Trent Ernst, Editor

Susan Lambert, President of the BC Teacher’s Federation recently referenced Tumbler Ridge in an interview with Andrea Macpherson at News 1130 in Vancouver.

Lambert was discussing the teachers strike, and the trickle-down effect it might be having on students thinking about going into teaching.

“I’d like everyone to put themselves in the position of a first-year student in university,” said Lambert. “Realizing that you enter teaching as a teacher on-call, and making between $20,000 and $30,000 a year. Looking at other careers and you realize that if you were a dental hygienist you could make $80,000 a year or if you went to Tumbler Ridge to work on heavy machinery you could make $100,000 a year.”



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Trent Ernst, Editor

I like walking. I don’t do it enough, but when I can, I eschew motorized transport for self-propelled: walking or biking, if you please.

Part of the reason I prefer travelling under my own steam is that I don’t go very fast. Which is fine, as I don’t do it as a competition (for the twenty-third straight year, I am not taking part in the Ridge Ramble Biathlon on May 26, because I’m not really into this whole competitive thing).

This seems counter to modern culture’s go-go-go, get-there-as-fast-as-you-can pace, and it is. I move at my own pace.



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Jerry Kitt

Part of the morning chores involves training the beef calves to come when they are called. With a pail of their favourite treat (oats) I start their lesson by stepping into their pasture calling “come boss! Come boss!” If the boss cow comes, all the rest will follow. A couple of months back they would have all ran away. Now the moment I call them, they all start running towards me.

I used to spread the pail of oats in the trough as a reward but now I make them follow me as I lead the herd around the pasture. Finally I give them their hard earned treat (around a cup of oats per animal). When the animals learn to come when they are called, the amount of stress in their lives is greatly reduced. A well behaved cow never needs chasing.



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Trent Ernst, Editor

Okay, we gotta be doing something wrong here.

A mere hop, skip and time zone jump to the east lies the Peace Country’s other major dinosaur discovery site, found in the Pipestone Creek valley near Grande Prairie.

There, the local dinosaur enthusiasts have been able to secure funding for a brand new, purpose built museum, named after the man himself, Phil Currie, and set to open next year.



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Dear Editor:

After working At Peace River Coal out of Tumbler, I could not help but notice those poor dogs just out of town, they must be “sled dogs”. They are tied up in a chain link fence with short chains with nowhere to go but to the end of their chains. Day after day, week after week and month after month. In the summer heat, the rain, the very cold winters. Kept tied up for long periods of time till winter for a few outings? I just hope they are feed twice a day and have plenty of water and are in good health.



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Spring is here, and a young man’s fancy turns to thoughts of capital spending.

Yes, it’s budget season at town hall, and over the next few weeks, our local politicians and district staff will be crunching the numbers long and hard over at town hall.

At the most recent meeting, council spent two hours deliberating over the numbers, looking for ways to pull themselves out of the $800,000 deficit that, once the wish list from all the departments were assembled, were left with. They’ve done this exercise a couple times already, and they’re probably going to do it a few times yet before the budget is actually in place.



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George Rowe

“GEORGE…YOU USED ICING SUGAR IN YOUR PASTRY INSTEAD OF FLOUR!” (Long pause…longer pause). When I finally realized what she said I responded with a great deal of emphasis, “I used what!?!?! Impossible! I am not even capable of making a mistake of this magnitude. Look, let me show you the container as proof that I am not a complete idiot.” I reached into the cupboard and grabbed the container, where there was just a small remnant of its former contents, and said to Mom. “Look, this is the flour container.  Taste the flour and then apologize for accusing the great chef of such a blatant blunder.”

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By Trent Ernst

As I write this editorial, my now-eight-year-old daughter and her mom are down in Vancouver for Zoe’s six-month check-up. I’ll be doing a feature article on her next week, but I can’t help but think about her and wondering how she’s doing.

You see, Zoe, too, has had cancer. At age six it was discovered that she had a mild form of ovarian cancer and had to have one of her ovaries removed. At age six.



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Springing into Spring

Trent Ernst, Editor

The changing of the seasons is not marked by the dates on the calendar, but by the changing of the weather, and the march into spring is not so much a season as it is a series of events that come to pass. The first day it gets above freezing. The first dry road. The first time I can see the dirt of my driveway. The first day my driveway is dry. The first night that it stays above freezing. The day that the bare white aspen branches begin to glow green. The first crocus. The first time I have to mow my lawn.

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Tumbler Ridge Fire Department

The month of March was a little slower than average with the TRFD responding to only ten calls. Of those ten calls, seven were First Responder calls, two were for ringing fire alarms, and one was for a motor vehicle fire.

Training in the month of March included the topics of CPR, First Responders, Rope and Pulley systems, and auto-extrication. Congratulations to Deputy Diana Vandale, and Firefighters Dustin Curry, Don Ross, Brandon Braam, Russell Colbourne, and Darcey Knittle who all achieved 100% attendance at training sessions in the month of March.

Congratulations to Darcey Knittle as well for completing his probation in the month of March and is now a full member of the Tumbler Ridge Fire Department. We wish him all the best with our organization.

Members of the TRFD also raised $156.00 in the month of March selling shamrocks at Shop Easy. This is part of the “Buck for Luck” fundraiser for Muscular Dystrophy. We would like to thank Shop Easy Foods for allowing us to conduct this fundraiser there, and all of those people who purchased a shamrock.

The TRFD still needs more members, and this is especially important with summer fast approaching which is a time that many firefighters, like everyone else, take holidays and so are unavailable to respond to emergencies. Applications to join the fire department can be picked up by stopping by the fire hall during regular business hours. If you have questions about joining the fire department, please feel free to stop by the hall or phone 250-242-3939. Experience is not necessary, but a positive attitude and a willingness to participate in training are essential.

 

 

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Dear Editor:

In response to the recent stories covering the conditions of the roads in Tumbler Ridge, I felt this story deserved some attention. Just yesterday, I went running as spring is finally here.

Usually, I would run outside all winter long, but with the state of the roads, let alone, the sidewalks, it just wasn’t possible.  During my usual route, I headed toward Southgate St. To my surprise, there was water covering most of the street all the way across. Not wanting to turn around, I looked for any signage stating a road closure. I thought it must be safe to continue when I saw a city truck coming thought who never signalled me to turn around. When I didn’t see a sign, I proceeded with caution, and tried to manoeuvre toward the snow around the water.



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 By George Rowe

Just a few hours before writing this article I was honoured to officiate the Celebration of Life service for the late Gregory Clark Lutzak, known to many as “Smokee” (January 4, 1967–March 11, 2012).

It was with tremendous emotion and transfixed attention that we listened to the wonderful tributes from close friends. There was and there is no doubt in our minds that he was well respected and loved. The theme of the Celebration of Life was to seize the moment. Let me explain.



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Ellen Sager

Are you looking for your “Rose?” Join us on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at the library at 1:00 p.m. We will try to meet the last Tuesday of each month, or whenever it is convenient for most people. You can call me, Ellen at 250-242-5283 or e-mail sager@pris.bc.ca if you are interested and we will see what we can do. I can give you a private lesson on ancestry.com/ancestry.ca/ancestry library edition.



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Dear Editor:

I read the article, “Avalanche: A survivor’s story” with interest, having survived an avalanche myself.

I was out doing some winter bushcraft, nothing quite like being out in the snow, so calming (normally).  I was blazing my own trail above the tree line when the ground started to move under me.  I was tossed about for a good 50 feet until I hit the tree line, or rather, until I hit a tree.  



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Dear Editor:

It’s great that you are helping to raise awareness on Fraud and its prevention. Back in October, our Victim Services representative did a workshop for the Seniors’ Corner on Fraud Awareness and Prevention.

One of the best resources that we have found for information, support and assistance with fraud and prevention is the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (formerly Phone Busters).  www.antifraudcentre.ca  This is an excellent website offering a boatload of great information and resources.   Or you can call the CAFC at 1 888 495 8501 to report fraud.



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Trent Ernst, Editor

It’s now been two months since I started working here at the paper, so it’s time to introduce the new editor.
“Hello, my name is Trent, and I’ll be your editor for the foreseeable future.”

While I’ve been here for over a decade, there are plenty of people who have no idea who I am, so here’s a quick recap. The day that I was born, the townsfolk celebrated with a party on Main Street. My mom lay in her hospital bed, watching the glow of the fireworks. It was only later I discovered that it was the local 4H Festival, and since that time, my life and livestock have been inexorably linked. After a long, boring section, I moved to Tumbler Ridge. That was in 1988, and I was fresh out of high school and trying to figure out how I could become a professional storyteller.



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George Rowe

In my first article of Reflections I said, “Reflections will focus on everyday events in the lives of people and how such events can empower us to rise above circumstances and still enjoy the moment.” Here is such an event.

My wife and I were pastoring a very large church in NL—1500 members including the children. My wife stayed at home on this particular day and took care of some domestic chores which included cooking a delicious meal. After a long and very difficult day at the office I came home to spend a wonderful evening with my wife and our three children. The family was excited to see me and we  caught up with all the news of the day—with a church membership of 1500 people there was a lot to catch up on.



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With the current focus on renovations here at the Tumbler Ridge News, I thought I’d tell you about my own experiences renovating our bathroom.

 I am not a very handy sort, nor do I have a lot of income to dispose of, so we tend to hold off on the renovations until my wife’s dad comes up. Whereas I have no idea which end of the saw is the business end, he is Red Green and Mike Holmes rolled into one (and yes, I had to Google Mike Holmes’ name; this is why I am a writer.) Dad arrived around noon on Saturday, so I went to pick up some Concrete Board (which, I am told, is like drywall on steroids),  that Rob over at Tumbler Ridge Building Supplies special ordered.



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Jerry

Bees in February? The unusually warm temperatures have made the coldest month of the year quite pleasant. The snow has mostly melted leaving ice in the fields and pastures which the animals have a hard time walking on. The honey bees we have on our land have been tricked into thinking spring has arrived. With the bright sun warming up their hives they have started flying away in search of food. But when the sun goes behind the clouds the temperature can cool pretty quick. Unfortunately, too quick for the bees whose demise is “chilling out” on the ice. That’s where we find them the next day.



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by Ellen Sager

On February 20, 2012 I appeared as the 4th delegate to the Council meeting that began at 7:30 p.m. regarding the District hiring an information coordinator for 10 hours/week.  My letter to Council provided a possible job description and a suggested budget.  I have been advocating for this for many years now and have not had any success even when I appeared before previous Councils.   This time I finally had some response as the Mayor referred the issue to staff to report on the feasibility of hiring an information coordinator.  This newspaper reported extensively the three delegations before me including Dr. Helm updating Council on the status of medical services, Dr. Helm reporting on trails on behalf of the WMNS, and Jim Kincaid, president of the TR Museum Foundation with an update on the Peace River Paleontology Research Centre.  There was nothing printed regarding my letter and delegation to Council.  As a result I am requesting that my presentation be published in its entirety.

In this presentation I have proposed that a non-profit charitable organization for seniors be established and I am proceeding with getting interest in this endeavor to have a meeting in May.  Anyone interested can contact me at 250-242-5283 or e-mail sager@pris.ca

Presentation to Council can be viewed below the cut.



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