the hydrants may only require some gaskets and O-rings and won’t require digging up the pavement.
After looking at the proposed operating budget Coun. Clark German complimented the CAO.
“I think you did an excellent job Elaine,” said German.
He also asked the CAO if she’d had a chance to look into the amount of water Big Valley actually purchased, but Macdonald answered she wasn’t able to do that yet.
German noted he felt the village should be as prepared as possible for water purchases because an unexpected and non-budgeted purchase could have a big financial effect on the village.
The Community Foundation’s Prairie Crocus Community Fund supports local projects
Councillors discussed the municipal assessor, with Macdonald stating she was very happy with Big Valley’s assessor. The CAO stated the village’s assessor knows the job very well and meets all the requirements of the Municipal Government Act (MGA).
Mayor Dan Houle responded that in his opinion assessments in Big Valley may be a bit too low.
SPECIAL AREAS 2, 3, 4 and MD OF ACADIA, AB — The Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta (CFSEA) is pleased to announce the distribution of $250,687 in 2025 Spring Community Grants to 36 charitable organizations throughout Southeastern Alberta.
German added that it does seem that Big Valley has a lot of properties assessed at the minimum value, with the CAO pointing out there are 37 in total.
Councillors unanimously approved the 2023 operating budget.
The Community Grants program is designed to enhance belonging and well-being for all citizens and to strengthen the region’s non-profit and voluntary sectors. Donors support this fund to ensure their contributions address the most pressing and evolving needs in the community.
During discussion Coun. Amber Hoogenberg asked why numbers show the village’s water usage has dropped year to year.
Macdonald answered the village has had a couple of leaks repaired over the past few years.
Hoogenberg also mused that the water tower has been drained and refilled which may have also played a role.
The CFSEA Prairie Crocus Community Fund, one of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta’s (CFSEA) established rural community funds, is proud to announce the Spring 2025 Community Grant recipients and Youth in Philanthropy (YiP) participants for the region.
Community Grants
$39,250 was awarded this spring to support 7 local projects that enhance the quality of life across the Prairie Crocus region:
• Acadia Valley Early Childhood Services – $5,000 ECS Expansion Support
• Hanna Municipal Library Board
– $3,000 Program and Conference Room technology Upgrades
• Lynks Harvest Sky – $8,500 More than a Meal: come for Lunch stay for Conversation 2.0
• New Brigden Community Association - $5000 New Brigden community Hall Stage Curtains
• Royal Canadian Legion Acadia Branch #208 – $8,000 Legion Upgrades Phase 1- Summer 2025
• Village of Veteran- $5,000 Community Hall lighting upgrades
• Youngstown School – $4,750 Nutrition programs
These grants are made possible through a local endowment fund held by the Community Foundation. Donations are invested permanently, and annual earnings are granted to support community priorities identified by a local volunteer Advisory Committee.
Legion: (L-R) Lois Bedwell, Taylor Peers, Elaine Michaels
Cartwright, Betty Anne (Soldan) Rostrup, Audrey Melnyk, Linda (Hein) Heckbert, Marilyn Weselowsi.
Second Row: Larry Dzuiba, Calvin Berg, Audrey (Volk) Gross, Sharon Carter, Roxie (Lee) Mulder, Linda (Schroeder) Astell, Dianne (Shantz) Ball, Linda (Corcoran) Tanigami, Wayne Benson, Allen Code.
Third Row: Randy Regan, Irvine Jorgenson, Tony Bakowy, John Anders McCracken, Dennis Arneson, Gordon Ferguson, Wayne Brausse, John Crawford, Wayne Pratt, Pat Skappak, Kenny Hauck.
Fourth Row: Lloyd Rafa, Alan Heatherington, Richard Fischbuch, Stan Volk, Laughn Johnson, Coral Yake, Gary Stouffer, Jim Mansfield. Don Thompson. David Booker, Les Volk, Terry Hanewich
CLASS OF 1971:
54-Year School Reunion
It all started with an idea to get the 1971 graduates together. Many phone calls, emails, and texts later, it had snowballed into a weekend of visiting and reminiscing. Put out the call and they will come. No matter that it wasn’t the 50th or the 55th year since graduating. The Class of 1971 has always been a little unique, so why not have a 54 year reunion instead of a 50 or 55 year reunion?
The Class of 1971 reunion centred around River Grove Campground in Drumheller. Trucks and trailers, motor homes and SUVs started gathering together Thursday afternoon August 7. Camping spots, cabins and nearby hotel rooms were soon filled with excited people waiting to touch base with others, some that we had not seen for 50+ years.
Friday brought more people. Hugs and more hugs, laughter and reminiscing filled the campground along with shouts of victory while playing silly games. All through the weekend, people came and went, some staying for a few hours, some staying for a day and
some staying for the whole weekend. In total, 20 students from the Class of 1971 joined the crowd along with their spouses or partners.
Most meals were shared together potluck style. Food was bountiful as it always is and grazing took place all day and all weekend long besides the potluck meals.
Evenings were spent around the campfire with music, laughter, storytelling, and hearing the most repeated phrase of all, “Do you remember?” It was a totally laid-back, relaxed atmosphere that even the brief rain showers that appeared out of nowhere could not dampen.
Twenty of the students that were in the 1971 class traveled to Drumheller to attend the reunion. They came from Sibbald, Oyen, Medicine Hat, Chinook, Calgary, Edmonton, Kindersley, Forestburg, Sedalia, Lacombe, Yellowhead County, Victoria, Alsask, Olds, and Lethbridge. Everyone enjoyed it so much that plans have already been made to do it again … this time much sooner.
Back Row: Jim Mansfield, Tony Bakowy.
Middle Row: David Booker, Barb (Bull) Proudfoot, Wayne Pratt, Betty Anne (Soldan) Rostrup, Stan Volk, Roxie (Lee) Mulder, Linda (Schroeder) Astell, Linda (Corcoran) Tanigami, Marcel Bourassa, Larry Dzuiba, Andy McCracken, Irvine Jorgenson, Coral Yake.
Front Row: Audrey (Volk) Gross, Donna (Frisch) McLay, Sharon (Helm) Dahl, Linda (Hein) Heckbert, Dianne (Shantz) Ball.
Front Row: Joyce Joa, Sonia (Dumanowski) Badger, Donna (Frisch) McLay, Barbara (Bull) Proudfoot, Sharon (Helm) Dahl, Eileen (Berg)
Back Row: Barb (Bull) Proudfoot, Patsy Jorgenson, Audrey (Volk) Gross
Second Row: David Booker, Ken McLay, Jim Mansfield, Lyle Gross, Harry Mulder, Diane Goldie, Coral Yake, Helen Volk, Linda (Schroeder) Astell, Sharon Mansfield, Peter Dahl, Andy McCracken, Judy Bourassa, Tony Bakowy, Wayne Pratt, Larry Dzuiba
Front Row: Maureen Booker, Irvine Jorgenson, Donna (Frisch) McLay, Linda (Hein) Heckbert, Roxie (Lee) Mulder, Stan Volk, Sharon (Helm) Dahl, Dianne (Shantz) Ball, Anne McCracken, Linda (Corcoran) Tanigami, Betty Anne (Soldan) Rostrup, Dave Rostrup, Marcel Bourassa, Bernice Pratt, Kim Blakeway.
OPINION: Good health is a blessing
BY JOAN JANZEN
A group of seniors were discussing their ailments over a cup of coffee. “My arms are so weak I can hardly lift this cup of coffee,” said one. “My cataracts are so bad I can’t even see my coffee,” said another. “I can’t turn my head because of the arthritis in my neck,” said a third. The fourth senior offered a bit of optimism and said, “Count your blessings that we can still drive.”
Good health is a blessing, and there are a few doctors who use their online platforms to deliver common-sense advice to their listeners. Dr. Suneel Dhand is one of those online voices. “The main role of any physician in the whole world should be to be aggressively trying to get their patient off medication, not on medication. Doesn’t that seem like a revolutionary idea?” Dr. Dhand asked.
The research he reveals is both revolutionary and simple. While sharing an episode with John Campbell, a retired nurse, the duo said research revealed that over one-third of the global population is iodine-deficient, and more than 90 percent of North Americans are iodine-deficient.
I must admit I didn’t know much about iodine, other than recalling it being used to cleanse cuts when I was a kid. But it turns out I’m not the only one who knows very little about iodine.
Dr. Susan Hardwick-Smith talked about iodine on a recent podcast. “I didn’t know anything about iodine;
we’re not taught about this stuff in medical school,” she said. So why is iodine important?
John Campbell offered an explanation: “We’ve known the rate of breast cancer is very low in Japan, and the difference is iodine intake. Studies show the ingestion of iodine in North America is a couple of micrograms per day.” However, in Japan, the intake of iodine is twenty to thirty times more, because they eat a lot of fish and seaweed, and virtually all iodine comes from the sea.
Dr. Hardwick-Smith said that people in Japan have shown that 12-15 milligrams of iodine reduces thyroid disease, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, and breast cancer. “I noticed in my practice about 50 percent of my patients over 50 years old have a low function of their thyroid gland. The thyroid needs iodine to function,” she observed.
The doctor also observed in studies that Japanese women who moved to North America and changed their diet increased their risk of breast cancer to the same level as that of their fellow North Americans. “So it’s not genetic; it’s diet-related,” the doctor said.
John Campbell noted it’s quite well evidenced that iodine deficiency is the most common global preventable cause of mental impairment. It’s essential for the development of the nervous system. Iodine deficiency is common in North America because people don’t eat a lot of seafood, and our soil is depleted in iodine. A hundred years ago, there was
iodine in the soil, and we could get iodine from plants and vegetables.
So, how do you know if you are iodine-deficient? Dr. Hardwick-Smith said, “I ask my patients to look at their diet and at their thyroid function. If your thyroid function is low and your diet is not rich in iodine, it’s reasonable to assume that you’re going to be deficient in iodine.” Our thyroid can’t function without an adequate amount of iodine.
“Like most doctors, I was taught that the recommended 125 micrograms of iodine per day was adequate and everyone got enough from table salt and the problem was solved,” the doctor reported. “But we were wondering why breast cancer, prostate cancer and low thyroid were dramatically on the rise. Iodine is not the only cause, but it certainly does play a part.”
Some of the iodine supplements are potassium iodide, iodine and Iodoral, which you can get on Amazon. “I’ve given them to many patients,” Dr. Hardwick-Smith said. “Sometimes the pharmacists will get upset and be worried that’s too much potassium. I’ve never seen a patient taking it who had elevated potassium. I’ve never seen anyone develop hyperthyroidism by taking iodine. That’s another myth we were taught in medical school. What we do see is an improvement in thyroid function.”
She pointed out something interesting. If you’re iodine deficient and begin taking an iodine supplement daily, you might experience what she calls “bromide
flu” symptoms. “You might stop taking it and think it was making you sick, but that’s not what is happening,” she explained. What is happening is your thyroid gland absorbs the iodine, and the bromide that attaches to your iodine receptors is displaced, causing an elevation of bromide in your bloodstream.
And what is bromide, and where do we get it? Bromide is added to commercial baking. Eating bromide actually decreases our ability to bind iodine. “It’s a toxic substance and can cause flu-like symptoms for a few days,” she said. “Like any type of detox, you’re getting rid of those nasty chemicals, and it can make you feel bad for a few days.”
She recommends beginning to take an iodine supplement twice a week and gradually increasing it to daily amounts so your symptoms will be minimized. Of course, the best source of vitamins is always food; fish and seaweed are good sources of iodine. However, supplements are inexpensive and harmless to try. The doctors noted there are additional benefits to having a sufficient amount of iodine: it reduces aches and pains and the development of fibrocystic non-cancerous cysts.
When it comes to counting our blessings, good health is one of the biggest blessings we could ask for. Thanks to helpful doctors, we can keep on learning new ways to maintain our health.
Pop89: 1,000,000 stood silent
BY MADONNA HAMEL
I read a headline the other day: “Everyone is talking about Sydney’s jeans.” Really? Cuz, I’m not. And, seriously, with wars and famine, and tariffs and a new pope reminding us that Love is still the only answer, is the whole world really talking about a jean ad, again?
This time, the news (and here I hear my old radio producer moan: “That’s NOT news!”) revolves around a play on the words “good genes”. The outrage is that the statement implies: ain’t it great to be white. This would be racist. But the advertisers assure us they are not referring to skin colour, but Sydney’s hips of a boy and breasts of a lactating mom.
Some media claim “she knows what she’s got and she’s rocking it.” Rock away, m’dear, because the shelf life of your “gift” is short. You will get old. Or, god help you, sick or fat. Then nobody talks about you. And in your world, that’s not so great. In the greater world, however, you will be forced to look inward.
Thankfully, truthfully, not EVERYbody is talking about bodies or practicing the celebration of bodies as objects and bait. There is a brand of feminism that has drunk the materialist-consumer Kool-Aid, and it’s a big fat soul kill. They exploit themselves in a world crazily commodifying anything it can get its hands on. But it wasn’t the kind I talked up when I was Sydney’s age. It talked about the degree to which, when we just see bodies and not souls, we make people expendable. It’s not a far leap from turning our bodies into bait to children starving in Palestine, Africa and poor communities on our own continent.
Turning a jean ad into a debate about race is turning
REMEMBERING WHEN
We just go there
BY KEITH SCHELL
One day, when I was quite young, my father and I went into town to the ballpark in the early evening to watch a big fastball game between our local men’s team and a team from the neighbouring town.
The crowd for the game was so large that the parking lot was full, so we had to park on the shoulder of the road across from the ballpark and walk a short distance to the diamond.
Just before the game started, Dad sent me back to our car to get something. I didn’t even need the keys— nobody locked their cars back then because everyone knew and trusted each other. I crossed the road to the car and got what Dad had asked for.
But before I could cross back to return to the game, an older couple pulled up to me in a big car. The gentleman rolled down his window and asked, “Son, can you tell me how to get to the liquor store?”
And I couldn’t. I honestly couldn’t!
I knew perfectly well where the liquor store was— I’d ridden past it in the back of our car hundreds of times. It was right beside the grocery store, in the same building where we did all our weekly shopping.
The problem was, I didn’t know any of the street names in our little town back then. As a kid, I didn’t
a blind eye to the fact that kids are dying from starvation. It feeds the polemic the woke world is doggedly sticking to: the only issues worth talking about are race and gender. But when we speak of “issues,” we do not speak of humans. Ranting from a home or office computer or a university lectern is keeping fleshand-blood humanity at bay.
When we speak a language of ideology and apply it to any and every situation, we wear glasses that see issues, systems, ideas. This is not reality. Reality, as Pope Francis was fond of saying, is bigger than ideology.
Meanwhile, I know of at least a million people who weren’t talking about jeans. Because, for a long while, they weren’t even talking. They were silent. For long stretches of time, under a half moon, on a warm night in August, on the outskirts of Rome, a million young people prayed along with a kneeling Pope Leo.
Psalms were sung by a choir. Then, for ten minutes at a time, the place fell silent. Sirens from the city cracked the air. A plane flew overhead. But no one spoke until the next psalm was sung and then - againblessed stillness and silence. Silent prayer, together. No one was talking. And why aren’t we talking about that? About a peaceful, united gathering of a million young people, far more spiritually mature than those of us caught up in polemics, ideologies and girls rocking a pair of jeans?
Eventually, the pope’s assistant, standing beside him, nudges him, or so it seems. It’s a funny characteristic of this pope, whom I have been watching since his first day. Besides moving with calm consideration and a relaxed athletic gait, he has a good catching arm, and even encourages people to toss their stuffies and flags to snag them out of mid-air. This is a point of concern for security, as they cannot control what is in those stuffies. He has a repertoire of smiles that include a kind of half-grin on one side of his mouth that makes me wonder what he is thinking. His eyes often are sad,
Keith Schell
need to know them. I always knew where I was going... and I just went there!
I knew perfectly well where the liquor store was—I’d ridden past it in the back of our car hundreds of times.
I tried to give him directions, but they weren’t very good. I couldn’t very well just say, “Go down to Uncle Ray’s house and turn right. Go past the big tree and straight down the street to the green house with the big yappy dog, then turn left there. When you see the laundromat across from the grocery store, look around and you’ll see it.”
When I finished my less-than-precise directions, he rolled up his window and drove away. But the look he shot me as he left made me feel like he thought he was talking to the village idiot!
As small-town kids, using street signs never really occurred to us growing up. We usually navigated by landmarks and familiar places. That was the only way I knew how to get anywhere in my little town.
troubled and close to tears. And he can kneel for hours in prayer until nudged by his wing man with a kind of: “Ok, we gotta get this show on the road, you’ve got a crowd behind you.” Or so it appears.
That night he answered thee questions in three languages, Italian, Spanish and English posed by three young people. And, not surprisingly, none of them asked about genes or jeans.
“Where can we find the courage to choose and to make wise decisions?” one of them asked. His response: “To choose is a fundamental human act. Looking at it closely, we realize that it is not just a matter of choosing something, but of choosing someone. When we make a choice, in the strict sense, we decide who we want to become. The most important choice is the decision about the direction of our life: What kind of man do you want to be? What kind of woman? Choose from love, always from love.”
Racism exists, sexism exists. Focusing incessantly on these issues feeds them. We are defining ourselves by our endless vigilance around them. This is more than ironic or hypocritical, it is destructive and ends in war.
The solution is to get our souls back - give them life support and act from a place where we can see each other as humans, not members of a sect, party, or ideology. I’m not saying some people don’t behave badly, I’m saying, as did the pope, that we must begin with a heart full of love, see the whole person.
Whenever I’ve participated in a vigil, I have found more understanding and belonging among that silent crowd than at any debate or board meeting. The intimacy of the silent moment, especially while holding candles, makes for peaceful coexistence.
The young people stayed all night at Tor Vegata, keeping vigil not only for themselves, but the whole world. As the pope left, he beckoned them to get some rest, and he would see them again in the morning.
And my parents, for the most part, were the same way. Because we spent most of our time just going back and forth to town, our little town and the surrounding area were essentially the entire universe to our family. And because of that, our parents usually knew where they were going and just went there as well. Street signs only came into play when it was absolutely necessary—typically when we were trying to find someplace new and unfamiliar.
How many times did your family slowly drive down a street, uncomfortably scanning for unfamiliar street signs or house numbers, trying to match what they saw with the handwritten directions from a phone call? And how palpable was the relief in the car when you finally found your destination and everybody all pointed to it at the same time and said, “There it is!”?
Nowadays, with electronic Global Positioning Systems in our cars, it’s tough to get lost—though not impossible. People still take wrong turns, miss exits, or end up where they hadn’t planned. And when they lose all faith in their GPS, they might have to ask someone nearby for directions. And that someone might just be a kid.
So, if you ask a small-town kid for directions, don’t be too upset if their instructions don’t make any sense to you. Just remember—they make perfect sense to the kid! After all, they’re not the ones who are lost.
When they go someplace in their little town, they probably don’t know any of the street names. They just go there!
Raleigh the best baseball story of 2025
BY BRUCE PENTON
We’ll worry about playoff teams and who will contend for the World Series as late September and October nears, but for now, here’s a look at six of the best Major League Baseball stories of 2025.
6. Just in case an argument breaks out, here’s the truth: Shohei Ohtani is still the best player in baseball. Through the middle of August, the man thy call Showtime had belted 43 home runs, led the league in four or five categories, including OPS and slugging. And, oh yes, he’s back pitching after a year away from the mound, with 25 strikeouts in 19 innings as the Dodgers are easing their ace into full-time mound duty.
BY BRUCE PENTON Sports Columnist
5. Red-hot teams — Toronto Blue Jays shocked the baseball world in June and July by winning 24 of 28 games and vaulting into first place in the A.L. East, practically guaranteeing them a playoff spot. But lately, Milwaukee Brewers have held the hottest hand, putting together two streaks of 10 or more consecutive victories. It’s the first time a team has accomplished that in six years.
4. Jen Pawol made MLB history by becoming the first female to umpire in a regular-season game. She was at first base for a Braves-Miami game on a Fri-
day, at third base the next day and behind the plate on Sunday. She missed a couple, as all umps do, but her overall grade was positive. But what’s the big deal? NBA and NFL games have had female officials in the past and by now, it’s at the ho-hum stage.
3. Nick Kurtz of the Homeless Athletics (currently based in Sacramento until their new stadium in Las Vegas is completed) —Almost certainly to be named the American League rookie of the year, Kurtz stunned the baseball world on July 25 with four home runs, eight RBI, went 6-for-6 and finished with 19 total bases. It was an astonishing display of power for the 22-year-old 6-foot-5, 240-pound first baseman.
2. Who is Pete Crow-Armstrong and why is he such a big deal? He may be the most popular player of any sport in the city of Chicago (sorry, Connor Bedard). The second-year Cub centerfielder has speed, power and the most important ingredient when it comes to winning over fans — charisma. And a great name, to boot. Crow-Armstrong has a huge following on Instagram and a recent story on ESPN.com said “For a league in search of superstars, MLB sees Crow-Armstrong as the next big thing.” While his batting average is hovering
Human remains identified at Brooks
BROOKS, AB - On Aug. 20, 2025, at approximately 6:05 p.m., Brooks RCMP initiated an investigation into found human remains. The deceased has been identified as missing Brooks resident, 20-year-old Fatima Ahmed. Fatima was last seen on Aug. 15, 2025.
RCMP sends condolences to Fatima’s family and friends.
An autopsy was completed today at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and the cause of death is pending.
RCMP continues to investigate.
If you have any information regarding this investigation, please contact the Brooks RCMP at 403-7944400. If you have information about this and you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.
in the .260 range, Crow-Armstrong displays power (27 homers) and speed (30 stolen bases.)
1. Cal Raleigh — The breakout champion of 2025. The Mariners’ catcher had never hit more than 34 homers in a season, but after 121 games, he had a majors’-leading 46 to his credit, plus 100 RBI He also won the mid-season Home Run Derby. The game’s best individual story for 2025. Raleigh’s bat has turned Seattle into a playoff-bound unit.
• Headline at fark.com: “Bill Belichick’s girlfriend Jordon Hudson cold-calls sports gossip podcast host regarding episode about her infamous appearance at Miss Maine pageant, proves very quickly she’s a certifiable mess.”
• Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel, on the ‘massive mess’ in U.S. college football: “Fixing it is like trying to stop a tornado with a ‘no trespassing’ sign.”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “Three byproducts of Dennis Shapavalov being driven by what the ATP website calls ‘puppy power:’ 3. His forehand will get unleashed; 2. He’ll play with more dogged determination; 1. He can give his opponents “what fur.’”
• Greg Cote of the Miami Herald, on the ‘oddity’ of President Trump having former Giants linebacker Lawrence Taylor attend the official announcement of the Presiden-
tial Fitness Test: “Taylor’s past, of course, includes cocaine, tax evasion and a guilty plea to the statutory rape of a 16-year-old. Are Trump’s advisers all on vacation?”
• Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: “A racehorse in Ohio tested positive for meth. They first suspected a problem when the horse wouldn’t shut up about his screenplay.”
• Retired QB Tim Tebow, reciting one of his favourite quotes: “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.”
• Former MLB pitcher Jim Boutin: “Baseball players are smarter than football players. How often do you see a baseball team penalized for too many men on the field?”
• RJ Currie again: “Alica Schmidt, dubbed the world’s sexiest athlete, has blamed COVID for her poor performance at the German national track and field championships. Trust me, COVID is a real Schmidt disturber.”
• Headline at theonion.com: “Panicking NBC Realizes They Left Cris Collinsworth In Broadcast Booth All Offseason”
• Another one from fark.com: “SF Giants manager Bob Melvin talks about how the team can pull out of its current mess. Surprisingly absent: Firing Bob Melvin.”
Care to comment?
Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
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The Oyen Law Office of Niblock & compaNy llp will be open commencing at 1:00 p.m. For appointments call 1-800-245-9411 or 1-403-526-2806
ASHLEY D. HERRMANN in attendance on Wednesday September 17 & October 15
KIPLING B. WEISE in attendance on Wednesday, September 3, October 1, October 29 & November 26
Oyen Law Office #215C Main Street (South side of Lijdsman Insurance) Wills & Estates Real Estate General Matters
BMO FARM FAMILY AWARD
Simkin Family / Simkin Ranches – Roots to come home to, but branches to grow
SPECIAL AREAS NO. 4 — Sue Simkin feels that life on the ranch has been the best foundation and classroom for her three children and grandchildren. “Ranching makes them thinkers, as you have to figure out things on your own to make it more efficient and easier,” reflects Sue. “But more importantly, it gave them the roots to come home to, but the branches to grow.” The Simkin family is the 2025 BMO Farm Family from Special Area No. 4.
Sue and her late husband, John Simkin, have deep roots in ranching in Southern Alberta. John’s grandfather originally came from Rock Springs, Wyoming, in 1908, looking for new farming opportunities in the Special Areas. Now the Simkins have reached the milestone of five generations of ranchers in the same area. John grew up on this farm, which his father later operated, and Sue was raised on Copithorne Ranches in Cochrane. After university, John came home to start ranching alongside his father and brother. However, John’s passion was always the cattle, and a couple of years after marrying Sue, they moved to Hemaruka to grow their ranch of Hereford cattle. For 39 years, they ranched in Hemaruka, calving out about 800 calves annually at their peak in the 1980s.
In 2009, after John was diagnosed with cancer, John and Sue decided to downsize to make the work more manageable. In 2014, they sold the ranch and a portion of the cattle and moved to Veteran. They ran a smaller herd of cattle—around 250 cow-calf pairs— with the idea of continuing to downsize. “However, I couldn’t keep my rancher from not ranching,” Sue recalls. In 2019, their son, Mark, and his wife, Donna, along with their two children, Lillian and Jaxon, returned to the farm after Mark’s career in the oilfield to help run the ranch. Unfortunately, John passed away later that year, but Sue, Mark and Donna continued
operating the ranch. In 2017, Sue’s grandson, Adam Dinniss, came from New Zealand to finish high school and participate in high school rodeo. After graduating in December 2024, he started working full-time on the ranch. John and Sue’s daughters, Emily and Jill, were also active on the ranch growing up and still helped with branding and other work on the ranch as needed. “I’m so glad my family came back so I can still do what I love,” shares Sue. “I wouldn’t be doing it without them.”
Simkin Ranch still runs a cow-calf operation of around 300 pairs, and they background their own calves. Everything they grow is for cattle feed or silage, which includes barley, soft white wheat, oats, and they have even tried some other interesting grazing alternatives. They utilize rotational grazing to conserve their grasslands, as almost one-third of their land is native grassland, and the rest is haying and cropland. They also use water pumps to conserve water and keep their dugouts clean, and swath grazing in the winters.
The Simkins also play their part in their small community. Sue coached basketball when her kids were younger and is currently volunteering at the library, where she has served on the Marigold Library board for 14 years. Mark coaches baseball and hockey. Donna coaches volleyball, is also responsible for the hot lunch program at Veteran School and is on the parent council.
Sue is grateful that the ranch serves as a strong foundation and classroom for the next generation of Simkins—Adam, Lillian, Jaxson, and her other grandchildren. “It’s been amazing to see them check cows, bottle feed calves, and just take to the ranching life,” Sue shares. “I can’t wait to see what life lessons the ranch will bring them as well.”
Simkin Family: (L to R) Mark, Lillian, Donna, and Jaxon Simkin, Emily Simkin, Adam Dinniss, Sue Simkin, Gavin Dinniss.
West Central Crisis & Family Support Centre
and Confidential Counselling Services
Programs:
• Mental Health & Addictions
• Family Support (FSW) & Diversion Support
• Family Violence Intervention (FVI)
• Rapid Access Counselling (RAC) for Children Youth/Caregivers
• Rapid Access for Counselling (RAC) for Adults
• Crisis Intervention & Debriefing
• Suicide Intervention & Suicide Impact Supports
• Sexual Assault Victim Support
• Trafficking Intervention
• Family Intervention Rapid Support Teams (FIRST)
• Client Advocacy
• Intimate Partner Violence Intervention
• Court Mandated Supports
The West Central Crisis & Family Support Centre’s mission is to provide support services to individuals and families experiencing trauma, violence, addiction, or crisis in their lives, as well as outreach programs to communities within our boundaries.
ADULT FICTION: Caring for the Amish Family / by: Amy Clipston Halfway to Hell / by: William W. Johnstone Her Soul for A Crown / by: Alysha Rameera For Richer or for Poorer / by: Danielle Steele
GRAPHIC NOVELS: Fujimoto before Chainsaw Man Vol 22-26 / by: Tatsuki Fujimoto
PERIODICAL: Focus on the Family Magazine People Magazine Hello! Magazine SERVICE
The library is currently open as usual, but we have added a curbside service option as well. If you prefer to pick up materials this way, please call ahead or email to let us know which day to put them out.
*If you are unable to come out to the library due to physical conditions we can do deliveries within the town limits. Please just give us a call at the number listed below.
Library Summer Hours: Monday and Wednesday 11-5; Tuesdays 1-6 (NEW SUMMER HOURS) 403-664-3644 ext. 2 aoymlibrary@oyenlibrary.ca www.oyenlibrary.ca www.facebook.com/OyenLibrary
The Crossroads Museum received wonderful donations from the descendants of the Howard and Eloise Ireland family. Family items like a porcelain doll and even family albums were donated to us in 2024.
The Porcelain Doll was given to Eloise Willock in 1926. It has a porcelain head and hands and wears a white dress, donated with a wooden rocking chair for display.
We also received two photo albums of Howard’s side of the family, one of the oldest photos is of a family member born in 1802, and possibly older photos too. The albums are velvet covered and include members from the Ireland and Brown families.
Among the stuff donated, we received an attendance book
for a school from the 1930-1931 school year, along with teacher’s certificates.
Metal curling irons were donated in a box of small trinkets. They would be heated in a fire then used to curl hair before electric curling irons.
Some gold trimmed bowls and many spoons were given as well.
Small cases were among the box of trinkets, inside has photographs. One has a photo of Hoppey Ireland, who was born in London England in 1802. The cases are small and could have possibly been carried around as a keepsake.
All these pieces have been saved and kept by the Ireland family before donating them to us. Thank you to Kate Ireland and Dean McKelvie for the wonderful donation.
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Note: The early William Ireland story can be found in Many Trails Crossed Here Vol. I, pages 141146. The story of their only son William (Howard) is found on page 354-355 in Many Trailers Crossed Here, Vol. II, written by daughter Edna McKelvie. Howard, born in Billings, Montana in 1918 and his wife Eloise Willock, only child of Esther pioneers, had five children who all completed school in Oyen: Edna (born 1942), Kenneth (born 1943), Robert (born 1944), Yvonne (born 1950) and Roger (born 1956).
Pierre Poilievre wins Battle River-Crowfoot by-election
BY KATE WINQUIST
OYEN — The voters of Battle River-Crowfoot have made their choice. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has emerged victorious in the federal by-election that took place on Monday, August 18.
Poilievre established an early and commanding lead, and his victory was never in doubt in what many consider the safest Conservative riding in the country.
With 285 out of 286 polls reporting (99.65%), Poilievre received 80.4% of the vote. Independent candidate Bonnie Critchley was a distant second with 9.9%, while the Liberal candidate, Darcy Spady, garnered only 4.3%.
Speaking to supporters in Camrose on Monday night, Poilievre stated, “This has been a privilege. Getting to know the people in this region has been the privilege of my life.”
Prime Minister Carney called the by-election in June following Conservative MP Damien Kurek’s resignation, which allowed Poilievre to run for the seat. Poilievre had lost his long-held Ottawa seat of Carleton in April when Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy won in an upset.
Kurek resigned after he won the riding in April, securing approximately 82.8% of the vote.
The by-election featured a record 214 candidates, marking the largest number of candidates on a federal ballot in Canadian history. Most of these candidates were associated with a group of electoral reform ad-
kate@yourwestcentral.com
vocates known as the Longest Ballot Committee, with many receiving only one vote or none at all.
Among the legitimate candidates were Poilievre, Liberal candidate Darcy Spady, NDP candidate Katherine Swampy, Jonathan Bridges from the People’s Party of Canada, Ashley MacDonald from the Green Party, and Independent candidates Bonnie Critchley and Sarah Spanier.
Voter turnout was 58.82% or 50,434 of 85,736 registered electors (does not include electors who registered on election day.
in
R.M. OF PRAIRIEDALE NO. 321 OPERATING FOREMAN
4 strategies for retaining your employees
As the job market becomes increasingly competitive, it can be challenging to retain your employees. Here are four strategies to help keep your talent.
The Rural Municipality of Prairiedale No. 321 is currently accepting applications for the full-time position of Operating Foreman. The R.M.of Prairiedale offers a competitive wage and benefits package. As Foreman, you will be responsible for, but not limited to, overseeing the dayto-day operations of RM’s maintenance and utility duties, including road grading, snow plowing, shop work, and equipment maintenance.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Focus on communication. Communicate openly with your employees. Listen to their concerns and be open to new ideas. Let them know they’re heard and that you take them seriously.
3. Offer benefits. Ask your employees what your company could improve and add these to their benefits and perks. For example, you could include group insurance,paid holidays, yoga classes, flexible working hours and telemedicine.
• Supervise and organize day to day maintenance and utility duties
• Schedule, plan and report to Council and take directives from Council on a regular basis
• Grade/snowplow roads
2. Think about development. Employees often quit because of a lack of advancement opportunities.Therefore, provide training so your employees can develop their potential,avoid boredom and take on new challenges.
4. Get out of the office. Create opportunities for your employees to socialize and have fun in a context that doesn’t revolve around work. Use the opportunity to celebrate their successes.
• Lead a team of grader and utility operators
Preference will be given to candidates who possess:
• Strong communication skills
Employee retention also depends on effective recruitment.Therefore, use a specialized agency to start your talent search today.
• Ability to work well with Council, Administration, and staff
• Demonstrates strong leadership, organizational and management skills
• Self motivated with a strong work ethic
• Work independently with little guidance
• Minimum of 5 years experience operating a grader, tractor and other maintenance equipment
• Valid class 5 driver’s license
• Mechanical ability with troubleshooting ability
We would like to thank all applicants for their interest but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Please submit your resume with references to: administrator@rmofprairiedale.ca
PO Box 160
Major, SK S0L 2H0
306-834-1201 (Phone)
How to welcome a teleworking employee
keep your talent.
1. Focus on communication. Communicate openly with your employees. Listen to their concerns and be open to new ideas. Let them know they’re heard and that you take them seriously.
2. Think about development. Employees often quit because of a lack of advancement opportunities.Therefore, provide training so your employees can develop their potential,avoid boredom and take on new challenges.
Employee retention also depends on effective recruitment.Therefore, use a specialized agency to start your talent search today. 4
3. Offer benefits. Ask your employees what your company could improve and add these to their benefits and perks. For example, could include group insurance,paid days, yoga classes, flexible working hours and telemedicine.
4. Get out of the office. Create opportuni ties for your employees to socialize have fun in a context that doesn’t revolve around work. Use the opportunity to lebrate their successes.
The lands are being offered for sale on an “as is, where is” basis, and the municipality makes no representation and gives no warranty whatsoever as to the state of the parcel nor its suitability for any intended use by the successful bidder
4. The auctioneer, councillors, the chief administrative officer and the designated officers and employees of the municipality must not bid or buy any parcel of land offered for sale, unless directed by the municipality to do so on behalf of the municipality
Whether you already work in information technology (IT) or are just starting your studies,here are three qualities essential to your success.
5. The purchaser of the property will be responsible for property taxes and utilities for the current year. There will be no adjustment to the date of sale.
6. The purchaser will be required to execute a sale agreement in form and substance provided by the municipality.
3. ORGANIZATIONAL SKILLS
7. The successful purchaser must, at the time of sale, make payment in cash, certified cheque or bank draft payable to the municipality as follows:
1. ANALYTICAL SKILLS
a. The full purchase price if it is $10,000 or less; OR
As an IT employee, you’re often required to solve problems. Consequently, you must enjoy challenging yourself and looking for innovative solutions.You must also be inherently curious to stay updated with the latest technologies in a constantly evolving field.
b. If the purchase price is greater than $10,000, the purchaser must provide a non-refundable deposit in the amount of $10,000 and the balance of the purchase price must be paid within 20 days of the sale.
(if the certified cheque or bank draft exceeds the final purchase price, the excess will be refunded within a reasonable time)
8. GST will be collected on all properties subject to GST
2. COMMUNICATION SKILLS
If you want to thrive in IT, you must have exceptional organizational skills. Depending on your job, your colleagues may regularly interrupt you and require you to switch gears constantly.Therefore, you must be well organized and able to multitask to keep up with your workload.
9. The risk of the property lies with the purchaser immediately following the auction.
10. The purchaser is responsible for obtaining vacant possession.
11. The purchaser will be responsible for registration of the transfer including registration fees.
12. If no offer is received on a property or if the reserve bid is not met, the property cannot be sold at the public auction.
Do you have these qualities? If so, you have everything you need for a long career in this promising field.
IT specialists must be able to communicate with their colleagues and clients.This means you must be good at conveying your ideas, making yourself understood and finding the best moments to do so.
13. The municipality may, after the public auction, become the owner of any parcel of land that is not sold at the public auction.
14. Once the property is declared
It’s rare to get your dream job on the first try.Therefore, if you’re offered an entrylevel position, it’s necessary to ask yourself if it’s a good idea to accept it. Here are some tips to help you decide.
WHEN TO ACCEPT
If the job is related to your area of expertise and allows you to use and develop your skills, it may be worthwhile.The job may let you
WHEN TO REFUSE
If you sincerely doubt that you’ll enjoy your everyday tasks, the job probably isn’t for you. The same applies if most of your skills and educational achievements don’t apply to the job and won’t contribute to your professional development.Finally,it may be best to refuse the position if the salary is significantly lower than your expectations or if the company has a high turnover rate.
Pierre Poilievre was elected MP of Battle River-Crowfoot last week with over 80% of the vote. PHOTO BY KATE WINQUIST
Jim was an avid history reader and enjoyed writing history book submissions on behalf of his own family. Only suiting that we begin his obituary with his own words taken from his local history book writings.
I James (Jim) Philip Davidson was born December 4, 1935, to Robert and Jennie Davidson, on the family farm seven miles west and one mile south of Delburne, Alberta in the Cumberland District, the second oldest of six.
The Davidson family celebrated the 100 th anniversary of their family being in the Cumberland District August 13, 2006, and my mother’s family, the Purdie’s, celebrated their 125th anniversary in the Valley Center area in 2008. I took my grade schooling one to eight at a country school called Cumberland and then grades 9 to 12 at Red Deer Composite High, graduating with a high school diploma in March of 1954. Then I took a course in Industrial Electricity at Calgary Tech graduating in May of 1956, applied to four different companies for employment and was accepted to all four. I chose Canadian Utilities Ltd. And began working in Drumheller, in May 1956. January 2, 1957, I was transferred to Hanna and then to Forestburg in the spring of 1959, The fall of 1960 I moved to Coronation, as a Senior Serviceman; that was a one-man point so that meant I was on call 24 hours a day seven days a week. It so happened the Stettler Line Crew were changing some poles in Coronation and dropped some poles off near the nurse’s residence. Heather Wilkie, a nurse living in the residence, complained about the poles being dropped off. I went to investigate and there I met Sheila Thill. How I got so lucky I don’t know.
We were married September 8, 1962. Our first living quarters was above a John Deere agency shop, but we didn’t care, we had fun and still treasure those moments. We then moved into a house because our family had expanded. From 1963 to 1970 we welcomed Melody, Lucille, Derek and Yvonne. Sheila was a second senior serviceman answering the company phone and operating the two-way radio, sometimes 24 hours a day during storms. The worst storm I was ever involved in started May 15, 1965. The wind blew hard from the northwest all day and then it started snowing. All the north-south lines from Stettler to Consort were flattened. The roads were blocked including highway 12. The power was off in Coronation for nearly three days. When crews opened the highway a D4 cat with a sterling digger mounted on the back and a hydraulic dozer on the front arrived in Coronation. We ran this machine for 24 hours a day; poles and material poured in. The cooperation of everyone was unbelievable, farmers hauled and skidded poles to where they were needed. Finally, everyone had power, but it took six days and a miracle. I have nothing but praise for the staunch men I worked with.
In the 12 years we lived in Coronation, I joined the Coronation Elks #360, Coronation Masonic Lodge #72, was a member of the Coronation Fire Department for 10 years and we both curled one night a week.
We were transferred to Oyen in August 1972. We became active members in the curling club and with four kids we were busy with figure skating, power skating, minor hockey, school sports, baseball, softball and swimming. Living in Oyen meant we had to do a lot of traveling, but we wouldn’t have traded it for anything.
June 1973, we received seven inches of rain all in one shot and it was something to remember. When you opened the door of the truck it was like someone
James Philip Davidson 1935 - 2025
threw five gallons of water on top of you. A lot of roads were either washed out or flooded. For many years I, Gene Peden and Ken Noble ran our own district in Oyen, rarely seeing a supervisor. Our lives were full of laughter and adventure, not heavy with expectations or rules. I tried to teach by quiet example.
I sorely missed my association with the Coronation Masonic Lodge when we moved to Oyen, so I became a member of Oyen Lodge #104 which is now called the Oyen Crocus Lodge #82. I served on the Oyen Fire Department for 19 years and have been a member of the Oyen Lions Club since 1973. Both Sheila and I are members of Serenity Chapter #113 Order of the Eastern Star. I retired March 1991 after 35 years of service with Canadian Utilities, later known as Alberta Power. We continued to live in Oyen after my retirement and celebrated our 62 nd wedding anniversary in 2024.
Moving from Jim’s own words, it is almost impossible to capture his 89 years of a well-lived life. We’ll do our best to continue in our words for you Dad.
Born on the farm in the winter, years before antibiotics were invented, Dad was always a hearty kid. His sisters have vivid memories of Dad being a huge help to their mother on the farm – chores, driving the truck, fencing and caring for the animals. Dad has been a huge animal lover his whole life, animals are drawn to him. Many times, he would drive his siblings to school on the cutter pulled by horses so that they did not have to walk. In the later school years Auntie Mary & Dad would get to school early to warm up the school before the other kids arrived and then stay late to do janitorial work. They earned a small wage that would help their mother buy sugar for baking.
Dad moved to Calgary for schooling, then to Coronation and Oyen but always stayed connected to his farm roots. He brought the family their first record player/radio combined and their first TV. Dad continued to return to help his brother at the family farm every chance that he had for years. That meant that all of us kids have many memories of time spent on the farm as well. Dad continued his love of farming with Derek and Derek’s family. Even before retirement you could guarantee that Dad would be off to Delburne doing spring work in the fields and hauling grain every harvest. He worked tirelessly when it came to jobs that needed to be done on the farm. He had a work ethic unparalleled to anyonewith no complaints.
Oyen was home to Dad for 53 years. He was very active in the community of Oyen, being a member of the Lions club for 50 years and received the honourable distinction of being a 60-year member with the Masonic Lodge this year. Dad took part in many local activities from stick curling to floor curling, skating and golf, thoroughly enjoying his time with his friends. Lots of good times were also had with friends at the house complete with Don Bamber singing and playing the piano for all of us.
Dad was recognized by everyone in the Oyen area for his work with Alberta Power. There was no limit or sacrifice that Dad would not do, to get the power back on for his community. Leaving the supper table or riding on a skidoo to get the job done! At home his contribution to energy conservation was ahead of his time. Us kids would often find ourselves in the dark after he shut out all the lights in the house even though we were all still awake. No one believes that his thermostat never went above 60 degrees even in the winter. Turn down the heat and wear a winter jacket inside was Dad’s motto. Although time may have softened Dad, when it came to getting air conditioning in the house in recent years, his comment was, “AC is cheaper than a divorce”.
Dad had the privilege of growing old to become Grandpa Jim not only to his family but to everyone
in his community. Grandpa Jim knew how to earn money and was the most frugal person that we all knew. In a journal of his, we found him saying that he was very grateful to have his frugalness passed to him from his mother. He went on to say that he failed to carry that trait onto his kids. He stayed true to the idea that $5 could take care of most things in life never giving up hope that his kids and grandkids would also appreciate the value of a dollar. Community and family were the definition of Grandpa Jim. Being a sports fan, he did not miss a chance to see his kids, the teams that his kids coached (Olympians or local), his grandkids and great grandkids play their sporting events. Even though he stayed close to home, Melody’s Olympic accomplishments gave both he and Mom the opportunity to travel to places that they never would have gone otherwise. Grandpa Jim’s greatest legacy are his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He loved seeing the youth in his family excel. It may have been working alongside them on the farm, checking out their cattle herd or watching a Christmas play that they were in – he was quietly proud and supportive. A kind man of few words but solid as the day is long.
Grandpa Jim will be missed and fondly remembered as we turn out the lights each day. He was a loving husband, dad, uncle, grandfather and great grandfather. Surrounded by family he passed away peacefully at the Big Country Hospital Continuing Care center in Oyen, Alberta on August 10, 2025. Jim is survived by his loving wife of 62 years Sheila. Daughters Melody Davidson, Lucille Hertz (Sheldon), son Derek Davidson (Terry) and daughter Yvonne Honovich (Ray). Eight grandchildren, six great- grandchildren with his seventh arriving in December - Nichole Foot (Travis) sons Ridge and Reid; Nelson Hertz (Jana) sons Peyton and Suttyn; Rory Davidson (Jill) daughter Petra; Becky Valentine (Dallas) daughter Addy; Jocelyn Davidson; Brinley Davidson; Hailey Honovich (Tanner) and Second Lieutenant Cameron Honovich. Sister-in-law Bernice Campbell; nieces Jackie Campbell (Randy) son Bowen Lee (Alex); Tammy Campbell (George). Brother-in-law Jimmy Douglas; sister Helen Vincent; sister Roberta Peters (Mervin); brother Alex Davidson (Penny) and sister Cathy Leighton (John) and their extended families.
James was predeceased by his parents Robert and Jennie Davidson; in laws Alfred & Ila Thill; great-granddaughter Rhiannon Foot; sister Mary Douglas; brother-in-law John Vincent; brother-inlaw Reg Campbell and great nephew Douglas Grosul.
Our family would like to sincerely thank the nurses, doctors and all support staff at the Oyen Continuing Care Center, the Oyen hospital, the Seniors Lodge and Homecare. Your care and love for Dad was impeccable over the past two and a half years! We also want to thank everyone who came to cheerfully visit Dad during this time, it meant the world to him!
Funeral Service and Celebration of Dad’s life will be held on Wednesday August 27, 2025, at 2pm at the Royal Canadian Legion in Oyen. Video tribute will run from 1-2pm before the service. Lunch and gathering at the legion to follow the service – all are welcome.
Public Burial Service will be held on Thursday August 28, 2025, at 2pm at the Delburne Cemetery in Delburne. Lunch and gathering at the Delburne Hall to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Oyen United Church, the Oyen Lions Club, the Oyen Masonic Lodge, the Oyen Eastern Star or charity of your choice.
To leave messages of condolence please visit ofsmacleans.com
MacLeans Funeral Home of Oyen in charge of arrangements.
Helen Margeurite (Wilson) Kroker
November 30, 1938 – August 15, 2025
It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Helen on Au gust 15, 2025, at the Oyen Auxiliary, at the age of 86. She was the eldest of three children and the last surviving among her siblings.
Helen was born in Bentley, Alberta, on November 30, 1938, to John Edgar (Ed) and Lea Blanche (née Lemire) Wilson, and was raised on their family farm near New Brigden, Alberta. As a child, she enjoyed school, playing on the family farm with her siblings and cousins, especially her cousin Milton Holmes, and attending social gatherings in New Brigden with friends and family. She lived on the farm until she moved to Calgary to study education, graduating in 1959. That fall, she returned home and began working as a teacher in the New Brigden area.
ogis, pistachio dessert, or even a simple ham salad sandwich will never be forgotten, nor will their taste escape our tongues – because she added one essen tial ingredient: her pure love. She will always be remembered for her unconditional and self-giving love that her family and friends cherished.
While working and attending neighbouring community social events, Helen met Henry Kroker, and they were married on July 6, 1959, in Consort, Alberta. The newlyweds bought a farm near Sedalia, Alberta, and started their life together. On their family farm, Helen and Henry raised three children, who were the lights of her life: Laurel, Glenn, and Gary.
In 1995, after more than thirty fulfilling years working and living on the farm, Helen and Henry retired to Oyen, Alberta. There, she enjoyed thirty wonderful years of cooking large dinners, canning and making jams and jellies as gifts for passersby, visiting friends and family, and caring for her grandchildren. Her open-door policy welcomed friends and family into her home, always ensuring there was food on the table and ears ready to listen. Helen’s smile, laughter, humour, and kindness brightened every room, making her the sweetest wife, mom, grandma, aunt, niece, cousin, and best friend to so many.
Helen most enjoyed playing cards, curling, golfing, crocheting, camping, travelling, cooking, visiting with friends, attending family gatherings, and caring for her family. She spent hours watching
Helen’s legacy of love lives on through her de voted family: her husband and best friend of more than 66 years, Henry; daughter Laurel (Patrick) Bennett; son Glenn (Loralee) Kroker; son Gary (Patti) Kroker; grandchildren Mathew (Penelope) Bennett, Ryan (Vanessa) Bennett, Hollee (Jay) For nal, Morgan (Jared) Carroll, Michela (Tate) Kroker, and Joshua Kroker; great-grandchildren Blair, Lily, and Riley Bennett, Nolan Bennett, Emery and Ellea Fornal, and Isabelle Carroll. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, as well as a host of good friends.
Helen was predeceased by her father, Edgar, on May 30, 1960; her mother, Lea, on August 30, 2006; her sister, Yvonne, on April 12, 2003; and her broth er, Robert, on April 5, 2019.
Memorial tributes may be directed to Oyen and District Health Care Foundation, Box 1, Oyen, AB, T0J 2J0, Directed to the Resident and Family Council. To leave messages of condolence, please visit ofsmacleans.com
Funeral Service took place on Thursday August 21, 2025 at the Sedalia Church with Darrel officiating.
Funeral arrangements in care of MacLean’s Funeral Home, Oyen, Alberta.
Acadia Municipal Library Report
BY TRICIA FISCHBUCH Library Manager
Enjoy the three most recent adult fiction books that have arrived: Keeper of Lost Art by Laura Morelli, Welcome to Murder Week by Karen Dukess, and The Memory Collectors by Dete Meserve. At the final Summer Reading Program session kids read the story, Molly Rogers, Pirate Girl by Cornelia Funke and spent time creating colourful chalk art on the sidewalk.
A big thank you to everyone who took part in the Summer Reading Program the past two months. We hope all of the kids enjoyed the summer fun at the library!
A huge “Well done!” goes out to all of the children who participated in the Summer Reading Contest. We had five diligent readers who read a combined 7,231 minutes (120.5 hours)! Congratulations to Miss Nevaeh Jarvis who won last week’s weekly reading contest with 515 minutes. Nevaeh also took home the grand prize by reading 2,858 minutes (over 47.5 hours) this summer! Great job, Nevaeh! All readers
were awarded free slush gift certificates and small prizes for their reading efforts.
Please note that the library will be closed Tuesday & Wednesday (August 26 & 27) and will open late on Thursday (August 28) at 2:00 PM.
TRACpac, the online library catalogue, is receiving a fresh update mid-September. Stay tuned for a new and improved look!
“Today a reader, tomorrow a leader.”
—Margaret Fuller
Hardisty community action plan reduces copper wire theft across eastern Alberta
HARDISTY, AB — The Alberta RCMP, in partnership with energy sector stakeholders, municipalities, and private security providers, is reporting significant progress in reducing copper wire theft across the Hardisty region through the Hardisty Community Action Plan. Launched in August 2024, the plan has focused on deterring thefts at energy lease sites and critical infrastructure that were repeatedly targeted due to the high resale value of copper and precious metals. The first phase of the initiative, completed in March 2025, resulted in:
• 17 arrests related to copper wire theft.
• Marked decreases in thefts across key locations involved in the action plan. In April 2025, no thefts were reported at targeted locations in these areas:
- Consort, who had 10 reported thefts in in Aug. 2024;
- Coronation, who had 2 reported thefts in Dec. 2024;
- Killam, wo had 8 reported thefts in Aug. 2024; and
- Provost, who had 6 reported thefts in Oct. 2024.
These results were made possible through enhanced patrols, curfew checks, and covert surveillance oper-
ations, supported by RCMP resources from Eastern and Central Alberta District Crime Reduction Units, INSET, Hardisty area detachments (municipal and provincial), RCMP divisional crime analysts, the Community Safety and Well-Being Branch as well as community and industry partners including Hardisty Terminal, Enbridge, South Bow, ATCO, Hardisty and District Development Group, Inter Pipeline, Cenovus, Gibson Energy, Husky Midstream, CNRL, Sedgewick, and all Town and County Elected Officials.
The RCMP is now in phase 2 of the Hardisty Initiative and is confident that by enhancing and developing their techniques that the community will see increased arrests and decreases in thefts in the area.
“Eastern Alberta RCMP have worked
We try our best to keep events up-to-date, but if you see an error or have a cancellation, please let us know!
ALSASK
- Drop in Pickleball every Tuesday 8:00 PM at the Alsask Rec Centre. All ages are welcome.
CEREAL
- Monday Night Bingo (except holidays) at the CJ Peacock Centre. Doors & Concession open at 6:30 PM. Bingo starts at 7:30 PM
- Cereal Cottages Coffee on Tuesdays 10:30 - 11:30 AM
- Quilting Club weekly Wednesdays 10:00 AM - 4 PM at the CJ Peacock Centre.
- Cereal Playground most Tuesdays 10:00 AM at the CJ Peacock Centre.
EMPRESS
- Empress & District Fine Arts, Culture and Leisure Society Craft Mondays 1:00 PM at Empress Community Hall
extensively with our communities and industry partners to successfully address the prevalence of metal theft and damage to industrial and private property over the last 12 months” said Supt. Anthony Hanson, Assistant District Officer for Eastern Alberta. “As Alberta’s Provincial Police Service, the RCMP has utilized its investigative and material resources through Crime Reduction Units, General Investigative Sections, remote and fixed wing Aircraft technology, Crime data analytics and local detachment resources to support this project through the targeting of know prolific offenders. Our community and industry partners have been engaged in ongoing public and direct consultations to articulate their pressures, concerns and proposed solutions, which we have centred this project around. Industry
has invested in modern security features for their infrastructure while communities have initiated direct contact with Eastern Alberta RCMP leadership and their local Detachment Commanders to provide intelligence and support. This initiative will continue through 2025/26 with my full expectation of continued success”.
The RCMP encourages the public and industry partners to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity around industrial sites. Copper wire theft is not just a property crime, it affects public safety, service continuity, and community well-being.
If you have any information about crimes in your community, please call your local RCMP detachment. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store. To report crime online, or for access to RCMP news and information, download the Alberta RCMP app through Apple or Google Play. To contact RCMP non-emergency line within any Alberta RCMP jurisdiction call 310RCMP (7267).
Craft Room. Everyone is welcome and coffee is always on!
- Empress & District Fine Arts, Culture and Leisure Society Crib Wednesdays 7:00 PM at Empress Community Hall. $5 entry fee. $1 for each hand scoring 19 goes into the loonie pot. All monies will be paid out at end of evening. Great opportunity to see old friends and make some new ones.
- Empress & District Fine Arts, Culture and Leisure Society presents Snarples Thursdays 7:00 PM. No entry fee. Great opportunity to see old friends, make some new ones and learn a new card game. Empress Community Hall (314 Centre St.)
- Game Night Saturdays at 7:00 PM at the Community Hall. Come join us for a night of fun and excitement. Play games and hang out with friends and family.
- Empress & District Fine Arts, Culture and Leisure Society Garden Market
Saturdays 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM until September 6. Breakfast served 9-11 AM or lunch from 11-2! Buy/Sell Local. Promoting local gardeners, artisans, craft-
ers, bakers.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
• Empress & District Historical Society Whistle Stop Supper presenting Sleepless Nights (Classic Country & Rock) Empress Train Station. Only 60 tickets available. Advance tickets $50. Bar Opens 5:30 PM Supper 6:30 PM. Cathy (306) 628-7042, Rachel (403) 6645164, Laura (403) 580-7088.
OYEN
TUESDAY, AUGUST 26
• Oyen United Church Coffee Time 10:00 AM (202 - 1st Avenue East). Contact Virginia Schroeder at 403-664-3987 or pioneerpastoralcharge@gmail.com for more information. All are welcome!
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29
• Oyen Daycare Bake Sale 11:00 AM2:00 PM Oyen & District Memorial Arena. Community celendars will also be available for purchase.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 31
• No United Church Service as it falls on the long weekend.
FOR SUBMISSIONS IS FRIDAY
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
• Regular Pot Luck and Meeting for Oyen and District Seniors (50+) at Oyen and District Seniors Recreation Centre. Pot Luck at 6:00 PM and Meeting at 7:00 PM. Call Lynda 403-664-0908 or Beth 403-664-2462 for more information. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
• Oyen United Church will be at the Farmer’s Market with their Bake Table. Convenere: Jessie Battrum.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
• In-Person Referee Clinic. 2013 birth year and older can register. First time officials need to complete the online course prior to the in-person clinic. For info and registration call Wonona Makranoff 306-460-4489.
- Oyen Town Council meet 2nd Tuesday of every month 6:00 PM in Council Chambers.
- Community Choir every Wednesday at 7:00 PM in the Evangelical Missionary Church.
- Oyen United Church Coffee Time every Tuesday at 10:00 AM. All are welcome!
