Battlefords News-Optimist

Maidstone and Paynton volunteer fire departments were called into action March 16. With winds high, a fire was lit to burn garbage in what should have been a contained area, but quickly became a grass fire that spread to a neighbouring property.

There has been no shortage of provincial appearances for the McLurg Broncs in volleyball, curling, golf, track and field, badminton and wrestling in the past.

Senator Herb Sparrow, described by the Soil Conservation Council of Canada as a "Saskatchewan sustainability pioneer," was inducted into the Canadian Conservation Hall of Fame in Ottawa March 21.

The Maidstone area has recently formed a new 4-H club, called the Standard Hill Beef Club. There are a total of 12 members in our club, all of whom are in the beef project.

The fourth co-ordinated traffic safety blitz in the province, dubbed Operation March Madness, saw police and traffic enforcement officers pay close attention to traffic violations, and resulted in 943 tickets province-wide.

When the provincial government announced the per capita cost of RCMP would increase for communities under 5,000, the same press release stressed the government's contributions to municipalities through revenue-sharing would also increase.

For the first time in the history of the North Saskatchewan River Hockey League the Maidstone Jets have earned the right to hoist the league trophy.

Battlefords United Way is putting out the call for board members.

Dorothea Hocher brought the St. Walburg Royal Purple March meeting to order by wishing all a happy St. Patrick's Day. Many "secret friend" parcels were left for pick up. Twenty-three members signed the register.

Ed, my neighbour next door, recently joked, "What do you call a farmer who lives in town?" Without waiting for my reply he answered, "A townhouse commuter." Ed is a farmer who lives in town and drives out to his farm.