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RIVERS
BANNER
ersary v i n Celebrating our 108th An
Gazette-Reporter
Serving the Rivers, Rapid City and Oak River areas for 107 years
Volume 109, Issue 47
89¢ + tax
Firemen practise traffic control By Sheila Runions Banner Staff
O
n S a t u r d a y, May 13 a portion of Rivers was used for training a dozen members of Rivers/Daly Fire Department. “This was part of our traffic control course, put on by Manitoba Emergency Service College,” says fire Ch ief R ich a rd Brow n. “This was a simulated accident; we practised apparatus positioning, deploying our traffic control signs/ equipment — the little poles on the ground are LED flares. We use those so traffic knows where our work zone is.” Training for this function is necessary because of a change in Highway Traffic Act legislation in 2014. It was at that time that fire departments were officially allowed to control traffic during an emergency. Richard says his members “learned how to be defensive,” and he issued a reminder for motorists: “When emergenc y veh ic les a re ap proaching you, you must pull over and stop until all vehicles have passed.”
Darren Frederick is prepared to stop traffic should any have rounded the corner at the post office.
Photo by Nancy Lam
School students in semifinals
By Sheila Runions Banner Staff
S
ome students from Rivers and Elton collegiates may be heading to Winnipeg next weekend for competition in the provincial rugby championship. The girls’ team is based out of Minnedosa and has been an active organization for more than 25 years. Three years ago it became a divisional team when Elton, Erickson and Rivers were allowed to join the roster. The girls are so successful they are
guaranteed a spot in the capital city with a season standing of five wins, no losses and no ties. Despite this perfect record, they are still completing semifinal games. The last league match was Tuesday, May 23 against Vincent Massey. The first time Minnedosa met Massey, they literally creamed the team with a score of 108-0. Of the f ive games played as of press deadline (Tuesday at 5 p.m.), only
12 points were scored against the girls. Local players on the divisional team are Jordan McLeod, Avery and Haley Wakelam, Shelby Barlett and Sadie Wood; Elton girls are Jocelyn Dickhout and Kristen Clarke. On t he boys’ side, E lton formed a team four years ago and after that inaugural season, Rivers joined the squad. In those years since, this is the first season they have competed in semifinals, let alone coming
close to a chance at provincial play. The boys’ last semifinal game was Wednesday, May 24; if successful in that battle, they head to f inals in Souris on May 27. And if they claim enough points there, the team will compete at provincials in Winnipeg, also June 3 when the girls divisional team competes for the crown. Elton/Rivers rugby team played Crocus Plains on May 24 and more par-
ents are “placing bets” on rural than urban. The local team has played the city crew in two games (one pre-season and one league) with wins both times, so chances are high that Elton/ Rivers will head to Souris on Saturday. The team is currently second-place in the league (Souris is first) with a tally of four wins, one loss and one tie. Good luck to all local students, and congratulations on your success thus far!