Magrath Store News (April 9, 2003)

An archive of the Magrath Trading Store News.The University of Lethbridge Library received permission from the Wes Balderson to digitize and display this content.The Jokes on Who? While Duane Thomson was at the Town Office, Susan Baril expressed an interest in seeing what April Fools stories would reach the Magrath News. Duane asked Susan to tell him if a certain town council member happened to send any unofficial letters using town letterhead. The Mayor piped up and said he better not! He’d been warned about doing that. April Fools Day came and went without incident in that department. That was the biggest joke; something was expected/ nothing happened. ' This same town council member, who wishes to remain anonymous, has quite the list of unofficial “town” letters to liis credit. Although not written on April Fools Day, we felt all would enjoy his correspondence. When Chad and Tammy Miller were looking for a house to buy in Magrath, they received a letter from “The Town” saying there was a town by-law that states only 10% of town property could be owned by one family name. Chad’s purchase of a home would exceed the limit of the Miller name. It was suggested he choose Raymond or Stirling as an alternate community to live in ... Chad was enraged! While Vince and Heather Harker were building their home, they received a letter from “The Town” indicat­ing that their roof was too high as it was shading the neighbor’s gar­den. They were given two choic­es. They could cut down the height of their roof or they could use transparent shingles so the light could shine through... Heather was in a tizzy. She didn’t even know transparent shingles existed. Richard and Kandi Russell had the shingles on their new home when they received a letter from “The Town” let­ting them know that according to the building code on their street they must choose a house siding color of bright blue, pink, or orange ... Kandi could not believe the town could tell her what color to use - especially those. None of them would match their green shingles. Dari Cook received a letter from “The Town” during the water restrictions a couple of years ago. It stated that because of water shortage a person had to share a shower with a partner. If there were no partner available then the town would provide one ... Dari quit having showers! We did have some reported April Fools jokes that actu­ally took place on April 1, not necessarily of this year. We are happy to report them: JACQUIE HARKER NELSON, Mildred Harker’s daughter, was such an April Fools joker that when she unexpectedly became pregnant, (years after being “done”), and announced the news to her family on April Fools Day. No one believed her. STEVE LEAVITT roused his family early on April 1, exclaiming that the baby colt had finally been bom. The entire family, five kids and wife Pat, went running to the barn in their pajamas to see. They were greeted by Steve saying,’’April Fools”! Later that day, Pat called Steve at work, excited that the colt had just been born. Steve knew it was still an April Fools joke - until he returned home after work to be greeted by a new baby colt which they named “Chance.” RICK HUMPHREYS worked at the old City Hall in Lethbridge for 15 years. In that building, there was a women’s washroom in the basement and one on the second floor. One April Fools Day, Rick put a sign on each of the bathroom doors, “Out of Order. Please Use The Other Bathroom”. Ladies would see the sign, then climb or descend two flights of stairs only to find the same sign on the other bathroom door. When Rick walked into his office later in the morning, he realized that someone had figured out who played the prank. He found a small glass jar half filled with "yellow liquid” and a note saying "Sorry, I didn’t have anywhere else to go.” SHEILA ROBINSON’S mother, Jolayne Hudson, is always the joker on April Fools Day. Every year she does something mischievous to her husband, Art, such as making his sandwich with paper in it. One year she called him at work asking for help as she had fallen and hurt her arm quite badly. He at first was concerned until he realized it was April Fools Day. He laughed and hung up the phone, but when he arrived home after work, there was Jolayne with a cast on her arm. She had to call someone else for help, as her husband would not come to her aid! CARMA THOMSON’S father, Wallace Leavitt of Glenwood, was always the practical joker. One April Fools Day, a number of the grandkids and their friends were visit­ing the farm. Wallace came in the house after doing chores with a brand new baby kitty wrapped in a cloth to keep it warm. All the kids rallied-around Wallace ooing and ; ahhing and petting the kitty until someone knocked the cloth away to reveal the tail. Low and behold, the “cute” kitty turned into a mouse - a dead mouse! Screams of hysteria still ring in the ears of all who were present, as they remember those poor unsuspecting city kids petting that dead mouse. JACQUIE BLY remembers her mother using this recipe when she needed to take an apple pie for a dinner and they had no apples. She says it tastes like the real thing. April Fool Recipe: Apple Pie Without Apples Line an eight-inch pie tin with your favorite pie crust. Take 15 soda crackers; break into quarters (being sure not to crush them) and arrange them inside the piecrust. Boil together: 1 cup water 1 1/2 cups sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons cream of tarter Pour the hot mixture over the crackers in the piecrust. Add dots of butter, also a sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg Put a top crust on the pie and bake it until brown at about 350° F or 400° F. Editor’s Note: Thanks to all those who submitted their April Fools Stories. . bridge septic service A DIVISION OF CHINOOK WATER WAGON RR 8-20-18 LETHBRIDGE, AB TU 4P4 STEELE SHERIDAN - PROPRIETOR PHONE (403) 328-2460 CELL (403) 330-8066 FAX (403) 327-3337 Published weekly on Wednesdays by Keyline Communications Box 179, Magrath, AB TOK 1J0 Ph: 758-6911 • Fx: 758-3661 email magrathnews@telus.net Ad deadline is Friday at 5pm and may be dropped off at the Magrath Pharmacy or at Keyline Communications’ office at 14 Centennial Place For permission to reprint any material found in this publication please contact Keyline Commtinications. Letter to the Editor ... Thank you for the effort you put into the Magrath News. It is nice to read real articles about the people and happenings in town. Valerie Papworth We have been overwhelmed with the positive response that has been shown for our little paper. Thank you for your encouragement but remember that it is our advertisers and writers that make this paper possible. Please be sure to thank them. Duane and Canna Thomson _______________________________________ MES Youth Volunteers Grade Six students: (L-R) Riley Henry, Daylen Tidmarsh, Christian McLaughlin, Spencer Quinton, Jesse Bennett and Ethan Beck. With 150 paint brushes as well as rakes, shovels, brooms and bags, 350 students, teachers and parent teers set out last Friday, May 16 in the 5 th annual Magrath Elementary School Work-a-thon. “Six years ago, the school held a walk-a-thon to raise money for the school but some members of the community suggested that it might be time better spent working rather than walking,” recalls Burns Alston, vice-principal of the Magrath Elementary School. This year was a little different as there was no money raised. The project is now a com­munity service project. About half of the students were involved in cleaning and fixing the school playground area with the rest going out into the town to clean up a number of areas. The students at the school painted the playground equipment and tables, repainted the sidewalk games and raked the gravel Caleb Jackson, Raymond Bishke and Max Beazer painting the jungle gym and a little more. back into the pits. Alston indicated that some people felt they were crazy to undertake this type of project but the students were great. Most of the students really look forward to this day. They anticipate the year when they become old enough to be on the paint crew. Although there is a fair amount of paint that ends up on the students’ clothing, they come in work clothes and the end result looks fantastic. The day concluded with treats given to all the workers and provided by MES Council. Drive by the play­ground and see what a nice job was done by our great kids, teachers and parents. ♦ CARPET AND UPHOLSTERY CLEANING * Walls * Windows * General Cleaning * 758 - 6414 Cell 308-6580 Magrath TttAiik v)cu Blair and Margaret Sabey would like to say a great big Thank You to all of those who were so kind to us in our time of need. Thank you, Thank you Notice Jr. / Sr. High School Parent Council General Meeting - May 29 at 7:00 pm in the Tom Karren Gym in Conjunction with high school registration. This is your forum to ask questions, present concerns, and give input to parent council. We also hold elections at this meeting OU Gary and Mary Ann Thomson wish to thank all those who have shown their concern since Joey’s accident last Friday. Ask the Pharmacist: Ç^^XCrowin' DEALING WITH STRESS A certain amount of stress in your life is both natu­ral and healthy. Stress stimulates you and increases your level of alertness. Life with no stress would be incredibly dull and boring. On the other hand, life with too much stress becomes unpleasant and tiring and may put your health at risk. It is important to keep yourself at a level of stress that is both healthy and enjoyable. Health problems may occur if you react too strongly to situations or let small over-reactions (daily hassles) pile up. TIPS TO HELP REDUCE UNNECESSARY STRESS: * * * * ♦ * * * * Take breathing breaks. Try mini-breaks during the day. Sit down, slowly take in a deep breath, hold it and then exhale it very slowly. Let your shoulders droop. Get plenty of rest at night. Exercise regularly. Learn to accept what you cannot change. Worrying about things over which you have no control will only aggravate you and build up unnecessary stress. If you cannot change it.. accept it! Learn to rationalize. Look ahead; ask yourself if the stressful situation you are in will really have any impact on your life next week. Learn to organize. Set realistic and attainable goals and avoid procrastination. Allow plenty of time to accomplish what you need to do. Learn to relax. Spend quiet time with friends and family. Take up a hobby. Soak in a warm bath. Listen to calm music. Minimize sugar, alcohol, and caffeine consumption. Quit smoking. Smoking restricts blood circulation and affects the stress response. Above all else .. take time to enjoy your life. T-SHIRT CLEARANCE by: Cathy Beck - Garden City Greenhouses The What, Where and When of planting. At this time of the year, one of the most often asked questions is “When can I plant my garden and flower beds?” Trees are showing new leaves, the tulips may be in bloom and it is easy to be excited as the warm sun tempts us to want to get everything growing right away. So what is the answer to the question? While there is no definite answer, there are many factors to consider. Vegetable gardens: Work the ground as early as possi­ble. Seeding the garden can be done earlier than other gar­den activities. For the adventurous, the latter part of April is the time to start. For many, the first few weeks of May is the best time. No matter when you plant it, the seeding of the vegetable garden is usually done first. Transplanting: We transplant many of our vegetables and flowers to utilize the most of our relatively short grow­ing season. Transplanting has a different schedule than seeding. In the ground, the seeds are protected from frost and cooling winds. Above ground, while the sun feels warm during the day, the low night temperatures and frost can freeze the delicate young plants. Wait until the “risk of frost” has passed. While there may be a published “frost free” day for this area, there are many micro-climates THIS MONTH SAVE $3.00 OFF EACH OF OUR REGULAR PRICED SELECTION OF IN-STOCK T-SHIRTS. SHIRTS REGULARLY PRICED AT $14.95 ARE NOW ONLY $11.95 (A 20% SAVING)!. Magrath Cultural Arts Play June 12th, 13th, 14th 7:00 pm Nightly 2:00 pm Saturday Matinee Magrath School Auditorium $7 / person $30 / family $5 / group rate of ten or over For Tickets Phone 758-6630 or they can be purchased at the Magrath Pharmacy Magrath <1 2000 ltd. 80 South 1st Street West Mon - Fri 9:00am - 6:00pm Ph: 758-3001 • Fax 758-3505 After Hours: 758-6222 • 382-0749 PAVING & MAINTENANCE LTD. "YOUR LOCAL SPECIALISTS" Asphalt Paving & Repairs Pot Holes & Pathways Driveways Parking Lots - Seal Coating * Sand Slurry Seal * Hot & Cold Crack Sealing * Line Painting ROB @ Ph/Fax: 329-1381 Cell: 330-6956 Flowers for Shade Flowers for Sun Mixed Shade and Sun Begonia Ageratum, Alyssum Celosia Coleus Marigold, Pansies Dusty Miller 1 Fuchsia Petunias, Salvia Geranium Impatiens Snapdragons Marigold, Pansies Verbena Stocks around Magrath and you need to assess your own garden area to help with your decision. Consider the weather fore­cast, the amount and type of recent precipitation, the expo­sure to the sun during die day, and the type of plant you are transplanting. What and where do I plant? Most vegetable gardens should have full sun expo­sure. This means at least 8 hours of direct sunlight. Partly sunny or shady areas can be utilized for those plants that prefer some cool. Read the seed package or product tag for help in making this decision. Missionary Open House Dylan Burns Alston has been called to the Jacksonville, Florida Mission and is to report May 28 to the MTC in Provo. An Open House will be held on Saturday, May 24 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at his parents, Bums and Karen’s home. Everyone is invited to come and wish him well. Dillon will be speaking in church the next day at 11:00 am in the Magrath Stake Centre. HUNGARIAN STYLE SAUSAGE Don't Go Home Without It Debb Panczak 758-6265 Available at the Magrath Trading Co. and Save on Foods Magrath, AB Neat and Trim Lawn Mowing Contact Carson Dahl :iding mower or push mower bagged or mulched mowing available Phone: 758-6919 When planting your flower garden, consider the amount of direct sun and wind exposure. When choosing the flow­ers, read the information available on the tag: Full Sun, Sun to part shade, Part to full shade, or Shade. You will be able to move many sunny plants to a shadier area, but be careful not to move a shade plant to the sun. Experiment with different plants and locations. You will learn what does and does not work in your garden. Most important of all is to have fun and enjoy your garden. ♦ 'Wakeup 'With ^Make-up! Permanent Cosmetics SPRING SPECIAL 30% off bookings in May •5^ Tina D. Reid cpct (403) 758-3930 M agrath, Al berta TOK 1 JO >z\>Cf > HomeLife / Higher Standards ¿idSwijiQ M.L.S. J’m Anderson aSent '^■SlANDARDSzJ/ RESIDENTIAL - FARM ACREAGE - COMMERCIAL IN MAGRATH AND AREA 2 Houses for Sale in Del Bonita House for Sale Harker Ave. & 2nd West St. 2 story home - suite in upstairs with separate gas and electrical for billing - $82,000 2 Br., 1600 sq.ft, bungalow with attached 1 car garage $139,000 REDUCED!! 3 Br. walkout with 2 car attached garage. $153,000 1st Ave North & 1st St. East 2 bedroom, single bungalow - $34,900____________ Comparative Market Analysis (No Charge) - For people interested in getting an evaluation of marketability of your property Phone 758-6725 (leave message) 331-8882 (cellular) West Nile Virus Continued from last week correspondence from the Chinook Health Region Dr. Paul Hasselback and Wendy Beauchesne There has been no evidence of West Nile Virus to date in the Chinook Health Region. “Although the risk of infec­tion remains very low for residents of this Region, it is important to reduce the risk of contracting West Nile Virus,” explains Dr. Paul Hasselback. “Protecting yourself from mosquito bites it the most effective way to avoid infection.” PROTECTIVE MEASURES Personal Protection The best protection against mosquitoes is personal protective measures, namely; • Wear baggy, light colored, long clothing when outdoors during mosquito hours. • Limit time out during mosquito hours - dust and dawn, prime biting time. • Make sure windows have screens in good repair. • The use of mosquito repellents which are DEET based is well covered by Health Canada. DEET - free types are not nearly as effective. • Don’t forego repellent for anti mosquito gadgets which haven’t been proven to reduce bites. remove wading pools and pool covers, saucers under flower pots and garbage cans. Change water in wading pools, bird­baths, pet bowls and livestock watering tanks twice a week. Cover rain barrels with screens. Clean out eaves troughs regularly to prevent clogs that trap water. Ponds can be treated with a surfactant agent such as a few drops of dish washing soap as this is a method of “drowning” larvae. Community Pesticide Programs Controversy and demand about setting up mosquito control programs has already begun. Currently there is no evidence that mosquito control contributes to a reduction in WNV. It is not currently recommended to implement new programs in the province and we currently have none in the region. What are the issues? • Mosquito programs involve at a minimum a larvicidal component in standing water areas. • The public often equate adulticide spraying as effective when it is comparatively of limited value. • Spraying, when applied, must occur at mosquito active times of dawn or dusk. • Pesticide application often involves every second day application. • There is little value in any larvicidal program once mosquito populations are elevated. The program must by implemented early in the season. Reducing Larval Areas Mosquito larvae can develop in small quantities of water, hence the elimination of standing water is an impor­tant aspect of mosquito control. Most species are unable to survive in water which is subject to wave action - hence marshes, irrigation ditches, small ponds and puddles, and trapped water locations are preferable breeding grounds. An important component of backyard mosquito con­trol is elimination of standing water such as old tires and areas where water puddles. Regularly drain water from or Annual United Church Garage & Bake Sale SATURDAY, MAY 24, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm at the Magrath Ice Arena I All donated items will be gratefully accepted. Call Betty T. 758-3240 of Darien H. 758-3569 z-C--a-n-a-d-i-a-n- -S-e-c-u-ri't y Systems Ltd.X Did yoi know? Oct Dated? The FIRST Alarm System was patented in 1875 It was set off by a trip wire Once triggered, it would ring a bell, lire a pair of 22 or 32 gauge cartridges, and light a match. The idea was to overwhelm, or maim the burglar. Rockport Flour Mill Inc. Phone: 758-3077 Fax: 758-3340 8miles south and 2 miles east of Magrath * CALI. US FOR A MORE MODERN WAY TO PROTEO YOUR HOME OR BUSINESS. 758-3945 Coyote Pancake & Waffle Mix Made from pure natural whole wheat flour. Four flavors: regular, buttermilk, blueberry and chocolate chip. Use for family reunions, pancake breakfasts, etc. Also available: Coyote Pure Natural Whole Wheat Wheatlets - Germade Breakfast Cereal. Available at all stores or buy direct • Cost is substantial. • Mosquitoes can easily travel a couple of kilometers, hence programs may be effective in central urban areas but of limited value in rural ar on urban outskirts. • Pesticides can be associated with health problems which may exceed the benefits given the limited effec­tiveness of control programs. What If A Dead Bird Is Found? • Dead crows can be submitted for testing. They are more likely to die from West Nile Virus than other birds. Birds that have been dead longer than 36 hours, are rotten or dried out are not suitable for testing. - Wear gloves when picking up dead birds (as a gener­al rule no dead birds or animals should be handled with bare hands). - Put the bird in 2-3 plastic bags. - Wash your hands after removing the gloves. - Birds can be delivered to an Alberta Fish and Wildlife office. Birds that cannot be delivered right away can he refrigerated (not frozen). The general household fridge should not be used. - Other dead birds can be put into plastic bags and be disposed of in the regular household trash. ♦ NOTICE OF PREPARATION OF ASSESSMENT ROLL 2003 TOWN OF MAGRATH NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the assessment roll of the Town of Magrath, made under the provisions of the Municipal Government Act, has been prepared and is now open for inspection. Under the Act, anyone wishing to appeal their assessment has thirty (30) days, until June 16, 2003 to make this appeal. The roll is open for inspection at the Town Office during business hours from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and any person who desires to object to the entry of his name or that of any other person upon said roll or to the assessed value placed upon any property must, within thirty (30) days of the mailing of the assessment/tax notice, lodge the complaint (s) in writing with the Chief Administrative Officer of the municipality. An appeal fee of $20.00 PER ASSESSMENT must be paid at the time the appeal is made. This fee will be refunded if the assessment is altered by the Assessment Review Board. Dated this 16th day of May 2003 RonM. Williams CAO. PIONEER IRRIGATION AREA OF CANADA ♦ PIZZA KITCHEN IS NOW OPEN MONDAYS!! Hours: Monday-Thursday 10-2, 4-9 Friday 10-2, 4-11 Saturday 3-9 WE LOOK FORWARD TO COOKING YOUR NEXT MEAL OR SNACK 758-3160 OR 758-3334 For your convenience, we now accept interact, Master Card and Visa Death of Common Sense Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, by the name of Common Sense. Common Sense lived a long life but died in the United States from heart failure at the begin­ning of the new millennium. No