COLUMN: Tales from the Gravel Ridge – The beauty of community

Once upon a time, a long time ago, there existed at a Manitoba location, on the North East quarter, of section 12-6-5E in the Rural Municipality of Hanover, a one-room school bearing the name of Rosengard, registered as No. 2168. It was in that location that I began my early formal education, and it was there, in part, that I received a solid grounding for my future educational pursuits. There was, however, much more that the Rosengard School provided for me in those formative years.

Little did I realize at the time how significant my first day of school was to my sense of identity. While it was true that I still retained the identity of being the youngest daughter in my large family, my social status within the school context was something entirely different. I now became a member of the Grade 1 class, amidst a large group of older students, all being divided into grades, numbering 2 to 8, in addition to one student taking Grade 9 by correspondence.

It was true that my home life was structured, both in terms of mealtimes, as well as various household tasks and activities that were regularly attended to. At home it was expected that members of my family would function and behave in certain accepted roles and modes of behaviour. Attendance at school was an entirely new reality. The class structure and the strict adherence to scheduling took some getting used to.

There are, of course, many aspects in our day to day experiences that contribute to our development and maturation. When it comes to the life of a child, the potential for learning, and of putting new concepts and propositions into practice is immeasurable. The older I become, the more I recognize and acknowledge how much I have been given, and how much that reality continues to enrich my life.

Electrical fire leaves $750,000 in damages

Just before 7 a.m. on Dec. 15, a house fire at 953 Main Street East saw three people escape the blaze.

“We got called just before 7 a.m. and when we rolled up the fire was already through the roof, pretty well the whole roof was on fire,” said Steinbach fire chief Kelvin Toews. “When we got there we were told that everyone was out of the house and so we took a defensive attack and extinguished the fire.”

The three people that were in the house were able to get out before the fire department arrived.

The office of the fire commissioner has determined the cause of the fire was electrical with damages totaling $750,000.

Santa trades reindeer for alpacas

Santa and Mrs. Claus laughed as an alpaca stretched its long neck to snatch a snap pea from Ann Patman’s clenched teeth.

These were the kind of photos offered at 313 Farms south of Anola to families looking for a unique Christmas photo.

Winnipeg Santa joined up with Ann and her husband David in 2018 to offer the photos during the first two Saturdays in December. Everyone gets snap peas to feed them, which draws a crowd eager to snatch them from your hands or from your teeth if you are not shy with the woolly creatures.

MerryAnne the Elf holds Coleman the alpaca as he poses with his snazzy scarf beside Santa. Then Santa gives the kids an ornament, and they get to enjoy hot chocolate and treats.

DANKOCHIK’S DRAFTINGS: Response to injuries shows Pistons’ true quality

I was absolutely shocked when I walked into the HyLife Centre this weekend for a Pistons game and pulled up the projected lineup on my phone.

Somehow, despite both players on the team’s top defense pairing out of the line-up, Steinbach was forced to play a game with seven d-men and 11 forwards. Injuries have devastated the Pistons forward line-up, much in the same way the team’s defense was hampered all of last year.

In that game (a 4-0 win over the Winnipeg Blues) two more forwards went down and the team went into Waywayseecappo the next night with only 18 skaters.

There was no panic apparent in either game for Steinbach. The team may not have played as well as they would with their offensive stars in the line-up, but the Pistons went about their business, picking up another win over the Wolverines, even as the home team came within one goal of a three-goal comeback.

U18 Female Selects enjoying standout season

There can be no doubt the Eastman Selects Female U18 team is off to a hot start to their season.

The team is not only in a tie for first place in the Manitoba Female Hockey League standings, but notched a big tournament win earlier this month.

The Selects took home top spot at the 2 Nations College Prep Tournament, hosted in Brampton, Ont. The Selects went a perfect 7-0 to win the championship, notching three wins in the final day. The team even defeated the hometown Brampton Canadettes in the final 3-1, with Sophia Heidinger, Cheyenne Scott Cooke and Isabella Carriere picking up goals in the gold medal match, with Addison Tomes stopping 20 shots.

Eastman had a plus-20 goal difference at the tournament, including three shut-out victories.

Calendar friendly towards holiday hockey this year

With Christmas Day falling on a Wednesday this year, the holiday hockey schedule is jam-packed, with most leagues scheduling games between the 20th and 22nd.

Steinbach and Niverville’s schedule in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League ends on Dec. 20, but both teams will be on the road. Those two teams will kick-off the post-Christmas schedule with a game Dec. 31 in La Broquerie, with the Southeast Event Centre opening is postponed.

In the Hanover-Tache Junior Hockey League, teams will play a full schedule of games in the pre-Christmas weekend in addition to a jam-packed post-Christmas Schedule.

Ste Anne has a pair of home games Dec. 28 and 29, with Landmark, Red River and Macdonald also playing that weekend.

New Pembina Valley GM hoping to turn team around

The Pembina Valley Twisters find themselves in unfamiliar territory this season, and have brought in some extra help to try and rise up the standings.

The Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League (MMJHL) team hired John Mintenko as a general manager. The Twisters have been a solid franchise over the years in the MMJHL, which differentiates itself from other junior leagues with looser age restrictions.

Those results have taken a step back this season.

Pembina Valley, which plays out of the Morris Multiplex, are at the bottom of the league’s standings, with only seven points in 23 games this season.

Pembina Valley Twisters player recovering after scary injury

A Manitoba Major Junior Hockey League (MMJHL) game between Pembina Valley and St James Dec. 15 was halted mid-way through the third period after a scary injury on the ice.

Ty Sadowski was left un-moving on the ice after an “unfortunate incident,” according to a post on the Twisters’ Facebook page. The post added Sadowski was taken to Boundry Trails Hospital between Winkler and Morden, and his scans and tests, "all came back normal.”

Those tests allowed the player to return home for his recovery. Pembina Valley general manager John Minkenko reported Sadowski had avoided a serious injury, but would be out of the lineup for a while.

Sadowski was immediately attended to by trainers from both teams, with three firefighters in attendance at the game also helping before EMTs arrived.

Carillon Sports 2nd Shots from Dec. 12th edition

Featuring photos from Providence Pilots volleyball matches Dec. 4, A Hanover-Tache Junior Hockey League game in Steinbach Dec. 6 and Providence Basketball games and a Niverville Nighthawks game Dec. 7.

Niverville teen seeks funds for Ottawa summit

A Niverville high school student has asked the Hanover School Division board to pay for a trip to Ottawa so that she and another student may attend a nuclear peace summit.

Edlynne Paez made the request last week stating the cost for the trip is $1,100 per person which covers airfare and all expenses. The Youth-Parliament Nuclear Summit will take place in February in Ottawa with students from across the country attending. The summit discusses issues associated with nuclear weapons proliferation and their disarmament.

“I’m really hoping to have a deeper more intimate understanding of how exactly these bills get talked about because I know we’re going to be sitting in on some of the summit meetings. I’m really hoping to sit in on the House of Commons,” she said.

She said youth should be involved in the summit because it’s their future and the threat of nuclear war is strong. She believes the resources and money needed to make nuclear weapons could be better used for education and health care.

Local trucking executives receive provincial awards

Three local trucking executives have received awards from the Manitoba Trucking Association during their annual gala in November.

Steve Brandt of Blumenort’s Steve’s Livestock Transport was recognized for his philanthropy by getting the Associated Trades Division Social Responsibility Award.

Brandt launched Clean Water 4 Life in the Solomon Islands, which drilled 269 wells to provide safe and clean drinking water to 200 communities in the island chain, impacting 42,000 people.

The Associated Trades Division Social Responsibility Award was created in 2022 to recognize individuals, groups, and companies that are giving back to their community. Nominees can be recognized for their work in six categories: environmental issues, community service, innovation, diversity, sustainability, and philanthropy.