Baljennie Community Hall Co-operative Ltd. members met for an annual meeting at the community centre April 11. No election of new directors or officers took place, as the co-operative is being dissolved due to lack of interest and dropping membership. No new members are interested in joining the club. Letters will be sent to all members before the final meeting set for June 13 at 7 p.m. at the centre.
A second meeting was held at the centre April 15 to organize a new community club to be called Baljennie Community and Cemetery Association. Stanley Mills volunteered as president for now to get things started, Irene Greer is secretary and Bill Rayner volunteered to carry on as treasurer. A new vice-president is still to be appointed. President Maralyn Wintersgill stepped down after 27 years, secretary Dorothy Mills after 25 years and vice-president Philip Bater after 12 years.
A new membership and a fee of $5 per person will be looked into. The new club plans to put some of the cemetery funds into action at the cemetery grounds and to purchase equipment to work with.
Cemetery cleanup day is set for June 1, also at the community centre, with a wiener roast to end the evening.
As the new club forms it is hoping to pick up a few more new members, but that looks almost hopeless. The interest has gone by the way and just the same few members are interested in turning out. There is still interest in the cemetery and its care, however.
Stanley and Dorothy Mills were recent visitors at the home of Dorothy's brother, John and Arlene Rowlands and family of rural Battleford. A Rowlands family reunion is to be held later this summer. At present we are gathering up as much family history as we can. It is slowly starting to come in.
Sympathy is extended to Elaine Schaefer (Dallow-Wintersgill) family on the recent passing of Ed Schaefer, Elaine's husband. Elaine makes her home in Edmonton, Alta. Sympathy also to the Wintersgill family on the passing of George Wintersgill in British Columbia in late 2010.
Spring is all around us now. The grass is starting to green up and show fast growth. The little snow banks have all melted away. The crocuses are in full bloom, as are the snow drops. The ice on the Battle and North Saskatchewan rivers melted slowly. It has left the rivers high, but there is no danger of floods in this area.
Many barnyards are full of newborn calves, but sadly the coyotes are hanging around close to the corrals, waiting for a chance to do some damage.
There are still a few traces of wild pigs about. Over the winter months, hunters have been able to destroy a few of them. It is breeding season again, so they will be increasing numbers.
Some field work is slowly starting with rocks being picked. Some fields are still too wet, with potholes full of water. They are slowly starting to dry up. Farm machinery is being checked over and repairs made as it is lined up ready to go to the fields. Seed grain is being cleaned and fertilizers ready to spread.
Many of the little birds are here and now are building their nests. Another cycle is about to start.
