Stettler’s bowling enthusiasts are deep into their season, keeping up a steady stream of strikes and spares five days a week at Heartland Bowl.
Alley owner Bob Gallaugher said he has regular leagues meeting Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, each with a full roster of eight teams.
The alley also hosts seniors bowling on Tuesday and Friday afternoons, ladies leagues on Wednesday and Thursday mornings, and a Youth Bowling Canada (YBC) league for players aged 4 to 19 years.
This is Gallaugher’s eighth season as the owner of Heartland Bowl. Prior to his arrival here, he operated a bowling alley in Wetaskiwin; he has been in the business 28 years altogether.
The bowling alley was opened by the late Ray Plante in 1978 and had been through several owners when Gallaugher and Bill Whyte purchased it in July 2007. (Gallaugher is now the sole owner.)
The regular season runs from mid-September to mid-April, while the YBC plays with a slightly abbreviated season that starts in late September and ends in mid-March.
Through the month of January, Heartland Bowl is taking part in the Knock Down Cancer fundraiser, donating 25 cents from each paid shoe rental towards cancer research.
Gallaugher said they are also collecting donations, hosting a silent auction and selling other items to contribute to the fundraiser.
In addition to league play and public bowling, the alley hosts the occasional tournament.
The Ray Plante Memorial, an annual event expected to attract about 100 entries, is scheduled for Sunday, March 1.
Following are the high scores from this past week’s league bowling:
Monday YBC: Boys scratch game — Ethan Littlewood, 199; boys scratch series — Keenan Fredrick, 374; girls scratch game — Shelby Gauthier, 186; girls scratch series — Shelby Gauthier, 426; team scratch game — 100% Awesomeness, 521; team scratch series — 100% Awesomeness, 1429.
Tuesday 55+: Men scratch game — Fred Milner, 273; men scratch series — Fred Milner, 647; women scratch game — Lillian Schell, 245; women scratch series — Doreen Stewart, 643; team scratch game — Odds and Ends, 669; team scratch series — Odds and Ends, 1991.
Tuesday mixed: Men scratch game — Ed Cameron, 234; men scratch series — Ed Cameron, 653; women scratch game — Teressa Symes, 221; women scratch series — Teressa Symes, 613; team scratch game — Switchers, 725; team scratch series — Switchers, 1943.
Wednesday ladies coffee: Women scratch game — Joy Kobi, 248; women scratch series — Joy Kobi, 559; team scratch game — Gad About Granni, 679; team scratch series — Pin Pickers, 1743.
Wednesday cash league: Men scratch game — Dave Philpot, 341; men scratch series — Dave Philpot, 1016; women scratch game — Tina Shantz, 321; women scratch series — Shauna Laisnez, 1052.
Thursday ladies: Women scratch game — Lia Lunevich, 208; women scratch series — Lia Lunevich, 580; team scratch game — Screw Balls, 689; team scratch series — Screw Balls, 1932.
Thursday mixed: Men scratch game — Tim Nelson, 274; men scratch series — Tim Nelson, 703; women scratch game — Heather Jobs, 251; women scratch series — Heather Jobs, 603; team scratch game — Blazzing Saddles, 825; team scratch series — Blazzing Saddles, 2139.
Friday seniors: Men scratch game — Bill Stewart, 264; men scratch series — Fred Milner, 669; women scratch game — Liz Millard, 261; women scratch series — Helen Smith, 621; team scratch game — What’s Left, 821; team scratch series — What’s Left, 2318.