march 19, 2015

Vol. 38 No. 5 March 19, 2015 Email: [email protected] Ph: 780-868-9221 or 780-446-3088

- by Sylvia Holowach

Approximately 130 people gathered for an opportunity

to hear Premier Jim Prentice speak at a breakfast hosted

by the Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville Progressive Con-

servative Constituency Association at the Lamont Recrea-

tion Centre on Saturday, March 7.

MLA Jacquie Fenske opened the program by thanking

everyone for coming and introducing numerous elected

officials and constituency association executive members.

During her speech she provided a brief background about

herself, and spoke about how proud she was to be part of

such a strong and united caucus before suggesting the

province is getting ready for an election but not before the

provincial budget is presented on March 26. In closing

MLA Fenske assured Prentice “You are among friends

here”.

Prentice wasted no time in speaking about the chal-

lenges the province is facing. (Continued on Page 6)

Pictured L-R are Fort Saskatchewan Mayor, Gail Katchur; EIPS Trustee, Heather Wall; Premier Jim Prentice and Fort Saskatchewan

Vegreville MLA Jacquie Fenske at breakfast hosted by Fort Saskatchewan Vegreville PC Constituency Association on March 7.

SYLVIA HOLOWACH PHOTO

Prentice Speaks at Invitation Only Event in Lamont

Elk Island Triangle, Thursday, March 19, 2015


Community Pays Tribute to Local Hero - by Carol Marko

Shock and sadness overwhelmed a large portion of

Lamont County on Sunday, March 8th, as word spread of

the sudden passing of St. Michael resident and Chipman

Fire Chief, Steven “Raz” Rasmussen, of complications

from a broken ankle.

Over 650 people filled the St. Michael Hall and spilled

over into the parking lot, on Saturday, March 14th, to pay

tribute to a man they’ve come to know and love. Among

them were many uniforms from the Canadian Armed

Forces, various Lamont County Fire Departments, RCMP

members and County EMTs.

A common theme throughout the service was repeated

over and over again. That theme was that from a very

early age, all Steven wanted to do was to make life better

for others. His family mentioned the fact that he received

many honours and awards from the Boy Scouts in

recognition of his service to others. There were many

mentions of his commitment to the community, and his

respectfulness of others.

Steven first joined the Canadian Armed Forces in 1997,

and served with a variety of different units, eventually

becoming an instructor and mentor to the Royal

Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

technicians of tomorrow. Over the course of his career,

he served two rotations in Afghanistan in 2007 and a

third rotation in 2009. His most recent posting was in

January of this year to the First Battalion, Princess

Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI), where he

assumed the role of Maintenance Recovery Team

Commander.

In 2013, Steven was one of four founding members of

the Four Horsemen Veterans Motorcycle Club. The

charity of choice for the motorcycle club members to

support and fundraise for is Military Minds Inc., a

non-profit organization working to raise awareness of the

stigma and provide peer support for victims of

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Here at home in Lamont County, Steven served as a

firefighter for five years with the Lamont Fire Department

before accepting the position as Fire Chief with the

Chipman Fire Department in the fall of 2009. He was

credited with having brought a new level of training

and professionalism to that Fire Department. He

was also serving as board member for the St. Michael

Community Hall.

Steven leaves behind his loving wife, Sharisse and two

young daughters – Ally (10 months) and Lexi (3 ½ years),

of St. Michael; his parents, Mitchell and Rosalie of Fort

Saskatchewan; one brother, Shaun (Melissa) of Fort

Saskatchewan, AB; two sisters, Sabrina (Michael) Logan

of Stony Plain, AB and Lisa (Cody) Plante of Calgary, AB;

parents-in- law, Ken and Royanne Hewko of St. Michael,

AB; two sisters-in-law, Tammy and Crystal; and

numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by

his brother, Michael.

In lieu of other tributes, donations may be made to the Ally

and Lexi Trust Fund, c/o PO Box 1152, Lamont, AB T0B 2R0

or Military Minds Inc., 54 Wessinger Drive, Barrie, ON

L4N 8R3.


Respect; a word with connotations ranging from

concern for someone’s feelings, time, space and privacy to

another’s property and possessions, the environment and

the law.

Respectfulness or being respectful is an action showing

consideration or thoughtfulness for somebody or some-

thing. Therefore, is it fair to say respect plays a part in

everything we do?

On Friday the 13th, a number of events caused me to

question whether there was some meaning to the super-

stition of Friday the 13th being bad luck or whether we

may need coaching on the meaning of respect and how to

show it.

The day started at a rural intersection. Heading south,

having the right-of-way, I noticed a tank truck

approaching from the east. I slowed down enough to

watch it go through the stop sign, without slowing right

in front of me.

Later, in the cashier line at a Ft. Saskatchewan grocery

store, a young mother approached behind me. Noticing

her baby was fussing and remembering what it was like, I

let her go ahead of me, thinking it was the right thing to

do. I didn’t expect a pot of gold in return, but a

thank-you would have been nice.

Later, an elderly gentlemen and I approached an exit

door at the same time. Seeing his hands were full with

bags and a cane, I opened the door for him thinking it

was the considerate thing to do. Apparently it wasn’t, as

he scolded me instead.

Upon running into a friend, I learned of her close

encounter. While heading westbound on highway 15

approaching the Vinca Bridge corner an eastbound 18

wheel oil tanker turned left directly in front of her.

With little else to do she applied her brakes causing a

pick-up behind her to take evasive action in order to

avoid rear-ending her and possibly pushing her under

the belly of the tanker.

Then driving eastbound on highway 45, with a pick-up

in front of a white car in front of me, another incident oc-

curred. Suddenly the car in front of me started swerving

and abruptly applied its brakes. With oncoming traffic

and a Kenworth tractor-trailer on my rear, I had little

choice but to swerve toward the ditch. Luckily, a young

man traveling toward us realized what was happening

and moved to the shoulder leaving enough room for the

Kenworth to pass. The young man and I checked on the

driver of the car, an elderly lady. Clearly shaken, she

apologized and explained she was startled by a bag of

garbage that had fallen off the truck in front of her.

Were these events instances of bad luck or lack of

respect? I admit I am somewhat superstitious but I

believe they had little to do with bad luck and a lot

to do with a lack of respect for each other. Is it possible

our increasing lack of respect for one another may

be causing the rudeness, scorn and aggression we all

cope with every day? (Continued on Page 5)

In My Opinion

NEXT ISSUE – April 2, 2015

Deadline for Submissions: Friday, March 27, 2015

The Elk Island Triangle welcomes your letters to the editor, guest editorials, and news contributions with or without pictures

Please include your name and phone number for contact information Lamont County’s ONLY LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED newspaper!


(Continued from Page 4)

Is the way we behave toward each other, directly or

indirectly, not an expression of our personal values and

character? I was raised, as many others were, to respect

our elders, offer a helping hand when possible and be

attentive to others’ thoughts, ideas and suggestions.

We don’t necessarily have to agree with each other all

the time, but couldn’t we be courteous enough to listen, be

understanding and try to treat each other fairly?

Couldn’t we try to be accepting and appreciative when

someone attempts to do a good deed? Couldn’t we be

mindful of traffic signs, driving rules and etiquette, traffic

around us and speed limits? Couldn’t we all take a

minute to ensure any loads we may be transporting

are covered and secured?

Aretha Franklin reminded us how it’s spelled -

R-E-S-P-E-C-T, but, in my opinion, it is up to us to

reacquaint ourselves with the “Golden Rule” and give

it a chance.

- Sylvia


Premier Prentice Speaks in Lamont (Continued from Page 1)

Alberta is facing a $7 billion revenue deficit this year, a $6

billion deficit the year after and between a $4 and $5 bil-

lion deficit in the years following, he said. “Doing nothing

isn’t an option. If we do nothing we’ll destroy all of Alberta’s

finances in about two and a half years”, said Prentice.

He stressed his government’s commitment to teachers,

nurses, doctors, other front line workers and core public

services but suggested costs associated with services

within the public sector need to be reduced to the same

level as the national average over the next three years;

implying he would not allow the provinces finances to be

run into the ditch.

With approximately 60,000 new residents expected to

enter Alberta this year, the province will continue

building schools and hospitals, he said. He suggested,

Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jacquie Fenske

would be making an announcement regarding additional

senior care beds, within the region, in the coming weeks.

With regard to the upcoming budget, Prentice suggest-

ed Albertans look at it as part of a 10 year plan that will

help Alberta get off the “oil roller coaster” resulting in

financial stability to fund infrastructure and services. He

stated the province has injected an additional $410

million into the Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI)

but refused to comment on MSI funding expectations in

coming years.

Alberta’s Industrial Heartland is Canada’s Industrial

Heartland and “people are starting to see Alberta’s economic

strengths and the contributions Alberta has made to the

country”, he said.

With the strengths shown in industry, forestry, agricul-

ture, the oil sands and other investments, Prentice did not

believe Alberta will go into a recession.

“We are where we are and we’ll deal with the challenges.

These will not be the easiest two or three years but we’re tough

and we’re going to get through this together”, said Prentice.

Fort Saskatchewan Vegreville MLA, Jacquie Fenske looks on as

Premier Prentice addresses attendees at breakfast in Lamont.

SYLVIA HOLOWACH PHOTO

Alberta School Boards Association Applauds Decision

SUBMITTED

The Alberta School Boards Association (ASBA)

welcomed the government’s decision to lower how much

diploma exam marks count towards a student’s final mark

from 50 per cent to 30 per cent.

“This decision was a long time coming and it positively

impacts high school students in this province. “Today’s

decision will be met with cheers from students, parents

and staff. Communities have been telling school boards

for a long time that this is one of their priorities,” said

ASBA President Helen Clease.

At the ASBA’s November 2014 meeting, 82 per cent of

Alberta school boards supported a motion calling on the

government to drop the weight of diploma exams.

The 24 new partnerships allowing high school students

to earn post-secondary credits or workplace certification

in fields like carpentry, welding, esthetics and accounting

were also welcomed by the ASBA. “These partnerships

support school boards’ efforts to create new pathways for

student learning. Anytime we can create these opportuni-

ties for students, it is a good thing” “Both announcements

will make a difference to our high school students. We

welcome these initiatives. Students, parents, staff and

communities have been encouraging school boards to

speak for them on these initiatives and today we have

been heard.” said Clease.


- by Glen Blahey, Canadian Agricultural Safety Association

Farm owners run a business. A farm requires the same

commitment to succeed, the same dedication to hard

work, good products and of course, a commitment to

safety just like other businesses. One hallmark of a suc-

cessful business is an engaged and well-trained work-

force.

Training employees is good business and an important

area of risk management on any farm. Well trained, safe

and healthy employees are essential for the smooth func-

tioning of any farming operation. The loss of an employ-

ee due to an accident can have a severe ripple effect and

create many more hidden costs than the farm owner may

realize. As well as the usual compensation and medical

costs, there is down time in production, training time for

replacement employees, repairs to damaged equipment

plus the psychological effect an accident has on other em-

ployees and families.

The benefits of incorporating orientation and training,

including health and safety information, include a more

confident and competent employee. This means that the

worker is more engaged in the work place and in turn

will take personal ownership in their work. Not only does

training help prevent potential accidents but also em-

powers employees to do their best work.

A very important step towards managing risk on the

farm, is training farm workers in occupational h e a l t h

and safety principles. A training program for health and

safety orientation of seasonal agricultural workers will

enable farm owners and managers to train their seasonal

staff on basic safety principles, recognizing and assessing

hazards, and applying hazard prevention and control

measures to protect them as they perform their duties.

The worker needs to be well trained and to understand

their job tasks and the importance of their job to the larg-

er picture. Never assume that someone has the “common

sense” to work safely. Making an assumption like that

can be dangerous, especially where a young or new work-

er is concerned. Orientation to a new workplace is very

important for safety. Workers need to be orientated when

they arrive at the workplace. They need to know the fa-

cilities, the equipment, emergency procedures, the do’s

and don’ts and they need to be trained properly.

Be The Difference As A Farm Employer


Move Farm Equipment Safely on Public Roads this Spring

From the March 16, 2015 Issue of Agri-News According to the Canadian Agricultural Injury

Reporting (CAIR) program, 13 per cent of farm-related

fatalities across Canada are traffic-related, and most

involve tractors.

During the busy spring season, farmers often travel

long distances between fields, and this requires transport-

ing equipment on public roads throughout rural Alberta.

Farm equipment is oversized and slow compared to other

vehicles using the roads and, when certain procedures are

not met, can lead to collisions and other incidents.

“Maintenance is a contributing factor to the safety of

transporting farm equipment,” says Kenda Lubeck, farm

safety coordinator for Alberta Agriculture and Rural De-

velopment. “Poor maintenance of equipment such as

brakes or tires can lead to loss of control of the vehicle.”

Check all tires for air pressure, cuts, bumps and tread

wear. Always lock brake pedals together for highway trav-

el as sudden braking at high speeds on only one wheel

could put the tractor into a dangerous skid. Equip heavy

wagons with their own independent brakes.

To avoid traffic collisions between motorists and farm

equipment, farmers should ensure their equipment is

clearly visible and follows all regulated requirements for

lighting and signage. This will ensure approaching traffic

has time to react to a slow-moving vehicle. Use

reflective tape and reflectors in the event that large

equipment is required to travel in dim lighting conditions.

In Canada, reflective material should be red and

orange strips. You can purchase tape in kits or by the foot

at local farm or hardware stores.

Dust-covered signage and lights make farm machinery

less visible to motorists and dust-covered machinery

causes poor visibility for the operator, who may not see

oncoming traffic. Be sure to clean farm equipment prior to

transportation to minimize the risk of collision due to poor

visibility.

Regulated requirements for lighting and signage on

public roadways include the use of a slow-moving vehicle

(SMV) sign. The SMV sign must be properly mounted,

clean and not faded. It must be positioned on the

rear of the tractor or towed implement and clearly

visible. SMV signs must only be used on equipment

travelling less than 40 km/hr.

Lubeck cautions that farmers should check their

route prior to starting out with farm equipment to

be sure the equipment will fit on all roads and

bridges and that there are no low-hanging

power lines along the route.

“If equipment is too wide to fit safely into one

lane, approaching traffic could clip the machinery

or become blocked while crossing a bridge, if it’s too

tall it could come in contact with a power line. This

is important information to know before farm

workers head out on the road with equipment.”

For the safety of all motorists, it is highly recommended

that farmers move equipment during high-visibility

daylight hours and during periods of light traffic. Avoid

busy roads whenever possible, even if travel time will be

longer. If your route takes you across a rural railway

crossing, be aware that some crossings have poor visibility.

Always stop and make sure the way is clear before

crossing. Contact: Kenda Lubeck 780-538-5606


Agriculture ranks as Canada’s third most hazardous industry

In terms of absolute numbers of fatalities, there is no more dangerous occupation

There were 1769 agricultural fatalities in Canada from 1990-2005

Agricultural machines were involved in 70.9% of fatalities

Of those fatally injured as a result of agricultural work, 91.6% were male

For children aged fourteen and under the following were the most predominant causes of farm-related

fatalities:

Farm safety is a choice – not an act of fate. Many injury incidents are preventable!

On average, 114 people are killed and another 1,499 are seriously injured by farm-related incidents in

Canada each year. Almost half of these incidents are caused by farm machinery and over a third involve

children under 15 or adults over 65. It is estimated that farmers are five times more likely to be killed through

occupation-related accident than workers in all other industries. Agriculture also has the highest rate of

disabling injuries among all other industries. - Canadian Agricultural Safety Program

Machine runovers Drownings Machine rollovers Animal-related Crushed under an object

41.9% 15.2% 11.1% 6.5% 5.1%

FARM INJURY/FATALITY STATISTICS IN CANADA


FARM INJURY/FATALITY STATISTICS IN ALBERTA

YEAR Total Number of Fatalities – all ages Number of Fatalities ages 0-18 2013 16 0

2012 10 2 2011 16 3

2010 22 3

2009 13 1 2008 23 8 2007 12 1 2006 20 7 2005 20 4 2004 16 5 2003 14 1 2002 24 4 2001 18 5 2000 22 3 1999 17 2 1998 26 6 1997 17 6

Totals 306 61

Yearly Averages 18.00 3.58

Data below is from the Alberta Medical Examiner's Office (Alberta Farm Safety Centre)


Be the Difference as a

Community Member Do you live on a farm? Do you have friends or

family who live on a farm? Farm injuries are all too

common in Canada. But you can make a difference

and help keep farmers and their families safe.

You can start by making farm safety an important

part of the conversation. Encourage farm safety

projects in your community. Participate in farm

safety training. Ask your local politicians what they

are doing to help farmers in your community stay

safe.

So this Ag Safety Week, Be the Difference! For

more information on how you can help all of

Canada’s farmers and their families stay safe, visit

agsafetyweek.ca


Be the Difference

as a

Medical Professional As a medical professional, you are a part of the team

that helps keep farmers and their families healthy and

safe. Long days, repetitive work and exposure to chemi-

cals are all factors that affect the health and well-being of

farmers.

So what can you do to be the difference? You can start

by learning about farming hazards and farming- related

health issues. Ask you clients about their habits and

farming tasks. Talk to farmers and their families about

their health concerns.

This Ag Safety Week, Be the Difference! for farm-

ers and their families. For more information on how you

can keep farmers and their families healthy and safe, visit

agsafetyweek.ca


From the March 16, 2015 Issue of Agri-News Most farmers would agree that farming is no nine to

five job. Work on farms normally includes shift work,

and it gets particularly “shifty” during peak seasons such

as spring or harvest.

While some people can adapt to shift work – and even

thrive on it – others find it difficult to get into a rhythm.

Finding a rhythm with work/life balance is important to

acquiring enough sleep and maintaining the balance, en-

ergy and strength to work safely.

“Most shift workers, including those on farms, don’t

get enough sleep,” says Kenda Lubeck, farm safety coor-

dinator for Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development.

“When you’re tired, you may think and move slowly,

make more mistakes and have difficulty remembering

things. This can lead to increased hazards on a farm

worksite.”

The human body has a 24-hour cycle of wakefulness

and sleepiness. This is what tells our bodies to sleep at

night and be awake during the day. Any time a worker

disrupts this cycle they need to develop a strategy that

will help their body adjust. Incorporating a variety of

physical activities into your day and eating a balanced

diet can be a good strategy to have.

The National Sleep Foundation has lots of helpful tips

for staying alert on the job and for sleeping. Here are

some of their suggestions:

Take short breaks throughout your shift and go for a

walk or stretch.

Try to work with a buddy.

Try to exercise during breaks.

If possible, talk with co-workers while you work.

Try to eat three normal meals per day. Eat healthy

snacks, avoiding foods that may upset your stomach.

If you consume caffeine (coffee, tea, soda, energy

drinks, gum, mints), do so early in the shift.

Don’t leave the most tedious or boring tasks to the

end of your shift when you will most likely feel sleepy.

Exchange ideas with coworkers on ways to cope with

any problems of shift work.

Avoid exercising just before bed time, because exer-

cise raises energy and your body temperature. Exercise

should be done at least three hours before sleeping.

“There isn’t a lot farmers can do to reduce shift work

as it’s a necessity to getting a large amount of work done

in a short amount of time,” says Lubeck. “The important

thing is to have someone available to take the next shift at

the specified time. When people push themselves too

hard that’s when work incidents and injuries occur.”

Contact: Kenda Lubeck 780-538-5606

Keep Fatigue out of Farm Shift Work


Be the Difference as a Kid on the Farm

Hey you! Are you a farm kid? All farm kids growing up on the farm is awesome! There are always lots of things to see and do. But you also know that there are dangers on the farm. So what can you do to stay safe?

You can start by taking about farm safety with your family. Ask your parents before you touch. Learn as much as you can about how to stay safe and healthy. If you see something dangerous, tell a grown-up.

So this Ag Safety Week, Be the Difference! For more infor-mation on farm safety, visit agsafetyweek.ca

Be the Difference as an Ag Sales Rep As an Ag Sales Rep you understand your products and you understand your customers. But your job doesn’t end with a sale.

Talk to your customers about how to use your products safely. Encourage them to use the proper equipment for the job. Ask them if they have any questions. By taking a few extra minutes to discuss safety, you can be the difference in helping farmers stay safe.

So this Ag Safety Week, Be the Difference! for your custom-ers. For more information on how you can help farmers and their families stay safe, visit agsafetyweek.ca

Elk Island Triangle, Thursday, February 19, 2015

Never Underestimate the Ingenuity of Our Senior Citizens

- Story and Photos by Sylvia Holowach Those visiting Father Filas Manor recently may have noticed what

looked like a dwindling snowman on steroids, even though the feet

and shoulders looked more like that of a rabbit. Others may have

thought it was a sculpture of some sort but a conversation with a

resident of the Manor unveiled the story behind the mysterious figure.

As Manor staff piled the winter’s snow fall along the sidewalk and

the pile grew, resident Eugene Gurba had an idea. “The pile was

getting bigger and bigger so I thought maybe I could do something with it”

said Eugene. He took measurements, made some drawings and went

to work on what would become affectionately known, by the

residents, as Mr. Snowman. Using the snow pile as his canvas, he

chopped, chiselled, cut and scraped until a likeness of his idea began

to develop.

It was at this point Eugene ran into a problem. “The women started

asking why I was making a Mr. Snowman and no Mrs. Snowman. So to

keep them happy I left Mr. Snowman and started working on the snowbank

by the chapel so the women could have their Mrs. Snowman” said Eugene.

With the experience of Mr. Snowman behind him, Mrs. Snowman

soon stood near the chapel in full female fashion.

“But I ran into a real problem with Mr. Snowman because I didn’t leave

enough snow in the pile for his head and had to make a separate piece. And

that darn head kept falling off” stated Eugene. During a visit with her

Dad, daughter Bridgette helped Eugene put the head in place securely

and Mr. Snowman was complete for all to enjoy.

When asked how long it took to make both, Eugene shrugged his

shoulders and said “I don’t know. I was bored and sometimes it was too

cold but I wanted something to do so Why Not?”

As the temperature warmed, Eugene got another idea and wasn’t

about to let Mr. Snowman go without a fight. He was out again,

scraping, chopping and cutting legs for his new brainchild, Ms. Easter

Bunny. (Continued on next page)


. “I made the ears in my room and the ladies gave me a straw

hat, so I’m ready to go. If it gets too warm and melts away, Oh

Well, there’s nothing I can do. Soon I can weed the flowers

uptown again. I spent a lot of time weeding and looking after

the flowers last year. It gave me something to do” said Eugene.

When asked if he would make the snowmen again this

year, Eugene replied; “I think so. I still feel pretty good and I

know what improvements I need to make. One thing I would do

different is make them standing beside each other because that’s

the way it’s supposed to be”.

Seniors’ Ingenuity Continued

Daughter Bridgette helps her Dad, Eugene Gurba re-attach the head of

his snowman, which had fallen off after the snow began to melt.

Andrew’s Senior Citizen Lodge and Mundare’s Father Filas Manor to Receive Funding

- Stories and photos by Sylvia Holowach

Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jacquie Fenske de-

livered two good news messages at the Father Filas Manor

on Thursday, March 5, 2015.

On behalf of Jeff Johnson, Minister of Seniors, MLA

Fenske announced a funding commitment of $240,000 for

the Father Filas Manor in Mudare and $100,000 for the

Andrew Senior Citizens Lodge in Andrew. The funds will

be used toward installation of fire sprinkler systems and

other fire safety improvements at both facilities. Everyone in attendance took time to for a visit and refreshments with the residents of Father Filas Manor after the announcements. Back Row Left to Right: Manager of Father Filas Manor & Andrew Senior Citizens Lodge, Al Lenkewich, County Councillor & Lamont Housing Foundation Board Member, Roy Anaka, County Councillor, Daniel Warawa, Village of Andrew Councillor & Lamont Housing Foundation Board Member, Mona Mitchell Frampton, Town of Mundare Council-lor and Lamont County Housing Foundation Board Member, Irene Talaga, Town of Lamont Mayor & Lamont Housing Foundation Board Chairman, Bill Skinner, MLA Jacquie Fenske, Lamont County Housing Foundation Administrator, Harold James.

Thursday, March 5, 2015; a date representatives of the

Mary Immaculate Hospital in Mundare will not soon

forget.

On behalf of Minister of Seniors, Jeff Johnson, Fort

Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA, Jacquie Fenske

announced the hospital would be receiving $510,000

toward upgrades to their fire sprinkler and other fire

safety systems.

Built before 1990 and before current fire safety

requirements became mandatory; the upgrades will help

ensure the safety and security of seniors in the facility.

“I’d like to thank Covenant Health for all the work they’ve

done in determining the needs for the hospital and what needed

to be done to secure the funding. The cheque is in the mail.”

From left to right: Community Board Chair JoAnn Dubyk, Community Board Member Wanda Ryan, Sister Martha Zulyniak, Head of Mainte-nance Jack Glaubitz, Site Administrator Anthony Brennen, MLA, Jacquie Fenske, Executive Director Cindy Mulherin, Community Board Member Cliff Moroziuk, Dr. J. Slanina, Mundare Mayor Charlie Gargus, Lamont County Councillor Daniel Warawa

Mary Immaculate Hospital in Mundare

to Receive Funding From

Alberta Government


Value Drug B & E

The window of Lamont Value Drug Mart was boarded up after a break and en-ter during the early morning hours of Tuesday, March 10, 2015. The incident continues to be under investigation by the RCMP.

MARCH IS FRAUD PREVENTION MONTH The Fort Saskatchewan RCMP wish to remind the

residents of Fort Saskatchewan and Lamont County

that March is Fraud Prevention Month. Fraud

Prevention Month is an annual public awareness

campaign held in March that works to prevent

Canadians from becoming victims of fraud by helping

them "Recognize it. Report it. Stop it."

Thousands of Canadians of all ages and from all

walks of life are defrauded each year. There is no

typical fraud victim in Canada. Fraud targets

Canadians of all ages and from all walks of life

and recognizing fraud is the first step to better

protecting yourself.

Fraudsters are professional criminals that know what

they are doing. Fraudsters rely on some basic

techniques to be successful. These include:

· Developing professional-looking marketing materials;

·Providing believable answers for your tough questions;

· Impersonating government agencies, legitimate

businesses, websites, charities, and various causes;

· Pretending to be your ordinary supplier;

· Hiding the true details in the fine print;

· Preying on areas of vulnerability, including those

needing help with loans or finding employment;

· Asking for fees in advance of promised services;

· Threatening legal action to collect on alleged contracts;

· Falsely claiming affiliation with reliable sources, such

as legitimate news sites to support their products or

services and

· Exchanging victim lists with other fraudsters.

The following tips, obtained from the Royal Canadian

Mounted Police and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Center

will help you fight fraud.

· Don’t be fooled by the promise of a valuable prize in

return for a low-cost purchase;

· Be extra cautious about calls, e-mails or mailings

offering international bonds or lottery tickets, a portion

of a foreign dignitary’s bank account, free vacations,

credit repair or schemes with unlimited income

potential;

· Don’t be afraid to hang up the phone, delete the email

or close your Internet connection;

· Don’t purchase a product or service without carefully

checking out the product, service and company;

· Don’t be afraid to request further documentation from

the caller so you can verify the validity of the company;

· Don’t disclose personal information about your

finances, bank accounts, credit cards, social insurance

and driver’s license numbers to any business that can’t

prove it is legitimate;

· Shred unwanted personal information such as bank

statements, credit card bills, unwanted receipts,

cheques, pre-approved credit applications and old tax

returns;

· Check your credit report every year and report

problems immediately.

If you think you or someone you know has been a

victim of fraud, please contact the Canadian

Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501 or

http://www.antifraudcentre.ca


17th Annual Kalyna Festival

SUBMITTED

The 17th Annual Kalyna Festival was held at the St. Michael Hall March 7 – 10 and the Highlights Concert on Sunday, March 15. There were four different Ukrainian dance groups represented and three different tap/jazz/ballet dance groups. Awards were handed out for violin, piano, voice, hand chimes and choir as well as dance.

Train Truck Collision

No one was hurt in the collision between a grain hauler B train and a CN train on Thursday, March 12, 2015. The incident occurred in the late afternoon/early evening hours at the rail crossing on Highway 831 north of Beaver Creek Co-op in the Town of Lamont. Nothing was spilled and no rail cars went off the tracks.


Today we’ll discuss how much money you will need

for your vacation; a question that can be answered by

asking yourself a number of things.

Where do you want to go, how long do you want to

stay and how much spending money do you have?

Different vacation options may determine how much you

can afford and your length of stay.

A two week to one month vacation is very different

than a vacation of a few months’ duration. Make a

vacation wish list, including where you’d like to stay,

for how long and other vacation wishes. Then check out

the costs for everything on your list.

For example, a three week holiday is long enough to

travel anywhere in the world but costs can vary

considerably. Las Vegas, Disneyland, Hawaii, Australia

or Europe; an ocean or river cruise; an all-inclusive resort,

escorted tours, self-planned tours or trips, flying versus

driving , type of accommodation, meals, tipping, drinks

and gambling are all things to consider.

You can drive to Las Vegas or Disneyland, but the

journey will take time away from your length of stay once

there. You will need accommodations there and back as

well as fuel. However, you can see many things along

the way and won’t need to rent a car on arrival.

Airlines offer many rates to get you to your destination

but you now pay for meals and baggage, and many have

moved seats closer and made them smaller, resulting in

windows, lighting and air vents no longer lining up with

the seats. Economy seats are often not very comfortable.

Overseas or not, it’s not uncommon to be stranded at an

airport for hours or days, shortening your stay and

adding to your expenses.

All-inclusive vacations eliminate the cost for meals,

rooms and tips; making the trip more economical.

A tour book and tips may not be included with your

tour, once again increasing costs. Our first trip to Britain

cost over $1,000 for sites shown, but not included in tour

costs; and gratuities were added on everything, so

inquire before booking. Japan considers tipping an

insult, so there’s no need to worry about gratuities there.

Using local currency is best, so exchange your money

before leaving. If you prefer to use credit cards, you

should know some countries may charge you as much as

16% extra.

I always exchange money at the Foreign Exchange in

Edmonton before leaving and if there’s money left over

upon return, they return Canadian dollars at the same

rate you paid. This can be very important and could save

you a lot of money.

ATM bank machines may be available but often have

no money and many countries will not accept American

currency. Plan your trip well before leaving and try not

to run out of money. Have a Plan B ready in case you do

and know how you can access funds if something

unexpected happens. You don’t need to overspend to

have a good trip. Backpacking is an inexpensive option

for some, but may not be for everybody. Hostels are also

an inexpensive alternative for accommodations.

In future issues I will tell you about some of my

travel experiences.

Happy travels.


County road maintenance crews have been busy

dealing with the aftermath of melting snow, snow

bank barriers and frozen culverts which have all

created perfect conditions for numerous road

washouts throughout the county.

In addition, the warm weather has quickly melted

much of the snow on county roadways resulting in

soft driving paths and even softer shoulders. As a

result, effective March 11, 2015, Lamont County im-

plemented percentage axle weights on the following

county roads:

100% - Range Road 164 from Highway 45 to Top

Yield Access,

100% - Range Road 170 between Highway 16

and Highway 15,

100% - Range Road 195 from the Highway 15

junction to the Highway 29 junction,


junction to the Canexus Access Road,


junction to the Erco Access Road,


junction to the Sil Silica Access Road,

75% - Range Road 195 from Highway 16 South

to Blackfoot Camp,

75% - Range Road 162 from Highway 45 to the

North Saskatchewan River,

75% - ALL Other County GRAVEL Roads,

75% - ALL Other County OILED Roads,

50% - Range Road 195 from Township Road

550 South to Highway 16,

50% - Township Road 550 from Range Road

204 to Highway 831,

50% - Township Road 534 from Highway 855

to Range Road 170 (Hospital Road),

50% - Township Road 520 from Highway 855

to Range Road 163 - - NO TRUCKS,

50% - Hamlet of Hilliard Streets,

50% - Township Road 561 including the Ham-

let of Star from Highway 831 to Range Road 193.

Weight restrictions will remain in effect until further

notice and may be monitored and enforced by

Lamont County’s Peace Officer.

Warm Weather Brings Washouts and Weight Restrictions to County Roads


It’s great when a whole bunch of us girls get together at St. Michael Hall, which is usually in the kitchen preparing food for an event! Well, last week while getting meals ready for the Kalyna Country Performing Arts Festival we got to talking and sharing recipes (what else do girls talk about) and this one really caught my interest. So, of course I needed to try it out and yes, you guessed it – my seniors at Beaverhill Pioneer Lodge were the first ones to taste test. Once a month we celebrate the residents’ birthday with a “Special Birthday” celebration and I made this cake. They just loved it so well that there were only a few pieces left for us staff! I was so thankful that it turned out perfect! Got many compliments on it. Mrs. Calvert (who celebrated her birthday March 17th) said it was so good it just melted in her mouth! I did make a change though; I used strawberry Jell-O instead of the orange as I was using strawberries as part of my topping. Thank-you Bernice Widmer of St. Michael for sharing this recipe with us! Remember if you have a favorite recipe that you would like to share with the rest of the readers, you can email it to me: [email protected] or in the mail: Box 14, St. Michael, AB T0B 4B0

Orange Dreamsicle Cake

1 box yellow cake mix

2 pkgs. Orange Jell-O

1 pkg. vanilla instant pudding

1 cup milk

2 tsp. vanilla

1 500 ml. tub of Cool Whip (or 2 cups whipped

cream)

Bake cake as directed in 9”x13” pan.

Mix 1 pkg. orange Jell-O with 1 cup boiling

water and add 1 cup cold water. Pour over

cooled baked cake. Refrigerate the cake until

the Jell-O is gelled.

Mix pudding mix and milk together. Add

other package of Jell-O powder and vanilla.

Beat by hand with a whisk until thickened.

Fold in Cool Whip (or whipped cream). Frost

the cake with pudding mixture.

Make Easter Eggs Last

Families gather on Easter to participate in

many different traditions that have been passed

down through time. One such tradition is

coloring Easter eggs. Millions of eggs are har-

vested and sold this time of year to be included

in Easter festivities. However, soon after egg

hunts have been completed and family dinners

are brought to the table, those colored eggs may

be relegated to the trash. When colored with

food-grade dyes, such as those manufactured

and readily available around Easter, the eggs

remain safe to eat. Colored eggs that are stored

in a refrigerator can last up to a week if their

shells remain intact. Peeled eggs may last up to

five days, says the Food Safety and Inspection

Service. Once eggs are boiled and dyed, they

should be promptly put into the refrigerator to

keep them fresh and edible. It’s advisable to use

plastic, wood or papier-mâché eggs for Easter

egg hunts, as eggs made of such materials will

not spoil.

Otherwise, hide and

refrigerate hard-boiled

eggs if this task can be

completed within two

hours. After that time

frame, the eggs have the

potential to spoil. By

eating colored eggs, you

can reduce waste and

add a tasty appetizer to

Easter meals.



On the afternoon of Wednesday, March 11th, Town of Lamont Public Works staff were busy ensuring the stop sign at this intersec-tion would be visible to traffic when the tree goes into full foliage. Trimming overgrown branches at intersections adds to the safety of motorists and pedestrians alike. Good Job Boys! SYLVIA HOLOWACH PHOTO

march 19, 2015

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