RIVERS
BANNER September 29, 2017
ersary v i n Celebrating our 109th An
Gazette-Reporter
Serving the Rivers, Rapid City and Oak River areas for 108 years
Volume 110, Issue 13
89¢ + tax
Clack’s collects cash from car show
Photo by Sheila Runions
Cars of all shapes, sizes and colours were entered in the afternoon show on Saturday, Sept. 23.
By Sheila Runions Banner Staff
C
lack Family Heritage Museum Foundation Inc. was pleased when board member Henry Lepp offered a $150 prize from his company, Baseline Performance. It was to be paid to the winner, selected through people’s choice voting, of a car show at Baseline Dragway’s final race of the 2017 season. To augment the free-entry car show, museum members co-ordinated a 16item penny raffle, a silent auction and a 50/50 draw. Another means of collecting money that day was through the final sale of raffle tickets, which have been of fered at community events and the RM of Oakview-area museum all summer. A total of 21 cars — the eldest a 1926 Model T from the museum — were brought to the former airstrip south of Rivers by drivers from Rivers, Virden, Brandon, Lenore, Hamiota, Clear Lake and Shoal Lake. Of the 61 people who cast ballots, Jim Schultz’s 1956 Pontiac Parisienne two-door hardtop was deemed the favourite car there; Jim lives in Brandon. Show co-ordinator/board member Marj Mikkelsen says, “There were many more people who came by to look. Lots of people didn’t bother with the voting.” Another Brandon man walked
Smoke from this race car trailed down the track.
away with some cash; Allan Hiebert won $310 in the 50/50 draw. Highest bidders on the silent auction were: Wendi Burt, Oak River, photography session; Darlene Reid, Oak River, $75 travel voucher and free hotel stay; Marj Mikkelsen, Neepawa, barbecue tools and $25 Kenton Co-op gift certif icate; Stan Runions, Rivers, zero gravity chair. Raff le winners were drawn at the board’s windup on Monday, Sept. 25; those winners were: Roy Elveranga, Rivers, wood carving; Gordon Taylor, Brandon, afghan; Ann Rothnie, Oak River, binoculars; Nikoda Holopina, Oak River, painting; Dan Ramsey, Oak River, beef pack. The board estimates they raised $1,400 from these opportunities which Marj says, “Is a really good return.” At the western end of the strip is where the drag racing occurs. All 120 pits were filled in advance of the event, by 79 adult and 14 junior (aged seven to 14) racers; they travelled from across the province and Saskatchewan. This is the fourth two-day race hosted by Baseline since its inception last October and is the first time for a sell out. It is estimated that 80 per cent of the participants were newcomers to Baseline. Although planned for a twoday event (Sept. 23 and 24), Sunday’s events were cancelled because of rain.
Photo by Barb Ross
Rural and urban police co-ordination works
By Sheila Runions Banner Staff
T
he ultimate arrest of a Swan River man in Brandon on Saturday, Sept. 23 was the result of work initiated by Rivers Police Service. Chief Bruce Klassen explains the incident, which was brought to their attention by a concerned citizen. “Rivers Police became aware of an erratic driver near Road 118 and Hwy. 25. Our member had been given a description of the suspect vehicle, a grey Buick Allure. The vehicle was located just east of Rivers. When the member approached the vehicle, the driver sped away; this was at approximately 10:40 a.m. Due to excessive speeds and the suspect’s erratic driving behaviours, the member shut off their emergency equipment — in the interest of public safety. The member radioed ahead to RCMP, as well as Brandon Police Services (BPS), the suspect’s last known direction of travel and vehicle description. A short time later BPS
apprehended a 48-year-old man from Swan River. The man is charged with dangerous driving, impaired driving and was found to be in possession of methamphetamine.” BPS reports they first located the car heading south on First Street. It was still driving erratically, which included passing vehicles on the shoulders of Kirkaldy Drive. The suspect also hit another vehicle, which caused minor damage. BPS took a page from Rivers’ handbook in that they followed the suspect without emergency lights, until the 400 block of Russell Street where they were able to block him from driving any farther. Once contained, the suspect refused to exit his vehicle so BPS members had to forcibly remove him from the car. The amount of methamphetamine in his Allure was of such significant amount that he was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking. BPS also charged him with flight from police.