MEOTA ‑ The terrible snow and wind storm we had March 7 caused travelling problems for everyone who planned to travel that day. The wind was so strong it blew small cars into the ditches off the icy highways.
Rob is doing a fantastic job of keeping the streets open and even the back alleys have one-way traffic. We do appreciate his work and wonder where he can pile the next dump. A drive along the lakeshore, in the concession area, is like driving through a tunnel with snow on either side higher than the car. The warmer weather this past weekend is an indication there are better days to come.
The Edam Housing Authority board hosted a Christmas supper at the Edam Seniors' Centre March 3. Not sure if it was for 2020 or 2021 because of COVID. Turkey with all the trimmings was served with jelly salads. Dessert was cream puffs filled with strawberries and whipped cream. After supper, David Ottas, board chairman, presented Kay Mannix with a collector's coin gift in appreciation for the many years of service on the board. She graciously thanked the group and expressed her enjoyment of working with them and stressed how she will certainly miss them all. Socializing for a couple hours closed the evening.
In Spiritwood, Bevra Fee of the recreation board, interviewed Joyce Willick, a pioneer over 80 years of age, on International Women's Day. Joyce is still operating the Zamboni at the skating rink. She has done this almost continually through 38 years. She was also active in many other sports, hockey in the winter and ball in the summer. The interview ended with Joyce taking Bevra for a ride as she flooded the rink one more time. Anyone involved in sports in the area around Spiritwood would have run into Joyce somewhere along the way.
Bridge was not played at the Pioneer Hall Tuesday in the aftermath of the storm, but they were back at it Thursday with two and a half tables. Top score went to Donna Scherman and Catriona Winterholt with ties for second by Linda Ard and Margaret Dyck and Gerry Craig and Mary Phelps.
March 11 found a gathering for canasta at the Do Drop In of 12 people, so it was mostly individual scoring. We all enjoyed our time together, which is more valuable than having winners and losers.
The first local public gathering in over two years brought many folks together for the funeral of Ben Byl last Saturday, in the Meota Community Complex. It was like a homecoming for his friends in the music world, from the church, from the village of Meota and beyond, who have missed Ben and one another for so long. Ben's wife, Nena, has also been missed this long while but now we can visit her at 10106 - Ross Cres. in North Battleford. When they left Meota she went into the hospital with a broken hip and he went to Caleb Village, a few years ago.
Meota Curling Club season recap
Opportunity abounds, as curlers from all corners of the vast Rural Municipality of Meota gathered for the Silver Broom championship Tuesday night. Regarded as the sports' ultimate test, a win here could do more than define a season, it could define an individual. The Brier was on in Lethbridge, but the Silver Broom sits on another level, as this was the village's biggest draw. The 10-team tournament was broken up into a two-pool round-robin format, with the top seed in each pool earning their spot for a chance to get their names etched into the Silver Broom.
In Pool A, Huguette Johnson took the reigns for the president’s-trophy-winning Mohr rink. Alongside Blaire Chapman, Don Johnson and Martina Johnson, Huguette started off strong, winning decisively over the Pat Becotte and Brent Czuy rinks. Stumbling in game three against the Evan Schmidt rink, set up an all-or-nothing semifinal matchup against Terry Tait for a spot in the final. Avoiding an extra end by only centimetres, Johnson took down Tait for a berth in the final draw.
Pool B found the Darcy Demontarnel rink in great form and coming off a regular season with a fourth-place finish with a 7-5 record. Demontarnel displayed a dominant performance, winning their first three games against the Welford, Bru and Doom rinks. Though losing her fourth game to Al Doom in an extra end, Demontarnel was destined for a breakthrough and finished top of the standings after a Welford loss to Kyle Doom on the neighbouring sheet.
Suspense and anticipation built as fans were on their feet and about to witness a game for the ages, in an estrogen fueled curling match between Johnson and Demontarnel. Demontarnel playing a game of strategy, conceded a steal of one to Johnson to take the hammer going into the final end down by one point. In front of a packed spectating area of boisterous fans, Demontarnel had the game in her hand with a draw to the four-foot for two points and a broom-clinching win. Coming up slightly short, an extra end was required. Curling immortality at stake and the whole village of Prince watching, Johnson had a draw for the win in the extra end. A shot that Johnson would make nine times out 10, didn’t get the break she needed as it was slightly heavy resulting in a Demontarnel win.
In a marathon night, the Demontarnel rink featuring Michelle Roach, Karen McCaffrey and Kim Goodall claimed their first career Silver Broom, adding another achievement to already illustrious careers.
A season like none other, that concludes the Meota Grand Slam of Curling 2021-2022.
