The first meeting and work of the new year was held at the Western Development Museum in North Battleford recently. Volunteers come to help work on antique tractors, preparing them for the upcoming summer shows. They are hoping to hold more days like this to help keep the workshop going. Anyone who is interested in this type of antique repairing is most welcome to come out to help. Help is always welcome. There needs to be more interest in what's happening at the local museum.
Sincere sympathy to the Elliot family of North Battleford and Sonningdale on the recent passing of Stavert Elliot of North Battleford, formerly of Sonningdale. The funeral service was held in North Battleford in December. Stavert was a resident of Harwood Manor.
Sympathy also goes out to the Bailey and Skiftun families of Saskatoon on the recent passing of Sandra Skiftun (Bailey), formerly of Baljennie. Sandra was the oldest daughter of the late Jim and June Bailey. She attended the old Baljennie School with her brothers Clark, Doug, and Todd Bailey.
Visiting with Stanley and Dorothy Mills was an old school chum, Robert Maxwell of Edmonton, Alta. He also made a stop to see relatives in Lloydminster, as well as his sister Anna Brehon at Hardwood Manor in North Battleford and the Brehon families of Maymont on his way to visit and spend Christmas with his son Glen and family of Portage la Prairie, Man. On his way back home after the new year, he stopped to visit again with Stanley and Dorothy in Battleford and his sister Anna Brehon in North Battleford.
Visiting with Stanley and Dorothy Mills were Philip and Lorna Bater of Baljennie, Bill and Joan Rayner of Battleford and Dorothy's sister Margaret Parrish of Willowmoore.
The school buses are back on the roads, highways and streets after the Christmas holiday from Dec. 18 to Jan. 4. It was a good winter break for them all, and the students did enjoy it.
Seems we are having an extra special winter season. It has not been too cold yet and it was nearly a black Christmas, as there was not too much snow about. It made it good for the travellers, but not that good for the ski hills and snowmobiles. The ski hills got their snow built up and a little more snow has fallen to help them out.
Beware of the ice on lakes and rivers, as the temperatures have not been cold enough to make the ice freeze good and solid enough to venture out on them. It will be much better now with more cold air in the forecasts.
It was well worth the drive about the Battlefords to see all the stores, streets and many houses and yards decked out for the Christmas season. There are some beautiful places and a lot of work and time had gone into putting it all together. Just too bad there has to be so much vandalism happening in some areas.
Visiting with Stanley and Dorothy Mills were their friends Kim and Melody Domont of Kindersley. They were also visiting other friends in North Battleford.
Phil and Lorna Bater spent Christmas Day in North Battleford with Phil's sister Gwenda and her daughter Kathy Rondesvedt of St. Paul, Alta., as well as with some family friends.
Visiting with Phil and Lorna Bater were Brandi and Ayden Kloster of Lloydminster. Phil and Lorna visited with Lorna's sister Doreen Parker and Doreen's daughter Lauren and Dale Kari of Biggar.
It was sad to hear of the passing of Allen Sapp of North Battleford, formerly of the Red Pheasant First Nations. He was a self-taught, famous painter who focused on his life on the reserve and family and friends. He was 87 years old and in a few days he would have been 88. He was famous enough to have an art gallery in North Battleford named after him. There are paintings of his life on display all over the world, besides what's in the gallery and in people's homes.
There are many art books of his paintings published. They are a real treasure to many people. He will be certainly missed by all his family, friends and art fans. He led an incredible life and received many awards for his art.
Visiting with Phil and Lorna Bater was Bill and Joan Rayner of Battleford, as well as Gordon and Glenda Parkinson.
Sympathy goes out to the Voegeli family of Maymont on the recent passing of Norm Voegeli.
