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featured

Welcome to Hawarden High

Alvin Patterson would like to welcome you to his nightmare.

The Hawarden resident has reformed the abandoned Hawarden School located at the end of Main Street into a house of horrors featuring an asylum theme of maniacs, ghouls and devils. The free haunted house exhibit will be open to those not of the faint of heart Oct. 27 and 28 coinciding with the Hawarden Fall Supper held in the Hawarden Hall on the first night.

“Everyone does Christmas,” said Patterson about why he decided to build Halloween High. “The first couple years (doing this) was just sitting by my (house) letting my Rottweiler out chasing the kids. That got to be fun, (but) my Rottweiler got old. The last couple times I’ve gotten so big the people are anxious to see what I’m coming up with next. I love seeing their smiles, but the screams are better.”

Patterson said construction on his carnival of the damned began in July and he has been spending about 22 hours a week building it. He said once completed the exhibit would feature three rooms of terror and he doesn’t recommend the very young walking through it.

“I’ve actually never had any children (at my exhibits),” he said. “It’s always been adults. Three years ago some friends of ours came with their kids and this one kid wouldn’t even go (in) there. One kid disappeared. We were talking and this older couple was coming up to the fog machine. I have no idea how, but (the kid) just stood right up in front of them. I actually had to escort those two out. They were just yelling and screaming.”

It was that scare in his yard three years ago that gave Patterson the bug to take his patrons hysteria to the next level. He spends around $400 to $500 a year on Halloween props and also includes volunteers from the community into his exhibits, so they can dish out some frights too.

“Last year I had one fellow who was completely in black and people would come into the haunted house and they’d see him there (and say) ‘oh, that’s pretty realistic’,” said Patterson. “Then they’d go to the back of the tent, look at everything and they’d come out (and say) ‘where did that go’ and he was on their other side. Then their daughter was a werewolf and she was the one being hanged. People would go by her and she’d just jump out.”

Patterson said his love of sitting in his workshop creating the next monstrosity is the reason behind his dedication to frightening people and it’s paying off with more brave souls coming by each year. He said the audience has grown from 30 people getting the “crap scared out of them” three years ago to 65 receiving chills last Halloween and with the horror show falling on the same weekend as the Hawarden Fall Supper this year he expects up to 100 victims this time.

“I only open up the weekend before Halloween and it just turns out that the Fall Supper, which is a great thing for the community, (is that weekend),” he said. “I can actually open up at 1 p.m. and they can go through and then go for the supper. I think there is a gospel concert after, so they can do all three in one day. Go get scared, get fed and then repent.”

Davidson

Churches establish youth groups

The Davidson Community Bible Church and New Life Pentecostal Assembly have established youth groups this fall in an effort to help kids in the area feel loved, accepted and welcomed while also having some fun at the same time.

Dave Hildebrandt, pastor of the Davidson Community Bible Church, said their bi-weekly Friday night youth group that is aimed towards grades 7 to 12 students is focused on providing “hi-energy” activities for the kids. He said their first three events this fall, including a bowling excursion to Allan, Capture the Flag game at a local farm and movie night, have been well attended and the kids seem like they’re having a lot of fun.

“We’ve had a really positive response,” said Hildebrant. “The only thing I keep hearing from parents is that kids are having a blast and they can’t wait to come back. We’ve had three completely different events and we’ve had a good turnout to all of them.”

Hildebrant said kids from all faiths could attend the events, which are run by a few adult volunteers. He said these nights are important because it brings a variety of kids together to show them they are all loved and accepted equally.

“We just want to provide for them somewhere they can make friends outside of the school where they can get good productive healthy relationships and support for whatever is going on in life,” he said. “We want to be a fun group, (but) we also want to be a support group that everyone who is going through hard times (that) we’re there for them as well.”

Russell Sparks, pastor of the New Life Pentecostal Assembly, said their weekly junior youth group, which is aimed towards grades 5 to 8 students and meets on Tuesday nights, was started so younger kids can remain engaged with their faith when they head into their high school years. He said a junior youth group is something entirely new as most youth groups in Canada start with Grade 8 students.

“We’re just looking to connect with that (grades 5 to 8) age as it’s also a very challenging age,” said Sparks. “You’re trying to figure out the basics of life, trying to figure out if you’re cool (and) if you’re accepted, so (it’s) giving them a place to explore stuff about themselves, stuff about God (and) stuff about relating with other people in a safe environment.”

To read more please see the October 14 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Sports

Raiders and Cougars battle for championship

The Davidson Raiders senior girls volleyball team put up a great effort making it to the championship game at their home tournament Oct. 5, but couldn’t handle a tough Imperial Cougars team once they got there.

Raiders coach Tony Baldwin said his girls got off to a slow start in the final game and then suffered through some confusion on the court. He said that took a bit of the steam out of their sails against Imperial, but he also credits the Cougars with playing strong to get the win.

“In general we played pretty well,” said Baldwin. “Imperial had a great game. (Cougars player) Kennedy Lewis in particular played phenomenally well and when she’s playing at the net like that it’s pretty hard to get things done some days, but it was a good game.”

The Raiders and Cougars were evenly matched during the first set before Imperial stepped up the pace halfway through coming out with a 25-18 win. The Cougars led the majority of the second set and despite a comeback by Davidson halfway through pulled out a second 25-18 victory taking the championship plaque.

Imperial coach Earl LeBlanc said his team picked up their game in the final against Davidson compared to their round-robin loss against the Raiders earlier in the tournament. He said the Raiders played great, but his girls’ hard work this season on improving their fitness level helped them stay strong in the final.

“Earlier in the season fatigue was getting to us,” said LeBlanc. “Now fatigue is no longer an issue, so because of that we weren’t making a lot of mistakes at the end of the game. Probably the difference in the way we played (in the final) was the fact that our girls were still playing fresh and really working.”

LeBlanc said the Davidson crew did a good job putting together their home tournament by bringing in a mix of different quality teams, which helps his girls prepare for future games this year as they try to make it to provincials next month. He said it was extra special for his girls to play in this tournament as half of his team and three players on the Davidson side play together with the Imperial Scorpions club team.

Raiders middle Quin Johnson said Davidson “grounded off” against Imperial, but they are still proud of making it to the final game considering they had to best a tough Kahkewistahaw Hurricanes club in the semi-final game to make it that far. She said the Raiders shift coverage shined throughout the tournament, but they have to work on their mental game as they prepare for conferences to be played at Davidson the first weekend in November.

“We definitely get down on ourselves and that is one of our weak points,” said Quin. “If we get down a few points then it’s difficult to get back up, (but) I think one big hit and we’re back in.”

To read more please see the October 14 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

Sports

Raiders senior football team completes successful season

The Davidson Raiders senior boys football team wrapped up their third season with a 95-44 loss at Kinsmen Field to the LCBI Bisons last Thursday, which ended a year the team believes helped lay down another stepping stone towards a prosperous future.

Looking to lock down a playoff spot the Bisons (3-2) hit the Raiders (1-4) hard and fast with LCBI running back Kayden Johnson scoring his first of four touchdowns of the night on the opening kickoff. After a Raider offence got tied up after the score, Johnson scored his second on the Bisons first play of their next possession.

Three more touchdowns later Davidson found themselves losing 30-0 halfway through the first quarter, which seemed to wake up the Raiders offence. In the first of many outstanding long runs during the game tight end Patrick Nordmarken sprinted 70-yards down the sidelines to give Davidson their first six points on the board.

Young quarterback Andrew Read and receiver Addison Ouellette were particularly strong during the game playing years beyond their actual age. They, along with a strong running game by tight end Casey Lloyd, helped the Raiders make the score a respectable 44-18 after the first quarter and 71-32 at the half.

The second half was similar to the first with the teams exchanging touchdowns seemingly at will. The Bisons offence led by Johnson, Cody Anderson and a great receiving game by Matt Edwards just proved too strong for the young Raider defence

Raiders tight end/quarterback Mike Kowalski said the team had their ups and downs during the game. He said the offence executed well, but considering this is only their third year of the program there are still a few things they need to polish.

“It was just a battle of the offences this game,” said Kowalski. “They have a really good running back and (then) we started picking up our play. Pat Nordmarken played outstanding running the ball and getting the points.”

Raiders coach Jason Low said his team played with a lot of heart and despite the loss they should look to the 44 points they put on the board and the fact everyone got some time on the field as positives to take out of the game. He said the team is making good strides, including their first win Oct. 4 over the Loreburn/Kenaston Aztecs, and should take comfort in the progress the team is making.

“We’ve got a bunch of guys there who just finished playing three years of what they said is the best sport (and) the best game they’ve ever played,” said Low. “You have to consider that when you’re building something you’re going to have little pieces of success and it’s going to continue. You can’t build a really successful season in three years, so I think we’re really happy with the steps we’ve made. The building blocks are all in place and we look forward to the future.”

To read more please see the October 14 print edition of The Davidson Leader.

featured

Massive fire razes Elbow condo complex

Gary Cheeseman, the in-resident caretaker of the Harbour Inn Condo complex in Elbow, was fast asleep in Unit Five when heavy banging on his apartment door awoke him.

A massive fire had engulfed the front units of the complex including his. If it wasn’t for a group of golfers staying in the unit next to his, Cheeseman wouldn’t have made it out alive.

“The guys in (Unit) Four woke me up,” said Cheeseman, who barely made it out before the blaze tore through his apartment. “I stayed around for a little while (afterwards). It was shooting up pretty good.”

Cheeseman only had time to grab his cellphone before escaping into the early morning air wearing just his pyjamas. He lost everything else in the fire including his truck parked outside his apartment.

Elbow fire chief Glen Amor confirmed the fire department first got the call at 2:30 a.m. that the 34-unit complex had caught on fire. He said they could see the flames from their fire hall located about a kilometre away.

“The flames were 40-feet high on the first six units when firefighters got there five minutes after the call,” said Amor. “We’re pretty proud we saved any of it.”

Twelve people were staying at the complex when the fire started last Wednesday morning. Amor confirmed the group consisted of out-of-town hunters and golfers. Cheeseman was the only permanent resident of the complex. All got out alive.

Amor said 25 firefighters from Elbow, Loreburn and Davidson descended on the scene and it took them about four hours to get the fire under control. He said there were also “lots of volunteers” that came to the scene to help the firefighters battle the blaze.

“Some local farmers had semis and water tankers,” he said. “They always come just in case we run out of water and help us out because we can go through water in the fire hydrants very quickly. They’re there to help us out and stand by just in case we need them.”

A few hours after the blaze was controlled smoke still billowed and small fires burned from the 21 units that were razed during the fire. Eleven units remain standing in the 21-year-old box-like complex at 1250 Aaro Avenue that has an outdoor swimming pool and grassy area situated in the middle of the connected-condo building.

Kevin Luchia, a volunteer firefighter with the Elbow detachment, said it is suspected that the fire started in Unit Four before it got up into the rafters. He said the complex “went up like a matchbox” once that happened.

“We never lost anybody and that’s the main thing,” said Luchia. “Once we got them out, we weren’t sending anyone else back in.”

Luchia said the only reason the 11 remaining units are still standing was due to Amor’s decision to get Elbow resident Troy Bramble to cut through the complex with a “big pay-loader” splitting the complex in two. He said the whole building is “filled up with smoke” and wouldn’t be surprised if the remaining units were bulldozed.

“That was my first phone call,” said Amor about bringing in Bramble. “It was part of our pre-plan to know what to do in case this building went up. We knew we wouldn’t have the resources to put this fire out if it was fully engulfed. In row houses, the way that it is particularly built, that’s about the only way you can stop the fuel from the fire and stop it that way.”

Amor said the cause of the fire is yet to be determined and SGI would conduct an investigation to determine the facts around the blaze and whether they are going to insure the building. He said if SGI needs any assistance he would call the provincial Fire Commissioner’s Office to send in an investigator to help.

The long-time firefighter said this blaze is terrible for the community of Elbow as the complex houses about 4,000 visitors to the town each year and is the main hub for people looking for accommodation while they participate in golf, hunting or camping activities in the area.

“Our daughter had a wedding here and we rented the whole complex. Everybody stayed here, so it’s huge for this community,” he said. “When you don’t have that many rooms it’s going to be devastating. To rebuild this, the fire loss is $3 to $4 million to replace this, so it’s going to take a while.”

Cheeseman said everyone in town is helping him to get back on his feet. He said “moving on” is the only thing he can do now and that is what he plans on doing.

Davidson

High yields ensure farmers have good year

A cooler summer, more precise fertility measures, better overall farm management, improved equipment, wise fungicide use and timely rains have combined to create a very successful farming year for most people in this area.

Davidson farmer Rob Stone said this has been a good year and most people are pleased with their yields, but it needs to be remembered that farmers have worked very hard for these higher yields. He said this is probably the most money any individual farm has spent per acre on their crops this year and with the weather cooperating the result has been an above average crop.

“There are some crops that are approaching a top yield and some are definitely breaking the long-term average, so there is a trend for higher yields this year then there has been for the last five to 10 years,” said Stone. “Some crops (are) more so than others. It seems the cereals are more topping their average trend yields and crops like canola; overall more people are experiencing some success with their yields.

“I wouldn’t say they’re astronomically record high as far as the canola is concerned, (but) cereals probably. The cereals, overall there is a lot more people having yield success and if you look at the pulses and lentils and stuff like that there is some people that report extremely high yields.”

Stone said protein levels are lower than average with the bigger yield, but the increased investment in producer’s fertility management strategy has helped keep up protein levels along with the increased yield in hybrid spring wheat and durum.

There is “actually a situation where some people were experiencing too low of a protein in barley, which is very unusual because high protein barley is a problem,” he said.

Gord Willner, who farms west of Davidson, said this isn’t the biggest crop he’s ever had, but it is one of the better ones in a while. He said it’s hard to say the reason behind the good crop other than all the variables which “don’t always make sense” that go into farming seemed to come together this year.

“We’re putting grain in our barn,” said Willner, noting the increased volume has created problems with storage space on the farm. “We’ve got a shop (and) we’re going to put grain in there. Then we’ll probably put the last of our feed barley on the ground.”

Willner said all his canola is already priced and contracted due to the possibility of the price going down. He said none of the wheat has been priced, but now that he knows the grade of it that work is beginning.

“Actually I started doing it up the other day for our spring wheat,” he said. “Then the only other thing we have is flax and I’m going to contract it pretty quick as well for a winter delivery.”

To read more please see the October 7 print edition of The Davidson Leader.