quite apparent that opposition parties will not stop attacking the government over Bill 6 until they have made enough political capital out of the first major blunder of the NDP. It will be interesting to see how Mrs. Notley and her government will weather this storm: Will they resort to reefing, lowering their sails to reduce the speed of their boat or will they use tacking or

jibing maneuvers without cutting down on speed to swerve through the waves to leave the storm behind and reach quieter seas?

The difference between the two might be as big as jeopardizing the next provincial election even before completing one year in office and laying the groundwork for a political force propelled to power by an urban thrust for a deeper understanding with a rural constituency it should not antagonize.

Letters

How do we deal with hatred in the long term?

Dear Editor, As some European countries, the U.S. and others strategize for war precipitated by the Paris attacks, it is important to recognize that the recent history of terrorist attacks in Britain, Spain, France, Canada and the U.S. have predominantly been the actions people raised in those countries.

So-called home grown terrorists have been almost exclusively responsible for acts targeting unknown and random individuals and groups. That suggests a motivation not only to instill random fear and panic in a population, but also to do so with the near certainty of their own deaths or capture. An ideology or belief system

that seeks to instill fear no matter what the public or personal costs suggests a way of thinking that not only devalues lives of others or themselves, but suggests a incredible alienation from their own day to day lives. Such alienation or dissatisfaction is subject to any leadership that can engage individuals and give them meaning no matter what the loss to their personal autonomy.

Witness the Jonestown tragedy in Guyana, where 900 people died in the grip of an Indianapolis preacher’s cultic control.

How do we challenge that kind of ideological control and in the process teach and safeguard values and a way of life that we live out daily? As someone said, the

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, Michele Rosenthal

Judy Dick Manager

Mustafa Eric Editor

Jeff Heyden-Kaye Reporter

answer is in the details which we need to sort out and not merely at a physical, instrumental or purely military level.

If our beliefs and lives are worth anything, we should spell this out in deeply and meaningful human terms, and stop the demonization of others that can only lead to further alienation that reinforces “us and them” relationships. Dealing with a history of deep or perceived grievance including historic colonialism involves a level of emotional discipline and maturity in conversation and in outreach on both sides that might stretch our resources for years to come.

George Jason

Jordie Dwyer Reporter

Karen Douglass Sales

Susan Whitecotton Administration

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 7

Ponoka’s future recreation plan submitted for consideration

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS A few early steps have been taken in developing the Town of Ponoka’s Recreation and Culture Master Plan.

McElhanney Consulting, the company hired by the town to put together a plan and the draft, has submitted its version of the draft master plan to town planners. The document highlights the process undertaken to come up with the current draft plan: background review, comparison and community input, inventory assessment, establish goals and priorities, master plan and feasibility preparation and then a final master plan.

Wes Amendt, director of community services for the Town of Ponoka, said planners are consulting with different community groups to find out what their challenges and strengths are, and this document is going to help guide the process. The biggest challenge is balancing wants and needs with what is affordable, says Amendt.

Most recently, the recreation advisory committee met with the two swim clubs in town, the Gators and the Pool Sharks. They provided some feedback against one recommendation to build a new pool with four lanes rather than the five the town currently has.

Amendt said while they did discuss recreation facilities and how a new pool would look, the draft document itself takes a long-term focus not only on recreation and facilities for it, but arts and culture and parks. Feedback from community groups and residents helps outline the needs and wants of the community.

“The recreation master plan is a larger scope document,” said Amendt.

He said the facilities are just one part of the equation.

Ryan Crawford, president of the Sharks said it was a positive and informative meeting, which showed that many communities the size of Ponoka have pools with

four lanes. While town planners haven’t made any decisions regarding a pool design, Crawford said the Sharks and Gators reiterated a desire to see a five-lane pool.

“We can’t host a swim meet without five lanes,” said Crawford.

To get to that point, both clubs indicated their support to raise additional funds to increase the lanes. “We’re definitely willing to help,” Crafword stressed.

He added the Gators need for five lanes is greater as the club has more members.

Regarding the actual draft document, input from the community found that residents are interested in a strong path and trail network within Ponoka, strong desire for more arts and culture, a multi-use facility or community hub, upgrades to current facilities, children’s activities, senior programming, additional programming, a new pool and new town hall.

An interesting facility comparison of Ponoka to three other communities with similar populations sizes Bonnyville, population 6,216; Devon, 6,510 and Rocky Mountain House, 6,773, shows that Ponoka does appear to have a fair number of amenities the others don’t.

While Devon does not have a curling rink, Ponoka has one with six sheets, which is one more than Rocky Mountain House and two more than

Bonnyville. Bonnyville is the only community besides Ponoka with an indoor swimming pool; while Rocky Mountain House has an indoor leisure pool.

As for indoor fitness buildings, Bonnyville is the only community to own a multi-use building with a variety of recreation, athletic and community services. Also factored into the comparison were community recreation budgets: Ponoka, $2.2 million; Devon, $2.7 million; Rocky Mountain House $3.2 million and Bonnyville $3 million.

One reason Bonnyville’s recreation costs may be less than Rocky Mountain House is due to it being a shared operations with the Municipal District of Bonnyville.

Timelines proposed by McElhanney plan foresees a relatively quick construction of a community activity centre in the summer of 2017.

Phase one of a leisure pool construction is proposed to start in 2016 with a grand opening set for September, 2019.

Construction work for a new library, arts and culture centre is tentatively set to be completed between four to six years from now, in 2020 to 2022, with an events arena, which expands on the Ponoka Culture and Recreation Complex set for completion between 2023 and 2025.

The plan to repurpose the arena for other amenities or recreation is set for the same time period.

PONOKA RISING SUN CLUBHOUSE

McElhanney proposes a seven or 10-year option for council.

Recommendations include setting governance for the recreation centres,

which will help determine how the facilities are run and payed for. It will also set the stage for programming and for an increase in arts and cul-

ture in the community.

The draft plan is expected to come to town council for decision on Tuesday, Jan. 12 during a regular meeting.

This draft plan proposes where Town Hall and an arts and culture centre could be situated.

The draft Recreation and Culture Master Plan is expected to come to town council Tuesday, Jan. 12 for consideration.

Illustration courtesy of the Town of Ponoka

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

UTILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE THE TOWN OF PONOKA IS SEEKING FOUR MEMBERS AT LARGE FOR THE NEW UTILITIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITTEE. The purpose of this Committee will be to explore various means of revenue generation, examine various funding and business models as they relate to town owned utilities, the natural gas distribution system and waste management.

If you are interested in joining this Committee, please submit a completed application form on or before December 20, 2015 to the Town of Ponoka.

Application forms are available at the Town Hall: 5004 – 54 Street Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1N8 Or on the Town’s website at: www.ponoka.ca

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Closed Sundays & Holidays Visit us in our new, larger location at the corner of 51 Ave and 51 St. (Center 51!)

Participating Food Bank Drop Location!

A big Thank You to all our contractors and everyone who helped in the moving and preparation for opening. Many people came forward to help us and we are very grateful.

This move has been made possible by the generous donations of people like you, and by our growing number of customers that return again and again for the many great buys that are available. We thank you, and we thank the volunteers as well who have helped us tremendously over the past seven years in ministering to people in our community and surrounding area, as well as in over 40 countries around the world. Come and see our wide selection of household items and more at very reasonable prices. With our move into larger facilities, we need more volunteers. Please come and see us if you may be able to invest 4 hours or more a week into this great ministry.

“BFM Thrift Stores convert donated used goods into cash so that BFM Foundation (Canada) may, through a Joint Ministry with Bible League Canada, transform peoples’ lives through the Living Word of God.”

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 9

RECREATION FACILITIES FOR THE FUTURE In 2015, Town Council embarked on a program to address the current recreation and culture facility needs. The resulting Draft Recreation Master Plan replaces an old plan that needed updating, to better

serve the future needs of Ponoka residents.

Existing data and updated facility evaluations provided a clear picture of future needs for the Town of Ponoka.

This information was taken to the community through a validation survey, a booth at registration night and a community presentation. The new direction was supported by recreation committee on October 7 and the Town Council on October 20th.

The Draft Recreation Master Plan is on the Town’s website for viewing. This plan will go back to Council in January for approval. Following this, if approved, a new round of consultation will begin focusing on an approved plan.

We are still seeking input and comments before this plan goes to Council in January – so please have a look at the plan and call the Director of Community Services, Wes Amendt, if you have any comments or questions. His number is 403-783-0173.

The map pictured here shows the three main components being considered to ensure that safe and

sustainable facilities are available for Town and County residents. This is still a conceptual plan for proposed facilities. Pictured here are: 1. Community Activity and Wellbeing Centre Plans here include the development of a new leisure pool, community gym and entertainment arena; upgrades to curling rink and repurposing of the large arena 2. Town Office Site Plans here include demolition of the old town office and creation of a new town office, library, arts centre and festival plaza The draft plan also includes plans for a Hudson Green – Future Major Facility Site. Plans here include making this area the next major park and facility site in Ponoka with tournament level sport fields, day use area, wetland park, campground, and connection to trails Please come pick up a hard copy of this plan from Town Hall, or go to the website to see the details of the Draft Recreation Master Plan.

Ponoka Fire Department Weekly Report PONOKA FIRE WEEKLY REPORT: NOV. 26 – DEC. 5

The Fire Department responded to 3 emergency calls:

• 4 vehicle MVC

The Ponoka Fire Department took part in a community checkstop resulting in a donation to Victim Services and a donation of two bags of toys to Santa’s Anonymous. Victim Services provides a critical service to our community. Thank you to everyone who donated so generously!

A Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations Course takes place this month.The course will be presented by Chief Wilkinson and evaluated by Chief Munshaw from the Taber Fire Department.

This is an accredited course, and is required course for fire fighters to complete their 1001 Level 1 and 2 training. We place a high priority on training. Fire fighters will learn fundamentals of responding to incidents involving Hazardous materials during this week long course.

• 1 Alarms Ringing • 1 Vehicle Fire

HOMETOWN NEWS

FEATURE NEWS – MAYOR’S LETTER TO THE EDITOR: CLEARING UP MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT THE 50TH AVENUE ROAD REALIGNMENT AND BRIDGE REPLACEMENT. In Case you missed it, this letter appeared in the December 2 edition of Ponoka News and is also on our website – read the whole letter by going to the homepage: www.ponoka.ca – look under News in the left hand column for the Mayor’s letter. Thank you to everyone who has commented on this letter, for your insights and support for this important project.

COUNCIL UPDATES Next meeting of Council: Tuesday, January 12, 2016. Please note this meeting will be at 6 pm at the Ponoka County Boardroom. Agenda packages are posted on the website under ‘Town Hall’ in advance of every Council meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend.

TOWN NOTICES Outdoor Ice will be available once temperatures cooperate! Let’s hope for a stretch of cold days! Roll out the Carts! New Waste Carts are being delivered this month! Look for your information package inside or check out the information on the Town website - Ponoka.ca. This is also a great time to consider supporting the Ponoka Rising Sun Clubhouse’s recycle program. For information about this option please call them at 403-783-5810.

New Heritage & Downtown Committee is seeking members representing Downtown businesses and the public at large. Contact our Economic Development Officer Stephen Novak at 403-783-0116.

Sign Up for Monthly Tax Plan payments - Please sign up by December 18, 2015 for the 2016 Tax Year.

You will need to sign a form and be sure to bring a “VOID” cheque with you.

Dog Licences are on sale until January 31, 2015 for $25 each. After this date they will be $40.

Winter hours at the Waste Transfer Station have started: 10 am to 4 pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

Christmas Holiday Schedules have been posted online – http://www.ponoka.ca/community Ice Rental: Small ice surface is available for rent. Contact Tamara @403 783-0131.

HOMETOWN EVENTS

Remember to post YOUR event on the Town’s calendar – it is easy to do. Go to Ponoka.ca and you will find it on our home page. We are happy to promote your events here and online!

AQUAPLEX NEWS The Pool will be CLOSED this coming weekend for a Ponoka Pool Sharks Swim Meet. Come on down and cheer on our local athletes.

We are taking registrations for our new Junior Lifeguard Club that is starting in January.

Public Swim available from 9:30 am – 11:30 am and from 1pm to 4 pm Monday to Friday.

Christmas Break 3 on 3 Hockey Challenge - December 29 and 30, contact Wes Amendt 403-783-0118.

BOARD AND COMMITTEE VACANCIES Heritage & Downtown Revitalization Committee - are you passionate about heritage? Do you own a downtown business? Please consider joining this committee to shape Ponoka’s future. Call Stephen Novak, Economic Development Officer at 403-783-0116 or email Stephen.novak@ponoka.org Utilities and Environmental Committee - Looking for four members at large for this new committee, which will explore new means of revenue generation, funding and business models related to Town utilities, natural gas distribution system and waste management. Please submit a completed Application on or before December 20, 2015 to the Town of Ponoka. Application forms are available at Town Hall or on the website.

Are you a Town resident interested in Land Use Planning? The Town’s Subdivision and Development Appeal Board has two upcoming vacancies for members at large.Training is provided by Municipal Affairs.

The purpose of the Board is to hear and decide upon appeals against decisions of the Subdivision Approving Authority or Development Authority. Please submit a completed Application on or before December 20, 2015 to the Town of Ponoka. Application forms are available at Town Hall or on the website.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK - “How do you find out about Town news and events?

Please let us know, by going to our website at www.ponoka.ca and let us know if you prefer the website, Facebook, Twitter, or the Hometown Weekly News. Of course, we think you should check them all!

10 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

ARE YOU A TOWN RESIDENT INTERESTED IN LAND USE PLANNING?

THE TOWN OF PONOKA SUBDIVISION & DEVELOPMENT APPEAL BOARD IS LOOKING FOR TWO NEW MEMBERS. TRAINING IS PROVIDED. The Subdivision and Development Appeal Board has two upcoming vacancies for members at large.

The purpose of the Board is to hear and decide upon appeals against decisions of the Subdivision Approving Authority or Development Authority. Training for Board Members is provided by Municipal Affairs.

If you are a Town resident and interested in land use planning, please submit a completed Application on or before December 20, 2015 to the Town of Ponoka.

Application forms are available at the Town Office: 5004 – 54 Street Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1N8 Or on the Town’s website at: www.ponoka.ca

WWW.PONOKANEWS.COM Glenn Turple of Red Deer, 87 years young, was on his Honda Goldwing with a trike conversion kit passing through Ponoka on Wednesday, Dec. 2 to pay a visit to his old friends, Robert and Irene, at R Johansen Sales Ltd. He has been in business servicing Honda and Suzuki motorbikes since 1956, now working only”part-time”, leaving the bulk of the business to be run by his daughter.

Photo by Karen Douglass

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 11

Ag society recognizes Holiday crafters featured at winter market dedication of volunteers

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS A special volunteer appreciation supper was held by the Ponoka Agricultural Society (PAS) last week to recognize folks’ dedication over the year.

PAS president Lauraine Weir said without the volunteers the many events the society hosts would not be possible and this supper, held Tuesday, Dec. 1 at the Calnash Ag Event Centre, was one way to thank them. Looking at the many events they hosted, Weir suggests the society has strong community involvement.

“It takes time, effort, talent and a little bit of money, sometimes a lot of money,” explained Weir.

She referred to the long hours spent at the ag event centre helping out at the ranch rodeo or during other ag society events. According to a fact sheet presented at the dinner, the society hosted 12 events this year.

Among those were the home and hobby show, ranch rodeo, cowboy challenge, farming with horses, several rodeos and horse cutting challenges, the women’s conference, a youth ATV safety course and the society also sponsored two $500 high school scholarships. Besides the regular committee and board work, the society has also taken over operations of the Calnash Ag Event Centre, while the Ponoka Ag Event Centre Society is an operations

committee that monitors the day to day activities.

Weir said the more than 90 people in attendance, as well as the many sponsors of the society, spend countless hours helping out. “They log hours in there (ag event centre) and sometimes they’re logging days.”

Other areas the PAS gets involved with sponsorship is with the empty bowls fundraiser, 4-H activities, the high school rodeo, at the Ponoka Stampede and other community events.

Weir suggests the PAS board realizes how important those volunteers are and the supper is a way to show that. The evening closed with comedian Ol’ Ugly (John Glawson) out of Nanton entertaining attendees.

There is still time to check out the sale items at the winter farmers market with two more dates set, today and Thursday, Dec. 10 at the Ponoka Legion.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS

Comedian Ol’ Ugly (John Glawson) out of Nanton entertains attendees of the Ponoka Agricultural Society’s volunteer appreciation supper Tuesday, Dec. 1 at the Calnash Ag Event Centre.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

There’s still time to take advantage of the winter farmers’ market being held at the Ponoka Legion.

The last two markets are set for today and tomorrow, Thursday, Dec. 10 at the Legion, says organizer Donna Merrill. There is quite a bit more giftware during the winter market as vendors and crafters look to entice holiday shoppers to their products, she said.

Folks love the baking items available, too, she added. There is something special about the holiday crafts.

“There’s a lot of TLC (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) into homemade crafts. There’s a lot of unique ideas,” she explained.

Those good ideas translate into ideal holiday gifts and the Legion has been full of shoppers looking for that one gift they can’t get anywhere else. In an effort to reach out to the community, the farmers’ market hosts a 50/50 to raise funds for different community groups.

Last month the focus

was for the Community Christmas and this month the market is raising money for the Ponoka Food Bank.

Shoppers looking for something different can check out the Legion from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. today or 3 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 10.

12 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

Community Christmas lunch to be held at the Legion

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Organizers

of

the

much loved Community Christmas are preparing in full speed for the event, which is set to be held

at the Ponoka Legion this year.

For more than 15 years, the Community

Are you passionate about Ponoka’s Heritage? Do you have ideas to share to make our Downtown Revitalization a reality?

The Town of Ponoka is seeking members for the new Heritage & Downton Revitalization Committee: • Five (5) Members representing Downtown Businesses • Two (2) Members representing the public at large

If you are interested, please contact Stephen Novak - Economic Development Officer at 403-783-0116 or email stephen.novak@ponoka.org

Christmas has been a time for folks to get together and enjoy some camaraderie and fellowship on Christmas Day. Time of the event this year is set for 10 a.m. to last until 2 p.m. said co-organizer Carla Prediger.

Due to the location change, the lunch that used to be held at the Kinsmen Community Centre is now being set up at the Legion and organizers are working on getting transportation for folks who cannot drive on their own. Anyone who needs a ride to the Legion can contact Ponoka Family and Community Support Services, who is working with the Wheelchair Van Society.

Free rides are available

for residents at their homes with the van and people can contact FCSS at 403-783-4462.

The biggest need right now is donations.

Prediger says they are accepting donations at the Ponoka Rising Sun Clubhouse, or to the Ponoka Community Christmas account at Servus Credit Union or with Bob Hepp and Company Catering, who is preparing the meal.

The event will include a kids candy table and small gifts for children.

Prediger said they are looking for musical entertainment to help create a fun and light atmosphere. “For most of us who get involved, it’s meeting such a need,”

said Prediger in explaining why she enjoys taking part in organizing Community Christrmas.

“It’s morphed into this huge community event,” he added.

Prediger suggests it is an opportunity to give back and many residents will volunteer their time to help out. “We’ve got the people who need and the people who need to serve.”

There are spots available for volunteers, she added. Positions such as greeters, servers, cleanup crews and individual helpers are needed in two hour or four hour shifts.

For more information call Prediger at 403-7834078 or Val Schabert at 403-783-8799.

Ponoka Community

Christmas December 25th Royal Canadian Legion

Thank You The Ponoka and District Health Foundation, (PDHF) would like to thank all those who worked to make the Second Annual Festival of Trees such a tremendous success. $75,950 was raised at this event, far exceeding our expectations. A new birthing bed will be purchased as well as much needed new mattresses for the Ponoka Hospital & Care Centre. These purchases will improve patient care in our community.

3911 Hwy 2A, Ponoka Coffee & Entertainment - 10 am - 12 noon Christmas Turkey Buffet Dinner with all the trimmings -12 noon - 1 pm

We especially want to thank the Ponoka Ag Event Centre for initiating the event, the Calnash Ag Event Centre for hosting all three days, the many generous sponsors who contributed so much, those who attended and supported the Festival of Trees, and the multitude of volunteers.

Several people worked endlessly and devoted hours of time to the event- the organizing committee consisting of Sherry Gummow, Judy Dick, Cec Dykstra, Lori Jones-Holt, Theresa Turner, along with the decorating genius of Carol Dunn and Tammy Henkelman. They are the true heroes of the event.

The PDHF is truly grateful for the generosity of the community. All money raised in Ponoka stays in Ponoka.

Thank you from the board of the Ponoka and District Health Foundation

Donations can be made by calling Bob Hepp 403-783-6165 or drop off at Rising Sun Clubhouse or Servus Credit Union - Ponoka If you are interested in volunteering please call Carla Prediger at 403-783-4078 or Val Schabert at 403-783-8799 The handivan for this event will be free & bookings should be made through FCSS. a proud community supporter

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 13 Ponoka’s Community Christmas will continue this year but at a different location. This year’s lunch will be held at the Ponoka Legion with free rides from the Wheelchair Van Society available to those who need a ride. Contact FCSS for details on pickups.

File photo

In the spirit of the Christmas Season I would like to invite you to my Christmas Open House on Thursday, December 17, 2015 from 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm at the Lacombe Memorial Centre in the Lacombe County Room 5214 - 50th Avenue, Lacombe, Alberta Blaine Calkins, MP

Red Deer - Lacombe www.blainecalkinsmp.ca

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14 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

CARRIER OF THE MONTH Congratulations to Jayce Budd

(L-R) Four-year-old Chantelle Normandeau along with her sister Alison, 7, and brother Damien, 9, hand over a few new toys plus some bags of food and a monetary donation to Ponoka Secondary students Samantha Utas and Diamond Reid, who were manning the Stuff A Bus campaign table at Hamilton’s IGA on Tuesday, Dec. 1. The annual event is aimed at gathering items to fill hampers for the school’s Santa’s Anonymous campaign.

Photo by Jordie Dwyer

Stuff-a-Bus sees increased donations

BY JORDIE DWYER PONOKA NEWS

Susan Whitecotton, Circulation Supervisor, presents Jayce with a $50 cheque recognizing excellent service in delivering the newspaper for the month of November.

5019A Chipman Ave. Ponoka, Alberta

403.783.3311

Great weather contributed to an extremely generous mood in Ponoka last week.

The annual Stuff-a-Bus campaign at both local grocery outlets on Tuesday, Dec. 1 elicited a tremendous response from the community, according to Karen David - organizer of Ponoka Secondary’s Santa’s Anonymous project.

David, who is the school’s off-campus and distance learning coordinator, stated things went really well and that donations of money, food and toys all increased over last year. However, no spe-

cific figures were available at press time.

“I think the great weather helped our cause,” David said.

“A big thank you to all those that donated this year and a special thanks to Kassidy McCurdy and Cassandra Moulton for spearheading this event.”

About 20 students volunteered their time to sit at the collection tables at each store, along with five Ponoka Secondary staff members plus three community members who assisted with the collection of items including unloading everything at the school that evening.

David added that anyone in need this Christmas can still call the school at 403783-4411 for assistance.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

BY JACLYN BERRY

PONOKA NEWS 15

Free family Christmas movie at Ponoka Jubilee Library We’ve added one more Christmas program to our December calendar and this one is for absolutely everyone.

On Monday, Dec. 21 at 2 p.m., we will be showing the movie ‘Arthur Christmas’, a clever and earnest animated holiday film, about

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what happens when Santa misses his gift delivery to one child on Christmas, and what his son Arthur will do to fix that mistake. The

movie will be shown in the back of the library on our projector screen, so bring any pillows and blankets you want to make yourself

more comfortable. Popcorn is being provided by Servus Credit Union. Hope to see lots of people out to enjoy a great family film. And watch for regular movie days in 2016.

We still have room in our wreath making class tomorrow evening, for anyone who would like to take part. Enjoy an evening of festive fun as we create a swag wreath from fresh greenery, ribbon, holly and bells. For more information about cost or to sign up please contact the library at 403-783-3843.

Our tickets for the ‘Beer Tasting’ on Jan. 23 are 50 per cent sold. These tickets make a great gift for any of those beer lovers in your life. Spend the evening sampling 10 beers, from light to dark, with tasty food on the side. Jay Cottell, our regular wine tasting host, will be running through the basics of beer, so not only do you get to enjoy the flavours, you will learn how they came to be. Be sure to get your tickets before they’re gone, space is very limited.

We want to thank everyone who has filled out our ‘Annual Satisfaction Survey’ so far, and let you know we have been looking closely at the responses.

With that in mind, we do want to respond to one of the comments we received.

It was asked why we are offering free memberships, if it means that we have to ask for so many donations because of it. We offered free memberships in 2015, and will continue to offer them in 2016, with the idea that it removes a barrier for people who wanted to use the library, but for who the membership fee just wasn’t possible. And we have found that it works; we’ve had a 34 per cent increase in memberships in one year, which in the public library world is massive. So if you would like to donate the $20 that we previously charged, we appreciate it; but if not, we completely understand. We don’t want anyone to feel like they have to pay to use the library.

We also had feedback that more programs were needed for tweens, so watch for a tween after school/book club in 2016, and another ‘Board Games & Pizza’ afternoon! The survey is still open online, check it out at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/L9DPV6H. Coming soon: From bestselling author Kathy Reichs comes her latest Temperance Brennan blockbuster ‘Speaking in Bones’.

16 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

Family of 14 lose home to fire

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE It took just minutes late afternoon on Friday, Dec. 4 from the initial signs of

smoke to a full-fledged home fire that left a family of 14 on the Ermineskin Reserve without a place to stay.

While luckily no one was hurt in the incident except for some smoke inhalation, the fire took all their earthly possessions

and their home, says family spokesperson Tara Cutarm.

Initial investigations point to a furnace that ap-

403-783-8881 #3, 5012-48 Ave

SANDRA LYON TYLER FESSLER Broker/Owner

Associate

RIZWAN SYED Associate

CHANELLE LYON

in the Wedin’s Prof. Bldg.

LISA BONE

Associate

Associate

LUCAS HEIGHTS

NORTH END

NORTH END

LUCAS HEIGHTS

Beautiful executive family home that is ready to move into!

This 5 bdrm & 3 bath, 4 level split home has lots of wide open spaces & many upgrades. 2 bathrooms have been recently redone. Beautifully landscaped mature yard with new fence.

Call Tyler or Sandra for more information.

Bi-level located in a north end cul de sac. Featuring 5 bedrooms & 2 baths. Hardwood floors through majority of main floor, kitchen & main bath recently redone.

Double garage, RV parking, hot tub & fenced yard.

Call Sandra or Chanelle for more information

Over 1200 sq ft. home with everything on one level. 3 bedrooms and a 5 pc. bath, open concept, double attached garage.

Located in the north end of Ponoka.

Beautifully fin’d 2 bdrm townhouse, single att’d garage, appliances included. Located in Lucas Heights. Reasonable condo fees. Ready to move into. $230,000 + GST Call Sandra Lyon or Chanelle Lyon for more information

$379,000

$297,900

$225,000

$230,000 + GST

LUCAS HEIGHTS

RIVERSIDE (PANORAMA RIDGE)

RIVERSIDE (PANORAMA RIDGE)

D

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Located in a serene developed neighborhood.

1235 sq. ft. bungalow with finished basement.

4 bedroom & 2.5 baths. MLS CA0066635

Call Rizwan 403-783-0898

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Brand new show home with upgraded contemporary finish. 2 bed, 2 full baths, living & den on main floor with deck. Triple att’d garage, cul de sac. 1364 Sq. Ft. MLS CA0064935. VIEW TODAY!

Newly dev’d fully serviced subdivision. Outstanding views of Battle River valley & town. Walk out basement possible. Corner lot, cul de sac, ready for immediate possession. MLS CA0064899.

End unit town house backing onto the park. 2 bed with 2 ensuite baths & a half bath, walk in closet. Less than 5 min. walk away from grocery & gas. Near Centennial Center & golf course. MLS CA0058501

Call Rizwan 403-783-0898

Call Rizwan 403-783-0898

Call Rizwan 403-783-0898

$384,900

$260,047

continued on page 17

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called the fire department while the oldest family member checked no one else was in the home. A short time later, the fire department arrived but Cutarm said the home was fully engulfed in flames within nine minutes of noticing smoke.

She says everything they had, including Christmas presents, were destroyed in the fire and the family is staying at a hotel in Wetaskiwin for now while they sort out their matters. Fire crews were at the scene until after 9 p.m.

RIVERSIDE

D

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pears to have seized but Cutarm says they won’t know for certain until Nations Liaison to the Fire Commissioner, Tom Littlechild, concludes investigations.

It was a normal Friday for many of the family members who had just returned from school and were going about their routines when smoke started coming out of the vents. Cutarm said they made a quick investigation and found it to be coming from the basement.

Immediately everyone was sent to a neighbour’s home and one member

$105,900

$227,000

TO VIEW ALL LISTINGS VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.FIRSTCHOICEPONOKA.COM

These are the remains of a fire that destroyed a home on the Ermineskin Reserve Friday, Dec. 4. A family of 14 is out of a home and their possessions because of the fire, however, no one was injured.

Photo submitted

6000 - 48 Ave.

(Beside The Old Iron Horse Restaurant)

real estate central alberta GREAT FAMILY HOME

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- 3 bdrm, 2 bath - 90 x 125 lot - Move-in Ready! $219,900 Call Deb

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- Built in 2007, 1275 sq. ft. on main - 3 bedrooms, 2 baths - New carpets and all fresh paint - Fully fenced yard on quiet street - Move in ready!

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- Fully finished, 3 bdrms, 3 baths - Lg kitchen w/island & 5 appl - Hardwood floors, oak cabinets - Gas fireplace, 2 decks & patio - Corner lot, 26x30 garage $339,900 ~ Call Bob

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- Over 1200 sq. ft.

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- 1882 sq ft Gorgeous Bungalow - 9 ft Ceilings & Large windows - Hardwood, FP, Large Bedrooms - Beautifully landscaped - Stamped concrete driveway - Upscale home w many upgrades! $459,000 ~ Call Bob!

- 1,420 sq. ft.

- 5 bedrooms, 3 bath - Oak cabinetry - Fully finished up & down $339,000 Call Deb - Fantastic Location backing onto nature reserve - High quality finishing throughout - 5 bedrooms, 3 baths - Fully developed with over 2700 sq. ft.

- Landscaped, fully finished yard with extra parking and finished shed

$449,900 ~ Call Lisa

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$309,900 Call Jane 2 LAKE LOTS AVAILABLE - 2.67 acres with electrical, water, septic, garage pad & perimeter fencing for $159,000 - 2.57 acres to build your dream home only $125,000 - Located near Raymond Shores dock on NE side of Gull Lake

Call Todd for details

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- 3 bdrm 4-plex - Bright spacious floor plan - Large kitchen includes appliances $219,000 ~ Call Todd

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

www.ponokaproperties.com

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 17 Ryder Hulsman, left, and his little sister Blaire paint their saltdough Christmas ornaments, with mom standing nearby, at one of the decoration stations at the Ponoka Public Library’s Family Christmas Craft day on Saturday, Dec. 5. About 20 families turned up to participate, where they also made their own decorations and placed them on a mini-tree and coloured and decorated paper gift bags.

Photo by Jordie Dwyer

House fire continued from page 16 “They’re very shaken up.

They’re quite lost right now,” says Cutarm of the family’s experience.

Community support has been strong and Cutarm says the family is overwhelmed by the support. A GoFundMe page has been created under Recovery from the fire and a Facebook information page under Maskwacis Family in Need Due to House Fire has been created should anyone wish to donate.

Anyone wishing to donate clothing can call Cutarm who says there are three teenagers, six children under 12, a baby of three-years-old and three adults. For more information call Cutarm at 780-360-5756 or visit the GoFundMe for donations.

Deb Stevens Associate Broker real estate central alberta 6000 - 48 Ave., Ponoka

403-704-3152

NEW ON THE MARKET FIRST TIME BUYER OR REVENUE • 924 sq ft Mobile on its Own Lot

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18 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

BSE risk is down, but definitely not out CFIA releases final report on 07 BSE positive cow, stresses importance of continued testing

BY JORDIE DWYER PONOKA NEWS There was a lot of good news for the Alberta and Canadian beef industry last week, but also a note of caution expressed.

On Monday, Nov. 30, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) released its report on the latest case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), which was found back in February on a farm west of Edmonton.

The good news to come out of the report was that this case - the 19th found in Canada since the first outbreak in 2003 - was restricted to one cow that was born in 2009 and was from the same birth farm as a case that was found in 2010, which had been born in 2004. The other huge finding was that there was no contamination found of any of the commercial feed, or where that feed was produced.

The report concluded, just like the 2010 case, that the animal contracted the disease through feed that

Welcome Wagon Ponoka has had the privilege to honour some long term sponsors over the last few months. We appreciate our many sponsors’ support and generosity in helping us to welcome new people to the community, and congratulating families with new babies.

Welcome Wagon visits people who are new to town, or have recently had a baby. Ponoka is growing and there are lots of people moving to town. Having a Welcome visit helps familiarize people to Ponoka. We give info about the town, community organizations, we provide maps and specific information, and answer any questions they have. A baby welcome is helpful for parents as we direct them to the many services and businesses who cater to family needs. We highlight the great businesses

and retail stores that are advertised in the basket.

Welcome Wagon is important in Ponoka, as it makes people feel, well, Welcomed! A personal, friendly visit can encourage people to shop local, get involved in what’s going on around town, and it is Ponoka’s chance to make a good first impression with people who move here.

We are currently looking for more sponsors for our local Welcome Wagon basket. Contact us for more information. If you have moved to the Ponoka area in the last year, or had a baby in the last 6 months, please contact us to arrange to get your basket of goodies.

For more info, call Heather at 403-704-3647, email: heathermccg@shaw.ca or Sheila at 403-704-5255, email:msheilam@telus.net

Rowland & Parker and Associates - 10-year sponsorship with Community Welcome Program, Heather McCourt, Welcome Wagon rep presenting plaque to Alison Rowland

Rexall Drugs - 30-year sponsorship with Community Welcome and Birth of Baby Programs, Heather and area manager Gayle Martin presenting plaque to Sherry McKinnon

Mary Kay - 10-year sponsorship with Community Welcome and Birth of Baby Programs, Heather presenting plaque to Hillie Feitsma

Ponoka News - 20-year sponsorship with Community Welcome and Birth of Baby Programs - Heather and Sheila presenting plaque to Judy Dick

Sommer Home Hardware - 20-year sponsorship with Community Welcome Program - Sheila McArthur, Welcome Wagon rep presenting plaque to Gary Colyn

A & W - 10-year sponsorship with Community Welcome Program - Sheila presenting plaque to Ervin Galler

Ponoka Eye Care - 20-year sponsorship with Community Welcome Program - (back l-r) Dr. Dennis Heimdahl, Dr. Wardell ZoBell, Susan Walker, Natalie Dyck, Danyell Hall, Dr. Marc Kallal, Shirley West. (front l-r) Heather, Welcome Wagon rep presenting plaque to Barb Jones

had been stored in the same place as contaminated pre-mixed feed that was from processed and distributed before the 1997 feed ban took effect.

“It only takes an extremely small amount - about 1/1000 of a gram - of residue from contaminated feed to be ingested to cause the disease. That’s like cutting a pea into 1,000 pieces and the animal eating one tiny piece, a speck of dust literally,” said Rimbey veterinarian Ian Giebelhaus - one of a few vets working with Alberta Agriculture on BSE cases.

“The report clearly stated that the feedmills were cleared and there was no other evidence of other possible contamination.”

While all of that is good for the country’s beef industry, as it means nothing will change regarding Canada’s beef exports, but the fact this case was found should give producers a sober second thought according to Giebelhaus.

“While this shows Canada is doing nothing to amplify the BSE situation and we still maintain the enhanced safety precautions on our feed supply, there remains a big message that we need to get across to producers - that is Canada, specifically Alberta, need to bring up the number of animals we are testing for BSE,” he said.

“Back in 2003, most producers thought this testing would be a short-term situation, but that is wrong.

Testing is going to continue on for decades and, unfortunately, our testing numbers are falling due in part to a too prevalent attitude that “it’s not going to happen to me”. This should matter and be a concern for all producers as it demonstrates to the world we remain serious about BSE.” Giebelhaus added if the testing numbers keep dropping, even if there are no further BSE positive cases found, that lack of continuity or perceived lack of safety monitoring could give competing markets or countries an easy way to shut Canadian beef products out or a chance to use marketing ploys to state Canadian beef can’t relatively ensure the disease isn’t making into the food chain.

“Let’s not give them that opportunity. If each producer with a dead or downer animal had one tested per year, that would meet Canada’s testing numbers,” Giebelhaus explained.

“It’s a huge value to have the testing done. It helps meet our targets as well as assists in keeping the export markets open. All a producer has to consider is the $380 per carcass in extra export value for cuts that are not normally sold domestically.

“Just call your local vet if you have an animal not fit for slaughter. Get a free visit, free exam, free testing and it all helps the beef industry as a whole maintain our track record of being a good trading partner.

We need to keep the borders open and the easiest way to do that is to demonstrate we are looking for BSE and do that in the right places in the right way.

Canada has one of the best testing programs in the world but we just aren’t utilizing it to its utmost potential.”

Giebelhaus had hoped to see the CFIA report go a bit further and make a recommendation to have all old grain and feed storage bins destroyed as a way of eliminating this kind of residual contamination of feed.

“Those old bins and storage places - that are now holding machinery or motorcycles or just about anything - more than likely contain residual traces of potentially BSE contaminated feed. They have been sitting on properties for decades and if a farmer or some new operator decides they should use them again, we could have more cases down the line,” he stated.

“Personally, I would like to see the industry take the initiative to have all of those removed, burned down, destroyed since if there is even a trace of contamination, then all it takes is that minuscule amount to infect another animal and we have the industry going down that same road once again.”

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 19

The strong(er) game

BRENNAN TURNER FarmLead

Grains ended the month of November relatively quietly as market players tied up loose ends in their books to make things look decent! As it stands, oats was the big winner for the month, up 7.6 per cent with wheat markets being the worst-performing of the complex, down over 8.5 per cent in November. Corn was another big loser for month, down over 4 per cent while soybeans and canola went neck-andneck at down -0.45 per cent and -0.8 per cent respectively in November.

From a currency perspective, the Canadian Loonie has lost about 2 per cent against the US Dollar (and down 13 per cent year-to-date), while the US Greenback has strengthened about 3.4 per cent. With other European currencies weakening in November (i.e. Eurodollar -4 per cent in November, British Pound -2.4 per cent), international grain buyers are able to effectively strengthen their sourcing game, namely from Europe and Canada.

This is exactly why more analysts are suggesting that Canada could actually move into the #2 position when it comes to the world’s largest wheat exporters, surpassing the US but still behind Russia. US wheat exports are about 16per cent behind the pace needed to reach the 21.8 million tonnes the U.S.D.A. has forecasted, whereas Canada is likely to top the 20 million tonnes estimated (Russia’s wheat exports are pegged at 23.5 million tonnes). Moreover,

French wheat has gotten more competitive with the depreciation of the Euro, so much so that 126,000 MT of French wheat has been contracted thus far this marketing year by Mexico!

(Yes, the country right across the border from the U.S.) That amount is now greater than the entire volume of French wheat that Mexico has bought in the last 4 years combined.

Questions continue to swirl around the Middle East and whether or not the recent downing of Russian fighter plane by Turkish forces will give some life to the wheat markets.

Last year (the 2014/15 marketing year), Turkey was the biggest buyer of Russian wheat, purchasing 4.1 million tonnes, and this year they have already picked up 1.6 million tonnes through October, making them the 2nd-largest buyer behind Egypt. However, rumours are now making the rounds that Moscow is now suspending wheat exports to Turkey.

The market hasn’t really reacted to this news yet mainly because there’s a lot of other options that Turkey has (given the size of available supplies out there – anyone around the Black Sea region could be a good fit, or even possibly Canadian or Australia wheat given the cheap ocean freight).

Finally, the new incoming Argentinian Agricultural Minister recently confirmed that corn, wheat, beef, and sunflower export taxes will be immediately scrapped the day that new President-elect Macri steps into office on December 10th. This would be a sharp decline from the 23 per cent tax on wheat and 20 per cent additional cost on corn exports from the South American country.

Add in the lower value of the Argentine peso to the US dollar, this is a significant change. As for soybeans, Macri will drop the export tax on the oilseed by 5 points to 30per cent when he takes office, and then a further 5 points every year for the next 7 years. That’s notable for the world’s #3 grower of the oilseed at 57 million tonnes but will

only export (per most recent U.S.D.A. forecasts) 10.75 million tonnes in 2015/16, compared to neighbouring Brazil’s 100 million-tonne crop and 57 million tonnes of exports. All in all, it’s hard not to argue that Argentina’s soybean export game will strengthen.

To growth, Brennan Turner President & CEO 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 & 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

East Ponoka 4H Beef news SUBMITTED My name is Riley Deleeuw, a senior member of the East Ponoka 4H Beef Club.

Since the start of the 4H year, we have done many exciting events. Weigh-in was on Oct. 12. The steers and heifers are looking very promising for this year. Thank you to Ponoka Vet Clinic for donating vaccines, implants and Ivomec for our weigh-in.

After weigh-in, we had a club meeting and were excited to meet all our new members. East Ponoka Beef was able to participate in helping out SMILE this year. SMILE is

a group that provides essentials for the homeless.

This year, we gathered 21 packets of socks and accessories for SMILE. We also had another meeting and discussed what events that our club will be participating in and what the overall year will look like. After the meeting, we had a hay ride with hot chocolate and a potluck.

Even though it was cold, all of our members had lots of fun. On Saturday, Nov. 14, our club went to the Canadian Finals Rodeo and the Farm Fair, where we looked around at the trade show, watched cattle shows, and watched the rodeo.

On Dec. 7 we were participating in Learn-to-Doby-Doing at UFA in ponoka. Our club was also participating in the Ponoka Distract Fun day was held at the Rimbey Bowling Centre on Dec. 6.

As you can see, 4H is a club that allows us the participate in many activities which help us grow and learn along with helping out our community.

We would like to thank all our sponsors, buyers,businesses, parents and community members that make this possible.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the East Ponoka 4H Beef Club.

East Ponoka 4H Beef members mark their weigh-in day with a photo.

Submitted photo

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Check us out online WE’RE JUST A CLICK AWAY!

VJV MARKET REPORT MARKET REPORT DECEMBER 2, 2015

On Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - 3972 head of cattle went through our rings TOTAL - 3972

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

98.00-116.00 90.00-100.00 87.00-93.00 80.00-8.00 135.00-150.00 110.00-125.00

Feeder bulls 120.00-130.00 Good Bred Cows Older Bred Cows Good Bred Heifers: Cow/calf pairs (younger) 2,650.00 Cow/Calf pairs (older) -

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:

190.00-205.00 205.00-220.00 224.00-231.00 238.00-248.00 275.00-304.00 310.00-325.00 330.00-325.00

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

115.00-130.00 50.00-150.00 -450.00 6.00-10.50 2.00-4.00 -

Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers

Rd Bales Rd Bales Rd Bales

180.00-195.00 200.00-209.00 205.00-216.00 210.00-227.00 235.00-250.00 260.00-295.00 270.00-320.00

80.00-145.00 -

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

VJV RIMBEY

BRED COW & HEIFER SALE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11 @ 12 NOON

– OVER 300 HEAD –

For more information and to consign please call Wes Skeels 403-843-2439 or 403-373-3081 Craig Jacklin 403-783-5561 or 403-783-1453 Nanson Vold 403-783-5561 or 403-783-0349 Regular Sales every Tuesday www.vjvauction.com PONOKA BRED COW & HEIFER SALE FRIDAY, DEC. 18

20 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

Increased numbers shows hunting gaining interest

BY JORDIE DWYER PONOKA NEWS Interest seems to be up in hunting if the numbers seen at the local annual horn measuring day are any indication.

Close to 40 entries were taken at the Ponoka Fish and Game Association event held Sunday, Dec. 6 at the group’s clubhouse, located about 20 kilometres north of Ponoka.

According to the association’s big game chair Ray Abt, the number of entries has picked up this year and last after having been slow for a few years previously.

“The numbers are getting better, meaning the interest is still there,” said Abt. “This year, there were a lot of white tail and mule deer horns brought in, but no moose - something we usually see come in.”

One particularly positive sign Abt saw this year was the increase in the number youth entering horns.

“One great thing to see was about a quarter of our entries this year were from youth,” he said.

“I think this can be attributed to the week long summer camp we hold each year that has helped them develop more interest.”

The camp provides youth with training in how to properly and safely use firearms and bows along with work on using various outdoor survival skills.

Another positive of the event was the increase in sales for one of the association’s major supporters - Rimbey’s Game On Outdoors - that had a selection of items on hand.

The results, along with awards for the winners, from the horn measuring event will be presented at the association’s annual banquet set for Feb. 6.

Tickets are available from any member of the executive and contact information can be found by visiting www.ponokafishandgame.ca or by calling 403-782-2893.

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Phil Donnelly, left, provides some assistance to Leonard Davis in measuring this typical mule deer rack during the Ponoka Fish and Game Association annual horn measuring day on Sunday, Dec. 6 at the group’s clubhouse. Close to 40 entries in various categories were received with the results and winner to be announced at their banquet set for Feb. 6.

Photo by Jordie Dwyer

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 21

A customer surveys a booth filled with Christmas treat packages at the Ponoka Royal Canadian Legion’s Christmas Craft Show and Sale hosted Saturday, Dec. 5. People who attended also saw other vendors selling items ranging from homemade clothing to items for the home to personal care products. The Legion also had a vast array of items - including a plush blanket - to raffle off and several silent auction items along with food for sale as part of their fundraising efforts.

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22 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

Gene drives

GWYNNE DYER Think Globally Most powerful new technologies are double-edged.

Cars are a vast improvement on horses as a means of transportation, but they also kill more than three thousand people a day and they are a major source of pollution.

So here comes another double-edged technology, and its edges are very sharp. Gene drives can

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spread an engineered mutation through an entire species with amazing speed, which means that you could, for example, make the breeds of mosquitoes that transmit the malaria parasite to human being immune to the parasite themselves. (You could also just wipe those species of mosquito out, but then a lot of birds and bats would starve.)

The idea of a gene drive was first suggested twelve years ago by Austin Burt, an evolutionary geneticist at Imperial College in London. What drew his attention were certain naturally occurring “selfish” genes, known as homing endonuclease genes, that can get themselves passed on to the next generation more than the usual fifty percent of the time.

Burt suggested that you might use those genes to build a “gene drive” that would spread some desirable quality (like immunity to malaria) through an entire population in a relatively short time. But back in 2003 the task of manipulating genes was still difficult, lengthy, and unreliable.

It took Burt and his colleagues another eight years to create a homing endonuclease that could find and cut a gene in mosquitoes. Other scientists were working to make artificial protein systems that would do the same job, but it was slow and painful work.Then came CRISPR. CRISPR (it stands for “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats”, but never mind)

refers to bits of viral DNA that bacteria carry in their genomes. With the help of an enzyme called Cas9, these CRISPRs protect the bacteria from attacks by hostile viruses. In 2012 researchers managed to modify this CRISPR/Cas9 system into a gene-editing tool.

CRISPR/Cas9 has transformed the business of genetic engineering, making it fast, accurate and cheap.

It allows researchers to cut and paste practically any gene into any organism, and it has spread through the world’s biology labs like wildfire.

Almost immediately Kenin Esvelt of Harvard University recognised that CRISPR is basically a homing endnuclease, and in July of last year he and his colleagues publicly proposed turning it into a gene drive and listed some of the possibilities that opened up.

It could, Esvelt said, “potentially prevent the spread of disease, support agriculture by reversing pesticide and herbicide resistance in insects and weeds, and control damaging invasive species.”

Sick of the cane toads that infest Australian fields?

Modify them so that their skin is no longer poisonous to predators, and watch the problem go away.

“Since the 1970s we’ve been able to genetically engineer individual organisms,” Burt said.

“With gene drive, we could change the genetics of vast populations.” And we have gone from zero to 60 in less than a year.

Last January, Esvelt’s

lab made a gene drive in yeast. In March, biologists Valentino Gantz and Ethan Bier at the University of California, San Diego reported online in Science that they had created a gene drive in fruit flies.

They had introduced a drive for yellow colour into females, bred them with normal males – and between 95 and 100 percent of the offspring were yellow.

They then started collaborating with Anthony James, a molecular biologist at the University of California, Irvine who has been working for thirty years on genetically modifying mosquitoes so they can’t pass on malaria. Using CRISPR/Cas9, the team are now within a year of a non-malaria-carrying mosquito ready to be released into the wild – but they won’t do it.

James’s team have no intention of doing that it until there are clear and agreed rules for this sort of thing. They are well aware of the risk of unforeseen side-effects: “We’re not about to do anything foolish,” says James.

One of the precautions James took was to work with an Indian breed of mosquito, so that if one escaped from his California lab it wouldn’t find anyone to mate with. In the same spirit, as soon as Esvelt created a gene drive for a species of yeast he immediately set to work creating another drive that could over-write the first, cancelling the genetic changes it made. If things went wrong, the second one could be released and

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would spread just as fast.

As Esvelt said, “the possibility of unwanted ecological effects and near-certainty of spread across political borders demand careful assessment of each potential application.” You bet your boots it does.

This is a technology that can change the entire character of a wild species very quickly (or wipe it out) if just one individual that has been genetically altered in the lab accidentally escapes and breeds,

because the mutation will be passed on to ALL its descendants, and all of theirs, ad infinitum.

And, of course, we are also talking about the possibility that people with evil intentions might take common, harmless insects and make them lethal to human beings. This technology will have to be handled with very great care.

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

Alberta’s climate change plan set up to fail Timid leadership dooms the plan to failure

BY PHIL ELDER TROY MEDIA COLUMNIST Like many Albertans, I was initially delighted at our government’s new Climate Leadership plan. Surely, I thought, Premier Rachel Notley’s team had deftly hit the sweet spot.

The plan promises to: • Speed up the elimination of coal-generated electricity.

• Price 90 per cent of carbon emissions.

• Create a cap on greenhouse gas emissions from the oilsands.

• Result in a big cut in methane emissions.

• Encourage energy efficiency and energy-resilient communities.

And it was supported by some environmentalists and scions of the oilpatch.

But now, having studied the full report of the climate change panel and the provincial government’s plan, I’m much less satisfied.

Certainly a government has to consider the political climate, not just the opinions of its core voters, and that the essence of politics is compromise.

But, occasionally, crises arise that test a government’s mettle - like climate change - and demand right, not popular, action. In these circumstances, governments must educate the public and lead courageously.

continued on page 23

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

PONOKA NEWS 23

Alberta’s climate change plan set up to fail continued from page 22 The government has failed to meet this challenge.

Alberta’s emissions level in 2030 will be the same as today, although it has been estimated that, without the plan, Alberta’s emissions would grow from 267 megatonnes (MT) in 2013 to 320 megatonnes in 2030.

Just halting this projected increase in emissions is not good enough. We have a critical problem and incremental responses amount to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

The Alberta Climate Change Advisory Panel points out that although “existing assets are fixed and unlikely to relocate or shut down under reasonable carbon policy … domestic policy which serves to shift production activity to other jurisdictions would impose disproportionately large costs on Alberta for minimal, real emissions reductions.”

In other words, we can’t curb expansion. So foot-draggers will be allowed to set the rate of progress - no oil producer should act until its competitors do.

This may be pragmatic but it is not leadership.

Even ignoring the climate plan’s complexity and need for more bureaucracy, it has let Albertans, Canada and the world down. Surely the whole point is to reduce drastically, not just stop expanding, production of fossil fuels. Even if the Holy Grail is achieved and the

carbon intensity of oilsands production is cut to that of conventional oil, it will still be burned and add to the climate change that the policy is supposed to reduce.

The report says: “Many will look at these emissions reductions and claim that our policies will not place Alberta on a trajectory consistent with global 2oC goals, and in some sense this is true. The policies proposed for Alberta in this document would not, if applied in all jurisdictions in the world, lead to global goals being accomplished.”

The policy sets the greenhouse emissions cap for the oilsands a whopping 40 per cent-plus above the current amount, which is already of worldwide concern.

The document gives the game away. “The 100 Mt limit provides room for growth and development of our resource as a basis for a strong economy. Overall, Alberta’s new approach will incent changes that see the number of produced barrels increase relative to associated emissions. The future production achievable within the annual 30-Mt ‘room’ in the limit will be higher than at any time in our past or present.” (my italics) So we’re going to fight climate change by producing more fossil fuels whose burning will add to the problem? No wonder the oilpatch is on side.

Indeed, it appears that the most carbon-efficient oilsands producers will receive more in subsidies per

barrel of oil produced than they pay in carbon tax. That will have the perverse result of encouraging more production by them than if there were no carbon price at all.

The carbon price is much too low. The environment should not be a free dump for pollution. The ultimate price of goods needs to express their true cost.

But what is the true cost of carbon in the atmosphere? U. S. agencies peg “the social cost of carbon emissions today at $62 per tonne, increasing to $69 per tonne by 2020 and $110 per tonne in 2050, each in 2014 inflation-adjusted U.S.-dollar terms.”

With this in mind, the Pembina Institute’s recommendation to the panel seems appropriate: “We recommend a carbon price starting at $40 per tonne of CO2 emitted in 2016, with a schedule for increasing it by $10 per tonne annually over the first 10 years of the policy. This is generally the level of stringency necessary for Alberta to make a fair contribution to Canada’s international commitments.”

Yet the panel’s recommendation was for a $30 per tonne ceiling price by 2018.

Timidity personified.

I am dismayed that the report says “[w]hen compared to other leading jurisdictions, the Panel’s policies would likely lead to lower penetration rates of 25-30 per cent renewable generation by 2030.”

Apparently this is because

we’re going to rely on our cheap natural gas. But given that its emissions will also have to be cut in the medium term, surely a much more ambitious renewable target should have been set.

So what might have been better? A carbon tax, instead of cap-and-trade, offers simplicity, particularly if it is imposed across the board on activities generating greenhouse gases (including point-of-sale retail). And we must stop approving new oilsands projects until the sector’s emissions are reduced enough to allow them.

Instead, we have started

15121DG3

with policies set up for failure.

Phil Elder is Emeritus Professor of Environmental and Planning Law with the Faculty

of Environmental Design at the University of Calgary.Phil is included in Troy Media’s Unlimited Accesssubscription plan

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PONOKA NEWS 25

Sports Hat trick of losses a self-fullfilling prophesy for Stampeders

BY JORDIE DWYER PONOKA NEWS Three straight losses last week along with some uninspiring play has caused some concern for the Stampeders coaching staff.

The local Junior Heritage League squad were felled 9-2 at home by Blackfalds last Wednesday, Dec. 2, then lost 3-1 to the Mountainview Colts in Didsbury on Friday, Dec. 4 and were dumped 7-5 the next night at home by those same Colts.

Stampeders head coach Tyler Fiveland wasn’t happy with the performances of most of his players in any of the three games, but was especially disappointed with the efforts put forth in both home ice appearances.

“Our biggest problem is once things stop going our way or a call goes against us, the guys can’t seem to

stop the bleeding,” Fiveland explained.

“It’s like they get a huge mental block, then more things go wrong, they get down on themselves further and it all just keeps snowballing until we’re done for, we just can’t seem to gain any momentum and refocus on what needs to be done.

Fiveland added that’s exactly what happened against Blackfalds and on Saturday at home when they couldn’t fight back after giving up five straight goals to the Colts.

“There were a couple of calls that I think were missed and it affected us. It’s something we have to be able to overcome and that was what we took some time after Saturday’s game to talk about.

We also need to really work hard on getting more shots and driving the net, as we had four goals on just 12 shots through two periods in that

game,” he added.

“It’s just what we have to do. We need to correct this heading into our game against Airdrie (Wednesday Dec. 9, 7:45 p.m. start), who we blew a 5-0 lead against the last time we played them.”

In Saturday’s loss, the Stampeders were given a kick in the pants right off the opening faceoff as the Colts opened the scoring just 33 seconds in. Ponoka managed to find their stride later in the frame, with Justin Van Tetering tying it up just past the eight minute mark and DJ Horne notching a powerplay goal about seven minutes later to give the home side the lead after 20 minutes.

The visitors evened things up early in the second period before the Stampeders scored twice more - both off the stick of Nate Higgins - just short of seven minutes in and then a powerplay goal close to the

Stampeders Jordan Wombold (#6) and Connor Hoffman (#18) as well as the Blackfalds goalie watch Wombold’s shot tickle the twine for a powerplay marker, and a bit of redemption, late in the third period of a 9-2 loss on Wednesday, Dec. 2. The less than inspiring play that night unfortunately carried through the Stamps home and home weekend series versus Photo by Jordie Dwyer Mountainview as they lost 3-1 and 7-5. halfway mark of the contest.

Then the wheels fell off the wagon and ran over the Stampeders, as the Colts scored three times in a two-minute span late in the middle stanza and followed that with another just 32 seconds into the third before salting things away with their fifth straight goal with less than 10 minutes remaining.

Cody Lemon would get a powerplay goal with slightly more than three minutes to play, but there would be no comeback.

Friday’s contest was a

winnable one, according to Fiveland, but two huge mental lapses in the form of a powerplay goal and giving away a shorthanded effort cost them.

“Zeke (Leuck) was phenomenal in goal for us, but some stupid penalties and breakdowns keep costing us,” he said about the game where the Stampeders were also with their top forward line. Tyson Crampain had the lone Ponoka goal, which came with four and a half minutes to play.

Versus Blackfalds last

Wednesday, Mik Doell scored midway through the first to cut the Wrangles lead to 2-1, but some bad penalties in the second saw the momentum shift with the visitors capitalizing for five straight goals the rest of the way before Jordan Wombold notched a powerplay marker with about three minutes left to close out the scoring.

Stampeders are hosting their annual free family skate on Sunday, Dec. 13 between 12:15 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. at the Ponoka Culture and Recreation Complex.

“New” is keyword for Broncs basketball this season

BY JORDIE DWYER PONOKA NEWS There is only one word that can describe senior high basketball at Ponoka Secondary this season - new.

Both head coaches of the Broncs senior girls and boys teams are in their first season patrolling the bench, which also equates to even a veteran team having to adjust to some new things.

Tylor Johnson has taken over the reins of an inexperienced boys squad, while Cameron Horan is the new guy looking after a more veteran girls team.

The boys roster includes six Grade 12 players and five Grade 11s to go with a pair of Grade 10s, but only four of those players were on the team last season and that has put them a bit behind according to Johnson.

“Everyone is new to me and that has us behind teams as far as preparation goes, as we don’t have the luxury of having guys who already know my systems,” he said. ”We are a very inexperienced group, but my expectations are very high for us this season. I have been impressed early on with the level of talent that we have. You will see us improve greatly from the start of the year, to the end of the season. We will be at our best come playoff time.”

Johnson’s goal is qualify for provincials, which will likely be done on the backs of their defensive play.

“We will struggle scoring at times, but we will keep games close with our defense. We are a group that will

CHARTERED PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNTANTS

have to work hard at becoming better scorers.”

For the girls, Horan has two-thirds of his roster coming back from last season and he couldn’t be happier with that.

With four Grade 12s, five Grade 11s and three Grade 10 players, Horan believes their potential is huge and their goal is to not only challenge for the zone title, but make the provincial championship.

Both teams had a tough time in their season openers in Wetaskiwin on Tuesday, Dec. 1 - each coming out on the losing end.

“It went exactly how I thought it would go,” stated Johnson about playing a team who ended up fourth in the province last year.

“Like most teams in the league, they have the same coach and a solid group of returning players. We came out very jittery and turned the ball over a lot. The thing I preached is that our mistakes are completely fixable.”

The Broncs’ fixable items include working the boards at both ends, as they gave up 42 points by not being able to grab the offensive boards.

“You will never win with that kind of rebounding effort.

We play a lot of zone defense, allowing teams to take long, contested shots, but the key is we absolutely have to rebound and we did a horrible job at that,” he added.

Johnson did say, however, that the boys are getting better fundamentally each day and the effort he sees in practice will go a long way to improving those weaknesses.

Meanwhile, the girls’ nerves early proved to be the big difference in their loss to Wetaskiwin. Horan stated that saw them down 18 at halftime, but the team was able to settle in and were only outscored by three in the second half.

Home tipoff The boys are excited to make their home debut this weekend as the Broncs host their annual PUMP Invitational tournament, which tips off Friday, Dec. 11 with the hosts taking on Barrhead at 3:45 p.m. at the PSC gym.

The rest of Friday’s action will see Sylvan Lake face Holy Redeemer of Edson at 5:30, Grande Prairie Composite versus Ryley at 7:15 and Rundle Academy of Calgary taking on Onoway at 9. The winners will head to the semifinals Saturday (Dec. 12) at 12:15 and 2:30 p.m. with the third place game going at 5:45 and the final slated for 7:30.

The consolation side semi’s will go at 9 and 10:45 a.m. with the seventh place game going at 2:15 and the consolation final at 4 p.m.

“I absolutely love tournaments because there is no pressure and they offer an exceptional opportunity for me to evaluate each player and allow our players to get valuable playing time and experience at this level,” added Johnson.

“We obviously would love to win our home tourney, but the main goal for us is just to continue getting better each day and be the best version of ourselves come playoff time.”

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26 PONOKA NEWS

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Atom Stampeders earn pair of victories on weekend

Ponoka’s Dacian Heinz sees his shot flying over the Stettler goaltender and into the net after netting a breakaway early in the first period of Saturday’s (Dec. 5) 13-4 victory on home ice.

Photo by Jordie Dwyer

BY JORDIE DWYER PONOKA NEWS Being able to hang onto a lead helped the Ponoka Calnash Trucking Atom team stay close to the division leaders.

The locals improved their Tier 5 Price division record to four wins and one loss by posting a pair victories on home ice on the weekend - 13-4 over Stettler on Saturday, Dec. 5 and clutching onto a lead to defeat Sundre 9-7 on Sunday, Dec. 6.

Head coach Mike Heidt was more than pleased with the offensive output, but it was the ability to play some stellar defense late in the game against Sundre that impressed him even more.

The scoring started early in that one, with Ponoka’s

Jackson Badry finding the twine only eight seconds into the game. Dacian Heinz would make it 2-0 two minutes later only to have Sundre score a pair 50 second apart around the seven minute mark of the first period. However, Ponoka would score three more later in the period with Daylan Owen getting a pair and Heinz notching his second of the game.

The furious scoring pace continued in the second with Badry earning his second of the game 40 seconds into the middle period before Sundre scored three times in a five-minute span to close the gap.

However, Nathan Parker’s goal with seven minutes left in the second combined with Owen notching his hat trick goal late in the frame would prove key as Sundre would draw closer in the third with two more, before the tension was released as Badry got his hat trick with just

over a minute left.

Saturday’s contest was pretty much done early on with Ponoka putting up a 7-0 lead after the first period.

Parker led the way with four goals on the day, while Owen and Badry scored three a piece. Reannah Wood, Heinz and Carter Karwandy had the other goals for Ponoka.

The squad’s next action will see them hit the road to face Sylvan Lake on Sunday, Dec. 13.

Other weekend action for Ponoka teams saw the Fountain Tire Midgets fall 6-4 Sunday in Sedgewick, the Lacoka female Midgets give in to 4-1 to Camrose on Saturday, the PeeWee A Elks earn a pair of victories at home - 4-3 Saturday over Stettler then get past Maskwacis 8-7 on Sunday and the Atom A McDonalds squad take two on the road by defeating Blackfalds 7-4 on Friday night then edging Sylvan Lake 3-1 on Sunday.

Latest results from Ponoka curling league Adam’s Chevrolet Super League Curling Results after week six: Pool “A” Stebner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 495 Sherrer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 485 Baron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385 Classic Granite Works . . . . . . . . . . 385

Early birds - Ponoka’s U16 soccer team of 2014, who missed the provincial championship only in a penalty shoot-out that year will compete as the U18 team in the forthcoming season and head coach Gurjit Sandhu has started preparing his team both mentally and phyiscally for a shot at the title again with twice weekly indoor practices at the St. Augustine school gym.

Sandhu was satisfied with his players motivation and skills as they practised four-on-four drills on Monday, Dec. 7.

Photo by Mustafa Eric

Pool “B” Waldern . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Adam’s Chevrolet . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Lea . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

320 290 250 190

Pool “C” McKelvie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Ponoka Professional Pharmacy . . .

Riske . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Walton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

230 195 105 75

PONOKA NEWS 27

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

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

6 PACK 8 PACK

Announcements

What’s Happening

50-70

ADPACK ALL IN 1

Employment

700-920

Services Directory

1010-1430

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

CLASSIFIEDS CALL TOLL FREE:

Items Buy/Sell

1500-1990

1-877-223-3311

Agriculture

2010-2210

FAX: 403-783-6300

Rental & Real Estate

3000-4310

Vehicles

5010-5240

Public Notice

6010

EMAIL: classifieds@ponokanews.com

announcements Obituaries

Obituaries

Obituaries

FILLINGER Gordon

PALECHEK Garry

LLOYD, Gwendolynn Jan. 25, 1916 - Nov. 26, 2015 It is with great sadness that we relay the passing of Gwendolynn Lou Lloyd at the Ponoka General Hospital at the age of 99 years. She will be dearly missed by her grandchildren Aaron of Ponoka and his children Devon of Lethbridge, and Colton of Grande Prairie; Cody (Patricia) of Ponoka and their children Darien of Ponoka and Sydney of Los Angeles, CA; sister Muriel Badry of Summerland, BC. She was predeceased by her husband Owen Spencer Lloyd (Slim) in 2005 and their son O. Wayne Lloyd in 2010; brothers Clarence and Donald; sister Melva (Toots).

Gwen, was born in Ponoka on January 25, 1916 and grew up surrounded by music. She played trumpet in the Ponoka Band and performed at community dances with her family.

She and Slim were married on January 8, 1940 and farmed on part of the original Lloyd homestead until moving to town in 1983. Over the years Gwen was an active member of the community working in the Ponoka Post Office for many years as well as volunteering at Tourist Information office. Together with Slim she enjoyed many hobbies and adventures including traveling to Arizona for several years in the winter, vending at local farmers markets, attending and holding garage sales.

Gwen and Slim were regulars at the Ponoka Drop-In Center where she spent hours playing Bingo and never turned down a game of Cribbage.

Our beloved grandmother leaves us her many stories and words of wisdom; her humor and wit; she is our roots and our pillar and we will never forget her. Memorial donations are gratefully accepted to the Ponoka Drop-In Centre, FCSS or the Ponoka Covered Wagon Society for the Handicapped.

Garry Palechek was born in Ponoka on October 8, 1947 and passed away suddenly on December 2, 2015. Garry grew up in Hobbema before moving to Ponoka where he attended school.

Garry married Joanne Krefting on November 21, 1970 and they had two daughters Stephanie born November 6, 1973 and Jennifer born January 2, 1976. Garry went to work with his dad at the Imperial Oil Bulk Fuel & Fertilizer Station in Ponoka and eventually took over the family business which he managed for many years.

Garry also worked for Ponoka Fertilizer and Wespro Oilfield Services as well as driving bus for Hobbema Transport (from which he recently retired). His interests included curling, cars, guns (collecting and trap shooting), golfing, sailing, waterskiing, his dogs (he showed Bull Terriers), all animals, and spending time at the cabin at Pigeon Lake.

Garry was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, The Knights of Columbus, and a life time member of the Ponoka Fish & Game Association.

He also served on the St. Augustine School Board. Garry is survived by his wife Joanne; daughters Stephanie (Derick) Jaffray of Lethbridge and Jennifer (Blair) Bartley of Ponoka; granddaughters Kailyn and Amber Bartley; brothers and sisters Philip (Janet) Palechek of Edmonton, Patricia (Frank) Cissell of Ponoka, Dianne (Joe) Dodds of Ponoka, and Allen Palechek (Darlene Gartner) of Edmonton; long-time best friends Lennie Newton and Wayne Sondergaard; as well as many other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his parents Charles and Inez Palechek of Ponoka. A Funeral Service to celebrate Garry’s life was held at St. Augustine Catholic Church in Ponoka on Tuesday, December 8, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. with the Interment Service following at Forest Home Cemetery. Memorial donations are gratefully accepted to the Arthritis Society of Alberta or the Ponoka Wheelchair Van Society. To express condolences to Garry’s family, please visit www.womboldfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements Entrusted To PONOKA FUNERAL HOME ~ A Wombold Family Funeral Home ~

On November 23rd, 2015 Mr. Gordon Fillinger passed away suddenly at the age of 64 years, at home with his wife and his sons. Gordon was born January 18th,1951 to John and Helen Fillinger. He grew up east of Ponoka on their family farm. He was there until he married his school sweetheart and lifetime best friend Lorna Anderson on May 23rd, 1970, at which time they purchased their first farm in the small community of Tristram, where they started to build a life and their family. Gordon went to work on the drilling rigs until 1993 at which time he stayed home to farm. Gordon had a great passion for family friends and farming.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife and best friend of 45 years, Lorna; sons Ron (Sue), Jason (Kim), and Steve (Amanda); grandchildren Kyle (Amelia), Corey, Katira, Katanna, Evret, and Riley; sisters Valerie Wynnchuk (Alex), Ethel Walker (Bernard), and Jane Jones (Ken); brother-in-law George Scherrens; uncle Less and aunt Tres; as well as numerous other relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his parents John and Helen Fillinger, his brother Stephen and sister Barbara Scherrens. A Funeral Service was held at the Ponoka Funeral Home on Saturday, November 28th. Gordon will be greatly missed by those who knew him. He was a strong man who put up a good fight with his health issues. He always pushed it to the back of his mind as his Passion and Love of Family, life and farming are what kept him going. Memorial donations are gratefully accepted to the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Alberta Cancer Foundation. To express condolences to Gordon’s family, pleas visit www.womboldfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements Entrusted To PONOKA FUNERAL HOME ~ A WOMBOLD FAMILY FUNERAL HOME ~

In Memoriam

In loving memory of Margaret Mickey December 4, 2011

Celebrate Your Marriage

Sadly missed along life’s way, Quietly remembered every day, No longer in our life to share, But in our hearts she’s always there.

With a Milestone Announcement • 1.877.223.3311 Remember to share the news with your friends & family!

Frank Mickey and family

28 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

Coming Events

GET MORE COVERAGE WITH YOUR AD

What’s Happening

JUST ASK FOR THE

#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

Coming Events

52

52

CLASSIFIED N.W. BUY • • • • • •

Ponoka Rimbey Eckville Sylvan Lake Lacombe Pipestone Flyer

Starting at 25 words for $45.90 Call toll free 1-877-223-3311 or Local 403-309-3300

Lost

54

$5000 REWARD leading up to or for the finding of 14 missing simmental cows and 13 calves. Cows have a brand of TLX on the left rib and also possibly a brand of PG (‘G’ is backwards) on the left rib. Calves are probably unbranded. Went missing in Alliance/Sedgewick area. Phone 780-386-3745 or 780-888-1258.

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

October Winner:

Terry Zimmer Prize Amount:

$1,447.50

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.

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

52 Street & 52 Ave. Ponoka.

403-783-4347 403-783-3442

GET MORE COVERAGE WITH YOUR AD JUST ASK FOR THE

CLASSIFIED N.E. BUY • • • • • • •

810

AG EQUIPMENT

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

Caregivers/ Aides

710

IN HOME caregiver for elderly parents, optional accommodation avail. at no charge on a live in basis, this is not a condition of employment, driving req’d, F/T on farm near Rimbey, $15.75/hr. Equal opportunity employer.

Encourage all applicants. email: POSITION FILLED Something for Everyone Everyday in Classifieds

790

Medical

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career!

Employers have work-athome positions available.

Get online training you need from an employertrusted program. Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-athome career today!

Professionals

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CONSTITUENCY OFFICE ASSISTANT

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GET YOUR BUSINESS OUT THERE

Bus: (403) 843-3700

Rimbey, AB

Fax: (403) 843-3430

ANIMAL SERVICES

Qualifications and skills include:

• Excellent leadership, organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. • Visit www.qualicarehealthservices.com for more details.

WETASKIWIN READY MIX Residential • Commercial • Agricultural

OPEN MONDAY TO SATURDAY Ph: 587-786-3142 780-352-4301 dmarkevich@wrmconcrete.com

Best Practice Nursing Leader

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

CE

NT

RE

Part-time permanent position (32 hrs weeknegotiable).

Competitive wage, travel allowance, flexible hours, health and dental benefits, RRSP program and a positive working environment!

Located on the east side of Ponoka, overlooking the scenic Battle River Valley, Northcott Care Centre is a 73 bed nursing home committed to providing quality care to our residents. We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss your employment future.

403.783.3311

General Manager Cell: (403) 783-0593

•

is currently seeking a caring and motivated

• Experience in the area of nursing management and long term care would be an asset.

Classifieds...costs so little Saves you so much!

Al York

403.783.3311

Northcott Care Centre

ADVERTISE!

Call toll free 1-877-223-3311 or Local 403-309-3300

Rimbey Implements Ltd.

CONCRETE SERVICES

810

• Must be a graduate of an accredited nursing program with current CARNA registration.

Starting at 25 words for $53.55

Â?‘Â?‹–‘”‹Â?‰ –Š‡ „—†‰‡– ƒÂ?† ’ŽƒÂ?Â?‹Â?‰ Â?‡‡–‹Â?‰ ‘” ‡˜‡Â?– ƒ””ƒÂ?‰‡Â?‡Â?–•Ǥ Â? –Š‹• †›Â?ƒÂ?‹… ‡Â?˜‹”‘Â?Â?‡Â?– ›‘— ™‹ŽŽ ™‘”Â? ‹Â?†‡’‡Â?†‡Â?–Ž› –‘ ’”‹‘”‹–‹œ‡ ‹••—‡• ƒÂ?† ŠƒÂ?†Ž‡ …‘Â?’‡–‹Â?‰ †‡Â?ƒÂ?†• –‘ ‘˜‡”•‡‡ –Š‡ ‘’‡”ƒ–‹‘Â? ‘ˆ –Š‡ ‘ˆĎ?‹…‡ ƒÂ?† ’”‘˜‹†‡ ‡ˆˆ‡…–‹˜‡ •‡”˜‹…‡• –‘ …‘Â?•–‹–—‡Â?–•Ǥ ‘—” „ƒ…Â?‰”‘—Â?† •Š‘—Ž† ‹Â?…Ž—†‡ ”‡Žƒ–‡† ’‘•–•‡…‘Â?†ƒ”› –”ƒ‹Â?‹Â?‰ ƒÂ?† †‹”‡…–Ž› ”‡Žƒ–‡† ‡š’‡”‹‡Â?…‡Ǥ †˜ƒÂ?…‡† …‘Â?’—–‡” •Â?‹ŽŽ• –Šƒ– ‹Â?…Ž—†‡ ‡š’‡”‹‡Â?…‡ ™‹–Š ™‘”† ’”‘…‡••‹Â?‰ǥ Â•Â’Â”Â‡ÂƒÂ†Â•ÂŠÂ‡Â‡Â–Â•ÇĄ †ƒ–ƒ„ƒ•‡• ƒÂ?† Â?–‡”Â?‡– ”‡•‡ƒ”…Š ƒ”‡ ”‡“—‹”‡†Ǥ ƒÂ?‹Ž‹ƒ”‹–› ™‹–Š –Š‡ …‘Â?Â?—Â?‹–›ǥ …‘Â?•–‹–—‡Â?…› ƒÂ?† ’”‡•‡Â?– ’‘Ž‹–‹…ƒŽ •–”—…–—”‡ ‹• ’”‡ˆ‡””‡†Ǥ

Please forward resumes by December 15,2015 to: Lacombe Ponoka Constituency OfĎ?ice #101 4892 46 Street Lacombe, AB T4L 2B4 Fax 403 782 3307

Business getting nowhere?

Ponoka News Stettler Independent Bashaw Star Castor Advance Weekender Lacombe Express Pipestone Flyer

THE LLOYDMINSTER EXHIBITIONS Pride of the Prairies Bull Show and Sale. March 6 - 7, 2016.

Traditional halter and pen format. Entry deadline: January 5, 2016. For more information: www.lloydexh.com. 306-825-5571 or email Sam: sam@ lloydexh.com.

Professionals

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

AUTOMOTIVE SERVICES

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

This space could be yours for $

30

PER WEEK

Call 403-783-3311

PONOKA NEWS 29

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015 Medical

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.

Business and Services Directory 1070

Cleaning

Business Services #1000 - #1430

THE PROFESSIONAL HOME CLEANERS Weekly – Bi-weekly Reliable – Bondable

403-786-9987

Antique Dealers and Stores

1027

OLD COUNTRY ROSE ANTIQUES NOW OPEN Tues. - Sat. 10-5. Quality antiques, collectibles and vintage items. 5057-50 Ave. Rimbey, AB.

Papa’s Little Helpers

Legal Services

1260

CRIMINAL RECORD? Think: Canadian pardon.

U.S. travel waiver.

Divorce? Simple.

Fast. Inexpensive. Debt recovery? Alberta collection to $25,000.

Calgary 403-228-1300/ 1-800-347-2540.

Misc.

Services

1290

Cleaning Services We Make It Clean

NEW BABY

Call Jhenn at

403-963-4014 Misc.

Services

1290

Misc.

Services

1290

New Appliances Needed?

New, dependable, affordable Inglis & Whirlpool household appliances.

Berni's

It’s time to call your Welcome Wagon hostess.

She will bring congratulations and gifts for the family and the NEW BABY!

We deliver & install your purchases.

1410

Welding

1410

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

Siding/Insulating/ Roofing Windows -Factory Direct

Colin Baker

780-902-0911 Well Drilling

• 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

INTERESTED IN the Community Newspaper business? Alberta’s weekly newspapers are looking for people like you. Post your resume online. FREE. Visit: awna.com/for-jobseekers.

REACH OVER 1 Million Readers Weekly. Advertise Province Wide Classifieds.

Only $269 + GST (based on 25 words or less). Call now for details 1-800-282-6903 ext. 228; www.awna.com.

1310

F.J.B. PAINTING

and Appliance Service

Welding

1290

EASY ALBERTA DIVORCE: Free consultation call 1-800-320-2477 or www.canadianlegal.org CCA Award #1 Paralegal.

A+ BBB Reputation. 26 years experience.

Open Mon. - Sat.

Painters/ Decorators

At Your House?

Refrigeration 403-783-4880

Misc.

Services

1400

INT • EXT RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL 403-307-4691

fjbpainting@hotmail.com

Quality First Always • Free Quotes

Personal Services

1315

Unplanned pregnancy may be difficult to face.

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

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.

HIP OR KNEE Replacement? Arthritic conditions? Restrictions in walking/dressing?

Disability Tax Credit. $2,000 tax credit. $20,000 refund. For Assistance: 1-844-453-5372.

Well Drilling

1400

Restaurant/ Hotel

Personal Services

1315

IS someone’s drinking causing you problems?

AL-ANON 403-346-0320

Pet Services

1318

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

403-783-6272

www.clinkerskennels.ca

Rental Misc

1350

has immediate openings for permanent full time and part time

FOOD SERVICE SUPERVISORS for all shifts between 6:30 AM and 10 PM. Duties include supervise and coordinate activities of staff who prepare and portion food, train new staff, establish work schedules, order food and supplies, maintain records of stock, sales, repairs, wastage, ensure food quality and control. Must be friendly, reliable, and a team player. The ability to work under pressure in a fast paced environment is necessary. High School Diploma, Food Safety Certificate, and at least one year experience in the food service industry is required. Must be able to work days, evenings, weekends. Starting wage $13.75/hr with benefit package available.

Apply in person at 4930 - 50 Avenue Bentley between 6:30 AM and 9 PM, or by email to boroneilson@gmail.com

820

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

Wages are between $13.95 to $16.00 per hour, depending upon experience and qualifications.

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.

We change daily to serve you better.

850

Trades

INTERIOR HEAVY EQUIPMENT School.

Hands on tasks. Start Weekly. GPS Training!

Funding & Housing Available! Job Aid! Already a HEO? Get certification proof.

1-866-399-3853 or go to iheschool.com

Business Opportunities

870

GET FREE VENDING machines. Can earn $100,000. + per year. All cash-locations provided.

Protected territories. Interest free financing. Full details. Call now 1-866-668-6629. Website: www.tcvend.com.

Let your friends & family know in the Announcements 1.877.223.3311 Professionals

810

Business Opportunities

870

783-3636 Roofing

Restaurant/ Hotel

Getting Married?

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

Also RV storage.

Secure compound.

Call Keith at

First Call Towing

820

BENTLEY SUBWAY

Need RV or Self Storage?

880

Misc.

Help

ACADEMIC Express ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING

JANUARY START GED Preparation Would you like to take the GED in your community?

• • • • • • • • •

Red Deer Rocky Mtn. House Rimbey Caroline Sylvan Lake Innisfail Stettler Ponoka Lacombe Gov’t of Alberta Funding may be available.

403-340-1930 www.academicexpress.ca

Central Alberta’s Largest Car Lot in Classifieds

Volunteers Wanted

890

Ponoka FCSS

is accepting applications for a

BOARD MEMBER AT LARGE Applications available at the office 5006 - 52nd Ave. or by contacting shannon@ponokafcss.net Phone: 403-783-4462 Apply by: December 16

Employment Training

900

COME AND LEARN. Unlock your Superpowers!

Jan. 29 & 30, 2016, Edmonton. AWNA’s Annual Symposium.

Educational Sessions in Journalism, Sales Ad & News Design. Internationally acclaimed speakers.

Pre-Register. For more info: www. awna.com/symposium.

1370

METAL ROOFING & SIDING. 32+ colours available at over 55 Distributors. 40 year warranty. 48 hour Express Service available at select supporting Distributors. Call 1-888-263-8254.

Well Drilling

1400

NEVER SHOCK CHLORINATE AGAIN Tell them Danny Hooper sent you

790

Big Iron Drilling’s patented

Squeezthee MOST out of your advertising dollars Place your ad in this newspaper and12345 province wide $

Also: Rural Water Treatment (Province Wide) 1-800-BIG IRON (244-4766) View our 29 patented and patent pending inventions online at

www.1800bigiron.com

with a combined circulation of over 800,000 for only...

995 plus GST/HST

Value Ad Network

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

30 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

PLUMBING SHANDALL PLUMBING LTD. JAMES AVERY “Reasonable rates on all your plumbing needs” Gas Fitting - Home Renovations - Drain Cleaning -24 HOUR SERVICE-

Employment Training

900

HEALTHCARE DOCUMENTATION Specialists in huge demand. Employers prefer CanScribe graduates. A great work-from-home career! Contact us now to start your training day; www.canscribe.com.

1-800-466-1535; info@canscribe.com.

5306 - 60 ST, PONOKA, AB T4J 1K7 PH: (403) 783-6372 • FAX (403) 783-6345

Sur-B Enterprises Ltd. • Snow Removal • Driveways & Parking Lots • Post-Hole Augering - 6, 9, 12, 15 • Corral Cleaning • Grading & Construction Call Jim Ashbough 403-783-2764 or Cell:783-2764 587-729-0092 Call Jim Ashbough or Cell: 588-0599 Jack Surbey 783-5283 Cell: 588-0597

OVERHEAD DOORS

Gerald & Tina Owners

Misc.

Help

Auctions

1530

880

RENN MILL CENTER INC. requires

PARTS DISTRIBUTION & YARDMAN REQUIRED (1)

Duties & Responsibilities: Loading and unloading trucks, receiving and distribution of parts, yard and facility maintenance in winter and summer.

Must have forklift experience and good mechanical aptitude.

Full Time-Permanent - Benefits available Send resumes by fax: 403-784-2060 Or email: info@rennmill.com

PER WEEK.

REACHING 6000 HOUSEHOLDS PER WEEK.

DENTISTRY

RIMBEYDENTALCARE

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 www.bigstrapperauctions.net Livestock ..........................2100 Livestock - Exotic..............2110 Sheep ..............................2120 Poultry ..............................2130 Horses ..............................2140 Horse Boarding ................2150 Riding Supplies ................2160 LOGS Semi loads of pine, spruce, Horse/Stock Trailers ........2170 Pasture Wanted ................2180 tamarack, poplar, birch.

Price depends on location Grain, Feed, Hay ..............2190 Seed Grain ......................2200 of delivery. Lil Mule Seeding & Tillage ............2210 Logging 403-318-4346

Firewood

1830

Please submit resumes to 6526 - 44 Ave., Ponoka, AB T4J 1J8 Fax: 403-783-3011 or Email: hr@calnashtrucking.com

Grain, Feed Hay

1900

No rain, 1100-1200 lbs.

1930

FREE SCRAP and truck removal including farm machinery. We pay cash at our yard. 1-780-914-7560; www.sturgeonbusparts.ca.

TOO MUCH STUFF? Let Classifieds help you sell it.

Misc.

Help

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

DENTAL CARE

DENTAL CLINIC 403-783-5225

2190

ROUND BALES

Wanted To Buy

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

5118 - 51 Ave., Ponoka, AB T4J 1R5

KITTENS to give away to a kind home. 403-704-2333

Celebrate your life with a Classified ANNOUNCEMENT

SWAMPERS

Family Friendly Dentistry

1660

SAVE 30% on our Greenland and Wild Labrador Voyage until December 18, 2015. See Labrador as it was meant to be seen - By Sea Aboard the comfortable Ocean Endeavour. No extra charge for singles!

Quote Community Newspapers! Call toll free 1-800-363-7566 or visit: www.adventurecanada .com. (TICO #04001400).

in Ponoka, has immediate openings for

DR. STEVE CALDER BS C DDS

Agricultural #2000 - #2290

at The Moose Hall, 2 miles south of Ponoka on Hwy. 2A ~~~~~ TO BOOK YOUR SALE CALL 403-782-5693 Check website for full listings

Travel Packages

403-783-2454

30

Dec. 2, 9, & 16

Cats

www.doorsondemand.ca

$

UPCOMING SALES Wednesdays @ 6 pm.

Buy & Sell #1500 - #1990

#4, 3616 67 St. Ponoka, AB

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE FOR JUST

1530

BIG STRAPPER AUCTIONS

MEIER GUN AUCTION. Saturday, December 19, 11 a.m., 6016 - 72A Ave., Edmonton. Over 150 guns - handguns, rifles, shotguns, hunting and sporting equipment. To consign 780-440-1860.

BOBCAT SERVICES

BOBCAT SERVICE

Auctions

www.birchlanddental.ca • DR. RICK BARR • DR. STELIAN LISMAN - General Dentistry - Orthodontics - Cosmetic Dentistry - Bonding - Veneers - Bleaching - White or Gold Fillings - Crown and Bridge - Implant Restorations

Alfalfa, Timothy, Brome mix

“WE ENTHUSIASTICALLY WELCOME NEW PATIENTS”

$110/bale Usona area 403-783-5985

EYE CARE

Start your career!

See Help Wanted

HAY FOR SALE

First & second cut No rain. Good for horse feed. Can pick up or will deliver.

403-704-0158 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.

ROUND BALES - Hay, green feed, straw and bulk oats. Delivery available.

No Sunday calls please.

Phone 403-704-3509 or 403-704-4333.

880

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

This space could be yours for $

30

PER WEEK

Call 403-783-3311

BOTTLE DEPOT

HEATING

PONOKA BOTTLE DEPOT 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

We have a passion for the possible.

Want your career to have a meaningful impact on people’s lives?

To know your ideas and initiatives are helping transform communities and build futures? The Government of Alberta offers you an opportunity to play an active role in shaping our province—making it an even better place to live and work. Discover how working for the Government of 15121DG1 Alberta can work for you.

Tues - Fri: 8:30 am-5:30 pm Saturday: 9 am-3 pm

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

Robin Esau

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

robin@KlesAir.com www.KlesMechanical.com

METAL RECYCLING & MORE Caseworker (HSW5) Alberta Human Services, Wetaskiwin. Do you have a strong desire to make positive changes in the lives of people? Alberta Human Services offers challenging and rewarding careers protecting children from abuse and neglect and keeping families whole. Central Alberta Child and Family Services has an opportunity for a Permanent Intervention Services Caseworker in our Wetaskiwin office. We offer Intervention services based on the philosophy that children, youth and families should have input into the decisions that affect their lives. ID #1033133

Motorcycles & ATV’s

“Committed to your comfort”

Visit jobs.alberta.ca to learn more about this opportunity, to apply online or to find out more information about the Government of Alberta.

SERVING FARMERS, INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL & THE GENERAL PUBLIC • Mobile Shears/ Magnets/Grapples • Mobile Flattener/Baler • Mobile Excavators/ Loaders • Scrap Metal Bin Service • Demolition & Decommissioning Hwy 12 East Lacombe • Earth Moving/ 403-357-4415 Excavating/Landscaping www.prometalscrap.com • Scrap Metal Depot

PONOKA NEWS 31

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015 HEATING & EAVESTROUGHING

Commercial - Residential Installations - Repair

3912 - 66 St, Ponoka www.wcmltd.ca

403.783.3501 wcmltd@telus.net

BOBCAT SERVICES PONOKA BOBCAT SERVICE A division of 1127730 Alberta Ltd.

NO JOB TOO SMALL!

SNOW PLOWING & CLEARING

WCB • Insured • Licensed Locally owned/operated

CALL BRIAN HEBERT

403-506-3377

VETERINARY SERVICES

Bovine Veterinary Services

Houses/ Duplexes

For Rent #3000 - #3200

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

Wanted to Rent #3250 - #3390

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

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

Career Planning

Phone 403-391-1684 ʹͶ

Suites

3060

Available Immediately 1 bdrm suite utilities incl.

403-790-6011 AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY

Bachelor suite $600/mnth including utilities 403-790-6011 * RIVERSIDE APTS. * Newly renovated 1 & 2 bedroom units in Ponoka: 3724-45 Street.

403-357-0287

3060

AVAILABLE JANUARY 1

2 bdrm $900/mnth including utilities 403-790-6011 2 BDRM bsmt. suite in PONOKA incld’s util’s, washer/dryer, no pets, non partier, N/S. Long term working tenants and seniors welcome.

Avail immed. 403-704-1645 PONOKA 2 bdrm. well maintained quiet adult building, no pets $825/mo. + power, heat/water incld. avail. immed.

Brian 403-348-6594 PONOKA, 2 bdrm. suite in Riverside. Fridge, stove, shared laundry. $675.. rent/dd. gas & water incl’d.

Absolutely N/S, no pets, Avail. imm. 780-242-0924

Storage Space

3160

FOR RENT Shared storage heated bay in Ponoka 780-951-0199

Add this feature to your next career ad booking

Call for more details 1-800-282-6903 ext 235

30

Auctions

3180

PASTURE & HAY LAND. 400 - 8000 acres of year round water supply. Full operational with management available. Central Saskatchewan. Crossfenced & complete infrastructure. Natural springs excellent water.

Shortly ready to locate cattle. Other small & large grain & pasture quarters. $150k - $2.6m. Call Doug Rue 306-716-2671.

1530

Real Estate #4000 - #4190

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

HARVEST SALE! Save $50,000 from the replacement cost of this 20 X 76 drywalled Grandeur Showhome that has to go! A sacrifice at $124,900. Call Terry 1-855-347-0417 or email: terry@ grandviewmodular.com.

Buildings For Sale

4150

STEEL BUILDINGS. “ Really Big Sale - Year end Clear Out!” 21 x 22 $5190. 25 x 24 $5988.

27 x 28 $7498. 30 x 32 $8646. 35x34 $11,844.

42 x 54 $16, 386. One end wall included. Pioneer Steel 1-800-668-5422; www.pioneersteel.ca.

VETERINARY SERVICES Financial #4400 - #4430

12345

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

Southwest Industrial Park 4102-64 St., Ponoka 403-783-5200

For just

$30 per week this space could be yours!

403-783-3311

Misc. for Sale

1760

WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR? ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.

12345 Customizable and secure. From storage to workspace.

Steel containers from 8' to 53'.

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

780 440 4037 | SEACAN.COM

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.

YOUR PAPER!

Reaching 6000 households weekly

Money To Loan

RECYCLE

8 a.m. - 5 p.m Mon. to Sat. • Open late Thursday 24-hour Emergency Call • Dr. Kelly Loree • Dr. Leighton Coma • Dr. Trevor Hook • Dr. Jasmine Hardy • Dr. Candace Wenzel

VETERINARY SERVICES

Ponoka Veterinary Clinic Dr. Murray • Murray Jacobson, DVM • Jacobson Clayton West, DVM Dr. Clayton West • Nicole Macdonald, DVM • Katie Graves, DVM Dr. Ashley Shannon

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

24 Hr. Emergency 403-783-4348

5502 - Hwy 2A Ponoka, AB

T4J 1M1

BOBCAT SERVICES

4090

12345

$

Pasture

Manufactured Homes

920

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS HERE FOR JUST

REACHING 6000 HOUSEHOLDS PER WEEK.

3 BDRM. DUPLEX IN PONOKA, large kitchen, dining and livingroom 4 appls., rent + utils. Avail.

Dec. 15. 403-783-3860 PONOKA NEWER 3 bdrm. townhouse, 6 appl., 3 bath, $1,295/mo.

Phone 403-704-1221 PONOKA, Duplex avail.

Jan. 1. 3 bedroom. $950. rent/dd, no pets, 4 appls. + drapes. 403-346-3943 or 403-358-9179

Suites

Let us amplify your message!

Dr. Bruce Wine

PER WEEK.

3020

BRUCE’S BOBCAT

Snow Cleaning & Removal

403-783-0663 PLUMBING

PONOKA PLUMBING & HEATING • JOURNEYMAN PLUMBER REQUIRED We now carry a complete line of Ritchie Stockwater parts Hours of Business: Monday - Friday 7:30 8:00 am - 5 pm

5110 -50 Street Box 4414 Ponoka, Alberta T4J 1R7

JESSE ZINTER Office - 403-783-5489

WATER WELL DRILLING SERVICE

• Water wells drilled • Water wells serviced 403-783-2220 WEBSITE@DARCYSDRILLING.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 HERE FOR JUST

30

$

PER WEEK.

REACHING 6000 HOUSEHOLDS PER WEEK.

32 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015

EVENT

MSRP $21,164 $ 135 B/W 84MTHS

MSRP 65,649 $ 325 B/W 84MTHS $

SALE

SALE

C1208

$

$

2015 FOCUS SE SEDAN

19,500

T0809

ON MOST NEW MODELS

MSRP $30,139 $ 169 B/W 84MTHS

SALE

2015 F350 CREW CAB LONG BOX

46,900

C1200

$

2015 FIESTA ST HATCHBACK

24,275

MSRP $44,944 $ 257 B/W 84MTHS

SALE

C1197

$

37,127

2015 F150 PLATINUM MSRP 72,899 $ 390 B/W 84MTHS $

SALE

T1003

$

56,900

MSRP 85,349 $ 455 B/W 84MTHS $

SALE

T0781

$

2015 TAURUS SEL AWD

2015 F350 LARIAT CREW

“LIFT TRUCK”

67,424

ALL FACTORY REBATES TO DEALER. ALL VEHICLE PLUS GST AND FEES. $499 ADMIN & $20 TIRE TAX, $6.25 AMVIC FEE. EG. C1208 2015 FOCUS 4.9% OVER 84 MONTHS. BW PYMT $135. TOTAL PAYMENTS EQUAL $24961.30, TOTAL INTEREST EQUAL $3893.28

STUFF YOUR STOCKING WITH CHRISTMAS SAVINGS T1108B

70

$

B/W 84MTHS

180

$

B/W 84MTHS

SALE

SALE

$

8,900

T1164A

$

2013 FORD FIESTA SE

2013 FORD EDGE SEL AWD

25,900

99

$

B/W 84MTHS

283

$

B/W 84MTHS

SALE

SALE

C0752A

$

2013 DODGE DART

12,900

P0510

$

2012 FORD FOCUS SE

$

99

B/W 84MTHS

2014 FORD F150 FX4 LUXURY CREWCAB

40,900

$

303

B/W 84MTHS

SALE

SALE

L0522

$

13,900

T1123A

$

2014 FORD PLATINUM 6.2L CREW

43,900

*ALL PR ICES PLU S $499 AD M IN FEE & GST. E G 2012 F ORD F OCUS SE 84 MON THS F IN AN CIN G 4. 99% APR TOTAL PY MT S $ 1 8 5 5 0 .4 0 . TOTAL INT ERES T $ 2 8 6 6 .3 8

“Let your Legacy start here.”

www.legacyfordponoka.ca

YOUR LEGACY TEAM

Pat Boardman General Sales Manager

Kelly Perras Finance Manager

Trevor Feragen Sales Consultant

Eric Dortman Sales Consultant

Robin Patrick Sales Consultant