Your news this week: Space mural had to go - 8 Salute to firefighters - 12/14 More Andrew Garlic Festival - 19 OPINION: Rare Supreme Court win - 6
Proud to be an Independent CANADIAN Publication
FREE
Vol. 18, No. 47, Wednesday, October 18, 2023 www.LamontLeader.com
Biggest year ever for Andrew Garlic Festival BY JANA SEMENIUK The streets of Andrew came alive Oct. 14 while the Andrew AG Society held their 23rd annual Garlic Festival. Beginning with a pancake breakfast and parade, festival attendees parked wherever they could and walked to the village’s community centre where at least 1,600 people poured in to partake in several different activities including a farmers’ market, specialty garlic flavoured foods, stage performances for children, garlic bingo and the popular annual garlic peeling contest. AG society president Carrie Hrehorets said it was the most successful year they have ever had. “We usually get around 1,300 but this year, after counts, we had at least 1,600,” she said. “It was our biggest year ever.” Hrehorets said she is amazed at how the festival has grown from its humble roots 23 years ago. “It was just a tiny little group of people that started it. And really, they didn't have much. Just a little display, then they started having a little market and after five or six years they said they couldn’t do it anymore and asked the AG society to take it over,” she said, adding the first few years were challenging for the AG society in learning how to run a festival. Continued on Page 19
Fire Restriction Remains in Effect
At least 1,600 people attended this year's Garlic Festival, filling the parking lots and pouring into the community hall. Letters making up the 'Welcome to Andrew Garlic Festival' sign were blown out of order by the wind. Jana Semeniuk photo BY JANA SEMENIUK Despite a small amount of rain, the morning of Oct. 17, Lamont County Regional Fire Chief Bo Moore said a fire restriction put in place for Lamont County on Oct. 13 will remain in effect. “(There’s) not enough precipitation yet,” he said. “We are keeping an eye on the rain accumulation.” Moore said environmental conditions prompted the restriction in the first place and there hasn’t been enough rain yet to scale it back. “Long, dry springs, long, dry summers along (with) dry falls can increase the (fire) risk at any time. (We’ve gone)
to a fire restriction in the area based on lack of precipitation and those strong winds drying out fields and lots of stubble fields in the area. (It’s windy and) with so many crops coming off the fields we're worried about fire spread in these high winds with low precipitation,” he said, adding that the county will put a stop to any current active permits that are in the area. Moore said conditions will need to change before the restriction can be lifted. “We'll need some significant moisture before we would look at going back from a restriction to an advisor,
based on environmental conditions,” he said. Moore explained what the restriction means. “With the restriction, we won't issue any permits. We won't issue any fireworks permits. You're not allowed to light a fire for the purpose of cleanup or stubble burning or anything like that under a restriction,” he said. “(An) outright ban is the next step where we cease all burning, incinerators and things like that to prevent any spread.” Moore said there is no indication of how long he expects the restriction to remain in place.