Ponoka News, March 16, 2016

CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY Vol. 68, No. 11 | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016 | 403-783-3311 | WWW.PONOKANEWS.COM WS COM

Mecca Glen win more titles and bring more pride Story on page 38

The lazy little river with the wild history Story on page 5

Skate carnival fun: The Ponoka Skate Club hosted a fun weekend of figure skating performances Friday, March 11 and 12 at the Ponoka Culture and Recreation Complex. Here Mallory Rausch, a grad soloist with the club, performs. See more pictures of the performance on page 14.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Council decides to ignore fire services petition Majority vote at council unwilling to hear public input

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS There appears little hope for residents hoping to force a public vote on regional fire services between the town and county of Ponoka.

CAO Albert Flootman told council during their regular meeting Tuesday, March 8 that a petition drafted

by Jim Hamilton and Deb Nicol had no legal bearing on the town. The valid petition brought in 1,001 signatures in a few weeks

and requested council either join with the county or hold a plebiscite.

“It was technically sufficient, however, we obtained a legal opinion on this petition,” explained Flootman.

According to the town’s municipal lawyers, explained Flootman, there is nothing in the Municipal Government Act (MGA) that states residents can force a new decision. Flootman spoke specifically of section 231, which discusses petitions on votes for advertised

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bylaws or resolutions. This petition does not fall under that category.

Flootman added there is still a motion that town council voted on Oct. 13 directing administration to go into discussions with Ponoka County on regional fire services and to create an advisory board. Council is yet to follow through with this motion after defeating the recommendation from administration to join with the county on Jan. 12.

“We technically have a live resolution based on Oct. 13, 2015, however, petitions under the MGA must come within 60 days of a motion being made,” said Flootman.

“It may be live, but it’s not effective,” he added.

Council voted 4 to 3 to ignore the petition with councillors Loanna Gulka, Tim Falkiner, Marc Yaworski and Sandra Lyon in the majority. Further motions to hold a public meeting

and plebiscite on the issue were again defeated by the same four while Mayor Rick Bonnet and councillors Carla Prediger and Teri Underhill voting to allow residents to have a voice.

While the January motion was defeated, the overarching motion to join with the county still stands. If a plebiscite were requested Flootman estimates the cost at approximately $5,000 to $10,000.

Even if the town held a plebiscite, council would not be required to act.

Cost of future operations uncertain Yaworski stated that all town councillors want a regional fire system but suggests Ponoka County is making negotiations difficult.

“They don’t appear to want to negotiate fairly in my opinion,” he said.

Using the aged services agreement, which is set to

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expire at the end of April, as the example, Yaworski said when the county wanted a say in the hiring of the new fire chief, then CAO Rachel Kunz said the county could not have a say based on the rules in the agreement.

“Right or wrong that’s what it was. Unfortunately council did want them in to have a say, but they were told no.”

“OUR FIRST THING IS WE’RE HERE FOR THE CITIZENS, NOT FOR OURSELVES.” MAYOR RICK BONNETT

Joining with the county would create several uncertainties for the town, said Yaworski, which he says includes capital costs of a new fire station to the Gull Lake area. Although county Reeve Paul McLauchlin has publicly stated the town’s portion of the costs would relate only to the town’s department and services, Yaworski, who stated as much on a Ponoka information site Facebook page recently, insists the county may make the town pay for those services.

“We know for sure right now what our costs are for the next year. We know right down to the penny,” said Yaworski.

“We’d be more than happy using our fire department and keeping our fire department and being part of the regional product,” he added.

Operational costs remain

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uncertain, responded Coun.

Teri Underhill. She added the county has been clear of where the town’s costs would lie. Yaworski claimed he had not seen anything from the reeve saying as much.

Operational costs are rising; senior volunteer Ponoka Fire Department (PFD) members have already been sent to special training courses, some in British Columbia, although administration says travel costs were paid out of pocket. It is believed new members will need training to get them up to speed with basic courses.

Rumours of discussions for a new ladder truck valued at $700,000 to $800,000 could add to the capital costs.

Seeing so many people signing the petition gave Prediger reason to hear what residents have to say. She made the motion to host a public meeting on the matter to hear from residents.

“I believe we need to listen to our community,” said Prediger.

Privacy issues noted as a concern Gulka suggested that the decision council made in its January meeting was a result of the in camera discussion that was held for approximately 30 minutes.

“When it deals with legal, land or personnel, you can’t talk about those things in open public,” said Gulka.

She feels if the public cannot make an informed decision then there is little that can be clarified.

“Nothing changes to me.”

It is presumed their decision would relate to personnel issues considering Ponoka County now has a regional and east district fire chief, as well as more than 25 volunteer firefighters.

Mayor Rick Bonnett said considering how many people have signed the petition council would do well to hear what residents have to say. “Our first thing is we’re here for the citizens, not for ourselves.”

He said potential costing and a time line for residents, if a public meeting were held, would be needed to show what the next step is for the fire department.

There is no going back to vote in favour of joining the county’s regional fire department, stated Falkiner.

He said the in camera meeting made up his mind.

Ponoka • Wetaskiwin • Leduc continued on page 4

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 3

Police nab wanted man

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Ponoka RCMP arrested a man on outstanding warrants thanks to a tip from a witness.

Police received a call in the evening of Tuesday, March 8 that a man who was wanted in connection with several investigations in Sylvan Lake and Rimbey was in a local bar in Ponoka.

Investigators say Bentley resident Jonathan Andrews, 23, was in Ponoka and when police arrived, he fled the scene in a pickup truck.

He subsequently rammed a police vehicle and drove to Highway 2A. Police say the truck entered a cul de sac’, and in an attempt to leave the area, entered several yards between houses and collided with a parked vehicle, eventually fleeing the area.

Ponoka resident Janie Leaney’s pickup received

Jonathan Andrews extensive damage as a result of the incident. She said she watched a black pickup enter the area and eventually make its way through a few yards before the pickup forced its way through two vehicles, one of which was hers.

“It didn’t dawn on me that it was my truck,” said Leaney in an interview.

She said the police fol-

lowed at a distance before making their way into the cul de sac’. She praised them for working with residents and helping to get her pickup towed.

“You just don’t think these things can happen,” she offered.

Ponoka and Maskwacis RCMP located the vehicle of the suspect a short time later southbound on Highway 2. Eventually the vehicle went into the median and the suspect driving the pickup ran across the highway where he was subsequently arrested.

Andrews faces 14 charges from Ponoka RCMP including flight from police. He also has outstanding warrants from Rimbey, Sylvan Lake and Bentley on charges relating to possession of a weapon, possession of a fire arm and numerous traffic offences. He is to appear at Ponoka provincial court March 18.

Police arrest man with stolen vehicle

PONOKA NEWS STAFF Police arrested a Red Deer man with possession of a stolen property over $5,000.

A call of an abandoned vehicle on Wednesday, March 9 helped recover a vehicle reported stolen out of Lacombe. A short distance later, police say they found a 28-year-old Red Deer man matching the description of the person in the vehicle.

He was detained by police and the subsequent investigation led to investigators finding Tylenol 4s, for which he did not have a prescription. Police charged the man with breaching

90 days jail for threats to mother

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Struggles with alcohol landed a 53-year-old Ponoka man with a 90 day jail sentence.

Wayne McQuiston appeared in Ponoka provincial court Friday, March 11 by CCTV and pleaded guilty to several charges of uttering threats and breaching of conditions.

The series of events that led to the charges occurred over the course of a few months at a rural Ponoka home, explained crown prosecutor Steve Degen.

The first incident was Dec. 5 when a call to police requested

assistance stating McQuiston’s mother was threatened. Upon arrival, police found a half empty bottle of vodka and McQuiston passed out on the bed.

Two days later police received another call that McQuiston was passed out on the floor. At that point, McQuiston was on conditions not to drink and not to be at home, explained Degen.

The police report states McQuiston refused to leave and he was heard swearing at his mother and step-father. He made further threatening remarks and swore at his mother

and the police, said Degen.

Almost eight weeks, later police were called to the same residence with the caller stating McQuiston was arguing with his step father. Degen said the police report showed while being escorted out of the house McQuiston threatened to kill his mother.

Police were again called to the same residence Feb. 12 after a follow up under the Ponoka RCMP’s suppression project, said Degen.

McQuiston was again located at the home intoxicated.

“Again bound by conditions and recognizance at this

point,” said Degen.

On Feb. 26 a further call from the residence of McQuiston’s mother was received asking police to remove him from the home.

“We’ve been dealing with him for the last several months,” Degen told Judge William Andreassen.

“Throughout all of this, he’s had nothing but contempt of orders from the court,” added Degen.

continued on page 10

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recognizance and being in possession of a controlled substance.

Police did not say if the man was also charged with possession of stolen property over $5,000.

Police charge men with mischief Reports of four men spray painting a garage door near 49 Avenue led to an arrest by police.

RCMP responded to a complaint of the graffiti artists March 1o and after receiving a description of the suspects, Mounties located them. Police say one individual had black spray paint on him.

They were arrested and taken to the detachment where police say one became aggressive and resisted officers. Two youths were charged, one for resisting arrest plus two counts of mischief while the other also received two counts of mischief.

Man with no insurance A traffic stop of the driver of a white 2009 BMW showed he had no licence and was unable to produce insurance or registration.

Police issued tickets to the 20-year-old man for no driver’s licence, unable to produce insurance and no registration of the vehicle.

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4 PONOKA NEWS

Religion

Your Guide To Local Houses of Worship

Jesus and Donald Trump

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

PASTOR TOM CNOSSEN

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

Maskwacis Fellowship Church Member of the Ponoka Ministerial Association

Sr. Pastor Paul Spate

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

HOME CHURCH Pastor Rob McArthur

403-783-5659

Sunday @ 10:30 a.m.

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

www.myhomechurch.ca

PONOKA UNITED CHURCH Minister: Beatrix Schirner

ponokaunited@shaw.ca

Sunday Service 10:30 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

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

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

This morning I am fresh back from a trip to California. I went to a pastors’ conference down there, and in some ways I feel I have been up to the mountain and back.

I heard words which inspired my heart and challenged my spirit. I had fellowship as sweet as it gets this side of heaven, but in all that goodness and positivity, even in a place like that, the state of American politics hangs like a cloud, pervading the atmosphere with a heaviness that I had not experienced in my other trips to this conference.

I knew it would be this way. As a dual citizen, I have the right to vote in the US, so I am somewhat drawn into their politics.

This year we have seen things down there like we have never seen before.

I don’t want to take up space in this article analyzing this, but I do want to make a contrast between the politics of 2016 and a way of life our dear Savior put forth two thousand years ago. You see politicians come and go, but the Bible says the Word of the Lord (Jesus) lasts forever.

One of the things that both Jesus and Donald Trump purport to be are non-politicians. If that is common ground between the two, that is probably as far as it goes. Jesus says : “My kingdom is not of this world.” Donald says , “I am not a politician.”

This is where their paths take a totally different direction. The “manifesto” that Jesus lays out for his Kingdom was given in His Sermon on the Mount and called the Beatitudes. My mom used to tell me that these are “attitudes” which God wants is to “be”. Not just have – be.

His first point, given in Matthew 5:3 is how God regards the poor and humble. Jesus says: Blessed are the poor in spirit…” Donald would likely call them losers. In verse 4, Jesus tells

those who mourn, “… they shall be comforted.”

Donald would say, “Suck it up.” Jesus blesses the gentle in verse 5 and declares they will inherit the earth, but Donald would say these are weak and they will get nothing. In verse six Jesus commends those who have a hunger and thirst for righteousness, saying that these will truly be satisfied. Donald will use “faith” to get votes, but would say that money and power are the road to satisfaction – after all, just look at him.

The list could go on. Jesus blesses the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted.

He blesses those who have to endure insults , whereas Donald finds smug satisfaction in insulting any and all who disagree, even slightly with him.

Normally, and in times past, a man like Donald would sink quickly out of sight in even American politics. But times have changed. Decency in almost every area of life has been tossed out the window. We live in an age of anger and people are foolishly thinking that if we can be angry enough, we can get the things we want

– we can, like Donald’s slogan says: “Make America Great Again”. But how can we achieve any sort of greatness by selling our souls to system that builds walls instead of bridges, which prides itself in meanness and negativity and contempt for civility and decency?

I believe Paul’s prophetic warning to Timothy may be in its time of fulfillment. He wrote this in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding a form of godliness, although they have denied its power. Avoid such men as these.”

I know this is not a political column, but this needs to be said. It disturbs me that Christ-followers are being linked to the politics of the likes of Trump. We need to be aware of the times we live in.

Fire services petition continued from page 2 Prediger suggested giving residents a chance to speak is paramount for council to follow residents’ wishes. “To deny them the opportunity I think is fundamentally wrong.”

Lyon said council can’t even agree on what the costs of PFD operations will be. She does not think information at a public meeting would be clear.

Falkiner also said that council did not listen to residents on the recent bridge bylaw petition. While that petition was invalid, Falkiner suggested council should listen to both if it will listen to any.

With May looming, other issues are apparent: the town just bought a new rescue truck at more than $500,000 for a department expected to take one third of its previous calls and a mutual aid fire agreement is yet to be signed between the two municipalities.

The motion was defeated 4 to 3 on the same lines as the previous.

Councillor taunted for her motion A request by Underhill to hold a plebiscite and keep it binding was also defeated, but not before she was derided by another councillor.

In a written statement, Underhill said with so many signatures council had a responsibility to hold a plebiscite on the issue. “How can I as a councillor ignore this huge statement from our citizens?”

She questioned the harm of holding a plebiscite. Gulka reiterated her comments that without the in camera meeting information, residents would not have all the pertinent information.

It was Falkiner who added one further comment.

“I didn’t realize we were campaigning right now,” intervened Falkiner before Bonnett could stop him.

In a press release issued later, Bonnett said the goal is to follow through with the October motion as it is still live. He wants to see council follow through with its motion.

“That motion asked council to approve that the town and county come to an agreement to form the Ponoka fire partnership. With that motion still open and on the floor, there may still be an opportunity for further discussion,” said Mayor Bonnett.

Residents speak on fire services During the meeting, two residents spoke on the town’s fire services: one for a regional system and the other against it.

Reading from a written statement Frank Bergman spoke in favour of a regional system. He said residents don’t want to have to pay more for separate fire services and they said as much with the petition recently submitted to council. “Tonight we’ll know if you speak for us or for yourselves.”

However, Debbie Hycha, who spoke against a regional system at the previous council meeting said Bergman does not speak for her. She said there are residents who don’t want a regional system and she is one of them.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 5

Reflections of Ponoka

The lazy little river with the wild history

BY MIKE RAINONE FOR THE NEWS The historically lazy and tranquil old Battle River originated at Battle Lake east of Winfield and then meandered some 570 kilometres through Central Alberta and eastwardly into Saskatchewan before tumbling into the North Saskatchewan River at North Battleford. Our history books tell us that the river was first mentioned during the travels of explorer Anthony Henday in the 1750s, but in 1793, adventurer Peter Fidler recalled arriving at the “Battle or Fighting” River. Wikipedia later explained that this rather exciting title for the peaceful Battle River was likely named because of the beginning of a period of 18th century rivalry in the immediate area between the Iron Confederacy (Cree and Assiniboines) and the Blackfoot Confederacy.

From its creation so many centuries ago, the Battle River methodically carved a winding path across two provinces, creating pristine valleys full of magnificent foliage and wildlife and over countless progressive decades would quietly pass through over 20 thriving communities along the way, including: Donalda, Forestburg, Wetaskiwin, Camrose, New Norway, Edberg, Rosalind, Duhamel, Galahad, Alliance, Hardisty, Wainwright, Marsden, Lashborn, Waseca, Maidstone, Patton, and of course our very own town and county Of Ponoka. In the early years, thousands of logs were floated down the Battle River to the mills in Ponoka, which worked night and day to meet the sudden ‘building boom’ era demand in the thriving new town and county districts.

18 bad Battle River floods in 100 years As much as so many generations of families and individuals have loved and taken full advantage of the Battle River for its bountiful and enjoyable fishing, hunting, swimming and recreational opportuni-

Photo courtesy of Fort Ostell Museum

The Battle River flood of 1948 was one of the worst in Ponoka’s long and colorful history, turning the picturesque river valley into a lake for a few hectic days, while stranding many people and wiping out sections of the CPR track and along Highway 2A near the south bridge. Please note the boat cruising through the flood and heading for the old steel bridge to check out the scenery. ties, there has also been a down side. These sudden and frightening occasions, which usually occur in the spring, have seen our peaceful Battle River burst its banks and transform into massive floods that have ravaged thousands of acres of land and threated farms, communities, and everything on its path. Our history books, going back to the early 1900s have vividly written about 18 very serious floods in this area, and of course there were others, but not quite so bad as those very disastrous onslaughts of 1912-19151948-1995-2002-2005 and 2013.

Over the years, the Battle River watershed and the river would change its face and direction many times with the natural development of creeks, slues and swamps, and has often been affected by massive beaver dams, as well as conversions due to the much-needed construction and development of roads and bridges throughout the

districts. In 1929, Gull Lake covered 47 square miles, with many of its tributaries stretching in all directions, including east along Highway 53, but that has now steadily declined over the years.

Most of the floods were caused by heavy rains, the spring thaw or icejams, and as early as 1901, vivid tales are told of hardy folks working together to build dykes to stop the rising water or moving families, livestock, and precious belongings to safe grounds.

There were no bridges in those days and a trip into town was a real adventure, especially during a flood, as families filled their wagons with rocks in order to try to cross the raging Battle, but on many occasions they tipped over and the horses, wagons, supplies, and passengers found themselves at the mercy of nature’s wrath.

Oldtimers will claim that the Battle floods of 1948 and 1990 were likely the worst, as the lower Riverside district and the serene River

Valley became a lake for a hectic few days, staff at the Provincial Mental Hospital had to be ferried back and forth to work in boats or wagons pulled by horses and tractors, and the huge ice-jams had to be dynamited by Ponoka Fire Department to prevent the north and south bridges from being wiped out. In the July flood of 1990, the Battle River reached 20 times its normal flow, a section of the CPR track was washed away, and large sink holes appeared near the Highway 2A bridge just south of town, leaving many people stranded, but were warmly welcomed at the hotels and homes of our hospitable and friendly community.

For countless decades, everyone close to the picturesque old Battle River has quickly learned never to take her for granted; but over the years, re-channeling and new bridges have made it much easier and safer to face whatever sudden surprises that this notso-mighty lady may have in store for us.

Remember When...

Photo from 1961 Ponoka Herald

The Ponoka District Farm Hockey League was a competitive but friendly sports tradition for many decades, with district country teams enjoying weekly games on outdoor rinks and arenas for many years. Shown above is the 1961 Eastside team which defeated Popular Forest in a hard-fought final series to win the annual Gordon McKelvie League Championship Trophy. Shown in the photo (left to right, back row) are Marvin Traptow, Ken Davies, David Owen, Stanley McLaren, Bernie Bednar, and Graham Reed; then seated in front with the trophy are Fred Broska, Wayne McLaren, Reg Perry, and Ken Owen.

Teammates missing from the photo celebration were Johnny Stretch and the Rodney Boys.

6 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Opinion

What was discussed in 30 minutes?

MUSTAFA ERIC Editor Ponoka town council, rather the now well-known majority in the council, dug in their heels once again and decided to ignore the concerns of the more than one thousand signatories among the residents and refused to reconsider their determination to go for a town-financed and operat-

ed fire service.

As you may have read in our story on page 2, the majority of four against the three also voted down a motion to hold a public meeting to allow the residents to express their opposition to their Jan. 12 decision to separate the town’s fire services unit from the county, which they made against the recommendation of the interim CAO. But if the majority of four thinks that this matter is going to go away and residents will stop asking questions about the irrational decision that they have condemned the town residents to abide by, they will probably soon realize that they are wrong.

Questions will continue to be asked, until the day of voting in the next municipal elections.

But without waiting that long, here is a question:

Why do the majority of four, in particular among them Councillor Loanna Gulka, take comfort in the deliberations of the some 30-minute in-camera discussions held just before they voted to separate the fire services from the county on Jan. 12?

What was discussed in that short in-camera session?

Gulka is quoted in our story as saying “When it deals with legal, land or personnel, you can’t talk about those things in open public.”

Now operating a fire department is a vital community service, it is an organizational issue. It is not a land specific topic of discussion, nor is it legal.

Furthermore, the following is an excerpt from the Government of Alberta website information on the responsibilities of municipal councils to conduct

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

business in a transparent manner: “As an elected body, councils should avoid conducting business in-camera. This includes discussion of difficult topics, such as: *Budget deliberations Tax i.e. assessments/mill rates, penalties Capital expenditures *Any contentious issues o Sensitive local issues o Bylaw amendments i.e.

Land use o Subdivision proposals *Tax recovery i.e. reserve bids for auction. *Discussions regarding the hiring of additional municipal staff and or the setting of salary ranges.”

Now nobody disputes that the future of fire services has been a very sensitive issue since the nowfired CAO Rachel Kuntz made a mess of the relations between the town and county over the recruitment of a new fire

Mustafa Eric Editor

Jeff Heyden-Kaye Reporter

chief.

Plus, readers would remember that Economic Development Board did raise some concerns before the Jan. 12 decision with regard to possible conflicts of interest and those concerns were speculated to be related to family ties between a particular councillor and a senior fire department functionary.

Now the last mentioned matter clearly falls under the “personnel” category quoted as one of the reasons why Gulka said in-camera session deliberations could not be brought up in a public meeting.

But if that is the case, separating town’s fire services from the county based on consideration of personnel matters does not seem to be proper. The proper thing would be to decide on the functionality and organizational chart first and then decide on the

Jordie Dwyer Reporter

personnel requirements.

But we don’t know if that was considered, because we don’t know what was discussed in the 30-minute in camera session.

Really, what was discussed in camera in the 30-minute session?

Oh, by the way, as the readers might remember, the town council, rather the familiar majority of four, have introduced a new line of payment for fire fighters, described as “on call payment.”

It now seems that it is another trailblazing initiative by Ponoka town council. A few phone calls to the neighbouring regional fire services are enough to demonstrate that it is hard to find another jurisdiction in the neighbourhood with that kind of a facility offered to firefighters.

It is up to the Ponoka ratepayers to decide what that means.

Karen Douglass Sales

Susan Whitecotton Administration

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 7

Novel studies with a twist: Grade 3 and 4 students at Ponoka Elementary School displayed their novel studies learning Friday, March 11 with special displays. Here Carter Blanchard shows lessons from reading the Boxcar Children series.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

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8 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Good samaritans clean up unwanted graffiti

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS

Three good Samaritans have taken the time to clean up unwanted graffiti at different locations around town over a few days

during the past week.

After hearing several locations were tagged with graffiti, Carlen Cire, 20, Kyle McGarva, 24 and Robert Tucker, 22, volunteered their time to clean up the walls.

Congratulations Vilma!

Your friendly demeanor and dependability are much appreciated.

Employee of the Month (l-r) Carlen Cire, Robert Tucker and Kyle McGarva (not in the photo) took some time Wednesday, March 9 to clean up some graffiti found around town. Here they paint over a spot at the Royal Hotel.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

The first spot was at a location on the corner of 50 Street and 50 Avenue near the North

36TH ANNUAL SPRING MACHINERY CONSIGNMENT

Ponoka

VISITOR’S GUIDE

2016

& BUSINESS DIRECTORY Y From the Ponoka Stampede to the beautiful Battle River valley, Ponoka offers many attractions to tourists and visitors. The Ponoka News will be publishing a 2016 Ponoka Visitor’s Guide in May. Presented in pony-tabloid format with a full colour glossy cover, the 2016 Ponoka Visitor’s Guide will provide essential information for visitors and tourists who come to our community.

COVER INCLUDES FULL COLOUR

Back Cover: $1140 Inside Front: $890 $890 With a distribution of 10,000 copies, the 2016 Inside Back: Ponoka Visitor’s Guide will be circulated to visitor Cover Deadline: information centres throughout Alberta, as well as April 22, 2016 at 12 NOON local hotels, motels, bed & breakfast facilities and retail shops.

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

Bridge, which was already painted over by Cire and McGarva after it was tainted a few

AUCTION

FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2016 RIMBEY, ALBERTA Selling equipment to all four Western provinces and the Northern USA. Listings are now being accepted for the Spring Machinery Consignment Auction.

All items must be listed by Wednesday, March 15, 2016 to be included on our Sales Posters, Newspaper, Radio Advertising, Web Page and extensive mailing lists.

Listings Include a Unreserved Real Estate Auction for Melvin Bonertz - Selling a Lot with Buildings in Bluffton, Alberta.

DISPLAY ADS Business Card: $110 1 ⁄4 Pg (31⁄4”x5”): $185 1 ⁄2 Pg (63⁄4”x5”): $330 Full Pg (101⁄4”x5”): $610 Advertising Deadline: April 22, 2016 at 12 NOON All ads include full colour.

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months ago. Another was at the Royal Hotel, where the owner purchased some paint and all three helped cover the graffiti.

Because of the location being situated on the Ponoka Stampede Parade route, Cire and McGarva felt it was important to help and clear the tags.

“If you don’t take pride in your community or give back to your community doing little things like these … it sets an example for the younger generation,” said Cire.

McGarva added that local businesses invest in the community and their product and if they’re gone, folks will go out of town to do their shopping.

Tucker wanted to help out as well and he jumped at helping the other two.

Seeing the graffiti return to the 50 Street location was frustrating for Cire. “They’ve seen that someone went out of their way to do something … it’s sad to see.”

Cire said the goal is to help out and have pride in the community and to make Ponoka a place that is attractive to businesses.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 9

Landlords Responsible for Utilities Under Bylaw If you are a landlord or tenant in the Town of Ponoka, please be aware that a new Utility Services Bylaw was passed earlier this year that affects you.

account or their utility services are disconnected by the Town for any reason under the bylaw or the Municipal Government Act.

Under the new bylaw, property owners are now responsible for all utility services delivered and all charges levied to a property for water, sewer and storm drainage services.That means as of January 12, 2016, any new tenants moving into a rental unit in Ponoka are no longer eligible to apply for utility services. Only the property owner can make that application.

As of January 12, 2016, property owners whose tenants’ utility bills are in arrears will receive a written notice from the Town giving them 60 days to transfer that utility account into the property owner’s name. Failure by the property owner to comply will result in utility services being disconnected until such time as they do comply.

“The property owner is now responsible for all utility bills, and can determine how to best transfer that cost to their tenants through rental agreements,” says Dave McPhee, Director of Operations and Property Services with the Town of Ponoka. He notes that property owners continue to be responsible for all fees levied to a property for garbage services as well under a separate bylaw.

Cost Savings to Taxpayers The new Utility Services Bylaw was implemented to ensure more efficient and effective cost recovery for utility services provided by the Town. “This new bylaw should result in fewer delinquent accounts and a cost-savings to Ponoka tax payers,” says McPhee.

Current Tenants May Be Grandfathered Tenants who have continued to receive utility services in their names since the Utility Services Bylaw passed on January 12, and whose utility account is in good standing, will be “grandfathered” and unaffected by the new bylaw – until such time as they close their

PONOKA FIRE DEPARTMENT WEEKLY REPORT The Ponoka Fire Department responded to three 911 calls in the last week. One call was a cooking incident that set off the home alarm, the second was an odour complaint, and the third was a faulty alarm ringing.

The Ponoka Fire Department is preparing for the NFPA 1001 level 1 firefighter training that will be taught in-house starting March 14th and running into June for the written and practical testing.

He adds, “We reviewed the utility bylaws of all 108 designated Towns in the Province of Alberta and found that two-thirds of them require utility accounts to be in the property owner’s name.”

For more information about the Utility Services Bylaw, please call Dave McPhee at 403-783-0146 or the Town Utilities Clerk at 403-783-0111.

Wildfire season kicked off March 1, 2016. Last year, wildfires consumed more than 492,000 hectares. That’s seven times the size of Edmonton. Over the last five years, two thirds of Alberta’s wildfires were caused by people.

If you live in the Forest Protection Area (FPA) and require a fire permit, you can contact your local Agriculture and Forestry office at 310-0000.

Wildfire Prevention Tips • When extinguishing your fire, especially burn piles and fall and winter burns, soak, stir and soak again. The ashes should be cold to touch.

• When riding Off Highway Vehicles (OHV) in the back county, stop and check for debris in and around hotspots on your vehicle that could drop and start a wildfire.

• If you see or want to report a wildfire, phone 310-FIRE (3473)

~ FEATURE NEWS ~

~ TOWN NEWS ~

Waste Transfer Station Hours Changing The Waste Transfer Station will be changing to spring/summer/fall hours open from 10 am to 6 pm on April 1 until October 31. The Waste Transfer Station will be closed on Friday, March 25 for Good Friday and is open regular hours on Saturday, March 26.

RECREATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS NEEDED The Parks, Recreation & Culture Advisory Committee is looking for people with an interest in our parks and trails, indoor and outdoor facilities, recreation programs & events as well as cultural activities and programs. The committee meets once a month. Now that the Recreation Master Plan has been approved we are looking for people to help with the implementation of the recommendations and are continuing to plan for the future of recreation in our community. If you are interested, please contact wes.amendt@ponoka.org or call 403-783-0118.

Ponoka Recycling Centre to Move on March 31 The Ponoka Recycling Centre, located downtown across from the IGA, will move to the Town’s Waste Transfer Station on March 31.The Waste Transfer Station is located just outside the northeast corporate limits of Ponoka on 46 Street. Residents can bring recycling to the Waste Transder Station after March 31 at no cost.

For more information, please contact Manager of Operations, Jill Owen, at 403-913-4817.

~ COUNCIL UPDATES ~ NEXT MEETING OF COUNCIL: Tuesday, March 22, 2016, and Committee of the Whole on March 17, 2016. Both meetings are at 6 pm at the Ponoka County Boardroom. Agenda packages are posted on www.ponoka.ca under ‘Town Hall’ in advance of every Council meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend.

~ AQUAPLEX NEWS ~ • Designated lap lane all day (except during morning Aquasize and swim club). Pools are open all day (except during swim club).

• Spring break lessons. Register now. Limited space!

• Spring Break we will be offering all public swims and family swims for a toonie.

• We are offering a National Lifeguard course from March 28 - April 1. The cost is $225.00.

• National Lifeguard course will be in need of “patients” for some of the water sessions. Anyone taking part in the patient simulations will receive a free swim pass as a sign of gratitude for their participation.

• We are offering private swim lessons for all ages, anytime, any day (except during morning Aquasize and swim club).

• For the month of April we are offering a “Bring Your Buddy” promotion for all Aquasize programs.

Each person who pays one regular admission or has a swim pass can bring one friend for free.

Volunteer Opportunities - Volunteers are also needed for the following events: • Community Wellness Fair • Canada 150 Mosaic • Two Special Event Planning Committees for (Canada Day & Ponoka Day in the Park) • The deadline for submissions for the Spring/Summer edition of the Community Program Guide is March 31.

• Plans are in the works for a Community Wellness Fair on Wednesday, May 18. Groups, organizations or businesses interested in having a display or making a presentation.

The Outdoor Rink is now closed for the season.

Ponoka Season Ender 3-on-3 Hockey Tournament will be held March 21 – 24. Please contact Wes Amendt at wes.amendt@ponoka.org or 403-783-0118 for more information. Deadline for registration is March 16.

Ponoka Community Program Guide Spring/Summer Edition - Deadline for Submissions is March 31, 2016.

Plans are underway for a Community Wellness Fair on May 18. Groups or businesses interested in having a display or making a presentation should contact Wes Amendt.

For more info on any of these items, contact wes.amendt@ponoka.org or call 403-783-0118.

~ TOWN NOTICES ~ In the event of damage to your grey garbage bin please call Lori at 403-783-0159. Please note that replacement bins can take up to two weeks to be delivered.

Town of Ponoka C, 4900 - 54 Street, Ponoka, AB T4J 1N8 Town phone: 403-783-4431 Town email: town@ponoka.org

10 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

EDB vision statement proposes more active role

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS The Economic Development Board (EDB) wants a greater voice in Ponoka.

Town council approved second reading of a proposed bylaw ammendment that would allow the EDB to speak on issues that affect economic development during their regular meeting Tuesday, March 8.

Coun. Marc Yaworski asked Stephen Novak, economic development officer

for the Town of Ponoka, what that would entail.

“That’s a very broad statement,” said Yaworski.

“Aren’t they an advisory group?” he asked.

Novak used the fire services agreement as an example stating that in cases where economic development could be affected the EDB would be able to advise council on its concerns.

Coun. Carla Prediger added while its mandate may change slightly, the EDB still goes through the process of making a motion and providing it to council. The final discussion and say still comes from council.

“They’re just a sounding board for us to utilize,” added Mayor Rick Bonnett.

Third and final reading is expected to come at the

next council meeting.

Peace officer program coming to Ponoka Council approved the signing of the community peace officer program with the Town of Rimbey.

As Rimbey is removing one of its officers, the town is in a position to use the current officer in Rimbey without having to go through a full application process.

The same officer will become a town peace officer through the Rimbey program until the town’s application is fully approved with the Solicitor General.

Coun. Tim Falkiner recused himself from the meeting stating conflict of interest with his work as an employee of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees.

Kinettes preparing for playground installation New project ideas needed for funding

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS The parts are ready to get kids on a new playground, all that is needed are volunteers to make it happen.

The Ponoka Kinette Club is readying for the big weekend that will see the installation of the new playground at Centennial Park. Dates of installation are set for May 25 to 28 and club president Lindsey Kaupp is excited about the build-up.

The club researched several playgrounds around central Alberta and spoke directly with kids to find out what they enjoyed the most.

“There are two resounding themes: more climbing structures and grounders,” said Kaupp.

Grounders is a playground game most kids are familiar with that involves not getting caught on the ground.

The park is designed with several fun amenities includ-

ing dual racing gliders. It is also designed to be strong and lasting for the long term with metal components and slides.

To prevent excess heat, the slides are located away from the direct sunlight.

Other aspects of the park include swings and smaller pieces for the younger kids as well as a way for parents to easily walk on parts of the playground.

The overall goal of the playground committee, comprised of Leanne Reed, Theresa Johnston and Kaupp and Barry Neath of the Lions Club, is to improve health and wellness and, “to run, jump, slide and spin.”

The club hopes to promote physical activity and she feels the playground being next to the splashpark will do just that.

Planners are looking for 35 to 40 volunteers to join the completion of various tasks for building the playground.

To find out more, contact

Kaupp at 403-963-8154.

Kinettes on the lookout for community projects The Kinettes want to find more ways to benefit the community and they will be putting in funds for it.

The group is putting out an open call to find out what is most needed, explained member Amanda Hamilton.

Their mandate is “Servicing the community’s greatest need.”

Both long-term and shortterm projects are to be considered for funding and those who submit ideas will be able to speak with the Kinettes about their plan.

“We would love to have them come in an speak to it,” said Kaupp.

The Kinettes have sponsored many local programs including the splash park and purchases of new equipment at the Ponoka Hospital and Care Centre and for the community Christmas and the local school lunch programs.

Contact Kaupp for ways to meet with the club.

Threats to mother continued from page 3 He suggested that alcohol was a large factor in the incidents, and feels McQuiston needs to sort out his problems with alcohol.

“If he doesn’t, we’re going to see him in a month’s time or whatever it’s going to be,” said Degen.

Duty counsel David Paull agreed with the challenges McQuiston faces. “Obviously, this is a man in some distress,” said Paull.

He added that the family would like to see McQuiston and he is generally pleasant to be around when not drinking. The mother and step-father have mentioned to Paull that they do not feel their personal safety is at risk.

After serving 39 days in jail over the last few months, Paull requested McQuiston be given time and a half credit at 59 days of the 90 recommended by Degen.

When asked if he had any comments on the incidents, McQuiston replied that a struggling economy had a negative effect on his business and livelihood.

“Ever since this economy went down, I have lost three great big brand new homes that had to be painted … that’s why I turned to the bottle,” said McQuiston.

He expressed a desire to deal with his issues.

Judge Andreassen stated that McQuiston breached a trust with his parents.

“It seems plain to me that if you continue to drink you’ll get in trouble and you’ll continue to go to jail,” said Andreassen.

He ordered 90 days jail with 59 days served and suggested McQuiston take advantage of the services at the jail.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 11

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12 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Supporting RCMP’s vital ‘Crotches Kill’ Campaign For the greater part of our population who really respect and care about the safety and well being of others, it is most frustrating to see those drivers in communities and

out on our busy highways and by-ways who back and forth across the road while chatting on their cell phones or staring down at their laps while texting, typing or

gazing at their emails.

RCMP and peace officers across our province are frustrated by way too much of this kind of dangerous ignorance from behind the wheel, and

have launched their vital ‘Crotches Kill’ campaign to try and stop and prosecute those selfish individuals who put themselves first and endanger everyone by driving

EASTER COLOURING CONTEST

Age categories: 5 & under, 6 – 9 yrs & 10 – 12 yrs Prizes donated by:

Name: Age: Phone#: Entry deadline March 18. Drop off at Ponoka News 5019A Chipman Ave.

while distracted.

Some of the worst examples of distracted driving include using hand-held phones, texting, emailing, reading, writing, eating, grooming and typing in GPS-coordinates while the driver is supposed to be concentrating on the road ahead and protecting the drivers, passengers, and pedestrians that should be within our sight-line and with attention 100 per cent on every road trip that we take. Here are some of the cold hard facts about the perils and horrific results that have been created by those who insist on driving while distracted or impaired and have been unable to make the life-saving split second decisions that can avoid collisions, injury, and so sadly the far too many deaths of innocent people of all ages and walks of life. *According to the AMA website, cellphones are one of the most common distractions for drivers, with those engaged in text messaging on their phones being 23 times more likely to be involved in a crash event that non-distracted drivers.

The overwhelming fact is that driver distraction is a factor in about four million vehicle crashes in North America each year, with 20 to 30 per cent of all collisions involving driver distraction. *Penalties for driver distraction offenses in Alberta are now even stiffer, with each convicted offender receiving a fine of $287 as well as three demerit points.

Since Alberta began levying fines for distracted driving in 2011, close to 80,000 drivers have been convicted, and of those caught and charged, the greatest offenders were between the ages of 35 to 44, who were likely in a hurry and always on the phone. Other ridiculous excuses for driver distractions have included personal grooming and flossing, reading, rowdy passengers, dogs on laps, large and glitzy items

MIKE RAINONE HAMMERTIME

hanging on the rear view mirror and on and on every day. *All police officers state very strongly that distracted driving reduces our awareness of what’s happening on the road ahead and in the vehicle, as well as our ability to make quick decisions. They also express the fact, however, that some people have developed an obsession that they can’t resist the temptation to be on their phones, even though it only takes a few moments to pull over, take a break, enjoy a coffee and safely make and pick up your calls at the same time. Speeding, as well as careless and impaired driving are also extremely serious and very preventable offenses as well, with all punishable by huge fines, loss of license or jail-time, and where we, as the safety conscience public, can take down a license and inform the RCMP about a would-be offender. We all deserve to enjoy our time out on the highways and by-ways, but no matter how long the trip may be, we must also strive to work as a family and a team and encourage everyone else to practice and promote the rules and etiquette of the road to assure the safety of all of those who are also out there among nature’s finest. So spare the sunscreen for a little while, but go ahead and have a great week, all of you.

This paper is

% 0 0 1 le Recyclab

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 13

Ag events centre seeks Ponoka County faces potential $800,000 from Ponoka County loss in overdue taxes

This proposed plans shows a Cattle Pavilion between the ag event centre barn and main arena.

Planners at the arena are looking for support to pay for the $1.6 million estimated project.

Illustration provided by the Calnash Ag Event Centre

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Planners at the Calnash Ag Event Centre are looking for help from Ponoka County for a project that will improve the building.

Led by Linc Drynan, president of the Ponoka Agricultural Society, the group is asking for $800,000 to build a large cattle pavilion connecting the ag event centre barn and main arena. Drynan told Ponoka County council Tuesday, March 8 that this plan was always in the works for the ag centre and is the third phase of the project.

He suggests the centre’s events generate $6 million of revenue that benefits Ponoka. “I think that it’s a big boon to the community.”

The third phase of the project, named the Cattle Pavilion, will allow the ag event centre staff to host a more diverse range of events. The proposal is to build a covered pavilion that is open to the air and allows a place to store cattle.

Building the pavilion is something that will create some ease for current customers, added Drynan.

Customers like the Alberta Barrel Racing Association Finals and the Black Elk Cutting Classic have expressed a desire to see a pavilion.

“We have to keep both our users happy and our suppliers happy,” said Drynan.

The pavilion will serve a double purpose; sand used for different events will be stored and kept dry in the pavilion alongside storing cattle. Drynan added it will be built strong enough to hoist solar panels on the roof, although plans are not set for that.

CAO Charlie Cutforth said initial plans with the Calnash Ag Event Centre were always foressen to include the pavilion.

“Legitimately, it will attract different events,” said

Cutforth.

The full project is estimated at $1.6 million and the Ponoka Ag Event Centre Society (PAECS) is requesting half that from the county. Drynan said the group is in full fundraising force and Ponoka’s MP and MLA have also been contacted. Drynan said there was some potential to work with corporate sponsorship but the economic situation in Alberta has made it difficult to gain corporate support.

Of the $1.6 million required for the project, PAECS has the potential to spend $250,000. He said a request will go to the town, but it is unclear if any funds will come their way. Drynan hopes the town will be able to contribute with services in kind.

Coun. Mark Matejka was concerned the building would not be shared equally with cattle ranchers. “We’ve heard that before. That main building was supposed to be shared.”

While he said he was not against the project, he said he received this same

question from county residents.

Cutforth added there is a challenge when hosting different events such as horse shows that help pay the bills and cattle shows that support the local industry. He said if building the pavilion adds to the versatility of the centre, then it would be a positive project.

He suggested the project would bring some benefit to local groups if used as intended.

Reeve Paul McLauchlin feels having provincial and federal support would help with the project. “What could you pull off for $800,000?” asked McLauchlin.

Drynan replied the goal is to build it right and offered that organizers would be willing to accept the money over a two to three year period.

With the building being booked 43 weeks out of the year, Drynan suggests the added pavilion would become more attractive to users.

McLauchlin said council would make the decision on the request during budget deliberations.

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Due to a struggling economy, Ponoka County is looking at a potential loss of $500,000 in unpaid taxes.

Council heard during their regular meeting Tuesday, March 8 that the county is budgeting for the potential loss in back taxes from a company in receivership.

Accountant Tim Rowland of Rowland, Parker and Associates said there were other companies in the same situation. “There are a few that are having trouble paying right now.”

While the county has received correspondence from one company intending to pay $440,000 in back taxes over a period of time, Cutforth says they need to prepare for the chance that payments will not be forthcoming. Covering the amount from the com-

pany’s assets remains a question.

Cutforth said the company has $35 million in assets while it owes $20 million. But liquidating the difference is doubtful.

One of the issues is converting an asset such as a building into dollars; or if taxable equipment sits on another person’s property, collecting that equipment adds to the difficulty, said Cutforth.

“Thankfully we’re in a decent position to absorb it,” he added.

Money will be transferred from the county’s $3 million surplus.

Reeve Paul McLauchlin suggests this issue is going to continue across the province. Some counties in Alberta receive 90 per cent of their revenue from commercial taxes, which shows the risk they face, he added.

Recuperating back taxes is also in question. Cutforth feels the county should speak with the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties.

Rather than speak individually as counties with law firms on the legal challenges, Cutforth feels the municipalities can group together to find a solution.

Rowland said the county could seize a company’s assets but there is a short period of time that is allowed.

“We’ll know in anoth-

er month or so where we stand,” added Rowland.

No decisions were made at the meeting as it was part of a budget update.

County approves rezoning request A request to rezone land near Rimbey was approved by county council.

The request came from Ryan and Jean Keetch to reclassify 161-acres to country residential from agricultural. “We would like to keep it in the family,” said Jean.

She told councillors that the land is not suitable for farming and splitting it would help her family manage the land.

Neighbour Adolph Adam raised some concerns about the potential of dogs in the area. He said there is quite a bit of wildlife in the area and further developments might see dogs that would also disrupt cattle he has grazing in the area.

His wife Lillian added her discomfort about the boundary lines of the properties and where they would sit considering a river in the area.

McLacuhlin said Alberta Environment would most-likely be involved once the subdivision process begins.

Jean said there are no plans to stop any agriculture process on land that is ideal for farming.

Council approved the request.

Volunteer Income Tax Clinics 2016 March 16, 2016

1:30 - 3:30 pm

Rising Sun Clubhouse (for residents)

March 23, 2016

8:30 am - Noon

Seniors Drop In Centre (for public)

March 23, 2016

2 - 4 pm

Rimoka / Legacy (for residents)

March 30, 2016

4 - 7 pm

Seniors Drop In Centre (for public)

April 20, 2016

9:30 am - Noon

Centennial Centre (for residents)

Are you eligible for this free service?

RON ORR, MLA Lacombe-Ponoka Invites you to meet with him Friday, March 18 • 10am – 12pm Friday, April 8 • 10am – 12pm Firday, May 13 • 10am-12pm at the Calnash AG Event Centre 3611 Hwy 2A

403-782-7725 lacombe.ponoka@assembly.ab.ca

You may be eligible if you have a simple tax situation and meet the suggested family income level.

Taxpayer Family Income Individual $30,000 Couple $40,000 Individual with a dependant $35,000 For each additional dependant, add $2,500 to the suggested family income.

Interest income must be less than $1,000.

Returns not eligible - Volunteers do not prepare returns for individuals who: • have self-employment income • have capital gains or losses • file for bankruptcy

• have business or rental income and expenses • have employment expenses • are deceased in the year

For more info contact Ponoka FCSS office 403.783.4462

UP-TO-DATE NEWS

WWW.PONOKANEWS.COM

14 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Submitted

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 15

Residential school abuse remembered at weekend presentation MUSTAFA ERIC PONOKA NEWS “It is a very good beginning to the work that needs to be done, the work of building the relationship between the settlers and the indigenous communities,” said Andrea Dyck, the facilitator, after all was said and done at the common learning area of the Stettler Elementary School on Saturday, March 12.

Ponoka Parent Link Centre and Ponoka Jubilee Library joined efforts to bring together interested community members and “knowledge keepers”, elders of the Maskcawis First Nations bands to bring stories to the surface from the now infamous residential schools which left deep scars in the psyche of the indigenous communities throughout the country for decades.

Four elders, Verna Littlepoplar, Marvin Littlechild, Mary Moonias and Danny Montour from Maskwacis were present at the event, although not all of them had attended a residential school.

Andrea Ramage of the Parent Link Centre said the goal of the gathering was “to bring some truth to the community”, to allow residents to become aware of untold realities of the past.

Dyck, who is studying to get her Master’s degree in Native Studies, said after taking over as the facilitator of the discussion that a lot of those stories had

come to light thanks to the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC), which completed its work late last year.

She said residential schools were so entrenched in the society that one was open until as late as 1996 and one of her own friends had attended that school.

“We don’t share or tell the stories we don’t like, but they also tell who we are,” said Dyck stressing that the stories that came out during the work of the TRC were redefining the identity of Canada.

“Colonialism has shaped us, the settlers and the First Nations in different ways and it is time we started reshaping the relationship.”

The presentation started with the watching of a clip from the CBC documentary series 8th Fire, followed by Marvin Littlechild taking to the podium to recollect some of his unpleasant memories from his time in the residential school in Ermineskin from 1949 to 1964.

He described his experiences as “hard to forget and hard to talk about”.

“Colonization was introduced to me when I was seven,” said Littlechild.

He told of being forced to pray “like a robot” several times a day without understanding the meaning of the prayer.

“Today when I see bearded men, I am still reminded of sexual predators.

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Some certain aftershave lotion also reminds me of them,” he said.

“They knocked the Indian out of us, we felt so low, so humiliated.”

Although he said the education he received at the school was beneficial, “but what I still remember is the way I was abused.”

Littlechild also said he was transferred to another residential school in Grade 10 when he caught a priest “doing what he wasn’t supposed to do.”

Verna Littlepoplar said she was lucky not to have gone to a residential school as her mother, who

was abused at a residential school had not allowed her to be recruited to one.

“I went to a day school, but it was no better than the residential schools,” she said.

“My mother could never talk about what happened to her at the residential school,” Littlepoplar recalled.

She told of the ways they were punished by their teachers, being strapped after being lined up with their palms opened up, being made to stand in a corner for up to an hour and even being deprived of food.

Danny Montour also spoke of his experiences at the residential school in the then Hobbema area and remembered how they were called “these savage Indians” by the priests.

“They used to swear at us in French so I learned some French swear words to understand what they were saying,” he said.

“We were brainwashed with prayers multiple times a day,” he added.

“Older boys were made to wake up at 5 a.m. to do manual work, those who didn’t finish their work on time were whipped.”

Both Littlechild and

Montour spoke favourably of their relationship with the Ponoka community.

Montour said a teacher who had come from Ponoka had changed some of the abusive practices at school while Littlechild mentioned good relations between the First Nations bands and Ponoka. “I think it was because both communities had horse cultures,” he said.

Following the presentations, the floor was opened for questions and the attendees wanted to know more about the details how they were fed and treated at the schools.

Interviewed after the event came to an end, Dyck said she was satisfied with the level of interest shown by the residents of the community in the legacy of the residential schools.

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

PLAYING

March 18 - 24

SCREEN #1

Marvin Littlechild of Ermineskin Nation shares his experiences with participants during the presentation organized jointly by the Parent Link Centre and Ponoka Jubilee Library at the Photo by Mustafa Eric Ponoka Elementary School on Saturday, March 12.

Ponoka Drop-In Activities 5015 – 46 Avenue

Drop-ins welcome at all events.

Regular jam sessions every Saturday at 1pm Mar. 20 7pm - Gospel Concert “Crystal Clear Ministries” - Crystal & Herb Taylor Nashville recording artist - for more info contact Trudy 403-783-4246

Mar. 24 - Thursday - Potluck & general meeting 5:30pm. Bring a dish to share, table service & enjoy good company Billiards - Weekdays 1:00pm. Mon through Sat – 50 cents per game. Honour system Monday Bridge 1:00pm Monday Whist - 1:30pm Monday Yoga - 6:30pm Tuesday Canasta - 1:00pm Tuesday & Thursday Exercise class 9:30am Tuesday Pickleball 6:30pm Centennial Centre - contact Janice Mackie 403-396-3160 Tuesday Shuffleboard - 7pm Wednesday morning - PIANO LESSONS FOR SENIORS (Sara Driedger 403-790-1980) Wednesday Sewing Guild 9:30am to 4pm Wednesday Cribbage 1:00pm Wednesday Yoga - 6:30pm Wednesday Duplicate Bridge 7:00pm Thursday Floor Curling - 1:00pm - New ball bearing rocks - come & try them Thursday Weaving 1:00pm Welcome to drop-in to see how it’s done Thursday Bridge 1:00pm Thursday Art Club Drop In Noon to 4pm Friday “500” 1:00pm Saturday Yoga 9:30am Memberships available for 2016 - $10.00 per person. To rent our facility contact Dorothy @ 403-783-3027 or George @ 403-783- 3514 or leave a message @ 403-783-5012. Rentals are increasing and we would like to invite our town administration, business groups, and general public (Wedding, funeral, and Birthday groups), to inquire about rentals services and prices early in their planning. We may fit your bill!

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

16 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Water leak behind arena, yet to be fixed PONOKA NEWS STAFF

Town crews were digging the ground across the St. Augustine Catholic School on Saturday, March 12 to find the source of the third water leak in town in a month. The source of the leak could not be identified.

Photo by Mustafa Eric

Town crews were observed as being engaged in construction work just behind the arena and across the St. Augustine Catholic School on Saturday, March 12, a location which is close the point where a water line break next to the arena kept crews busy

UNRESERVED REAL ESTATE FOR MILES & JOYCE CRANDALL Land Located in Ponoka, Alberta, Directions: 4 Miles North of Ponoka on Rge Rd 260 (Treo Drilling Corner), on the East Side

SALE CONDUCTED JUST EAST OF RIMBEY AT OUR SALE SITE APRIL 15, 2016 • 12:00 NOON Selling In Conjunction with the 36th Annual Spring Machinery Consignment Sale Legal Description: W 1/2 of NW 30-43-25 W4M Being 80 Acres M/L Selling by Totally Unreserved Auction: 80 Acres of Excellent Farm Land with Approx.

1/2 in Crop Land and 1/2 Seeded to Hay (Only the Second Crop of Hay) Plus Several Good Building Locations. Approval for subdivisions have been received for 2 equal parcels to be zoned ag hobby farm or small holding Taxes: $749.08 Viewing by Appointment: Contact Allen B. Olson at (403) 783-0556 or Miles Crandall at (403) 783-1277 All measurements are approximate and need to be verified by the purchaser.

Real Estate Transaction are being Handled by Morrison Realty (403) 783-0556 Real Estate Terms & Conditions: 10% Down on Sale Day. Balance & Possession on or before May 16, 2016. If Balance is NOT RECEIVED by May 16, 2016 the Deposit will be Forfeited as Liquidation Damages.

Miles & Joyce will also be consigning an excellent line of farm equipment!

SALE CONDUCTED BY:

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on Feb. 10.

The town said in a press release the crews could not find the source of the water leak in the area but contained it by isolating and turning off water to a section of the water line in the area.

The press release quoted Steve Wass, foreman of water and wastewater

utilities for the town, as saying “Nobody in town, including the school, depends on that stretch of line for water service, so no one will be impacted by isolating the line, and nobody has been affected by the water leak.”

The Town Operations Department will reportedly use leak detection

equipment to pinpoint the source of the leak and will repair it once the ground thaws. The PVC water line in question is said to be about 10 years old and regarded as “relatively new.”

This water leak is the third incident in about a month that saw town crews digging ground to fix leaks.

Windmill power on the horizon in the Ponoka area

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS There is a potential for windmill power development in the Ponoka area.

County residents east of Ponoka have been approached by a company interested in developing windmill power on their land. While it is early days yet, a group of landowners are working together to better understand the new development.

Landowners recently held a closed informal meeting to discuss the idea and to determine how this development could affect them. County Coun. Bryce Liddle was not at the meeting but understands there was development similar to this that occurred in the Municipal District of Provost.

He told CAO Charlie Cutforth during a regular county council meeting Tuesday, March 8 that there is some ability to have a minimum setback from a home.

Cutforth said the meetings were brought about mainly to ensure that affected

landowners could understand how it works.

“They want the facts first and what their options are,” said Cutforth.

In researching Provost’s land use bylaw, Cutforth said the original request to the district to develop windmills was turned down based on neighbours being against it. That application was appealed to the Alberta Utilities Commission, which ultimately overturned the refusal. However, it accepted the district’s bylaws, something the commission is not required to do.

Provost’s bylaws set out clear boundaries and commercial regulations as well as a minimum setbacks at 1.6 kilometres from a controlled highway and two kilometres from a developed area such as a town, village, hamlet or country residential area.

Cutforth says council has directed him to update Ponoka County’s land use bylaw, which currently does not include provisions to accommodate circumstances related to windmill power generation.

Correction The picture caption provided with the hospital donation story on page 8 of last week’s edition of Ponoka News did not have the correct names to the faces. The correct line up of the names from left to right is as follows: Lions Club member and co-chair of the fundraising committee Bill Chorney, Masons Britannia Lodge secretary treasurer Dick Cameron, Kinettes secretary Kathryn Hall, Ponoka Legion Poppy Fund chairperson Marlene Perry, Lions president Larry Henkelman, hospital lab x-ray supervisor Lorianne Hinton, Elks Exhalted Ruler James Wing and Lions member and co-chair of the fundraising committee Elgin Grant. We regret the error.

16032LL0

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 17

AGRICULTURE 2016

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18 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Technology brings efficiency to farm applications

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Technology in agriculture has come a long way since the days of horsepulled tractors and the last 10 years even more so.

With the help of cloud storage, farmers are now able to gather and sort important data relative to seeding and harvest times and farm implement companies are working to have that technology benefit the farmers.

To stay ahead of the game Jason Riseley, precision ag lead with Cervus Equipment in Ponoka and Stettler, says having quick access to as much details as possible on the farm will in turn benefit profitability. This has all happened in a relatively short time span.

“The biggest thing that’s starting to kick off here, really in the last few years is a data revolution,” said Riseley.

With so many variables affecting profit, producers are best armed with as much information as possible. Among the many obstacles they face are market rates, seed and fertilizer prices, weather and production abilities. The bigger the farm, the more difference a small margin of profit makes.

Riseley says farms at the 2,500 to 20,000 acre range are using technology to get the edge in earnings.

Technology has come so far that farm managers can observe the operations of multiple tractors or combines remotely and make adjustments or call the operator to make some changes.

Jason Riseley, precision ag lead with Cervus Equipment, demonstrates technology advancements in a new combine. Farmers have access to more data than ever to help with production.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

For almost 10 years tractors have been driving themselves, with a little help from an operator when needed.

Where cloud data storage has really benefited farmers is in having access to soil and production data. John Deere created a one-stop account that allows farmers to access

seeding and harvest data with a click of a mouse.

A farmer can overlay his fields using Google Maps and check important data such as growth, yield and weather information as well as what areas performed well. And access to the information is getting easier; a producer can research statistics from

their smart phone or tablet.

Adding to the ease of use, Riseley says third party stakeholders such as agronomists or other farm support companies can be included in that information. The farmer decides what and how much they want to share depending on the company.

While advancements are not quite at the point where a tractor can be controlled by smart phones or tablets, Riseley says newer combines are being outfitted with apps to work alongside equipment.

Farm operators are able to see and troubleshoot issues using a tablet and make suggestions to fix

problems.

Eventually Riseley sees farmers able to plan out their tasks a day or weeks ahead of time and operators will be able to check in on those tasks right from the tractor.

“He (the farmer) could plan out his spraying. He could plan out harvest,” said Riseley.

working to promote, support, and celebrate agricultural opportunities, leadership, and events in our rural and urban community.

Join us for:

Farming with Horses Spring & Fall Black Elk Cutting May 26 - 29 High School Scholarship Deadline May 31 Alberta Reined Cow Horse July 8 - 10 Home, Hobby & Horticultural Show August 19 & 20 Black Elk Cutting September 6 - 11 Gold Buckle FCA Rodeo September 23 & 24 Ranch Rodeo Fall FCA Banquet & Dance Fall Draft/ Chore Horse Competition October 1 & 2 AGM/ Volunteer Appreciation December 5 For registration forms and other opportunities visit our website: www.ponokaagsociety.ca

Helping farmers maintain

HEALTHY LIVESTOCK Ponoka Veterinary Clinic Murray Jacobson, DVM • Clayton West, DVM Nicole Macdonald, DVM •Katie Graves, DVM 5502 - Hwy 2A Ponoka, AB 403.783.4348

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 19

Potash prices down due to high production

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS Make too much of a product and the price is expected to drop.

That is the case for potash production in Canada after droughts in India caused the government to halt imports of Canadian potash.

Initially large orders were expected and production companies upped production to meet the demand but are now sitting

on quite a bit of potash, explained Blaine Ravnsborg, manager of Bashaw Crop Services. “The market is extremely soft. Potash is soft,� he said.

Where he expects to see strong sales is the local market. When rates ran at the $650 to $700 per tonne range, it was tougher to sell to the local farmers, but prices now sit closer to half that. “Here the guys (producers) have all these

A farmer holds potash and urea fertilizer in his hands. High supply of potash is forcing hurting overall sales for producers.

File photo

stockpiles and nowhere to go,� said Ravnsborg.

As a result, potash producers have announced losses due to the oversupply and low prices. Ravnsborg suggests depending on when the product was purchased, a buyer could also lose money on the deal.

He expects domestic sales of potash to grow somewhat in the near future due to the falling prices, but the loss of international sales will hurt producers. “The closer we get to the season, the more appreciation there will be,� said Ravnsborg.

For producers the challenge is in overall sales. Intrepid Potash in the United States recently announced a fourth quarter net loss of $518 million in 2015.

Approximately $89,000 tons of potash were sold in the fourth quarter, down 36 per cent from 2014, according to company press release.

Potash Corporation also announced low margins for its fourth quarter compared to 2014 and the company announced its suspension of production at its New Brunswick plant.

“Gross margin for the quarter ($386 million) and the year ($2.3 billion) was below 2014 levels ($746 million and $2.6 billion, respectively), due primarily to weaker nitrogen prices

and lower potash volume,� states the company in a recent press release.

Ravnsborg expects March and April to be busy months in preparation for seeding.

Canadian Agricultural Safety Week is March 13 - 19 Lacombe County proudly supports Canadian Agricultural Safety Week, as a reminder to keep our families and workers safe all year long.

This year’s national theme is ‘Be an AgSafe Family - Keeping Kids Safe’

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20 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Achieving optimal soil performance by rethinking fertilizer MOUSH SARA JOHN BLACK PRESS

When the use of humic acid in the fertilizers led to a positive difference in the growth of the crops, central Alberta farmer Dale Anderson knew he was onto something.

“Soluble potassium humate is new to farmers and I have been playing with raw humate for six years before I found the soluble product,” said Anderson.

“Raw humate sounded great in theory but I could never get a response out of it until two years ago when I started using liquid in my seed row, which led to a disaster with plugged screens, but where the humate got into the seed row I noticed faster germination and bigger roots.”

Last year Anderson used a 95 per cent humic acid

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powder for his crops and melted it into a 12 per cent liquid.

“I was able to stream 15 gallons of UAN 28-0-0 with one gallon of humic acid on my ground before seeding about 45 pounds of nitrogen (N), and then I seeded into it with a liquid phosphate starter with one gallon of humic acid in the mix as well 14 days from the day I seeded till the crop was in the threeleaf stage,” explained Anderson. “What I got was a root mass twice as big as I expected.”

Giving further insight into Anderson’s practices is Kevin Merritt, one of the leading manufacturers of humic acid.

“Current farming practices are killing our top soil as fertilizers are salt based and once the sodium levels reach a critical mass, the microbes in the soup die and the soil becomes unproductive,” said Merritt. “This product with chemistry activated humic acid helps to make fertilizers better by increasing its efficiency, so we ideally recommend that in the first year farmers use this and lower their fertilizer by 20 per cent, in the second year by 30 per cent and in the third year 40 per cent to see optimal results.”

According to Merritt, Dr. Mir Seyedghaberi from the University of Idaho, who is the leading humic acid expert in the world today, has done 34 years of research in the field.

“Mir preaches less fertilizer, which equates to less salt being applied, and more of humic acid,” said Merritt.

Testifying to what Merritt says is Anderson’s crop growth in 2015.

“As the crop grew last year with no moisture, it seemed to hold up amazingly well and upon digging up more plants, I found a root ball bigger than I have ever seen,” said Anderson. “The benefits of minimizing the salt in the seed row from commercial fertilizers and broadcasting the N on the surface with humate stabilizes the N from gassing off and turns it into a slow release N.” According to Anderson this leads to feeding the crop slowly over the growing period, thereby increasing the root system due to increased microbial activity and providing a source of carbon.

“Microbes have a C to N ratio of 10 to 1, which implies that the microbes will consume 10 pounds of carbon for every pound of nitrogen, so if a farmer applies 70 pounds of N then the microbes would consume 700 pounds of carbon from the soil,” added Anderson. “The carbon comes from the organic matter in the soil, so the higher the organic matter the more nutrients available, so an over application of N will result in a drastic drop in the organic matter.”

An over use of N will reduce organic matter and lower the ph level of soil, which is harmful for crops.

“By adding a carbon source like soluble humic acid like I did with the commercial fertilizer, the soil condition will be fertile and more conducive to growth,” said Anderson. “

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 21

Dissolution of CWB costing farmers billions: CWBA STACEY LAVALLIE BLACK PRESS The dissolution of the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) under former Prime Minister Stephen Harper is costing Canada’s prairie farmers $3.25 billion annually, according to the Canadian Wheat Board Alliance (CWBA).

According to a report by agricultural economist doctor Richard Gray from the University of Saskatchewan, private elevator companies have made $6.5 billion in profits off prairie farmers in the past two years.

“This represents fully half the annual value of the wheat and barley crop in Western Canada,” Ken Sigurdson, a member of the CWBA, said. “These losses will continue compounding the negative effects, including the loss of quality control and grain handling logistics, already felt in the grain industry.”

Sigurdson and others from the CWBA have called on the federal government to restore the CWB, citing these losses as unsustainable.

Under the CWB act, Canada’s prairie farmers sold their wheat and other similar crops to the CWB, who would then sell their product to the rest of the country and the world. This method of selling is known as single-desk marketing.

Another advantage of the CWB was the lack of firstcome, first-serve mentality, which means farmers didn’t have to race to get

their product to the market in the hopes it would sell immediately, rather than up to a year from harvest.

With the CWB backed by the government, farmers were able to be paid immediately, even before their crop was sold, Forestburg’s Allen Oberg, the last chairman of the CWB before dissolution, said.

The equal delivery opportunity meant that farmers didn’t find themselves cash-strapped because of a bumper crop slowing down the movement of grain to market, such as what was experienced two years ago.

Oberg said he wishes the CWB was still in existence, as the service it provided to Canada’s prairie farmers was invaluable. At the time, though, not only did Canada’s federal government push for the dissolution of the CWB, so did some grain farmers.

“I think now that it’s been gone, some farmers may change their mind about the wisdom of removing the wheat board,” Oberg said.

While the CWBA has called for the restoration of the CWB, Oberg takes a more cautious approach to the idea.

“What I want to see is a vote, to let farmers actually show what farmers want,” he said. “The first thing is to make sure we have farmer support. Without it, there’s no point in pursuing it.”

Restoring the wheat board would require Canada – and others – to revisit agreements with the World Trade Organization

and the North America Fair Trade Agreement (NAFTA), as well as potential trade agreements in Asia and the Trans Pacific Pact (TPP), as returning to single-desk selling would change Canada’s obligations.

Oberg said that before the federal government dissolved the CWB there should have been a plebiscite amongst the membership, as the CWB act required it. However, after many legal challenges, the government won out and the CWB was disbanded, and its assets sold off – to a non-Canadian corporation.

Rick Strankman, Wildrose MLA for DrumhellerStettler, was part of the group arguing for the dissolution of the CWB. At one point, he was arrested for selling his crop without going through the CWB, though he was later pardoned by then-Prime Minister Harper.

Strankman isn’t convinced that a majority of Canada’s prairie farmers yearn for a return to the CWB-days. “(The CWBA is) in a more remote area of the country,” Strankman said. “It’s certainly understandable how they’d have a different view than others in some provinces.”

Strankman said one of his issues with the CWB was its “double-standard,” as the rules were different depending on what part of Canada in which the farmer lived and grew crops.

“I think there’s a misunderstanding by people who made the motion (to

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restore the CWB) between the differentiation from CWB and Western Wheat Farmers,” Strankman said.

“The wheat board in the past was federal legislation, and farmers across the country could not export their grain without a permit generated by the CWB, no matter where in Canada they lived. It was just that farmers were treated different in Western Canada than the rest of Canada.”

“Some of the final embarrassment of the wheat board was that double-standard,” he noted.

Strankman said he hasn’t seen any especial support for restoration of the CWB in his riding – or even much of Alberta. He noted that most of the support for the CWBA comes from Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

He also said that yes, while the CWB assets were sold to a non-Canadian corporation, there was nothing stopping Canadian farmers from grouping together to purchase the assets. They were sold openly and went to the highest bidder.

For CWBA members, it’s not that simple: life for farmers is not better, they said.

“Former customers of the Wheat Board are now complaining about unreliable supply and lack of quality assurance,” Andrew Dennis, a Manitoba grain producer and member of CWBA, said.

“Ending the single-desk has put Canada’s reputation for high-quality grain in jeopardy.”

Without any way to mit-

igate the financial losses farmers are suffering because of what Oberg calls “gouging” by the companies that are now serving in place of the CWB in the current system, returning to the CWB method of single-desk selling is the only solution, Sigurdson said.

“Single-desk marketing agencies give farmers the commercial muscle to provide quality assurances to customers and for farmers

to receive the full value of their product,” Sigurdson said. “The single-desk was an important component of my farm, which brought it stability and profitability. I want my son have the same benefits of single-desk marketing that are used by US farmers to market almonds and other crops, just like our own Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup Producers and other organizations around the world make use of.”

Grain groups seeking better terms for transportation

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS A much anticipated review of the Canadian Transport Act has left grain producers feeling somewhat left out of the equation after its recent release.

Dubbed Pathways: Connecting Canada’s Transportation System to the World, the two-volume report totalling 516 pages looks at the entire transportation system in Canada. Included in the report is a review of rail transport and the movement of grain, explained Caalen Covey, business development and markets manager with the Alberta Wheat Commission.

The review was released Thursday, Feb. 25

and provides detailed recommendations. Covey says the first volume has a large grain section and the Alberta Wheat Commission is particularly concerned with a recommendation to remove the Maximum Revenue Entitlement (MRE) program after seven years.

The report states there was widespread concern over the MRE program, which is thought to act as a barrier to “investment and productivity improvements in the broader rail system.” The MRE program puts a limit on the overall revenue earned by a railway company.

Covey suggests that would create financial hardships on the delivery line. continued on page 22

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Canadian Transport Act leaves grain producers feeling left out continued from page 21 “That would put extra costs on the grain shipper and that cost would even-

tually be put on the shipper,” said Covey.

Negotiating freight rates or servicing becomes prob-

lematic for grain growers who do not have the same market powers as the two railways companies CP Rail

and CN Railway. In some cases, there is only one railway company that can service a client and Covey

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suggests there is no proof that paying more money gives better service.

Another area the review makes recommendations is in the interswitching rates. Currently shippers, due to the Fair Rail for Grain Farmers Act, can request a rail company to pick up their grain even if it is in another company’s line within a 160 km area.

The act will expire July 31 after which the interswitching area would drop to 30 kms. The benefits of the 160 km interswitching area would bring bargaining and negotiating powers to shippers.

“It’s allowing you to somewhat simulate market competition,” said Covey.

With a lower circumference coverage area, a shipper would have to rely on the railway company in their area.

The wheat commission is also working to ensure reciprocity in financial penalties. Currently, if a grain grower or shipper is late on delivery deadlines, they could face a penalty but if a rail company is late, there are no repercussions.

“I think we’re just asking something to be in

place that represents equal power,” said Covey.

Being competitive in the market as well as on the bargaining table are equally important. There were some encouraging recommendations in the report such as creating a dispute resolution unit to deal with issues quickly.

The Canadian government is reviewing the report and seeking public feedback on the report’s recommendations.

The wheat commission is a member of the ag transport coalition as it tracks shipping of grains.

The coalition monitors railway grain shipments, reporting weekly on the movement of cars and their loads. Also involved in the coalition is the Canadian Canola Growers Association, Canadian Oilseed Processors Association, Inland Terminal Association of Canada, Manitoba Pulse Growers Association, Pulse Canada and Western Grain Elevator Association.

Farmers wishing to raise their concerns are recommended to speak with their representative associations or their MPs.

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PONOKA NEWS 23

The TPP attacks democracy and supply management National Farmers Union has declared its opposition against the TPP trade deal which it says will prevail over national interests of member countries, including Canada, to benefit the multilateral corporations.

Below is an opinion piece summmarizing NFU’s position as written by its president

BY JAN SLOMP The Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) is designed to entrench the interests of foreign corporations at the expense of our sovereignty and democratic processes. Its Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) mechanism gives foreign corporations the right to sue our government if they believe future profits will be reduced as a result of democratically enacted measures. ISDS puts a chill on public interest regulation, easing foreign corporations’ access to resources and commodities. The TPP also has more insidious ways of overturning democratic decision-making and imposing a corporate-friendly agenda. One is its attack on our supply management system.

Supply management is a Canadian innovation that ensures subsidies are not needed to keep farmers in business and ensure the population has enough dairy, eggs and poultry. It is built upon three pillars: import controls, cost-of-production pricing to farmers and producer discipline to ensure enough, but not too much, is always produced.

If the TPP is ratified, the border will be opened wider, increasing imports, primarily from the USA. The implications for the dairy sector are severe.

The TPP would immediately allow imports equal to 3.25 per cent of Canada’s current fresh milk supply, with increases of 1 per cent (compounding) per year for the next 18 years. 80 per cent of these milk imports must be processed in Canada, and would likely be mixed with Canadian supplies.

Imported US milk may contain synthetic Bovine Growth Hormone (rBGH).

This drug was banned for Canadian dairy herds in the late 1990s, the out-

come of a democratic process involving citizens, scientists, dairy farmers, and the Senate.

The ban is based on clear evidence that the drug increases disease and suffering of cows. It is more difficult to assess human health effects of consuming milk from rBGH-induced cows, however many consumers remain wary and avoid it.

The TPP includes a commitment for Canada and the US to discuss their food safety rules for dairy with a view to harmonization. If the TPP is adopted, the difference between Canadian and US milk will be diluted, and potentially disappear.

NAFTA opened Canada’s doors to high protein milk components produced in the USA. The TPP would remove all tar-

iffs on US whey after 10 years. It would also allow New Zealand to increase dairy exports to the USA. In turn, even more of the US’s excess milk protein would be dumped into Canada. This causes a number of problems.

Butter is popular again after decades of being blamed for high cholesterol. In the 1970s the dairy sector had to adjust production to avoid creating butterfat surpluses. Margarine with trans fats is now seen as the unhealthy choice, and consumers are switching back to butter and whole milk. Today, dairy faces a structural milk protein surplus. The cost of removing surplus protein components eats into farmers’ returns for milk.

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from fluid milk which they market as Milk Protein Isolates (MPIs).

MPIs are added to certain dairy products to increase yields. Separating milk components, then processing, storing and transporting them to reintroduce them in other foods is a drastic departure from fairly simple fermenting or cultivating whole milk into butter, cheese, yogurts and quark – and a practice that may ultimately undermine consumers’ confidence. Processors can import MPIs tariff-free, and due to the world-wide structural surplus, they are very cheap. This leaves dairy farmers in Canada with even more surplus skim

milk powder and higher costs to get rid of it, putting pressure on the farm gate price. Thus the TPP reduces dairy farmer incomes by exacerbating the butter-protein imbalance in addition to taking away a portion of our domestic fluid milk market.

Our system ensures milk is produced and processed in every province, within a reasonable distance from both farmers and consumers. More intense, capital intensive processing to make protein components with longer shelf life would promote larger, centralized plants and eliminate dairy farming in less populated regions, namely the Maritimes, northern Ontario, interior BC and

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Vancouver Island. A vicious circle would ensue, eroding supply management and concentrating production and processing. Centralization would also impair climate change mitigation.

Supply management minimizes GHG emissions by keeping production and processing close to where products are consumed.

Supply management is a treasure of Canada’s agriculture policy and the envy of dairy farmers around the world who suffer with price volatility, debt, uncertain markets and unfair contracts. The TPP is a direct assault that cannot be cheered because it might have been even worse.

24 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Recognizing the Ag Community

Canadian farmers need to watch for wheat class changes

Throughout Rural Canada, entire local economies are based around the work of farmers.

They are an important element of our national prosperity and a source of tremendous innovation ensuring a brighter future for all of Canada.

I am proud of my farming roots in Central Alberta and I am committed to ensuring that farms and farm families continue to have every opportunity to be successful for generations to come.

Farmers can expect changes to certain wheat classifications set for Aug. 1. Further changes will be made Aug. 1, 2018 to certain Canada Western Red Spring classes and Canada Prairie Spring Red classes.

Blaine Calkins, MP

File photo

(Red Deer – Lacombe) Bay 6A, 4612 – 50 Street, Ponoka, AB T4J 1S7

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS

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In an effort to improve Canada’s positioning in the world grain market

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two new wheat classes are set to come into effect.

As of Aug. 1 farmers will deal with two new classes that are meant to protect a higher gluten

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wheat, explained Daryl Beswitherick, project manager of quality assurance with the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC).

The change is being made after the CGC looked for feedback in February, 2015. Beswitherick said planners received 45 written submissions from 150 represented organizations.

These two classes are: * Three Canada Western Interim Wheat varieties will move to the Canada Northern Hard Red (CNHR); * Twenty-two Canada Western General Purpose varieties will move to the Canada Western Special Purpose (CWSP).

These grain classes were found to have less gluten strengths than the Canada Western Red Spring (CWRS), which affected sales on a global level, said Beswitherick.

To create a more consistent class of wheat 20 CWRS varieties will move on Aug. 1, 2018 to the CNHR class. Four varieties of the Canada Prairie Spring Red will move to CNHR at the same time.

With the move comes some market uncertainty.

Beswitherick says there is no market for CNHR and CWSP and while analysts cannot say what sales will be like they do expect prices to be less than the CWRS. Producers have two growing seasons to decide whether they are going to stick with the older classes or go to the newer ones.

After Aug. 1, 2018 they will need to declare the use of the CNHR. Farmers could also continue to grow other varieties such as the CWRS. continued on page 31

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 25

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Ponoka County Ponoka County Council / Agricultural Service Board Division 1 Bryce Liddle

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On behalf of the Ponoka County Agriculture Service Board we would like to offer our continued support and encouragement to the vibrant local Ponoka County agriculture industry. As a board we strive to meet the needs of our local residents and landowners and look to our involvement as a true partnership whose goal is to provide for your success. We wish our farmers and ranchers of all types and sizes in the agriculture industry continued success in 2016.

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PONOKA NEWS 27

Offering breeding services to the whole country and beyond MOUSH SARA JOHN BLACK PRESS About 30 miles east of Red Deer is a ranch fenced in white, surrounded with spruce trees that happens to be the only stallion breeding station in the central Alberta area.

Owned by Dawn and Monty Gertner, the ranch is a family-run operation with children Waycee and Whip as well as Dawn’s parents, Reg and Sharon Nitschke contributing .

While the farm has been involved stallion breeding for almost 15 years, this will be their just sixth year of offering on-site artificial insemination (AI) and collection services to the riding communities throughout the country and as far as the United States.

“We have three resident stallions and collect an additional six to eight outside stallions during breeding season,” said Dawn Gertner. “We offer on-site collection of stallions and can package and cool semen to ship all over Canada and the United States.”

A typical breeding season would usually get the Gertners to foal in April and May and start collecting and breeding mid March to mid July.

“We foal out 12-15 of our own mares each year, doing on-site AI and take outside mares booked to the stallions that stand here,” explained Gertner.

“Our mares have been thinned out to only include proven performers and producers.”

According to the Gertners a mare is 90 per cent of what her foal will be.

“We strongly believe that the foal will retain almost all the characteristics of the mare,” said Gertner.

“Our stallions and all outside stallions have strong performance records and earnings in the arena and on the track, because the chances of having a talented foal are much better when both parents have proven themselves.”

But it has always not been an easy road for the Gertners.

“It was really hard for us to imagine turning out our studs with the mares when we had so much invested in them and especially as we were competing on them as well at the time,” recalled Gertner.

To start a breeding station just as how they wanted required them to get trained, which led

to Dawn Gertner taking the AI and reproduction course in Colorado.

“It was obvious that that’s what we needed to do,” said Gertner. “When you collect and AI, you will discover any problems a mare might have almost immediately and don’t have to waste time and money wondering why they didn’t conceive, and it also opens doors to potential customers that want to ship cooled semen to other parts of Canada and the USA.” Within the first couple of years, the Gertners had other stallion owners needing a place to collect.

“We have very high conception rates and our vet has helped us with getting plenty of ‘problem’ mares in foal,” added Gertner. “Dr. Ty Corbiell is an invaluable part of our program and is here at least once a week and sometimes more.”

In the past couple of years, the Gertners were fortunate “to see (their) home grown babies com-

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pete and do well even winning and placing in futurities in Canada and the

United States”.

“We have also bred an American Quarter Horse

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Grazing alternatives in a dry spring FROM AGRICULTURE ALBERTA While Karin Lindquist, forage/beef specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, recognizes that producers are anxious to get their cows to pasture this spring, she recommends producers hold off until the right time to increase optimized forage utilization and available grazing days to reduce feed costs. But what can producers do in the interim, especially if feed supplies are dwindling?

As hay may be limited, some producers can incorporate alternate feeds such as pea straw or silage, small grains like oats and barley, or byproducts like wheat middlings or dried distiller’s grains. “Barley and oat grain supplies are currently the cheapest feed alternatives to consider that will help prolong feed supplies” says Lindquist.

Considering forages do not hit their optimal leaf stage/height until midMay for northern Alberta, and mid to late-April for southern Alberta, producers may need to get a bit more creative: “Producers can utilize crop-residue grazing by sectioning off

the field with temporary electric fencing to strip graze, or by stockpiling grazing areas that have not been previously grazed for some time.”

Still, Lindquist heeds farmers to proceed with caution: “Stockpiling can also set back spring growth if there are young plants coming up in the stockpiled or non-grazed stand.” And there are no guarantees when it comes to quality of stockpiled forages. “Quality may be poor if grasses have not retained nutrients throughout the winter, and have been leached with early melting.”

Supplementing cattle with grain or feed pellets will also help reduce grazing pressure and get cattle to consume less stockpiled forage. “Creep feeding calves at 50 to 60 days of age with a 16 per cent protein feed will help alleviate the increased nutritional requirements of lactating cows because it puts less pressure on those cows to eat higher quality feeds for optimum milk production to raise a good-sized, 600 pound calf at weaning” says Lindquist. This also

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Kevin Falkenberg flies the newer of his two drones. While the original drone cost nearly $20,000 and didn’t have a built-in camera, this new one cost around $2,000, has a built-in camera and night-flying lights. The price difference is a sign of the rapidly improving technology.

Photo by Stacey Lavallie

Drones aim to change how farmers view crops, ranchers herd STACEY LAVALLIE BLACK PRESS Changes in technology –

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continued on page 30

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Drones aim to change continued from page 29 “We’ve seen the most amazing changes,” said doctor Stan Blade, Dean of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Sciences Department at the University of Alberta.

Most of the technological changes come in two fields, Blade said – in genome study and in management.

“Management – it sounds boring, but that’s where tech ideas come in,” Blade said. “In the case of crops, what can we do now that we couldn’t do 20-30 years ago? We can be much more careful about how we apply fertilizer. We can use a combine’s yield manager to see if areas aren’t producing as well. We can use drones to look for missing livestock or troubled areas.”

Research into the genes of fungi and diseases that affect crops have led to resistant or immune strains of crops, or ways to deal with fungal infections and other diseases.

One of the most promising technologies that could have major impact on farming without exorbitant cost is that of drone technology, Blade said.

“In the old days, farmers would walk the field” to check its condition,” Blade said. “It could take a couple of days. Now we can fly over it with drones. It takes a couple of hours.”

Kevin Falkenberg operates Hornet Aerial Imaging, named after the buzzing sound made by his drones

Kevin Falkenberg overflew these rural farming properties with one of his drones, taking photos of the property. The eagle-eye view is great for real-estate, but technology is advancing so that there are agricultural uses as well.

Submitted photo as they take flight.

Falkenberg is licensed

by Transport Canada to fly drones from BC to the Ontario border, with night-flying permission from Alberta and east.

Falkenberg became interested in drone technology after a friend at the RCMP had demonstrated the use of a drone to him. The drone didn’t have a builtin camera, but instead

strapped in a dSLR camera which could be remotely triggered to take photos.

Falkenberg was stung at the first buzz, and went to Transport Canada to get his paperwork in order. A short time later – and $17,000 poorer – Falkenberg’s first drone took flight.

“I flew models (planes) since I was 15,” he said. He’s also a pilot. “It’s so cool to be able to do something you enjoy.”

The RCMP friend used his drone in accident reconstruction, but Falkenberg quickly saw there could be other commercial applications.

“It’s a rapidly growing field,” he said. His first drone, purchased at a cost of $17,000, didn’t have a built-in camera, no collision avoidance technology and no flying lights. His second

drone has all of that (except the collision technology) and only cost $2,000.

“Prices are dropping,” Falkenberg said.

While anyone can fly a drone, to fly them commercially, a permit is required from Transport Canada. No matter whether drones are flown commercially or for recreation, there are also rules that must be followed.

Falkenberg goes out of his way to educate hobbyists because he said it would only take one bad incident to ruin it for everyone.

“You can’t fly near airports – and that includes the hospital because it has a helicopter pad,” Falkenberg said.

Though much of Falkenberg’s drone work has been in real estate, he’s also taken photos of farming and ranching

operations.

“Ranchers could use drones to inspect fences, find runaway livestock, or find injured animals lying in hollows,” he said.

“Farmers can use drones to inspect crop quality from an eagle’s eye point of view.”

New programs are being developed all the time, ones that can use special filters attached to cameras to determine soil moisture, crop health, presence of certain pests or diseases, Falkenberg said. He’s taking part in a study right now, due to his permits with Transport Canada, to help design a type of technology that will determine moisture levels in soil.

“There’s still some small disconnects between the drone industry and the agricultural industry,”

Falkenberg said. “But that’s changing as these programs are created.”

For the study, Falkenberg will fly his drone and note results, while a physical walk-through on the ground will confirm accuracy (or lack thereof).

While drone operators require a pilot’s licence in the United States, in Canada that’s not mandatory. However, to obtain the Transport Canada permit, there’s a lot of reading and a lot of forms to fill out – and general rules of airflight is part of the study.

“As a pilot, I’d be very nervous to see a drone coming close to my plane,” he said.

“So it’s valuable to me to have people understand the rules – so the rules don’t change and make drones inaccessible to a wide variety of people.”

Thanks To Our AG Community

Thi iis a good This d opportunity t it tto stress t th the h importance of keeping our farm families safe and healthy. The agriculture industry is unique in that so many of its members live, work and play at the worksite.

We salute the men and women of our agriculture industry.

JOHN W. LOW Agencies Inc. 5118 - 50th Street, Ponoka

783-5512

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 31

No wheat classifications have been deleted or cancelled continued from page 24 “Today the marketers don’t know what the value is. We assume it will be less than CWRS,” said Beswitherick. “I think there’s a pretty good chance of that.”

The important point to remember is no classifications have been deleted or canceled. Beswitherick said farmers have the choice to go with whatever variety fits their business model.

Why the change The classification change will help position Canada’s wheat, which Beswitherick says is highly regarded, in a strong market position.

He said three specific varieties made up more than 40 per cent of the wheat produced in western Canada in 2011: Harvest, Lillian and Unity.

“When you have three varieties making up half the crop and they are all low gluten strength varieties then that causes problems for end-use customers,” he explained.

More recently those varieties are used

Ready for Chores around the Farm!

less but Canadian grain customers want a higher gluten strength and are seeing low strengths in the CWRS, usually well favoured by buyers as a premium quality wheat.

It was during registration class trials some years ago that the some grains were not fully tested.

“For a 10 year period the extensograph test was removed from the registration trials,” said Beswitherick.

This test displays the gluten strength of grains and some with low gluten strength passed trials. Beswitherick says that is part of the issue but in 2011 to 2012 weather patterns on the prairies didn’t help wheat varieties.

“That really exaggerated the issue and brought it more to the forefront of the Canadian industry,” said Beswitherick.

In 2016 the CGC will initiate a review of up to two years of the CWRS and Canada Prairie Spring Red varieties to gather more data about their class designation.-

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32 PONOKA NEWS

2016

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

FLAMAN Rentals

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Wilpac Landroller 14' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Wilpac Pasture Aerator 16' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

IN STOCK: Flatdeck Trailer 16' Car Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Flatdeck Trailer 24' Gooseneck with Beavertails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Enclosed Trailer 8' x 20' x 6½’ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

High Speed Disc 24' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

High Speed Disc 33' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Field Disk 29' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Heavy Disk 22' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Heavy Disk 14' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Heavy Harrow 62' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Heavy Harrow 50' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Landroller 50' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Kuhn Rake 12 Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Post Pounder with Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 33

Obama’s minimalist foreign policy

GWYNNE DYER Think Globally

If the US Congress had not imposed a two-term limit on the presidency in 1947 after Franklin D. Roosevelt’s record four electoral victories, President Barack Obama would be a safe bet for a third term next November. He inherited the worst recession since the Great Depression, and now the United States has the healthiest economy of all the major powers, with unemployment back down to 5.5 percent.

But Obama can’t run for president again, so the time has come for the pundits to start delivering their assessments on the success or failure of his policies.

First up is Jeffrey Goldberg, national correspondent for The Atlantic magazine, with a lengthy article called “The Obama Doctrine” on the man’s conduct of American foreign policy over the past seven and a half years.

As you would expect when discussing a man whose basic rule is “Don’t do stupid shit”, Goldberg’s piece is mostly an examination of what Obama didn’t do, not what he did. He didn’t go to war with the Assad regime in Syria. He didn’t get into a new Cold War with Russia over Ukraine. He didn’t bomb Iran, instead making a political deal to block its nuclear weapons ambitions.

He didn’t attack North Korea even when it did test nuclear weapons.

None of these foreign policy choices would be remarkable if we were talking about Japan or Canada or Germany. Even in former imperial powers like Britain and France, where the interventionist reflex is still alive and kicking, Obama’s choices would not be controversial.

But in the Washington

foreign policy establishment, where every conflict on the planet tends to be redefined as an American problem and almost unlimited military force is available to attack the problem, Obama’s approach was heretical.

Democrats were just as opposed to his heresy as Republicans. Indeed, despite the wreckage of George W. Bush’s invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq that Obama’s administration inherited when it took office in early 2009, his own first secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, was a classic interventionist.

After she left office in 2013, Clinton told Goldberg that “the failure to build up a credible fighting force of the people who were the originators of the protests against Assad…left a big vacuum, which the jhadists have now filled.” But Hillary Clinton actually got her way on Syria.

The real failure of American policy on Syria in 2011 was the tolerance extended to Turkish, Qatari and Saudi Arabian shipments of arms and money that were intended to subvert the faltering non-violent revolution and replace it with an armed revolt whose goal was a Sunni Islamic state, not a secular democracy.

Obama and Clinton must share the blame for the fact that the United States became part of this operation in early 2012, providing arms that it sourced from Libya to avoid Congressional oversight. By then the non-violent protests had been largely suppressed and Syria was stumbling into a civil war – which subsequently killed 300,000 people and turned half the country’s population into refugees.

Most Syrians would now agree that it would have been better to accept the failure of the non-violent movement and the continued rule of the execrable Assad regime than to see their country virtually destroyed. I suspect that Obama sees Clinton’s Syrian policy, in hindsight, as the greatest mistake of his time in office – but he did partially redeem himself by refusing to bomb Syria during the “poison gas” episode of 2014.

Clinton also told Goldberg in 2014 that “great nations need organising principles, and ‘Don’t do stupid stuff’ is not an organising principle.” Nobody said it was, but it is a good guide when deciding on actual policies,

and Obama has been pretty consistent in observing it even with regard to the Middle East.

His fundamental insight – and his greatest break with the orthodoxy of the American foreign policy establishment – has been to understand that very little that happens or could happen in the Middle East is a threat to America’s vital interests. Even Israel’s well-being is only a sentimental consideration for the United States, not a strategic one, although like all American politicians he is obliged to pretend otherwise.

Only if the Islamist extremists of the Nusra Front and Islamic State were to overrun all of Syria would Israel be in any danger, and the Russian military intervention in support of Assad’s regime since last September has largely eliminated that possibility. So Obama has been free to concentrate on the issues that he thinks are really important, and that is where he has made real progress.

His foreign policy has been minimalist only with regard to the traditional “strategic” concerns inherited from the Cold War and America’s long, deep and mostly futile engagement with the Middle East. In his “pivot” to Asia, in reestablishing ties with Cuba, above all on the issue of climate change (which he rightly sees as the crucial issue for the next generation and beyond), he has been an activist in his foreign policy – and a largely successful one.

Neither Hillary Clinton nor Donald Trump, the two main contenders for the succession, will be a patch on him.

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

It is going to be an interesting session The big news is that spring session has finally bloomed with a Throne Speech in March 8.

Working sittings began at 9 a.m. on March 9.

The government continues to advance its agenda to which I personally find confusing.

On the one hand they want to diversify our energy markets, but on the other had their green Climate Leadership Plan seems bent on punishing and pummeling all carbon based industry and energy production through a regressive $3 billion carbon tax.

This tax will cost municipalities, industries and employee jobs in central Alberta. The carbon tax will cost average family $1000/year added to their gas, heating fuel and electricity bills.

While the government seems to be concerned about families who have lost their jobs, it is not doing anything helpful.

Their flagship Bill # 1 is anemic: “An act to allow a minister to do ministerial stuff” was the immediate response of one observer.

It is like the earlier promoted Jobs program, after creating zero jobs, the program has just been cancelled. We were told it would create 27,000 jobs and start in January 2016. Now we have a different program and still zero jobs, but more layoffs. My sincere apologies to those looking for work.

With regard to the new business diversification and development, it essentially is offering to

help business get into debt. The amount of money offered is miniscule compared to the money that has been driven away. There have been no new businesses started.

With as many as 20 social agenda Bills coming, but little economic help for Albertans, it is going to be an interesting session.

As MLA for the LacombePonoka Constituency my top priorities include meeting with and listening to local constituents.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact my office at 403-782-7725 or by e-mail Lacombe.ponoka@assembly.ab.ca or

RON ORR MLA drop in for a chat at 101, 4892 46 street, Lacombe, AB. T4L 2B4.

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34 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Business groups call for renewed dialogue on employment and the economy FROM CFIB A new alliance of employer organizations representing a broad cross-section of sectors and industries has sent an open letter to Alberta Premier Rachel Notley requesting an opportunity to meet and engage in a dialogue with her and her cabinet about the current state of the economy, and identify a more collaborative path forward on employment and economic issues.

The group of 15 associations cites recent government policies such as the carbon tax, corporate and personal tax increases and changes to the minimum wage as having further undermined business confidence and competitiveness in Alberta during one of the worst economic downturns in a generation. It asks for

government to commit to a “moratorium” on any new policies that could have a detrimental impact on the ability of businesses to create and preserve jobs, attract capital, and effectively compete in a global market.

Specifically, the group requests additional tax increases be categorically ruled out, the next proposed increase in the minimum wage be delayed, and the incoming carbon tax be made truly revenue neutral with offsetting tax reductions. The group is also calling for details to be unveiled about a potential job creation strategy, and the program aimed at mitigating cost increases on businesses imposed by the forthcoming carbon tax.

The letter is co-signed by: • Alberta Enterprise Group

• Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association • Canadian Federation of Independent Business • Canadian Association of Geophysical Contractors • Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors • Canadian Home Builders’ AssociationAlberta • Canadian Institute of Steel • C a n a d i a n Manufacturers and Exporters • Landscape Alberta • Merit Contractors Association • Petroleum Services Association of Canada • Progressive Contractors Association of Canada • Restaurants Canada • Retail Council of Canada • The Talent Pool

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2015 marked a difficult year for the Canadian economy and the challenges are expected to continue in 2016, as energy companies retrench and business investment drops with oil prices likely to remain lower than previously expected, according to the latest RBC Economics Outlook report issued last week. Still, Canada’s real GDP is projected to grow by 1.7 per cent this year - a stronger showing than 2015’s 1.2 per cent rise.

RBC expects another year of solid consumer activity and firmer exports to underpin growth next year. Further, the federal government is expected to announce fiscal stimulus measures in the upcoming Budget that will also provide a lift to the economy. Lower oil prices however will weigh on business investment for the second year running with RBC ratcheting down its price assumption in both 2016 and 2017.

“While another year of retrenchment by energy companies will dampen 2016’s rise, manufacturing sales jumped in November and December and exports are showing signs of strength,” said Craig Wright, senior vice-president and chief economist, RBC. “The shift in the drivers of growth that began in 2015 from commodities based companies to other sectors is an essential part of the economy’s ongoing transition,” added Wright.

The continuation of the transition in the drivers of growth will likely result in real GDP expanding at a slightly faster pace in 2016 relative to 2015. Against this backdrop, the Bank of Canada will keep the overnight rate at 0.5 per cent this year anticipating that as the slack in the economy eventually subsides, the inflation rate will return to 2 per cent on a sustained basis.

Late surge in exports supports transition story The low Canadian dollar contributed to a jump in export volumes in December 2015 of $1.2 billion, marking just the sixth time over the past five years that monthly sales grew to such an extent. The strong upward momentum continued in January.

“In 2016, firm U.S. domestic demand and a weaker Canadian dollar are expected to further support exports of autos, consumer goods, machinery, equipment and lumber and improve manufacturing con-

ditions,” said Wright.

Energy companies pullback again and the Canadian dollar is another casualty of the oil price rout Companies in Canada’s energy patch reduced investment in 2015 by an estimated 40 per cent as oil and natural gas prices tumbled. The tight relationship between oil prices and the Canadian dollar persisted in early 2016 and the currency slumped to a 13-year low. “An expected recovery in oil prices in the second half of the year will support a strengthening in the Canadian dollar” said Wright. The RBC Economics forecast for the Canadian dollar to end 2016 at 75 US cents.

Consumer spending momentum continues Canada’s consumers have been a key growth engine for several years and the trend is expected to continue in 2016.

Home sales continued to be strong in early 2016 and the robust housing market activity fueled rising demand for mortgages. “While elevated debt holdings present a risk, the combination of a healthy labour market and low interest rates are expected to support Canadian’s ability to service debt in the year ahead,” said Wright.

On the provincial front The outlook for provincial economies remains divided along the oil producer-consumer line. Low oil prices are expected to cause further hardship for oil-producing provinces in 2016 and therefore Alberta, Newfoundland and Labrador and Saskatchewan’s forecasts were significantly reduced. B.C. is expected to remain at the top of the provincial growth rankings for the second consecutive year with Ontario following closely behind.

South of the border In the U.S., domestic demand remained solid, benefitting from still accommodative monetary policy and low energy costs. However, external demand was sluggish in 2015 and this trend is likely to persist in 2016. The sharp correction in oil prices will likely see energy companies cut capital spending, however outside of the oil and gas sector U.S. businesses are expected to respond to heightened domestic demand by increasing payrolls and raising investment in equipment and real estate. Following a choppy pattern of growth in 2015, the U.S. economy is forecasted to expand by 2.2 per cent this year.

Asking $257,000

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STRONG DEMAND FOR AGRICULTURE & RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES Prices are at all time highs. If you are interested in finding out what your property is worth in today’s market, call for a private consultation.

Canadian economy faces challenges and opportunities in 2016

SANDRA LYON Broker/Owner

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PONOKA ACREAGE

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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

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

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PROFESSIONAL REALTORS OF JOHN W. LOW AGENCIES INC.

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

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 35

Teachers are vitally important, but they need a salary rollback

BY PAIGE MACPHERSON Yes, education is vitally important and the good work done by teachers is extremely valuable in our society.

No, that does not mean teachers are entitled to automatic raises or even the current generous pay packet when the province is beyond broke.

On Wednesday, Alberta Education Minister David Eggen made an announcement about the NDP hiring new teachers (education funding announcements: always a shocker during a by-election). In the media scrum that followed, Eggen wouldn’t take a firm position when asked about teachers’ compensation.

It’s an extremely important debate to be had. The province’s collective agreements with the Alberta Teachers Association end on August 31. Recall that the last negotiation gave teachers a 2 per cent wage increase and lump sum payment following a three-year wage freeze. The contract before that scored the teachers an increase of nearly 23 per cent from 2006-07 to 2012-13.

It’s time to reduce teachers’ salaries

in the province, along with government employee salaries across the board.

A teacher employed with Calgary School District 19 as an example, after working for only 10 years and having received six years of schooling, brings home $101,331.

For most, it’s hard to imagine reaching peak salary after only 10 years in your career. Add to that: two months of summer vacation, lengthy holiday breaks, generous benefits and an entitlement of 90 days of paid sick leave.

In 2014, the BC Teachers Federation put together a cross-provincial comparison of teachers’ salaries, finding that at the maximum level Alberta teachers were the highest paid of any province, averaging $99,004 in 2013-14.

According to the World Economic Forum, Canadian teachers are the third-best paid in the world, averaging $85,296 after 10 years’ experience in 2013-14. That means Alberta teachers are the highest paid of any province, in the third highest paid country in the world.

To put that in perspective, the average Albertan earned $60,476 in 2014,

the highest in Canada. Often times it’s argued that Alberta teachers must have high salaries because they’re competing with the private sector for talent. But as noted in a University of Calgary report, teaching is a specialized profession for which government is the dominant employer, meaning that Alberta is competing more so with other provinces than the private sector.

The province is currently staring down a potential $10.4 billion deficit – a financial burden so heavy, our finance minister couldn’t even bring himself to utter the number to reporters. The province’s debt is over $17 billion and growing.

Yet, the Alberta teachers union still isn’t ruling out a raise for teachers.

When faced with the numbers, the degree to which this union sounds so incredibly out of touch is almost incomprehensible.

Compensation for teachers has become a sacred cow in Canada.

Politicians don’t dare address it, lest they be the subjects of a dramatic union dust-up over how they’re denying little Tommy of textbooks. The

entire debate has reached peak level ridiculous.

Despite the fact that negotiations with teachers unions often lands kids out of school for extended periods of time, it’s somehow always the mean old politicians who aren’t “putting students first.”

Let’s move past the rhetoric.

Discussions of teachers’ salaries, when they’re already as high as they are in Alberta, have nothing to do with the kids. A CD Howe Institute study looking at teacher salaries found no clear relationship between student performance and relative compensation.

It is completely unnecessary to undermine the valuable work teachers do by putting them at odds with cashstrapped taxpayers with another wage debate.

If the Alberta teachers union decides to say economy be damned and demand increases to salaries or benefits, the answer should be no. They’re out of touch by every reasonable measure.

The time to roll back teachers’ salaries is now.

Paige MacPherson is Alberta Director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation.

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36 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

What’s the plan?

BRENNAN TURNER FarmLead

Grains continue to trade sideways through the middle of March as the monthly W.A.S.D.E. report from the U.S.D.A. didn’t really bring any different fundamentals to the table. While a lot of the market is watching the ongoing drama in the American political system, most of the

commodity complex has been able to follow oil up the last few sessions, but ags have been weighed down by the omni-present amount of supply of grains and oilseeds that still exist around the world. It’s important to stay patient as the market is very uncertain at this point going into Plant 2016. Do you know when and where you’ll get active in the grain trade if the market goes down further?

What about up? Having a plan is better than no plan at all..

China imported 4.5 million tonnes of soybeans in February, up 6 per cent from February last year but down 20 per cent from the lower-than-expected January figure. With the South American harvest and export season underway (Brazil soybean harvest at 41 per cent complete, slightly ahead of the aver-

age pace), it’s expected that Chinese buyers will continue to buy, with C.O.F.C.O. pegging the 2015/16 final number at 83 million tonnes, just 500,000 MT higher than the 82.5 million tonnes the U.S.D.A. just increased their projection up to, and a 5 million-tonne improvement from 2014/15. Rounding out the complex, China imported 400,000 MT of veggie oils, an increase of 14.8 per cent yearover-year but down 32.6 per cent from January as the People’s Republic tries to dial down its reserves/stocks.

On that note, the Chinese Ag Minister says that they are not focusing on increasing production any more after 12 straight years of bigger harvests.

Speaking of bigger harvests, thanks to 3 consecutive bumper wheat crops (technically this includes

this year’s forecasted crop), the European Commission says that EU wheat inventories to end 2016/17 will stand an 8-year high.

Other than bigger production, the reason for this hike is the tough competition in the export market (currency and cheap freight at play here) as EU soft wheat exports are expected to fall to 27 million tonnes, a 7.25 per cent decline from this year’s projected 29.11 million tonnes and a 19 per cent decline from 33.34 million tonnes in 2014/15. Also expected to drop are UK rapeseed acres, down 10 per cent year-over-year to 1.35M acres this year, the lowest since 2009, thanks to lower prices and the neonics ban ongoing in the EU. With 2 years of below-expected production, more groups like Commerzbank & ABARES are betting that rapeseed prices will be a bit more resilient than other grain and

oilseeds (haven’t they been resilient thus far anyways?).

The multi-Trillion dollar question is whether the market goes up or the market goes down from here (if only it were that simple!). One way to help rationalize any potential market moves is by looking at previous years where the market was in a similar position. A mathematical approach

by University of Illinois ag economists suggests that with the effects of El Nino waning, the transition to a La Nina event possible, and wet Midwest conditions this winter, the likelihood that we see a normal U.S. crop in 2016 is 66 per cent, and a 33 per cent chance a very poor crop is grown. With the jury still out on Western Canadian soil moisture, the worst thing you can do is going to into the 2016/17 crop year without plan. Hash out some numbers, talk to your banker, talk to

other farmers, talk to us here at FarmLead. com, etc. etc. but sitting on your hands isn’t a good plan.

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 riskfree, transparent online and mobile grain marketplace (app available) that has moved almost 150,000 MT in the last 2.5 years. His weekly column is a summary of his free, daily market note, the FarmLead Breakfast Brief. He can be reached via email (b.turner@farmlead.com) or phone (1855-332-7653).

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 37

A tale of endurance and survival

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER The Bookworm

You’ve been told it’s impossible.

No one can do it. You may as well not even try because it’s never been done before. Not possible - except when it is, because there’s no other way.

It’s a live-or-die matter, as in the new book “I Had to Survive” by Dr. Roberto Canessa and Pablo Vierci.

Growing up in Uruguay , the privileged eldest son of two professionals, Roberto Canessa was high-spirited, spoiled, and a little wild.

A group of Irish Christian Brothers finally tamed him, proving to him that he was truly a leader At sixteen, Canessa was a rugby star; at eighteen, he was a member of the Uruguayan national rugby team, though his passion was medicine. He was, in

Robert Canessa fact, a nineteen-year-old second-year medical student on the afternoon of October 13, 1972, when the plane in which he was riding crashed into a remote part of the Andes .

Of the forty-odd passengers and crew aboard, many were killed instantly or died soon after the crash. The cold was relentless and, because they figured someone would be looking for them, those that remained “began to transform into a single organism” as they worked together to stay warm and hydrated. Survivors devised ways to keep one

another alive through clever inventions, repairs of damaged equipment, and adaptations of the meager items that were not destroyed in the crash.

Canessa became the group’s doctor. Three cousins took unofficial leadership roles.

But as days turned to weeks and supplies slowly disappeared, weaker individuals died, one by one, of starvation. Canessa only hints about who first suggested that they “nourish ourselves with the bodies” of those who died but it was a “simple and audacious” idea that sustained

the remaining survivors until they were rescued.

Indeed, audacity was mandatory: more than two months after the crash, Canessa and his friend, Nando, undertook a daring trek that took them across sheer ice, on tiny ledges above crevasses, and down avalanche-prone snow to a valley of flowers.

It was there where, weak and barely alive, they found the man who rescued them…

Today, author Roberto Canessa is a renowned pediatric cardiologist in Montevideo , which may seem like a tenuous tie to

Easy way to track your reading

BY JACLYN BERRY

Usually we use this article to talk all about Ponoka Jubilee Library: what we’re working on, what we’ve achieved, upcoming events.

Today though, we’re going to extoll the virtues of something else, specifically the website goodreads.com. We at the library have people come in probably once a week, asking if we can tell them what book they brought back a couple of days ago, or if they’ve already read a book by a particular author, and unfortunately we can’t, not because we

don’t want to, but because we don’t have access to that information.

We do see some people come in with written lists of books they’ve read, so they don’t grab a repeat, or scraps of paper with titles written on them that they’ve heard in passing and want to read, but those are so easily misplaced. We have even had people make little marks in our books so that they don’t grab it a second time (please don’t do this!).

I myself used an Excel spreadsheet to try and keep track of these things, until I discovered the magic of Goodreads.

Goodreads is used to keep track of all the books you’ve read, give them ratings and even get suggestions based on those ratings for other authors and books you might like.

You also can get emails

sent to you to tell you about upcoming books by authors that you’ve read in the past. You can keep lists of books that you would like to read, and read reviews by other people about them. You can connect with friends and see what they’re reading and their reviews. Goodreads also arranges author talks and if you have one of those authors on your list of ‘previously read books’, they will contact you to let you know about it, and you can even send in question suggestions.

You can access Goodreads on any computer or smartphone, signing up using either an email or through a Facebook or Twitter account, and when you find something on there that you want to read, you can jump over to our catalogue website and request it be brought in for you.

I have found many amazing treasured books through the use of Goodreads, and it has helped me from bringing home the same book twice on numerous occasions (or figuring out that after the first couple chapters seem very familiar, that yes, I have already read it). We at the library are always looking for tools to make people’s reading experience better, and this is one of those tools that I have personally used and loved, and would recommend again and again. And no more lists! Check it out at www.goodreads.com.

Coming soon: From Jacquelyn Mitchard, #1 bestselling author of ‘The Deep End of the Ocean’, comes ‘Two if by Sea’, an epic story of courage and devotion that spans three continents and the entire map of the human heart.

his early story. Part of the explanation for that incongruity comes in chapters written by patients and thankful parents of children he’s saved – chapters that might be more compelling, were they not so repetitive or frequent.

As it is, because they’re too-similar and too many, those outside testimonials lose their effect.

Instead, what moves this book along is the re-telling of the tragedy, woven between intimate chapters on how it deeply affected the way Canessa lives his life. That almost-44year-old endurance tale is

a nail-biter which, paired with insight from Canessa, his father, and other rescuers, offers up the best part of this book, bringing the grueling story to a new generation unfamiliar with the Andes crash and updating it for those who remember it well.

And if you fall into either category, ignoring “I Had to Survive” could be impossible.

“I Had to Survive: How a Plane Crash in the Andes Inspired My Calling to Save Lives” by Dr. Roberto Canessa and Pablo Vierci c.2016, Atria Books $26.00 / $35.00 Canada 291 pages

VJV MARKET REPORT MARKET REPORT MARCH 9, 2016

On Wednesday, March 9, 2016 - 1673 head of cattle went through our rings TOTAL - 1673

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

100.00-114.50 90.00-100.00 80.00-93.00 70.00-80.00 125.00-158.00 125.00-146.50

Feeder bulls 125.00-146.50 Good Bred Cows 2,000.00-2,000.00 Older Bred Cows Good Bred Heifers: Cow/calf pairs (younger) 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:

160.00-182.50 170.00-194.50 190.00-209.00 208.00-223.25 230.00-244.00 247.00-262.00 262.00-286.00 275.00-300.00

Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers Heifers

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

125.00-160.00 450.00-500.00 425.00-550.00 3.50-8.00 1.50-2.00 -

Rd Bales Rd Bales Rd Bales

145.00-160.00 160.00-180.00 180.00-200.00 196.00-212.00 202.00-221.25 223.00-242.00 229.00-258.00 245.00-270.00

50.00-90.00 -57.50

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38 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Sports

Mecca Glen Pride win more titles and bring more pride

Mecca Glen Pride boys’ team marking their latest title which they earned after their 23rd straight win.

The most impressive aspect of the girls’ successive titles this season is tha fact that they played with only three substitutes throughout the season.

Submitted photo

Submitted photo

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS

The community of the small Mecca Glen school is full of pride these days as both the boys’ and girls’ Pride basketball teams have proven to be unstoppable this season and they did this with rather short benches and practising in a much smaller gym than the ones they played games in.

Together, they managed to earn five of six possible banners that will be hung proudly in the school’s gym. Most recently, both teams won their CWAJAHAA tournaments last weekend, explained coach Adam Troitsky. He coaches both teams and lead them to CWAJAHAA wins.

“For the boys this capped off a run of 23 straight wins. They really finished the season strong, passing the ball well and making sure that we always got great shots,” said Troitsky.

Each game the boys’ Pride opponents couldn’t get close: • First game against Gus Wetter (Castor) on Friday night and won 85-22;

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• Second game against the host team, Bentley, on Saturday morning and won 69-35; • Finals game against Erskine with a resounding win at 83-42.

“I AM EXCITED FOR THE GIRLS, AS THEY HAVE LEARNED SO MUCH THROUGHOUT THE SEASON AND DEVELOPED INTO A GREAT TEAM.” COACH ADAM TROITSKY This was the first year Mecca Glen was able to win three championship banners in a season. Troitsky said he is proud of their efforts.

Not to be outdone, the girls came away from the tournament winning all three of their games. Lead by the Grade 9s, Troitsky says this was the team’s second CWAJAHAA championship in three years.

“I am excited for the girls, as they have learned so

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much throughout the season and developed into a great team,” said Troitsky.

The finals game proved the closest for the girls’ Pride: • The first game the girls trounced Caroline on Friday night and won 54-14; • Their second game against Erskine on Saturday morning proved almost as strong where they won 42-21; • In the finals game they played Halkirk on Saturday, and this game proved the toughest.

They won a close 41-39.

In an interview Troitsky said Halkirk is a strong team, also with experienced players and coaches who have competed at CWAJAHAA before.

For both his teams he credits experience as a key to winning. “They’ve been to playoffs before. We have some good veterans on both teams.”

The Pride has had a strong season overall with wins on both teams proving they were the team to beat. Troitsky was able to manage both and said the goal is to coach the teams next year as well.

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BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS

The lead up to the senior girls’ Broncs final basketball series proved to be one that the team will remember for many years.

Getting to the finals is a story in itself as the Broncs had to defeat the Camrose Trojans at home Monday, March 7.

Victory was anything but secure; at the end of the second half the Broncs were tied at 24 points each with the Trojans unwilling to give up. Camrose played an aggressive second half double-teaming point guard Allie Wynychuk forcing her to pass.

Coach Cameron Horan said they changed tactics against Camrose and while the game was somewhat “Helter Skelter” the Broncs managed to play through it all and take control of the majority of their plays.

Heavy pressure gave the Broncs some struggles but they adjusted their offense to create open lanes. The extra heavy Trojans’ defense created a loose defense system under their own net and the Broncs took advantage of that scoring some easy layups.

Not to be dissuaded, the Trojans also scored important points with several three point shots.

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Broncs’ (l-r) Leanne Wiancko and Lindsey Gartner keep on the pressure Monday, March 7 against the Camrose Trojans in a semi finals game. The Broncs won and played in the finals series against Wetaskiwin eventually losing both games.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

With two and a half minutes left, the Trojans managed to tie the game. The last few minutes were a blur of fouls, missed shots, time-outs and a several important sunk foul shots.

The Broncs managed to squeak by with a 56-54 win.

“I got a little bit more grey hair in that game,” said Horan of the experience.

Finals vs Wetaskiwin The finals series proved the toughest challenge the girls faced.

The first of the best of three series was held at home March 9 against the Wetaskiwin Sabres.

The last time the Broncs played the Sabres, they

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had lost by 21 points.

Everyone knew what was at stake.

Their biggest struggle was in missed baskets.

The Broncs had several important opportunities to sink the ball but it couldn’t quite make the mark.

After the half, the Broncs were down 26-14.

Rather than give up, the girls kept up the pressure. They kept chipping away at the points deficit and were able to bring it down to eight points.

As the last quarter wore down, so did their energy and the Sabres clawed their way up to a 48-34 win.

The second game in the series was held in

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Wetaskiwin March 11 and the girls put up a show that had Wetaskiwin fans impressed, said Horan.

A win was in their sites.

“What really makes it unfortunate is we were up by 11,” he explained.

The second half, however, was what broke the Broncs’ chance at a win.

Horan said the Sabres slowly dropped the deficit and managed to take a two-point lead by the fourth quarter using a full-court press.

Seeing their lead dissapear affected the Broncs’ confidence, which in turn hurt their shots on net. The Broncs ended losing by 10 points.

Despite the loss, the Broncs showed an overall improvement against the Sabres and Horan praised his team. Comparing the start of the season to the end he said players got continually improved.

He too had a learning curve and he credits the team for helping him get there. Horan said at the start of the season he had some expectations that didn’t meld well with the team. He said it was their guidance on the team’s offense after their second season game that he changed tactics.

“I had a massive learning curve,” said Horan.

He said the learning went both ways this season.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016 PONOKA NEWS 39

Broncs stopped short in semi finals Showed improvement overall

Broncs’ Leanne Wiancko makes a big layup Wednesday, March 9 against the Wetaskiwin Sabres in the first finals game in the series. The Broncs lost their games after a tough battle.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

Available in most new Ford vehicles with 6-month pre-paid subscription.

40 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Atom Calnash head to consolation finals series, Bantam Lacoka to provincials

BY JEFFREY HEYDEN-KAYE PONOKA NEWS A sluggish start partly

due to Daylight Savings Time didn’t overly affect the Atom Calnash Trucking team who

cleared their way to the league consolation finals series.

Heading into the sec-

ond game of the series against the Battle River Knights held Sunday, March 13, Ponoka’s Calnash was already up after defeating the Knights 8-0 on March 9.

As a result the Knights needed to win by nine.

While the Knights took the lead 2-0 for much of the first period, Ponoka boys appeared to slowly gain confidence and speed and eventually tied it 2-2 at the end of the first period. After that, there were only a few chances for the Knights to make attempts on goal.

A scoreless second period gave Ponoka the edge in the game and they eventually scored another three in the third period. Scorers for the Sunday game were Nathan Parker (3), Carter Blanchard and Carter Karwandy.

The team now heads to the consolation finals series against the Sundre Huskies.

Ponoka’s Atom Calnash player Nathan Parker almost sinks the puck Sunday, March 13 during the second game in the consolation series against the Battle River Knights. Ponoka won and is now heading the final consolation series.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

Peewee girls provincials results The Lacoka Peewee girls couldn’t make it to the playoffs round at Alberta Hockey provincials last weekend in Edmonton.

The first two games were strong performances with a 3-3 tie against the Edmonton Nightmares on March 10 followed by a 5-2 win against Okotoks the next day.

Coach Ron Klinger said the girls had a strong start. “The first two games, the girls played the best hockey they played all year.”

The next two games, however, proved the most challenging with Lacoka losing their third game 4-0 against Stettler March 11 and then losing 5-0 against St. Albert the next day. One more

win and the team would have landed a spot in playoffs, said Klinger.

Despite the losses he feels the experience was a positive one.

Bantam girls head to provincials The Lacoka Bantam girls not only earned a spot at league finals, the team is also heading to provincials in Hinton this weekend.

During the semi finals league play Lacoka defeated Whitecourt 4-1 on March 12 with Rachael Wood, Jaymee Klinger, Camryn Willier and Zoe Lorenz-Boser scoring.

The next day the team trounced Whitecourt 10-0. Scorers were Wood (2), Ivy Wolf (2), Klinger, Camryn Fodor, Katrina Fisher, Camryn Grant, Lorenz-Boser and Hailey Hoogkamp.

Correction Ponoka’s Atom Calnash goalie (right) Carter McDowell makes a save Sunday, March 13 during the second game in the consolation series against the Battle River Knights. Ponoka won and is now heading the final consolation series.

Photo by Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye

check your

In last week’s edition of the Ponoka News, the minor hockey story headlined “More minor hockey teams drop from playoffs”, it was erroneously reported that Fountain Tire Midget Wolves lost their second game. In reality they won the second game but were eventually eliminated in the third. We regret the error.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PONOKA NEWS 41

Team sorting event keeps ag centre busy

BY MUSTAFA ERIC PONOKA NEWS More than 100 teams competed in five classes at Alberta Team Sorting Association’s two-day event at the Calnash Ag Events Centre on Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12.

The event, the final show of the association in Ponoka for the season, attracted competitors from all over central Alberta and beyond.

The association’s finals will take place in Olds in May. The winners of the Ponoka event are as follows: Open class 1st place Patty Hawrish and Preston Fleming 2nd place Cavan McMullan and Beau Riedel 8 Class winners 1st place Preston Fleming and Ellwood Sawby 2nd place Patty Hawrish and Preston Fleming 3rd place Cavan McMullan and Preston Fleming 6 Class winners 1st place Bryce Harder and Jeff Diegel 2nd place Beau Riedel and Daren Schwieger 3rd place Cavan McMullan and Ben Steem 4 class winners 1st Cavan McMullan and Tara Seabrook 2nd Cavan McMullan and Shawn Seabrook 3rd Jason Harder and Shawn Seabrook 3 class winners 1st place Shea Olhmann and Christal Wastle 2nd place Bob Blackmore and Isaac Steem 3rd place Bob Blackmore and Carla Wiens

Doug Ohlmann and Preston Fleming competing in the first open class category of the Alberta Sorting Association event at the Calnash Ag Event Centre on Saturday, March 12. More than 100 teams from all over central Alberta took part in five categories of competition.

Photo by Mustafa Eric

Kings pull off another title SUBMITTED Central Alberta Kings Volleyball Club U16 boys volleyball team continued their winning ways with a gold medal performance at Volleyball Alberta’s Premier tournament # 2 hosted by the city of Lacombe this weekend.

The Kings completed robin play in the power pool with a straight set victory over Canuck Black from Calgary, a 1-2 loss to NAVC Black from Edmonton, and a 0-2 loss to Nooks Blue from Edmonton, placing the Kings 3rd out of the 19 teams

Central Alberta’s U 16 team celebrating their gold won at the Lacombe tournament.

Photo submitted

Correction

LANDSCAPING THIS YEAR? NEW SHELTERBELT?

Information provided by the contributing source for the volleyball photo on page 22 of last week’s edition of Ponoka News omitted the name Mary Mathieu. Here are the names of the team roster as they should have been presented: Kianna McLean, Bailey Donison, Victoria Lockridge, Mary Mathieu, Autumn Roos, Gina Mercer, Cydney Newton, Lezah McGinnis and Kyrie Hemmingson.

Missing is Sam Little. We regret the error.

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going into the playoffs.

The Kings opened the playoffs with a dominant straight set victory over Nooks White. A quarter final win 25-18 25-17 over RAVC from Medicine Hat set up an entertaining semifinal rematch against NAVC Black in which the Kings prevailed 23-25, 25-22, 15-13.

The final saw the Kings down SAS Valour Green from St. Albert 25-19, 25-20 to earn their second consecutive club tournament victory and secure their provincial # 1 ranking for Premier # 3 in Edmonton in April.

42 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Minor ball in need of umpires PONOKA NEWS STAFF Ponoka

Minor

Ball

Association is appealing for volunteers to act as umpires in the

upcoming minor ball season with the promise that the volunteers

16032UC0

will have their training clinics paid for by the association.

President Tina Nielsen of the Minor Ball Association was speak-

ing after the annual general assembly of the organization that took place during the first week of March when, she said, they had an adequate number of volunteer coaches signed up for the season and that they were happy with the levels of player registration so far.

She added that registration of new players would still be accepted until the end of April with registration forms available on the webiste as well as at the Aquaplex.

Nielsen also said Ponoka minor ball teams would be wearing new uniforms this season, apparently a new way of cheering up both players and enthusiasts.

The association is tentatively scheduled to host a softball tournament for girlsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; teams in the area during the May long weekend, from Friday, May 20 to Sunday, May 22, and once the plans are finalized, tournament schedule will be announced.

During the AGM, the new executive of the association was elected with Holly Ellison taking on the role of treasurer, Marcie Willier as uniform coordinator, Lucas Willier as softball coordinator and Michelle Reed as baseball coordinator. Two new board members were also given new responsibilities with Sean Burnett taking on the function of equipment coordinator and Wanda Liddle becoming registrar.

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PONOKA NEWS 43

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

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announcements Card Of Thanks

Obituaries

Card Of Thanks

SIDNEY SCHALIN On February 22, 2016, at the age of 96, Sid Schalin went peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Sid was born on April 23, 1919 on a farm near Ponoka. He will be lovingly remembered by his children Don (Georgette) of Ponoka, Judy (Wayne) of Winnipeg, and Kristine (Charlie) of Lacombe; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; brothers Gordon (Verna) Schalin of Ponoka and Harvey (Bea) Schalin of Hylo; sister Myrna (Bert) Harsch of Edmonton; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. Sid was predeceased by his loving wife Bernice; his parents Fred and Molly Schalin; brother Erven Schalin; and sister Bernice Dietz. A Memorial Service was held on Wednesday, March 2, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the Ponoka Funeral Home with Pastor Len Eichler officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made to the Ponoka Wheelchair Van Society, Canadian Bible Society, or Gideons. To express condolences to Sid’s family, please visit www.womboldfuneralhomes.com.

Arrangements Entrusted To

Thank you from the family of GERRY MARK The family of Ed Prediger gives heartfelt thanks for the exemplary care he received in his 4 1/2 years at Northcott Care Centre. Thanks to Dr. Gage and numerous other health professionals (including Rexall Drug Store) that helped in his diagnosis of Fragile X Ataxia, a common relatively unknown genetic disorder that manifested in his later years. Sincere thanks to those who visited. Ed mostly, forgot to tell us, but you know who you are. Grateful thanks to the pastoral team that visited weekly. The singing groups were a highlight for him,even when he found it difficult to sing along.

Thank you to the great support of the community and special thanks to Fr. Shimit, Deacon Rollie and Ed’s cousin, Fr. Len Gartiner for the thoughtful, personal and comforting words at the liturgy and for the choir who touched the hearts of many in attendance. Thank you to the C.W.L. for the lovely and abundant lunch.

Gratified thanks to Marlon and Wombold Funeral Home.

All arrangements were both compassionate and professional.

Marry and Family

PONOKA FUNERAL HOME

~ A Wombold Family Funeral Home ~

Banco, Walter

July 18, 1920 -March 11, 2016 Born Waldemar Banco in Kulm, Besarabia, Romania

After having lived a long and productive life dedicated to family, faith, and hard work, Walter Banco passed away peacefully at the age of 95. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 71 years, Ida Banco (nee Jess); four children: Don (Linda), Gordon (Marcella), Shirley (Peter) McGowan, and Carolyn Dares; grandchildren Andrea, Maria, Lindsey, Lorey, Kelly, Jennifer, John, Katie, Victoria, Jesse, and Josh; and seven great-grandchildren. He is survived by his brother Albert (Florence) and was predeceased by his sisters Lila (Fred) Kelm and Pauline Banco. Walter was well-known in the community as a farmer, bus driver, church counsellor, realtor, and landlord. He travelled extensively and enjoyed good health until 2007 at which time he became a resident of Northcott Care Centre. The family would like to thank the staff at Northcott for his wonderful care. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, March 18 at 2:00 p.m. at the Ponoka Funeral Home with the Interment Service following at Forest Home Cemetery. All are invited for refreshments at the St. Mary’s Anglican Church Hall at the conclusion of the services. Memorial donations may be made to the Alberta Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Canadian Bible Society. To express condolences to Walter’s family, please visit www.womboldfuneralhomes.com.

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

Card Of Thanks

A Million Thanks The Lady in the red coat would like to thank the gentleman and lady who stopped to help me on Wednesday when I fell on the sidewalk.

Classified Announcements 1-877-223-3311

We would like to thank the community of Ponoka for supporting our mother over the last years of her life when so many services were needed to fulfill her wish to keep living in her own home.

Thank you to Dr Halse for his medical care and support above and beyond all expectations, pharmacists Deanna, Jamil and Dwayne, to all the workers at FCSS for their caring services, to Tom and Michelle and staff at the Iron Horse, to the staff of the GOAL Unit who looked after mom (and us) during her long stay, to Dick Cameron and the Masons who were always ready to offer support, It is also time for us as a family to acknowledge what a wonderful community Ponoka has been for our parents and for us in our formative years . Thank you to everyone who participated in Jim and Gerry’s many adventures in life and who helped make Ponoka a wonderful home.

And a special thank you to Howie Rowland, family accountant, who knew that in spite of her quiet nature, that Gerry was always “Boss”!

Sincerely Devon, Camelia, Maureen, and Lauri Mark

In Memoriam

In Loving Memory of Taylor Robert Leverick

December 3, 1998 - March 15, 2015

Bless each and every one of you for making my Retirement so special.

You are a Blessing.

Carol Jensen

Today, like many other days brings special thoughts of you of happy times we shared and caring things you used to do.

And, once more it’s a reminder that life’s road is sometimes rough because the time we shared just wasn’t long enough.

For you were someone special who was thought so highly of who’ll always be remembered with affection, warmth and love.

We’re sending thoughts to Heaven on the day you went away and hope you know you’re missed more than words could ever say.

We love and miss you always, Dad, Mom and Thomas

44 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

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Meetings

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Wednesday, March 23 at 2:00 pm Includes: Refreshments, Desserts, Door Prizes, 50/50 Admission: $3.00

“care in the community”

CLASSIFIEDS EASTER Hours & Deadlines Office & Phones CLOSED Friday, March 25, 2016 PONOKA NEWS Publication date: Wednesday, March 30 DEADLINE: Thursday, March 24, 2016 @5 pm CALL CLASSIFIEDS 403-309-3300 admin@ponokanews.com

Under general supervision, this position performs a variety of skilled mechanical maintenance and repair duties on various types of equipment, buildings and grounds.

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QUALIFICATIONS: • High School Diploma • Equivalent experience and education considered • Valid Alberta Driver’s License Closing Date: March 18, 2016 CONTACT:

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To apply for this position, please go to out website at: www.thebethanygroup.ca click on CAREERS and follow the links.

A current Police Information Check is a pre-employment requirement for new employees to The Bethany Group.

We sincerely thank all candidates for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

AG EQUIPMENT

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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

870

Senior Drop In Centre

PONOKA UNITED CHURCH STEW LUNCH 5020-52 Ave. $13. WED. MAR. 23, 11 A.M. - 1 PM. Takeouts 403-783-4087 Please call before 11 a.m.

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Employment #700 - #920

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WED. MAR.16th – SUN. MAR. 20th

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59

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59

850

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Fax: (403) 843-3430

ANIMAL SERVICES

AGRICULTURAL FOREMAN. Full-time, permanent, responsible for assisting in the supervision of seasonal staff and delivery of County Agricultural Services programs.

See www.biglakescounty.ca, select employment.

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PONOKA NEWS 45

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

PLUMBING SHANDALL PLUMBING LTD. JAMES AVERY

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Heather Goodwin 403-704-3647 heathermccg@shaw.ca NEED A LOAN? Own property? Have bad credit?

We can help! Call toll free 1-866-405-1228; www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca.

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.

Personal Services

1315

Rental Misc

1350

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

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

Also RV storage.

Secure compound.

Call Keith at

The right place to find the right person for the job.

First Call Towing

783-3636

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

This space could be yours for

35

$

PER WEEK plus $2.25 webcharge

403.783.3311

Call 403-783-3311 HEATING

1410 “Committed to your comfort”

1290

Robin Esau

OUR SPECIALITY

Repair of any cooling or refrigeration system as well as large household appliances.

Refrigeration

5120-51ST AVE, PONOKA

Need RV or Self Storage?

1410

Misc.

Services

•

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

Looking for a new pet?

Unplanned Check out Classifieds to pregnancy may be find the purrfect pet. difficult to face.

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

Berni's 403-783-5185 1-800-662-7135 Fax: 403-783-4635

DENTAL CARE

LET US WELCOME Pet Services 1318 YOU! CLINKERS Our hostess will bring gifts and greetings, along with helpful information about your new community.

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

DENTAL CLINIC

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

robin@KlesAir.com www.KlesMechanical.com

SALES & SERVICE

Motorcycles & ATV’s

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

Classifieds Your place to SELL Your place to BUY

1210

HIP OR KNEE Replacement? Restrictions in walking/dressing? $2,500 yearly tax credit. $20,000 lump sum cheque.

Disability Tax Credit.

Expert Help.

1-844-453-5372.

Personal Services

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.

1060

NEED FLOORING DONE? Don’t pay the shops more.

Over 20 yrs. exp.

Call Jon 403-848-0393

#4, 3616 67 St. Ponoka, AB

1290

Business Services #1000 - #1430

Sur-B Enterprises Ltd.

BOBCAT SERVICE

DENTISTRY

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

MAIN: (403) 783-7591

and Appliance Service

FAX: (403) 783-8178

403-783-4880

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

Advertise your business in the Business Directory!

46 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

HEATING & EAVESTROUGHING

Commercial - Residential Installations - Repair

3912 - 66 St, Ponoka www.wcmltd.ca

403.783.3501 wcmltd@telus.net

This space could be yours for

35

$

PER WEEK plus $2.25 webcharge

Call 403-783-3311 VETERINARY SERVICES

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

Phone 403-391-1684 ʹͶ

Dr. Bruce Wine

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

Doug Casey

Employment Training

MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION! In-demand career!

Employers have work-at-home positions available. Get online training you need from an employer-trusted program.

Visit: CareerStep.ca/MT or 1-855-768-3362 to start training for your work-at-home career today!

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

Auctions Can do trees up to 15” wide

1.403.318.0498 1.403.358.0452

VETERINARY SERVICES

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

Reaching 6000 households weekly

For just

$35 per week this space could be yours!

Plus $2.25 webcharge

403-783-3311

900

1530

COLLECTOR CAR AUCTION. 6th Annual Edmonton Motor Show Collector Car Auction.

April 8 - 10. Edmonton Expo Centre. Over 80,000 spectators. Over 85% sold last year. Consign today.

1-888-296-0528 ext. 102; EGauctions.com.

Auctions

1530

Auctions

1530

17 QUARTERS OF FARM- COUNTERSCAPES MILL LAND near Brant, Alberta.

WORKING Shop. TuesRitchie Bros. Auctioneers day, March 22, 10 a.m., Unreserved Auction, 4705 - 60 St., Red Deer, March 24 in Lethbridge.

Alberta. Selling forklift, Quality land, good perimetruck, enclosed trailer, ter fences, lots of water & woodworking machinery, surface lease revenue. cabinets, tools & hardware; Jerry Hodge: www.montgomery 780-706-6652; auctions.com. rbauction.com/realestate.

1-800-371-6963.

2237 +/- ACRES GRAZING LEASE near MacKay, Alberta. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, April 27 in Edmonton. 375 AUMs, natural water throughout. Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; Broker: All West Realty Ltd.; rbauction.com/realestate.

BIG STRAPPER AUCTIONS

at The Moose Hall, 2 miles south of Ponoka on Hwy. 2A. Resuming weekly sales Wed.’s @ 6 pm.

Antique sale 2nd. Sun. of Month April 10 @ 1 pm.

TO BOOK YOUR SALE CALL 403-782-5693 or 403-304-4791 Check website for full listings

PASTURE & GRAZING LEASE near High Prairie, Alberta. Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, April 27 in Edmonton. 80 Acres Pasture & 2 Parcels Grazing Lease. Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; Broker: All West Realty Ltd.; rbauction.com/realestate.

SHOP & OFFICE COMPLEX - Millet, Alberta. Ritchie Bros.

Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, April 27 in Edmonton. 27,730+/- sq. ft. industrial shop & office complex - 40 +/- title acres.

Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; Broker: All West Realty Ltd.; rbauction.com/realestate.

EquipmentHeavy

1630

Travel Packages

A-STEEL SHIPPING CONTAINERS. 20’, 40’ & 53’. 40’ insulated reefers/freezers. Modifications possible windows, doors, walls, as office, living work-shop, etc., 40’ flatrack/bridge.

1-866-528-7108; www.rtccontainer.com.

Firewood

SAVE 30% on our Heart of the Arctic Adventure. Visit Inuit Communities in Greenland and Nunavut aboard the comfortable 198-passenger Ocean Endeavour. Call for details! 1-800-363-7566 or visit www. adventurecanada.com.

(TICO#04001400).

1660

Wanted To Buy

LOGS Semi loads of pine, spruce, tamarack, poplar, birch.

Price depends on location of delivery. Lil Mule Logging 403-318-4346

Garden Supplies

1680

890 Ponoka Rising Sun Clubhouse Society

is requiring a volunteer to serve on the Board of Directors.

Meetings are once a month breaking for the summer.

If interested please stop by the clubhouse at 5216 - 50 St. for an application and ask for Amanda Misc.

Help

880

MAINTENANCE WORKER Rimoka Housing Foundation is seeking a full-time Maintenance Worker for our facilities in Ponoka. The successful candidate will be part of a team of maintenance employees who ensure the safe and efficient performance of our operations and facilities under the direct supervision of the Maintenance Manager. The position performs a variety of maintenance functions on equipment, buildings and grounds including but not limited to carpentry, electrical, plumbing and painting.

Qualifications of the successful candidate should include: • High School Diploma • 5th Class Power Engineering ABSA Certificate or New 4th Class Power Engineering ABSA Certificate or experience in boiler operations will also be considered • Experience in building maintenance and property management • Basic computer skills required • A positive attitude and team player The successful candidate will work Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, 40 hours per week.

Please submit your resume in confidence to rimoka@telus.net by March 23, 2016. Only those candidates who are selected for an interview will be contacted.

1930

WANTED/BUYING Alberta Antler. Buying shed antler of all species/grade. Competitive pricing & fair grading. Will buy deer, elk, moose - all grades & all amounts. Keep this ad buying all the time. Herb 780-385-0076.

REFORESTATION NURSERY SEEDLINGS of hardy trees, shrubs, & berries for shelterbelts or landscaping. Spruce & Pine from $0.99/tree.

Agricultural Free shipping. #2000 - #2290 Replacement guarantee.

Farm Equipment ..............2010 1-866-873-3846 or Haying Equipment ............2020 www.treetime.ca.

www.bigstrapperauctions.net

Volunteers Wanted

1900

Misc. for Sale

1760

LOOKING FOR a shop?

Post Frame Buildings.

AFAB Industries has experience, expertise, reliability and great construction practices. For a free quote, contact Ryan Smith 403-818-0797 or email: ryan.afab@gmail.com.

SAWMILLS from only $4,397. Make money & save money with your own bandmill. Cut lumber any dimension. In stock ready to ship. Free info & dvd: www.NorwoodSawmills.com/400OT. 1-800-566-6899 ext.

400OT

Livestock

2100

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

Fully guaranteed.

Call Carole Barclay at 403-742-4825, Terry 403-740-5037 Ricky 403-740-5711. email bardale@xplornet.com

STEEL BUILDING SALE. “Big Blow Out Sale - Clear out pricing in effect now!”

20X20 $5,444. 25X26 $6,275. 28X28 $7,454.

30X30 $8,489. 32X34 $10,328. 42X50 $15,866.

One end wall included.

Pioneer Steel 1-800-668-5422; www.pioneersteel.ca.

CHARLOIS bulls, Red Angus bulls, Red Angus X Simmental 780-582-2254 Forestburg

VISIT NEWMOM.CA to get money saving coupons that help you save on your favourite brands. 25+ new online and store coupons every month. Check in regularly to see how much you can save! Join newmom.ca today and start saving! Register code LEARN.

Auctions

Tractors ............................2030 Combines & Headers ......2040 Fertilizer Equipment..........2050 Misc. Farm Machinery ......2060 Equipment Wanted ..........2070 Farm Custom Work ..........2080 Farm Auctions ..................2090 Livestock ..........................2100 Livestock - Exotic..............2110 Sheep ..............................2120 Poultry ..............................2130 Horses ..............................2140 Horse Boarding ................2150 Riding Supplies ................2160 Horse/Stock Trailers ........2170 Pasture Wanted ................2180 Grain, Feed, Hay ..............2190 Seed Grain ......................2200 Seeding & Tillage ............2210

PUREBRED red and black Angus bulls. 1 and 2 year olds. Semen tested and delivered.

Vicwin Farms 403-784-3517, 403-318-7363.

RED and black Angus bulls, will be semen tested and delivery can be arranged. E & L Ranching in Bowden, Eric @ 403 391-2259.

Evenings @ 403 224-2396

Horses

2140

WE BUY HORSES: broke, un-broke, or unwanted.

Jerry Dodds 403-783-0303

Grain, Feed Hay

2190

3rd CUT ALFALFA HAY Dairy quality Test results available 3x4x8 large square bales shedded

Call Henry 1 403 654 8023

BRIGHT SEED WHEAT BARLEY CERT. HARVEST-HRS CERT.COPELAND-MALT CERT. REDWATER-HRS CERT. COWBOY-SILAGE CERT.FOREMOST-CPS CERT. COALITION-FEED FABA BEANSPEAS-CERT. LIMERICK FLAX-CERT. SOREL SEED OATS CALL DAVE HM.780-855-2240, CEL. 780-678-6329 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.

For Rent #3000 - #3200 Houses/ Duplexes

3020

3 bdrm house

FOR RENT

Available April 1 References required Call for details

587-738-0888 MODERNIZED DUPLEX 4 bdrm, 2 bath, finished bsmt Great neighborhood $1300/mnth plus D.D. Plus utilities

CALL 403-597-0687 NEWER 3 bdrm. townhouse, 6 appl., 3 bath, walk-in closets, deck, lrg. laundry storage room, 403-704-1221 PONOKA house, 1 bdrm., 1 bath, close to downtown, 5 appl., double garage, n/s, no pets, rent $800 + utils./dd same. Avail.

Mar. 1 403-783-4993

1530

RENTAL EQUIPMENT & SURPLUS ASSETS AUCTION Saturday, March 26, 2016 @ 9am at Montgomery Auction Sales Centre

Selling Over 1000 Lots of Rental Equipment from The Cat Rental Stores Live and Via Internet @ Bidspotter.com

MONTGOMERY AUCTION SERVICES LTD. www.montgomeryauctions.com

1-800-371-6963

Blackfalds, AB

403-885-5149

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016 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

Advertise your business in the Business Directory!

PLUMBING

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

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

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

PONOKA NEWS 47 Suites

3060

SUITE FOR RENT APRIL 1 2 bedroom, 5 appliances NS, NP

$900 per month rent $900 damage deposit

403-704-0310

FOR RENT

HARVEST MANOR 1 bdrm, 2 bdrm & bachelor studio Working individual

403-704-3327 403-870-3899 PONOKA 2 bdrm. well maintained quiet adult building, no pets $790/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. **RENTED**

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

403-357-0287

Pasture

3380

WANTED

Summer pasture for mares & colts or cows & calves.

Contact Jerry Dodds

403-783-0303

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

$

35 PER WEEK. PLUS

$2.25 WEBCHARGE

REACHING 6000 HOUSEHOLDS PER WEEK.

Real Estate #4000 - #4190 Houses For Sale

4040

NEED to Downsize?

Brand New Valley Crossing Condos in Blackfalds.

Main Áoor is 1,119 SQ FT 2 Bdrm/2Bath. Imm. Poss.

Start at $219,900.

Call 403-396-1688.

Farms/ Land

4070

5 PARCELS OF FARMLAND near Altario, Alberta. Ritchie Bros.

Auctioneers Unreserved Auction, April 12 in Provost, Alberta. Fenced land, natural spring water.

Contact Jerry Hodge: 780-706-6652; rbauction.com/realestate.

4090

Manufactured Homes

NO MATTER WHO you are, we have a home that Àts your lifestyle at United Homes Canada. Over 40 years of experience in providing the best value in quality modular and manufactured housing.

Call 1-800-461-7632 or visit www.unitedhomescanada.com to discover how we can help you Ànd your new home.

Buildings For Sale

4150

POLE BARNS, Shops, steel buildings metal clad or fabric clad. Complete supply and installation.

Call John at 403-998-7907; jcameron@ advancebuildings.com.

3180

PASTURE & HAY LAND. 400 - 8000 acres year round water. Management available. Central Sask.

Natural springs excellent water. Grazing available.

Other small & large grain & pasture quarters. $150k $2.6m. Doug Rue 306-716-2671; saskfarms@shaw.ca.

Pasture/ Land

Condos/ Townhouses

4020

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, March 27 4217 - 41st St. Close, Ponoka 1:00 - 4:00 PM ARE YOU interested in buying, rent to buy or simply renting?

Check us out!

More details can be seen at Comfree listing 519941.

Financial #4400 - #4430

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

Investments

4410

RUPERTSLAND INSTITUTE (RLI) Request for Proposal Subject: Facilitation of a Job Finder’s Clubs in one or more of RLI’s ten service delivery centres located throughout Alberta.

Closing Date: 5 pm on March 18, 2016. Full details about this RFP may be found on the RLI website: http://www.rupertsland.org. Only one contract will be awarded and only successful bidders will be contacted.

Money To Loan

4430

GET BACK on track!

Bad credit? Bills?

Unemployed? Need money? We lend!

If you own your own home - you qualify.

Pioneer Acceptance Corp.

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

Public Notice #6000

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

Energy East pipeline delays unconscionable There is no justification for continuing to do business with the Saudis or selling our oil to the Americans for cut rates

BY GWYN MORGAN TROY MEDIA COLUMNIST What is the relationship between these events?

1) Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion announces the federal government won’t stop the controversial $15-billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia despite what he terms the kingdom’s “terrible” human rights record because “very surely … the equipment would be sold to Saudi Arabia by another country and this would not change one iota … human rights in Saudi Arabia.”

2) In 2015, Eastern Canadian refiners imported hundreds of thousands of barrels per day of crude oil from Saudi Arabia, Algeria and Angola; countries whose Human Rights Watch ranking is very poor.

3) The federal government announces a nine-month extension to the 18month Energy East regulatory process to study whether the pipeline would increase greenhouse gas emissions, and to allow for additional consultation with Aboriginal and other interest groups.

Dion is correct that stopping the arms sale to the Saudis would simply mean they would buy the arms elsewhere. But the Saudis’ ability to purchase those arms is enabled by the cash that Canada and other oil importing countries send them, as do oil purchases from Algeria, Angola and the other oil producing states that make up the Middle East/North African conflict hotbed.

Non-oil producing countries have little choice but to send those enabling funds.

But Canada has a choice. The proposed Energy East pipeline would eliminate those imports and open an export corridor for Canadian oil to world markets, ending the payment of billions of dollars to those corrupt countries while adding even more billions to our country’s economy.

Just as stopping the Canada/Saudi deal would simply mean the arms are produced elsewhere, any emissions reduction from stopping Energy East would be offset by emissions generated from production and transportation of the oil we import. So why are we microscopically scrutinizing the environmental impact of our own oil production, while giving imported oil a free ride?

And shouldn’t we also consider their deplorable treatment of women, persecution of dissidents, repression of journalists and discrimination against minorities in comparison with the freedom and social justice record under which our oil is produced?

How do we factor in the human cost of enabling the purchase of arms by the

fighting factions in what is a perpetual war zone?

Finally, why would Canada choose to be dependent on foreign oil when we don’t have to?

These reasons alone are enough to make the Energy East project a national priority. Even more compelling are the economic implications. Canada produces 3.8 million barrels of oil per day. World prices have fallen by some 70 per cent over the past year. That’s bad enough, but few Canadians know our oil is sold far below the world price due to lack of pipeline access to world markets. This discount amounts to about $10 barrel, meaning we forfeit $38 million every day that Energy East is deferred. That means the $250-million injection from the federal stabilization fund promised by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in his recent visit to Alberta wouldn’t even offset one week of market access losses. It also means the cost of his government’s nine-month regulatory deferral is a staggering $2.7 billion. And since 90 per cent of Canada’s production is exported to the U.S., that amounts to a $2.4 billion subsidy to U.S. consumers.

But that still doesn’t reflect the full impact of this completely unnecessary regulatory delay. In the days following the Energy East deferral, oil and gas companies announced thousands more layoffs and further cutbacks to 2016 capital investment, bringing the total to $15 billion, more than 20 times the $700 million infrastructure funding Trudeau announced in Alberta. And let’s not forget the huge tax revenue that $38 million per day and $15-billion annual capital investment could have created. Instead, we have the prime minister’s spending promises that taxpayers will have to repay.

Albertans are generally positive, resilient people. But they are fast losing hope.

In place of action, they see unnecessary delays and the possible demise of a critical project. And they see a national government expressing more concern for the minuscule 0.12 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions from oilsands than the tens of thousands of workers without jobs.

Now comes a court injunction against Energy East by Quebec, the very province that would benefit most from replacing foreign imports with Canadian oil.

When bad things happen, the first priority is to identify those we can do something about. We can’t control world oil prices, but we can ensure we’re getting that world price, rather than giving our oil to the Americans for half price.

Gwyn Morgan is a retired Canadian business leader who has been a director of five global corporations.

48 PONOKA NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

EVENT

ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REDUCED TO MOVE 2016 FUSION S C1545

MSRP $25,049

22,750

SALE

$

C1197

MSRP $44,949

C1200

24,225

SALE

$

2015 TAURUS SEL LOADED

34,900

SALE

MSRP $30,139

$

T0927

MSRP $84,414

T1422

MSRP $47,669

33,750

SALE

$

2015 F350 KING RANCH DIESEL

63,722

SALE

2015 F150 CREW CAB XLT 5.0L

2015 FIESTA ST HATCHBACK

$

T1277

MSRP $80,619

2015 F350 CREW CAB LARIAT DIESEL

64,109

SALE

$

T0927 2015 F350 ,SALE PRICE 63722 PLUS ADMIN FEE OF 499 ,AMVIC FEE 6.25 TIRE TAX 20.00 PLUS 5% GST (PAYMENTS INCLUDE ALL TAX AND FEES) FINANCED OVER 84 MONTHS AT 4.99% PAYMENT 441 BI WEEKLY, TOTAL INTEREST OF 12,724.69 TOTAL OBLIGATION WITH INTEREST 80289.30

P R E - OW N E D C L E A R O U T - H U G E M A R K D OW N S 2013 DODGE DART SXT

2014 CHEV EQUINOX LT AWD

21000KM L0522

$

88

B/W 84MTHS

SALE

L0536

12,000

$

$

174

B/W 84MTHS

SALE

24,852

T0912A

196

B/W 84MTHS

SALE

T1161A

27,992

$

$

261

B/W 84MTHS

SALE

$

188

$

2011 FORD EXPLORER $

L0459

B/W 72MTHS

SALE

2011 DODGE RAM 1500 LARAMIE LONGHORN

26,900

$

2014 FORD F150 FX4 LUXURY CREW CAB

2014 DODGE RAM ECODIESEL L0550

$

37,550

297

$

B/W 84MTHS

SALE

42,901

$

T1161A 2014 F150 FX4, SALE PRICE 37550 PLUS 499 ADMIN FEE 6,25 AMVIC FEE PLUS 5%GST(PAYMENT INCLUDES ALL TAX AND FEES) FINANCE OVER 84 MONTHS OAC 4.99% PAYMENT IS 261 B/W TOTAL INTEREST 7549.00 TOTAL OBLIGATION 47633.04

“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

Berkeley Cottingham Sales Consultant