Are we into the dog days of summer? How things change. First it was too cold and too dry (here anyway), then too cool and too wet and then too cool at night and too windy. Now we are to have 30-degree days. Could that be what we have been waiting for?
Meeting Lake Regional Park has been very busy this summer, even during the cool and the wet. Last week had been the first of the annual swimming lesson sessions and predictably it began cold and miserable but improved greatly. Angel Haryung once again instructed and 35 kids enjoyed her lessons. The park hosted the Summer Sizzler Beach Party, July 23. Rural Roots provided the entertainment and it was enjoyed by those who attended.
Apparently the pickerel are biting, however that could be a fish story. You could not prove it by me but our son who is working at the lake for the summer attests that there are "pickerel guts" in the barrel. Make sure you have your pleasure craft operator's certificate if you are operating a boat with a motor greater than 10 horsepower. The officials have been busy checking both fishing licences and operator's certificates.
Last week, when I reported that there had been a bridal shower in the village, I failed to give credit to one of the organizers. Carmen Price was certainly a major part and I am sorry that I missed mentioning that.
Al Richter took a short trip to Ottawa to be part of the 40th anniversary of his training with the RCMP. He commented that many of his former comrades were there and he enjoyed making their re-acquaintance.
The weekend before last was the big party on the hill. The Carlton Trail Jamboree was a success. On Thursday about 40 people gathered to put up the tent. Delores Buckingham barbecues mean burgers and everyone was fed. From the comments we heard, everyone seemed to really enjoy the entertainment even if the showers and cool weather tried to dampen their spirits. The figures have not all been tabulated but it appeared that attendance was better than past years. The money made at the jamboree is allotted to various community projects and activities. Thanks a million to the volunteers who made this happen once again. You know who you are.
The Rivers West Mobile Playground entertained children at Meeting Lake Regional Park, July 6. A good group of kids had fun. The Rabbit Lake Branch of the Lakeland Library hosted the event and will be doing a second one August 10 at the Rabbit Lake Hall. Check with Melita Hildebrand at the library for more details.
Rose Gill Lodge welcomes three new faces. Firstly, Mary Walter, formerly of Spiritwood, has become a resident and, secondly, two new staff have joined the group. Terry Massett is doing part of the cooking responsibilities and Gwendolyn Laughlin is doing activities with the residents
I do recall mentioning how desperately dry things were around here in early June but today that seems only a vague memory. As June closed and July progressed we have had ample rainfall. Now, let's talk about the wind and the hail.
Monday, June 18, was exceptionally hot and humid, and everyone was sure that something bad was going to happen. Later in the afternoon a hailstorm dropped large hail stones on an area just east of the hamlet of Mullingar. Mike and Melitta Striga's yard was hard hit.
Tuesday evening, Mike and Melitta showed us the results of the storm. To begin with, Melitta showed us hailstones she had picked up three hours after the storm. Two stones filled her hand. On the lawn, holes had been punched, looking like a giant aerator had been used. The roof of the gazebo was punctured and the assorted lawn furniture was smashed. Windshields on vehicles were also smashed. You could see dents on the metal roof on the house and broken branches were strewn in the driveway. It was depressing to see what had been a beautiful, peaceful lawn and garden ruined.
Fortunately the storm did not cover a very large area but that is not much consolation to the people who were hit. For the others in the area there was torrential rain. Although we were watching for a tornado in the RM of Meeting Lake I think a hailstorm was as far as that went. In Rabbit Lake there was only a short shower and a bit of pea-sized hail so we thought we had been spared.
At about midnight we were in for a real treat. Extremely high winds out of the northwest, accompanied by wild lightning, ushered in driven rain. It was the kind of night horror movies are set in. In the morning we could see the results. Probably the worst was at Co-operation, a school district south of Rabbit Lake. Most are familiar with the little white Orthodox Church of St. Michael's which has sat unscathed since 1928. As a result of the storm the steeple of the church had been blown off the roof. Before leaving the roof it slammed into the brick chimney, causing the chimney to be sheered off as well. In the morning both the steeple and the chimney lay in the grass, ruined.
As a result of the same storm, power lines were down near Larry and Laureen Becotte's farm causing a power outage that lasted about 16 hours for some In the village some trees were broken, and at the lake trees were blown down. However, looking at the bright side, this was not Waskesiu Apparently Eldon and Laurie Martens were holidaying there and sustained damage to their truck and camper.
This week we are looking forward to some excitement in the village as the former pool elevator, now owned by the Martens farm, will be reroofed with tin. Many are anxious to see the guys working away up there.
Don and Naomi Unger are back from holidaying in very hot and humid southern Ontario.
