After a stretch of cool, rainy days, the sun has finally returned and gardeners across Camrose County are soaking it in In Round Hill, Dianna and Jordon Banack (above) spent the weekend tending to their lush garden
The couple is growing more than a dozen vegetables this year, including corn, peas, tomatoes, onions and potatoes Dianna looks forward to canning once harvest season begins, and plans on making some delicious pasta sauce and salsa with her homegrown tomatoes
But the Banacks aren’t the only ones enjoying the fruits of their labour A few feathered friends have been sneaking in for a snack To keep the birds at bay, Dianna has installed some owl decoys and shiny trinkets throughout the garden
With sunny skies and plenty of rain in the forecast, it is shaping up to be a good season for local growers and a reason to celebrate green thumbs across Camrose County
Photo by Adan Shaikh
Unreserved ACREAGE SALE
Rick and Sandra Nor ton of Tofield, Alber ta SATURDAY,
August 16, 2025
10:00 am
• 2013 Kubot a MX5100 F.W.A. Hydro Tractor, 3-ph, PTO c/w Kubot a L A844
F.E.L . c/w quick att ach bucket, joystick controls, 484 hrs., S/N 65489
ANTIQUE COLLECTOR EQUIPMENT
• AC WF Tractor, complete restore, P TO, pulley cast seat , new r ubber
• Har r y Batty J & J Taylor Limited Safe c/w combination & key
• Har row Cart
• Walking Cultivator
• Small Liquor Kegs
• Microwave
• Ice Maker
• L arge Ass or t . Signs
• Cast Bell
• Assort . Crosscut Saws TOOLS
• 4-Post Electr ic Over Hyd. Car Hoist
• Hyd. Press
• Ingers oll Rand T win Cyl Air Compresser
• Gas Powered Washer
• Miller 180 Auto Set Mig Welder c/w bottles
• Honda FB 5000X, 2000 & 1000 Generator
• Acytelene Cutting Torch c/w bottles & car t
• Mod-U-Blast Sandblaster Box
• (3) Bolt Bins c/w bolts
• Makit a Planer
• 12-ft Band Saw
• 3/4-inch Socket Set
• L arge Openend Wrenches
• Dr ill Press
• Cuto Saw
• A -Frame Hoist
• Stihl Gas Weeder
• Stihl & Husqvar na Chainsaws
• Assort . Power Tools
• Assort . Wood Working Tools
• Pipe Wrenches
• Par ts Washer
• Many more items MISCELLANEOUS
• Job Box Alum Ramps
• Assort . L adders
• Assort 6-inch x 8-inch Blocking
• Quad Sprayer c/w 8-ft booms
• Clevises
• Small Steam Tractor replica2
• Booster Cables
• Heavy Power Cords
• Assort . Slings
• Assort Brass Fittings
• Assort . Oils & Spray Cans
• Assort Auto Par ts
• Shop Fr idge
• 4-Drawer F iling Cabinet
• Tr uck Sleeper
• 2-inch Honda Water Pump
• L arge Ass or t . 2-inch Collapsable Hose
• Quad Tires
• Chains • Boomers
• Live Animal Traps
• Jerr y Cans
• Quad Box
• Rachet Straps
• Assort . Scrap Iron
• Camping Misc.
• 24.5 Tr uck Tires c/w r ims
• 250-gal. Plastic Water Tank
• Firepits
• 8-ft x 14-ft Platfor m
• Assort Small Trailer Tires
• Alum Toolbox & F uel Tank combination
• Many more items GUNS
• Ruger 223 c/w scope S/N 695-12986
• Mosberg Defender 12 ga. Shotgun, S/N W969308
• Savage Pump 12 ga. Shotgun S/N D387278
• 410 Pump Shotgun S/N H163844
• Assort . of Ammunition
• Back packer 410 Shotgun S/N 6744-01
• Universal 30 m1 S/N 345292
AUCTIONEER NOTE
Mr. and Mrs. Nor ton have sold their acreage. Please take note of the Collector Tractor, Pump Engines & Car. L ots of good items on this Sale. Plan on attending. For more infor mation call Rick Nor ton at 780-9757579 or Miller ’s Auction Ser vice at 780-789-2226 or 780-920-6738. www.millersauction ser vice.com
ROYAL PURPLE DONATION
Adan Shaikh, Camrose Booster Camrose Royal Purple donated $500 to Camp He Ho Ha. Pictured, from left, are Jason Chartrand, director of operations from Camp He Ho Ha and Linda Stevenson, secretary of Camrose Royal Purple.
NH 892 Forage Har veste r 16 Rolls of N/U Net Wrap
HE AV Y TRUCKS
‘22 IHC CV515 S/A 4x4
CC Flat Deck Truck w/ Only 19,291 Kms
‘12 Freightliner M2 S/A Van Truck
2009 Hino 185 S/A Van Truck
GMC 3500 16’ S/A
Large Assor t. of Blades, 3 pth Attachments, Rock Pickers, Rototillers & Much More
CAT TLE HANDLING 2200 Bu of Feed Oats Supreme 1500TR T/A
Supreme 900 S/A Feed Wagon Ar tex F W1800 S/A Feed Wagon
T/A Grain Truck w/ 20’
Manac 53’ T/A Dr y Van Fruehauf 26’ S/A Dr y Van
20’ T/A Tilting Flat
Trailer Norber ts 10’ Tilting Trailer Forest Ri ver 24’ T/A Enclosed Trailer OTHER EQUIPMENT
EcoPro 300 Firewood
Processor
2023 Wallenstein 24” Firewood Conveyor
N/U Stanforge & AGT 32”, 27” & 22” Saw Mills
3 - N/U Stanforge 3 pth Wood Chippers
N/U Stanforge 8800 3 pth
Skidding Winch
N/U Stanforge 18” Trencher
High & Heav y Post
Pounder
MF 12’ Arena Groomer
Large Selection of New/ Unused Free Standing Panels, Windboard Panels, Gates & Panels, Bale Feeders, Cattle Squeezes, Alleys, Chutes, Shelters & Oilers, Cattle Guards Plus Much, Much
Miquelon summer programs focus on dark skies
Submitted
Visitors at Miquelon Lake Provincial Park enjoy a Saturday night amphitheatre show. This summer, family programs at the park will focus on dark skies, with other themes being identifying birds and pond critters.
By Laurel Nadon
A new series of family programs has been planned at Miquelon Lake Provincial Park, with a focus on learning about dark skies.
The park is part of the Beaver Hills Dark Sky Preserve, one of five preserves in Alberta. These are designated areas where reduced light pollution is encouraged.
“We wanted to do a little more on dark skies,” said Brian Orr, visitor engagement supervisor for the park. “It’s a bit of an unknown world. There’s a lot of fears around exploring the darkness. There is so much life that’s nocturnally based.”
Orr hopes the programs will help park visitors realize that their actions can have an effect on the outside world. Artificial light can have a negative impact on nocturnal creatures, turning night into day. For frogs and toads in wetlands, glare from lights can interfere with reproduction by interrupting nighttime croaking, a part of their breeding ritual.
Birds need moonlight and starlight to help them navigate while migrating, and artificial light can cause them to migrate too early or too late. Turning off unnecessary lights, directing lights downwards and using yellow light bulbs can help to avoid disrupting wildlife.
The key messages, determined through visitor surveys, seasonal park management messages and division level key messages,
have led to programs designed to get people close to nature and immerse them in the park.
“I’m hoping that people will become more connected and feel a sense of respect,” Orr said. “If you connect with it, you respect it; if you respect it, you want to save it.”
The programs take place from 2 to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays in August. Everyone is welcome to attend the summer programming–you don’t need to be camping to come for the day and can attend any of the events.
The free events will rotate between four themes. Peek at the Pond will include pond dipping to look at the diversity of pond critters and small animals. At Feathered Fun, park visitors will use binoculars and learn how to identify birds found in the park. Nature Investigators will focus on tracks and traces that wildlife leaves behind, checking out footprints, poop, what creatures are eating and the homes they make. For Bugology 101, families will go into the forest to catch and identify insects and spiders.
Guided walks will be held at 2 p.m. on Fridays in August.
In August, the Herptile Heroes walk will focus on reptiles and amphibians living around here such as garter snakes, toads, frogs and salamanders, looking at their adaptations and defense strategies.
The always popular amphitheatre shows will
Alberta Next Panel
By Jackie Lovely, MLA Camrose Constituency
Over the past decade, Albertans have felt the impact of Ottawa’s decisions that make life harder here at home, whether it’s driving up inflation, blocking job-creating energy projects, or imposing harmful policies that just don’t work for the West and leave you paying the price.
Enough is enough.
That’s why Alberta’s government is launching the Alberta Next Panel, a way for Albertans across the province to have a direct say in our future. Over the next few months, panel members will travel to communities to hear directly from Albertans who live, raise families, run businesses, and pay taxes right here in Alberta.
take place on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
The August amphitheatre show, called The Dark Knight, runs from August 2 to 30. The show will delve into what makes a dark sky preserve and how to keep them, showing how we can maintain dark skies at our homes.
Night hikes have run with great success before and will be offered again at the park in partnership with the University of Alberta Augustana Campus Miquelon Research Station on Thursday nights starting at 8 p.m. in August. Those attending will learn that even how we position our lights in our backyards has an impact on the creatures living there. Hikers will have a chance to see the stars, hear owls hooting, locate bats and learn what bats are doing to help us. They will also have an opportunity to identify sounds of the day versus night sounds and look through the telescopes at the Hesje Observatory to see stars and planets.
For park visitors looking for an indoor activity, Snakes of Alberta will be the indoor presentation on most Thursdays in August.
Visitors are encouraged to check the Alberta Parks webpage before their visit to see if there are any advisories and that events are running as planned.
We want to hear what matters to you. What should the future of pensions and policing look like? Should Alberta have more say in immigration? Or how our tax dollars are spent? And what else should we be doing to make life more affordable, secure, and better for your family?
Like many Albertans, United Conservatives watched the results of the recent federal election with deep concern. While we remain committed to working with all our partners in confederation to support the interests of Albertans, it’s no secret that many in our province feel frustrated and unheard.
The Alberta Next Panel isn’t just about proposing new ideas, it’s about action. The recommendations made will reflect feedback from the Albertans who show up and make their voices heard. The future of Alberta won’t be decided behind closed doors or the Ottawa backrooms, it will be decided by you.
Alberta is full of smart, practical people who know what’s best for their families and communities. It’s time for their voices to be more than just heard but acted on.
Alberta is done waiting for Ottawa to fix the messes they made. We’re ready to come together and build a stronger, more self-reliant Alberta where decisions are made right here at home.
I would love for a strong response from the residents of the Camrose Constituency!
To get involved and find a townhall near you, visit Alberta.ca/next
Contact my office if you require my assistance. A reminder that I am a commissioner of oaths and a notary public and provide the service free for constituents.
You can contact Jackie Lovely, Camrose MLA, at Constituency Office, 104, 4870-51 Street, Camrose, AB T4V 1S1. Tel: 780-672-0000, camrose@assembly.ab.ca or at Legislature Office, 6th Floor, 9820-107 Street, Edmonton, AB T5K 1E7.
Renan MenDes
Renan Mendes grew up in an Agricultural area of Brazil. At the young age of twelve, with an Inquisitive Mind and a Quest to see the world, he read ex tensively on enticing faraway lands . With money that he and his family had sa for his Universi ty Studies, in 2022 he, instead, made up his mind that Canada would be his future home. He and his wife, Savelli made the long move to Toronto on a tempor visa. With training back home in Diesel Injec and Evaluation and only 25-30 qualified shops in Ca operating as Advanced Fuel System Rebuilders, he to se cure placement to utilize his sought-after skillse However, this small-town lad wasn’t comfor massive Ontario City. In Oc tober 2023, the couple and their four-year- old daughter moved to the much slower pace of St . John, New Brunswick , where Renan, a Diesel F Injection Specialist, had secured a job as a Diesel Meanwhile On Track Kunt z & Company had cast a wide ne June of 2024, looking for the right Quali fied Diesel F Injection Specialist. Their adver tising was noticed by Renan and long- distance dialogue per taining to the intriguing position in Camrose began. In August 2024 the family f Alber ta to learn more about the position, the compan Recognizing that Renan was a “Top -Gun” in the Field of F hired to join the Skilled Team of Diesel Engine Providers at On Specialists who will ensure your Diesel Engine is running it Repairs, and Advanced Testing for Injectors and F
Legacy from the gridiron
By Nadine Leming
The Stroud Gridiron Legacy Scholarship saw Hudson Mitchell from New Sarepta receive $500 in the inaugural year of the award.
Inspired by the dedication to the game by Susanne and Vaughn Stroud’s children, they saw firsthand the commitment it takes to be part of a team. They watched their children balance an athletic schedule and academics, recognizing the responsibility they undertook.
The scholarship was created to recognize and reward student-athletes who gave their all on the field while still prioritizing their education.
Susanne Stroud said, “While there are many scholarships that celebrate academic achievement, we felt it was important to specifically honour the hard work, discipline and time management it takes to succeed both in the classroom and on the football field. We
believe that doing well in school is just as important as performance in sport, and we hope this scholarship encourages players to pursue excellence in both.”
Hudson was recognized by the Strouds as a way to acknowledging his commitment to personal growth, athletic development and character.
“Hudson’s dedication to
football has been evident not only during the regular season, but also through his extensive off-season training. We were especially impressed by his work ethic, perseverance and focus both on and off the field,” Susanne added.
He will be continuing his football career playing with the University of Calgary Dinos while attending the university.
Submitted
Hudson Mitchell is a recipient of the inaugural Stroud Gridiron Legacy Scholarship.
James Romonda
Let’s started!get
Camrose RCMP update
By Nadine Leming
Recently the Camrose RCMP has received inquiries regarding an enhanced presence in the County. As a result, the detachment would like to advise residents of some updates.
Camrose County now has six posted members that include a sergeant, four general duty members and a community policing member. These members work out of the Camrose detachment in locally held positions and are responding to calls from the area.
The detachment is still affiliated with Wetaskiwin, meaning that the two detachments share resources
and schedules.
Cst. Sande, community policing member, is now trained in using RAVE, which is a notification system that gives the RCMP the ability to share information in real time to alert community subscribers to receive these messages. RAVE messages have worked in other areas to help solve crime and identify suspects.
These RAVE messages are operational and educational in nature and will include information such as being on the lookout for stolen property and potential suspects. Messages can
also include crime prevention tips, traffic safety tips and advisories as well as promoting town hall meetings or community events.
Cst. Sande plans on using this system to circulate as much information as possible.
To subscribe to RAVE, go to https://www.rural crimewatch.ab.ca/l/rave
Residents can also download the “Alberta RCMP” app and use it to subscribe to RAVE instead. The app is also used to report crimes online, look at local crime mapping, and find detachment contact information.
County Council meeting
By Nadine Leming
Camrose County Council held a special meeting on July 10 to discuss the boat launch at Pelican Point on Buffalo Lake.
Some corrections were made to the information previously shared about the council meeting held on July 8.
Teresa Gratrix, County CAO, reported on the information she received from her conversations with Alberta Forestry and Parks representatives as well as Conservation Officers from the Lands Operations Division.
Erin Elder, president of the Pelican Point Community Association, also spoke about the need for a temporary boat launch on behalf of the community and those in attendance.
Councillor Don Simpson moved that council direct administration to proceed with the investigation of the feasibility and costs of an application for a permit for a temporary boat launch at the day use area at Pelican Point with a report brought back to council. The motion was carried.
Councillor Carlene Wetthuhn moved that Camrose County Council direct administration to install fencing around the day use and beach area to restrict vehicle and OHV access on the beach and install signage directing boaters to the boat launches around Buffalo Lake. This motion was also carried.
TRAIN DERAILED
Adan Shaikh, Camrose Booster Emergency services in Camrose County had a busy day on July 30, when a train went off the tracks near New Norway. The area was quickly secured.
Camrose RCMP reminds families to prioritize child and youth safety this summer
Submitted
The Camrose RCMP is reminding parents, caregivers and youth to take proactive steps to stay safe during the warmer months.
With extended daylight hours and increased outdoor activity, children and teens are more visible in neighbourhoods, parks, and public areas. The Camrose RCMP is sharing the following key safety reminders for families to keep in mind throughout the summer months:
Heat safety
Even on mild days, the temperature inside a parked vehicle can rise to dangerous levels. Always ensure that children are removed from vehicles, even if you’re stepping away for just a moment.
Hydration is essential –ensure kids drink plenty of water throughout the day, especially during high temperatures.
Plan outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon to avoid the peak heat between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Pedestrian safety
Helmets are mandatory under provincial legislation when cycling, skateboarding or using scooters.
Children should be reminded to use crosswalks, follow traffic signals and avoid distractions like headphones or mobile phones when near roadways.
Reflective clothing or accessories help increase visibility during evening hours.
Water safety
Active supervision is crucial around lakes, pools and other water bodies. Even strong swimmers can encounter difficulties.
Life jackets should be worn when boating or swimming in open water.
Remind children not to swim alone and to stay within designated swimming areas.
Community awareness
Know where your children are, who they are with, and when they are expected home.
Encourage kids to play in familiar areas and stay within agreed-upon boundaries.
Teach children what to do if approached by a stranger or if they feel unsafe. Reinforce the impor-
Digital safety
tance of reporting suspicious activity to trusted adults or police.
With more downtime, children may spend increased time online. Discuss appropriate internet use, privacy settings, and the importance of not sharing personal information. Encourage open communication and remind youth to report any concerning or inappropriate online interactions.
As a community, we all play a role in protecting our youth. If you observe suspicious or unsafe activity involving children or teens, please report it to your local RCMP detachment.
Adan Shaikh, Camrose Booster
MLA Jackie Lovely, along with Minister of Arts, Culture and the Status of Women Tanya Fir, presented the Royal Canadian Legion Kinross Branch 180 with a $125,000 cheque for the construction of a playground in their community. Pictured, from left, are MLA Lovely, secretarytreasurer Denise Bratland, president Jayne Odegard and Minister Fir.
