Sympathy goes goes out to the Plum families of Battleford on the recent passing of Minnie Plum on May 27. A memorial service was held at the Battleford United Church on June 9. Burial is at the Rockhaven Cemetery. Minnie was 96 years old. Minnie Plum was a very busy lady and dedicated to many community happenings. Her husband Ron Plum passed away two years ago. They were both very musical and spent over 25 years being involved at the North Battleford Western Development Museum to receive her 25 year award of honour.
Over the past two weeks there have been a lot of military semi trucks, lots of jeeps, smaller trucks, tanks and trailers plus other equipment pass through on the local highway from Wainwright, Alta., to Dundurn. Over the second weekend of June the army personnel put on a large air show and ground displays for the public to tour and watch. They also honoured the many fallen soldiers from the past years.
The North Saskatchewan River is on a rise. Warmer weather, rainfall and melting snow in the mountain areas of Alberta have been a help to make the river rise.
The seeding of crops is pretty well all complete, with this time of June a little ahead of last year’s seeding season. All the different crops are off to a good start of a growing season. The crops could stand a good soaking rainfall to help them along. As fast as the canola fields start to come through the ground, the little black flea beetles are just waiting for the little lush, juicy green plants to start to grow. It doesn't take them long to start eating up the leaves. Cutworms are also a big problem in some areas. Spraying all these up-and-growing fields has started for the bugs as well as for the weeds also poking through the soil. It's never ending job to try to keep up.
We all did welcome a few lovely warm sunny days, but it soon changed when another low system flew in thunderstorms and some much cooler temperatures for a few days.
We get a good view of the northern skies from our apartment in Battleford and one night to watch the thunderstorm roll in far off and the lightning was something I had never seen before. The heavy clouds opened up continuously with lightning flashes to be much like fireworks or even better and it lasted for over an hour or so. The storm missed our area and no rain fell. We do need some good soaking rainfall to stop the dust.
School days were held at the Western Development Museum in North Battleford on June 8 and 9 for all the school children to attend. School busses brought students in from all parts of northern Saskatchewan regions. There were quite a few volunteers out to demonstrate the various things taking place. All the little town buildings had a lot of activities going on, with horse wagon rides and fire truck rides for all. They had a treasure hunt and activities for the students. It was well attended and it did keep everyone very busy from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.
