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East Bound and Down Poker Rally cruises through Flagstaff, Paintearth and Stettler counties

The second annual East-bound and Down Poker Rally took place on June 18, despite arguments from mother nature.
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A selection of photos from the East-bound and Down Poker Rally on June 18. (MNK photography photos)

The second annual East-bound and Down Poker Rally took place on June 18, despite arguments from mother nature.

According to organizer John Nafziger, the started off gloomy and rainy which resulted in fewer vehicles meeting at the rally’s starting point at the Norseman Inn in Camrose.

However, Nafziger said he still sold over 235 poker hands to the drivers who did attend, making for not a bad turn out though down from the first event’s numbers.

On a positive note, the weather cleared pretty quickly after the drivers left Camrose and according to Nafziger it turned into a sunny day.

The first group of vehicles departed Camrose at 10 a.m and they followed a path through east-central Alberta which took them through Meeting Creek, Donalda, the Diplomat Mine, Main Street Halkirk, Botha and finally Big Valley. At each stop, drivers picked up another card for their poker hand.

Vehicles lined the street of Big Valley by the time the last group made it in at 5 p.m.

A party was held on Main Street, with the County of Stettler generously donating the entertainment for the evening’s festivities, the Cat Country Band out of Drumheller.

The food for the meal and party was all supplied through local Big Valley businesses.

In total, $2,220 was raised to go towards kids cancer research with the event.

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A selection of photos from the East-bound and Down Poker Rally on June 18. (MNK photography photos)
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A selection of photos from the East-bound and Down Poker Rally on June 18. (MNK photography photos)


Kevin Sabo

About the Author: Kevin Sabo

I’m Kevin Sabo. I’ve been a resident of the Castor area for the last 12 years and counting, first coming out here in my previous career as an EMT.
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