Dorothy Anderson and Rose Koenraadt
Halkirk Herald
The Halkirk Elks Lodge with its 30 or so members depend heavily on the community to support them as they play host to their 22nd annual bull-a-rama on Saturday, Aug. 26. The population more than quadruples for that one day. When asked “how many people will be working?” the answer was “ a lot” with some people pulling a triple shift.
The gates open at 2 p.m. with the beer gardens and food both opening by 2:30 p.m. Opening ceremonies, with the Ladies of the Heartland, will start at 3:30 p.m. sharp. Les McIntyre is announcer for both the pre-game activities, mutton busting, wild ponies and kids’ races, as well as the main events – saddle bronc, bareback and bull riding. Dancing to Dally Up and dance will start at 9 p.m. and will go up to 2 a.m., with fireworks at dusk, making it a full day. Overnight camping is available around the town.
This isn’t the only event that the Elks lodge organize. There’s the Oyster fry and white elephant sale in October; the Fall supper on the first Sunday in November; the Santa breakfast in December; Alaskan seafood supper and Comedy night in February; a Mother’s day breakfast in May; golf tournament shared with Castor Elks in July, plus they work at a Casino, host district meetings and volunteer for barbecues as required. Monies raised go to support community and district projects and programs. Elk members meet the first Tuesday of the month at 8 p.m. in the Hall. Guests are alwayswelcome.
Congratulations to Cathy Schaffner who was presented with a volunteer award by MLA Lori Sigurdson, Alberta minister of Seniors at a ceremony in Red Deer on Tuesday, Aug. 15. She had been nominated by the Paintearth Lodge for 20 years of service, sharing her musical talents with the senior residents. Her husband Charlie, sons Brent and Ellyn, and daughter Nola joined her as she received this honour.
Ron Muncy was able to cross an item off his bucket list when he took a ride on a 1944 B 25 bomber named “Maid in the Shade” at the weekend. It really took him back in time to get to fly on her and his seat was right behind the pilot on take off. They were in the air approximately 25 minutes touring Red Deer, Blackfalds, Lacombe, and Joffre before a perfect landing back at Springbank airport. The plane was with a company out of Mesa, Arizona that was touring 50 cities in Canada.
The Layne MacGillivray chuckwagon team has had a good season this year on the circuit. They are presently sitting in third spot with the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA), with only one more show at Rocky Mountain House left. Then it’s home for Layne and Loreena and back to school for Taygen and Trey.
Congrats to Paul Dietrich who placed fourth in bowling at the Seniors Provincial Active Sports competitions in Calgary on Aug. 10 to 12. Mike Courtney was also competing in the slo-pitch ball tournament and placed fourth as well.
Susan (Rowland) Ainsworth and her son Brian from Vancouver were in our area this week. They stayed with sister, Evelyn and Fred Milner in Stettler and on Wednesday were in Halkirk on an extensive tour, seeing the original Rowland homestead and inspecting a tree she had planted nearly 90 years ago, visiting the Spruce Creek school site, Agnes and Eddie Hronek’s former farm as well as the Muff Doan place. She flew home on Friday.