OYEN, AB – Alberta Health Services officials apologized to Oyen and area residents on Thursday for poor management of the past that led to a nurse shortage at Big Country Hospital and has resulted in a significant reduction in services starting on Monday (January 16).
“The feedback we received was definitely received on our end,” says the interim senior operating officer, public & primary health, CDM (Chronic Disease Management) & rural east.
“Acknowledged the challenges that have occurred and some of the tough times the community has experienced and really on the go forward, the opportunity and commitment on our side to work with the community and community leaders to establish communication lines and ensure that we have their feedback and listen to it and work with them to develop solutions.”
Area residents packed the Royal Canadian Legion in Oyen days after AHS announced that due to a shortage of
nurses the emergency department at Big Country Hospital will temporarily be closed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily and the acute care beds will also be temporarily closed starting Monday.
There are currently five part-time RN vacancies and one full-time LPN vacancy between those departments.
While the Big Country emergency department is closed people will have to seek emergency care at other facilities, the closest of which is 113 km away in Hanna.
Inaba says AHS is actively recruiting, re-engaging with former staff and contacting temporary agency nurses to keep the closures in Oyen as short as possible.
Registered nurse Kathy Hoffman worked at the hospital for 36 years before retiring last summer and at the meeting told AHS officials poor management over the past 10 years led to the current staffing shortfall.
She says many in the community are scared about the closures because of the long distances people will have to go for help at other facilities.
“I think everybody’s very, very scared. And the one question that was asked last night that I felt they didn’t answer was someone asked, are these other hospitals where we’re supposed to go ready for us?” Hoffman told CHAT News on Friday. “Because I think everybody recognizes there’s a nursing shortage worldwide. It’s not just here. So we’re just adding to other small towns’ clients I guess, right, adding numbers for them to deal with and they don’t have enough staff either.”
She adds that AHS has a huge job ahead of them to find staff and regain the trust of the community.
“I don’t know where they’re going to find people. I would hope that the people that left during all the mayhem would come back but I can’t guarantee that.”
Inaba says recruiting is front and centre for AHS. Anyone interested is encouraged to visit careers.albertahealthservices.ca.
The full video of the live streamed meeting can be found on www.oyenecho.com or our Facebook page. Article used with permission.
SCREEN GRAB FROM OYEN ECHO LIVE STREAM
| PHOTO BY HARLAND LESYK
Local emergency department to temporarily close overnight
The Oyen Big Country emergency department (ED) is now temporarily closed daily from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., beginning Monday, Jan. 16, due to a lack of nursing staff.
The ED will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with nursing staff on site and a physician on call.
The lack of nursing staff will also result in the temporary closure of the 10 acute care beds at the facility. Current inpatients will be either discharged or transferred to another facility.
This is a temporary measure and Alberta Health Services (AHS) is working to ensure local residents continue to have access to the care they need during this time. Nursing staff will remain on-site overnight providing care for long-term care residents.
Patients are asked to call 911 if they have a medical emergency. EMS calls will be re-routed to another ED to ensure residents have access to the emergency services they need.
Patients seeking care during the closure in Oyen can access emergency services anytime at:
• Hanna Health Centre - 113 km away
• Coronation Hospital - 135 km away
• Provost Health Centre - 140 km away
• Brooks Health Centre - 187 km away
• Medicine Hat Regional Hospital - 196 km away Residents can also call Health Link at 811, which is available 24/7 for non-emergency, health-related questions. Individuals requiring non-emergency medical care are also encouraged to call their family physician.
According to information in the
New Brigden to rebuild community hall after December blaze
BY JOAN JANZEN Your Southwest Media Group
The community of New Brigden lost their hall due to a fire in December of 2022, the day after the community children’s Christmas concert was held. It was a devastating loss for the community in east central Alberta, but there was no known cause for the fire.
As a result, a meeting was held on January 10th at the elementary school to discuss the available options. Approximately 45 people attended the meeting and voted unanimously to rebuild on the same site.
Jim Ness and Larry Ness had bought the land for $50.00 for the original New Brigden Community Hall, which was built in 1976. They also poured the concrete for the foundation. Jim attended the meeting and noted the hall had good insurance coverage. The communi-
ty has one year in which to enter a claim.
Grants were listed that could help with the project. Those grants
are: New Horizons Grant, Community Enhancement Grant, and Covid Community Enhancement Grant.
The community began the process of rebuilding, and the communities of Acadia Valley and Eatonia were willing to share the plans for their community halls. In addition, a group was recently organized and toured renovated halls to get ideas for the new building.
A questionnaire will be sent out to each family, where they will be able to list their top priorities for the new hall. A 3D program will be developed for a new blueprint design, and a grant committee, fundraising committee, and building and design committee were formulated.
A follow-up meeting will be held in two weeks’ time when ideas for the blueprint will be discussed. An insurance representative will be present at the meeting.
ALBERTA OWNED AND OPERATED
New Brigden history book “From Buffalo Chips to Natural Gas,” the previous hall was a 47’ x 80’ cement block building that cost $70,000 to construct in 1976.
The New Brigden Hall was destroyed by fire on December 22. The community has voted unanimously to rebuild.
| PHOTO COURTESY NICOLE BLAIR FACEBOOK
Caleb resident shares childhood memories
BY JOAN JANZEN Your Southwest Media Group
The lifestyles of people on the prairies were much different back in 1926. That’s the year Queen Elizabeth II, and Marilyn Monroe were born; it’s also the year Jovita Schiebelbein was born near Bodo, AB. Jovita currently resides at Caleb Village in Kindersley and recalled her memories from a long-forgotten era.
Although she was given a Spanish name, Jovita says she explains to everyone who asks that she’s just a “plain old country girl.” She was born the fifth child among her twelve siblings. She had three sisters and nine brothers in her family.
When she was two years old, the family moved to a farm near Major, Sask. “I started school in Major, which was three and a half miles from our farm,” she explained. “Quite often, we travelled to school on foot when the horses were needed out in the field.” A few years later, the family moved to a farm north of Major, where Jovita attended a country school located just a quarter mile from their home.
When I asked if they had a garden on their farm, Jovita’s enthusiastic reply was, “Oh, did we ever! We had a huge garden! The back half was
about six rows of strawberries, and we planted enough potatoes for all of Saskatchewan. There was lots of weeding and canning; I learned all that very early.”
It seems the garden was her father’s idea, and Jovita recalls straw piled on the pathways to help eliminate weeds. “My father had all these ideas, but he wasn’t there to do the work,” Jovita said.
She also recalls the Dirty 30s when the government sent “ugly fish” (as she called it) to the people in Saskatchewan.
“We stored it in a grain bin under the wheat; that’s where everybody stored it,” she recalled. “We ate it on Fridays. That’s why I don’t eat fish to this day.”
Fortunately, the family also raised cows and hogs on the farm for meat. The farmers took turns butchering an animal, with each farmer taking home a portion of the meat. “We always had beef and pork and chickens, of course,” she said. “As kids, when you wanted chicken, you ran one down, and you had chicken for supper. Nothing was easy back then. You didn’t go to the Coop and buy a chicken.”
Homemade bread was another food staple for the family, and she remembers the huge bread bowl filled with dough. “A batch of bread lasted for a whole week,” she recalled. “We had an English teacher who came to our place and tasted the homemade bread.
After that, he was a regular Thursday night visitor, coming for the fresh bread.”
There’s nothing better than warm bread smothered with butter, and Jovita remembers when a pound of butter cost only twenty cents. That’s quite a change from present-day prices.
Clothes for the family were ordered from the Eaton’s catalogue. “We had dress clothes, school clothes and chore clothes,” she said. “We ordered the clothes from Winnipeg, and in a week, we got the parcel.”
The family worked hard, but they took time to have fun and visit with neighbours. “We had a lot of company on Sundays. We had so many people at our place, and we played ball,” she said. “As little kids, we learned how to play cards. To this day, I like playing cards and cribbage. I don’t like to miss a Kaiser or crib tournament.”
During her years of growing up, the family didn’t travel far from home. Roads weren’t good and were covered with snow in the winter. “We went by train to Kerrobert for a doctor’s appointment,” she said.
As a teen, Jovita had wanted to become a nurse, but that would have required her to go to school in Denzil. “Just the thought of going that far from home in those days was intimidating for me, so I just quit,” she explained.
Jovita married a farmer, and the couple raised seven children. “One girl and a whole mess of boys,” Jovita said. In March, Jovita will celebrate her 97th birthday. Thanks, Jovita, for sharing your memories with us.
Jovita Schiebelbein resides at Caleb Village in Kindersley and will be celebrating her 97th birthday in March.
Pop89 Reading Saskatchewan
BY MADONNA HAMEL
Your Southwest Media Group
In 2022, I saved over $17,000.00 by using the public library. (And you could too!) Over the holidays, as temperatures dropped and the snow piled up outside my door, I was content to lay on my couch under the light of a disco Christmas star I have no intention of removing until Valentine’s and tackle the remains stack of my library haul while sipping cups of Banff-All-Day -Breakfast tea. Now, as I sink into the cushions and we sink into 2023, I want to acknowledge a few stellar works of fiction and nonfiction that came from this part of the world and were released in 2022, some of which I was anxiously sent by publishers.
I have mentioned, in earlier columns, the powerful last book by Harold R. Johnson, “The Power of Story.” Johnson, who passed over last February, was a Cree writer, and I was for-
Notice is given that:
tunate enough to meet him and review his work. I am struck by his balanced way of seeing and expressing himself in a no-nonsense manner, a gift no doubt coming from his balanced and varied way of life, being both trapper and Crown Prosecutor, as well as having worked as a sailor, a miner and a logger.
“The Power of Story” addresses what happens to humans when we lose track of our own stories or when we get careless with the stories we tell. Johnson sets the book around a fire, addressing an ecumenical group eager to learn from a teacher made of many stories.
I am story. And you are story”, he writes. “We become the stories we are told and the stories we tell ourselves. The important story is our own story.”
I heard someone say the other day that getting your news from Twitter is like getting your news from the bathroom wall. The antidote is to just focus on your own story, advises Johnson.
1. The council of the Town of Kerrobert has prepared a special assessment roll for the following local improvement: Proposed Local Improvements
Location Side From To
Streets:
Atlantic Avenue Both Peters Street Bulling Street
Manitoba Avenue Both Lanigan Street Bosworth Street McInnis Street Bulling Street
Saskatchewan Avenue Both Peters Street Larmour Street
Alberta Avenue Both Peters Street Bulling Street
Columbia Avenue Both McInnis Street Bulling Street
Yukon Avenue Both 70m west of Lanigan Street Lanigan Street
and proposes to levy a part of the cost against the lands benefited by this local improvement.
2. The special assessment roll is open for inspection at the office of the assessor of the Municipality during regular hours until 4:30 pm on the 21st day of February 2023 at the Town Office located at 433 Manitoba Ave.
3. Any person who desires to appeal a proposed special assessment must submit an appeal in writing, stating the grounds of the appeal, at the office of the assessor during regular office hours not later than 4:30pm on the 21st day of February 2023 at the Town Office located at 433 Manitoba Ave.
4. The Board of Revision will sit to hear any appeals of proposed special assessments received by the time and date indicated above at 4pm on the 7th of day of March 2023 at the Town of Luseland Office located at 503 Grand Ave. Luseland Saskatchewan.
Dated at Kerrobert Saskatchewan, this 16th day of January 2023
Tara Neumeier
CAO
When so-called news pops up on social media, suspect and unverifiable, Johnson comes across as unfazed. He senses change in the air before most of us do. “This is the most potent opportunity, this time,” he writes, “ when the dominant story is changing.” We can really make a difference, he assures us, “if each of us has control over our own life story.”
Another author who takes pains to tell her own story is Dawn Morgan. Her book “Unsettled, Reckoning on the Great Plains.” is a combination memoir, prairie history, travelogue and commentary on the damages colonialism has wrought. Morgan worked painstakingly on this book for decades, and I could sense - and appreciate - her consideration over every phrase, every line, every word. She needed to get the story right so she could liberate herself from it.
In his book, Johnson reminds us that a victim is a character in someone else’s story. Reading Morgan’s book, you get the sense she does not want to be that kind of character. And yet there are wounds aplenty in her story. It begins with a rancher named Johnny with a bull bison named King. Johnny needs to load King into a truck, and Morgan’s father is hired to help with the job. When her dad, on a bender, doesn’t show up, Johnny tries to do it himself and is gored to death. A week later, Morgan’s dad commits suicide by putting a gun to his head. Morgan is not notified of her father’s funeral; in fact, she only learns of his death in a casual, long-distance conversation with one of her sisters.
Morgan is a deft handler of the English language and can weave disparate sources together to create meaning where there never was before. In her heart-wrenching, sometimes comic, mostly conciliatory search for release from her haunting past, she introduces us to the poetry of Andrew Suknaski, examines the papers of the Palliser Expedition, dips into the diaries of Metis guide Peter Erasmus, detours into country-western lyrics, then veers into the writings of German philosopher Theodor Adorno, Hemingway’s take on bullfighting, the life of Spanish gauchos and Kafka’s novel “Amerika.” She’ll grab
at anything to replace her lost anchors: Johnny, King the bison, her father, the Assiniboine themselves.
Both these books touch on Saskatchewan’s history of treatment of Indigenous people, and land and both do in a way that asks us to skip the vituperative and, as Morgan calls it, “imperial nostalgia.” Morgan, looking at both her personal and provincial history, asks: “Who does not long to redress the crimes of the past, resurrect the dead and return the land to its original inhabitants.” But, she says, settlers, whether her parents or our grandparents, would never see themselves as guilty, “given what they were fleeing and the hardships endured in getting here.”
“As private landowners, many of the people who settled Saskatchewan had come escaping the collectivism and government control of Eastern Europe,” echoes Dale Eisler in his book “From Left to Right: Saskatchewan’s Political and Economic Transformation.” Eisler helps us take a clear-eyed look at the province as the world economy shifted from post-industrial to global and the province’s population moved from farms to cities. Case in point: In 1971, 47%percent of Saskatchewan’s population lived on farms. By 2016, the number was down to 16%.
In engaging language, Eisler describes the many faces of “populism” and how, over the decades, its meaning has changed to embrace both liberal and conservative voices. He is also quick to point to papa Trudeau’s cavalier disregard of the prairies when he asked, in the sixties, “Why should I sell your wheat?” The off-handed comment aimed at a people who were losing their farms as wheat spoiled in granaries has not gone forgotten.
Land has always been a central focus for prairie people where “place” matters. The country can be divided between two kinds of people, Eisler suggests, “The Anywheres- educated, mobile, political people” and “The Somewheres - people who are “rooted, attached to place,” and who, in my case, nestled away from cities, value immediate community, especially community libraries!
The secret to happiness during adversity
Agenie would grant one wish, so the man said “I just want to be happy”. He instantly found himself living in a cottage with six dwarves and working in a mine.
Happiness can be challenging for people of all ages. There’s plenty to be unhappy about, with rising inflation, increased taxes, and so much more. The story of a deaf girl’s life reveals how it takes a supportive community and perseverance to overcome challenges and ensure happiness.
Over a decade ago a woman named Sue Thomas was interviewed by talk show host, Moira Brown. Sue passed away in December, 2022. Born in 1950 in the state of Ohio, she became profoundly deaf at the age of 18 months. Her parents were advised to place her in an institution, but they refused.
“I had to learn how to speak,” Sue explained. “I sat in front of the mirror with my therapist, forming my mouth as she formed her mouth. I had seven years of speech therapy in front of the mirror.”
That’s how she learned lip reading. “I tell people anybody can do it. Just brush your teeth, and start talking to yourself in front of the mirror,” she chuckled. She recalled her dad saying it took a long time for her to learn to talk, but once she did they couldn’t shut her up.
Her parents enrolled her in a public school; she was the only deaf child in her school district. “No one knew how
to work with me. I was just passed from class to class,” she recalled. Finally one of her teachers saw her true potential and Sue’s education improved. That teacher was one of many people who were instrumental in changing Sue’s life.
At the tender age of 7, the little deaf girl became Ohio’s figure skating champion. Sue couldn’t hear the music, but she said, “My coach took it upon himself to skate hand in hand with me over and over until I had it memorized.” When it came time for her final performance, he would stand perfectly still on the outside of the rink. All of a sudden he’d be jumping up and down waving his hands, letting her know it was time for her to begin.
During her adult years, Sue encouraged parents who had a child with an adversity, telling them that with perseverance there’s nothing your child can’t do. And Sue’s mother proved that to be true.
“At the age of 5 they brought a piano in. My mom was persistent that I was going to have the love of music,” she said. “Over and over she’d practice with me, and she’d say some day you’re going to thank me for this. I thank God for the persistence and time she made me sit by that piano. I had never experienced those vibrations before. I studied classical piano; I love it! The music reflects my mood. Music is inside me and then it’s released. I’m convinced that all deaf people have that creativity.”
Sue’s first service dog was a yellow lab named Levi, followed by another dog named Sir Rodney. Both dogs became her dearly loved companions.
As a young girl, she had many accomplishments under her belt, but she had only just begun! She went on to college where she studied political science, and international relations. She received her BS degree before doing post-graduate work in counselling.
At the age of 30, she panicked when she heard the FBI were looking for her, but it turned out they wanted to employ Sue. They hired her because of her ability to lip read.
“Nobody would know what was going on, but I would watch the bad guys talk and I would tell the good guys what the bad guys were saying,” Sue explained. “I became their secret weapon. For three and a half years I lived in the fast lane.”
In 2002 Hollywood produced an award-winning TV series, based on Sue’s work with the FBI. When she was asked who she wanted to portray her in the series, she requested “a nice, tall, thin blond; someone who would make me look good,” she laughed. She also wanted the show to inspire hope for moms and dads who were facing adversity.
The series was shown in 64 nations around the world, and brought Sue international recognition. She was sought after as a public speaker, not only throughout the US, but in Germa-
ny, The Netherlands, India, Japan and Canada. She spoke to small audiences, and crowds of up to 45,000, where she encouraged her audience with her life story. She also wrote several books, but there’s more ...
Sue’s best friend was her Mom, and she missed her so much when she passed away, especially at Christmas. Christmas had always been a huge family celebration. “My first Christmas without her I told my travelling companion I didn’t want to celebrate,” she said. Instead she took her companion to a play. When they arrived at their motel, Sue saw two homeless people on the street.
“I said we can’t leave them there,” she recalled, and bought them a room for the night, and breakfast in the morning. “The next morning, one of the women called my room and said she hadn’t had a hot shower and a hot cup of coffee for so long. She said she was ready to straighten out her life. It was the ray of hope she needed,” Sue explained. That was the beginning of “Operation Silent Night”, when Sue would help the homeless, every year on Christmas Eve.
“My story is not my own,” she said. “There were so many people who believed in me, and gave a part of their life to me, to help make me into what I am today.” And in return, Sue reached out to thousands and believed in them. It’s the secret to happiness in the midst of adversity.
Nokleby Education Award presented to Stephanie Rapadas
Kindersley & District Health & Wellness Foundation presents Stephanie Rapadas with the $1250.00 Nokleby Education Award. Stephanie is taking her 3rd year of Nursing at Mount Royal University in Calgary, working towards her Bachelor of Nursing degree.
New Principal at KCS
A few changes took place as students entered the halls of KCS on January 4th, 2023. Mrs. Meaghan Friedrick, Principal accepted a new position within the School Division as Student Support Services Supervisor. This meant that KCS needed an Acting Principal for the remainder of the school year.
Mrs. Friedrick was happy to announce that KCS’s very own Ms. Heidi Marchant is filling that position. Ms. Marchant brings exemplary leadership skills, knowledge, and experience to this leadership role. Now that
Audiences captivated by magic
By Joan Janzen
Everyone’s attention was focussed on Sheldon Casavan’s feats of magic on Friday evening, January 13th, at the Norman Ritchie Centre, thanks to the Kindersley & District Arts Council. Sheldon also appeared in Luseland, Kerrobert, Leader and Macklin throughout the week.
Whether he was levitating a table, performing card tricks, or escaping from a straight jacket within sixty seconds, his audience was connecting with him every moment. Also enjoyed was his wit and interaction with the audience, some of whom were chosen to accompany him on stage.
Alcoholics Anonymous
Monday: Kindersley AA Meeting
8:00 PM, Legion Hall
Tuesday: Brock AA Meeting
8:00 PM, Vesper Club
Tuesday: Leader AA Meeting
Kindersley & District Health and Wellness Education has presented Sheldon Cannon with the $1000.00 Brian Martin Bursary. Sheldon is in his final year Medical Program at the U of A. He will be applying for residency programs and intends on applying for training in Rural Family Medicine.
Ms. Marchant has filled the principal position, KCS is currently searching for a temporary vice principal. Another new face at KCS is Mrs. Melinda Drozd, who has been welcomed back on staff as a part-time English and additional Language teacher. This will be a
great support to the student body.
As Mrs. Friedrick steps into her new position, with gratitude for her time spent at KCS. “I want to say a huge thank you to our students, their families, as well as off of the staff I have had the opportunity and pleasure to get to know and
work with over the years. I am looking forward to what the future brings, and wish continued success for KCS!” Mrs. Friedrick wrote in a recent post.
Both staff and students are looking forward to another great year at KCS.
8:00 PM, Leader United Church
Wednesday: Eston AA Meeting
8:00 PM, St. Andrew’s United Church
Thursday: Macklin AA Meeting
8:00 PM, Grace United Church
Friday: Kindersley AA Meeting
8:00 PM, St. Olaf’s Lutheran Church
Narcotics Anonymous
Tuesday: Kindersley NA Meeting
7:30 PM, 113 Main Street
2023
ESTON COMMUNITY SURVEY
We want to hear from you Eston!
Please scan the barcode below, visit our website or pick up a paper copy at the Town Office to complete!
PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that nominations of candidates for the office of:
Councillor: Division 8 will be received by the undersigned on the 1st day of February, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Rural Municipality of Chesterfield No. 261 office, 205 Main Street, Eatonia, Saskatchewan. AND
during regular business hours on January 16th to January 31st, 2023, at the Rural Municipality of Chesterfield No. 261 Office, 205 Main Street, Eatonia, Saskatchewan.
Nomination forms may be obtained at the R.M. 261 Office, 205 Main Street, Eatonia, Saskatchewan. Dated this 16th day of January, 2023.
Tosha Kozicki Returning Officer
Sheldon shows his willing audience participant how to levitate a table.
Sheldon Cannon receives Brian Martin Bursary
Mental Health Workshop held at KCS
BY JOAN JANZEN Your Southwest Media Group
A mental health workshop was held on Sunday afternoon, January 15th. ‘Thrive Workshop’ took place due to the combined efforts of the Iron Horse Kindersley Klippers and the Better Together Mental Health Initiative.
Guest speaker, Rob Parkman resides in Outlook, but remembers playing provincial hockey in Kindersley in earlier years. He shared about his own personal mental health challenges, and included a number of interactive exercises.
He touched on mind-renewing, physical health, supportive work/home environment, financial peace, vocational alignment/enjoyment, social support and spiritual refreshing. He included many nuggets of information, but two important warnings were: isolation is the enemy of us all, and dark emotions serve as a warning that you are believing a lie.
“Just because you faced hardships in life, doesn’t mean you won’t achieve your dreams,” he said. He told the true story of a little boy in the Dominican Republic who sold juice boxes so his family could eat. His dad had rejected him, and the little boy felt worthless. A charitable organization in the area took him in, and kept telling him he was valuable and had a purpose in life. Pretty soon he came to believe it and took pride in selling his juice boxes.
Fifteen years later Rob met the boy who had become a young 20-year-old man. Rob shook the hand of this confident young man, who looked him in the eye and told Rob his goal was to become the president of the Dominican.
“Workshops like this give us practical tools and methods for finding positive ways to process our negative thoughts, and helps us to get a sense of control back in our lives,” Rob explained.
He noted that connecting with others gives a sense of belonging, and being understood and heard. Helping to encourage someone else also produces positive feelings.
“My biggest concerns for young adults is that they are given a model of a sedentary lifestyle, and are sent
a misleading message from society that they are what they feel, versus they can influence how they feel,” he said.
Simply put, Rob encourages young adults to renounce lies about themselves that they have embraced, and to receive truths about themselves that set them free.
SWHL Tigers pushing to make an impact
BY JORDAN PARKER Your Southwest Media Group
The Kerrobert Tigers sit at the bottom of the SWHL standings, above only the Unity Miners.
At the beginning of the weekend, the team was ready for a concentrated push in the final leg of the 2022-2023 season.
“If you look at these standings, 1-4 are pretty tight together, and then 5-8 are tight together. Those top four teams are just structured well,” said Coach Brad Murphy.
“The bottom teams just sometimes don’t have the firepower to compete. We can be competitive, and be good one night and not another. There’s just more of a struggle to win.”
Getting that decent holiday break was good for the Tigers team, and helped to ease some of the tiredness of the group.
“We got a great senior hockey schedule, and we made sure we could get some family time here,” he said. “Some of us were slower that first weekend back, but we shook it off. We have a few weekends and then playoffs left.”
They fell in a 9-1 trouncing from the Kindersley Sr Klippers on Friday, January 6, but mustered a 5-4 OT win over the Unity Miners the following day.
“I think we played a strong Kindersley team, but we had some guys missing. We have some injuries that aren’t healing,” he said.
“It ended up mostly just being a conditioning game, and that’s all we got out of it, which was tough.”
However, he was happier with the effort against the last-place Miners, who at the time of publication had yet to win a game this season.
“We have a decent schedule coming up. It’s all about these key games and the finish,” he said.
“There’s a chance we could finish fifth here, and giving some effort could mean not being stuck with Kindersley or Wilkie in the first round of the playoffs.”
There are a things the team is truly going to need to focus on to move over the hump for the tail end of the season.
“We just have to start really showing more puck confidence. We will do better offensively if we aren’t worried about making mistakes,” he said.
“We’ll lose unless we begin scoring more and keep our heads right. We need to do what we can, push hard, and we’ll be fine.”
Meanwhile, going into the weekend, the Kindersley Klippers were well-positioned to finish first in the SWHL, and had an 11-0-1 record and 22 points. They could end up atop the league and edge the formidable Wilkie Outlaws and Edam 3 Stars in season play.
Rob Parkman speaks to the Iron Horse Klippers and others in the audience at a mental health workshop on Sunday, January 15th at Kindersley Composite School. | PHOTOS BY JOAN JANZEN
World-ranking points at centre of golf drama
BY BRUCE PENTON Sports Columnist
The hottest sidebar to the ongoing saga of PGA Tour players defecting to the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour has centred around Official World Golf Ranking points. The bottom line is that the LIV players are not earning any OWGR points and plummeting in the world rankings as a result.
Fair or unfair?
OWGR ranking points are important, because a player’s position in the rankings is used to determine qualification for some important events. The Masters, for instance, uses the OWGR points list to invite the top 50 in the world. Most of the top 50 have qualified via other avenues, but many hovering in the 40-55 range nervously watch the weekly listing to see if they’ll be eligible for invitation to play at Augusta. The nabobs who run the tournament reward those in the top 50 at the end of the calendar year, and again following the tournament which ends the week before the Masters.
The OWGR constitution says the LIV tournaments are ineligible to deliver ranking points because they don’t meet some of the organization’s criteria — 54 holes, no-cut events and absence of a free path to qualifying for LIV events are no-no’s in the OWGR world. The LIV application has appar-
ently been filed to the OWGR brass, but there is a one-year waiting period after the application is submitted. So while the paperwork has yet to be approved, LIV players are receiving no ranking points, and falling further and further down the list. Phil Mickelson, for instance, has fallen out of the top 200 for the first time since the early 90s, and former No. 1 Dustin Johnson currently sits at No. 41. Said someone on Twitter: “If the OWGR says there are 40 better golfers in the world than Dustin Johnson, then the system has zero credibility.”
That may be true, but since Dustin Johnson has removed himself from competing against a full field of the world’s best golfers, how is anyone able to compute his comparative standing among the world’s best golfers? He could win six LIV events in a row, but beating perhaps six or seven players of Grade A quality — as opposed to 50 or 60 on the PGA Tour — makes it impossible to determine how terrific Johnson’s play actually is. Would that quality of play have given him six top-three finishes on the PGA Tour? Or would that quality of play have put him around 30th in the more competitive PGA Tour fields? Unless the best players are playing against the best players, we’ll never know.
Eventually, LIV Golf players will be eligible for OWGR
points, but their tournaments will have low strength-of-field grades, resulting in a reduced number of points for high finishes. It appears as if the LIV golfers, all of them extremely wealthy, will almost certainly remain in the world-rankingpoint poorhouse.
• Fark.com, on the Giants signing shortstop Carlos Correa to a 13-year, $350 million free agent contract (before the contract was voided and Correa wound up signing with the Mets): “The SF Giants just paid $350 million for an overrated shortstop whose best season was five years ago when he knew what pitches were coming.”
• Pierre LeBrun in The Athletic, on junior hockey star Connor Bedard: “ He is the kind of prospect an NHL franchise should go all-out tank-apalooza for.”
• Bob Molinaro of pilot online.com (Hampton, Va.): “If Jeff Saturday isn’t brought back, there must be somebody
else at ESPN — maybe Adam Schefter or Stephen A. — who Jim Irsay can hire to coach the Colts.”
• Twitter offering from @riotsurvivor: ”The NHL referee that just gave a penalty to Hunt for hurting Bear is technically a wildlife conservation officer.”
• Masters champ Scottie Scheffler, joking about the menu he’ll choose for this year’s Champions Dinner: “Steak for the PGA guys. White Castle for the LIV guys.”
• Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg: “The Packers are called the Pack. The Buccaneers are called the Bucs. The Patriots are called the Pats. How come the Titans aren’t the . . . oh, right.”
• Greg Cote of the Miami Herald: “Marlins FanFest has been set for Feb. 11 at the ballpark so that fans might celebrate a stagnant offseason by
Miami while other teams aggressively spent big.”
• RJ Currie of sportsdeke.com: “Canadian Olympic figure skater Tessa Virtue has gotten engaged to Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly. I suggest a spring honeymoon — the Leafs usually aren’t busy that time of year.”
• Headline at the onion. com: “Roger Goodell announces thinking too hard about football has given him CTE.”
• From fark.com; “Packers fan Hall of Fame finalist took his wife’s surname to literally become ‘Mr. Packer’.”
• CBS.com (you can’t make these things up): After legal sports betting in Ohio became law at midnight Jan. 1, “Pete Rose ceremoniously places first legal sports bet on Reds to win 2023 World Series.”
Care to comment? Email brucepenton2003@yahoo.ca
SJHL Klippers hoping for better bounces
The puck luck for the SJHL Iron Horse Kindersley Klippers just hasn’t been there lately.
Despite a hearty return to action January 6-7, 2023 against the Battlefords North Stars, the Klippers came up short. They were downed 5-1 in back-toback games.
“I don’t think the score indicated how close those games were,” said Assistant Coach Tyler Traptow. “That first game was 3-1 with three minutes left.”
The Klippers battled hard, but just couldn’t manage to get the upper-hand against the formidable team.
“They got an empty-netter that game, and one goal late. We played well, but they capitalized on their chances,” he said.
“That next game, we played even better. We put up 47 shots, and just couldn’t find the back of the net in that game.”
Despite two losses, the team still had confidence given their overall on-ice performance.
“The majority of the time, we were playing well. Bit it seemed like any time we made a mistake, it was in the back of the net,” he said. “We need to tighten up, but we proved to ourselves we can play with the best teams.”
The way that things are going for the Klippers just hasn’t been fortuitous in their favour.
“We had four breakaways, three posts, and things didn’t go our way. But we proved we can play with anyone in the league,” he said. “We’ll get the puck to go in if we continue to do the right things.”
The long break for the Klippers allowed the team to get healthy, and Traptow says it was good for all involved.
“The team looked good when they came back. It was a good week prior of skating and getting rid of the turkey legs. We’ve been playing well since returning,” he said.
One issue that weekend was Logan Falk – who just returned from injury –was unable to mind the net during that time.
“He came back and ended up with a stomach bug on Friday, and he couldn’t play. We had an emergency back-up on Saturday. We’re lucky to have a goalie tandem we can rely on,” said Traptow.
There a few things, however, that the team can do to get back on the right track in the standings.
“We know it comes down to limiting mental errors. When we have them, good teams will capitalize,” he said.
“If we tighten up on the little mistakes and continue to shoot pucks, then I think everything will be just fine.”
KLIPPERS CLIPS:
Of note is that the Klippers recently made moves, including sending Wyatt Cook to the SJHL Mustangs in exchange for Alex Mack, and trading defenceman Jacob Dewitt to the Olds Grizzlys for a PDF.
Klippers ended their losing skid on Saturday night with a 3-2 win over the visiting Fli Flon Bombers!
Happy New Year to you all. I hope everyone had a nice Christmas break. I personally enjoyed having the later break with lots of holidays left after Christmas. My family enjoyed some time at our cabin on Moose Lake. The weather was much milder than it was last year. Although the roads in the area haven’t been great. I understand that Emcon has received more sand so hopefully they’ll be able to stay on top of the conditions. It’s been quite foggy in the area the last couple of days. Hopefully that will bring moisture in the spring.
The latest news in the community is the closure of the emergency services at Big Country Hospital. I will be attending
Acadia Valley
By Yolanda Kuhn yakuhn@hotmail.com - call or text
the meeting tonight in Oyen. Hopefully we will get some answers there.
I wanted to send my sympathy to the community of New Brigden on the loss if their hall that burned down on December 22nd. A Community Hall is the heart of a community and this is a huge loss for New Brigden. Hopefully they’ll be able to rebuild soon.
Congratulations to Jarilee Rafa and Josh Wilson who were married on New Year’s Eve in Acadia Valley. The reception was held in the hall and it sounds like a good time was had by all who attended.
Condolences to the Niwa family on the passing of Mary Niwa who passed away on January 11th in Medicine Hat.
Congratulations to Rachelle Hoyt who was this years recipient of The Acadia Valley Rec. Club Scholarship. Rachelle is attending The University of Saskatoon studying education. Rachelle will make a fantastic teacher and I personally hope she decides to teach in our community.
The curling ice is ready to go for the season. The W.P.S. students were the first to curl yesterday. The Curling Rink is available for drop in use anytime.
Contact Yolanda 403-6640582 if you would like to use it outside of the Arena hours.
Mark your calendars for February 2nd -4th, The A.V. Rec. Club will be hosting a ladies bonspiel once again. We will have Karaoke on Saturday night and this years theme is “Be a star”. Contact Jaime Didychuk to register your team 403664-7110. Watch Facebook and the Oyen Echo for more information.
Mark your calendars for Sunday February 19th. The Rec. Club will be hosting their annual Family Fishing Derby at The Dam. The Big Country Rod and Gun Club will be providing a FREE lunch all day. Watch Facebook and The Oyen Echo for more information.
Thanks for reading this week, I will leave you with a quote from Hillary DePiano “We all get the exact same 365 days. The only difference is what we do with them”.
Onceagain, the firearms debate is making headlines. The reason for this is simple: when the Liberals need to change the narrative on their failures, including the rising crime rates Canadians are facing, they resort to a tried-and-true wedge issue—attacking law-abiding firearms owners.
Let’s unpack this….
The Justin Trudeau of 2015 and the Justin Trudeau of today are unrecognizable from each other. This is another one of the many issues Trudeau used to build up the credibility he needed to win his first and only majority government. That said, his message has changed as he has become more focused on appeasing special interest groups and has sacrificed his previous stance just to stay in power.
Contrary to Justin Trudeau’s current position, he was quoted as saying in 2015, “the long gun registry, as it was, was a failure and I’m not going to resuscitate that” and “I respect gun culture.” The Prime Minister knows full well that law-abiding citizens respect firearms and the responsible use of firearms is a part of our culture. This is as true in rural Alberta as it is in rural Quebec. This is also true of a surprising number of folks in urban centres, who also responsibly own and use firearms.
Shortly after Trudeau’s second election, and then especially in his third, he changed his tune and took advantage of tragedies to further his political aims. The votes he believed he needed to win
took priority over cogent public safety legislation which would have protected Canadians and respected the rights of firearms owners who obey the law. The Liberals have underestimated the negative impact of their crusade against law-abiding firearms owners, as indicated by the growing number of backbench Liberal MPs and their coalition partners in the NDP who are opposed to their actions (including some saying so publicly).
As they have done in the past, the Liberals over the last few months have pointed to a “bad looking” gun, used ambiguous language to describe what they are doing, and hope that no one questions them. Serious questions do need to be asked, especially as our nation has experienced a massive increase in violent crime. Since last fall, 5 police officers in Canada have been tragically murdered in the line of duty. Violent crime has gone up 32% in the past year, and gang-related killings have gone up by 92% since Justin Trudeau became Prime Minister. And as rural residents, we can all point to friends and neighbours who have witnessed the dramatic increase in rural crime rates.
The Liberals have attempted to distract from a problem they have helped create; they have promoted justice reforms that prioritize offenders over victims and other policies that have led to increased crime rates (Bill C-75 in 2018 and Bill C-5 in 2021 to name a couple). And ironically, they have even lessened penalties regarding serious crimes committed with illegal guns.
The Liberals have resisted addressing the root of the problem, pivoted to blaming law-abiding
firearms owners, and resorted to labelling their opponents as extremists. The problems are growing with their most recent reforms, especially by means which are fundamentally flawed and undemocratic. Even other opposition parties, and Liberal backbenchers are signalling they may not support the changes. They are now not only attacking Conservative politicians but the indigenous, provinces, and many people and groups who aren’t usually vocal on firearms. It is obvious neither the Prime Minister nor his Ministers responsible for the file understand the consequences of their policy decisions.
Those who follow the rules are not the problem… those who are already breaking the rules are. Canadians deserve facts—not fiction—when dealing with policies related to firearms and crime. It’s time for a responsible Government that takes this seriously.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this column, you are encouraged to write Damien at 4945-50th Street, Camrose, Alberta, T4V 1P9, call 780608-4600, text 403-5755625, or e-mail damien. kurek@parl.gc.ca. You can also stay up to date with Damien by following him on social media @dckurek. If you are in need of assistance regarding a Federal Government program, or need assistance and don’t know where to turn, feel free to reach out to MP Kurek’s office.
Don’t miss an opportunity to expand your agricultural knowledge! Apply to join CARA Team this summer and gain experience in applied research, crop and forage production, soil health and much more!
The Chinook Applied Research Association is accepting applications for
SUMMER RESEARCH TECHNICIANS
Responsibilities will include:
• Assisting with the establishment, maintenance, harvest and data collection from various applied research and demonstration projects
Qualifications include:
• Student of post-secondary educational program
• Valid driver’s license
• Good communication skills
• Self-motivated and organized
• Ability to work both independently and in a team atmosphere
Note: Applicants from High School Students will also be considered for July - August positions.
Please submit resumes to cara-dw@telus.net or to Box 690, Oyen, Alberta T0J 2J0
Contact Dianne Westerlund for more information 403-664-3777 or cara-dw@telus.net
The Oyen Law Office of Niblock & compaNy llp
John F. Stodalka, Ronald B. Baba, Marilyn A. Herrmann, Bryce R. Farrell, Darren E. Folkersen, Ashley D. Herrmann, Mario M. Mudri will be open commencing at 1:00 p.m.
Ashley D. Herrmann in attendance on JANUARY 19TH, FEBRUARY 9TH MARCH 2ND & 23RD For appointments call 1-800-245-9411 or 1-403-526-2806
Oyen Law Office #215C Main Street (South side of Lijdsman Insurance) Wills & Estates Real Estate General Matters
• Hearing Tests
• Medical Referrals
• Hearing Aid Fittings & Ongoing
& Communication Enhancement) Training
Oyen Lodge Report
By Sara Heath JANUARY 12, 2023
Hello everyone! Hope everyone had a fantastic week; the fog sure was thick! At least the temperature has been a bit warmer than previous weeks.
The residents recently celebrated with ice cream cake for our January birthday bash - we have several birthdays this month. We are also keeping busy with lots of exercises inside since the ground outside is a little uneven with snow, we have been doing exercises in chairs as well as standing and even a exercise that also requires quick thinking too!
On Tuesday, we started with a craft of vases dipped in epsom salts to appear as “frosted glass”. In the afternoon we had a winter time tea with snowflakes decorations, hot tea and snacks for the residents while they got to visit.
On Wednesday we had church service in the morning and in the afternoon some residents attended the funeral of a dear friend over at the senior center.
Thursday is hair day, the residents get to get their hair done and then we had to the options of ball exercises or cards in the family room, in the afternoon we played an intense round of a game called Stix which is so much fun!
On Friday we started the morning with news of the week discussion with coffee and treats. Moving into horse racing later in the morning, and finishing off our week in the afternoon with a round of bingo!
We hope everyone else had a fun and busy week!
Crossroads Roping Results
JANUARY 9, 2023
Tie Down
Round 1, 2 AND 3 Fast Time Owen Schauer $120 each time
1st Average Owen Schauer $465
2nd Average Chase Butterfield $280
3rd Average Garrett Zieffle $185
Breakaway
Round 1 Fast Time Laurie Morasch $100
Round 2 Fast Time Jody Traynor $100
Round 3 Fast Time Laurie Morasch $100
1st Average Jody Traynor $1260
2nd Average Jody Traynor $155
3rd Average Payton Scoville $105
#11 Team Roping 96 Teams
1st Josh Stenger and Kyle Sinclair $815 each
2nd Harold Knox and Shay Gold $615 each
3rd Walker Hutton and Shay Gold $530 each
4th Harold Knox and Jared Pancoast $395 each
5th Nolan Jans and Dawson Jackson $250 6th Cody Buteau and Shelton Udal $140
#7 Team Roping 58 Teams
1st Katie Harden and Shay Gold $520 each
2nd Lee Trach and Josh Stenger $420 each
3rd Dalton Powell and Adam Jones $325
4th Harley Hutton and Dexter Hutton $225 5th Cheryl Lourance and Memphis Jones $130
See you next Saturday, January 21st! 10 am start to a full day of Tie Down, Breakaway, and Team Roping!
OYEN OTTERS
Annual General Meeting
February 1, 2023 @ 7:00 p.m. at the Oyen Centennial Park, Sport and Recreation Building
ALL ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND
The
Please
Jody Traynor, Breakaway Champ Josh Stenger and Kyle Sinclair #11 Team Roping Champs
#7 Team Roping Champions Team Shay Gold and Katie Harden
Tie Down Champion Owen Schauer (presented by Keldon Powell BCAS volunteer)
Inflation relief portal and payments coming soon
Monthly $100 affordability payments for families, seniors, and vulnerable Albertans will be released soon, and Albertans can
Alberta’s economy has recovered strongly, but many people are struggling to heat their homes and feed their families. Alberta’s government has responded with the largest inflation relief package in Canada, with significant broad-based and targeted supports. Starting this month, six months of affordability payments will begin for Albertans through an application and distribution system that is fast, effective and safe.
“Our government is committed to keeping Alberta affordable. By the end of January, most Alberta seniors and families will be able to apply for and receive monthly affordability payments that will provide real relief and help to offset inflationary pressures.” - Matt Jones, Minister of Affordability and Utilities
Starting January 18, seniors 65 or older who are not receiving the Alberta Seniors Benefit and eligible parents with children under 18 can apply online through the government portal or in person at locations across the province for $600 in monthly affordability payments.
In order to use the portal, eligible parents and seniors will be required to have a Verified Account. To ensure that the application process is as smooth as possible, Albertans should sign-up for their Verified Account or confirm they have an existing Verified Account with accurate information as soon as possible.
“Alberta’s government has heard loud and clear that families, seniors and vulnerable Albertans need relief, and the approach we’ve taken ensures they get that support now. We have designed a secure system that will allow eligible Albertans to apply for benefits quickly and easy. Our top priorities during development of the inflation relief portal were privacy, security and accessibility. I’m proud of the work our civil servants have done over the last two months to bring this much-needed program to life.” - Nate Glubish, Minister of Technology and Innovation
Many Albertans receiving these targeted relief payments are automatically enrolled for the program and do not need to apply to receive the benefit.
Along with Foster and Kinship Caregivers, anyone currently receiving regular monthly benefits through Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH), Income Support or Alberta Seniors Benefit, or receiving services through the Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) program will automatically receive their first payment starting January 31.
“As we all know, rising prices are putting pressure on household budgets, making it harder for families to pay their bills. Alberta’s government refuses to allow children to pay the price of inflation. The inflation relief payment will help reduce some of the financial
pressures on Alberta families so that all parents, including foster and kinship caregivers, will not have to choose between buying food and paying bills. We are hoping that this additional support will allow kids to be kids and enjoy the fun activities they love.” - Mickey Amery, Minister of Children’s Services
“Affordability for Albertans is a top priority for our government, especially for seniors and those living with disabilities. With critical steps such as targeted relief payments, we are helping millions of individuals and families meet their basic needs and offset the impact of today’s inflation.” - Jeremy Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services
Affordability payments for AISH, Income Support and PDD clients
All clients accessing AISH, Income Support or PDD are automatically enrolled in the program and do not need to sign up to receive their benefits. They will receive their first $100 payments starting January 31.
• Payments will be delivered the same way as a client’s regular monthly benefits, whether by automatic deposit or a physical cheque.
• Payments will be delivered by physical cheque for existing PDD clients who are not receiving AISH or Income Support benefits.
• Beneficiaries will also be notified directly about their enrollment in the payment program and related information.
• These payments will be treated as exempt income by the AISH and Income Support programs and will not impact eligibility or financial benefits.
• Parents in these programs with children under 18 can also receive $600 in additional payments per child. They will need to apply online or in person for these payments starting January 18.
Affordability payments for seniors
All Albertans 65 or older with household incomes below $180,000 will soon be eligible for $600 over six months in monthly affordability payments.
Albertans receiving the Alberta Seniors Benefit are automatically enrolled in the program and do not need to sign up to receive their benefits. The distribution of additional monthly payments will begin January 31.
Eligible seniors who are not receiving the Alberta Seniors Benefit will need to apply for affordability payments by creating or confirming their Verified Account and applying for benefits via the online portal or in person at a registry office or through Alberta Supports when the portal opens on January 18.
Works Inc.
Affordability payments for parents or guardians caring for children under 18
Families with household incomes below $180,000 per year will soon receive a total of $600 for each dependent child under 18 over six months. Eligible parents can apply for affordability payments by creating or confirming their Verified Account and applying for benefits via the online portal or in person at a registry office or through Alberta Supports when the portal opens on January 18.
Affordability payments for foster and kinship caregivers caring for children under 18
Eligible kinship or foster caregivers caring for a child under the age of 18 are automatically enrolled in the program and do not need to sign up to receive their affordability payments. They will receive their first payments at the end of January.
• Payments will be delivered the same way as regular monthly benefits, whether by automatic deposit or physical cheque.
• Monthly payments will be rolled out starting January 31.
Alberta’s government is delivering immediate cost of living and inflation relief while also working to support long-term affordability. Albertans can learn more about all the broad-based and targeted affordability relief programs online.
Quick facts:
• Alberta’s government will use CRA 2021 tax data to verify eligibility based on income.
• Applications can be submitted until June 30, with payments being retroactive to include previous months when a person was eligible.
• Once the application process is successfully completed, most Albertans will receive payments at the end of that month. Exact timing will vary for each individual.
• Alberta has had verified accounts since 2015 as a way for Albertans to safely and securely access a growing number of government services.
• As with all online accounts, Albertans should use strong passwords and not share their password with anyone else. Tips on how to create a strong password are available on the Government of Alberta site.
• The Alberta government will not send texts or emails asking Albertans to submit personal or banking information to receive payments.
Additional information, including a video and answers to questions, is available at alberta.ca/affordable.
I am not rational, and neither are you. Our behaviour is often irrational because it’s influenced by various cognitive biases and emotional factors that lead people to make decisions not based on logic or reason.
As an analyst passionate about eliminating emotions from grain marketing to improve outcomes, today’s article will bring awareness to these behaviours and the myth of rational choice.
The myth of rational choice in grain marketing assumes that farmers will make logical and well-informed decisions about when and how to sell their grain based on market conditions and their production costs. However, this assumption does not consider the various biases affecting a farmer’s decision-making process.
One bias influencing a farmer’s decision is the status quo bias, which is the tendency to stick with the current course of action even if a change would be beneficial. For example, a farmer may continue to sell their grain to the same buyer or marketing channel year after year, even if another option would be more profitable. This is ‘the way we have always done it’, and selling based on ‘seasonality price behaviour’ comes to mind.
Another bias affecting a farmer’s decision is the anchoring bias, which is the tendency to anchor price expectations to a previously high level. For example, farmers may hold onto a crop longer than they should because they believe the price will return to the previous high levels, even if the market conditions have changed.
The availability bias is another bias
Independent Grain and Special Crops Market Analysis
that can affect a farmer’s decision; it’s the tendency to rely on readily available information, even if it’s not accurate or relevant. For example, a farmer may decide based on a news article or a rumour they heard from a friend instead of doing their own research or consulting a professional. Is it current? Is it accurate? Is the analysis accurate? Remember, only the Price Pays.
Moreover, optimism bias is also present; it’s the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of positive outcomes and underestimate the likelihood of negative outcomes. For example, a farmer may believe that the price of grain will increase in the future, even if the market conditions indicate otherwise. We tend to see what we want to see.
In conclusion, the myth of rational choice in grain marketing assumes that
farmers will make logical and well-informed decisions about how to market their grain.
However, in reality, the decision is affected by various biases such as status quo bias, anchoring bias, availability bias, and optimism bias. These biases can lead farmers to make decisions that are not in their best interest and may result in lost profits.
It’s crucial for farmers to be aware of these biases and to take steps to mitigate them by seeking out multiple sources of information, consulting with experts, or regularly reviewing and evaluating their marketing strategies.
Trent Klarenbach, BSA AgEc, publishes the Klarenbach Grain Report and the Klarenbach Special Crops Report, which can be read at https://www.klarenbach.ca/
The Klarenbach Report is sponsored by Kindersley & District Co-op
Brian Thiessen from Western Grain stopped by Food Mesh last week with this generous donation! Pictured is Brian with FoodMesh coordinator, Barbe Dunn.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
The R.M. of Eye Hill No. 382
Is accepting applications for TWO seasonal, full-time Equipment Maintenance Employees with duties to commence April 15, 2023.
Necessary qualifications include:
- Ability to operate a wide range of municipal equipment
- Ability to work independently
- Mechanical aptitude
Competitive wages are being offered based on experience and a benefits package is available. Applicants stating experience and wage expected, can be mailed, faxed or emailed to the Municipal Office and must be received prior to 5:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 7, 2023.
For more information, please contact:
Jason Pilat, Administrator R.M. of Eye Hill No. 382 P.O. Box 39, Macklin, SK S0L 2C0 Phone: 306-753-205 • Fax: 306-753-2304
Email: rm382@sasktel.net
The R.M. wishes to thank all who applied, however only those individuals with interviews will be contacted.
Are you an organized and proactive individual? Do you have a passion for ensuring the safety and well-being of your community? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join our team as an Emergency Measures Coordinator.
In this role, you will be responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the organization’s emergency preparedness and response plan. This will include liaison with local agencies and partners, organizing exercises.
Other key responsibilities will include:
• Identifying and assessing potential emergency situations, and developing appropriate prevention and response measures
• Developing and maintaining relationships with local emergency response agencies
• Developing and maintaining emergency response procedures, protocols, and guidelines
• Providing guidance and support to staff and volunteers during an emergency situation
• Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of emergency response activities
• Schedule training
Qualifications:
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively in a team and under pressure
• Proficient with word and excel
For the successful applicant training courses will be available. To start approximately 4 hours per week.
Applications
Interested candidates are invited to submit resumes with a cover letter and three references, including anticipated wage and date of availability, to Jody Schmidt, CAO, by email at cao@eston.ca, by phone at 306-962-4444, or by mail at Box 757 Eston SK S0L 1A0.
All candidates are thanked for their interest in the position, only those who are selected for further consideration will be contacted.
Equipment Tender – To be Moved
Located at G3 Prairie West Plenty, SK
• 5 Meridian 1620 Fertilizer Storage Bins – manufactured in 2015, located at G3 Prairie West Plenty, SK. ( Bin #’s 1-5)
Located at G3 Kindersley, SK
• 8 tonne batch blender dry fertilizer plant including 6 2008 Westeel Magnum F 1420 storage bins (#1-6) and 1 Magnum F1420/10 bin (Bin #7) connected to the belt driven conveyor.
• 3 stand alone seed bins. (Bins 10, 11, & 13)
• 3 Meridian 1620 Fertilizer Storage Bins – manufactured in 2011 (Bins 8, 9 & 12)
• 1585 Batco Conveyor complete with electric motor
• 23 HP Vanguard Motor and Sakundiak auger FD7 1600 Serial number 48961
• Johnson transfer auger c/w electric motor
Please submit tenders identifying location, bin numbers & equipment prior to January 31, 2023 to:
Charlene Bradley General Manager G3 Prairie West Box 244 Plenty, SK S0L 2R0
charlene_bradley@g3.ca 306 932-4446
‘ As is, Where is - Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted.’
HELP WANTED
Heavy Equipment Operators
OF NEWCOMBE NO. 260
The R.M. of Newcombe No. 260, with office/shop located in Glidden, SK, is currently seeking applications for Heavy Equipment Operators. The RM offers competitive wages and benefits (health, dental, & vision care, disability insurance, and pension plan).
Successful applicants will possess the following qualifications:
• Be willing to work 40-50 hours per week, during peak season;
• Have experience and be willing to operate heavy equipment as required (grader/snow plow, tractor/mower/rock picker, payloader, gravel truck/trailer, etc);
• Knowledge of maintaining and repairing roads;
• Be able to work under direction of the Council/Foreman/Administrator, and work well with other employees;
• Be able to work independently and with minimal supervision;
• Be physically able to complete laboured tasks when required;
• Provide proof of a valid driver’s licence and driver’s abstract upon request (a Class 1A driver’s licence would be a definite asset)
• Provide a criminal record check upon request
• Knowledge of machinery maintenance (being mechanically inclined would be a definite asset);
• Be safety conscious and pay attention to detail
Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. Applications will be accepted until suitable candidates have filled the position(s).
Please apply by sending a resume that includes work experience (including types of equipment operated), proof of education/training/certification, and reliable references to:
R.M. of Newcombe No. 260 Box 40 Glidden, SK S0L 1H0
Phone: 306-463-3338 Fax: 306-463-4748
Email: rm260@yourlink.ca
Classifieds
AGRICULTURE
Integrity Post Frame Buildings
SINCE 2008
Built with Concrete Posts Barns, Shops, Riding Arenas, Machine Sheds and More sales@ Integritybuilt.com 1-866-974-7678
www. integritybuilt.com
AUCTIONS
COMMERCIAL AUDIO/ VIDEO D.J. EQUIP. DISPERSAL Online Timed Auction, Blackfalds, Alberta. January 19-24, 2023. Selling large selection of Audio/ Video D.J. Equip., Shop Equip., Exercise Equip., Insulated Work Wear & more. See www.montgomeryauctions.com; 1-800-3716963.
TIMED ONLINE RETIREMENT AUCTION: IDEAL TILE. Closes February 8. 10821 - 214 Street, Edmonton. Ph: 780-4474777. Equipment, HUGE Amount of Slab Inventory. Prodaniuk AuctionsView on Global Auction.
COMING EVENTS
Saskatoon Farm Toy & Collectible Show at the
Saskatoon Western Development Museum, January 20 - 22, 2023. Friday 5pm-9pm; Saturday 10am-5pm; Sunday 10am-4pm. Special features: Farm toys and scenes, construction equipment, vintage toys and much more!
PIAPOT LIONS CLUB 22nd Annual Antique & Collectibles Sale Maple Creek Armouries, January 28 & 29, 2023
ROCKY MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT HIRING: AG Equipment Techs, Heavy Equipment Techs - Journeyman, Apprentices, and CVIP/Truck Techs. View Open Roles www. rockymtn.com/careers. Relocation and Signing Bonus Offered.
FEED AND SEED
ALBERTA FEED GRAIN: Buying Oats, Barley, Wheat, Canola, Peas, Screenings, Mixed Grains. Dry, Wet, Heated, or Spring Thresh. Prompt Payment. In House Trucks, In House Excreta Cleaning. Vac Rental. 1-888-483-8789.
RM of Snipe Lake #259 (Groups 1 and 2) and RM of Newcombe #260 (Group 3)
Group 1. NE 29-26-18 W3M Ext 0; NW 29-26-18 W3M Ext 0; and SW 29-26-18 W3M Ext 0.
Group 2. NE 06-27-18 W3M Ext 0.
Group 3. SW 21-26-22 W3M Ext 48 (less 10 acre yard site to be subdivided out and retained by seller); and SE 21-26-22 W3M Ext 49.
No bins or buildings are included. Tenders will be accepted on each of Groups 1, 2 and/or 3 or a combination of the 3 Groups. Purchaser must rely on own research and inspection. Highest or any tender not necessarily accepted. Forward tenders by 3:00 p.m. on January 25, 2023 to: HUGHES LAW OFFICE Box 729, Eston, SK S0L 1A0 Ph: 306-962-3654 Fax: 306-962-4474 Hugheslaw@sasktel.net Solicitor for Mrs. M. Pedersen
LAND FOR SALE BY TENDER
R.M. of Chesterfield No. 261
Tenders will be accepted for the following: NW 1-27-25 W3 NE 11-27-25 W3
Closing date for Tenders is 12:00 noon, Feb. 28, 2023. Highest tender or any tender not necessarily accepted. Purchasers must rely on their own research and inspection of the property. Offers should clearly state land description and total offer. More information may be obtained by phone to 306-967-2456. Forward tender to: Herb and Joyce Frank, Frank Family Farm Ltd. Box 67, Eatonia, SK S0L 0Y0 Phone: 306-967-2456 • Email: frankfamily@sasktel.net
fy. Pioneer Acceptance Corp. Member BBB. 1-877-987-1420. www. pioneerwest.com.
HEALTH
HIP/KNEE REPLACEMENT. Other medical conditions causing TROUBLE WALKING or DRESSING? The Disability Tax Credit allows for $3,000 yearly tax credit and $30,000 lump sum refund. Take advantage of this offer. Apply NOW; quickest refund Nationwide: Expert help. 1-844453-5372.
YEAR END SEED SALE
Wheat
AAC Goodwin, CdC Go, Go EArly, PintAil Oats
AC JuniPEr, AC MorGAn
AC MustAnG, dErby, CdC so1 suPEr oAt Barley CErvEzA, CdC AustEnson, CdC MAvEriCk, sundrE Peas
vEry EArly yEllow PEA ForAGE PEAs Polish CAnolA, sPrinG tritiCAlE mastinseeds.com 403-556-2609
AGPRO SEEDS LTD.
BUYING HEATED, DAMAGED OFFGRADE
CANOLA & FEED GRAINS. #1 buyer on the prairies, top price paid! Call/text: 306-873-0481, AgPro Seeds bids: agproseeds.com, Email: sales@agproseeds.com
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Private mortgage lender. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1-866405-1228 www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca
SERVICES
CRIMINAL RECORD? Why suffer employment/ licensing loss? Travel/ business opportunities? Be embarrassed? Think: Criminal Pardon. US entry waiver. Record purge. File destruction. Free consultation. 1-800-3472540. www.accesslegalmjf.com.
GET BACK ON TRACK! Bad credit? Bills? Unemployed? Need Money? We Lend! If you own your own home - you quali-
AD RATES (20 words or less). $10.00 plus GST. Additional words are 20¢ each. Deadline is Thursday noon. 306-463-2211
I am currently PURCHASING single to large blocks of land. NO FEES OR COMMISSIONS
Saskatchewan born and raised, I know land, farming and farmland and can help you every step of the way.
Doug Rue, for further information 306-716-2671 saskfarms@shaw.ca www.sellyourfarm land.com
LAND FOR CASH RENT
S1/2-22-29-23-W3rd
RM290 (308 acres) less yard site. Three-year term. Highest or any bid not necessarily accepted. Send bids to: jsfarms@ruralpro.com or Box 128, Kindersley, SK S0L 1S0 by January 26, 2023.
LAND FOR RENT / SALE FOR SALE
FOR SALE: White Kenmore fridge (no freezer), 18.4 cu. ft. and self-cleaning stove. Good working order. $450 each. Ph: 306-8345156 Jim Wilson.
Notice to Creditors
In the Estate of STEVEN ROBERT
, late of Kindersley, Saskatchewan, deceased.
ALL CLAIMS AGAINST THE ABOVE ESTATE verified by statutory declaration and with particulars and valuation of security held, if any, must be sent to the undersigned before the 31st day of JANUARY, 2023. Morgotch Law Box 2530 113B Main Street Kindersley, SK S0L 1S0
FOR RENT BY TENDER
information available upon request. Not necessarily the highest or any tender accepted.
COOPER NEIL LAW FIRM
Solicitor for Leo and Lillian Kohlman
Telephone: 306-228-2631
Fax: 306-228-4449
Email: unityoffice@cooperneil.ca
P.O. Box 600 Unity, SK S0K 4L0
VERN JOHNSTON
1 Introduction
Vernon Russell Johnston was born on May 11, 1931 to Russell and Louise Johnston on a farm in the Helmsdale area. He became the elder middle of four boys.
Vernon loved learning new things and sharing what he learned. Over his 91 years, he taught himself a great deal about a great many things. Vernon was bolder than his older brother Wes, and was never afraid of a little height and a little thrill. His favourite high climb was the windmill tower. He’d lay up on the platform watching the clouds sail by. Once his mother noticed him up there and shouted, “Vernon you get right down here now.” He took the chance to show her his latest skill – to skip the ladder and slide down the outside corner of the tower instead. She never told him to hurry down again.
He tended to focus deeply on what he was interested in, and was a careful thinker. What he knew completely, he knew firmly. It was hard to change his mind; but then, he always had detailed reasons not to. Of his many passions, the two he held the longest and the dearest were for his wife Helen, and for farming in this community. He never changed his mind about those either.
2 Boyhood
He was seven years old by the time the relentless dryness of the dirty thirties began to break, and with the rains he discovered frogs. He’d never seen or heard the little creatures before. He brought one back to the house to show his mother – by carefully tucking it in his closed mouth. After it leaped from his tongue to the kitchen floor he announced proudly, “I think I found a frog!”
One of his enduring childhood thrills was skiing to school. You can almost hear the snow scratching beneath the wood as he flew along the long downhill stretches. Sometimes his horse is towing him, sometimes the wind alone pushes him on. It was a vivid memory, so vivid that when
his first grandson was born, he did not contain himself very long before getting the boy on his first pair of skis.
3 Helen and Celebration
Just when Vernon was wondering if he should become a cowboy or truck driver, he met a local girl named Helen Dziatkewich. Staying around suddenly became much more important. When Helen was teaching up in New Brigden, Vernon would be sure to drive up at the end of the week to bring her back south. It wasn’t always an easy trip. The practical among us would say “sometimes lots of mud, sometimes lots of snow.” In Vernon’s telling, with the memory of his early courtship bright in his eyes, those trips became adventures of daring and peril and triumph. He always got her home. They always made it to the dance.
They married in 1956. Their home was their pride, and they worked hard at building its yard and gardens and orchard. They always enjoyed hosting friends and family. Over the years, and especially once they had built a rumpus room fit for square dance club practices, and made his grandfather’s old barn fit for community dances, they became skilled at finding reasons to gather and celebrate. Vernon jumped on every chance to arrange a reunion or gathering to happen at the same time as their wedding anniversary. There was an extra sparkle when he roused us to pancake breakfast on his loudspeaker, or took the mic in the barn to note that today was the day he married Helen.
They were partners in life, as well as in dance. As with all marriages, the many times Vernon stepped on Helen’s toes off the dance floor are hers and hers alone to know, to forgive, and to forget. They kept their rhythm. He limped when he walked after his hip surgery, but never when dancing with Helen. As one family member said, “it was always such a pleasure to see them dance”.
4 Farming
Until his late thirties, Vernon farmed in tandem with his father Russell. The young man chafed at holding off his interests in new tractor technology and crop breeding to accommodate his father’s set ways and interests in hay bales and bull breeding.
He studied his calling to keep up to date on the latest issues, trends and research in farming. Vernon and Helen were blessed with many good years and good rains. There was little he couldn’t fix – whether himself or with the help of a neighbour – and being
on his land doing things his way suited him.
As he aged, Vernon increasingly farmed in tandem with his daughter Marlene and son-in-law Graham. Although his set ways called for accommodation, they shared a great deal of labour and equipment over the years. His goal was to be an active farmer and bring in a crop until he was 80 years old. Vernon held a clear memory of his own grandfather at 80 putting up hay in the barn in the fall before dying that winter. The milestone meant a lot to Vernon, and he made it. He did not do it alone.
5 Teaching
Vernon was a notably patient teacher who could talk you through almost anything step by step. He began training his best truck driver Sandra around the age of nine. His daughters were soon in charge of dumping and returning the grain trucks onto the field so that his combine never had to stop running. His girls could do anything a boy could do. And I have it on good authority from Vernon that they could probably do it better.
A good teacher knows, when someone makes a mistake, you let them keep going. When his nephew set his tractor on top of a rock pile instead of going around it, Vernon took it in stride. He pulled his tractor off and set the youth back at it. When he was teaching Marlene to shoot a rifle, and she put a grazing bullet hole through the hood of his truck, Vernon took it in stride. Always let them try again.
6-8 Pursuits
Much of his eagerness to teach seemed to come from his constant curiosity. When he learned something new, his immediate instinct was to share it with everyone who could use the information. That meant the odd lesson in things you didn’t know that you needed to know until Vernon discovered it and told you about it.
Vernon and Helen maintained a winter place in Yuma for around a decade and really enjoyed it. When they discovered the card game Pinochle down there, his enthusiasm for it came back up with him to Canada. He set up detailed instructions, and with the help of Helen’s neat handwriting, they prepared a jam-packed single sheet of paper that told you everything you needed to know about Pinochle. Everyone in the family got a copy of that sheet, and we were each sat down for a session of learning how to play.
6.5 Hunting
Vernon became a sharp hunter and trapper at an early age. He
hunted with many of his family and neighbors, including treks to hunt mountain sheep. He enjoyed special hunts with his brother-inlaw Ed. His final trophy came –again at age 80 – when, with the help of Clyde McBain’s driving, Vernon stepped out of a truck and steadied himself in time to take down an Elk that was fleeing for the safety of the British Block. Its front feet skidded to a stop at the fenceline. Everyone in the family got a copy of that picture, and we were each sat down for a session of hearing the tale.
7.0 Flying
His love of heights led him to flight. He was a flying farmer for many years, and logged many hours in his Cessna going to breakfasts and conventions, wildlife spotting, and investigating potential archaeological sites. He thrilled at letting his daughters have a go. As you’d expect from someone with his high risk tolerance, when teen-aged Sandra had the controls and asked him, “Can I fly it really low, Dad?” he took a breath but agreed to let her. Marlene followed him to become a licensed pilot at age 18.
7.5 Archaeology
Vernon followed his own father’s life-long interest in archaeology. He tended to walk head bent, stepping carefully, always scanning. He talked often with other members of the archaeological society and fellow enthusiasts, and read broadly about the subject. He was thrilled to introduce two generations of new spouses to the family pastime, and he arranged day tours of local sites. He touched the latest generation with his passion by taking his collection to local schools for a talk and a chance to hold a variety of hammerheads, scrapers and arrowheads.
8.0 Other
Vernon played baseball, curled, and floor curled every chance he could, and for as long as he could. We must mention that he also spent many hours and many years learning how to make beautiful woodwork, that he taught himself masonry because he liked the look of a stone wall and decided to build one, and that he spent many years poring over star charts and astronomy books and waiting outside in the dark for a comet or a planet to rise. When we buried him this morning, a waning gibbous moon was setting on the western horizon.
8.5 District History
Local history also meant a great deal to him. If you want to, you could stand on a road today and trace the very slope Vernon skied to school. You could stand
and see for yourself where many children raised in the Esther, Chinook, Cereal and Buffalo districts walked and rode from their farmhouses to their rural schoolhouses. You can do that today, because Vernon and many of his neighbors got together to weld and put up markers for where those schools had been.
9 Community
He came from a time when things happened because people worked together to make sure they happened: rural electrification; public health care; passable roads. He knew in his bones that we don’t have what we have because somebody far away decided it was a good idea. People here came together and did it. He spoke up for that idea often.
In his time, Vernon organized a snow plow club with his neighbors. He served over 25 years in debate and deliberation with his fellow Alberta Wheat Pool delegates on the issues of the day. He joined the Oyen senior’s center and was an active part of maintaining this building and supporting the activities within it. Even though he seemed at his best doing things alone and according to his own plan, so much of what he did drew him into his community. He wasn’t always easy to get along with, but he knew the power and importance of getting along. That is a deeply interesting contradiction, because he always seemed comfortable with the notion that staying in society isn’t easy. It was good. It was necessary. And he never stopped trying.
10 Conclusion
It fits, then, to tie Vernon’s life together with words from someone else. Many of you will remember that the Wheat Pool mailed out a newsletter called the Budget. In 1985, when they had been including poems written by normal rural people for over 40 years and had over 2000 to choose from, the Wheat Pool published a little booklet of verse. The poet is a fellow Alberta farmer that the book describes as a man, I quote, “whose entire life was spent in Alberta serving agriculture.” He was probably a lot like Vernon.
BELOW THE HILL
The breeze that waved the prairie grass is calm now. The sun that burned the desert sands is set now. So all is dark, and mute. The lark that sang through all the day has gone now. The hare that leaped and jumped and hid is still now. So all is hushed, at rest. The worry that beset my soul has fled now. The dread that I would not succeed – I scorn now. So come to bed, and sleep.
WORSHIP SERVICES
She loved her husband with her whole soul even after he had passed away. She worked hard at any thing she took on whether it be her job, volunteering or making things for her own enjoyment.
DO YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW NEED FOOD?
She believed in a job well done.
Date
“It
Connie lived a simple life indeed. She took great pride in her family, her home and her work ethic.
Connie loved to make things with her own hands. She spent countless hours sewing, knitting, crocheting and quilting.
Loaves and Fishes offers hearty soup and bread at no charge.
(Soup is packaged and frozen, just thaw & heat)
She raised her children with the hope that they would live
“goodies” was exhausting. She was a strong, tough woman because life isn’t easy. But, she had a generous heart.
She would indeed give you whatever she could to make your life easier.
Over her years she was “Mom” to many children and adults her own children would drag home knowing they would be welcomed. We never hesitated to bring an extra mouth to the table.
fit of the doubt.
And you don’t have to look far or hard to see someone who is less fortunate than you.
Connie was predeceased by her parents (George and Mildred Gibb), her brother (Gary Gibb), her loving husband Steve and her children Warren and Karen.
She was amazing to watch in the kitchen. She wasn’t a gourmet cook but she could whip up a meal for many without breaking a sweat. It didn’t matter what time you came to her door. If you were hungry, you were fed. To watch her as she prepared Christmas
Once you sat at Connie’s table she considered you family. Her strength and kindness had a part in shaping more than just her biological children.
TEXT 306-460-9304 or CALL 306-463-6146 or email: info@kcfhope.com
DO YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW NEED FOOD?
Connie had simple rules to live by:
You don’t know you can’t unless you try.
Give people the bene-
Left to carry on her simple life lessons are her children Dale (Susan) and Trina (Peter), her son in law Dennis, her grandchildren Jason (Dakota and Abigail) and Jareme (Samara, Sophia and Olivia), her sister Norma Duke (Tom) and her brother Glenn Gibb. Along with her family surely her words and strength will live on in all those she welcomed into her extended family.
(Soup is packaged and frozen, just thaw & heat)
Loaves and Fishes offers hearty soup and bread at no charge. TEXT 306-460-9304 or CALL 306-463-6146 or email: info@kcfhope.com
Miranda McKay and Owen Hausauer invite you to an Open Dance to Celebrate their Wedding on Sat., Jan. 21, 2023 at Oyen Legion Hall 207 - 5th Ave. E. at 8:00 p.m. Cash Bar & Midnight Lunch
IN MEMORY OF
Helen Tomkins who passed away January 18, 2022
Mom ...
Your life was a blessing your memory a treasure ... You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure ...
- Unknown -
Dianne, Ken & family
Darrell, Bev & family
Dwayne & Cheryl Dawn & Trevor
Calum Mitchell Dziatkewich
Date
Ryatt Rook Laughlin
Date
Place
NOW HIRING!
Plumber,
Electrician.
& Dental,
Wages,
Company Matched Retirement Plan, Friendly Work Environment Apply by emailing Resume to jeanabaker@lukplumbing.com 807 - 9th St. W., Kindersley • 306-463-6707 www.lukplumbing.com
ACADIA VALLEY
February 2-4
• Acadia Valley Rec Club is hosting a Ladies Bonspiel. The theme for this year is “Be A Star”. Karaoke on Saturday night. See the ad in this edition of The Echo.
* Youth Hockey and FREE skating lessons starting January 9, 2023.
* Yoga in The Valley Thursdays from 7:00 - 8:00 PM in the Hall. Call/text Jamie 403-548-5146 for more info. Sunday, February 19
• Annual Family Fishing Derby at The Dam sponsored by the Acadia Valley Rec Club. Free lunch all day provided by the Big Country Rod and Gun Club.
BUFFALO
Saturday, February 25
• Tribute to George Jones featuring Duane Steele at the Buffalo Hall.
CEREAL
* Mondays - Cereal Board of Trade BINGO. Doors open 6:30 PM. Bingo starts 7:30 PM at the CJ Peacock Centre.
* Tuesdays - Cereal Cottages Weekly Coffee Time 9:30 AM
* Wednesdays - Cereal Quilting Club meet at the CJ Peacock Centre. Call Joan Pennett for more info. (Starting back up on January 18th)
* Thursdays - Chase The Ace 7:008:50 PM Ticket Sales 9:00 PM Draw at the Cereal Bar.
EMPRESS
Wednesday, January 18 - Saturday, January 21
• Empress Bindloss Ag Society Winterspiel. $200 entry fee/team. Contact Brad Howe 306-661-0409 to enter a team or for more information.
OYEN
Thursday, January 19
• Town of Oyen Library Winter Craft & Story Time 2:00 PM
Friday, January 20
• Oyen United Church Soup & Sandwich 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM. Adults $15; Kids 6-12 $5; Kids 6 & under Free.
• Fun Night at the Oyen Seniors Centre. Cards, Games and Socializing. BYOB and snacks. 7:00 PM. Contact Lynda Grudecki at 403-6640908 for more info.
Saturday, January 21
• Winter Roping at the Crossroads Centre 10:00 AM start.
Friday - Sunday, January 20-22
• 2nd Annual Keith Mitchell Memo-
rial Bonspiel. Call Brett at 403-6648868.
Sunday, January 22
• BCAS Gymkhana at the Crossroads Centre 1:00 PM start.
Friday, January 27
• Oyen Eagles vs Delburne Outlaws 8:00 PM at the Oyen & District Memorial Arena.
Wednesday, February 1
• Oyen Otters Annual General Meeting 7:00 PM at the Oyen Centennial Park, Sport and Recreation Building. All welcome to attend.
Saturday, February 4
• SCHS Princess Ball for ages 3-10 years 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Each ticket $60. Adult tickets $15 (to cover the cost of lunch).
Friday & Saturday, February 10-11
• Ladies Spiel. Call Jackie at 403664-0157.
Saturday, February 11
• BCAS Rough Stock & Barrels Winter Series at the Crossroads Centre. Highpoint buckles in all events. Entries and information 403-664-0381.
Friday, February 17
• Oyen Eagles vs Irma Aces 8:00 PM at the Oyen & District Memorial Arena.
Saturday, February 18
• Oyen Crossroads Beef Expo Pen Show
Sunday, February 19
• Oyen Crossroads Beef ExpoYouth Steer & Heifer Show
Friday - Sunday, February 24-26
• Skins Spiel. Call Brett 403-6648868.
League Curling
Tuesdays Fun League. Enter as a team or individual to Kari 403-6641001.
Wednesdays Cash League. Enter to Brett 403-664-8868. League play runs will be open this season.
Saturday, March 11
• BCAS Rough Stock & Barrels Winter Series at the Crossroads Centre. Highpoint buckles in all events. Entries and information 403-664-0381.
* Oyen Town Council meet 2nd Tuesday of every month 7:00-9:00 PM in Town Council Chambers.
YOUNGSTOWN
Thursday, January 26 - Saturday, January 28
• Youngstown Farmers Bonspiel. $160 / team. To register call/text Mark 403-854-1907 or Blaine 403854-1279.
Big Country Waste Management Commission Employment Opportunity - Contractor
Position: Waste Transfer Station Attendant
Location: Oyen & Sibbald
Salary: $3,410.00/month
Deadline for Application: January 27, 2023
Reporting to the Director of Operations, this position will be responsible for travel to/from transfer station sites and assisting with waste related aspects of the Oyen and Sibbald Transfer Station operation.
Schedule of Hours: Sibbald Transfer Station Site SW-14-28-02-W4
