The CAMROSE BOOSTER July 19, 2011
22
Prairie Fun Days a chance to Council explore county in new ways objects to By Dan Jensen
Ever wondered what it would be like to wander through a corn maze, handcrank a pail of ice cream, sit in the pew of a 128- year-old church, or pretend to be a student in an old one-room school house? You'll be able to do all those things and more August 20 and 21 when Camrose County and the Canadian Northern Society hold their inaugural Prairie Fun Days. A self-guided driving excursion patterned after one in Beaver County, Prairie Fun Days is a chance, as the promotional brochure explains, "to explore glorious Camrose County as you never have before." "Prairie Fun Days is a way to show off our communities and show residents and visitors alike the variety of experiences there are in Camrose County," said Canadian Northern Society representative Janine Carroll. Prairie Fun Days will feature 11 different attractions, including Alberta's Littlest Airport, Camrose County Nature Conservation Centre, the Meeting Creek Railway Station and Elevator, Bashaw Fire Hall Museum, Ferintosh Manor Bed and Breakfast, St. Thomas Catholic Church, Verdun School, Hay Lakes Telegraph Park, Kingman Museum and Tea House, Jojo's Maze Craze and 18-hole mini golf, and Hampton School. All 11 will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, with some open into the evening. "Jojo's Maze Craze will be staying
open Saturday evening so people will be able to wander through the maze by flashlight and enjoy a campfire experience," said Canadian Northern Society's Barb McDonald. Those who journey to Bashaw will be able to take in the community's 100th birthday celebrations or catch a movie at the historic Majestic Theatre. Hay Lakes Telegraph Park will provide the opportunity to stook a grain crop, see harvest machinery in action, fly kites, participate in crafts and learn about the hobo codes from the 1930s. The Hay Lakes Historical Society, Telegraph Park and town are really getting behind this," said McDonald. Verdun School, west of Duhamel, is one of the oldest remaining oneroom schools in the province, while Hampton School, east of Camrose on Highway 26, was built in 1904, before Alberta became a province, and is one of the few one-room rural school houses still on the original site. The Kingman Museum and Tea House, which was moved to Kingman and set on a new foundation in 1950, houses school, post office and other miscellaneous artifacts. Alberta's Littlest Airport, east of Camrose on RR 183 will have a two-day fun fly, starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. "The hobbyists here love to talk about their model airplanes and will answer any questions that are presented to them," said McDonald.
Attractions in Meeting Creek include a 1913 Canadian Northern Railway Station and 1917 classic prairie grain elevator. A breakfast buffet will be held in the Meeting Creek Community Centre from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. The designated stop in Ferintosh is Ferintosh Manor Bed and Breakfast, a 1930 heritage home with stunning views of Beaver Lake. St. Thomas Catholic Church, just up the hill from the Ross' Flats Campground on Highway 21, houses artifacts and memories of the Metis missionaries and fur traders. Camrose County reeve Don Gregorwich is delighted with the leadership shown by the Canadian Northern Society in promoting and organizing Prairie Fun Days. "It is a really relevant idea," he said. "If you get in the car and go from one end of the County to the other you will be amazed at the diversity and geography, and the types of businesses and farms that are out there, all of which have something different. Too often we just get in the car and we go great distances, not appreciating what we have right here at home." Prairie Fun Days promotional brochures may be found at most of the visitor information centres around east central Alberta or at the Camrose County office. Information is also available on the Camrose County and Tourism Camrose websites.
Lefthanders hold successful tournament
Dan Olofson (fourth from left) presents the Camrose Lefthanders' Golf Tournament championship trophy to Bob Matheson, of Sherwood Park. Joining them were tournament committee chair Lorne Broen (right) and flight winners (left to right, front) Matt Suchodolski, Barry Hillier, Tim Green, Neil McLennan, (left to right, back) Cory Campbell, Tim Williams, Rick Wozny, Chuck Cathcart, Jim Majeski and Keith McLarty. By Dan Jensen
Duffers from as far away as Calgary, Rocky Mountain House, Red Deer, Stettler, Hardisty and Grande Prairie participated in the 23rd annual Lefthanders' Tournament at the Camrose Golf Course July 8. "We had 90 golfers take part, which was about four more than we had last year," said Camrose Lefthanders' Golf Tournament committee chair Lorne Broen in his post-tournament summary. "We could have had a few more were it not for a few cancellations." The Camrose Lefthanders' Golf Tournament is one of the biggest tournaments for lefthanded golfers in the province. "I don't know of any other tournaments like this that exist," said Broen. The tournament received good reviews in spite of the rain that caused a few delays. "All the golfers with whom I talked had good positive comments about the tournament and the course," said Broen.
"A lot told me that they were going to be coming to the next one." Duff Layton's sponsored the black jacket and plaque for the overall champion, while Zarski's Body Shop sponsored the first-place prizes for each flight. McClellan Wheaton Chevrolet Buick GMC put up a vehicle (which went unclaimed) for anyone who had a hole-in-one on the 14th hole. "We as a committee are very appreciative of our sponsors," said Broen. "If it hadn't been for them we wouldn't have been able to give the golfers the experience they had." The Camrose Lefthanders' Golf Tournament committee will be meeting in the next few weeks to discuss plans for the 2012 tournament. Some of the committee members have indicated they would like to have the tournament earlier in the summer, perhaps June, so that it doesn't interfere with vacation plans. Bob Matheson, of Sherwood Park, was the tournament's overall champion, posting a score of 76.
Matt Suchodolski, of Camrose, won the first flight with a score of 78. Barry Hillier, of Leduc, won the second flight with a score of 78. Tim Green, of Camrose, won the third flight with a score of 82. Neil McLennan, of Edmonton, won the fourth flight with a score of 83. Cory Campbell, of Camrose, won the fifth flight with a score of 88. Tim Williams, of Whitecourt, won the sixth flight with a score of 82. Rick Wozny, of Wainwright, won the seventh flight with a score of 94. Chuck Cathcart, of Edmonton, won the eighth flight with a score of 96. Jim Majeski, of Camrose, won the ninth flight with a score of 93. Keith McLarty, of Hardisty, won the tenth flight with a score of 102. After expense proceeds from the Camrose Lefthanders' Golf Tournament will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society for breast cancer research.
extra fe e
By Dan Jensen
City council is sending a letter to Alberta's Minister of Transportation objecting to a proposal to increase the fee for electronic vehicle searches by $15 September 1. The fee helps cover the cost of placing a name to the licence plate for drivers who have been caught speeding by photo radar. "The government just out of the blue decided it was going to start charging an additional $15 a plate," said Mayor Marshall Chalmers. "There was no consultation, there was no heads up at the budget process, it was just we are going to do it." The estimated cost of the program province-wide is $12 million. The estimated impact of the fee increase on the City of Camrose tax levy is $80,000. "That's a lot of money that not only our city but all the cities that are involved in the photo radar program are going to have to pay," said Chalmers. "Nobody across the province was prepared or are prepared to find the money to pay for that." Minister of Transportation Luke Ouelette has indicated that Service Alberta has seen a steady increase in the demand for municipalities for data on drivers and vehicle registrations, and that the province cannot continue to absorb the costs. The minister's figures show that the total expenses to support the registry information technology system are $70.9 million, compared to $30.8 million in 2002-2003. Councillor Gerry Galenza expressed concern over where the City of Camrose is going to find the money to pay the additional fees, since the money it receives from the Municipal Sustainability Initiative is designated for capital expenses only. He is hopeful that things will change when the Progressive Conservatives elect a new leader later this year. "Some of the leadership candidates are not supporting this," he said, "and with the premier vacating his office there will be a new direction." Mayor Chalmers said he doesn't understand the logic of the provincial government with the increase. "It's like they are saying we help you in other areas so you can pay here. "To me that is a children's game." Reaction to the proposed fine increase from the AUMA has been harsh. In a media release dated July 5, the association criticized the government for once again downloading responsibilities without providing the offsetting funds to municipalities, leaving them in a position of having to find significant additional dollars to cover the new cost. "It means property owners will have to bear the costs of those who speed," said the release. "In short, law-abiding citizens will have to subsidize speeders." AUMA president Dean Aldrous said municipalities are left holding the bag and it doesn't seem fair that they should have to find additional money to cover the new cost. "Many municipalities already subsidize policing in the province and this new fee will further burden many communities. Meanwhile the government will pocket a significant cash windfall on the backs of municipalities and taxpayers. It is outrageous that the government has actually claimed to have consulted with us in advance of implementing this new fee."