Volunteer Day!
COVID-19 pandemic in Alberta. Cases continue to rise sharply.
Latest updates as of April 22
• Over the last 24 hours, 1,857 new cases were identified.
• There are 518 people in hospital due to COVID-19, including 116 in intensive care.
• There are 19,182 active cases in the province.
• To date, 155,851 Albertans have recovered from COVID-19.
• In the last 48 hours, there were six additional COVID-related deaths reported: one on April 18, three on April 20 and two on April 21.
• The testing positivity rate was 10.7 per cent.
• There were 17,524 tests (4,016,838 total) completed in the last 24 hours and a total of 1,997,738 people tested overall.
• All zones across the province have cases:
- Calgary Zone: 8,380 active cases and 61,322 recovered
- South Zone: 970 active cases and 8,613 recovered
- Edmonton Zone: 5,102 active cases and 58,370 recovered
- North Zone: 2,708 active cases and 15,245 recovered
- Central Zone: 1,994 active cases and 12,284 recovered
• 28 active cases and 17 recovered cases in zones to be confirmed
• Alberta has identified 1,326 additional cases of variants of concern, bringing the provincial total to 21,261.
• Currently, 612 schools, about 25 per cent, are on alert or have outbreaks, with 3,502 cases in total.
- 380 schools are on alert, with 784 total cases.
- Outbreaks are declared in 232 schools, with a total of 2,718 cases.
- In-school transmission has likely occurred in 504 schools. Of these, 211 have had only one new case occur as a result.
• There are currently 119 active and 9,280 recovered cases at long-term care facilities and supportive/home living sites.
• To date, 1,247 of the 2,054 reported deaths (61 per cent) have been in long-term care facilities or supportive/home living sites.
COVID-19 vaccination program
• As of April 21, 1,275,287 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Alberta. This is 28,526 doses per 100,000 population. There are now 252,422 Albertans fully vaccinated with two doses.
• Legislation has passed that allows Albertans up to three hours of paid, job-protected leave to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
• Effective April 23, Albertans who have received solid organ or stem cell transplants, are currently under-
going specific immune compromising treatments such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy, or are being treated with an anti-CD20 monolocal antibody can book a second dose of vaccine 21 to 28 days after the first. Appointments can only be booked by calling 811.
• Participating pharmacies and AHS clinics are offering AstraZeneca vaccines for Albertans aged 40 and older. Appointments are available through AHS and participating pharmacies.
• AHS has added additional walk-in clinics to every zone for eligible Albertans who are interested in receiving AstraZeneca vaccine.
- On April 21, walk-in clinics opened in Lethbridge, Camrose, Red Deer, Grande Prairie and Fort McMurray.
- On April 23, clinics will open in Brooks and Medicine Hat.
• Staff and residents in correctional facilities and shelters are also eligible for vaccines now.
• Eligible health-care workers in Phase 2C and everyone eligible in Phase 2B can book their appointment through AHS or a participating pharmacy.
• Selected physician clinics are offering vaccinations in their clinics.
• Alberta’s phased approach to vaccination focuses first on priority health-care workers and those who are at highest risk of severe outcomes.
OYEN, ALBERTA
Hester Muller poses with the Oyen Family & Community Support Services cooks—Maryann Burns (executive director), Pam Stark (volunteer co-ordinator) and FCSS vice-chair James Walker—as she pick up a Grab and Go beef-on-a bun and goody bag. Close 70 people dropped by.
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DIANA WALKER PHOTO
Last week’s weather brought us a little bit of everything. Friday and Saturday were beautiful! I even got my windows washed. Then we woke up to snow Sunday morning. Good old southern Alberta weather.
Soon we should see the farmers in the field.
The Acadia Municipal Library is open for curbside pick up call 403972-3744. Check out their Facebook page for more information.
There will be a drive by shower for Rachelle Stasiuk, (Bride elect of Kyle Meers) on Sunday May 2nd from 2p.m.4p.m. at the Acadia Val-
Acadia Valley NEWS
April 21, 2021
Reported by Yolanda Kuhn
yakuhn@hotmail.com call or text 403-664-0582
ley Elevator patio. There’s a town-wide Garage Sale planned for Saturday May 15th. Contact Chynna Kuhn to register 403-664-8592.
The Rec. Club is selling 50/50 tickets again this month. The next draw will be made on May 3rd. You can get your tickets at The Store, Skappak’s Farm Supply or from a Rec. Club member.
Sending condolences to the McFadyen family on the passing of Grace McFadyen who was one month shy of her 102nd birthday.
Thank you to The Breaking Ground Diamond Dancers for their
generous donation of $4000 to The Acadia Valley Rec. Club! We helped them with their “Dancing with the Stars” fundraisers. The money will be put towards expenses in the new hall.
Congratulations to Hunter Didychuk who graduated from The University of Alberta with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree.
Thanks for reading this week. I will end with a quote from Oprah Winfrey, “I will end with a quote from Oprah Winfrey, “What I know for sure is that speaking your truth is the most powerful tool we all have”.
NOTICE
FOR 2021, ALL SPECIAL AREAS MUNICIPAL CAMPGROUNDS WILL OPERATE ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS EXCEPT FOR THE TWO LARGE GROUP SITES AT PRAIRIE OASIS PARK.
The two large group sites at Prairie Oasis Park (Camp Kitchen & Bullpound Loop) may be reserved for the 2021 season. ALL RESERVATIONS MUST BE MADE BETWEEN APRIL 7 (9 AM) AND MAY 12 (4 PM). NO RESERVATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED OUTSIDE THIS BOOKING WINDOW.
To book one of these large group campsites, contact the Hanna District O ce at (403) 854-5625. Deposits are required at time of booking.
We continue to ensure operations are compliant with all public health measures. Capacity limits and other restrictions may be in e ect.
Acadia Seed Processing Co-op Ltd. NOTICE
Acadia Seed Processing received an offer to purchase from Prairie Wind Milling. The Board moved to accept the offer, but the sale is pending on a member vote as per Co-op rules. Members may vote by mail-in ballot. 10% response is required for a quorum. For further information on the proposal, contact a board member.
Chairman: Randy Wiechnik
Secretary: David Sullivan
Directors: Ashley Wiechnik
Scott Woods
Kyle Bitz
Rob Hoffman
Corey Berg
Latest Covid updates
Schools
• Alberta Education has approved requests from public and Catholic schools in Calgary, Edmonton and Fort McMurray to temporarily shift Grades 7 to 12 to athome learning for two weeks.
• In keeping with the approach taken to other recent shifts to at-home learning, indoor extra-curricular, youth sport, recreation and performance activities for the Grades 7 to 12 age groups in Edmonton will also be required to pause or move outdoors for this time period.
• Rapid screening tests will be offered at 14 Calgary schools and five Edmonton schools the week of April 26.
• There were eight preliminary positive results out of 2,803 screening tests conducted at six Calgary schools from March 18 to April 16. Testing is being conducted at eight Calgary schools the week of April 19.
• Strong public health measures remain in place to support the health and safety of students, teachers and staff.
COVID Care Teams outreach
• If you or others in your home have been directed to self-isolate/quarantine by Alberta Health Services and are unable to do so safely at home, please contact 211 to discuss options, including accessing an assigned hotel to safely isolate (free of charge). Financial assistance may also be available in the amount of $625, upon completion of the self-isolation period.
Public health measures in place
• Targeted restrictions are in place to bend the curve of new COVID-19 infections. These mandatory, provincewide restrictions are helping protect the health system and slow the spread of COVID-19.
Enforcement of public health measures
• The government has granted certain Alberta peace officers and community peace officers temporary authority to enforce public health orders.
• Not following mandatory restrictions will result in fines of $1,000 per ticketed offence and up to $100,000 through the courts.
Albertans downloading tracer app
• All Albertans are encouraged to download the secure ABTraceTogether app, which is integrated with provincial contact tracing. The federal app is not a contact tracing app.
• Secure contact tracing is an effective tool to stop the spread by notifying people who were exposed to a confirmed case so they can isolate and be tested.
• As of April 22, 313,084 Albertans were using the ABTraceTogether app, 69 per cent on iOS and 31 per cent on Android.
• Secure contact tracing is a cornerstone of Alberta’s Relaunch Strategy.
MyHealth Records quick access
• Parents and guardians can access the COVID-19 test results for children under the age of 18 through MyHealth Records (MHR) as soon as they are ready.
• More than 500,000 Albertans have MHR accounts.
Addiction and mental health supports
• Confidential supports are available. The Mental Health Help Line at 1-877-3032642 and the Addiction Help Line at 1-866-332-2322 operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Resources are also available online.
• The Kids Help Phone is available 24-7 and offers professional counselling, information and referrals and volunteer-led, text-based support to young people by texting CONNECT to 686868.
• Online resources provide advice on • handling stressful situations and ways to talk with children.
Family violence prevention
• A 24-hour Family Violence Information Line at 310-1818 provides anonymous help in more than 170 languages.
• Alberta’s One Line for Sexual Violence is available at 1-866-403-8000, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
• People fleeing family violence can call local police or the nearest RCMP detachment to apply for an Emergency Protection Order, or follow the steps in the Emergency Protection Orders Telephone Applications (COVID-19).
403-664-0297
403-664-0205
403-664-0047
403-664-1041
403-664-0195
403-664-0509
403-664-0565
If you hold a share in the Co-op and did not receive a letter in the mail with details and a mail-in ballot, contact Andrea Shields at 403-664-1275 or email: cybercat@netago.ca
• Information sheets and other resources on family violence prevention are at alberta.ca/COVID19.
Alberta’s government is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting lives and livelihoods with precise measures to bend the curve, sustain small businesses and protect Alberta’s health-care system.
Quick facts
• Legally, all Albertans must physically distance and isolate when sick or with symptoms.
• Good hygiene is your best protection: wash your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds, avoid touching your face, cough or sneeze into an elbow or sleeve, and dispose of tissues appropriately.
• Please share acts of kindness during this difficult time at #AlbertaCares.
• Alberta Connects Contact Centre (310-4455) is open Monday to Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
OPINION
CHECK IT OUT with Joan Janzen
Innovative inventions are the best way to celebrate Earth Day
JOAN JANZEN joanjanzen@yahoo.com
The cartoon showed a man dropping his empty bottles into the recycle bin, when out of the bin, a genie suddenly appeared, saying, “I’ll grant you three wishes if you can get me out of here!”
That genie would definitely be celebrating if he could escape from his bottle. On April 22 recycling enthusiasts also celebrated on the
occasion of Earth Day. Although no one reported getting three wishes granted from a genie in a bottle, there are numerous other ways in which the occasion is celebrated. But what better way to acknowledge Earth Day than to honour the efforts of an inventor who resides right here on the Canadian prairies? What could possibly be constructed out of old oilfield pipe, an anhydrous ammonia tank, a straw chopper, parts of
a swather and other random objects? If you said, not much, you would be wrong, because a Vermilion farmer invented a recycling wonder machine using those items.
Danny Farkash spent two and a half years building his wonder machine, motivated by the need to find a way to recycle the 30,000 grain bags that end up in landfills each year. His machine transforms those grain bags into affordable plastic fence posts. His
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
By Robert Blagen
Youngstown, AB • 403-779-3859
LAWS: In my opinion, our laws really need to be overhauled to help protect our policemen.
Any criminal who resists arrest should be facing a hefty prison sentence. I think it should be a mandatory harsh and heavy prison term. No going before a judge and getting a slap on the wrist and walking free.
machine is able to use dirty agriculture plastic, while existing recyclers only want the clean stuff. But there’s more recycling going on during the process.
Farkash uses stacks of wooden pallets to heat the plastic to high temperatures. Those wooden pallets usually end up at a landfill where they are buried.
The hydraulics of an old Cockshut 1850 tractor run a combine and swather combination intake, which slowly pulls plastic into the machine, chops it into pieces and the debris blows out the stack.
Next, the plastic goes into a heated burner that’s made from the recycled anhydrous ammonia tank where it’s heated to 500 degrees. Hydraulic pressure enables a tele-
scoping extruder inside the tank to push the melted plastic into moulds made out of oilfield pipe. The moulds are spun, allowed to cool in water, and then the pipe is pushed out with the help of an air hose. After that the pipe is stacked, ready to be purchased.
The telescoping extruder cleans the machine up as it goes, and Farkash says there’s very little maintenance required, but production is high, capable of producing two posts per minute. Those new posts won’t deteriorate in the sun, are almost unbreakable, are cheaper than wood posts, and will last forever. Farkash has access to a limitless supply of free plastic and wood pallets at municipal landfills, making this not only an environmental accomplishment, but also a viable entrepreneurial endeavour. What better way to celebrate Earth Day than create an invention that uses waste products to refine waste products and produce a superior, affordable product? What is truly impressive is all that was possible without the need for government subsidies or assistance.
You can contact me at joanjanzen@yahoo.com
Police Officers must get pretty frustrated to see fellow officers getting arrested for doing their jobs. It’s time to send the criminals a message that resisting arrest won’t be tolerated anymore.
I would think that Derrick Chauvin should
Maybe these stupid criminals would get the message that it is not right to resist arrest.
Letters to the editor are welcome! Email: kate@yoursouthwest.com or write to: e Oyen Echo Box 727, Kindersley, SK. S0L 1S0
be a very proud policeman to think that his life was deemed more valuable than the rioting, looting and burning of a few cities. Quite a trade off, eh!
Our poor policemen and women are doomed if they do, and doomed if they don’t.
The media and the politicians seem to be on the side of the criminals.
Until criminals start to value their own lives, this verdict won’t change anything. The criminals need to be held responsible and accountable for their actions!
Sports with Bruce Penton
Dual-threat Ohtani making big-league splash
One day, the most interesting player in baseball will be ripping a home run over the fence with an exit speed rivalling a jet plane at takeoff; the next day, he’ll be confounding hitters with his pitching delivery that will bring Cy Young into the discussion.
Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels is for real, and it’s been a good month for Japanese athletes. Hideki Matsuyama is one of the most talked-about golfers after his victory at the Masters, and the 26-year-old Ohtani is definitely the talk of baseball with his duel-threat skills that haven’t been seen since Babe Ruth about 100 years ago.
The Ohtani talk before he arrived in North America in 2018 was near mythological in scope. Here was this young Japanese phenom who was not only a slugging terror at the plate, but the best pitcher in his country. Ha!, said North American fans. Wait’ll he gets here and faces some real major leaguers.
Well, he’s here, and the real major leaguers are in awe. One night in the first week of the season, the Angels held a 3-0
lead in the fifth inning over the White Sox thanks to Ohtani’s one-hit pitching and first-inning home run. A television graphic pointed out that his home run was the hardest-hit ball recorded by anyone all year, and that one of his pitches, a 101-mph fastball, was also the fastest of any MLB pitcher. Later, however, Ohtani suffered a minor injury in a freak collision at the plate, was removed from the game, and did not get the win. However, his bat hasn’t been affected and through the Angels first 11 games, he was among the American League leaders in batting average (.364), home runs (4) runs-batted in (12) and OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging average), with 1.076.
Angels’ manager Joe Maddon is a big fan of his Japanese star, saying “He’s a threat to hit it out on any pitch and on any swing.” Best of all for the Angels, the team is off to a fast start and may finally get superstar Mike Trout and his teammates back into the playoffs for the first time since 2014.
If that were to happen, no small amount of credit will go to Ohtani, who underwent Tommy John surgery on his
Oyen Law O ce of Niblock & compaNy llp
R. Barry Miskuski, John F. Stodalka, Jeffrey J. Neumann, Ronald B. Baba, Marilyn A. Hermann, Bryce R. Farrell, Darren E. Folkersen will be open commencing at 1:00 p.m. Jeffrey J. Neumann in attendance on May 6th and June 3rd For appointments call 1-800-245-9411 or
NOTICE OF DECISION
right elbow in 2018 and had his left knee operated on in late 2019. “My lower body is there and I’m feeling strong,” Ohtani told MLB.com. “I think that’s the biggest difference from last year.”
Ohtani’s pitching arm and powerful swing are back to normal and the most interesting player in baseball may be on the verge of taking the Angels to baseball heaven.
• Vancouver comedy guy Steve Burgess: “I have a tax question. Charitable contributions are deductible but does (Canucks GM) Jim Benning get credit for giving away Adam Gaudette?”
• Patti Dawn Swansson, aka the River City Renegade, on rare lapses by Jet goalie
Connor Hellebuyck: “Monday night in Ottawa, for example, he was on his knees playing Whac-A-Mole on the Senators’ winning score, and he waved at another shot like someone trying to flag down a cab in the rain.”
• Another one from Swansson, on TSN analyst Craig Button’s black eye: “(Button’s) face looks like he lost an argument to Ryan Reaves’ fists. Turns out he’s a pickle ball casualty.”
• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel: “New England Patriots receiving great Julian Edelman announced his retirement earlier this week. Translation: He’ll be playing with Tom Brady and the Bucs next season.”
• Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg, on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine halting production: “Johnson & Johnson is owned by the same guy who owns the New York Jets. Is anyone surprised they would have to stop?”
• Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, on viewing numbers for Wrestlemania 37: “The pay-per-view gate would have been much greater if they’d taken my advice and arranged
for somebody to body-slam Tom Brady.”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “My wife asked me for a seven-letter N.Y. Times Crossword answer for ‘sound of heartbreak.’ All I could think of was ‘Go Leafs.’”
• Headline at Theonion.com: “Little League coach thinks right fielder has potential to be a great novelist.”
• Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times: “A Dodger fan sitting in the bleachers caught Justin Turner’s home-run ball Wednesday night — and wound up with nacho cheese all over his hoodie. So, to sum it up: one run, one hit, one error and a whole bunch left on.”
• Masters runner-up Will Zalatoris, to the Pat McAfee Show, on why he gave up baseball for golf: “The only thing I could hit was low and away, which is where a golf ball is, so I was like, the hell with this.”
• Doug Robinson of Salt Lake City’s Deseret News, not looking forward to Zach Wilson’s possible NFL-draft destiny: “The Jets are to quarterbacks what Larry King was to marriage.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
OYEN EVANGELICAL MISSIONARY CHURCH Meeting IN PERSON again on Sunday mornings at 10 AM for Sunday School and 11 AM for the Worship Service. e service may still be viewed live on Facebook and later in YouTube.
SACRED HEART RC OYEN 1st Friday 6:30 p.m. Mass & Adoration at Sacred Heart Church. Rest of the Fridays at the Extended Care unit 6:30 pm Sunday Mass at 11:00 a.m. Cell 403-795-6912. shcoyen@telus.net
Mass starting May 1st Mass in Oyen at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday Cell 403-795-6912. shoyen@telus.net
ursdays 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass 8:30
ST. MARY’S RC, ACADIA VALLEY ursdays 10:00 a.m. Sunday Mass 9:00 a.m. Rectory 403-664-3603. newtonrodrigues17@outlook.com
BOOK Notes
**The library is currently operating through curbside service only** Curbside service is available during regular library hours. Contact the library to arrange a pickup day for your items. Materials can be ordered through the TRACpac app or www.tracpac.ab.ca. We can also take in-house requests; contact the library and we will put something together for you!
ADULT FICTION: Ocean Prey¬ by John Sandford
The Duke & I by Julia Quinn
How the One-Armed
by Tricia Fischbuch
Sister Sweeps Her House by Cherie Jones
In the Company of Killers by Bryan Christy
The Unkindness of Ravens by M.E. Hilliard
The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins
The Wrong Family by Tarryn Fisher
AMISH FICTION:
The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston (Amish Marketplace #3)
TEEN FICTION: Never Grow Up by Karen Kingsbury (Baxter Family Children #3)
GRAPHIC NOVEL: Garfield Goes Hog Wild by Jim Davis
NON-FICTION:
Maximize Your Metabolism: Lifelong Solutions to Lose Weight, Restore Energy, & Prevent Disease by Noel Maclaren
Butterflies are Pretty… Gross! by Rosemary Mosco RAFFLE:
Friends of the OAC Libraries is hosting an online 50/50 to raise funds for new materials and library programming for the Oyen library. Ticket prices are as follows:
1 for $10; 4 for $20; 20 for $50; 100 for $100
For more information, and to purchase tickets, check out the following link: www.rafflebox.ca/ raffle/friendsofoac Sales end April 29th.
ONLINE BOOK CLUB: Wednesday May 26; 6:30 – The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
“Imagine your husband wrote you a letter, to be opened after his death. Imagine, too, that the letter contains his deepest, darkest secret—something with the potential to destroy not only the life you built together, but the lives of others as well. And then imagine that you stumble across that letter while your husband is still very much alive…”
Eatonia’s Jenny Hagan is awe struck by storms
JOAN JANZEN joanjanzen@yahoo.com
While most people are hiding out in the safety of their homes, Eatonia area resident Jenny Hagan is braving the elements and enjoying every minute of it. Whether she’s maneuvering deep snowdrifts, hanging out amidst 100 km winds, avoiding being hit by baseball size hail, capturing a lightning strike on film, or chasing down a tornado, Jenny is in her comfort zone.
Much like the classic song, Jenny was “born to be wild” about storm chasing. “I’ve had a passion for storms since I was a kid,” she said. She recalls being picked up in a tent during a plow wind when she was seven years old. That’s enough to scare any kid, but Jenny was “in sweet awe of it all.” She went on to begin chasing storms as soon as she got her driver’s licence, and she’s never stopped.
Weather watching is a shared passion amongst people in Saskatchewan, especially farmers. Jenny noted that research on tornado activity using satellite imagery, showed Canada sees over 200 tornadoes a year, but most of them go unwitnessed in unpopulated areas. But Jenny is making sure she doesn’t miss out on a storm if she can help it.
“Last year, I was out in Alberta and Saskatchewan about twenty times between mid-June and the beginning of August. I put on thousands of kilometres,” she said. Sometimes she is accompanied by a weather team or partner, but “usually, around Kindersley, I’m by myself,” she explained. “There’s not a huge group of us, and we kind of support each other. I’m the only really active female chaser in Saskatchewan.”
Not only does she witness wild weather, but occasionally she comes across something crazy, like frogs - lots of frogs.
“After a tornado in Manitoba in 2014, while travelling home, there were thousands of frogs that were all over the highway. For two hours straight, I was driving over frogs!” Jenny laughed.
Other times, Jenny finds herself in some sticky situations. “Last year, I went to a shop in Alberta to pick up some
giant cinnamon buns. I took a bite of a cinnamon bun, and a tornado dropped right in front of us!” Jenny said. The cinnamon bun ended up in the back seat, and Jenny had to clean up her sticky fingers in a hurry to capture the event.
Going for a drive during a hail storm can be dangerous, but not for Jenny. “After doing this for so long, I’m pretty comfortable knowing where the storm is moving and knowing what size hail it will produce. For me, the biggest danger is lightning because it can strike miles away from the storm, and you can’t predict that.” Jenny has had a few close calls where lightning has struck so close she could smell sulphur.
Jenny recalls coming home from the lake in 2012 when a storm suddenly popped up. “It turned into a mean-looking storm that went for kilometres,” she said. “I was staying ahead of it, but I only had a quarter tank of gas, and baseball-sized hail was falling from the sky.” Fortunately, her vehicle only sustained a couple of dents, and her windshield remained intact, which is important because “you can’t chase a storm if you’re windshield is gone,” Jenny added.
However, the storm doesn’t present the biggest danger for Jenny; people do. “When storms get going, lots of people in the area are watching. You’ve got to pay attention to what other drivers do because they’re paying more attention to the storm than where they’re driving,” she said.
Storm chasing has opened the door for Jenny to meet many interesting people, and it’s also opened the door for her
to start a TV series called “Lost in the Storm.” The first episode aired in early April. “One episode featured winter storms,” Jenny said, which is not surprising since Mother Nature has already generously provided three record-breaking storms this year. Jenny’s TV series shows viewers what storm chasing is all about, including everything from fun to forecasting, and Jenny excels at both.
“I’m a weather spotter, sending warnings to Environment Canada,” she said. “Environment Canada can only see radar, and radar can’t see what’s happening below the cloud base. Without people’s eyes on the ground, they don’t know what’s going on below that cloud base. We send those reports in while we are out there.”
Not only is Jenny a weather spotter, but she is concerned about the safety of others while she is out in a storm. Along with her camera and video gear, she also carries a large first aid kit. “Often, we’re first on the scene if houses are hit by tornadoes. If we come across property damage, we stop the chase and make sure everyone is OK, and call emergency services as needed,” she explained.
Jenny offered some advice to ensure the safety of others. “I would recommend people get together with a trained spotter when chasing a storm if they’re interested in that kind of thing. People out for a drive can put themselves in danger. It’s great to watch, but stay a safe distance from the storm,” she said. After all, every storm chaser knows you can’t get a good picture if you’re right in the storm.
Jenny Hagan is one of the few, if not only, active female storm chasers.
Local golf courses set to tee off soon: Oyen course hopes for May 1
JOAN JANZEN joanjanzen@yahoo.com
The black cloth bag was imprinted in green letters “Volunteers are the heart of the community.” The bag filled with goodies included a beverage of choice, five Nescafe sweet & creamy instant coffee packages, a pen and note pad, a lanyard with clip, a package including face masks, hand sanitizer gel and tissues, a candy bag with gum, mints and chocolate. |
DIANA WALKER PHOTO
The Liberal Budget ... Doubling Down on Failures
Ottawa, ON – “More than a year late, swimming in red ink, and rife with risky new economic strategies based on the Liberals “reimagined” Canada. The Liberals appear to be doubling down on their failures,” is how Battle River-Crowfoot MP Damien Kurek responded to Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s first budget presented on April 19, 2021. The leader of Canada’s Conservatives, the Hon. Erin O’Toole, stated “the Prime Minister wants to test an out-of-control debt plan without any real stimulus, one that abandons the natural resource sector entirely, and provides no real fiscal anchor. This Ottawa-knows-best approach will continue to lead to ballooning housing costs, higher taxes, growing risk of inflation, and will leave millions of Canadians behind.”
MP Kurek echoed the leader’s sentiment saying “it is a downright travesty when the Liberals have the opportunity to take tangible fiscal action, and they miss the mark entirely. Further, they recycle old promises they have consistently failed to deliver on, neglect our oil and gas sector, and fail to present a tangible way out of the worst health and financial crisis in decades.”
Further to the massive spending was a doubling down on massive Government program expansion, even giving themselves a hundred-billion-dollar slush fund for “green projects” with limited accountability. Canada’s economy was steered through the Great Recession of 2008 by then Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, something that MP Kurek notes; “A Conservative got us through the last recession and from what we saw today it is going to take a Conservative to get us through this one. We’ve got a solid five-point plan to see a strong Canadian recovery, while the Liberals seem to think the only metric for success is to spend more money.”
403-664-9637 buds_e_i_services@yahoo.com Office: 403-676-2162 Fax: 403-676-2152
Golfers are primed and ready to get out on the course as soon as local golf courses open up for the season. At the Kindersley Golf course, a group of volunteers took the tarps off the course on Thursday, April 15, revealing awesome-looking greens that had wintered well. Volunteers also participated in a work bee to finish up work that had been done last October. During the day, railway ties were removed, and bushes and trees were trimmed throughout the course.
Kindersley Golf Course plans to open in late April, depending on weather conditions. To kick off the season, the park had a draw for a giveaway of a free golf bag of the winner’s choosing.
The Oyen & District Golf Course, located near Highway 9 and 41, held its annual general meeting on April 15 via Zoom. The manager, Debbie Hryciw, said they plan to open May 1 to welcome area golfers.
Although the pipeline crew was a welcome addition last summer, they will be back in June and are already contacting the golf course before their arrival. The course is usually enjoyed by around one hundred members,
as well as visitors from Youngstown, Kindersley, Medicine Hat and Consort. Tuesday night is scheduled for Ladies Night, and Thursdays is Men’s, with tentative plans to start a junior golf program as well.
The River Ridge Golf Course, located six kilometres north of Leader, Sask., is gearing up for the season. A new header for the golf course’s water supply is being installed.
Kent Schneider said they had a lot of trouble with it in the past, so they are doing it up right for the upcoming season.
Plans are for the course to open by the end of April, and they welcome travellers who stop in on their way to Cypress or other destinations. Kent said they have people from Saskatoon, Kindersley and Eatonia enjoying a round of golf.
Meanwhile, at the Kerrobert Golf Course, tarps have been removed, and greens are looking good. The Kerrobert course is gearing up to open on April 30 or May 1. Tournaments are allowed this year, so they’re looking forward to planning a few throughout the warmer months. The club has about 100 memberships and is having an early bird promotion for those who buy memberships before opening day.
Heading eastward, the Rosetown Golf Course plans to open on April 30 for members only and open to the public on May 1. They will employ the same rules as last year, with people needing to pre-book.
The greens are reportedly looking healthy, and there is an adequate amount of moisture. There are also tentative plans to have junior classes this year.
Another popular attraction every summer is the Eston Riverside Regional Park and its golf course. Lorie Poulter said they plan to open the course on May 1. She reported the greens are looking really good and will look even better when they get the water going and get some water on the greens.
“Weekends are always fully booked,” Lorie said, with Ladies scheduled on Tuesdays and Men on Wednesdays. “Our camp sites are fully booked campsites. The booth and pool will be up and running in the middle of June. We’re all set to go.” Golfers can also enjoy mini-golf, pickleball and shore fishing while they are at the park.
No matter which direction you’re headed, there’s a golf course available for some recreational fun.
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In Loving Memory of Grace McFadyen
May 14, 1919 —April 14, 2021
Grace Mary was born May 14, 1919, the oldest child of William (Bill) and Mary Snell and became big sister to four siblings: Hazel, Stuart, Ross and Charlie. She grew up on the family farm in the Helmsdale District, proud to be a third generation Canadian.
She attended Kenmaul School and took some high
school by correspondence.
She always had a great interest in livestock: raising saddle horses.
Grace would break them to ride and sell them at the Calgary Spring Horse Sale.
In early May 1942, Grace rode her young saddle mare in four days to Didsbury and worked for the Fulkerths, who had Registered American Saddle Horses.
In early August she rode home again in four days. While in Didsbury, she bought a dark chestnut stud colt, Spring Valley Kalarama 20570, and had him shipped in the late fall to Lanfine in a railroad boxcar.
She was the leader of the Helmsdale 4-H Beef Club from 1956-1961.
While at a Drumheller 4-H Sale, Grace met another 4-H Beef Leader Roy McFadyen. Grace married Roy on May 23, 1960. They made their home north Acadia Valley on a farm now named Echo Brae Farm.
Together both Grace and Roy raised commercial Black Angus cattle.
Grace went by train a couple times to the Heatherbrook Herd at Lacombe and the Woodlawn Herd at Wetaskiwin, to pick out good Registered Aberdeen Angus bull calves for her sires for their commercial herd at home.
Grace was a hard worker. She planted a windbreak and fruit trees. She devoted her time to her yard, garden and her animals. In fact, she was still mowing her grass at the age of 94!
Grace understood the importance of community. She was a member of the Acadia Valley Community Club, Acadia Valley U.C.W., taught Sunday School for four years (never missing a Sunday) and Eastern Star. In fact, she recently earned her 60-year pin for Eastern Star! What an accomplishment!
Grace had a passion for art. She would spend many hours painting and sketching. She used oils and acrylics as well. She even blended her passions for art and animals when she painted one of her horses. The picture is amazing and was displayed in her room at the ex-
tended care.
In 1976, Grace and friend Myrtle Varneystarted the Oyen Art Club; Grace became president and Myrtle the secretary-treasurer. She also joined the Alberta Community Art Club Association and was their president in 1983. Belonging to the Oyen Art Club for many years provided her with some wonderful friendships.
Grace was fortunate to enjoy the experiences of travelling. She enjoyed visiting throughout Alberta. Her love of art took her to Russia. She also toured Eastern Canada and the Northern United States.
Grace and Roy spent many winters in Osoyoos but after Roy’s death Grace moved back to the farm north of Acadia Valley where she lived until 2013 when she had a stroke and moved to the Hanna Lodge.
Grace made the move to the Oyen Long Term Care on April 9, 2015.
It was at the extended care that Grace celebrated becoming Oyen’s newest centenarian.
Family and friends gathered at the Big Country Extended
Care May 18 to celebrate this very special occasion with a party and a very special guest, Grace’s brother Charlie and his wife Ethel from Rocky Mountain House.
A lot of visiting and reminiscing was enjoyed by friends, neighbours and family.
Grace died April 14, 2021, at the extended care with her nieces Vicki Smale and Shirley McFadyen by her side, one month shy of her 102 birthday.
She was predeceased by her parents William (June 15, 1974) and Mary (March 28, 1959), her husband Roy (September 21, 1998), and all four siblings.
She is survived by many nieces and nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews, a wide circle of friends including her long-time friend Lenora Robarts.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private service was on Wednesday April 21 2021. The service was livestreamed on ofsmacleans.com
Funeral arrangements in the care of MacLean’s Funeral Home in Oyen, Ab.
