Princess Lodge By Janice Simpson
Don and Joan Berry from Brandon visited Dawn White on Sunday, July 2. Caroline Greig brought our friend Doris Hunter to see Alene Welch. Doris lives on Vancouver Island. She also visited many friends in the area.
The families – Simpsons, Sheanes, Stuarts and Hodgins gathered at Wayne and Lori Stuart’s on July 8 for Christmas in July. There was 25 of us. A lovely day, it was good to see everyone.
Julie Mason is arranging for the handi van to pick up residents of Princess Lodge to go to Music in the Park, July 6. It was held in Virden Legion Hall. A gentleman from Killarney was the entertainment. A lovely evening.
Dinner was put on by SAIL, July 12. A lovely meal. After dinner Julie conducted a sing-along. She also made six draws. Mary Anne and myself won a prize. Residents with birthdays in July: Orlean Johnson and Les Graham.
Janice was at the funeral for Dorothy Smith, July 13 in St. Paul’s and helped out in the choir.
Miniota By Linda Clark
Miniota News June 27 – July 3
Mac and Pat Lelond have returned from a holiday at Peace River where they visited with Ken and Jody Still and family and attended grandson Geordan’s Grade 12 graduation.
Liliane Weingartner, Brooks (Alta.) has been visiting in the area enroute to a family visit in Switzerland with her children Naomi, Deborah and Raphael. Daughter Rahel and family, also from Brooks, will be joining them for a family gathering.
Doreen Clark, Linda Clark and Margaret Still attended the celebration of life of their cousin Jean Paton in Winnipeg on Thursday. Jean was the only daughter of Will and Marion Sutherland, born at Arrow River and raised on the farm with her brothers, Bill, Jim and John. Jean was a lifelong friend of Mae Watters as early school chums. We extend our sympathy to Mae on the loss of her friend.
Arrow River welcomed all to their Canada Day celebrations with anyone who wished to play ball, followed by a cold plate supper in the hall and then the duck races. Winners of the race went to 1st - Rod McKean; 2nd - Donna Brown and 3rd - Shae Gardham. The day was complete with a fireworks display.
Ron and Vicki Bryant’s family hosted a family gathering at the home of Joey and Lana Bajus to celebrate Ron’s 80th birthday. All their children, 16 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, Ron and Vicki’s siblings and many nieces and nephews joined them. Coming from a distance were Susan Bryant and her son Cody Selke and his children Payden, Cassidy and Kenzie; Susan’s daughter Rachel and Carsen James from Herbert (Sask.) and her daughter Melissa Selke from Okotoks (Alta.); Josh Simard and Sam Lindenbach, Winnipeg; Taryn and Grady Delmaire and baby son Levi, Redvers (Sask.); Barb Gnutel of Storthoaks (Sask.); and Donna and Karen Wilkins, Brandon.
Donna Brown enjoyed a visit from Darcy, Tyler and Jason McKean, Ray and Mary Braun, and Dean and Sandy Lyons all of Portage la Prairie. They joined other family and friends to celebrate Donna’s birthday.
Friends and neighbours of Garry Dalgarno’s gathered on Donna Brown’s deck to extend best wishes to Garry on his move to Newdale, and to present him with gifts from the community. Attending for a visit with Garry were Del and Pat Cole, Laurie Copet, Brady Joseph, Bill Laxdal, Randy and Ollie McKean, Brenden, Megan and Bo Brown and Donna Brown. Best wishes Garry, in your new home.
Nathan Browning and Jen Copet attended the Grade 12 graduation of Nathan’s son Dominic at Morden.
“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Miniota July 4 – 10
The Miniota- Arrow River’s Donor Choice committee is pleased with the results of a most successful 2023 campaign. The donations were as follows: Cancer $1656, CNIB $566, Red Cross $714, Kidney $877, Child/Family Services $ 428, MS $872, Diabetes $1056, Arthritis $860, Alzheimers $811, Crohns/Colitis $606, Compassionate Friends $312, Heart $1116, Lupus $421, Lung $557, Hamiota District Health Foundation $701, Miniota Municipal Seniors Services $1254, Miniota & Area Foundation $1589, Miniota Handivan $1047, Miniota Museum $749 and STARS $2748 for a total of $18,940.
This year the committee felt no need to hold back a per centage for administration expenses and so every dollar donated was sent to the charities. Job well done folks! Thank you to all our canvassers who give of their time to go door to door for this campaign.
Darcy Oliver and his children Amanda Oliver-Lonson (Medicine Hat), Ted Oliver, and Tanya Barnes (Birtle) all travelled to Italy for a trip of a lifetime. They enjoyed the history and sightseeing in several places, a few being Rome, Castro Dei Volsci, Monte Casino, Torrice and Pompeii. The Oliver family’s main mission was to once again meet Gino, now a grown man, but the young boy that Lloyd Oliver, Darcy’s Dad and his soldier friends Paul Hagen and Mert Massey had found amongst bomb crates in 1944: this little boy whom they cared for until a foster family could be found to care for him, as their troops moved on.
What a wonderful story! The Oliver’s travelled to Torrice where they met Gino and his family and the Oliver family laid a wreath at the monument Gino had had constructed to honour these men. A movie has been made entitled ‘Gino- A Child of War’ and the Olivers enjoyed seeing the premier along with Gino and his family. We look forward to the movie coming to Canada later this fall.
Brandon, Kathryn, Quinn and Cassidy Pollard, Black Falls AB and Laura Poppel and Travis Peters, Calgary visited with Wayne Poppel and Val Carton and Jeffrey and Ashley Poppel and family on the Canada Day weekend. The Poppel family held their annual family shoot. Also visiting were Jan Malanowich and her son Kent, Trisha, Tristan and Madison Malanowich, Winnipeg.
Andrew and Jeannine Cymbalisty and children travelled to Minot, ND for the Canada Day long weekend taking in many of the sights and activities offered. They thoroughly enjoyed the Roosevelt Park Zoo.
Murray and Joan Gurr, Kyle Gurr, Kerrie Gurr and Tanner Williams travelled to Carnduff (Sask.) for their tractor pull event. Kyle placed 1st with his 560 in the 7,000 lb class and Murray placed 2nd with his 650 in the 8,000 lb class. Murray and Kyle then participated at the Souris Tractor Pull competition with Kyle placing first in the 10,000 lb and over class with his 806 International and Murray placed 2nd in the 6,000 and under class with his 460 International.
Jamie, Tiffany, Elly and Lily Priestley flew to Halifax and enjoyed some of the sights of the Maritimes. Elly as a member of the Prairie Thistles Highland Dance Association, Manitoba dance team participated in the Scot Dance Canada Championship 2023 from July 2-6 at the Halifax Convention Centre, where 988 dancers performed on 8 stages. Elly received a medal for her ‘Special’ Highland Fling for Level Novice 13 years and over, competing against dancers from B.C., Alta., Sask., Ont., N.B., N.S., P.E.I. and Scotland. Congratulations Elly!
Coralee Anderson, Jake, Gracie and Kinsley Muir, Colby, Katie and Blair Howard, and Clayton and Lincoln Judd are all members of the Lenore 4-H Beef Club. They held their club achievement on July 3 and then showed again in the Interclub competition on July 4. Colby Howard received reserve champion heifer of the Lenore club, and Blair Howard received champion Angus heifer for the Interclub. Katie as well placed in the championship steer class on both days. Congratulations to all our 4-H members for a great showing!
Hadley Bryant, Claire Regnier and Adrianna Cousins, members of the Hamiota U13 Red Sox team along with their coach Michelle Bryant, participated in provincials at the Buhler Recreation Park this past weekend. Unfortunately, the team faced a difficult loss after a few wins, resulting in not making the finals. Next year, Girls.
Carolyn Somerville (Winnipeg), visited with Don and Sandra Armitage for the weekend.
Our Miniota community extends our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Barry Doole who died on July 9th at Virden hospital. Our thoughts are with Denise Canart, and with Barry’s sons Sheldon Doole and Kent Doole and family. Sympathy also to Barry’s sister Rhonda Walker and her family, and to Crystal and Ross Howard.
Wayne and Dorothy Brown hosted Dorothy’s siblings Donna Gobeil, Winnipeg; David Doran and friend Dorothy, of Gibsons (B.C).; Bob and Jeanne Doran, of Edson (Alta.); and Lois Doran and her daughters Dawn and Marisa and Marisa’s son Nathan, of Prince George (B.C.) for a time of family visiting and many shared meals for several days. Wayne and Dorothy’s family were also present. The family gathered at the Birtle Cemetery to inter the ashes of their sister Linda. Barry Hickman, Abbotsford, (B.C.), Wayne Hickman, Kevin and Joanne Hickman and Roberta Hickman also joined the Doran family.
Congratulations to Owen and Jodie Thomas on the birth of their daughter Sarah, a little sister for Emma. Sarah was born on July 5 and is also welcomed by grandparents John and Barbara Lynn Hodgins and Edmore and Ruth Thomas and great grandma Vi Joseph, along with aunts, uncles and cousins.
Brenden and Megan Brown welcomed their new son Chet David Brown on July 9, a little brother for Madison, Bo and Cooper. Chet is another grandson for Donna Brown (Miniota), Morley Brown (Hamiota) and great grandma Georgina Brown (Hamiota). Congratulations to you all.
“Never be afraid to sit awhile and think.” - Lorraine Hansberry
Miniota July 11 – 17
Trevor and Marcie Lewis have just returned from an Alaskan cruise. They were joined by Trevor’s mom Linda Lewis, Moosomin; his sister Julie and Devlin Griffiths, Hinton (Alta.), and his brother Chris Lewis, Regina and Bridgette Verville, Moose Jaw. Excursions included seeing the salmon ladder at Juneau, the White Pass Summit train in Skagway, and the Saxman Native Village in Ketchikan where they experienced the traditional dancing and singing as well as meeting a master totem pole carver and enjoyed a lumberjack show. They also made a stop at Glacier Bay. They enjoyed the entertainment on board the ship.
Get well wishes are extended to Kim Bohrn who is a patient in the Brandon Hospital.
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive – to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to live – then make that day count.” -Steve Maraboli
