Grass fires plaguing Lamont County prompting fire ban

Andrew councillor fed up with extended meetings

BY JANA SEMENIUK

Several grass fires over the past week, coupled with windy dry conditions have prompted a complete fire ban in the County of Lamont effective May 1.

Communications Coordinator Jay Zaal said it’s important to take precautions in light of these recent developments.

“With the dry conditions and warm weather forecast, it is important to take all precautions to limit potential igniters (not tossing cigarette butts out the window, use of ATVs and recreational vehicles, no burning of brush, fire pits or camp fires, etc,” he said

by email.

Zaal confirmed at least five fires in the past week, including a grass fire that began as a barn fire.

“The fire near Chipman started as a barn fire and proceeded to a grass fire. The duty crew (active during weekdays) worked hard to contain and extinguish this and the grass fires. From their hard work, the duty crew has saved three residences from damage this week,” said Zaal.

Zaal said he has no information on what caused the barn fire near Chipman or the exact dates of the fires.

Bruderheim Minor Sports narrowly averts soccer coaching crisis

BY JANA SEMENIUK

As the soccer season is gearing up to begin for children this week, Bruderheim Minor Sports Association president Tara Wilson said a coaching shortage nearly derailed at least three teams of kids.

Wilson put out a desperate call on social media last week for six coaches to sign up or the kids couldn’t play. She said within days the coaching spots were filled.

“We did fill all the spots, thankfully. People from the community got involved with soccer and stepped in,” she said by text.

Wilson said BMSA registered at least 100 kids this year from under three years old to 11 for soccer. She said she likes to have two coaches per team to lessen the workload.

“It doesn't matter if you can make every single practice. It's just getting out there and helping with the time that you have,” she said.

Wilson said head coaches should be over the age of 18, but a junior program helps teens start coaching much earlier.

“We created our Junior Helper program, (for kids over 14),” she said. “They can come and help (coach) and it (gives them) great leadership experience it lets them help out their community and also gives them something for their resume.”

Wilson said no special skills are required to volunteer as a soccer coach with the exception of an online course called Respect in Sport Certification and a clean criminal records check.

“It’s (Respect in Sport Certification) an online module that takes around 30 minutes to complete,” she said, adding that children under five years old practice once a week while children over five are practicing twice a week.

“We even offer coaching programs through Alberta Soccer if you want to take those. A lot of people say ‘I'm good. I can find skills on YouTube, and I can work it out’. The nice thing about soccer is that it's fairly low commitment (and) it's only two months.

In addition to volun- teering for coaching, Wilson said volunteers are also needed on the administrative side of BMSA.

“When it comes to BMSA, we currently only have four people on the whole association and we would love to see more people in the community get involved,” said Wilson.

“We would love to see new sports come to town, and we would love to see new activities and new opportunities but we need the volunteers for it. (For) as little as an hour a month, somebody can really make a difference.”

Wilson said BMSA is holding their Annual General Meeting on May 19 at 7 p.m. in Bruderheim where volunteers can get more information, sign up to coach or volunteer for a spot on the board.

KOZAKEWICH, Bill W.

April 26, 1934April 30, 2023

On Sunday, April 30, 2023, Bill Kozakewich of Smoky Lake, Alberta, formerly of Andrew, passed away at the age of 89 years.

Bill W. is survived by his loving wife of 67 years Evangeline; sons

Elias (Tammy), Jim, Ralph (Randa) and Michael (Roxanne); eight grandchildren; six great grandchildren and three sisters Marie (Tom), Irene and Anne (Allan); along with numerous loving relatives and friends. He was predeceased by his parents William and Cassie Kozakewich; brother-in-law Bill.

A Prayer Service will be held on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at Autumn Rose Funeral Home (5036-51 Avenue) in Vegreville, Alberta. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. at the Wostok Hall with Father Kolin Berglund officiating. Interment to follow in the St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Cemetery –Bukowina. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the “St. Nicholas Orthodox Church –Bukowina” or “Heart and Stroke Foundation of Alberta.”