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Wildrose Alliance elects board in Drumheller-Stettler Constituency

    About 50 people from across the Drumheller-Stettler constituency braved the minus 30 degree weather in Stettler on Saturday to elect a board of directors for the Wildrose Alliance Consistency Association.
    This was its first annual meeting.
    Rick Strankman of Altario was elected president, while Chip Aiello of Drumheller became vice president. Norman Storch of Hanna assumes the role of secretary-treasurer.
    There were five directors elected. They are Bob Gainer, Hanna; Gary Wilyman, Stettler; Damien Kurek, Consort; Don Peters, Stettler and Guy Neitz, Erskine.
    Strankman called on residents of the constituency to pull together in doing their part to help bring together a new and responsible government for Alberta.
    MLA Paul Hinman addressed the meeting. He urged that every effort be made to increase the number of constituency members and to be prepared for an election. He also said there is a need for government to change, recognizing where tax dollars are coming from and re-invest at least some of those dollars back into rural Alberta.
    He also pointed out his view of the “Super Health Board” is not the answer. Instead he feels there is a need for local input into the operation of hospitals and that includes the return of local administrators.
    He added he believes there is a need for a system to recall MLA’s if constituents feel their elected member is not representing their views.

Founders Club welcomes Bronze Members Dan and Muriel MacDermid

    There is another pair of members of the Founders Club as fundraising continues for the Badlands Community Facility.
    The Mail, in its December 9 edition brought readers the story of an exciting fundraising venture undertaken by the committee to allow donors who make a substantial donation to the facility to be listed as Founders. Right away Jay O’Dwyer of Westergard Ford signed on as a Bronze Donor and Elson McDougald signed on as a Platinum Donor.
    Last week area farmer Dan and Muriel MacDermid pledged their support as a Bronze Donor, meaning they has supported the project to the tune of $50,000.
    Co-Chair of the Badlands Community Facility Committee Tony Lacher is grateful for the support of residents that have come out to make a commitment to the facility.
    “It’s encouraging to see residents become members of the Founders Group,” said Lacher. “For them (MacDermids) to step up puts us one step closer.”
    The fundraising committee, through the Founders Club hope to raise $1.8 million before the end of the year. Lacher says they are about half way to meeting their target.
    He says the Founders Club is an important aspect of the fundraising effort. Along with the much needed funds, the club also signals a strong commitment from members of the community for the facility. This is an important aspect when the committee continues its efforts when they pursue corporate donations.
    Despite the weather, crews continue to work building up the site of where the facility will begin to take shape. The aspect of the land is being raised to the 1 in 100 year flood level, with a solid gravel fill base. Tenders for the construction are expected to be released in the new year.
    The latest member of the Founders Club gives the committee a boost as it takes on its next fundraising endeavour.
    Elson and Pat McDougald are hosting Drumheller Day at the Calgary Chamber of Commence on February 24, 2010. A strong show of local support would help prove how serious Drumheller is about making the Badlands Community Facility a reality.
    For more information on the Founders Club and how to leave your mark on Badlands Community Facility, contact chair of the fundriasing committee Jeff Hall at 403-823-7800, Elson McDougald at 403-998-7595 or Jay O’Dwyer at 403-823-2500.

Mazereeuw takes up the torch

    While a smile is never far off her face, some may have noticed Melanie Mazereeuw beaming even more so recently since she learned she would be an Olympic Torch Bearer.
    Mazereeuw will be carrying the torch on Sunday, January 17 through Bow Island on the stretch just days after the Drumheller Torch Relay Celebration.
    Mazereeuw’s consistent entries on the iCoke web site got her foot in the door. It was her community spirit and involvement that put her over the top.
    She entered in the area of 40 times to win a spot on the Torch Relay Team. Shortly thereafter she received an e-mail telling her she needed to write an essay.
    “The theme was living active or community spirit,” she said.
    She wrote about some of her community involvement. She and a friend participate in the Enerflex Walk MS walk and raise a sizable contribution to the MS Society each year. She has set up a recycling program at the Drumheller Co-op store and offices where she works, and spearheads the Greentree Mall initiative Town of Toys each year, collecting donations for The Salvation Army Christmas Hamper program.
    “It’s the small stuff really, but it is community oriented,” she said.
    Her inspiration to get involved with the Torch Relay comes from her experience in school when Calgary hosted the Winter Olympic Games in 1988. A girl from her school in Lethbridge was selected as an Olympic Torch Bearer, and she won a spot on a trip to Calgary to take in the part of the games.
    “I got to see three events in one day in ‘88, and I thought man, what an opportunity. It is a once in a lifetime experience” she said.
    When asked where Mazereeuw would like to run, she selected the Red Deer to Drumheller, the Drumheller to Lethbridge Leg and the Lethbridge to Medicine Hat legs as possibilities. She will be running near Bow Island, which coincidentally is where her husband grew up.
    Her family and extended family are excited to see Mazereeuw run the torch. Her son Braden, 7, says he has his own digital camera ready to take pictures. Her grandmother and great aunt, who just turned 88 have already booked a spot in her parent’s van to come up and watch her on the route.
    This no surprise, she says her family has always been proud Canadians, and even have some Olympic blood.
    “My mother’s cousin is Toller Cranston, and my family has always been very Olympic oriented and patriotic. My aunt was one of the first women to enlist, so when it comes to things like Olympics, they are big Canada supporters,” she says.

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