The Rural Municipality of Hillsdale, No. 440, held a public open house Feb. 7 in the Neilburg Community Hall. The come and go event was held to present preliminary proposals for planning and development policies in the RM's new official community plan. When finalized, these policies will provide direction to guide land use and development decisions within the municipality. Members of the consulting team were in attendance to discuss and explain what is being proposed and to answer questions. You can download a copy of the proposed official community plan at www.crosbyhanna.ca.
Taryn Black and Kylie Goodfellow recently discovered smoke coming out of the Neilburg Pro Hardware building. The pair of quick thinking girls averted a disaster by going for help immediately, for which the proprietors are extremely grateful.
Sympathy is extended to the family and friends of Edith "Mae" Evanger, who passed away Jan. 21 in the Maidstone Community Hospital at the age of 81. She was born at Chauvin, Alta. A funeral service was held from the Marsden Community Hall Jan. 26 with Pastor Mel Letkeman and Tom Poppleton jointly officiating. The interment of Mae's cremated remains will take place at a later date in the Normanna Cemetery. Left to celebrate Mae's life, and to mourn her loss are her three children: Brian (Lori) Evanger of Peachland, B. C.; Kelly (Shanna) Evanger of Marsden and Yvonne (Ryan) Peterson of Fairview, Alta.; five grandchildren, two sisters and two brothers. Mae was predeceased by her husband, Idor in 2005.
Two local Neilburg girls, Shana Flicek and Lauren Rutherford, who are both seven years old, were welcomed to the Chauvin/Edgerton Alberta Novice Hockey Club this year. This was due to Neilburg's low novice skater numbers. The Chauvin/Edgerton club had great numbers, but bigger hearts, for the Neilburg girls. One of the mothers says she was surprised and impressed with the procedures needed to release the girls from the local club so they could play elsewhere. Both Shana and Lauren have had a great season and have made many new friends, learned a lot and visited great arenas.
To make their season even better, the Chauvin/Edgerton team representatives decided to try to have a Chauvin/Edgerton home game held in Neilburg - just for Lauren and Shana. The Neilburg Hockey Club representatives not only agreed but were willing to shuffle their own schedule to accommodate the game, which they agreed to host rent-free. This game will be played Feb. 26 at 10 a.m. (Alberta time).
Of course this is not only the rec board's decision, as the entire story involves more acts of kindness: from presidents to coaches, to workers and all travellers - and what they have to do to get there. All for one hockey game! Come out and support Shana and Lauren Feb. 26!
The Neilburg Composite School SRC planned a Steal your Heart activity Feb. 13. The junior high and high school boys tried to "steal" the girls' hearts. Valentine's Day, the elementary students held an assembly and later there was be a school-wide skate-a-thon. The elementary students raised money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the senior students supported Telemiracle. Feb. 29 is Anti-Bullying Day and the entire school is invited to wear pink and participate in activities surrounding this theme.
