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.