RIVERS
BANNER April 3, 2015
ersary v i n Celebrating our 106th An
Gazette-Reporter Serving the Rivers, Rapid City and Oak River areas for 105 years
Volume 107, Issue 38
89¢ + tax
Club celebrates charter night By Sheila Runions Banner Staff hen you see a lot of vehicles at Rivers Legion Hall on Saturday, April 4, do not be fooled into thinking it’s an Easter celebration, this occasion is Governor’s Night. Rivers and Area Lions Club is part of the 5M13 district which includes clubs from Rivers, Rapid City, Hamiota, Kenton, Oak Lake and Virden; every sixth year, Rivers is responsible for hosting the official visit. Representatives from each of these clubs, along with special guests, will gather here not only for the annual district governor visit, but to also help Rivers celebrate its 40th anniversary. Among the honoured guests will be charter members Ben Ward and Scotty McIntosh, both of whom now live in Brandon, and district governor Omer Champigny of Oak Lake. Fifty-one members were chartered on April 24, 1975 at Oo-Za-We-Kwun Centre (Rivers airbase); Lloyd Diener was the first president. Meetings were held in Rivers Civic Centre and Rivers Cinema until they bought their own clubhouse,
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the former Inter City Gas office, which they sold in 2005. Life memberships have been presented to Scotty McIntosh and Don Young. The highest honour given by Lions International is the Melvin Jones Award; three have been presented by Rivers — to Rose Madder (community service) and Lions Basil Montague and Wally Hillier. Ben Ward was the principal at Rivers Collegiate from 1969-76 and in 1977 he opened B.J.’s Solo Mart, an ancestor of Rivers Bigway Foods. Ben was also Lions president for two years (1976 and 1977); he has agreed to be the guest speaker for this invtiation-only gathering at which 90 people are expected. Virden Lions sponsored Rivers and accepted only men as members; this was changed in 2010 when Tanya Cameron became the first female member. Today there are 22 active members (five women) in Rivers and Area Lions Club, a group whose goal is “devotion to community betterment.”
Tractor to help rehab Photo by Fraser Auction Service
By Lorne Radcliffe
Prayer walk on Friday By Sheila Runions Banner Staff lans for the third annual Prayer Walk were finalized at the March 26 meeting of Rivers Ministerial Association. Co-ordinator Liliane Dupuis reminded church representatives that she started the ceremony so everyone would know “Good Friday is a special day for Christians. It doesn’t matter what church we attend, we all believe in the same God, so we should gather together to remember Christ died for us.” People who wish to participate in the prayer walk should meet at Rivers Collegiate at 3 p.m. on April 3. Once assembled, there will be a time of singing, Scripture reading and prayer before walking across the street for a repeat of actions at Zion Church. People will then walk north to stop at Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic
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Church, then Riverdale Personal Care Home, Riverdale Health Centre, Rivers Elementary School, St. James’ Anglican Church, Riverdale Municipality and Rivers United Church. The last stop on the journey is Rivers Baptist Church where, after the final song, Scripture and prayer, participants enter that building for refreshments. Liliane says the walk begins at 3 p.m. “because according to the Scripture, that’s when Christ died.” Based on the last two years, the journey takes approximately 75 minutes to complete. There is a giant wooden cross which is carried by volunteers and if you can’t walk that distance, some people participate by vehicle. Strollers, bicycles and pets are welcome for this rain-or-shine event.
Once upon a time, I, Lorne Radcliffe, purchased this tractor from Mary Rouse of Bradwardine. I had been alerted about the tractor, a Fordson Major diesel, by a friend and the rest is history. It was sitting in an abandoned farm yard and was quite visible from the road. Mrs. Rouse sold it to me with a verbal understanding that I would not resell it for a profit. The time has come for me to find a new owner as I can no longer look after it. It will be sold in our auction sale on July 11. If I can recover my expenses to date, such as new tires and assorted other items, I will donate any profit to Riverdale Rehab Facility, hoping that the money can be used to help furnish the new multi-purpose room. It is unfortunate that it has taken so much time to get this much-needed facility built and operating. The picture of my tractor is courtesy of Fraser Auction Service which has also waived all fees connected to the tractor’s sale. If I realize any profit, as I said, it will be donated to the rehab centre by Lorne and Frances Radcliffe and family.