Does testing new toy work?

Got a new phone when old one's charging port was dying and am thrilled to now have a galaxy s fascinate wee.... So finding out how to post blog with it. Ain't technology grand?

Already used it to post snap a photo at the end of an assignment when my Dslr batteries died in the cold.

Proof it's just a box that collects light box and amneeds a creative person holding it... So will keep writing.

return to blogger?

The eagle has landed and it's one small step to a small town newspaper but a giant leap for Phil's kind of adventure.


After a few months of madness busy beyond belief -- both from combination of finishing my internship up in Whitecourt to moving my life yet again and into another job as a full-fledged journalist in Ponoka.


I'll explain in a follow-up soon why I'm standing on a cat-walk over a bunch of cows, but for now, here's the article.


Six weeks in I'm loving even the high pressure nearly daily deadlines just to try to keep up with the flow of the new assignments hitting my desk. There's so much happening in town and as my role as roving reporter dictates, I've been everywhere between Red Deer and Edmonton and a lot of the time in little towns I'd scarcely heard in passing. All I know is I handed in 1,000 on my out-of-town mileage in one month.


It was like lifting weights and then realizing I picked a heavy one, requiring so much more concentration and effort, but totally worth it when I can finish the set of reps. I'm happy to report I'm starting to raise my writing stamina and even though I wrote four articles today and did half a dozen interviews, I'm still going strong.... almost.

Broke down and finally started texting twitter thingies and started to log some of the fun and insight I was having. As much fun as blogging was, I was doing over a dozen articles every week and my editor here in Ponoka is helping me to top that. I was excited to have my own desk when I was an intern, now I feel a tiny bit of cabin fever I spend so much time in my office. Not complaining because I get to write a ton of fun articles and photo assignments for whatever I can dream up and keep newsworthy.

So far, I've been nearly making par. Check-it if you want an time-line of how exciting my days got over the last few months. Don't worry, I rarely wrote more than one a day. It sounds odd that I finally tried out twitter, I just had heard such terrible repercussions with slander and job-dismissal over comments, that I went slow. Plus it takes a moment to come up with something that isn't lame.

Word of advice, avoid over-doing the caffeine. Withdrawal sucks without some ibuprofen and yoga does wonders too ^_^ Then again, yoga seems to work for everything.

It's just the Christmas special which has kept me busy since I managed to get through Remembrance Day special with a dozen articles extra to write in a week over my usual ten assignments. After this, it quietens down -- not until after I get through another dozen fun articles with way too much cuteness and Christmas joy.

Anyhows, here's a search result link to my three dozen articles that were posted on the website, I'll try to link a bunch later of my favourites over the past few weeks. Enjoy.

It's been quite an adventure and I wish I thought to twitter some of the more cool moments I've had. Such as culture shock of hanging out for assignments on the Hobbema reserves near Ponoka. Who knew it's possible to put up a stop-sign with a Cree translation on it. Learn something every day ^_^

As part of my return, I'll start rocking the cooking experiments. Admittedly, I've collected up a few over the last month and haven't had sufficient time to post them. Fun times for all. So time to sleep and I'll write the next time I slow down after production day, which I have a bunch of them coming up pretty quickly. Meh... fun times.

Glad to be writing too much to be able to write my blog. Working the writing lifestyle and still loving it.

Goodnight and stay classy or whatever.... Brain stops with a zonk.

-- plr --

Blitzed in a good way

As you may notice, I've been tardy on writing in the past week and a half. After all was said and done, it turned into a long long long stretch of highway that got me from Calgary out to Whitecourt and around the region. After I got back, I still feel like cat-napping in the summer sun after work is done.

A long weekend let me hang out with my Sharon for an extra couple days. However, I sure felt a squeeze of compressing the five day week in four though. Telephone tag for interviews and getting all my articles written? Barely... It worked out in the end though and I learned lots from it. Admitting I need more sleep too. Here's a link to a few articles from Drayton Valley:

Fallen soldiers honoured in mural - Drayton Valley Western Review
Keeping the hampers full at area food banks - Drayton Valley Western Review
Coach, board look forward to season ahead - Drayton Valley Western Review

Very busy town and I hated to go as they were just welcoming as the previous towns and it's been a real pleasant experience on my road-trip to cover other reporters' holidays. So I'm back in Whitecourt and sleeping in my own bed, cooking meals and cleaning my room up after returning home.

Total odometer reading from town to town? just shy of 800km in 25 days logged for work and about 1500 to see my Sharon in Camrose. Totally worth it for catching up on peace & quiet / quality time.

More on long haul driving in a little while -- and I admit, I'm not as speedy on 'to be continued' at times so just like everything else, make a task list and get'ter done when I can as ideas come up while I'm writing and I need to catch up on them on occasion.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, a few of my stories were posted on the home newspaper that I had written before I left on the road:

Oilmen open clubhouse doors to the community - Whitecourt Star
Neighbours become friends at original block party - Whitecourt Star

So there you are with it being a bit compressed. As I originally started this blog to share stuff with my parents, friends and family and it's gotten a bit bigger than that now ^_^ I know I already posted that block party story. It's one of my favourites so far and it's a tiny bit exciting to see my articles on the Whitecourt Star website, a legit newspaper online ^_^

So you might notice a shift to less actual articles as I post them on the company website and would feel like I was doing it twice over. However, it'll be more of a journal of the journey taken to get those articles come together. I hope I don't bore people, but really there's all kinds of neat stuff and small miracles that happen when getting things done by deadline.

Still bound by FOIP and respecting privacy of people I interview. Yet some of the little stuff that happens can be really nifty and some of the theory put into practice would be good reflections as well. Thanks for bearing with me as I change the tempo. With journal writing, but for a journalist that's a paradox. It's both play on words and sometimes reality as I have so much happening, it'd be nice to be able to figure out what happened the past week a few weeks from now. Especially when I'm journal-ing other people's lives 98% of the time. Such is news-worthiness -- an eternal struggle of what to print since newspapers were born.

Much as I hate to say, oh read my blog if you want to know what I been up to lately. Much the same as my camera serves as a photo journal at times. It won't be overload of TMI and I still plan to have fun links, stories and opinion pieces -- Stuff I don't have enough space in my pages in the newspaper.

And there's so much paradox between natural beauty and reality of the economy up here so tons to write about. It's been an eye-opener of a road-trip.

Good times still to come but for now? Sleep time.

-- PLR -- 

Skeeters from all over Hwy 16 and other surprises

By Philip Rushton
Hinton Parklander

Being in a new office every week as a temp during summers and after graduating is nothing new for this intern.

On the other-hand, being in a new town every week is very different.

Shooting photos on a river jet-boat one weekend, then a rodeo, then munchkins in theatre camp Wizard of Oz presentation, and who knows what next. It's a great part about community newspaper.

Not so great is being lost in a new town every week with directions like 'across from Tim Hortons'. If only I knew where the Timmy's is located. Or 'where the old fire station was before they moved'. I don't know where the new fire station is, let alone the old one.

Water Devils team grow flippers for regionals

By Philip Rushton
Hinton Parklander

With regionals Aug. 6-7 in St Albert, the Hinton Water Devils coaches are clocking improvement every day.

"The kids have been working their tails off and growing flippers or something," said coach Andrew Clarke.

Conditioning and skills in the club have really motored up according to Clarke since last year when he first started coaching the Water Devils as the cross-training for winter sports is evident.

"We encourage them to become well rounded athletes, said Clarke, there's lots of sports you can do in the water."

There are 54 members in the club, aged 5-16, and the competitiveness starts to show in their teens.

"Seeing the determination to improve on their times," said Leanie Drayer, one of the assistant coaches who is learning patience from training.

"They're quick learners and I even see a bit of improvement in the kids after one lap of the pool."

Swimmers become highly competitive and winning at regionals lets them challenge others from across the province in Calgary on the weekend of August 12-14. A select group makes the nationals if they make the qualifying times.

"Looks like some of the team have a really good shot at regionals," said Clarke.

The summer club wraps up with a celebration party of their successes before school starts.

"A loss is still a win to me," said Clark.

"When only one guy in the pool wins the race, but if others are beating their individual times, it's great."

Clarke talked about how much the team has gelled together.

"Everyone supports and pushes each other to go harder in the pool," said Clarke.

Drayer pointed out that swimming is a life-long exercise and great skill, but has a bonus of being fun.

"Sometimes they splash me and sometimes I splash them," said Clarke.

"I'd would rather be in the water and let my mind go free," said Drayer.

"If you're having a bad day it all stops when you get into the pool."


PS Had to get the lil'un who wants only two things for Christmas! her gapped smile too priceless

Quilters tickled pink for cancer fundraiser

By Philip Rushton
Hinton Parklander


Rocky Mountain Quilters are stitching up a storm of blankets for a breast cancer fundraiser auction in the autumn.

"I've never worked with so much pink in my life," said Barb Verquin, president of the club.

The quilting fundraising idea has spread across North American quilting clubs originally for people going through chemo.

Hoping for a dozen, quilters have been busy since February making over 50 to date. Everything from wall hangings to table mats and kids' to queen sized blankets for live auction, with an average starting bid of $200.

"It's beyond belief, so many ladies pitched in, making the blanket tops and bindings," said Verquin.

On a road trip Verquin and a friend raided pink fabrics at Red Deer Quilt Show and back through Rocky Mountain House, Drayton Valley and all points along the Yellowhead highway out to Jasper on their quest for pink fabric.

When Verquin was buying up all their pink 10 meter bolts of fabric, quilt shops kindly discounted fabric to the cause.

"Most of it is stored at my house to my husband's dismay," said Verquin.

The quilters husbands have helped too, such as making the frames for the quilts.

The event will be at Griffths Ford in November where the quilts will be on display in the showroom. It will be a fancy wine and cheese and live musical entertainment event.

The quilters joined fundraising forces with Courtney Congdon who is working on a Cancer Calendar. Solomon Creek Quilters in Brule are also working on the project.

"The way people pitched in donating money, fabric, thread and their time is great," said Verquin.

All proceeds are going towards the cancer clinic at the Hinton Hospital. People come from all over the region for different cancer treatments.

For details on making a pink quilt, contact Verquin or come on down to The Guild Wednesday nights.

Visitors get up close look on tours

By Philip Rushton
Hinton Parklander


With free summer Teck tours out to Cardinal River mining operations, small boys who dream in the sandbox with Tonka trucks can go to see men at work on the real machinery.

Even workers bring their families on the tours to show their children where daddy works.

"It's awe inspiring to look down into the pits which can be as deep as 60-100 metres, said Teck tour guide Lisa Burlet on her second year as a summer student.


Haul trucks carry 250 ton loads of coal and rocks back from the Cheviot sites to the processing plant 22 km down the road at 5-10km/h so heavy is the load.

Gigantic shovels which can lift 2.5 train-cars worth of rock and fill those huge trucks in two scoops is a sight to see.

"Those huge trucks look small in comparison next to the shovels," said Burlet. "When the driver pulled up beside the bus for people on the tour, it dwarfed the bus."

As people on the tour took photos with the truck, with 5 metre high tires which came up level with the charter bus's roof. The truck's driver cab is 12 meters up for visibility above the massive diesel electric generator for the tires.

On their 20-30 loads per 12-hour shift, the truck drivers basically drive from here to Toronto during their four day on, four day off work cycle.

"Drivers joke that the wildlife are deaf out there, they don't even flinch when trucks drive past," said Burlet,. "The animals are completely comfortable with our operation."

Looking after the land, the company is in the midst of reclamation process with a public access trail through inactive sites on the land out at Sphinx Lake.

There is also workers' safety in mind as Teck has been running a Courageous Safety Leadership program since 2007.


"It's encouraging a core value on a personal level because it's part of the job and part of the lifestyle," said Burlet.

As many workers stay on at the mines 30-35 years, including Burlet's father Mike who works as an site electrician, it's unique job.

"Coal is a super fine mineral and the dust gets on everything, even in the office on my phone and computer," said Burlet. It goes right down into the groves of your fingertips.

"You can know a coal miner by his hands."

As Burlet goes back to university for 3rd year of bachelor's of education, miners will continue 24/7 to pull coal out of the ground, like generations of their fathers did before them.

The tours will continue throughout August on Thursdays from 10am - 2pm and interested people should call the day ahead to register for the tour by phoning (780) 692-5180.


P.S. I didn't have enough time to take four hours out to the mines, but I had to look up some of these amazing machines for photos and sad for it.

As I was interviewing the tour-guide girl on the phone I kept thinking of  one of my favourite child-hood stories I made my mother read over and over again. Yes I played in the garden so guilty of inserting self in story, a no-no in j-school. MEH!

It struck me though that the machinery may have gotten bigger but there's still a guy down there doing his job. The men who move mountains haven't changed so I'll be honest I really loved the description the tour guide girl gave of her father's hands. It's connections like those that tell a story in a simple phrase.

PSS thanks for the photos from these sites:

http://coalgeology.com/red-hills-mine-in-ackerman-mississippi-surface-coal-mine-lignite/19473/
group tour, dump truck & shovel

http://www.greatdreams.com/war/future_already_written.htm
red 1928 steam shovel

http://www.tmeredithphoto.com/
hands

Near empty food bank asks for reinvestment

By Philip Rushton
Hinton Parklander Reporter

While the economy is recovering, donations, which help low income folk cope with the rising living cost, are in short supply.

The Hinton Food Bank's glass is half full or empty depending on the view on the matter.

"We serve 50-150 people per week, that's a lot more than a student's pantry to keep stocked," said Bernie Kreiner, Hinton Food Bank president.

Users of the food bank often have little extended family in town according to Kreiner, daycare, food and transportation costs rise faster than wages so it's hard to balance household budgets.

Stats are difficult to track annually, but the food bank tracks between 3,800 to 5,000 visits by clients, per year. Which represents five to 10 percent of the community.

"We give them food to meet the needs over two to five days if stretched properly," said Kreiner.

The food bank needs to stretch the budget of the community's generosity in food donations of an estimated $40,000 to $60,000 and $30,000 cash which goes to buying fresh produce, dairy and meat.

"If the economy's better, people don't think to donate as much," said Kreiner.

"It's not visible because we're not dealing with homeless, just people who are struggling to make ends meet."

During the festive times around Thanksgiving and Christmas the food bank storage is overflowing with donations, but in the summer, it's difficult to keep up with year-round demand.

"All it takes is for people to donate a little bit of their groceries to the bins in town," said Kreiner. "It's greatly appreciated for those in greater need."

With a bustling room of six to 10 volunteers preparing to disperse food on Tuesday nights, others make grocery runs to pick up donations and perishables during the week. Another volunteer does intake applications and carries a cell phone for emergency food access on case-by-case situations.

"There's satisfaction in knowing we're helping those in need," said Kreiner.

When not busy, people like Kailey Little, home for the summer from university, are happy to help.

"I'm blessed to be in a family that doesn't have issues for food, so to be able to help others feels great, said Little, who is going into 3rd year political sciences and education at U of L.

Other volunteers like long time helper Larry Matwie and his wife Marni, who coordinates the program, have paternal instincts and lots of compassion.

"There's lots of thank-yous when we hand out food," said Matwie as they see the impact over time.

Smiles extend to volunteers when large donations come in from companies' week-long campaigns, Christmas parties and other creative fundraising.

"At the ball tournament there was a challenge of which team could come up with the most weight of food collected," said Kreiner. "It's wonderful when special events raise funds."

However, food banks in different communities have been creative too in a trend to reduce dependency of regulars by enabling them to provide for themselves. The food bank here has three plots at the community garden for clients' use and Kreiner has been working with a few research students from West Yellowhead Community Futures Leadership who will find results by October.

"Seeing how other food banks have been successful," said Kreiner. "We asked the question of how this operation could reduce dependency."

Yet more volunteers are always needed in the meanwhile and the food bank would be happy to train people and put a good experience on resumes.

"Working here is fantastic and we get to get hear people's stories," said Little.

A suggestion from Matwie and Kreiner is to invite high school students looking for a rewarding way to fill volunteer hours for graduating requirements.

"Look at the smile on my face and chuckle in my talking," said Matwie.

"Some people who just need a hand-up in life," said Little.

People interested in volunteering can contact Bernie Kreiner at (780) 865-9355 or at bernie.kreiner_at_shaw.ca. To contact the Hinton Food Bank call (780) 865-6256.


PS Have to admit it was a little hard to report and write this. I'd been working all day and shot this story on the way home before making supper. Was legitimately tiny bit on the hungered side so it was easy to put myself in someone else's shoes.

It was also very warm vibes back in that little store-room, for jokes were fast back and forth. For the record, I'm not sure but that still counts as a grip & grin ^_^ The guys were joking that passing the meat was like Pike St Market and I'd agree they seemed to be just as much fun as the guys who throw fish.

Local history rich with stories of coal miners

Philip Rushton

Hinton Parklander Reporter

The Alberta Coal Branch Homecoming saw miners gather in Cadomin August long weekend to unwind and catch up on old times.

With strong coffee on hand at the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) office, many stories of old days before when coal driven locomotives were driven by strong coal miner's labour.

Old timer miner, mechanic and millwright Syd Alexander recently retired with a gift more symbolic than a gold watch for long mine service.

Union president Brent Bish presented him with an authentic miner's oil lamp on July 28 with an engraved plaque of Alexander's union service years 1971-1992.

"Brass won't spark and there's not going to be any flame leaving the glass," said Alexander.

He explained each miner had a lamp to work by and avoided methane gases in the mine as even an electric drill mis-sparking could trigger an explosion.

When titan sized mining machinery broke down, Alexander and other mechanics tore it apart, using cranes to install the larger parts.

"Those shovels are built sturdy, but so is 250 tonne of rock," said Alexander. "Beating away at a wall they didn't get around to blasting properly, it's going to give."

From 45 cubic yard hydraulic shovels and 250 tonne haul trucks to caterpillar earth movers and mobile drills, Alexander fixed everything as a heavy duty mechanic at the Cardinal River mine.

"Mining is its own thing with repairs," said Alexander.

Working with a shovel and then as a mechanic up to as maintenance planner, Alexander never tried to work on any union politics.

However, in his opinion, Walter Bish was the best manager the mines ever had.

His son Brent Bish will tell a story or two about how the union advanced the workers over the years.

"There were some pretty tense strikes, in '74 guys were at the pickets with baseball bats, whips and chains," said Bish.

As mine general manager during the early 70s Walter was involved in negotiations, and had worker's best interests in mind.

"He was always there for the men and it broke his heart when some of them figured they had been cheated on the contract," said Bish.

It is a fine balance between efficiency of company time and money and caring for the workers and their families with collective agreements regarding benefits and respecting employment standards.

"There hasn't been a strike here since 1981, as most people have pride in their jobs and do a good job wanting to be recognized for it," said Bish.

Mining runs deep in Bish's family coal veins. When they came up from the United States in 1905 to stake a claim on the land that came with the mineral rights.

With eight relatives in mining, Bish tradition continues since Brent's grandfather struck pick to rock. After a few years mining, Bish's son went to engineering school.

"There's a lot of people making a living down there and it's a different way of life on the coal branch," said Alexander.

With Coalspur's plans to break ground in 2012 for construction for a new mine the region will continue to have new stories to tell of coal mining at future reunions.

my very own desk and taxi driving

That's right... I took a photo of my desk that I thought I'd have to sleep under it eventually, plus it's exciting to finally be at home in a news-room office.

Maybe I should explain a news reporter's desk and by far my mine isn't half as messy or completely stocked as it should be, but after all I'm just interning in different towns for now. At least I have my stock of licorice and other snacks.

Having been in a bunch of offices, I do have a number of desk arrangements from old type-writer tables to tiny desks and from being scrunched in the corner to taking over the editor's office while she was on holiday. I'll have to dig up the other photos so more to come on that. Life of intern....

Just to clarify, no, I didn't eat peanut butter by the sporkful. It just happened to be there and my favourite weapon/spork was for the Ichiban noodles.

The peanut butter was to go with the loaf of bread I tore through for snacking and to have with microwaveable meals -- for the record lean cuisine meals are much tastier than I expected and almost home-cooking.

There's not too much extra time to escape for lunch unless it's on the way from a photo assignment or interview so I spent my afternoons editing photos, writing stories and snacking.

The stack of paper behind my laptop was press releases and drafts of articles needing corrections. Getting everything done was was an interesting balancing act of eating loving what I was doing and praying I could get'ter all done somewhere near deadline.


So I followed my editor's lead as we slid on headphones and typed away until we started to see fuzzy and yell back and forth weird and funny at the time comments: about stories we were writing; questions to the cruel editing gods of why photos didn't fit or quotes didn't make sense; really question why we were there instead of sleeping.... good times!

Learning tons as I'm writing and starting to get back into the rhythm of writing and nailing off 4x's as much stuff as I had to do in j-school and loving it.

I'm tired, lonely, and grateful for the opportunity, still writing too late with exhausted fingers and back.... trying to figure out a dozen interviews into stories and still loving it,

Didn't do it for the money nor the honeys nor the sweet salary. Doing it for the people who need their stories told and ain't doing it for free finally. Satisfied in seeing by-lines and people wanting to help in their community so keep assignments coming, I'm loving what I'm doing and where I wanna be living the dream

Did I mention I got to drive around a golf course looking for photos during an amateur golf tournament? And get paid? It's like driving a taxi with no sea sick clientele in the back! I love driving on the clock from interview to photo op and back to office. Keeping on my toes and planning out my own day, good times.

So that was my Saturday morning work assignment, cruising in a golf cart ^_^ Made up for the insane amount of hours writing happy and depressing stuff and editing all sorts of photos. All worth it and all paying my dues to the industry so I can earn my press badge. And no I still refuse to take a normal self-portrait right-side up -- too cool and original for that.

$50 reward for apprehension of losers

Retired citizen Don Maxwell is declaring open season on pesky Friday night partiers who have knocked over and broken antlers off his lawn ornament Dogpatch late at night July 22.


PS that was the actual headline and I was pretty happy to write it.... people can be so stupid. What I didn't write was the elderly guy's more grumpy response that he'd hunt those party animals himself if he wasn't so old and shaky with a gun. And again I love the country-side feisty spirit.

Community help recovering from addictions

Partying in the dog days of summer can have drugs and alcohol as uninvited party crashers.

When the party is over and rock bottom hits, community services and RCMP are there to support people as they recover.

“If you over-indulge and get out of hand, your weekend will be cut short and you'll end up in custody,” said Const. Peter Lavalee of Edson RCMP detachment.

If the holding cell is a familiar place, RCMP and other agencies will be referring people to Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission which deals with alcohol, drugs and gambling addictions.

“Nobody ever expects it will happen to them,” said Heather McFadzen, Edson Wellness Centre addictions counselor.

“People never plan on having an addiction and it often happens before they are aware of where they are headed,” said McFadzen.

“If things have gone badly, people need assistance,” said Lavalee, “and we're there to help them.”

“When there's no safety plan, there will be unplanned, unfortunate circumstances to deal with,” said McFadzen.

“We all learn from our mistakes,” McFadzen said, “but some will have severe results that we don't see until 30 years later in the results of over-indulging.”

Experimenting is socially acceptable but short-sighted. Lavalee pointed out the consquences of dropping out of high-school and not being able to earn a living.

“It's totally unacceptable to take meth and think it's not going to have any affects,” said Lavalee. “It's like skydiving without a parachute.”

When alcohol is easier to find than hard drugs, young people can be swayed by the dark side quickly.

“If someone starts binge drinking at 16 years old,” said Lavalee. “They [donors] won't give you a new liver if you drink for too long.”

It's unfair to paint all the community's youth with the same brush though.

“Folks are struggling with choices, but I think we miss the amazing youth in our community who have assets and strengths,” said McFadzen.

“Edson and District Drug Coalition is developing a youth outreach program,” said McFadzen. “Some of our youth are very involved in community projects and events.”

During the spring, McFadzen and Lavalee spoke to grade eights about the dangers of addictions.

“I talk to youth every day when school is on and they're a pleasure to deal with,” said Lavalee, “full of interesting questions and wanting to dispel urban legends.”

“Everyone's doing it – No in reality not everyone,” said Lavalee. “Kids have a really good grasp on what is an addiction.”

Hard-core drugs aren't the most commonly over-used substances compared to tobacco.

“It's those Monster and Red Bull drinks,” said Lavalee. “You're actually overdosing on caffeine and you know all the unintended problems of coming off that stuff.”

“Our youth are really smart and we need to give them good information, talk about the realities,” said McFadzen.

The saying goes about taking a whole village to raise a child as anyone can be a positive influence from neighbours to community groups.

“Teachers, parents, and police need to be there when kids ask questions that will alter the rest of their lives and learn how much a bad decision will affect them,” said Lavalee.

“Sometimes we have adults who still don't understand,” said Lavalee.

For those still learning to live after kicking the habit, there are many positive outlets in the community.

“It's amazing proactive and supportive,” said McFadzen. “There are strong 12 step AA and NA groups in the community when people are ready to make changes.”

From live theatre and music to clubs and sports year around, there's no point in whining about nothing to do.

“You need to find something in your life that you can get passionate about,” said Lavalee, an avid backpacker and mountaineer.

“If it's training dogs or climbing mountains, you're only limited by your imagination or by the drugs you take,” said Lavalee.

“Figuring out healthy leisure activities and lifestyles can be hard,” said McFadzen. “Substance abuse happens to deal with mental health issues sometimes, so make sure you're taking care if you're struggling with depression and other challenges.”

There are professionals like McFadzen who can make referrals when people can find help. However, the individual needs to make the first step and own up.

“We need to not pretend these problems aren't here,” said McFadzen. “but don't let them detract from all the strengths we do have in the community.

“The best way to raise yourself up is to give someone else a hand-up.”

P.S. got the village to raise a child quote graphic from associatedcontent.com and the epic mountain climbing photo from MEC's blog naturally because they have amazing photos. Thanks! BTW that's not $40 of vodka, I filled an empty with water from the bottle recycling depot and threw some vitamin C pills in the toilet. Too much fun being creative with photos sometimes -- even on serious subjects as these were hard to find images -- unfortunately there wasn't room in the newspaper so here they are! Hope a few people are able to gain courage to go get help from reading these articles.

P.S.S. Anyone having to deal with the RCMP isn't usually a good time. I tell a secret that they do have a soft spot for children it seems. The 20 word or less to the point RCMP officer I talked to gave 15 minutes conversation and it was really cool. They are busy guys so I was so glad Lavalee could give me more than his initial statement, drugs are bad, moderation is good. I'm like okies.... a little bit of elaboration?

Asking him if people might behave during the long weekend, Lavalee chuckled and asked what colour I thought the sky was. Right back at him came the reply, rose coloured glasses because I'd just been photographing the dress rehearsal of Wizard of Oz, but unfortunately I've seen way too much of the man behind the curtain.... he agreed we've seen too much reality that people aren't invincible. So Lavalee got talking and gave some cool advice to pass on in great quotes. So that's the rest of the story....

It's a long weekend, so stay safe and sober up before driving

Drinking and driving makes you a bloody idiot. They will literally be wiping blood off your steering wheel. Too graphic? It's been said thousands of times in thousands of ways, yet it never seems to be enough?

Kudos to RCMP officers who spend weekends at check-stops. Officers don't want to be marking off wrecked vehicle scenes that could have been avoided, or be knocking on doors to tell sad news to people they know in the community.

A MADD report from 2008 states that 1,162 of 2,694 vehicle collisions fatalities were caused by impaired driving and these are conservative estimates. 43 per cent of these could have been avoided by wiser choices. There are 149,028 crashes in 2008, or roughly 408 per day. Inconceivable.

Stats aside, why do friends not take away an impair friend's car keys? It is everyone's responsibility to take care of friends and family if they know they are too impaired to drive.

Thankfully it's becoming cool to be the designated driver, not the designated drinker. Most bartenders will give a DD free non-alcoholic drinks and the ladies love a sober responsible chap looking after his friends.

Responsibility is giving someone else the car keys when the party's getting started, planning to phone a taxi on speed dial or ask the waitress or someone else to dial for you. This is a simple gesture compared to apologizing to a victim's family.

The MADD mothers did fancy math with Ministry of Transportation stats and estimated social costs of death and damage caused by impaired drivers totals a chunk of change worth $21.62 billion in 2008. Why not plan ahead and change those numbers? Walk home or crash on the couch at the party.

Stay safe and have a fun summer out in Canada's outdoor playground. Plan ahead to sober up first and don't ruin the weekend because there's no undo button on the steering wheel.

P.S. this was my first real editorial and the publisher helped me a bit to polish it up into something more tactful, believe me, my first draft was pretty passionate and there were more stats of all the stupidity... but the inconceivable! comment I got to leave in because she likes Princess Bride too.

I loved simple effectiveness of these MADD campaign posters, very smart in a brutal way. So ya... a close subject to the heart when one of my soccer buddies was killed while driving his motorcycle by a drunk on the highway, so hence the heated writing.


If one more person changes his/her mind, my job is done, this is what I signed up to do ^_^ make a difference. Cheers to a safe weekend.

$10,000 (blank) cheque for Museum Society

On July 20 Foreman Rod Bailer (left) from Canadian Natural Resources Limited present Edson and District Historical Society VP Shawn Berry (right) with a $10,000 cheque to help finish the new museum.

"We're working hard to get things finished for the grand opening," said Berry.

The public grand opening will be Sept 25. "We're happy to partner with the community to help out," said Bailer.




P.S. So it was a short publicity happy story and extended cutline for a few quotes, but yaaahhh about a blank cheque? I just barely caught the foreman and VP still at the museum -- was finishing up another interview and lost track of time almost.

So I got creative since someone else had already left with the cheque to be deposited.... so hence the blankness of the envelope that cheque had come inside. I really hope nobody noticed from looking at the 3x4 photo in the newspaper but I must confess my guilt here as I was supposed to get a grip & grin -- something in j-school they tell you to avoid unless the editor likes and wants one -- so make it interesting.

Photographers can get away with a lot because there's not a lot of time and imperfect conditions, but I'm pretty proud of this last ditch save with blank envelope.

At least I got the guys to walk to the caboose on display outside -- which doubly made my day just because I LOVE trains that much ^_^ creativity for the win for another day in the life of a newspaper intern.

Barbaric Axmen rugby comeback

By Philip Rushton

The Edson Axmen and the Edmonton Pirates destroyed each other on the battlefield and came to a 22 all tie.

"It was a team effort to the end," said Danny Kuzmic, "anyone can fall over the line to score."

The Axmen came from a slow start behind 22-5 at half-time and stopped the Pirates.

"It was a high emotion game," said Wade Heidler, "There might have been a punch or two, but we leave it on the field."

With ankle, knee and ribs injuries on both sides, the Axmen were without any substitutions.

"Nobody walks away unscathed," said Kuzmic.

The Axmen had 4 tries and 1 conversions and the Pirates had 3 tries, 2 converts and a penalty.

"These guys have a lot of heart and we're still undefeated."


P.S. these guys were 100% heart. When I was finished shooting photos and interviewing, I got an invite to party from true gentleman Danny. The team was hosting dinner and liquid bread for Edmonton team after having to drive so long to get there, so everyone chatted it -- after they'd destroyed each other on the field, all friendly afterwards.

It's just how they do hospitality in small towns, the more the merrier. Nice when I didn't feel like I had much to do on a Saturday evening after living in a hotel for weeks on my own.


P.S.S. I've covered a lot of sports, but I've seen few through a view-finder where I had to look away to keep from incredulous laughing and winching at the same time -- these guys are viciously mauling each other. Train-wrecks are less explosive.


Like EPIC STRUGGLE, short of mauling each other, but apparently that's the proper term for ripping the ball out of the other guy's arms - mauling. Football through a telephoto lens looks painful, but these guys weren't wearing tons of pads.


Good times.... like there were guys just at the bottom of the brutal tackles holding their heads to avoid having ears ripped off by the inch long cheats. Someone was always slow to get up afterwards. When someone was down for the count, the other team kicked the ball out of bounds, even though they had possession.


And only one penalty called? I played soccer for years and we'd get cards for the amount of stuff they got away, jersey grabbing, vicious elbows, knees, straight-arms flying tackles, okay the punches actually got a penalty and there's a lot of loss of possession and scrums if it seems like both teams are destroying each other too much from what I could tell. And they were grinning from ear to ear at the end.

It was incredibly cool to watch and hear the thuds of train-wrecks of guys solidly connecting or deftly avoiding tackles -- a graceful running game. Soccer might be gentleman's game played by ruffians. However, I can see why rugby is the opposite -- gentlemen playing a ruffian's game -- other than amazing amount of swearing, but that's a whole different matter.

Batting 500? THANKS!

Hot off the internets' press. My humble blog has hit 500 pageviews whatever that means. Averaging 100 a month is pretty nifty when I'm hoping people are on repeat visits too.

Am so pleased that I've gotten to another milestone in blogging - putting more articles together and trying to push myself for polished pieces and editorially solid work. Even have a bit of fun too, as only writers can do with words. Tons of ideas on the list so I'll try and keep up.

And to have visitors from all over the world? Totally welcome to comment or let me know if there's some aspect of Canadian culture you'd like me to write about as it's hardest to write about your hometown and homeland sometimes. I'd love to hear more if you've got some cool articles from your hometown, can I trade you for some photos too?

So shall continue the writing as I get better at the 9-5 at an actual town newspaper office. Take'r easy and the show shall go on.

-- PLR -- 

Taking care of healthcare workers

By Philip Rushton

There's great people who work mental health who have extraordinary patience and gifts to help people who are incapacitated or unable to cope on their own without assistance. Health care workers spend years in studies and lonely frustrating practicums, working long hours on energy and determination alone with some support from family and friends.

However, that's less mentioned than when something goes wrong like Melissa Ekkelenkamp walking off ward in Edmonton, everyone jumps in to search or points fingers. However, there are everyday patient-centric policies and procedures in place. When internal investigations happen, improvements will be made. Dedicated people have the trust of families who have caring for their relatives with home-care.

Mental health care is one of those hot-button issues to be tip-toed around until things go wrong. One doesn't have to look hard to find health care working.

When working in small but mighty community partnerships with Alberta Health care programs and projects on shoe-string budgets. Miracles despite funding cuts, though social programs are sometimes first to feel over-stretched.

Now I know some compassionate and hard working nurses, social workers and care-aids; even when I'm checking into ER or phoning HealthLink without having a doctor, I can see nurses are trying hard to balance needs.

Others I know who work in mental health would feel guilty if they lost one of their patients. On good days, patients just want to talk about normal subjects and have their worries addressed. On bad days, when depression and delirium hits, nurses and care aids dig down for extra patience and grace to deal with those under their charge.

So for the Ekkelenkamp family worried about their daughter and their sister in Edmonton for nearly two weeks, for people who know first-hand about how vulnerable people with mental barriers can become, our hopes and prayers are with them that she is found okay.

So a thanks to the volunteers who are out there looking for her. Kudos to the strength of healthcare workers who treat it as more than just a job. A thank-you and support from the province when things are running smooth would be good too.



PS: there are no photos of mental health nurses to protect their patients' privacy, so on annoying side-note it's really really hard to find a non-sexy or non-recruiter's website nurse photo.... lots of photos of Nurse Jackie, but she's not exactly a shining example of good nursing profession. More on that later... very deep and divided topic....

Thanks for cute drawing to an artist from S. Korea:
http://windship.deviantart.com/

Also, although a British nurse, meh... caring for babies is pretty universal.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Nursing_baby.jpg

Cops on trail of copper thieves

By Philip Rushton

Late last week, $1,000 of heavy gauge copper wiring was stolen from Open Energy Corporation's job site.

“There's on-going investigation with the operator's group and police,” said Brian Tweedy, Open Energy Corporation Superintendent.

World-wide copper prices have gone up in the past three months, rising to over $4 per pound.

“With a couple of big spools, you have to melt it down or scrap it,” said Marcel Preville, manager at Edson Home Hardware.

Thieves have stolen piping from air conditioning units and leaving electrical and telephone companies sub-stations in dangerous situations and customers without power.

“You have to be pretty ambitious to do all that work,” Preville said. “There has to be a easier way to make a living.”

RCMP have been working together with companies to help prevent theft so selling stolen goods will be harder.

“It's irritating to have to deal with this,” said Tweedy, “but it's not going unnoticed and won't be ignored.”


PS I wish I had copied the link to this brilliant cartoon blogger who had come to the same un-funny punny lame play on words that I tried to work into the headline. Thanks!

Yellowhead county left soggy

By Philip Rushton

While counties downstream were hit worse, Yellowhead County was left only with flooded yards and roads.

“The culverts are all running on maximum and overspilling onto roads,” said Don O'Quinn, “but water is starting to recede.”

As director of infrastructure services, O'Quinn said the county office has taken phone calls from people worried about their yards over-flowing.

Marcel Preville, manager at local Home Hardware, advised that people check or replace sump pumps, eaves-troughs, and other water removal and vapour barrier materials.

In case you're handsome and as not handy, there are solutions other than duct-tape.

“We know lots of reputable contractors who will help,” said Preville.

The flooding resulted in a few gravel roads being washed away, but crews will be out to fix the roads soon as the rain slows down.

“There's not much you can do about it,” said O'Quinn. “It's an act of God so you should check with the insurance company to make sure you're covered.”

If there are any problems or concerns, people should contact the county at 780-723-4800.

“We've had our fill of water now so it's too much of a good thing,” said O'Quinn.

Visit alberta.ca/home/336.cfm for more info flood preparations and environment.alberta.ca for flood updates.

thanks for photos from:

http://ontheroadwithdickandmaryann.blogspot.com/

www.theeagle.ca (Edson Radio Station)