A stroll through memory lane

Posted on January 6, 2014 by Westwind Weekly

The Westwind Weekly News looks back on the year that was 2013 with our annual Year in Review pages, to recap the top news events from each month.

JANUARY:

Lethbridge Member of Parliament Jim Hillyer recalls how long it took he and Parliamentary colleagues to ban asbestos exports overseas, an issue that rose up after the government in Quebec announced the disinterest in shutting down the industry.

The mens Cardston Cougars basketball team were crowned the winners of Raymond’s 46th annual Sugar Bowl.

Magrath couple Mac and Keisha Hicken welcome New Years baby, Maverick Tilfer Harris Hicken on Jan. 3.

Lethbridge MP Jim Hillyer presents grant funds of $124,000 to the town of Raymond for improvements at their ice arena.

Icy driving conditions and multiple motor vehicle collisions merit a driver warning from Raymond/Magrath RCMP Sgt. Kelly McCoy.

The Southern Alberta Handicapped Society in Magrath moves forward with plans to improve the recycling facility at the Raymond.

Phone scams in the Westwind area become a problem. Advice on how to avoid the issue given by the local RCMP detachment.

Alberta Education Minister Jeff Johnson visits Westwind School Division for some one-on-one face time to see if all needs are being met effectively.

Magrath Fire Hall announces a much needed expansion after making do with the space available for the past 10 to 12 years.

Raymond approves their new fee and charges schedule. Notable increases include the water consumption rate up to 69 cents per cubic metres from 41 cents in 2012.

The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta presents Raymond Library with $1,500 to purchase new books in the teen section.

Cliff Blackwell named new Fire Chief of Magrath after long-time chief Tim Lauscher retires.

MP Hillyer files for boundary change objection following the federal announcement to change the regions’s riding boundaries.

All 34 members of Raymond Judo Club receive a medal at tournament in Fernie, BC. Six gold, eight silver and 20 bronze medals were received.

FEBRUARY:

Alberta’s Cultural Minister Heather Klimchuk makes a stop at SASH in Magrath to thank all the volunteers and takes a minute for some one-on-one time as well.

Raymond announces partnership with Community Futures Lethbridge region, which brought business improvement loans to town.

Raymond High School graduate Dr. Kevin Calder released his debut album.

The town of Raymond sides with MP Hillyer over the federal boundary issue and Raymond Rotary Club celebrated 75 years in the community.

Dr. Clayne Steed and Mayor George Bohne receive the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for outstanding service to their town at Rotary’s annual Sweetheart Ball.

Herb McKelvey named Magrath Citizen of the Year, alongside Youth of the Year Emalee Murphy and Business of the Year owners Kirk and Cindy Roe recognized at the annual Magrath Chamber Gala.

Discussions between Alberta Health Service and the town of Raymond continue in regards to the dilapidated Raymond Care Centre’s future.

Raymond able to install new water line with Municipal Sustainability Initiative funding.

Monette Dudley and Susan Erickson receive Alberta Ambulance Service Award.

Raymond couple, Shelby and Chris Munroe claim Raymond’s New Years Baby, Ella Wyatt.

Local Westwind area author, Ruth Anne Stelfox publishes her second book.

Magrath hosts second annual mass registration night for youth.

Magrath Midget Ice Chiefs take home zone title.

MARCH:

Raymond votes on building condominiums in the phase two of the new Stonegate development.

Raymond Ice Monsters win the second round of Atom B playoffs.

Magrath take home 3J Grade 9 boys title.

Magrath Elementary and Cultural Society join forces to bring the town “Killroy was Here,” an enjoyable play dating back to USO days.

Raymond Girls Comets make it to provincials and Comet boys take home provincial silver.

Stirling Girls Lakers receive 1A provincial basketball title and boys take home bronze.

Magrath Ice Chiefs take home league and playoff titles and defeat Raymond Ice Monsters in Atom Spud League final.

Town of Raymond receives $850,000 grant for municipal waste water management project.

Magrath receives a significant increase in Alberta Education tax requisitions to the tune of an eight per cent increase.

Stirling raises over $4,000 for Theodore Brandley Municipal Library with Jail ‘n Bail fundraiser.

Magrath hosts a joint training night with emergency and fire services with Stirling, Raymond and Cardston in attendance.

Stirling’s Theodore Brandley Municipal Library receives R.E.A.D Award to recognize collaboration, innovation, future focus and community benefit.

Westwind Weekly News publishes its first Historical Feature.

APRIL:

Stirling passes its first home-based business license bylaw, allowing the village to enforce the use of business license permits within the municipality.

Raymond sets the budget for 2013 at $8.4 million, overall.

Star of CBC’s Heartland TV show Amber Marshall joins with renowned trick rider Niki Flundra to assist with the Cowboys Kingdom House fundraiser, put on by Raymond local Billie Heggie.

Magrath Museum continues its renovations on the front of the building, creating a bell tower like appearance for residents to enjoy.

Magrath local Trevor Panczak joins with Lethbridge College to promote healthy, active lifestyles.

Magrath hosts third annual trade show.

Magrath Museum joins forces with the town to secure grant funding for a new cenotaph, the town also decides to move the cenotaph beside the museum to accommodate the fire hall expansion.

Magrath Library hosts annual “That’s Entertainment” fundraiser to keep the doors open and new books on the shelves.

Raymond institutes an inaugural “Learn to Play Lacrosse” program.

Local Magrath family receives a wish from the Make a Wish Foundation and travels to Hawaii.

Raymond local Ursula Favel recognized with Esquao Award for outstanding service to her community and its residents.

Raymond council writes a letter to Associate Minister of Municipal Affairs Greg Weadick in regards to the MSI budget cuts.

Students from Magrath visit Europe for annual school trip.

Stirling faces overall decreases of $81,720 after MSI budget cuts.

Raymond’s Jim Ralph family inducted into ASAA hall of fame for their many accomplishments over the years.

MAY:

Pharmacies in the Westwind area feel the government’s decision to drop generic drug values to 18 per cent of brand name value.

Raymond Elementary School celebrates 50 years.

MY Hillyer undergoes surgery to repair a shattered right tibia after a skiing accident in Fernie with his son.

Provincial budget cuts in the Persons with Developmental Disabilities sector take effect on SASH.

Grade 8’s at MHS get involved with local business owner Jay MacKenzie for viral contest.

Magrath ratifies its tax bylaw for 2013, revealing a requisition increase of $12,000.

Magratj’s landuse bylaw remains unchanged after a rousing public hearing regarding the seniors six-plex.

Canadian author Sigmund Brouwer visits MES to make reading interesting and appealing to youth.

Raymond and the County of Warner pass first reading on the new Inter Municipal Development Plan.

Johnny Cook and Shay Hoyt receive 4-Star awards during graduation ceremony.

Students at Stirling School experience the holocaust history and make presentation to school division.

Raymond’s Val Boehme marks 65th birthday with 65-mile bicycle ride, from the gates of Waterton all the way back home to Raymond.

MP Hillyer decided to run in newly decided Medicine Hat riding following the federal governments reassignment of riding boundaries.

JUNE:

Stirling gives first reading to Special Events bylaw, which will address continuing issues with permits within the village.

Magrath celebrates seniors week at the Diamond Willow Lodge with art displays and band performances on the newly improved back lawn.

Magrath Museum hosts annual “Downhome Dinner” fundraiser, which will help finish the current renovations and hopefully provide funds for future projects.

Raymond proposes $2.5 million sportsfield project, will partner with Westwind School Division for first three phases to the tune of $300,000, overall.

Raymond local Conner McIntyre represents town at Alberta High School Senior Bowl.

Del Bonita cleans out awards table at annual 4-H show and sale in Lethbridge.

Stirling video duo, Chris O’Brien and Del Hyggen, move on to national portion of competition for their video entry in the government’s Occupational Health and Safety contest.

Comet Girls Rugby named 5-peat provincial champions.

Randy “Olly” Olson and Randy Brown, two Raymond firefighters, honoured with Fire Services Exemplary Medal.

Raymond resident Marvin Leonard Johnson charged with theft from a Lethbridge pharmacy after he faked computer records and took narcotics home for himself.

Westwind Weekly News snags four AWNA awards.

Magrath Recreation committee begins work on a leisure guide for the town.

Magrath students spearhead fundraiser project for World Vision and raised almost $1,000 in two days.

Magrath Lions Club joins with the town to bring new playground equipment at Jubilee Park.

Raymond town council allocates $1.8 million in future funds to the Victoria Park Sportsfield project over a three-year period.

Local farmer winters cows near Ridge Reservoir and sparks an uproar with residents. Further water quality testing investigated by the town.

Four Westwind area athletes selected to play in American Legion Baseball, Wilson Holt and Carter Witbeck will represent Raymond and Dawson and Derek Strate to represent Magrath.

Judy Barnett takes first and second place at national quilting competition.

Raymond and Coaldale host joint extrication class to benefit six different communities.

Magrath youth Amanda Jackson recognized provincially for her artwork, which was featured at the Art Gallery of Alberta.

JULY:

Cardston County hosts public forum filled with outraged residents, that’s so big the venue was moved twice. The forum was in regards to the proposed landuse bylaw amendment, which would control such things as how much light passed through fenceboards.

Raymond announces their decision to run in the Kraft TSN Celebration Tour contest, giving them a shot at $25,000 to put towards the new sportsfield.

Magrath hosts 10th annual “I Swam the Dam” triathlon.

Raymond resident Dr. Grayden Bridge makes a presentation to town council on the safety concerns Broadway poses to cyclists and drivers alike.

Magrath Museum reopens after a lengthy renovation on July 25.

Museum and town move forward with cenotaph relocation to museum property.

Raymond defeats Vulcan, 141,108 to 94,486, in social media battle for $25,000 and a shot at national publicity, courtesy of TSN.

Stirling hosts 4th annual triathlon.

Athletes Tyson Gruninger of Magrath and Brycen Archibald of Raymond selected to play  on Alberta All Star baseball team.

BYU-Idaho dancers visit the Broadway Theatre in Raymond for two weeks.

Jaxson Geddes and Colton Helgerson receive second-place provincial medals from lacrosse tournament.

Farmers all over the Westwind area rocked by intense weather. Multiple organizations and individual residents also band together to donate what they can to flood victims in High River.

Raymond hosts fourth annual triathlon.

Former Raymond bed and breakfast reopens under new ownership and name, for the first time in five years.

AUGUST:

Westwinds athletes Carter Witbeck, Dawson Strate and Wilson Holt travel to Montana for baseball tournament and claim the Northern State Title win.

Magrath’s Sam Noad and Stirling’s Liam Leetch compete at Intermiediate League with Lethbridge Giants selects team. Boomer Heggie and Brandon Landridge from Raymond will also be supporting the Giants.

Town of Raymond commits $20,000 to new playground equipment for RES.

Raymond census results dictate growth of 19.5 per cent since 2006.

RCMP in Raymond/Magrath crack down on personal possession of marijuana.

Raymond athletes Axel Caballero and Bobby Sugai drafted for Team Alberta football game. The team later lost to its northern counterpart, taking a close second.

Raymond local Kristy Olsen travels abroad as competitive chef.

Magrath census results dictate growth from 2,302 to 2,376, up from 2012.

Town of Raymond works on a concept design for the town’s downtown core to make it safer for pedestrians and drivers.

TSN hosts Jennifer Hedger and Darren Dutchyshen visit Raymond for the Kraft Celebration Tour.

Former Magrath resident Dr. Steele Brewerton receives Distinguished Alumni award from the University of Alberta.

Westwind School Division announces partnership with town of Raymond on Victoria Park Sportsfield.

Raymond Fire Chief Charlie Holt resigns after 35 years of service. Doug Holt steps down from town council to fill position.

Magrath Golf Club donates green fees from July, $2,000, to aid flood victims in High River.

Magrath hosts second annual mass registration night – a vibrant success.

RJHS teacher Jordan Brame nominated for Edwin Parr award, later receives Westwind School Division “top first-year teacher award.”

SEPTEMBER:

Magrath completes five-block paving project.

Raymond opens arena early to facilitate adequate training and ice time.

Magrath local Donna Wolvers makes hand-made dolls to sell in Lethbridge, donates all money to flood victims in High River.

Integral part of the town of raymond Jim Coppieters suddenly passes away, leaving big shoes to fill for the town.

Town of Magrath commits $100,000 to new chiller and condenser at the ice arena to go alongside Cardston County’s donation of $50,000.

The 2014 – 2015 school year kicks off, with the school division targeting bus safety as a priority.

Plans to short-track the installation of infrastructure at Victoria Park passed unanimously in Raymond council.

Magrath Public Library hosts annual Spaghetti Supper.

Raymond Tru Hardware reopens, replacing the former Pro Hardware store and allowing for a much needed expansion at the Raymond Mercantile.

The Southwest Alberta Road Safety Society purchases the first privately owned roll-over simulator to benefit residents in the Westwind area.

Stirling’s Liam Leetch and Magrath’s Sam Noad compete at World Series in California for little league.

Alberta Health Services announces the centralization of services in Raymond, residents in Magrath worried services will be cut.

Eight people join the docket for the civic election in Magrath and Raymond, 13 in Stirling and nine run for a spot on the Westwind School Board.

Rick Gilson named new director of Westwind School Divison.

OCTOBER:

Candidates running in the municipal election field questions from the Westwind Weekly News prior to the civic election.

New officers were chosen to help with the peace officer position in both Raymond and Stirling, Rod Tilsson of Coaldale and Todd Nelson of Stirling were selected to represent both communities safely.

Raymond Triathlon Committee purchases and donates defibrillator for the town.

Safe Rider campaign has its rewards, two youths from Raymond, Magrath and Stirling each receive an iPod mini for riding their bicycle safely.

Blaine Hogg, long time Westwind educator retires after spending years as the school division’s Director of Student Services.

Incumbent mayors identified in both Raymond and Magrath.

Magrath Fire Department expects renovations to be complete by 2014.

Attracting new businesses targeted at Magrath all-candidates forum.

Raymond Mercantile owner Rusty Court announces he expects the expansion at the Merc to be complete by the end of fall.

Raymond Tru Hardware hosts its grand reopening ceremony.

New faces join Magrath council, Gerry Baril, Richard VanEe and Brian Oliver, replaced are Tom Spackman, Dennis Quinton and Sam Johnston.

One new councillor selected in Raymond, former coun. Doug Holt’s son, Clark Holt.

New mayor named in Stirling, Ben Nilsson. Incumbent Mike Maynes, Jonathan Bikman and Jason Edwards and new member Trevor Lewington make up Stirling new council.

George Bohne approaches his third term as Mayor of Raymond.

Public forum scheduled with AHS to discuss concerns surrounding the centralization of services in Raymond.

NOVEMBER:

New resources available at the Raymond Public Library like digital services, homework help, family history and technology assistance to assist with other services available.

Raymond part of an aerial fly-over during Remembrance Day celebrations; Magrath hosts first Remembrance Day in new building.

Six hockey teams take to ice in Magrath this year.

Magrath closes walking trail for safety and property reasons.

Raymond initiates independent water quality study to improve water conditions at the Ridge Reservoir.

MHS raises $1,000 for Terry Fox and band teacher Sam Yamamoto shaves his long hair off for donation.

Zeniths take home league final in volleyball.

Magrath local recalls his time in Quebec with the Alberta Summer Games Basketball team.

AHS moves meeting to December due to adverse weather.

Rooster’s Country Market hosts second-annual Gingerbread House Auction, which helps raise funds for a much needed renovation at the Magrath Pool.

Zeniths win 3A South Zone title in volleyball.

Pandas and Zeniths alike prepare for provincials.

An open house at the new Bright Futures Daycare in Raymond is added to the Old Fashioned Christmas roster.

Stirling Walk/Run Club bands together with other community groups to raise funds for a walking trail around the village.

Raymond local Sheldon Anderson books a spot on Canadian TV show Dragon’s Den and makes a sweet deal with business partner Cody Paxman.

DECEMBER:

Stirling Historical Society hosts 14th annual tour of lights.

Drastic and severe snowstorms merit the closure of the entire Westwind School Division for two, entire days. Something previously unheard of.

Raymond schedules open house to discuss the future of the Raymond Care Centre.

Magrath gains a case of measles following a rapid outbreak in Lethbridge.

Bobby Sugai named league all star on both offensive and defensive lines, as well as Rhett Ellingson named all star in the linebacker position.

Magrath Garden City Senior’s Centre reeives grant dollars to make small improvements to the washroom and parking lot.

Questions are answerd in AHS open house about centralization, rumors about losing services quashed.

Two people sent to hospital after a head-on collision just North of Magrath.

Westwind School Division investigates bus collision in Raymond.