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Summer is over, back to winter schedule

BOTHA BOOSTER -- Where did the summer go? School restarts the last week of this month already with the 2016-2017 school term, so please...

BOTHA BOOSTER -- Where did the summer go? School restarts the last week of this month already with the 2016-2017 school term, so please watch out for all the excited children heading back before the first bell rings.

Next Tuesday, Sept. 6, starting at 12 noon is the first seniors' meeting that starts up again then and this also holds a potluck lunch, so please bring with you one of your favorite dishes to share at that time. Hopefully all seniors will be able to attend that day.

Bingo takes place again the evening of Sept. 7, so come on out and try out your luck; who knows, you could be one of the lucky winners. Game starts at 7:15 p.m. with door opening at 6:30 p.m.

Last but not least, we will take a final look at the last couple I could find any information on that started the Old Tyme Dance Club up here in Botha: Bruce and Maureen Ball.

Bruce Ball was the first president of this group, so let's start with him. Bruce was the youngest son of Ray and Bessie Ball, and he was born on December 20, 1916. He attended Botha School and after completing high Sschool, he remained on the family farm to help his father out.

Being a sports enthusiast, he participated in baseball, softball, hockey and curling.

He took over the farm activities after his dad's retirement, so Bruce, besides working on the farm, started working at the Botha Garage and later on he worked at the Datsun Dealer Garage in Stettler, so he was a very busy man. He also drove a school bus for several years.

In 1942, Bruce married Maureen Brauer. Maureen was born on March 5, 1900 attending May Park, Ingleton, Old Red Willow, Prairie Grove and Botha Schools after reaching school age. She than finished her education off at the Edmonton Normal School, where she became a teacher. She taught kindergarten for four years, followed by teaching at the Botha School for another 26 years. Maureen also loved handicraft work and also taught crafts to individuals at the Bar Harbor camps.

In retirement, they sold the place (Balland) to David Payne and kept the acreage with their home on it. They loved to travel and they traveled in their trailer in their retirement years. They were also dedicated workers in the Botha community activities such as the United Church, and the Botha Seniors' Centre. They also were involved in the Underwood Days.

They kept busy in participating in bowling,curling, floor curling, dancing and singing in the Stettler Senior Citizen's Choir. As you can see they were extremely busy people and very proud of their community.

Sept. 5 is Labor Day with several campgrounds starting to close down until next spring, so hopefully everyone can get out and enjoy themselves in the great outdoors before they close down for another season.

Happy Labor Day, everyone!