Looking back at 1987 news
from Elk Point Review By Vicki Brooker
As we hang up the new calendars and vacuum the last Christmas tree needles out of the carpet, let us look back at the year just past, twelve months packed with activities, revitalization and growth. Of course, there were a few days of pain and sorrow to be dealt with along the way — such is life. Here is 1987 as we remember it ...
JANUARY
Elk Point's first new citizen of 1987, Christine Megan, an early appearance in the wee of New Year's Day, much to the of parents Doris McGillivery and Ralph Benson ...
Chris Shankowski skipped her rink to a Zone 7 win, and made Edmonton Journal headlines with a win over the 1966 Alberta champions during the Northern Alberta Championships in Edmonton ...
Marnie McCowan took up the reins of the FCSS Department .. Harvey Aarbo, Alban Bugej and Ken Nielsen were elected to the executive of the Alberta Cow-Calf Association ...
Joan Darling was elected President of the St. Paul Progressive Conservative Constituency...
Pauline Seott's foursome defeated Georgina Morris’ rink in the grand Challenge at the Lindbergh Ladies’ Bonspiel ..
Elk Point Chamber of Commerce asked, by way of a newspaper survey, “Does Elk Point need a Chamber?”
FEBRUARY
Bill Pacholek skipped the winning rink in the Lindbergh Mixed Spiel, winning over Barry Westgard in the Grand Challenge ...
Dome Petroleum sponsored a Hydrogen Sulphide alert course for Elk Point firefighters, ambulance and public works crews ...
Mallaig Pee Wees won the Westmin Cup ...
Russ Hebblethwaite was sworn in as an RCMP Auxiliary Constable ...
A bingo hall proposed for the Elk Point Industrial Park drew mixed reaction, most of it not in favor ...
Marshall Kachmar and Karen Reed were chosen as co-chairman of the Canada Day Committee, as planning got underway ...
The Byers Transport Blues were ‘A’ side runners-up in the Novice hockey tournament ...
Elk Point Curling Club opened their bonspiel season with the Mixed Open, whére the Grand Challenge went to the Stu Muirhead rink from St. Paul, winners over the Barrie Young rink ...
Town Council passed a bylaw prohibiting parking in front of the A.G. Ross Agricentre, ending traffic bottlenecks in that area ...
A total of 222 snowmobiles took part in the Lions’ Snowmobile Rally at Stoney Lake, with Arthur Gould taking top prize money ...
Edmonton Police won the 14th annual Elk Point Pacers basketball tournament ...
An Elk Point rink skipped by Brad Anderson won the Mixed High School County Curling playdowns ...
Karac Hendricks, Ann Boyd, Bernadette Dumais and Lisa Grekul topped the four categories of the ACT Search For Talent, hosted by the FG. Miller Students’ Union ...
Lee Wannechko's ‘winter campsite’ cake won the annual Scouting Association contest.
MARCH — Elk Point Chamber of Commerce slowly began to emerge from its state of hibernation, with a 15 to 4 vote to resume operations, at the first Chamber meeting of the year ...
An ambitious campaign to raise over $19,000 to finance purchase of the Jaws of Life and other rescue equipment was kicked off by the Elk Point Firefighters’ Association ...
Grand Exalted Ruler Tom Cuming visited the Elk Point Elks’ Lodge ...
Two Bonnyville rinks won the first and second events at the Elk Point Men’s Open Bonspiel, with Leonard Gadowski's rink defeating Steve Penz’ rink in the third event trophy race ...
Elk Point Atoms hosted the Dome Petroleum tournament, and were runners-up in the “A” side ...
Education Week saw science fairs in both schools, ice sculpture at F.G.M., an open house and book fair at the Elementary School ...
Elena Drobot, Joseph Gaugler, Mary Gaugler and Sandi Krucik captured the 4-H Multi Club Public Speaking trophies...
Murray Babcock defeated Bob Merrick in the Town and Country Bonspiel ...
Elk Point Bantam Elks went to the Provincial Tournament after a playoff win over Smoky Lake .. Leanne Drobot, Dwayne Vogel, Barbara Naber and Cody Kurek were the Elk Point Beef Club's top public speakers ...
Elk Point Windsor Midgets hosted - and won - a 5-team tournament ...
Over $1,000 was raised in support of Rick Hanson's Man in Motion tour ...
Flint Engineering won the 4th Annual Oilmen’s Bonspiel ...
F.G. Miller High School hosted the County Science Fair ...
Munchkins and all, Elk Point figure skaters were off to see the Wizard of Oz, in their annual ice carnival ...
Provincial figure skating medal winners Shauna Loughran and Elizabeth Ludlage received special recognition ...
Vermilion Tom Thumbs won the Pan Canadian Petroleum trophy, while the hosting Oilers won the “B" side ..
Senior floor curlers skipped by Malvina Young placed second in Bonnyville, with the Pioneer Circle later hosting their own 16-team invitational bonspiel ...
Rayelle Aarbo, Kim Kurek and Kathy Stone were top 4-H Light Horse public speakers ...
The Development Appeal Board vetoed plans for a bingo hall, as the development would have restricted use of surrounding properties in the industrial park ...
A total of 32 ratepayers turned out for the Town's Annual Meeting .., Elk Point Hotel Broncos won second place in the “A” event of the Last Hurrah tournament .. and a successful Service Club Funspiel was hosted by the Elk Point Firefighters Association, with proceeds going to the Jaws of Life Fund
APRIL
The Town of Elk Point celebrated 25 years of incorporation as a town during Municipal Involvement Week ...
An ad hoc committee studied ways to revitalize the Chamber of Commerce, including a review of the constitution ...
Virginia Mudryk commemorated 20 years as a beautician with the opening of a new and larger shop ...
Curling Club awards were presented at a windup banquet and dance ...
Honored Royal Lady Jeannine Boratynec and Exalted Ruler Walter Jendruk were installed, along with their executives, to head the OORP and Elks lodges for the ensuing year ...
New water and sewer rates and the new Land Use Bylaw were passed by Town Council ..
7cent purple gas and 3cent diesel were eagerly snapped up by local farmers in a Wild one-day price war that swept Elk Point and St. Paul bulk dealerships ...
Eighteen students and chaperones from Heinsburg High School flew off to England for a once in-a-lifetime adventure ...
Heinsburg 4-Hers showed the accomplishments of their Multi Club at their Achievement Day ...
The Tourism Committee of the Chamber was the first to get to work, with plans made for Tourist Booth operation ...
Animal control bylaws aimed at ending a 50-year problem with straying dogs were passed by Council, one of which gave the Town authority to enter into an agreement with Rhodrin Kennels to catch and impound stray animals ...
The newly renovated J.F. Dion Elementary School in Fishing Lake hosted a grand opening, complete with awards to long-time teachers and guided tours of the building ...
The 8th Annual Ukrainian Dance Concert came and went in swirls of bright ribbons, flying feet and lilting music.
MAY
Ed Buck was elected President and Gordon LeDrew Vice President as the Chamber of Commerce, following months of delays and near-dissolution ...
The Chamber hosted a Tourism Week open house, stressing the importance of tourism to our economy ...
Marshall Kachmar was sworn in as Deputy Mayor ...
Elk Point Light Horse Club held a poker rally attracting 87 riders ...
Colin Bjorkman was declared the winner of the Provincial Optimist Speakoff, and went on to the National Competition in Wyoming ...
Jackie Gulayec brought home Provincial Badminton gold from Valleyview ...
“Grandma Jean” Charlton opened a busy little store dealing in used clothing for children ...
Janice McCaffrey was 2nd place Canadian in the World Cup racewalk in New York City ...
14 walkers took part in the Lions’ Club Walk for Sight ...
Elk Point Historical Society announced they will spearhead the creation of a freestanding, 100-foot by &-foot historical mural, to be painted by Billie Lynn Millholland ...
Straying animals found their freedom curtailed, as Karen Reed took up her new job as animal control officer ...
Hire-A-Student opened for the season, with Scott Prysunka in charge ...
Dr. David Summers of Canadian Save the Children addressed the United Church congregation during Save the Children Week ...
F.G, Miller High School's 42-member Class of '87 faced the future head on at their beautiful and moving graduation ceremonies ...
The Chamber ratified their new constitution, prepared by Sid Holthe, and decided to once again sponsor the Youths of the Year Contest, with awards scheduled for Canada Day ...
Brownies and Guides hosted their annual banquet ...
The refurbished Heinsburg School was officially opened ...
A freight train derailed after a collision with a semi-trailer west of Clandonald ...
Elk Point Elementary won the County Track and Field Cup for the 12th consecutive year ...
14 mixed slowpitch teams took part in the First Annual Janice Frisby Memorial Slowpitch Tournament at Whitney Lake ...
Wendy Tyner of Marwayne was named the 1967 Miss Lakeland ...
Elk Point librarian Doreen Mayner was among 23 graduates of the Rural Library Training Project, as were Heinsburg Community School Librarian Sherry Young and F.G. Miller High School Librarian Diana Courtier ...
Eight graduates graced Dewberry High School’s ceremonies.
